Roland has introduced Roland Wireless Connect, a new system that allows electronic musical instruments to communicate with the iPhone®.

Roland Wireless Connect

Consisting of a wireless USB adapter and two new iOS apps, Roland Wireless Connect makes it easy for Roland users to enjoy their instruments with the popular mobile devices from Apple®.

With the Air Recorder app, audio can be recorded from a Roland synthesizer or V-Accordion® directly into the iPhone. Songs can be played from the iPhone and sent to the instrument, where users can jam along and record the result back in Air Recorder.

V-Drums® Friend Jam for iPhone is an iOS version of V-Drums® Friend Jam, the popular social practice tool for drummers. While the Mac/Windows version of V-Drums Friend Jam requires a USB or MIDI connection from a V-Drums sound module to a computer, Roland Wireless Connect provides a direct, convenient connection from the module to the iPhone. The app allows V-Drums users across the globe to interact with each other while improving their drumming skills with play-along audio songs and practice evaluation features.

The hardware portion of Roland Wireless Connect is a simple, compact wireless USB adapter WNA1100-RL (manufactured by NETGEAR® and distributed by Roland) that plugs into the USB port on a Roland instrument. In order for the mobile device to communicate with compatible musical instruments, you need a wireless LAN access point with internet connection.

Compatible instruments (with firmware update) include:

  • Synthesizers: JUNO-Di / JUNO-Gi / JUPITER-80 / JUPITER-50 / Lucina® AX-09
  • V-Drums Sound Modules: TD-30 / TD-15 / TD-11
  • V-Accordions: FR-7x / FR-3x / FR-1x

Roland Wireless Connect, Air Recorder, and V-Drums Friend Jam for iPhone will be available in late spring.

More information: Roland