Roland

“Up to this point, I didn’t work in a DAW at all. 95% of what I was doing was produced on the 404, you know?” Ted Feighan is speaking about the latest verdant sensory exploration by Monster Rally: Echoes of the Emerald Sands. Seated in front of an immaculately organized art wall in his Cleveland, Ohio, studio, the perpetually beaming beatmaker, visual artist, and songsmith is explaining his stylistic evolution.

Speed by Little Brother Little Brother’s “Speed” is the quintessential 9th Wonder production. Beyond the infectious sped-up wailing from Bobby Womack on “And I Love Her” and the soulful backdrop that sounds like a late-night car ride, “Speed” is where it all started. 9th Wonder’s genesis traces back to his early years with hip-hop duo Little Brother.

A smooth, curved presence. Go to page Straight lines—striking angles. Go to page KIYOLA represents the longstanding collaboration between Roland and the renowned artisans of Karimoku, expert Japanese wood furniture manufacturers since 1940. Featuring natural cabinets and inspired craftsmanship, these distinctive instruments will blend seamlessly into your home.

YMOがTR-808試作機を公開してました 1980年12月29日のことです。 オーディオ・マニアだった菊本忠男さんは、NHK-FMを慎重にエアチェックしていました。ちょうどYMOの武道館公演で発売前の「千のナイフ」の演奏が始まりました。 緊張感の中、菊本さんは流れてきたイントロに驚愕して、椅子から転げ落ちそうになりました。 「こ・・・、この音は・・・！」 そう、当時、この音を聴き分けられたのは日本中でただ一人、開発者の菊本さんだけだったという、まだ流通していないはずの新型リズム・マシンTR-808のハンド・クラップだったのです！！ （伝説のリズム・マシンTR-808） 「貸し出していた試作機を教授がライブで使った？」、「営業が先走った？」、菊本さんの想像では諸説あるらしいのですが。コンピューター（マイクロ・プロセッサー）の登場により、まだ世の中にない楽器がじゃんじゃか生み出されていた時代。ミュージシャンとエンジニアが同時進行で模索しながら作られていたということだったのかもしれません。 世界で最初にTR-808のサウンドがオンエアされた瞬間でした。...

How do you view the current state of underground techno and its evolution? I think techno is not underground anymore. It’s really popular, and people are waiting for it, especially nowadays, seeing as we are at a big festival. My motto is to reach a wider platform, stick to my roots, and be authentic. More people around me or listening to me is a good opportunity to showcase the music we have in hands, in our minds. Let’s spread the word—let’s spread the magic of techno.

JOIN US AT THE ROLAND STUDIO What’s Happening Across Roland at Winter NAMM 2025? Held every January in Los Angeles, California, Winter NAMM is one of the largest music product exhibitions on the planet. Showcasing the latest musical instruments, production tools, and performance gear, all of Roland’s brands—including the DW Group—will be at the show with a booth packed full of music, artist appearances, special features, competitions, and some very special Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Tap into four strikingly expressive instruments, including two grand pianos, an upright, and a new felt piano with a unique velvety sound. Backed by our famous V-Piano technology, every note reveals authentic acoustic detail and rich tonal depth, realized through an exquisitely modeled system of virtual string behaviors, soundboard materials, and hammer construction. Adjust the brightness, sound width, and key touch as you play.

For creating a successful livestream, solid content is always your greatest asset. But pro streamers know that adding multimedia elements can improve production value, engage viewers, and keep them returning to their favorite Twitch or YouTube livestreams. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most popular proven techniques you can use to give your productions a more professional look, increase engagement, and build your brand.

A Virtual Hangout But in addition to acting as a helpful platform for creators, Bandcamp is a community. It has cultivated a virtual hangout space for voracious, devoted fans—often the kind focused on supporting underground sounds that go against the grain. In the past year alone, Bandcamp users have purchased upwards of 13.7 million digital albums, 11 million tracks, and 1.6 million vinyl records. That doesn’t include less conventional items like CDs, pins, tarot cards, candles, and zines.

Sibling Cities How do you see the relationship between Detroit and Chicago regarding techno and house, and how does ARC navigate the two powerhouse cities? John Curley: You can think of Chicago and Detroit as sibling cities, with house and techno growing up together since the ’80s with relative proximity, alternating influence, and mutual respect. Founding fathers of both genres exchanged ideas, intentionally or by osmosis, over the years.