June 6, 2017

Build Your Skills with All-New V-Drums Lessons

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Artists, Tips & Tricks cajon, drum instruction, drum lessons, drums, EC-10, EC-10M, ElCajon, Gregg Bissonette, Handsonic, Octapad, Percussion, percussion lessons, rudiments, SPD-30, SPD-SX, V-Drums

Free Drum and Percussion Instruction from Gregg Bissonette and Other Top Players

V-Drums Lessons

If you’re looking to improve your drum and percussion chops, we’ve got some great content you’re sure to be interested in. We’ve just relaunched our V-Drums Lessons series with eight new instructional videos by renowned stage and studio drummer Gregg Bissonette. Stay tuned, because we’ll be regularly adding more videos from other top drummers and percussionists. Read on to watch the videos and find out more!

September 19, 2016

The Roland and BOSS Accessories Lineups Expand

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Product News #909day, accessories, AIRA, bag, Bass, cables, drums, guitar, guitar picks, Handsonic, keyboards, microphone, Octapad, Piano, recording, SPD-SX, throne, V-Drums

New Premium Accessories Launched on #909day

Roland_BOSS_Accessories_Marquee

As part of “The Future. Redefined.”, Roland’s 24-hour online music festival streamed on September 9, 2016 (#909day), we unveiled more than 30 new products. Included among them were many great additions to the Roland and BOSS lineups of premium music accessories. Models were added to current categories, and a number of all-new product categories were introduced, such as drum thrones, keyboard road cases, and more. Built to the famous Roland and BOSS standard of quality and durability, these latest accessories reflect our dedication to provide top-level accessories for all types of musicians, producers, engineers, and hobbyists.

November 4, 2014

Percussionist Pete Korpela Looping on the OCTAPAD

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Artists, Tips & Tricks drums, electronics, Josh Groban, looping, Octapad, pad, Percussion, Sampling, SPD-30 0 Comments

Video Demo: How to Use the SPD-30’s Onboard Phrase Looper

Pete Korpela on stage with Roland’s OCTAPAD SPD-30.

Percussionist Pete Korpela seems to be everywhere these days, heavily in demand as a touring sideman and studio session player with artists like Josh Groban, Robbie Williams, and Melody Gardot, to name a few. At the center of his percussion setup is Roland’s OCTAPAD SPD-30, which plays an important role alongside his large selection of traditional acoustic instruments. Pete visited the Roland AR office a few months back for an in-depth discussion about how he uses the OCTAPAD on stage and in the studio. While he was here, we also captured a great video of the percussionist demoing the OCTAPAD’s built-in looping function—check it out below.

April 8, 2014

Make the Perfect Kit with Drum Effects

Drew Armentrout [Roland US] Tips & Tricks drums, Octapad, Percussion, Sample Pad, sound module, SPD-30, SPD-SX, TD-30 4 Comments

Apply These Rules to V-Drums, Percussion Pads, & Sample Pads

Drum Effects on the TD-30 Sound Module

Author: Roland UK Features Team

A drummer’s sound is not just down to the tone of the drum itself. By using the built-in drum effects, it’s possible to just about recreate any drum sound you like and perform it with V-Drums.

Think of your favorite drummer. Now think of a favorite track (or album) they performed on, one that you know well. When you listen back to that track, it’s different to other tracks or albums they performed on, right? Sure, the drummer’s style, groove, and playing ability all define their sound – but that’s not what we’re discussing here. Part of the drum sound on that track is down to the actual kit they used, where it was recorded, how and even when they recorded it. More

April 29, 2013

V-Drums World Championship 2 Finals

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Contests drums, musikmesse, Octapad, SPD-30, SPD-SX, V-Drums, V-Drums World Championship 3 Comments

A New V-Drums Champion is Crowned at the 2013 Musikmesse in Germany

V-Drums World Championship 2 winners at the Frankfurt Musikmesse

During the recent 2013 Musikmesse music fair in Frankfurt, Germany, Roland held the international finals for the V-Drums World Championship 2. From a field of top drummers representing 16 different countries, Issah Contractor from Canada grabbed the crown with a masterful performance blending impressive drumming chops and a thorough command of the modern technology in Roland’s electronic percussion products. More

April 22, 2013

On the Road with Netsky LIVE!

OV Valle [Roland US] Artists drums, Michael Schack, Netsky, Octapad, SPD-30, SPD-SX, TD-30KV, V-Drums 0 Comments

Michael Schack talks V-Drums and SPD-SX

Netsky Live at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

A celebrity in his native Belgium and growing in popularity worldwide, Boris Daenan—better known as Netsky—has received numerous awards and accolades for his new-school brand of drum and bass. In 2009, Hospital Records signed him to an exclusive deal, and his first release with the influential UK label was the highly successful single “Memory Lane,” followed soon after by the chart-topping debut album “Netsky.” In 2012, sensing that he could take his show to another level, the DJ and producer put his turntables aside and unveiled Netsky LIVE!, an EDM stage show featuring a complete band. More

March 27, 2013

Roland On Stage with American Idol

Jim Bybee [Roland US] Industry American Idol, drums, JUPITER-80, keyboards, Octapad, Rex Hardy, Russell Graham, SPD-30, SPX-SX, Synth, TD-30, V-Drums, VP-770 0 Comments

Rex Hardy and Russell Graham on American Idol

American Idol season 12 is underway with a new slate of contestants vying to reach the top spot and international stardom. Led by music director Ray Chew, the American Idol house band backs up every performer on live television, covering an enormous range of musical styles to perfection throughout the year. Working without a net before TV audiences of 20 million and beyond is a pressure-packed gig, for sure. To help get their jobs done, keyboardist Russell Graham and drummer Rex Hardy Jr. rely on Roland instruments to instantly deliver the top-level sounds and versatility they need every time, without fail. More

January 11, 2013

What are Drum Triggers?

OV Valle [Roland US] Tips & Tricks Drum Trigger, drums, Hybrid, Kick, Octapad, RT-105, RT-10K, RT-10T, Snare, SPD-30, Tom 4 Comments

A Simple Update to Your Acoustic Drum Kit

When it comes to drumming, acoustic drum triggers are the gateway to a sound palette limited only by your imagination. If you can think it, acoustic triggers can make it happen.

The Source of Sound…

Contemplate for a moment, the nature of sound. No matter what you play… a guitar, a piano, a wind instrument, even tapping your desk, the sound you hear comes as a result of striking something, like a piano key, a string, or even by hitting the instrument itself (like a drum head). Sound transmits by vibration, which resonates at a given frequency, which is then picked up by your ear and interpreted as sound. Even when you speak, your vocal chords vibrate at a frequency that your ears pick up, which your brain interprets as speech and words. The surface or interface you strike becomes the ‘trigger’ – the source of the sound. More

November 5, 2012

Netsky Live On Tour – Autumn/Winter 2012

OV Valle [Roland US] Artists A-800PRO, ax-synth, Boris Daenen, D&B, Drum and Bass, drums, FANTOM-G7, keyboards, Michael Schack, Netsky, Octapad, SPD-30, SPD-SX, TD-30KV, VP-550 0 Comments

We just received a really cool update from Michael Schack who’s currently on tour with Netsky (Boris Daenen). Micheal is responsible for keeping pace with the frantic drum and bass BPM that Netsky is known for. In our iPad user’s group magazine we asked Michael how fast he has to drum to which he answered, “The average tempo is like 175 beats per minute, but after an hour it feels more like 198!” More