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!

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

October 14, 2013

3 Ways to Create a Hybrid Drum Kit

Drew Armentrout [Roland US] Tips & Tricks drum pads, drum triggers, drums, Hybrid Drums, pd-8, SPD-30, SPD-SX 1 Comment

A Sound Source and Triggers are All You Need

Photo: Acoustic and Electronic Hybrid Drum Kit

hy·brid noun \ˈhī-brəd: something that is formed by combining two or more things.

The tools available for drummers have been evolving for decades, and practically speaking, the modern acoustic kit is a hybrid drum kit in and of itself. Today, however, when we use the word “hybrid” in relation to drums, it usually refers to blending electronics with acoustic drums. While this is certainly not a new concept, the technical improvements in triggering technology, the incredible advances in sound-generating methods, and the availability of quality sounds make creating a hybrid drum kit more commonplace than ever before. A sound source and a way to trigger the sounds are really all you need to make this happen. There are three methods for doing this: percussion and sample pads, additional pads around your kit, and acoustic drum triggers. Here is a quick rundown of how to incorporate each into your acoustic drum setup. 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

April 3, 2013

Pat Kennedy V-Drums Training Camp

OV Valle [Roland US] Contests Drummer, drums, SPD-30, SPD-SX, TD-30KV, V-Drums 0 Comments

How to Prepare for the V-Drums World Championship

This is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at U.S. National Champion Pat Kennedy preparing for the V-Drums World Championship 2. He’ll be representing the U.S. during the V-Drums World Championship in Frankfurt, Germany on Thursday, April 11, 2013. And Roland is giving everyone around the world a front row seat to watch the event live, online! Check the V-Drums contest website for all the streaming details, and join us for the show if you can. Go Pat! 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

December 19, 2012

Roland V-Drums Championship: UK Final 2012

OV Valle [Roland US] Contests drums, SPD-30, SPD-SX, TD-30KV, V-Drums 0 Comments

News from our Roland brothers around the world

Top UK drummers battle it out for a chance to represent the UK in the V-Drums World Championship 2013

Last year’s V-Drums World Championship competition attracted hundreds of talented drummers from every corner of the globe. These were narrowed down to 16 finalists who traveled to the World final in Anaheim, California to perform in the renowned House Of Blues club. After a night of spectacular performances the top honor finally went to drummer Baard Kolstad (Norway), who impressed judges not only with his drumming ability but also with his use of the technology available on Roland V-Drums. More