Roland announces new Fantom-G Series workstations
February 7, 2008
Roland has introduced three new keyboards in the Fantom-G range. The Fantom-G8 is a fully weighted 88 key instrument, while the Fantom-G6 features 61 synth keys and the Fantom-G7 features 76 synth keys, both with touch response and channel aftertouch.
All three models boast Roland’s ARX SuperNATURAL expansion bay, colour LCD, 24 track audio/128 track MIDI recorder, twice the ROM capacity of their predecessors, and a new effects engine with mastering effects.
Roland announces E-09W interactive arranger keyboard
February 5, 2008
Roland has brought out a white version of its E-09 interactive arranger keyboard, unsurprisingly titled the E-09W.
The E-09 features 61 velocity sensitive keys, 64 notes of polyphony, 32MB of wave memory comprised of 870 tones and 70 drum sets, 47 different effects, 130 styles, 100 user programs, sixteen track recorder, pitch bend and modulation wheels.
Vintage Roland synth controller
March 4, 2006
Cox Electronics have produced ‘The Interpreter’ - “a small box which can be connected between any MIDI controller and a Roland JX-8P, alpha Juno1, alpha Juno2, HS-10, HS-80, MKS-50, MKS-70 or MKS-80 synthesizer.”
It effectively turns MIDI control change messages into System Exclusive (SysEx) messages, the only type that these older Roland synths understood.
Found via Gear Junkies
New to synths? Roland SH-201 makes learning fun
January 30, 2006
Roland showcased their latest synthesizer at the NAMM 2006 show.
Due for release in July, this instrument is targeting less experienced synth musicians.
Roland describe it as “the most friendly and fun analog-modeling instrument on the market”
It features two “beefy” analog-modelling oscillators, some of Roland’s proprietary waveforms, effects and arpeggiators.
External sound sources can be plugged in and independently routed, then mixed with the synth’s onboard voices, creating many possibilities.
And, for added fun and ’show-off’ status, try the infra-red D beam. Hours of fun waving your hands over it and creating bizarre modulation effects (I want one)
It’s lay out is ‘no-nonsense’ - moving left-to-right through oscillators, mixers, filters, amp, and effects. There are no hidden menus to confuse.
It is also VSTi compatible, meaning that sounds can be edited and synchronised with a variety of computer-based sequencer/synth packages.
Read the full press release at Harmony Central.
