New Roland Synthesizer Workstation Coming at Namm 2014

[Eubanks22]

Why u said that about me? I tell u true I know roland has a new workstation for NAMM 2014! The SEQ in the FantomG came from the MV8000/8800 SEQ not from the FantomX. That's why so many midi/audio tracks in the G. If this new workstation going to cost less than the G why would we look for more tracks larger screen same case or same name? I'am not sure about the name but I know roland has a new affordable workstation for 2014 NAMM! U maybe be kidding but not me.

[G-Man]

Ok then. Let`s wait and see if you are right. Wich can not be... or at least not for long. The Secret Roland Agent will get you, sooner or later :)

[trommis]

Computer still says no......

[Quinnx.]

I have been revisiting the whole workstation idea rescently and have come to a conclusion that with the power of DAW these days that the real important part of any new release of that relm would have to be basicly workstation compatible synth.

Meanng
It would everything you would like in a workstation but the sequencer.
like
256 poly
16 or 32 channel midi with use of A/B and/or USB midi
Include a VST Plugin that controls everything
At least 8 physical audio outs
USB/firewire multi channel audio instead of basic 2 channel stereo
16 pads
hardware controlers sliders buttons etc...

This would be something of interest i think

[sentokan]

Can't the administrator give us a hint of a new flagship workstation or not?

[keysme]

Unfortunately I don't expect too much from Roland at winter NAMM 2014. Let's be realistic shall we? Roland recently sold Cakewalk (makers of Sonar) to Gibson Guitar probably because they needed the extra cash. Three years ago Roland leased the Anaheim Convention Center "Arena" (a huge auditorium) to showcase their products at NAMM. Last year Roland scaled back and now they have two relatively small booths and I heard that just one of the booths will be used to showcase products while the other will be used for conference meetings, etc.

I hate to say it but Roland's business model of late seems to be focused on making average products for the masses instead of stellar products for professional musicians. They recently got rid of several senior executives and replaced them with younger executives which could be a smart move if they demonstrate a desire to break new ground. But so far that hasn't really happened since the Fantom G was released in my opinion. The Jupiter-80 was somewhat of a success but it was not expandable plus it didn't have a sampler or a sequencer either for that matter and it cost $1,000 more than the introductory price for a Fantom G7, which is a full-blown workstation.

I noticed Secret Roland Agent is taking a hands-off approach and as usual Dan Kirsher and Roland staff in general are also mum regarding any new products. I realize Roland is very secretive about what goes on behind the scenes but if they really had an exciting product or two coming down the pike you would think they would try and 'leak' some of that information in order to create a buzz that would excite the music community if the products were actually something to write home about. But alas, not a peep. And since Roland is not particularly excited they probably don't want to raise expectations too much regarding the upcoming NAMM show. I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong but I wouldn't be at all surprised if we see just a few middle of the road products that have been rehashed to a certain degree. When you create middle-of-the-road products you have a tendency to get "run over" by the competition.

I would like to see Roland continue to succeed and flourish as a viable musical instrument company. But in order to do that they need to refocus their efforts on producing cutting-edge products that are 'the talk of the town' and not these mediocre products that people tend to overlook and many simply ignore. Make great products that musicians will pay top dollar for because they will be worth the price of admission. On the contrary, Roland seems fixated on a 'business as usual' approach. Has Roland lost its competitive edge? Do they even care about getting back into the game again? Where is the spark and drive and initiative that made Roland a giant amongst its peers? Is the desire to be number one now lost in a sea of complacency? I certainly hope not.

[Eubanks22]

They leaked some of the info and I gave the Buzz! Business approach comes first. Why make a very high $$$$ workstation and only sale a few? Roland has not lost it's competitive edge! Don't forget Korg Oasys great high dollar workstation don't sale well. Buzz Roland has a new workstation for 2014 NAMM but not a $3700.00 and up! That's what a Mac/PC for. Now days many musician who got a workstation don't use it for recording in the board. To day we have guys with IPAD on live shows and sound good. So time a $7.00 Apps sound better than a $4000 keyboard.

[kday]

Roland has to compete in making Workstations, or they will have to exit the game and start making keyboards and synths as a 3rd party sound company. I don't think Roland will let themselves degenerate to a musically irrelevant synth company, rather then at least copy the synth companies workstation ideas that are succeeding greatly.

Roland need to make a workstation equal of better to the Motif XF and Korg Kronos to keep from sustaining more loss.

No other way around it. When Yamaha release their next Motif I can almost guarantee it will sell out the box, just like Motif XF did, they sold out all stock a few months after release. They have built up a momentum, a fan base that anticipates their next flagship synths will always be better than the last model.

Roland has to keep on pushing and not give up from their bad decision making in trying to rehash old ideas and technologies. Korg is even on the right path now, with various synth engines and SSD drives. But what is Roland gonna offer to compete on the same level as these companies that keeps pushing the technology envelope, when Roland so far hasn't offered anything next generation yet?

[Quinnx.]

I dont see it happening any other way except with old technologies.
I mean we have already passed the concept of synthesis in the real sense.
so there is no where else to go. I think the integra is at the limit of what they can do.
so whatever comes will be no more than that, probably less..
and lets not forget the V synth.
However.. thats a product onto itself so i doubt they would add this to any workstation.

[Eubanks22]

Most production work sooner or later relies on a computer anyway. So a keyboard that's DAW friendly and LIVE friendly with big LCD touch screen, 3072 old roland sounds, 1024 Ram Live sounds,1024 new Rom Single sounds with SuperNatural organ, piano, drums, brass, electric piano, 16 big pads, 10 sliders 5 nobs, 2 XLR combo input audio/midi interface, looper, No SEQ $2799 for 88 piano keys. $2399 76 water fall keys $2099 61 synth Pick one keyboard than buy a MacBook Pro I7 16GB ram 8GB SSD. Add your DAW. now that's a killer workstation !

[secret Roland agent]

I noticed Secret Roland Agent is taking a hands-off approach and as usual Dan Kirsher and Roland staff in general are also mum regarding any new products.

There will be a new Roland workstation when . . . well . . . you know . . .

[cello]

lol!!! And probably correct... !

[junos2013]

In my opinion what Roland seems to be lacking in these Days are a serious competitor in the middle range Workstation department perhaps they need to refocus a bit more on the home studio department and not just release gigging and live performance synths? , currently there is only the juno gi , which is cool but its actually a mobile synth with a digital recorder rather than a fully featured workstation. If you want a Roland workstation your only option basically is the Fantom G, therefore it would be nice to see a Roland rival to the MOX/MOXF ,hope that they will release a keyboard version of the INTEGRA with a fully fledged sequencer ,76 weighted keys with polyphonic aftertouch and an internal Power supply. and perhaps a colour touchscreen also , but that might ofcourse have an impact on the price tag ..

[hoodedclaw]

I noticed Secret Roland Agent is taking a hands-off approach and as usual Dan Kirsher and Roland staff in general are also mum regarding any new products.

There will be a new Roland workstation when . . . well . . . you know . . .

More BS from Roland Secret Squirrel. What about the meetings with A Guy Called Gerald and Hardfloor,
is the shelved System-8 (supposedly developed at same time as JP80) been dusted off the prototype shelf and given a new lease of life again ?

[kday]

Roland will release something, some kind of competitor to Motif and Kronos, they have no other choice, either sink or swim, I got my shovel ready to bury Roland in the dirt if they fail to show at Namm. Because they can no longer wait to bump heads with Yamaha or Korg's next great flagship release. If they want to succeed they must release now, while there is no flagship competition to cut in on the flagship market share. Waiting until next time or next year could be seriously economically fatal. Even waiting until summer showcase would decrease the excitement generated at a Namm show hype.