Maker
Roland
Japanese electronic and amplification instrument maker
Roland is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines such as the TR-808, and the JC-120 Jazz Chorus, a benchmark solid-state guitar amplifier known for its built-in stereo chorus and produced since 1975.
Models
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Roland SH
Japan
The SH series is Roland's long-running line of mostly monophonic synthesizers, beginning with the SH-1000 in 1973. It includes the popular SH-101 and continues into modern recreations such as the Boutique SH-01A.
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Roland U-20
Synthesizer · Japan
The Roland U-20 is a sample-based (PCM) synthesizer keyboard released in 1989, built around Roland's RS-PCM sound cards. It offered realistic instrument sounds and multitimbral playback aimed at performing and composing musicians.
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Roland JX-03
Japan
The Roland JX-03 is a Roland Boutique desktop module that recreates the JX-3P synthesizer, offering its dual-DCO analog character in a compact modeled form.
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Roland Juno
Japan
The Juno series is Roland's line of affordable polyphonic synthesizers built around a single digitally controlled oscillator per voice and a warm chorus. It includes the Juno-6, Juno-60, and the popular, MIDI-equipped Juno-106.
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Roland Jupiter
Japan
The Jupiter series is Roland's line of flagship polyphonic analog synthesizers from the early 1980s, known for their bold, refined sound. It includes the eight-voice Jupiter-8 and the more compact, MIDI-equipped Jupiter-6.
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Roland XP
Japan
The XP series is Roland's line of sample-based synthesizer workstations from the 1990s, combining expandable sound libraries with onboard sequencing. It includes the XP-30 and the workstation-class XP-80.
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Roland SP-404
Sampler · Japan
The Roland SP-404 is a portable sampler line, first released in 2005, that pairs pad-based sample playback and recording with a bank of lo-fi and creative effects. Affordable and battery-capable, it became a favorite for beat-making, lo-fi hip-hop, and live performance.
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Roland MC-808
Synthesizer · Japan
The Roland MC-808 is a groovebox released in 2006, combining sample-based sounds, real-time knob control, motorized faders, and an onboard sequencer aimed at electronic dance music production and live performance.
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Roland JD-990
Synthesizer · Japan
The Roland JD-990 is a rackmount digital synthesizer released in 1993 as a powerful tone module relative to the JD-800. It expanded the JD sound engine with more waveforms, advanced effects, and deep multitimbral capabilities for studio production.
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Roland Fantom-X
Synthesizer · Japan
The Roland Fantom-X is a sample-based synthesizer workstation introduced in 2004, offering Roland's expandable synthesis engine, sampling, a large display, sequencing, and pad-based control for production and live performance.
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Roland V-Combo
Organ · Japan
A family of portable stage keyboards from Roland built around a Virtual Tone Wheel organ engine with nine harmonic bars, combined with electric/acoustic piano and synthesizer engines. The line targets gigging organ and keyboard players who want classic drawbar organ tone in a lightweight instrument.
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Roland Aerophone AE-10
Electronic wind instrument · Japan
The Roland Aerophone AE-10 is a digital wind instrument that combines breath and bite control with a built-in sound engine. With saxophone-style fingering and a range of acoustic and synth sounds, it lets wind players perform electronically.
Sources
Categories
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Electronic Wind Instruments
Electronic wind controllers, wind synthesizers, and related instruments.
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Sound Modules
Standalone electronic sound generators without a primary performance keyboard.
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Samplers
Hardware samplers and production workstations centered on sample playback or sequencing.
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Pianos
Acoustic pianos, piano model families, and related keyboard instruments.
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Sequencers
Hardware step and pattern sequencers that store and play back note, control, and timing data to drive other instruments, without generating their own primary voice.
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Synthesizers
Hardware synthesizers, synth model families, and related electronic instruments.
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Drum Machines
Programmable rhythm machines, drum synthesizers, and related beat-making instruments.
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Guitar amplifiers
Amplifiers designed for electric guitar.
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Accordions
Piano, button, chromatic, diatonic, and free-bass accordions, plus accordion makers and model families.
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Organs
Acoustic, electric, and electronic organs and organ model families.
Representative model
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Roland TR-808
Drum machine · Japan
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is a programmable analog drum machine that Roland produced from 1980 to 1983. Its sounds are generated by analog circuitry rather than samples, giving it a distinctive booming kick, snappy snare, and sizzling cymbals and hi-hats. Commercially unsuccessful at launch, it became one of the most influential instruments in popular music, defining the low end of hip-hop, electro, and dance records and remaining a sought-after sound decades later.