Roland Users Group (Volume 16/1 - Spring 1998)

Contents Features 12 // Roland/BOSS Hardware Roland gets serious with the VS-1680 24-bit Digital Studio Workstation; the new MC-505 Groovebox, SP-808 Groove Sampler and JX—305 Groovesynth set the pace for groove-oriented musicians; the XP-60 Music Workstation, SC-880 64-Voice Synthesizer Module, G-1000 Arranger Workstation and SR-JV80-12 Hip-Hop Collection expansion board give keyboardists something to long for; and the SPD-20 Total Percussion Pad gives drummers and MIDI percussionists tons of great new drum and percussion sounds. 24 // V-Pros by Tim Pedersen Omar Hakim and JR Robinson - two of today's top session drummers - discuss their careers, the role of electronic drums in their work, their forthcoming solo albums and how Roland's V-drums have changed everything. 31 // V-Studio Buyer's Guide Roland now has three powerful hard disk recording systems to choose from. This Buyer's Guide will tell you everything you need to know about the VS-840, VS-880 and the amazing new VS-1680 Digital Studio Workstations. 38 // What's the Buzz About HUM Studios? by Kenneth Peters Take a look inside one of the top advertising music production studios in the country and see how they use their Roland gear to get the job done - fast! 42 // Cirque du Soleil's Quidam by Lachlan Westfall Claude Chaput, band leader for Cirque du Soleil's Ouidam, discusses how Roland instruments are used to produce the music for this incredible show. Departments 4 // Random Noise RUG hangs with Sling; Tara MacLean is anything but silent; Charles Fleischer gives us a dose of virgil Reality; Steve Plunkett stores TV shows in the land of Melrose Place. 8 // Currents Fender gels "Roland Ready" with a new low-cost Strat™; Apple's QuickTlme 3.0 adopts Roland's GS Format for multimedia developers worldwide; new Roland Websites, CD-ROM's, guide books and more. 12 // Roland Events The low-down on Roland Digital Recording and V-drum Clinics, Special Events and Roland Days. 44 // Equipment Check In-depth looks at the new Roland MC-505 Groovebox, SC-880 64-Voice Synthesizer Module, Roland Stage Set and AF-70 Anti-Feedback device. 52 // Playing Live This brand-new column examines all aspects of taking your show on the road. In this issue, Richard Bugg covers the unique demands that keyboard players face when they go from the studio to the stage. 56 // Electronic Musicianship Roland guitar guru Peter Swiadon shows you how to get great guitar tone with a range of BOSS pedals, Roland's BluesCube amps, the BOSS GT-5 and more. 60 // Hands On The VS-840 Digital Studio Workstation was designed with the guitar player in mind. Guitarist/producer Gary Cook takes us step-by-step through tracking guitar on the VS-840 for a recent session. 63 // Understanding Technology Roland has Implemented some pretty cool technology into its instruments before, but few are as cool as the D-Beam infrared light-sensing device. Chris Meyer explains how you can now make music out of thin air. 66 // Power Tools Laura Tyson looks at Roland's new CD Recording System and shows us just how fun and easy it now is to record your own CD's at home with your VS-880. 69 // Superstore Check out all this stuff! Tons of demo and instructional videos, CD's, posters, cases, T-shIrts and more...