KEYBOARD RIGS

FROM STUDIO TO STAGE

AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN
 KEYBOARD RIGS

FROM STUDIO TO STAGE AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN

What do keyboard players really want?

Key synth and keyboard technologies

#1: the sound engine

#2: the feel of the keyboard
#3: the user interface

Artists using Roland Keyboard Rigs

Basic keyboard rigs - compact, powerful and personal

Extended keyboard rigs - comprehensive and flexible

Advanced keyboard rigs - highly focused specialisation

 KEYBOARD RIGS

B U I L D I N G T H E U LT I M AT E
R O L A N D K E Y B OA R D R I G
Supercharge your sound by combining two keyboards
in one super-creative keyboard rig
WHAT IS A ROLAND KEYBOARD RIG?

If you play keyboards or synths, you’ve got a lot of options from

simple monophonic 25-key units right up to 88-note workstation
monsters capable of seriously professional results. Today’s
instruments are versatile too, offering hands-on controllers,
drum trigger pads, built-in audio interfaces and much more.
This versatility means they’re suitable for a broad range of music
production and performance duties, with products available at
every stage – whether you’re just starting out, a gigging semi-pro,
or an always-on-tour pro musician.

Roland is synonymous with keyboards and synths, and for well

over four decades we’ve learned what musicians want from their
gear. As a result, Roland offers a wide choice of instruments for
serious keyboard players at all levels. You may even have looked
into the pros and cons of certain models. What you may not know
though, is how two models can be combined to give spectacular
musical results – at a cost which is far less than you’d expect.

For the price of a single competitor product, you can own a two-
keyboard Roland setup that offers you two dedicated tools for the
musical job at hand – rather than a generic jack of all trades that
excels at nothing. This guide explains how certain models from
Roland’s keys and synth line up can be used together, as well as
showcasing some of the industry’s top keys players who are using
Roland keyboard rigs to stay at the top of their game – so you
know you’re in good company.
WHAT DO KEYBOARD PLAYERS REALLY WANT?

Before we start though, a little background is necessary. In 1972

Roland released Japan’s first synth – the SH-1000. Four years
later, the coveted System-100 introduced modular synthesis to a
wider audience, and in 1978 the first Jupiter (the Jupiter-4) made
its debut. Kick starting the 80s with the Jupiter-8, Roland’s synths
and keyboards were regularly used in the hit records of the era,
and the various Roland ‘sounds’ became part of the fabric of the
contemporary music scene.

During this time – over countless recording sessions, rehearsals

and live gigs – close relationships have been formed with musicians,
most of whom are not shy when it comes to telling us what they
want. This constant feedback and communication has resulted in
technologies being developed to make life easier, and better, for the
musician – and the current generation of Roland synths and keyboards
are designed to excel in four areas; sound, keyboard, user interface,
and reliability.
 ROLAND'S SYNTH & KEYBOARD TECHNOLOGIES

UNIQUE PRODUCT COVERAGE

SPANNING ALL ABILITY LEVELS
AND MUSICAL GENRES

RD Stage Piano Series AIRA & Roland Boutique Series

SuperNATURAL
Acoustic / SuperNATURAL
Individual note Synth
voicing

Analog Digital CORE

Crossover /Pure TECHNOLOGIES COSM DSP
Analog

Analog Digital Crossover FA Workstation Series

Synthesizer Series
ACB Virtual
Technology Tone Wheel

Juno DS Series V-Combo

ROLAND'S SYNTH & KEYBOARD TECHNOLOGIES

#1 THE SOUND ENGINE

Choosing the right sound engine for the job

A synth or keyboard has to sound amazing, otherwise what’s the

point? While size, portability, or the number of controllers are all
important, it’s all for nothing if the instrument doesn’t make you want
to play music. Roland’s synth and keys line up offers a variety of core
engines and technologies for all ability levels, with the tonal range
and power to work across all music genres. It’s best to look at this
via the type of instrument you play.

IF YOU PLAY THE SYNTHESIZER

(SuperNATURAL SYNTH, Crossover analog/digital, pure analog)
Maybe you need the most expressive PCM-based violin or
saxophone sounds, or versatile pads and classic drum machines,
or even the raw analog waves of a genuine modular system. Or how
about combining them all? Whatever you’re into, you’re no longer
limited to just analog or just digital; you can mix and match to suit your
needs. For example, the JD-XA combines a four voice analog engine
and filter bank with a four-part digital engine, along with the ability to
route sounds between the various components for brand new sound
design possibilities. Roland is one of the few companies with the
expertise required to offer multiple best-in-class sound generation
methods; just pick which one that gets you excited and start playing.
ROLAND'S SYNTH & KEYBOARD TECHNOLOGIES
IF YOU PLAY THE PIANO
(RD-2000, SuperNATURAL Piano)
Making a truly convincing digital piano is not easy. In fact, Roland took decades to
develop the groundbreaking technologies needed to solve the challenge. In 2009
Roland released the revolutionary V-Piano, a physical modeling instrument with
no samples whatsoever. The upside of physical modeling is a far greater dynamic
range, comprising brighter highs and darker lows, infused with color, character and
long decays that naturally fade to nothingness. You’ll hear more detailed harmonics
when playing fortissimo passages, and fast key repetition no longer forces you to
compromise your style while the piano tries to keep up. The downside of physical
modeling is an extensive CPU load, requiring expensive multi-processors. To retain
the best parts of physical modeling while reducing the price to a more affordable level,
Roland developed SuperNATURAL Piano which combines sampling with powerful
V-Piano Technology. The new RD-2000 is the next step in the evolution. Dual engines
enable simultaneous V-Piano technology alongside massive SuperNATURAL sound
libraries, as well as deep computer integration with high-quality sound of up to
192kHz/24-bit – all in a single instrument.

IF YOU PLAY THE ORGAN

(TONEWHEEL Organ)
The organ is a great example of the need to specialize. Although most digital
keyboards and some synths include a collection of organ sounds, they’re often
a pale imitation of the real thing. This is partly because, in the same way as a piano,
a convincing organ is difficult to achieve on an electronic instrument. Roland has
developed dedicated Tonewheel technology to produce the very best organ sounds,
and when combined with rotary effects and authentic drawbar controls (more of which
later) you’ll be surprised just how good they sound.
ROLAND'S SYNTH & KEYBOARD TECHNOLOGIES

#2 THE FEEL OF THE KEYBOARD

With great instruments, the sound is just one half of the equation: the other is feel.
When a synth or keyboard is built to a low price, the quality of the keyboard action is
the first thing to go; crazy when you think about it, as it’s the only part of the instrument
that you ever touch. A powerful sound engine needs an equally responsive keyboard
to get the best from it. Conventional ‘off the shelf’ keyboards weren’t accurate enough,
so a variety of Roland keyboard technologies have been developed to translate your
musical ideas into sound.

HAMMER ACTION for authentic feel and performance

Many of Roland’s 88-note keyboards have a weighted hammer action, which means
that the lower notes are heavier to the touch, needing slightly more pressure to play,
and the higher notes are lighter. This replicates the feel of the keys on a fine grand
piano and it means that playing a stage piano doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice
a great feel.

WATERFALL for rapid organ playing technique

If you want to include organ sounds, you need an instrument that can handle the
essential organ playing techniques including trill, sputter and ultra-sharp glissandos.
Anything less, and you’ll lose connection with instrument.

SYNTHESIZER ACTION beloved by pro musicians

And if you’re a synth player, you may not need weighted keys, but you’ll definitely
need fast, accurate triggering that remains reliable for many years.
ROLAND'S SYNTH & KEYBOARD TECHNOLOGIES
#2 THE USER INTERFACE
Too much technology can become a distraction, and it's easy
to spend more time tweaking or trouble shooting than actually
making music. Whether you’re still starting out or you’re becoming
established with some regular income from your music, no one can
afford to waste time in the studio. Ever spent all day trying to get your
setup working properly with no time spent actually writing anything?
Roland’s philosophy produces instruments that kick start the creative
process, via intuitive user interfaces that encourage experimentation
and creativity. Let’s look at some of the obvious benefits:
SYNTHESIZER with many controllers for every aspect of the
sound
The JD-XA, for example, pays homage to the knob-and-slider-laden
behemoths of the early 80s, with many controllers to help shape
every aspect of the sound. This results in a very natural approach
to sound design, meaning it’s possible to create the sound in your
head quickly and easily. And if it’s easy to experiment and try new
things, you can guarantee you’ll come up with some killer sounds
that will make your music stand out.
DRAWBARS for authentic organ playing
If you’re an organ player, the chunky drawbars found on the VR-09
V-Combo give you that authentic organ feel, but they also double
up as a convenient way to edit the variety of other sounds on
board, including pads, basses, synth and piano.
MODULAR synthesizer with many CV/Gate connections
If you’re the type of person who loves to explore the outer
limits of sound design, the almost-infinite choice of modular
synthesizers paired with CV/Gate connections will keep you
busy for the foreseeable future. Based on Roland’s iconic
System series from the ‘70s, the current System-500 range
of modular analog synths harks back to the days when people
would use the very building blocks of sound to get creative.
These elements (sound engine, keyboard quality and user interface)
define Roland’s wide range of keyboards and synths. Each instrument
is designed with performance in mind, while offering the musician
an impressive array of creative possibilities. And although each
individual instrument focuses on doing its job exceptionally well
(for example, stage piano, or a punchy analog synth, or a smoky
organ), when you start using two together, you can build a powerful
and versatile keyboard rig that offers you enormous musical potential
– yet is still intuitive and simple to use.
Next we’ll look at several combinations of keyboards and synths,
and what you can expect once you have them at your fingertips.
 ARTISTS USING ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS
Roland keyboard rigs can be found on some of the biggest stages around...
Here are just a few of the artists who use a Roland keyboard rig as part of their setup

Peter Gordeno Alan Walker Peter Sene James Lavelle Jean Michel Jarre
RD-2000, JD-XA SYSTEM-1, V-COMBO, SYSTEM-8 SYSTEM-8 SYSTEM-8
DEPECHE MODE ROLAND BOUTIQUES EVERYTHING EVERYTHING

Tokio Hotel Rachel Z Sasha Myron McKinley Amp Fiddler

JD-XA, RD-2000 RD-2000, JD-XA, SYSTEM-8 RD-2000, SYSTEM-8 RD-2000 VR-730 V-COMBO
PETER GABRIEL, SOLO EARTH, WIND & FIRE JAMIROQUAI, PRINCE, SOLO
 ARTISTS USING ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS

Nick Rhodes Kola Bello Mike Lindup Eats Everything Tears For Fears
JD-XA x 4, JD-Xi RD-2000, SYSTEM-8, JD-Xi RD-2000, JD-XA JD-XA, JUPITER-80 RD-2000, V-COMBO

DURAN DURAN ELLIE GOULDING LEVEL 42, EARTH WIND & FIRE

Joseph Nelson Ayo Oyerinde Berenice Scott Toby Chapman Lawrence Insula
JD-XA, JUPITER-80 JD-XA, RD-800 RD-2000 JUNO-DS88, FA-08 RD-800, JD-XA JD-XA, SH-01
JESS GLYNNE JESSIE J HEAVEN 17, TONY VISCONTI SPANDAU BALLET, KYLIE MINOGUE RITA ORA
WHAT TYPE OF KEYBOARD RIG DO I NEED? Six different Roland keyboard rigs
to get you started.

BASIC EXTENDED ADVANCED

COMPACT, PORTABLE AND POWERFUL COMPREHENSIVE AND FLEXIBLE HIGHLY FOCUSED SPECIALISATION

RIG #1 RIG #3 RIG #5

JUNO-DS88 & VR-730 JUNO-DS88 & FA-06 FA-08 & JD-XA

RIG #2 RIG #4 RIG #6

JUNO-DS61 & JD-XI JD-XA & JD-Xi RD-2000 & SYSTEM-8

 KEYBOARD RIGS

B AS I C K E YB OA R D RIGS
Many musicians keep things simple and focused, as too much
technology can hinder the music making process. When looking for
a new synth or keyboard, a balance has to be found between getting
started quickly and easily – so you can learn how it works – and also
offering enough depth to keep you motivated as your knowledge
grows and you delve into its capabilities. Whether you play frequent
live gigs, or are happier locked away in your home studio, there are
some great ways to start building an inexpensive keyboard rig that
fits perfectly around the way you compose and perform.
RIG #1 / BASIC RIG
IDEAL FOR PLAYING LIVE GIGS, NEEDING ROCK AND POP SOUNDS

This is a compact but powerful keyboard rig offering great

playability and control, perfect if you’re playing more than one gig
on the same night. You have the comprehensive options of the
DAW AUDIO Juno-DS88 (including sample import, phrase pads for triggering,
INTERFACE
mic input and weighted action 88-note keyboard), and the focused
control of the VR-730, with authentic organ tonewheel sound and
harmonic drawbars.

WITH THIS KEYBOARD RIG YOU GET

• Great combination of piano, synth and organ, with 88-note
keyboard action (Juno-DS88) and quick-firing keyboard with
drawbars for authentic organ feel (VR-730)
• Light to carry and easy to transport (under 22kg for both
models together)
• Total of 256 voice polyphony (128 voices in each keyboard)
• Deep synth editing via iPad (VR-730 editor)

JUNO-DS88 WORKSTATION + VR-730 V-COMBO

• No compromise hardware quality – a Juno for serious musicians • Tonewheel organ engine with nine harmonic drawbars for authentic real-time
control of the organ Authentic Rotary effect
• 88-key weighted-action keyboard with lightweight design (Ivory Feel-G)
• SuperNATURAL Synth with full parameter editing via iPad
• 256 MB internal wave memory with one expansion slot
• Split/Layer
• User sample import
• Extremely fast 73-note keyboard response enables you to play essential organ
• Eight phrase pads for triggering samples and audio songs
techniques such as trill, sputter and glissando
• Eight track pattern sequencer with audio file triggering
• Seven simultaneous effects with dedicated controllers
• Mic input with Vocoder and Auto-Pitch
• Access to synth and organ parameters with free iPad app
• USB audio/MIDI and DAW controller mode

ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS

RIG #2 / BASIC RIG
IDEAL FOR STUDIO WORK, ESPECIALLY DANCE GENRES
DAW AUDIO
INTERFACE
JUNO-DS61 WORKSTATION
• No compromise hardware quality – a Juno for serious musicians
• 256 MB internal wave memory plus one expansion slot
• User sample import
• Eight phrase pads for triggering samples and audio songs
• Eight track pattern sequencer and audio file triggering
• Mic input with Vocoder and Auto-Pitch
• USB audio/MIDI and DAW controller mode
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS
By combining the Juno-DS61 and JD-Xi synths, up and coming
producers get maximum versatility at an affordable price – including
the ability to work with powerful digital sounds and rich, warm
analog sounds. In addition to over 1,200 ‘industry-standard’ sounds,
the Juno-DS61 contains an array of powerful music production tools
including sample import, pattern-based sequencing and phrase
trigger pads, and brings them all together inside a fast and intuitive
music production environment.
WITH THIS KEYBOARD RIG YOU GET
• Convenient combination of analog and digital synth
technology
• Affordable price
• Total of 256 voice polyphony (combined)
• Pattern sequencer with audio files triggering
• Fantom-G size wave memory + wave expandability (Juno
DS-61)
• Vocoder (both)
• DAW integration (MIDI/Audio streaming)
+ JD-Xi CROSSOVER SYNTH
• Analog monophonic synth with real analog oscillator
• Digital synthesizer with 128 voice polyphony / SuperNATURAL technology
• Easy to use step sequencer with backing tracks
• Onboard Vocoder
• Audio/MIDI Interface with low latency drivers
 KEYBOARD RIGS

E X T E N D E D K EY B OA RD RIGS
Take the next step and introduce some serious sonic power
EXTENDED KEYBOARD RIGS

There comes a time in every musician’s career when they need

to update their setup. This could be simply to replace older, worn
out gear, or it could be that you need fresh sounds, better quality
sounds or more comprehensive production options. Technology
continues to drive many aspects of the music industry, and this
includes production and live performance.

If you’re a musician who supplements your ‘day job’ by taking gigs,

you will need different things from your instrument, and making the
wrong choice could deprive you of future income through lost gigs.
Reliability, for example, becomes much more important, as you don’t
need your keyboard to go down in the middle of the set. The ability
to blend into a band mix and sound good through a variety of PA
systems are also key, as are logically laid out controls letting you
concentrate on playing, not desperately searching for that elusive
lead patch before the next song begins.

Back in the studio, the stakes are just as high, with a huge premium
placed on getting a fresh sound. Sounding like nobody else plays
a major part in getting attention and building an audience, and you
could start something big. And of course, modern gear needs to play
nicely with just about every format; it’s no good having thousands of
studio-grade sounds at your fingertips if you can’t record them into
your DAW of choice. Or you could go old-school with the focused
approach of a dedicated workstation that doesn’t need to be hooked
up to a computer. Many players love the simple approach – get the
song working on just piano, and you’re half way there.
RIG #3 / EXTENDED RIG
STUDIO-CLASS POWER THAT CAN ALSO BE GIGGED
DAW AUDIO
INTERFACE
JUNO-DS88 WORKSTATION
• No compromise hardware quality – a Juno for serious musicians
• Weighted-action keyboard with lightweight design (Ivory Feel-G)
• 256 MB internal wave memory + 1 expansion slot
• User sample import
• Eight Phrase pads for triggering samples and audio songs
• Eight track pattern sequencer + Audio files triggering
• Mic input with Vocoder and Auto-Pitch
• USB audio/MIDI and DAW controller mode
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS
This rig is the perfect bridge between studio-based work and live
performance. The FA-06 is a great keyboard to place at the heart
of the studio, with many controllers including 16 phrase trigger
pads. You also have the mic input and weighted action 88-note
keyboard of the Juno-DS88 - great for the studio but also good
enough – and light enough – to gig with. When you’re not gigging,
you can chain these two powerhouse synths together, giving
more than enough audio power for even the most complicated
productions – and all with no latency issues and with studio quality
sounds and effects.
WITH THIS KEYBOARD RIG YOU GET
• Enormous sound pallette (over 3000 sounds)
• 88-key weighted-action key action (Juno-DS88)
• 256-voice total polyphony
• User sample import (both)
• Easy sample expansion (FA-06)
• 16-track sequencer (FA-06)
• Great quality but lightweight - easy to transport
• Audio/MIDI Interface with low latency drivers
+ FA-06 WORKSTATION
• Over 2,000 sounds from the flagship INTEGRA-7 sound module
• 16-track sequencer with non-stop loop recording
• Onboard sampler based on the SP-404SX, with 16 pads x 4 banks and direct
recording/playback via SDHC cards
• Studio quality DSPs (16 independent MFX, six COMP+EQ for drums, TFX, global
EQ, Chorus and Reverb
• Dedicated DAW mode
RIG #4 / EXTENDED RIG
AN ANALOG/DIGITAL CROSSOVER PLATFORM FOR CREATING POWERFUL SOUND
When it comes to synths for performance, power and stage
presence the combination of JD-XA and JD-Xi is hard to beat.
Based on Roland’s analog/digital crossover engine, both models
DAW AUDIO
INTERFACE offer genuine analog sound generation – mono for the JD-Xi and
four-part for JD-XA – as well as powerful and versatile digital
parts complete with DSP-based effects. The JD-XA is a sound
designer’s dream, thanks to the generous array of knobs, sliders
and controllers and with a powerful engine underneath the hood,
you have the power and control to create your killer sound set

WITH THIS KEYBOARD RIG YOU GET

• 197-voice polyphony (1 analog + 128 digital, 4 analog + 64
digital)
• A keyboard rig that sounds like no other
• The warmth and power of analog, with the broad versatility
of digital
• Super-programmable, encourages experimentation but
simple to use
• Vocoders

JD-XA CROSSOVER SYNTH + JD-Xi CROSSOVER SYNTH

• Analog polyphonic synth with real analog components (Oscillators/Filters/Amps)
• Digital synth with INTEGRA-7 SuperNATURAL synth part and powerful DSP
sections
• 16-step Sequencer
• Onboard vocoder
• Audio/MIDI interface with low latency drivers and CV/Gate outputs
• Analog monophonic synth with real analog oscillator
• Digital synthesizer with 128 voice polyphony / SuperNATURAL technology)
• Easy to use step sequencer with backing tracks
• Onboard vocoder with gooseneck mic included

ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS

ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

PETER GORDENO
DEPECHE MODE
RD-2000 / A-PRO SERIES / JD-XA
Even now, after two decades in the music industry, Peter Gordeno
is still a man in motion. As producer and songwriter, his credits
include artists like JLS, Il Divo and Seal, while his work as a top
session keyboard player, arranger and musical director has
brought him into the orbit of U2, The Who and George Michael.
In perhaps his longest-running role, Peter has toured with
electronic legends Depeche Mode since 1998, ensuring that
synth-pop classics like Personal Jesus retain their dark majesty
in the modern age. As an analogue aficionado who lived through
the digital revolution – not to mention a self-confessed “piano
snob” – it takes a special kind of keyboard to catch Peter’s ear.

In his long-standing role as keys man for Depeche Mode, Peter Gordeno needs a failsafe way
to communicate with his synths and plug-ins while playing the world’s biggest stages. In this video
interview, the legendary session man explains why he’s come to rely on the Roland RD-2000 as a
controller keyboard, and why this latest stage piano fires him up with its natural sound, open-ended
features and advanced polyphony.

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

JONAS BARSTEN
ALAN WALKER
SYSTEM-1

If you’ve seen a live set by DJ phenomenon Alan Walker, then

you’re already a fan of Jonas Barsten. Operating from his studio
in Oslo, this first-call Norwegian multi-instrumentalist has a mile-
long list of credentials, but recent times have seen him shake the
planet’s biggest stages as Walker’s musical director and live keys
man. As a new breed of musician with a headful of bold ideas,
Jonas presides over a lineup of modern Roland gear – including
the SPD-SX Sampling Pad, A-500 Pro, AIRA SYSTEM-1, JP-08, JX-03
and TR-8 – and uses every unit with an invention that pushes the
envelope. Check out our video interviews with Jonas and let a little
Scandinavian magic rub off onto your own synth parts.

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

PETER SENE
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
SYSTEM-8

Peter Sené can do it all. Graduating from the University Of Surrey

in 2010, then kick-starting his career as Assistant Engineer at
Peter Gabriel’s iconic Realworld Studios, this adaptable freelancer
has since earned his reputation in production, programming and
playback tech – and even served as string tech when Gabriel
headlined the WOMAD festival in 2009. Five years ago, Peter
joined British synth-rockers Everything Everything as touring keys
man and stepped up to the challenge of recreating their ambitious
studio material on the stage. With the band’s acclaimed recent
album, A Fever Dream, hitting UK#5 and sparking their biggest
shows to date, Peter has never been busier – but he’s ready for
every musical scenario with his powerful Roland SYSTEM-8 synth.
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

KOLA BELLO
ELLIE GOULDING
RD-2000 / SYSTEM-8
Sound engineer. Programmer. Musical director. Kola Bello has
worn plenty of hats since he broke onto the British music scene
at the tender age of 16, but it’s probably his talent as a keyboard
player that takes top billing. Since 2013, Kola has worked with
Gentleman’s Dub Club on the Big Smoke album, and toured with
British DJ Naughty Boy, but things really went stratospheric when
he joined pop superstar Ellie Goulding’s lineup to visit 22-plus
countries on the Delirium World Tour. As an open-minded modern
synth player with a flair for sampling and triggering, it’s no surprise
that Kola chooses the trailblazing Roland JD-Xi, JD-XA and RD-800
to recreate the epic tracks from Delirium on the stage. Look out for
him in a stadium near you.

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

BERENICE SCOTT
TONY VISCONTI / HEAVEN 17
RD-2000
It all began at the age of seven, when Berenice Scott performed
her first classical pieces on the piano and trumpet. Soon enough,
though, she’d fallen for the pop hits of the era, and found her
voice with her own self-penned material. Fast-forward to present
day, and this London-based songwriter and session musician
splits her diary between live work for stars like Heaven 17 and
Tony Visconti, while finding time for projects like 2015’s acclaimed
solo album Polarity. A capable guitarist and captivating vocalist,
Berenice describes herself as having a “love affair with the piano”,
and her latest passion is the new Roland RD-2000 which has
become a cornerstone of both her home production setup and
touring rig.

The Roland RD-2000’s capability for acoustic piano sounds and onboard ensemble sounds is
a great way to bring depth and expression to her material. In this performance video, Berenice
demonstrates how this latest stage keyboard excels at pure acoustic tones, then shows how
easy it is to add depth to the sound at the touch of a slider.

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

NICK RHODES
JD-XA / JD-Xi
Few synth players have made a greater impact on British music
than Nick Rhodes. As co-founder of new wave legends and national
treasures Duran Duran, his classic lines powered early-’80s mega-
hits like Rio, Girls On Film and Hungry Like The Wolf, while his trusty
Roland Jupiter-4 and Jupiter-8 rode shotgun as the band took on the
stadium circuit. Since then, Nick’s visionary approach to sound has
helped Duran Duran to move with the times. Last year’s acclaimed
14th studio album Paper Gods featured some of his most ambitious
synth parts to date, while the associated world tour saw him recreate
them using the crossover analogue/digital sound engines of the
Roland JD-XA. Wherever synth technology goes next, expect Nick
Rhodes to be on the front line.

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

MYRON McKINLEY
EARTH WIND & FIRE
RD-2000
From the McKinley Martin Sydnor trio to the mighty Earth, Wind
& Fire, Myron McKinley’s career has run the gamut of musical
scenarios. But as the keys man reveals in this video interview,
the Roland RD-2000 has the flexibility to adapt to every gig,
offering authentic models of vintage acoustic/electric pianos,
deep editing options that let him program custom sounds – and
quickfire operation that means he can pull them up fast onstage.

As keys man and musical director for R&B legends Earth, Wind & Fire, Myron McKinley has a finely
tuned ear for piano performance. In this video, Myron plays a jazz piece to demonstrate the stunning
quality of the Roland RD-2000’s acoustic sounds, which have been customized to suit his taste.

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

MIKE LINDUP
LEVEL 42
RD-2000 AND JD-XA
The slap-bass of Mark King might have taken top billing, but British
new wave legends Level 42 would never have exploded without
the thrilling keyboard work of Mike Lindup. As the band lit up the
late-’80s with all-conquering albums like Running In the Family,
Mike marked himself out as one of the scene’s most adventurous
players, forging new sounds on a rig that included everything from
the Roland MKS-20 to the JUNO-6. Times change, and Mike has
moved with them, returning to the studio with Level 42 for 2013’s
acclaimed Sirens release, and recreating the classic hits live using
the Roland RD-800 and the crossover-tech Roland JD-XA. For this
iconic synth man, it’s all about “lots of colours”, and his palette has
never sounded so full.

"I love the fact that each individual note can be adjusted for pitch, tone, attack & sustain, making
it possible to go beyond the often clinical sound of other digital pianos. In addition, there are lots
of other quality sounds to play with and combine-it's time to play!"

WATCH VIDEO
ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS / ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

TOBY CHAPMAN
TOM JONES / KYLIE MINOGUE
RD-2000 /JD-XA
Toby Chapman’s three decades at the top of the music industry
is testament to his talent and versatility. As an established writer
and producer, he has a proven midas touch, enlisted by an array
of major labels to collaborate with both breaking artists and
established stars. As a first-call session keyboard player and
trusted musical director, meanwhile, Toby has toured alongside
many of the scene’s biggest names, joining Tom Jones, Spandau
Ballet, Il Divo, Kylie Minogue and more, for triumphant stadium
tours around the world. A musician this flexible needs a setup that
bends the rules, and recent times have found Toby drilling into the
Roland RD-800 stage piano and the crossover JD-XA synth that
he describes as a “sound designer’s dream”.

WATCH VIDEO
 KEYBOARD RIGS

A DVA N C E D KE Y B OARD RI GS
When you the need the very best tool for each job
ADVANCED KEYBOARD RIGS

These days, if you’re a professional keyboard player you have to be

versatile and adaptable. Tours and gigs are becoming increasingly
complicated, with each show placing large demands on the musicians
on stage – from technical, musical and performance perspectives.

Recreating the sound of the record is essential and if you’re working

with an artist who likes to experiment during the show, you also have
to be prepared for any eventuality – and able to quickly master a wide
variety of musical scenarios. Then there’s the small matter of reliability
and being able to make things happen quickly and easily – critically
important when you’re playing in front of thousands of people who
have paid to be entertained. Finally, of course, there’s the sound quality
– you need to be able to fill some pretty big spaces with rich, powerful
sound.

Go to any large gig and if there’s a keyboard player on stage,

they’ll usually have more than one keyboard in their rig. There are a
few reasons for this, most obviously they may need to play more than
one instrument at the same time. And sometimes the ‘jack of all trades’
design of some workstations mean that some essential features may
be buried in menus and sub menus – not ideal when you quickly need
to change the sounds in the middle of a set list. Or sometimes you just
need the absolute best piano sound you can find, but you also need
the best organ or synth sound available as well; and that could mean
two different keyboards as one keyboard rarely does it all.
RIG #5 / ADVANCED RIG
88-NOTE PRO-GRADE SOUNDS WITH ANALOG/DIGITAL CROSSOVER POWER
The perfect choice for a professional synth player with a piano
background. Through its 88-note weighted-action keyboard, the
FA-08 delivers top-quality “bread and butter” sounds alongside
sample import options while the JD-XA is perfect for detailed sound
DAW AUDIO sculpting and unique sound design possibilities. You can send the
INTERFACE
analog parts directly though the analog output section, or route it
back into the digital effects bank and stack up with the digital parts
to truly blow the roof off. Since many pro-players often have a
laptop full of music software on tour, both instruments include low-
latency audio/MIDI interfaces with numerous mappable controllers
on the front panels

WITH THIS KEYBOARD RIG YOU GET

• 196-voice polyphony in total (4 analog + 64 digital, 128
digital)
• Easy sample expansion (FA-08)
• Key technologies: analog/digital engines, SuperNATURAL,
Tonewheel
• Huge amount of controllers
• Step sequencer & 16-track sequencer
• Vocoder

FA-08 WORKSTATION + JD-XA CROSSOVER SYNTH

• Over 2000 sounds from the flagship INTEGRA-7 sound module
• 16-track sequencer with non-stop loop recording
• Onboard sampler based on the SP-404SX features 16 pads x 4 banks and di-
rect recording/playback via SDHC cards
• Studio quality DSPs (16 independent MFX, six COMP+EQ for drums, TFX, global
EQ, Chorus and Reverb
• Dedicated DAW mode
• Ivory Feel-G hammer action keyboard
• 4-voice analog poly synth with real analog components (Oscillators/Filters/Amps)
• Digital synth with INTEGRA-7 SuperNATURAL synth part and powerful DSP
sections
• 16-step Sequencer
• Onboard vocoder
• Audio/MIDI interface with low latency drivers and CV/Gate outputs

ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS

RIG #6 / ADVANCED RIG
THE ULTIMATE STAGE PIANO WITH THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE SYNTH
The perfect keyboard rig for the ultimate playing experience on
live stages. The RD-2000 Offers the most authentic grand piano
feel and sound on the market, whereas the System-8 gives the
DAW AUDIO ability to use ultra-realistic recreations of Jupiter-8, Juno-106 and
INTERFACE ProMars in a reliable and powerful on stage keyboard.

WITH THIS KEYBOARD RIG YOU GET

• Top-class piano and synth keybeds
• Huge selection of controllers
• Plug-Out technology for recreations of calssic Roland synths
including Jupiter and Juno
• Intuitive step sequencer
• Audio/MIDI Interface with low latency drivers
• Vocoder

RD-2000 STAGE PIANO + SYSTEM-8 SYNTHESIZER

• Two independent sound engines guarantee huge polyphony and quick • Versatile performance synthesizer with advanced ACB technology and 49
response time full-size keys
• Best piano sound and hammer action on the market • Internal sound engine delivers classic analog tones and dynamic modern
• Over 1100 internal tones + two sound expansion slots for comprehensive sound sounds with analog vibe
libraries in standalone gig situations • Hosts up to three PLUG-OUT synths; JUPITER-8 and JUNO-106 PLUG-OUTs
• Virtual Tone Wheel Organ mode included
• USB audio/MIDI interfacing enables unlimited sound expansion in combination • Advanced low-pass, high-pass, and side-band filters with high-resolution controls
with DAW-based software synthesizers • Massive real-time control with dedicated knobs, sliders, and buttons
• Easy management of complex combinations of internal and external sounds
(hardware/software synths) by Scene Memory
• Class-leading controller functionality
• Premium class PHA-50 keyboard

ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS

RIG #7 / ADVANCED RIG
RD-2000 / THE ULTIMATE STAGE PIANO

The RD-2000 is unmatched in its class, but it even rivals fully fledged
88-note workstation synths due to its superior piano performance
and vast expandability at a more affordable price point. It will quickly
become an indispensable center piece in your keyboard rig due to
an additional sound engine with a massive selection of pro-quality
sounds, extensive-but-easily manageable controller functionality
as well as seamless computer integration via USB audio/MIDI
interfacing for endless expansion of your sonic library.

• Two independent sound engines guarantee huge polyphony and quick
response time
• Best piano sound and hammer action on the market
• Over 1100 internal tones + two sound expansion slots for comprehensive sound
libraries in standalone gig situations
• Virtual Tone Wheel Organ mode
• USB audio/MIDI interfacing enables unlimited sound expansion in combination
with DAW-based software synthesizers
• Easy management of complex combinations of internal and external sounds
(hardware/software synths) by Scene Memory
• Class-leading controller functionality
• Premium class PHA-50 keyboard
• Dedicated V-Piano Technology sound engine for rich grand piano tone with
detailed Piano Designer editing and full polyphony
• Second SuperNATURAL sound engine with 128-voice polyphony for a massive
+ 1100 sound library
• 192 kHz/24-bit USB audio/MIDI interface
• Extremely low latency triggering of computer-based software like Main Stage
• Huge array of assignable controllers
• Eight fully assignable zones for internal sounds and external sounds (including
DAW based software instruments)
• Comprehensive effects processor, including iconic BOSS CE-1 Chorus, Roland
Dimension D and more
• Two wave expansions for additional sound from AXIAL website.
• Convenient Scene Memory structure

ROLAND KEYBOARD RIGS

RD-2000 CONTROL

Offering the most extensive Via the RD-2000’s USB audio/MIDI interface, it’s easy
controller features of any to integrate software instruments with a studio DAW
RD series piano to date, or a laptop running your favourite host software on
the RD-2000 is the perfect stage. You can control soft synths with zones along
solution for commanding with internal sounds, and route their audio through the
a large-scale setup. RD-2000 to create a powerful hybrid rig. The interface
supports 24-bit audio at rates up to 192 kHz, allowing
you to access your highest quality sounds.

The PHA-50 progressive hammer-action keyboard with escapement is the ideal
platform for playing the RD-2000’s responsive acoustic and electric pianos.
This innovative keyboard features hybrid keys constructed of wood and molded
materials, combining classic feel with rugged durability. Together with Roland’s
advanced sensor mechanism and hammer-action design, the PHA-50 delivers
authentic grand piano touch that’s right at home under your fingers.
The RD-2000 features eight assignable zones that
allow you to map sounds to different key ranges,
or create combination sounds with up to eight layers.
And with the new Scene function, you can save 100
different snapshots of the entire keyboard setup and
recall them with a quick button touch while performing.
KEYBOARD RIGS