Roland has manufactured numerous instruments that have had lasting impacts on music, such as theJuno-106 synthesizer,[4]TB-303 bass synthesizer,[5] andTR-808 andTR-909drum machines.[6] It was also instrumental in the development ofMIDI, astandardized means of synchronizing electronic instruments manufactured by different companies. In 2016,Fact wrote that Roland had arguably had more influence on electronic music than any other company.[7]
Roland founderIkutaro Kakehashi had foundedAce Electronic Industries in 1960, with Ace having designed and manufactured electronic organs, drum machines, instrument amplifiers, and effects pedals. In March 1972, after one of Ace's major investors,Sakata Shokai [ja], was acquired bySumitomo Chemical (an industrial company with no interest in the music industry), Kakehashi resigned.[6]
On 18 April 1972, just a month after resigning from Ace, Kakehashi founded Roland in Osaka,[8] Kakehashi, who had no musical training, wanted to appeal to amateurs and hobbyists, and focused on miniaturization, affordability, and simplicity.[9]
The "Roland" name was selected for export purposes, as Kakehashi was interested in a name that was easy to pronounce for his worldwide target markets. The name was found in a telephone directory, and Kakehashi was satisfied with the simple two-syllable word and its soft consonants. The letter "R" was chosen because it was not used by many other music equipment companies, so would stand out in trade-show directories and industry listings. Kakehashi did not learn of the French epic poemThe Song of Roland until later.[10]
With seven employees from his former company, a rented shed, and $100,000, Kakehashi built on his experience at Ace, introducing a drum machine, the TR-77 or Rhythm 77, as Roland's first product, followed by the TR-33 and TR-55 released that same year. In 1973, Roland introduced the first compact synthesizer produced in Japan and the first synthesizer produced by Roland, theSH-1000,[11] as well as their first non-preset synthesizer, theSH-3.[12]
Following the bankruptcy of its European distributor in 1980, Roland established new distribution companies in the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, and Switzerland the following year.[6] Over the next several years, Roland released several instruments that have had a lasting influence on popular music.[14] After Kakehashi realizedmicroprocessors could be used toprogram drum machines,[15] Roland launched theTR-808 Rhythm Composer, its first programmable drum machines, in 1980.[16] Although it was not an immediate commercial success, the 808 was eventually used on more hit records than any other drum machine[17] and became a cornerstone of the emergingelectronic andhip hop genres.[18] It has been described as hip hop's equivalent to theFender Stratocaster guitar, which dramatically influenced the development ofrock music.[19][20][21] The 808 was followed in 1983 by theTR-909,[6] which, alongside theTB-303 Bass Line synthesizer, influenced the development of dance music such astechno,house, andacid.[22][23]
The company introduced the first JX-series synthesizer, the 6-voiceJX-3P, in 1983; the 8-voiceJX-8P and 12-voiceJX-10 followed in 1985 and 1986. TheD-50, which popularizedsample-based synthesis, was introduced in 1987,[28] and was the bestselling synth that year.[29]: 251
In, 1991 Roland released theJD-800, a digital synthesizer with many sliders.[28] In 1993, they released theJD-990, which is the rackmount version of the JD-800.[30] In 1994, Kakehashi founded the Roland Foundation and became chairman. In 1995, he was appointed the chairman of Roland Corporation.Roland instruments were also featured in the "There Goes A . . . " series of videos by Dave Hood.
In 2001, Kakehashi resigned as chair of Roland Corporation and was appointed as a special executive adviser.[31] In 2002, he published anautobiography,I Believe in Music.[32] His second book,An Age Without Samples: Originality and Creativity in the Digital World, was published in 2017.[33]
In 2018, Roland launched a subscription service calledRoland Cloud. Users of the service can download and emulate a number of Roland synthesizers (modelled through a proprietary paradigm calledACB[34]) and drum machines in audio plugin formats. This collection also includes orchestral modules (namely the Roland SRX racks) and new additions such as original sampled instruments.
Throughout 2022, Roland celebrated their 50th anniversary by releasing two new editions of their Space Echo tape delay through their Boss brand, along with selling commemorative merchandise and clothing through their online streetswear shopRoland Lifestyle. Later on, a collaboration with Dais Records[35] was announced on 8 June ahead of the release of the JUNO-X synthesizer the following month. A newJupiter-4 emulation for Roland Cloud[36] and anNFT collection[37] also materialised in the summer and autumn respectively.
Roland markets products under a number of brand names, each of which is used on products geared toward a different niche.[38]
TheRoland brand is used on a wide range of products including synthesizers, digital pianos, electronically enhanced accordions, electronic drum systems, dance and DJ gear,guitar synthesizers, amplifiers, and recording products. Many of these products are now also available throughRoland Cloud, aVST subscription service.
Boss is a brand used for products geared toward guitar players, and is used for guitar pedals, effects units, rhythm and accompaniment machines, guitar amplifiers, and portable recording equipment.
Edirol was a line of professional video-editing and video-presentation systems, as well as portabledigital audio recorders. Edirol also had Desktop Media (DTM) products, more production-oriented, and included computer audio interfaces, mixers, and speakers. Following Roland's purchase of a controlling interest inCakewalk Software, most of the division's products were rebranded as Cakewalk products or blended with the professional audio/RSS products to form Roland Systems Group.[39]
Roland Systems Group is a line of professional commercial audio and video products.
Amdek was incorporated in 1981 "as a manufacturer of computerized music peripherals and as a distributor of assembled electronic music instrument parts."[40] The Amdek brand is best remembered for a series of user-assembled effects pedals and accessories, marketed until 1983;[41] at least 16 kits are known to have existed.[42] Amdek's primary focus was on the potential uses of personal computers to assist musicians, and in 1982 they introduced the DXY-100, the company's first pen plotter, with the intent of allowing users to print out their own sheet music. Soon realizing the printer had a much larger market potential, in 1983 Amdek became the Roland DG Corporation.[43]
Roland DG is a company in digital printing and engraving technology, produces computerizedvinyl cutters, thermal-transfer printer/cutters,wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters, 3D scanners, and dental milling devices, and engravers.[44][45] In 2014, Roland DG officially entered the 3D printing market with the launch of its monoFab series, featuring the ARM-10 3D printer.[46]
In 1987, Roland acquired the then-defunctRhodes name, and released a number of digital keyboards bearing the Rhodes brand.Harold Rhodes had regained the rights to the name in 2000 prior to his death that same year. Rhodes was dissatisfied with Roland's treatment of the marque, and had plans to reintroduce his iconic electric piano, but died before he was able to bring it to market.[47]
V-MODA designs and develops "world‑class high‑fidelity headphones and audio devices" and became a part of the Roland family on 8 August 2016 also known as 808 Day.[48]
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