Roland has announced the debut of several new music products and marks its entrance into the gaming category at CES 2023. While Roland continues to provide creators, musicians, and music-lovers of all levels high-quality audio and electronic instrument innovations across many categories, the brand is excited to forge its expertise across additional multimedia verticals, such as gaming.
BRIDGE CAST Dual Bus Gaming Mixer
The Roland BRIDGE CAST is a professional USB-C audio streaming interface and mixer for online gamers. Named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree, BRIDGE CAST takes gaming sound to the next level, backed by 50 years of Roland audio development.
This customizable desktop hub features dual mixes, vocal transformer effects, music playback, sound effects, and support for a broadcast-grade XLR mic. Powerful onboard DSP handles the audio load, letting the user dedicate their computer’s power to gaming and streaming.
BRIDGE CAST allows gamers to create independent sound mixes for personal monitoring and online streaming. The personal mix can prioritize game audio and voice chat, while the stream mix can be optimized for maximum viewer engagement using sound effects, backing music, and more.
The companion BRIDGE CAST app unlocks deeper features, including mic and audio processing, voice transformer settings, Game EQ presets, and more. It’s also possible to re-assign hardware controls and save/recall configurations for different games and streaming audiences.
TD-02 Drum Series
The Roland TD-02K and TD-02KV V-Drums kits provide a premium musical experience for first-time drummers, practicing students, and adults looking to start playing drums again.
The kits are based around the TD-02 module, which includes 16 ready-to-play kits and onboard Coach functions to help build and maintain skills. Drummers can use headphones for quiet home playing sessions and connect a smartphone to play along with favorite songs. An optional Bluetooth adaptor adds wireless capabilities for streaming music from mobile devices and communicating with MIDI production apps.
The TD-02K and TD-02KV offer a full array of drum and cymbal pads with sensitive playing surfaces to develop proper techniques. The upgraded TD-02KV kit includes a Roland mesh-head snare pad with a natural acoustic stick feel and rebound. The hi-hat and kick trigger pedals in both kits feature noise-reducing designs to minimize sound transfer in living spaces.
Roland is also excited to share their involvement in the Clem Burke Drumming Project. Inspired by the drumming of legendary Blondie artist Clem Burke, scientists have explored the physical demands of “live” drumming and uncovered health benefits. Results found that drummers can exert the same level of energy during a concert as a professional soccer player in a 90-minute match. Groundbreaking cognitive benefits were discovered as well. To learn more about these scientific discoveries, visit Roland at CES to watch a video on project.
Roland 50th Anniversary Concept Piano
For decades, Roland has pursued the most promising electronic technologies to reinvent the acoustic piano playing experience and to honor the instrument’s beautiful sounds and history. With unique innovations and structural changes, Roland’s 50th Anniversary Concept Piano paves the way for instruments of the future.
Offering improved sound quality, advanced connectivity, and stunning finishes, this 50th anniversary piano, equipped with Roland’s latest sound system and tones alongside Roland’s most legendary piano sounds and expression, also features a keyboard touch more natural and responsive than ever before. Its one-piece molded wooden body, designed in collaboration with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku, was inspired by the fusion of the past and future, while its exterior, comprised of Japanese oak wood, provides deep piano tones from its speakers.
More than a beautiful design, the 50th Anniversary Concept Piano aims to fill a gap in the industry. In the age of digital pianos, many find rich sound quality is sacrificed for innovation. Roland’s concept piano offers a 360-degree speaker system, which is able to send sound in any direction through its 14 adjustable speakers placed strategically throughout.
In addition to those onboard speakers, the sound field around the piano will be enhanced with drone speakers, the first of their kind, which float above the piano for an enhanced sound quality and eye-catching experience. By operating on a low latency dedicated communication channel, the drones allow players to control their positioning as they play. Through these unique structural advancements, this concept piano is able to provide the sound quality of classic instruments, all while maintaining the modern enhancements of Roland technology.
For a demo of Roland products, visit the Roland exhibit at CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 5-8, 2023, at LVCC, Central Hall 15301.
The Roland BRIDGE CAST and TD-02 V-Drums series will be available in January in the U.S for the following prices:
- BRIDGE CAST: $299.99 USD.
- TD-02K Kit: $399.99 USD.
- TD-02KV Kit: $599.99 USD.
More information: Roland
