HISTORY/LEARN/PRODUCTION A History of Roland Samplers Roland was a key part of the sampling movement—redefining what music could be. Take a guided tour of Roland samplers from past to present by Adam Douglas 18 mins read LEARN/SYNTHESIZER Capturing Synth Sounds with ZENOLOGY: “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo Utilize ZENOLOGY to recreate the mellow tones and lush soundscapes of Olivia Rodrigo’s heart-wrenching ballad, “drivers license.” by Charles Burchell 8 mins read LEARN/PRODUCTION Ultimate Guide: Customizing the SP-404MKII The SP-404MKII is ready-made for numerous types of customizations. Here's a deep dive into the world of options for modding the new model. by Brady Ettinger 9 mins read DRUMS See All » Roland Engineering: Understanding Prismatic Sound Modeling With Prismatic Sound Modeling, V-Drums have reached unprecedented realism and detail. Learn about the innovative modeling engine. by Ari Rosenschein 12 mins read V-Drums Warmups Prepping for a big gig or woodshedding to improve your chops—these V-Drums exercises will help build precision, timing, and more. by Ari Rosenschein 6 mins read Tips and Tricks: Using the SPD-SX as a MIDI Controller Utilizing the SPD-SX as a MIDI controller unlocks a new world of creative possibilities. Explore the SPD-SX as a production tool. by Charles Burchell 7 mins read Drummer Dad: Musical Moments with the Family There's an excitement to playing a drum set for the first time. As a father, Oli Raud gets to revisit that feeling with his children. by Stuart Williams 5 mins read QUICK READS JUPITER-Xm and Zenbeats: A Perfect Pair The JUPITER-Xm is a powerful synthesizer. Zenbeats is a multi-platform app for music creation. When combined, the duo has impressive synergy. by Robert Saint John 5 mins read Re-create “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion in Zenbeats Megan Thee Stallion is a rapper, producer, and singer-songwriter. Re-create her chart-topping hit “Savage” using Roland Zenbeats. by Charles Burchell 5 mins read Getting to Know the DJ-202: Unboxing and Installation Find out how to get started with the forward-thinking Serato DJ Lite controller. by Daniel Lee 3 mins read Zenbeats How-To: LoopBuilder and Advanced Recording Modes Whatever your experience level or creative role, Roland Zenbeats is here to help you create music as boundless as your imagination. by Matthew Presley 3 mins read 8 Secrets of the 808 Explore these eight lesser-known tips and help fully utilize the beatmaking potential of Roland Cloud's powerful TR-808 plugin. by Mike Sparks 5 mins read PIANO AND SYNTHESIZER See All » Digital Dreams: Eric Persing and the JD-800 Explore the inside story of the iconic JD-800 from legendary sound designer Eric Persing, a key figure in its development. by Paul McCabe 17 mins read A Few Minutes with Gattobus: From Roland Fan to Family Gattobus received his first Roland keyboard at 16. Find out how he became a sound designer for the SYSTEM-8, FANTOM, JUPITER-X, and others. by SIRMA 11 mins read Breaking Barriers: Guitarist Meets GROOVEBOX Alex Hutchings is turning heads with videos featuring the MC-707 GROOVEBOX and the BOSS MS-3. He walks us through this innovative pairing. by Ari Rosenschein 10 mins read DAWless Mastery: Using Scene Chains The GROOVEBOX series continues to evolve, and one of the latest tools for advanced performance is Scene Chain. Learn to maximize the feature. by Brian Lamb 4 mins read Frank McNulty: A Family’s Musical Journey Music keeps us young and brings families together. Frank McNulty and his daughter Jules talk about influences, upbringing, and Roland pianos. by Ari Rosenschein 17 mins read GO:MIXER PRO-X PRODUCTION See All » Track Talk: Moods on Music Ruined My Life Moods, aka Nick Lubbersen, added a live band to his trademark electronica for his latest release. He discusses using the JUNO-6 on the album. by SIRMA 5 mins read A History of Roland Samplers Roland was a key part of the sampling movement—redefining what music could be. Take a guided tour of Roland samplers from past to present by Adam Douglas 18 mins read Track Talk: VI/DEO by Xeno & Oaklander Brooklyn's Xeno & Oaklander discuss their favorite Roland gear and how they utilized it crafting their latest release during the pandemic. by Evan Shamoon 7 mins read Ultimate Guide: Customizing the SP-404MKII The SP-404MKII is ready-made for numerous types of customizations. Here's a deep dive into the world of options for modding the new model. by Brady Ettinger 9 mins read SPOTLIGHT Capturing Synth Sounds with ZENOLOGY: “Roses” by SAINt JHN SAINt JHN and Imanbek won a Grammy award for “Roses." Using ZENOLOGY, explore how to recreate sounds from this multi-platinum record. by Charles Burchell 8 mins read ENGINEERING AND DEEP DIVES Roland Engineering: Designing the SP-404MKII The lead designers behind the SP-404MKII provide an exclusive look inside the making of the updated version of the beloved classic. by Ari Rosenschein 22 mins read Roland Engineering: Inside the SP Series The SP-404 helped usher in lo-fi hip-hop. Roland’s Engineering team answers questions on the most intriguing aspects of the iconic SP series. by Ari Rosenschein 9 mins read Roland Engineering: Inside VERSELAB MV-1 Roland's Development team discusses all things VERSELAB, a new music production tool that makes it easy to create songs from pop to hip-hop. by Icon Magazine 23 mins read JUNO-60: The Whole Story In 1982, a new synth dynasty set the tone for the '80s and beyond. Get the entire tale of the sonic and cultural impact of the Roland JUNO-60 by Peter Kirn 11 mins read OUR CONTRIBUTORS See All » Benjamin Heywood Heywood is a lifelong Californian who now splits time between Los Angeles and the high desert. He is co-founder of the record label Chain Letter Collective and founded Chain Letter Press as a publishing home for both his creative output and copywriting. He lives with his spouse and their dog, Scully. Darren Schoepp Darren is Percussion Product Manager for Roland Canada. He loves motorcycles, loud drums, and the great outdoors. Kat Bein Kat is a music and culture journalist with a decade of digital and print experience and a career emphasis in electronic dance. Bylines include Billboard Dance, Spin, MTV News, Discogs, Mixmag, Miami New Times and more. Lyle Crilly Lyle Crilly works with Roland's Global Artist Relations team and lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife and new puppy. He enjoys a good shot of caffeine in the morning, yurting, and Cumbia. Inspiring stories and knowledge to help spark your creativity. SEARCH CORPORATE LINKS Privacy Policy Terms Of Use WANT ARTICLES IN YOUR INBOX? * indicates required field. Full Name Email* Subscribe EXPLORE ROLAND ENGINEERING