ROLAND is a POWERHOUSE

sounds like it'll be a v-synth with jupiter 8 graphics.

Yeah, I can't imagine it will be worth anything near the actual price tag. Especially considering the price of vintage analogue modules. I picked up an MKS-50 last month for $200 CAD. You could easily get an MKS-80 and an Oberheim Xpander for the price they are quoting on the Jupiter 80, or a huge assortment of doepfer modules etc. Hell, you could put yourself down on the wait list for the new Fenix Xl and pay the same.

  On 3/31/2011 at 2:12 PM, acidphakist said:

Does anyone else here feel like the Roland corp just doesn't "get" what made them famous in the first place?

Yes. They had a good thing going there between about 1972 and 1994. Then when everything went digital, companies like Native Instruments and Propellerhead worked out how to combine the old spirit and new technology in a way companies like Roland didn't, while companies like Doepfer carried the analogue flame like Roland also didn't. I'm curious as to how much they understand what they did wrong (which isn't much if their continuation of these kinds of products is any indication), which is one of the reasons why I'm reading Ikutaro Kakehashi's autobiography I Believe In Music. Then again, maybe there's more money to be made selling what's essentially little more than toys to people who will grow up to be musicians than there is to be made selling synthesisers to people who are already musicians, in which case maybe that's their thing now, and they're not doing anything wrong so much as just branching into a different niche that isn't aimed at us as a group.

  On 4/1/2011 at 2:22 PM, ZoeB said:

  On 3/31/2011 at 2:12 PM, acidphakist said:

Does anyone else here feel like the Roland corp just doesn't "get" what made them famous in the first place?

 

Yes. They had a good thing going there between about 1972 and 1994. Then when everything went digital, companies like Native Instruments and Propellerhead worked out how to combine the old spirit and new technology in a way companies like Roland didn't, while companies like Doepfer carried the analogue flame like Roland also didn't. I'm curious as to how much they understand what they did wrong (which isn't much if their continuation of these kinds of products is any indication), which is one of the reasons why I'm reading Ikutaro Kakehashi's autobiography I Believe In Music. Then again, maybe there's more money to be made selling what's essentially little more than toys to people who will grow up to be musicians than there is to be made selling synthesisers to people who are already musicians, in which case maybe that's their thing now, and they're not doing anything wrong so much as just branching into a different niche that isn't aimed at us as a group.

That's a valid point, but I'll counter with outfits like Roger Linn, Oberheim and DSI. These are (essentially) one-man shops that are apparently finding it profitable to cater to established musicians. If that's the case, certainly large corps like Roland can branch off a few engineers to create products as good, or better, at a larger scale.

The "toys" they are currently selling could be upgraded to solid, professional-grade instruments because the volume could bring the price down.

Take, for example, the x0xb0x. When first launched, the kit cost $300 USD. Let's assume this cost included the R/D of (I believe) two people and the time spent sourcing, sorting and shipping parts. Let's further assume that if Roland, on a large scale, began production of the x0xb0x the retail value could fall around the same price point. Let's face it: there's plenty of people that would pay $300 for a Roland tb-303 (clone) and competent MIDI->DIN Sync converter.

i think the main problem is that Roland is run by a bunch of fucking idiots.

  On 4/1/2011 at 3:54 PM, the anonymous forumite said:

how many LFOs?

  On 4/1/2011 at 5:08 PM, Scrambled Ears said:

  On 4/1/2011 at 3:54 PM, the anonymous forumite said:

how many LFOs?

they're more about the drones, im afraid.

they are just really not interested in our market. That's what it comes down to. That page linked in the first post is aimed at the "real" instrument segment. I'm sure they sell waaaaaay more digital pianos than electribes.

ALSO if you recall the 303 was marketed as the "modern bass guitar" I think it's more that they NEVER actually understood what made them big. I think they really developed those instruments by accident.

Just read the language. They really thought people were going to use them for songwriting sketches and shit.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bYze_R6XM18/SjV8Wie-pTI/AAAAAAAAAHI/4RzppFw7Yro/s1600/roland_tb303_tr606_may_1982_key.jpg

Shitty instruments designed for Pop music made them famous.

I see they aren't deviating from the trend too much.

Not to say I don't love those sounds, though.

I knew it wasn't going to be analog, but it's even worse than I expected:

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/userpix/3773_keyboard_magazine__may_2011_16__17_1.jpg

At least with the SH-201 they were trying to pay homage to the original. This thing seems like a total travesty. And it's ugly as sin! I think I'm going to throw up.

doesn't make any fucking sense at all to name that Jupiter. It's not even related conceptually. They truly are morons.

what a load of shit

i have a feeling joyrex runs roland, and he's trying to get "back to what roland used to be about"

all that "SuperNatural" shit basically means it's a ROMpler

Well, at least it does B3!

  On 4/4/2011 at 2:50 AM, DerWaschbar said:

Well, at least it does B3!

(sarcasm)

  On 4/3/2011 at 12:09 PM, MrSparkle666 said:

I knew it wasn't going to be analog, but it's even worse than I expected:

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/userpix/3773_keyboard_magazine__may_2011_16__17_1.jpg

 

At least with the SH-201 they were trying to pay homage to the original. This thing seems like a total travesty. And it's ugly as sin! I think I'm going to throw up.

jesus, it's just like the new(ish) Juno-line. $3500-$4000, FUCK YOU ROLAND. FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU IN THE ASS.