NAMM 2013 Rumours - new Roland Workstation?

[cello]

Roland is not out of the game just yet, so we shouldn't write them off!

Okay, this NAMM wasn't the time - but it will happen some time. The Fantom is still a fine instrument and in the meantime we have our existing Roland gear (V-Synth and JP-80 for me) to keep us inspired and creative.

Who knows? There may be news to come out of NAMM...

I just feel inside that when Roland does release a workstation it will be a killer machine... and I have my pennies tucked away for when that happens! :)

[Undercoverman]

Studio capture looks great and would be a worthy addition to my studio, depending on two factors:

STABLE low latency drivers
and...
REASONABLE price

It's going to need some serious testing/reviewing before anyone's going to try it, I think. If it's going up against RME et al, it's going to need to be something special.

[Bruce Lychee]

Roland is not out of the game just yet, so we shouldn't write them off!

Okay, this NAMM wasn't the time - but it will happen some time. The Fantom is still a fine instrument and in the meantime we have our existing Roland gear (V-Synth and JP-80 for me) to keep us inspired and creative.

Who knows? There may be news to come out of NAMM...

I just feel inside that when Roland does release a workstation it will be a killer machine... and I have my pennies tucked away for when that happens! :)

I'm keeping my eyes on Musikmesse too. It seems Roland is indeed working on their next workstation. I'll definitely line up for that one, but I'm sure it will cost a pretty penny.

[BillySynth]

I'd be more than happy to pay a pretty penny for the next Roland Workstation but it would have to incorporate all "V" technologies and SuperNatural, and the hardware would have to be as good as the software. No elcheapo Korg Kronos Krap.

Billy

[specialplant]

I think with respect to the sounds Roland has maintained its top position among competitors; Yamaha and Korg do not provide such realistic supernatural acoustic sounds. With regard to the workstation aspect, their development has really been disapponting.
I wouldn't overestimate the disappointment of today. If you look at 2012, Roland introduced nothing important in the synthesizer section at WinterNAMM, but they introduced the Jupiter 50 in March before the Frankfurt Musikmesse and the Integra in September. So one cannot really tell whether there is still something important in the pipeline or not.

[Jan_nl]

In spite of secret hopes cherished by some on this forum, the Fantom truly has become a phantom, it is dead, it has ceased to be, it no longer is part of the commercial dimension, it has passed away, it has moved on to a better place.
I'm sorry if I broke anyone's heart by writing this, but it is better to face reality than to be vexed by vain expectations of a possible V2.0 or a new ARX card.

Roland on the other hand still lives, and I am sure they have not abandoned the workstation market.
Despite criticism, Roland has to be given credit for having a vision.
Roland's vision was to base their future instruments on a modeling engine.
Since the versatile nature of a workstation involves a lot more work than just the development of a SN engine, and given the competition on the workstation market, I think it is only natural that Roland decided to release the first results of a fully SN based engine in the form of a synth, and then move on to incorporate the work they invested in the development of the SN engine in a workstation.
This year's Frankfurt Messe will be two years after the JP80, a good time to make a big splash.

[timbo1000]

Looking forward to Messe Frankfurt 2013. Roll on the 10th March. Fingers crossed for some jaw dropping equipment.

[Quinnx.]

I stil can never understand the eagerness to change up from something like the G
if its sound/synthesis is the reason, the G has untapped potential to produce whatever your imagination can come up with because of its sample based engine, how more flexible or future proof can you get?
Im just amazed at how dismissive people can be of the G in terms of what they already have.

sure roland may come out with some workstation eventually but i can guarantee its not going to be any better than what we have already even if its an integra base, and if so, just go get the integra now..
why wait if you realy want it?

[kenchan]

i dont see anything worthwhile in the rolandconnect page?

[Leh173]

@Quinnx,

The G is great and probably a bit untapped, but the new Roland sound engine caters for much improved dynamics and tone with the SN acoustic stuff and the SN Synth is a proper VA,and the G cannot do what a clonewheel can do (trust me I've tried and am still working on my drawbar emulator for the G) so to begin with these are much better than the expressiveness that can be achieved with the ROMpler engine. Fair point about the Integra and I may even consider offloading my JV-1080 for it, but it would better in one instrument. That's why I think theres the interest. Still I'm going to dive back into sampling and programming on my G for the time being.

PS: the new VR-09 would complement the G quite well. 5.5 kilos and does the bread and butter stuff. If it had been out a few years back I would have bought one. The old VR's were things of beauty but like the G high end and with a price tag and weight to go with it. The G6 is about 20kgs or more when cased up!

[Chrisk-K]

i dont see anything worthwhile in the rolandconnect page?

Disappointing except the small RD. Why not release a controller version of it?

[Chrisk-K]

No elcheapo Korg Kronos Krap.

Yep. The most poorly built pro-level synth in history.

[Bereal]

No elcheapo Korg Kronos Krap.

Yep. The most poorly built pro-level synth in history.

I do completely agree.

I love Korg Triton series but Korg Kronos and Korg Krome are real crapp to me.

[PauloF]

http://www.rolandconnect.com/ - nothing for me this time :(

I guess the V-Combo may be of interest to the Korg Krome type market, but that's it I think.

Agree, the V-Combo seems a good compromise

The 16 input audio interface also seems very interesting. An expansion of the OCTACAPTURE.

The Rd-64 has also some interest as an hybrid keyboard (specially for home studios but also for gigs ) good for SN Pianos, El. Pianos, Organs and MIDI control with ivory feel G keybed in a compact package. Just hope the price is not too high

[PauloF]

i dont see anything worthwhile in the rolandconnect page?

Disappointing except the small RD. Why not release a controller version of it?

But there is a controller version of it...well...kind of ;-)

the A-88!!!

It is exactly the same hardware with 88 keys