When will ROLAND release their next Workstation ?

[Dorkas]

But the main reason that Roland would do a new workstation is that many gigging musicians - myself included - absolutely refuse to take laptops to a gig. While I do believe there is a valid argument that the workstation may be dying in terms of studio use, I strongly believe that for road use, a workstation tank is going to appeal to musicians on the road. In that respect I do not see Roland abandoning the workstation market.

Hmmmm I think that this market has been already taken by NORD with its Stage 2 HA 76

[mojkarma]

Nord Stage is not a replacement for a workstation when it comes to live use. The Nord Stage is a keyboard dedicated to reproduce a certain type of instruments and it does it very well. On the other side it lacks a lot of features which are important for live gigging musicians: a big sound variety, multitimbrality and so on.
In no way has the Nord Stage taken this market and in its present form it never will.

[Dorkas]

Nord STAGE 2.jpg (820.36 KiB) Viewed 2223 times

That"s only their own opinion . Anyway stage means stage is not it ?!?

[mojkarma]

Just because it bears the name "stage", doesn't mean that it's the perfect tool for every gigging musician. That's my whole point. We don't select our stage keyboards based on what the manufacturer writes on their web site or advertising prospects.
Put simply, a lot of gigging musicians need multitimbral features which go far beyond what the Nord Stage can offer. Others need a sampler or a sequencer or a wide variety of sounds or some more complex midi controller functions, and so on.
That's why you'll still see more workstations on stages and not a Nord Stage or some similar model from the competition.

[kenchan]

nord is great for piano/ep and organ gigging folks out there, but seriously doubt it can accomondate keyboardists with just that one board. i like how they are focused on the keybed playing performer, not so much the DJ type performer.

piano sounds are kinda bright and tinny for my taste though. i had a StageEX but sold it. i just found my VP and CP1 are just so much more dynamic, reponsive, and tweakable. i dont miss the nord.

[Mystic38]

+1

Just because it bears the name "stage", doesn't mean that it's the perfect tool for every gigging musician. That's my whole point. We don't select our stage keyboards based on what the manufacturer writes on their web site or advertising prospects.
Put simply, a lot of gigging musicians need multitimbral features which go far beyond what the Nord Stage can offer. Others need a sampler or a sequencer or a wide variety of sounds or some more complex midi controller functions, and so on.
That's why you'll still see more workstations on stages and not a Nord Stage or some similar model from the competition.

[Dorkas]

When I have read this review about the Nord Stage, it occuredto me this review was (and still is) sincere and appropriate. I have no Nord Stage at home and sure (!!!!): I shall always keep away from stage my Fantom G8 and my Kronos 88.

[kenchan]

i honestly think that the only thing really going for nord is the light weight compact packaging.

[shefu]

Why a workstation? There's already plenty workstations. Roland are great at synthesizers, they should release a new type of V-Synth GT but strictly on the synth side, the JP80 covers the acoustic side already.

That would be great.

[kenchan]

roland needs to come up with PHA3 but 1/4 the weight.

[cgreene]

I'm hoping Roland makes a light version of Sonar X1 for IPAD & Android tablets. I believe this is the direction portable "workstations" are going.

[Quinnx.]

Why a workstation? There's already plenty workstations.

Thats what i say...
What people want from a modern workstation can now be achieved by simply adding a laptop.

Being realistic about the whole workstation thing..
why wait for Roland??
what are you waiting for?

if you have the cash.. just look at whats out there and put together what suits your needs now and make sure what you get will keep you going for at least the next 10 years..
or untill you have more money than you can spend then everything is disposable.

If your in the studio..
a computer DAW with as many VSTs as you like and a controller will do the job.

for live work..
if you have a G your already halfway there either add a laptop and/or optimise your sets..

Ether way the wait is aready over.. just go out and do it now. :)

[Mystic38]

if everyone took that view the music industry would be dead overnight..

A keyboard workstation has its place.. perhaps no longer as the centrepiece of a studio for production, the computer is there for that.. but for prototyping, quick snatches of recordings, clips, phrases as inspiration strikes at the keyboard... I dont know about you but a mouse and 24" screen inspires me not at all..

Additionally, and most often overlooked, but repeated again (and again) by members such as mojkarma, the workstation has a real fundamental place in live music... the ability to walk out of the door with your songs in a workstation with sequences and sampled instruments is priceless..

Why a workstation? There's already plenty workstations.

Thats what i say...
What people want from a modern workstation can now be achieved by simply adding a laptop.

Being realistic about the whole workstation thing..
why wait for Roland??
what are you waiting for?

if you have the cash.. just look at whats out there and put together what suits your needs now and make sure what you get will keep you going for at least the next 10 years..
or untill you have more money than you can spend then everything is disposable.

If your in the studio..
a computer DAW with as many VSTs as you like and a controller will do the job.

for live work..
if you have a G your already halfway there either add a laptop and/or optimise your sets..

Ether way the wait is aready over.. just go out and do it now. :)

[Quinnx.]

if everyone took that view the music industry would be dead overnight..

Why?
I mean if your waiting around.. why wait?
the music industry is more than just a workstation

I don't know about you but a mouse and 24" screen inspires me not at all..

Well then switch it off and just use your controller to do the work or just use a smaller screen :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SReYvk3cp8A

workstation has a real fundamental place in live music.

I agree
however the people who are hanging around for next re-invention of the workstation which wont be any greater than its previous incarnation ala kronos.. are just as well better off investing in adding laptop and vsts.

[Mystic38]

you are to funny..

1. Nobody is waiting for anyone to do anything. Musicians are making music all the time.
2. Musicians have heard of computers. they already use them
3. Electronic keyboards is a huge proportion of the non-guitar music instrument business.. feel free to check.

So what is your point?.

Given that this is a thread about "when will Roland release their next workstation" and you have said a laptop is everything you will ever want..then "good luck with that" and I wonder why you contine to post your version of your vision..

many others think and act and will spend differently, so why not let the people who ARE interested in discussing such a workstation actually discuss it?

if everyone took that view the music industry would be dead overnight..

Why?
I mean if your waiting around.. why wait?
the music industry is more than just a workstation

I don't know about you but a mouse and 24" screen inspires me not at all..

Well then switch it off and just use your controller to do the work or just use a smaller screen :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SReYvk3cp8A

workstation has a real fundamental place in live music.

I agree
however the people who are hanging around for next re-invention of the workstation which wont be any greater than its previous incarnation ala kronos.. are just as well better off investing in adding laptop and vsts.