On September 9 Roland hosted, “The Future. Redefined. – Unleash Your Creativity.” The unique live streaming launch event debuted 30 new products, including new synthesizers, digital pianos, electronic drums, DJ equipment, BOSS guitar related products, accordions, and a digital wind instrument.
MMR caught up with the launch in Los Angeles at Six01 Studio, Burbank. The event included celebrity artists such as Judith Hill, Lola Astonova, Masego, DJ Trayze, Echosmith, and more demonstrating the new gear. The new products were the real stars of the showas Roland fans meandered about the space throughout the evening auditioning the new equipment, not to be fazed by the brief power outage that took place during DJ Pierre’s set. Roland fans were lining up to play with products such as the DJ-808 Professional DJ Controller, the updated VP-03 Vocoder and TR 909 Rhythm Composer, GP607 Mini Grand Digital Piano, the TD-0KV with KD-A22 V-Drums, the EC-10M ELCajon Mic Processor, and many more. The new introductions were well received and impressive with the Aerophone creating some of the biggest buzz – looking like an instrument from a sci-fi fantasy film and keeping up with a saxophone as demonstrated by artist Masego, with its impressive, soulful tone color.
The festival spanned multiple time zones and featured live performances, product demonstrations, and interviews with leading artists. Roland rolled out its new and updated instruments in Auckland, Tokyo, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Toronto, NYC, and Los Angeles.
BOSS GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor
The BOSS GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor is a compact multi-effects unit. Driven by BOSS’s flagship GT-series engine, it provides a huge selection of amps and effects for all types of music. The GT-1 features a light, portable design with a built-in expression pedal. Numerous COSM amps are also included, as well as a looper.
The GT-1 supports USB connectivity, allowing users to record and re-amp tones with DAW software and interface with BOSS Tone Central and BOSS Tone Studio.
The GT-1 Guitar Effects Processor has a street price of $199.
The BOSS Katana Amp Lineup
The BOSS Katana Amp lineup consists of three combo amplifiers and an amplifier head. The 50-watt Katana-50 and 100-watt Katana-100 are each equipped with a custom 12-inch speaker. The Katana-100/212 has 100 watts of power and is equipped with two custom 12-inch speakers. The 100-watt Katana-Head is designed for use with an external speaker cabinet such as the Waza Amp Cabinet 412, but includes a convenient integrated monitor speaker for tone preview and practice.
Each Katana amp features five selectable amp characters: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Brown, and Acoustic, and also includes integrated access to 55 BOSS effects, which are customizable using the free BOSS Tone Studio editor software. Up to three effects can be used at once.
U.S. Street prices are as follows: Katana-100 – $329; Katana-100/212 – $499; Katana-50 – $199; Katana Head – $349.
Roland Aerophone AE-10
The Aerophone AE-10 is an all-new digital wind instrument with advanced breath-sensor technology and
highly expressive sounds. Powered by Roland’s acclaimed SuperNATURAL engine, the Aerophone AE-10 provides a wide selection of saxophone sounds with authentic response and playability. The Aerophone AE-10 also features traditional saxophone fingering, enabling a sax player to start using the instrument right away. It also includes a variety of additional acoustic instrument sounds like clarinet, flute, oboe, trumpet, violin, and more.
The Aerophone AE-10 is offered at $799 (Street).
Roland DP603 Digital Piano
The Roland DP603 Digital Piano features SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling technology and an expressive playing feel with the new PHA-50 keyboard. Numerous onboard practice features are backed up by Bluetooth® wireless support for a tablet or smartphone, allowing audio playback and connectivity with the latest apps. Blending classic sounds with contemporary design, the Roland DP603 is ideal for the modern piano player.
The DP603 Digital Piano is offered with street pricing starting at $1999.
Roland FP-90 Digital Piano
The FP-90 houses the sound engine and premium keyboard from Roland’s flagship pianos in a portable body. SuperNATURAL Piano Modeling recreates the entire sound process of an acoustic piano, providing rich, complex sound that authentically responds to the player’s touch. The new PHA-50 Progressive Hammer Action Keyboard with Escapement is the perfect match, offering the latest sensing technology and a combination of wood and ivory-feel materials to provide both authentic playability and lasting durability.
Available in both black and white finishes, the FP-90 Digital Piano is offered for $1799 street.
Roland GP607 Digital Piano
The new ROland GP607 Digital Piano is a stylish and sophisticated mini grand piano for the home. The GP607 offers authentic tone and touch with Roland’s advanced piano technologies, as well as a premium multi-channel speaker system that provides top-quality sound for both piano playing and listening to music. The GP607 also includes onboard learning features and Bluetooth® audio/MIDI connectivity with mobile devices, bringing further enjoyment to the piano experience. Available in either polished ebony or polished white, the handsome GP607 delivers superior piano performance in an impressive instrument ideally suited for modern living.
The GP607 Digital Piano is offered at $4999 street.
Roland RP501R Digital Piano
The Roland RP501R Digital Piano is designed as an affordable home instrument with top-quality touch and tone. Roland’s latest piano technologies deliver a truly authentic piano experience, while onboard education features and Bluetooth® wireless connectivity with piano apps promote learning and enjoyment. Ideal for young families and anyone who wants to have fun with the piano, the RP501R offers premium performance that will last through years of development.
The RP501R Digital Piano is available in contemporary black, contemporary rosewood, and white finishes, and is offered at $1499 street.
Roland FR-4x and FR-4xb V-Accordions
Roland FR-4x (piano type) and FR-4xb (button type) V-Accordions are compact and lightweight instruments featuring a sound engine derived from the flagship FR-8x, which provides a wide range of traditional accordion sounds, orchestral voices, organs, and onboard drum sounds. The FR-4x and FR-4xb also include many other noted V-Accordion features, including authentic playability with pressure-sensing bellows, sound expansion capability, built-in speakers, battery operation, USB song playback, and much more.
The Roland FR-4x ($3999 street) and FR-4xb ($4199 street) V-Accordions are available in black or red.
Roland TD-50KV and TD-50K V-Drums
Roland TD-50KV and TD-50K V-Drums are the two new flagship kits in the acclaimed V-Drums lineup. Both kits feature the powerful new TD-50 sound module with Prismatic Sound Modeling, as well as the newly developed PD-140DS Digital Snare and CY-140DR Digital Ride. Additional features include user sample playback via SD memory, multi-track recording via USB, balanced audio outputs, and more. Packed with the very latest sound and sensing technologies from Roland, the TD-50KV and TD-50K sets give serious players the most expressive V-Drums experience yet.
To learn more about the TD-50KV (street $7499) and TD-50K (street $4799) V-Drums.
Roland EC-10M ELCajon Mic Processor
The EC-10M ELCajon Mic Processor, a unique and innovative creative tool for acoustic cajon players. Compact and battery-powered, the EC-10M enables the user to trigger electronic layered sounds with their own instrument via an included clip-on mic. The EC-10M also offers the ability to trigger additional sounds with two integrated foot pads or optional kick trigger pedals, and includes a looper function for creating rhythmic phrases with electronic sounds.
The EC-10M ELCajon Mic Processor is offered at $229 street.
Look for Part II of our coverage of this event in the November issue of MMR.
