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Roland Corporation
 |
| Type |
Public corporation
(TYO: 7944, Osaka) |
| Founded |
 Osaka, Japan (April 18, 1972) |
| Headquarters |
Hamamatsu, Japan |
| Key people |
Ikutaro Kakehashi |
| Industry |
Electronics |
| Products |
Musical instruments, Audio/Video,
Electronics, Computer-related products |
| Employees |
2,233, as of March 31, 2005 |
| Website |
http://www.roland.co.jp http://www.roland.com/ http://www.roland.co.uk |
Roland Corporation (ローランド株式会社, Rōrando
Kabushiki Kaisha
?) TYO: 7944 is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical
instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded
by Ikutaro
Kakehashi in Osaka on April
18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's
headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has
factories in Japan, the United States, Italy, and Taiwan. As of March 31, 2005, it employed 2,233
employees[1] up from
729 employees in 2003. It has existed in different forms since
1960, making it relatively old among still-operating manufacturers
of musical electronics, and has survived changes in technology to
become one of the most noteworthy and widely-used brands in
electronic music and production today.
Origin
of the Roland name
Roland was founded after Kakehashi cut ties with Ace Electronic
Industries (a company he founded in 1960) and Hammond
International. As with many Japanese startups of the period, the
name Roland was selected for export purposes as Kakehashi was
interested in a name that was easy to pronounce for his worldwide
target markets. Legend has long circulated that he named his
company after the French epic poem La Chanson de Roland.
In actuality, the name Roland was found in a telephone directory.
Kakehashi opted for it as he was satisfied with the simple
two-syllable word and its soft consonants.
Brands
Roland markets products under a number of brand names, each of
which are used on products geared toward a different niche.
- Roland brand is used on a wide range of products
including synthesizers, digital pianos, electronic drum systems,
dance/DJ gear, guitar synthesizers, amplifiers, and recording
products.
- BOSS is a brand used
for products geared toward guitar players and is used for guitar
pedals, effects units, rhythm and accompaniment machines, and
portable recording equipment.
- Edirol is a line of professional video-editing
and -presentation systems, as well as portable digital audio
recorders. Edirol also has Desktop Media (DTM) products, more
production-oriented, and include computer audio interfaces, mixers,
and speakers.
- RSS is a line of commercial audio products
including the V-Mixing System.
- Rodgers was
founded in 1958 as an organ company and survives today as a
subsidiary of Roland, still manufacturing high-quality electric,
electronic, and pipe organs.
- Cakewalk music
software company is a long term partner to Roland. In Jan. 2008,
Roland announced purchase of controlling interest in
Cakewalk.
- Roland DG produces computerized plotters, vinyl
cutters, and printers for the production of commercial signwork and
point-of-sale materials.
At one point, Roland acquired the then-defunct Rhodes name,
and released a number of digital keyboards bearing the Rhodes
brand, but it no longer owns the name.
International
Distributors
Roland Corp. operates a warehouse in Cromer, Sydney Australia,
in which it employs approximately 30 people and makes around $2mil
net profit a year.
Timeline of noteworthy
products
- 1972 - Roland TR-77/TR-55/TR-33:
Roland's first products. TR-77 is known as an updated version of Ace Tone Rhythm Ace
FR-7L.[2]
- 1973 - Roland
SH-1000: Japan's second or
third commercial keyboard synthesizer.
- 1973 - Roland
RE-201: The renowned space echo machine, one of the most
popular tape
delay-based echo machines ever produced.
- 1973 - Roland
SH-3A: Monophonic synthesizer.
- 1975 - Roland System-100: Roland's first
attempt at a modular synthesizer.
- 1975 - Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier:
A two channel, 120 watt amplifier equipped with two 12-inch
(30 cm) speakers, built-in chorus and vibrato effects and a
3-band EQ per channel, renowned for its super-clean sound and
durability, it has remained in production for over 30 years.
- 1976 - Roland System-700: Roland's first professional-quality
modular synthesizer.
- 1976 - Roland DC-50 Digital Chorus: An analog chorus ensemble
similar to Boss CE-1.[2]
Some collectors assume that it was also supplied as OEM product, Multivox CB-50.[3]
- 1977 - Roland MC-8 Microcomposer: A
groundbreaking digital sequencer. Roland's first product to
utilize a microprocessor.[4]
- 1977 - Roland
GR-500: Roland's first commercial guitar synthesizer.[5]
- 1978 - Roland
CR-78: An user-programmable drum machines.
- 1978 - Roland Jupiter-4: Roland's first
self-contained polyphonic synthesizer.
- 1980 - Roland CR-8000
- 1980 - Roland VK-1: Rolands first attempt to clone the Hammond
B3
- 1981 - Roland System-100M: Semiprofessional
modular synthesizer, successor of System-100.
- 1981 - Roland Jupiter-8: Roland claims this
synthesizer put Roland in the forefront of professional
synthesizers. A successful 8-voice programmable analog synthesizer
after hugely successful Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Oberheim's products.
- 1981 - Roland
TR-808: One of the most popular programmable analog drum machines; its
distinctive analog sounds, such as its cowbell sound and its kick
drum, have become pop-music clichés, heard on countless
recordings.
- 1982 - Roland Juno-6: Roland's first synthesizer with digitally
controlled oscillators. (Later released was the Juno-60, a similar
model but with the addition of patch memory for storing
sounds).
- 1982 - Roland G505 - G202: The 3rd generation of Roland
electric guitar synthesizer controllers, popularized by Eric Clapton, Dean
Brown, Steve
Hackett, Andy
Powell, Adrian
Belew, Mike
Rutherford, Yannis Spathas, Jeff Baxter and Andy Summers. Both are faithlessly copied
after a Fender Stratocaster guitar, featuring a 21-fret maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard
and a matching headstock on certain models. Available with three
single-coil pickups, 5-way switching and tremolo bridge or dual
humbuckers with a 3-way toggle selector and hardtail bridge,
equipped with a GK-1 synth pickup and a 24-pin cable socket. By
1984, these Strat-style guitars came with the matching GR-700 and
PG-200 pedalboards, which also work as a regular guitar effector as
well as a MIDI synthesizer bank.
- 1982 - Roland
TB-303: Defined the acid sound of house music. Note that TB-303 is not the
origin of this type product. For example of precedence from others,
Multivox Firstman SQ-01
was released in 1981.
- 1983 - Roland
JX-3P: First Roland synthesizer to support MIDI.
- 1983 - Roland Jupiter-6: Second Roland synthesizer to support
MIDI.
- 1983 - Roland
SH-101: Monophonic synthesizer designed to be worn
hung around the neck with a strap, with an optional modulation
attachment that protruded like the neck of a guitar.
- 1984 - Roland
MKS-80: Rack Mounted 8-voice analog synthesizer, commonly used with the MPG-80
programmer unit
- 1984 - Roland
TR-909: An extremely popular drum machine during the early
1990s, the sounds of which (particularly the kick drum and open
hi-hat) are still essential components of modern electronic dance music. The
first Roland drum machine to use digital sample playback combined
with analog sound synthesis.
- 1984 - Roland TR-707 and Roland TR-727: A pair of popular drum
machines, the TR-727 was essentially the same as the TR-707, except
it had Latin-style sounds. The TR-707 was used extensively in the
early days of house
music and is still used in non-Western pop music around the
world. The TR-727 is still used extensively in polyrhythmic
non-Western pop music.
- 1984 - Roland Juno-106: A widely used synthesizer with
digitally controlled oscillators. Same synth engine as the Roland Juno-60
but with the addition of MIDI and the ability to transmit button and
slider information through SysEx. Still, no MIDI control of volume
in real time.
- 1985 - Roland Alpha Juno: Two analog
polyphonic synthesizers, the Alpha Juno 1 (JU-1) and the Alpha Juno
2 (JU-2), notable for their 'Alpha Dial' that simplified the user
interface.
- 1986 - Roland
JX-10: One of Roland's last true analog synths.
- 1986 - Roland RD-1000: Roland's first digital piano to feature
Roland SA Synthesis technology. One notable musician for this is
Elton John from 1988–1994.
- 1986 - Roland HS-80: Same as the Roland Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2),
but with built-in speakers. Branded as "Synth Plus 80."[6][7]
- 1986 - Roland S-10: Basic 12-bit sampler and keyboard combo.
Sounds were stored on QuickDisks and it was capable of sampling
up to 6 seconds of sound. It also had rudimentary analog filtering
and ADSR.
- 1986 - Roland MKS-100: Rack Mounted version of the Roland-S10
sampler.
- 1987 - Roland
D-50: One of the popular digital synthesizers in late 1980s;
Roland's first all-digital synthesizer implementing its Linear
Arithmetic synthesis (a form of sample-based synthesis combined
with subtractive synthesis). The
D-50's descendants include the D-5, D-10, D-110 (rack unit), and
D-20 synthesizers.
- 1987 - Roland
MT-32: Also using Linear
Arithmetic synthesis, it was supported by many PC games in the late 1980s and early 1990s as
a high-quality music option until support shifted to General MIDI sound cards.
- 1988 - Roland
U-110: Roland's first "rompler", the U-110 was a rack module
based on Roland's large sample library and contained good
representations of acoustic instruments. Designed to compete with
E-mu's Proteus line, the U-110's successor U-220 found its way into
many professional studio racks of the day.
- 1988 - Roland
E-20: Roland's first entry into the auto-accompaniment keyboard
market, going head to head with Yamaha and Casio. The E-20's descendants include the E-70,
E-86, G-800, G-1000, G-70 and the current E-80.
- 1989 - Roland
Octapad: A set of visually distinctive electronic drum
triggers.
- 1989 - Roland
W-30: A sampling workstation keyboard (DAW).
- 1989 - Roland D-70: 76-key synth. Successor to the D-50.
- 1990 - Roland HP-3700: Roland digital piano.
- 1991 - Roland
SC-55 Sound Canvas: The world's first General MIDI synthesizer.
- 1991 - Roland
JD-800 and Roland JD-990: Digital synthesizers with
analog style knobs and switches.
- 1992 - Roland DJ-70: A DJ sampling music workstation and
synthesizer keyboard that featured the first scratch wheel
pad.
- 1993 - Roland JV-1000: Sort of a combination of the MC-50 II
and the JV-80.
- 1994 - Roland MS-1: 16 bit AD/DA
conversion, First portable digital stereo phrase sampler, with
R-DAC (Roland Digital Audio Coding).
- 1994 - Roland S-760: 16 bits Digital sampler with resonant
filters.
- 1994 - Roland
JV-1080: aka Super JV-1080, a 64-voice synthesizer module. Used
on more recordings than any other module in history, the JV-1080
boasts a full range of acclaimed Roland sounds, as well as four
expansion slots.
- 1994 - Roland JV-90: 76-note expandable
synthesizer.
- 1995 - Roland
XP-50: Roland's first music workstation that featured Roland's
MRC-Pro sequencer.
- 1995 - Roland VG-8: Roland's first Guitar/Amp modeler
- 1996 - Roland DJ-70mkII: Successor to the DJ-70, with more
powerful features, including a DJ sampling music workstation, which
featured a scratch wheel pad. It is essentially an S-760 sampler
with a keyboard.
- 1996 - Roland
MC-303 Roland's first non-keyboard drum machine, sample-based
synthesizer, and sequencer combination bearing the now-generic term
Groovebox. Featuring a
full 8-track sequencer.
- 1996 - Roland
XP-80: 64-voice music workstation.
- 1997 - Roland
VK-7: Groundbreaking Hammond organ clone, which introduced the
"Virtual ToneWheel" physical modeling technology.
- 1997 - Roland
JP-8000: Roland's first virtual analog style
synthesizer. The technology used in this model was conventional
digital synthesizer technology like a JD-800, which lacked enough
analog modeling.
- 1997 - Roland
V-Drums: Digital drums incorporating silent mesh drum heads
that realistically reproduce both the natural feel and sound of
acoustic drums.
- 1997 - Roland
JV-2080: 64-voice, 3-effects-processor, 8-expansion-slot
synthesizer module.
- 1998 - Roland JP-8080: Rack-mountable version of the JP-8000,
lacking a keyboard, but featuring 10-voice polyphony, where the
JP-8000 had 8. The JP-8080 also has a vocoder and SmartMedia
support.
- 1998 - SP-808: Table-top sampler, multi-track
recorder, and effects processor.
- 1998 - Roland
MC-505: Successor to the MC-303 with a more powerful
synthesizer and sequencer.
- 1998 - Roland
JX-305: Similar to the MC-505, but with 61 keys.
- 1999 - Roland MC-09: A Roland TB-303 emulator featuring an
effects processor and a phrase sampler.
- 2000 - Roland VG-88: Roland's 2nd Guitar/ Amp modeler
- 2001 - Roland
AX-7: Successor to the AX-1. A keytar noted for its aesthetics and design.
- 2002 - Roland
MC-909: Successor to the MC Groovebox series and also the
flagship to all MC Groovebox series machines, featuring a full
16-track sequencer, SRX board upgrading, Built-in larger LCD
Display Screen and built-in sampling. Supports 1 SRX Expansion
card.
- 2003 - Roland V-Synth: Elastic Audio Synthesizer
- 2003 - Roland MV-8000: Production Station with 24-bit sampling
capabilities. Designed to rival Akai's legendary MPC series, specifically, the
MPC-4000.
- 2004 - Roland Fantom-X: Music workstation and
professional synthesizer expandable to 1 gigabyte of sounds.
- 2004 - Roland Juno-D: Popular entry-level synthesizer.
- 2004 - Roland V-Accordion FR-7: World's first completely
digital accordion.
- 2005 - Roland Micro Cube: Roland's first
portable amplifier. Allowed for AC adapter or battery use. Seven
input effects, delay, and reverb options.
- 2005 - Roland Fantom-Xa: Entry-level Fantom-X.
The A stands for access.
- 2006 - Roland
MC-808: The latest MC-series, featuring a full 16-track
sequencer and 512 MB more memory, and double the polyphony of the
MC-909. First MC Groovebox series with motorized faders and
built-in sampling, no Velocity sensitive pads, no SRX board as an
add-on as seen on MC-909.
- 2006 - Roland
SH-201: Roland's first affordable analog modeling
synthesizer.
- 2006 - Roland
Juno-G: Entry-level workstation based on the Fantom-X.
- 2007 - Roland MV-8800: Successor to the MV-8000. Production
station with 24-bit sampling capabilities. Has new built-in color
LCD display.
- 2007 - Roland V-Synth GT: An updated V-Synth.
- 2007 - Roland VG-99: Roland's third Dual channel Virtual Guitar
bodies, Pickups, Amplifier and effects modeler.
- 2008 - Roland RD-300/700GX: A new series of digital pianos for
performers on stage.
- 2008 - Roland Fantom-G: Music workstation with
onboard graphical MIDI sequencer.
- 2008 - Roland GW-8: Workstation with "intelligent backing-track
functionality".
- 2009 - Roland V-Piano: Digital piano generating sound by
modeling technology (most other digital pianos use sampling).
- 2009 - Roland FR-7x/FR-7xb: Accordion with the versatility of a
modern digital musical instrument.
- 2009 - Roland SP-404SX: Performance sampler.
- 2009 - Roland BA-330: Portable PA system.
- 2009 - Roland Juno-Di: Lightweight, battery-powered
synthesizer.
See also
References
- ^
Roland Corporate Data
- ^ a
b
Sound On Sound Magazine - The History of Roland
(PartI)
- ^
MATRIXSYNTH: Multivox CB-50
- ^
Synclavier Early History -
In 1975, New Englang Digital released "ABLE computer" which
utilized Data General's microprocessor. It was developed to
control "Dartmouth Digital Synthesizer" without expensive mainframe
computer, and later these pair became Synclavier.
- ^
In truth, Roland was in a late-started group within the guitar
synthesizer manufacturers.
One of world first guitar synthesizer may be Innovex's "Condor GMS"
released around 1970. (Note: Innovex was a joint venture company of
Hammond and Ovation) [1][2]
After then, before 1977, Ludwig Phase II (1971) [3][4], EMS Synthi Hi-Fli (formerly Sound Freak
(1973)) [5][6], 360 systems
slavedriver and spectre guitar synthesizer [7][8] had been
released. And also in 1977, Ampeg & Hagström Swede Patch 2000 [9], ARP
Avatar [10][11][12] had been
released.
However, Roland persistently continued development after other
makers left from market [13], and in late
1980s, its GK interface became de facto standard of industry.
- ^
Harmony Central's Keyboard
And MIDI Reviews for the Roland HS-80
- ^
Sonicstate.com HS-80
Synth
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