Roland and Yamaha are on notice!!! after Namm 2013

Numbergod · Post by **Numbergod** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:27 am

Right now Roland and Yamaha look so bad compared to Korg's offerings
they need to go home and re invent themselves

javaj · Post by **javaj** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:43 am

At least for Roland, I totally agree. Haven't seen Yammys stuff yet.

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:05 am

I agree....both suck real bad from a Workstation perspective.

billy

cello · Post by **cello** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:39 am

+1

Stuff for some folk yes, but nothing for me.

Hugely disappointed that these two are seemingly deserting the workstation market. I guess they must have their reasons but it strikes me now would be a good time for them to come out with something new.

Broadwave · Post by **Broadwave** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:22 am

cello wrote:Hugely disappointed that these two are seemingly deserting the workstation market. I guess they must have their reasons but it strikes me now would be a good time for them to come out with something new.

But it would have to be a Kronos killer, which wouldn't be easy.

stuck · Post by **stuck** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:04 pm

I totally agree.
Roland last updated the Fantom line in 2008, and Yamaha the motif line in 2010. Sine then we've had the original Kronos and the Kronos X from Korg. C'mon, let' see some competition here?

shefu · Post by **shefu** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:46 pm

It's obvious Roland are taking a break from workstations. But that's fine, if u want a new workstation just get a Kronos. Roland are doing their own thing with the superNATURAL performance synths. They've released 3 of them in past 2 years, plus a module. JP 80, JUP 50, this new V Combo, and the Integra.

miden · Post by **miden** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:08 pm

Roland have moved right away from anything approaching "pro" level outside their pianos range, which still dominate the digital piano market.

They have moved to the low to mid range (price and features) on pretty much all this type of gear. I would suggest you will NEVER again see a t.o.t.l. workstation from Roland. just as there will be no further major development from the arranger division. With all the available line under$1500

I truly believe they (Roland) have made a corporate decision to leave the high end market to Korg and Yamaha. Not enough return for cost and WAY too many headaches.

Kevin Nolan · Post by **Kevin Nolan** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:26 pm

Have Yamaha released their press releases for NAMM 2013 ?? Can't find any link to their output (but not expecting much).

I think you are being too harsh on Roland. They are a substantive company - though not in the traditional synth vogue in the way many want, they have remained incredibly innovative in 'virtual acoustics' for want of a better term:

COSM
Vocal Design
Articulation Synthesis
Supernatural
Virtual Analogue
V- Piano.

If you look at the V-Synth GT, the Jupiter 80 and the V-Piano as examples, they are ALL incredibly innovative. the V-Synth GT is still stunning - its technologies have still not been surpassed and it sounds amazing and is hugely innovative.

And then they offer a plethora of variants on those technologies in more affordable packages - Integra 7, GAIA, JP50, Juno range, VP770 - all of these are incredibly strong even if they do not push your buttons (excuse the pun).

Over all, Roland get a brutal time from forum, but I feel they are incredibly focused, incredibly innovative, regularly take big risks for the sake of advancing synthesis and regularly release stunning instruments.

Korg are similar, alas Yamaha have lost all of that and are not in the synthesizer 'space' any more. But Roland deserve far more credit than they are given IMO.

Finally, can't believe I'm saying this but I think the VR-09 is excellent, and I'm seriously thinking of selling my JP80 and may buy one of those (the JP80 is an excellent instrument but the Registration- Live Set- Tone way of doing things bugs the hell out of me and I can't adapt to it).

Kevin.

Timo · Post by **Timo** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:37 pm

I wished Roland had made continued successors to their JP-8000, like Access-Music did with their Virus lines (A > B > C > TI).

That said, the Virus is strictly the only thing that Access Music make, whereas Roland have countless other lines of work.

djcactus · Post by **djcactus** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:19 pm

its still early, we should wait. Im not really big on putting my foot in my mouth... Though i have not heard much in the yamaha and roland department, i wont dismiss them juuuust yet.

They still do cool stuff im finding interesting, especially roland.

Right now you can get a laptop and weighted 88 midi controller and have your workstation. If you dont like your sounds or the engines on your computer no big deal, change them. Roland could be taking a break, or leaving it entirely its all speculation, though it wouldn't make a very shocking development at the cost they(korg, yamaha, roland) are paying for computer hardware.(That isn't as powerful as say that same laptop)

I understand not everyone wants to find a home for a laptop on stage. I am not here to argue about computer vs instrument, they are becoming the same thing. Just something to think about from manufacturer stand point.

javaj · Post by **javaj** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:30 am

I tried the live MacBook filled with instruments route. Yeah you can do it, but for me, it was a phase and I really enjoy touching my gear with instant results. love my Spectrasonics to death though. Komplete is just meh. Lime to switch on and just play.

miden · Post by **miden** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:01 am

Wrong info. Sorry

johnxyz · Post by **johnxyz** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:39 am

I also think Roland are getting a hard time.

1) Their most recent pro synths are far superior in build quality to Korg's most recent pro synth.

2) Pop acts (the majority of live music) around the globe, use Roland gear most of the time

3) Excluding other manufacturers, if you ask yourself 'pure synths released between 1 and 20 years ago'? - Roland rather than Korg would be the popular choice I think.

Just my immediate thoughts...

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:49 pm

johnxyz wrote:3) Excluding other manufacturers, if you ask yourself 'pure synths released between 1 and 20 years ago'? - Roland rather than Korg would be the popular choice I think.

That's not quite true.