Editing Roland Corporation (section)

== History ==
===Background===
{{see also|Ace Tone}}
Roland founder [[Ikutaro Kakehashi]] had founded [[Ace Electronic Industries]] in 1960, with Ace having designed and manufactured electronic organs, drum machines, instrument amplifiers, and effects pedals. In March 1972, after one of Ace's major investors, [[w:ja:阪田商会|Sakata Shokai]], was acquired by [[Sumitomo Chemical]] (an industrial company with no interest in the music industry), Kakehashi resigned.<ref name=:112/>

===1970s===
{{multiple image |perrow=2
|image1=SH 1000.jpg|width1=110 |caption1=SH-1000 (1973)
|image2=RE201 Face.JPG|width2=110 |caption2=RE-201 Space Echo (1976)
|image3=JC-120 bedroom photo.jpg|width3=110 |caption3=Jazz Chorus JC-120 (1975)
|image4=Roland MC-8.jpg |width4=110 |caption4=MC-8 MicroComposer (1977)
}}
On 18 April 1972, just a month after resigning from Ace, Kakehashi founded Roland in Osaka,<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/02/roland-founder-and-music-pioneer-ikutaro-kakehashi-dies-aged-87|title=Roland founder and music pioneer Ikutaro Kakehashi dies aged 87|last1=McKee|first1=Ruth|last2=Grierson|first2=Jamie|date=2 April 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref> Kakehashi, who had no musical training, wanted to appeal to amateurs and hobbyists, and focused on miniaturization, affordability, and simplicity.<ref name="fact">[http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/02/ikutaro-kakehashi-life/ The life and times of Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Roland pioneer modern music owes everything to], ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]''</ref>

The "Roland" name was selected for export purposes, as Kakehashi was interested in a name that was easy to pronounce for his worldwide target markets. The name was found in a telephone directory, and Kakehashi was satisfied with the simple two-syllable word and its soft consonants. The letter "R" was chosen because it was not used by many other music equipment companies,  so would stand out in trade-show directories and industry listings. Kakehashi did not learn of the French epic poem ''[[The Song of Roland]]'' until later.<ref>I Believe In Music, Ikutaro Kakehashi with Robert Olsen, 2002. p. 64</ref>

With seven employees from his former company, a rented shed, and $100,000, Kakehashi built on his experience at Ace, introducing a drum machine, the TR-77 or Rhythm 77, as Roland's first product, followed by the TR-33 and TR-55 released that same year. In 1973, Roland introduced the first compact synthesizer produced in Japan and the first synthesizer produced by Roland, the [[Roland SH-1000|SH-1000]], as well as their first nonpreset synthesizer, the [[Roland SH-3A|SH-3]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corporation |first=Roland |title=Roland - Company - History - Our History |url=https://www.roland.com/global/company/history/ |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Roland}}</ref>

The company was also manufacturing [[Effects unit|effects pedals]], introducing the [[Roland RE-201|RE-201 Space Echo]] in 1974, and expanding into [[guitar amplifier]]s the following year with the [[Roland Jazz Chorus|JC-60 and JC-120 Jazz Chorus]], whose chorus circuit would become the first [[Boss Corporation]] product, the CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, the following year. In 1976, Roland introduced the semimodular [[Roland System 100|System 100]] and the modular [[Roland System 700|System 700]] synthesizers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corporation |first=Roland |title=Roland - Company - History - Our History |url=https://www.roland.com/global/company/history/ |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Roland}}</ref>

In 1977, the company introduced one of the earliest microprocessor-driven [[music sequencer]]s, the [[Roland MC-8 MicroComposer|MC-8 MicroComposer]], and the first [[guitar synthesizer]], the [[Roland GR-500|GR-500]]. Just one year later, they introduced the [[Roland CR-78|CompuRhythm CR-78]], the first drum machine that enabled users to program and store their own drum patterns.<ref name="sos_roland">{{citation|last=Reid|first=Gordon|title=The History Of Roland Part 1: 1930–1978|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov04/articles/roland.htm|journal=[[Sound on Sound]]|issue=November|year=2004|access-date=19 June 2011}}</ref>

=== 1980s ===
[[File:Tr909.jpg|thumb|TR-909 (1983)]]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Roland released several instruments that have had a lasting influence on popular music.<ref name="guardian" /> After Kakehashi realized [[microprocessor]]s could be used to program drum machines,<ref name=":15">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IbtJAgAAQBAJ&q=%22mark+vail%22+808&pg=PT72|title=Keyboard Presents the Evolution of Electronic Dance Music|last=Kirn|first=Peter|publisher=Backbeat Books|year=2011|isbn=978-1-61713-446-3|language=en}}</ref> Roland launched the [[Roland TR-808|TR-808]] drum machine, its first programmable drum machine, in 1980.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2014/01/16/roland-tr-808-beginners-guide-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-introduction/|title=Everything you ever wanted to know about the Roland TR-808 but were afraid to ask|date=16 January 2014|website=Fact|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> Although it was not an immediate commercial success, the 808 was eventually used on more hit records than any other drum machine<ref>{{citation|last=Wells|first=Peter|title=A Beginner's Guide to Digital Video|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=stvOCfhc_igC&pg=PA18|page=18|year=2004|publisher=AVA Books|isbn=2-88479-037-3|access-date=20 May 2011}}</ref> and became a cornerstone of the emerging [[Electronic music|electronic]] and [[hip hop]] genres.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/slaves-to-the-rhythm-1.771508|title=Slaves to the rhythm|last=Anderson|first=Jason|date=27 November 2008|newspaper=CBC News|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> It has been described as hip hop's equivalent to the [[Fender Stratocaster]] guitar, which dramatically influenced the development of [[rock music]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/02/roland-founder-and-music-pioneer-ikutaro-kakehashi-dies-aged-87|title=Roland founder and music pioneer Ikutaro Kakehashi dies aged 87|last1=McKee|first1=Ruth|last2=Grierson|first2=Jamie|date=2 April 2017|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/02/roland-resurrects-808/|title=Early hip-hop's greatest drum machine just got resurrected|last=Baldwin|first=Roberto|date=14 February 2014|newspaper=Wired|access-date=4 January 2016|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2008/12/whats_an_808.html|title=What's an 808?|last=Richards|first=Chris|date=2 December 2008|newspaper=Slate|access-date=16 January 2016|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}</ref> The 808 was followed in 1983 by the [[Roland TR-909|TR-909]],<ref name=":112"/> which, alongside the [[Roland TB-303|TB-303]] synthesizer, influenced the development of dance music such as [[techno]], [[House music|house]], and [[Acid house|acid]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=http://complex.com/music/2014/09/roland-tr-909-tracks/|title=Nine Great Tracks That Use the Roland TR-909|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://mixmag.net/feature/909-tracks-using-the-tr-909|title=9 of the best 909 tracks using the TR-909|work=Mixmag|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> Roland released the [[Roland Jupiter-8]] in 1981.

Roland played a key role in the development of [[MIDI]], a [[Standardization|standardized]] means of synchronizing [[electronic musical instrument]]s manufactured by different companies.<ref name="chadab51002">{{cite journal|last=Chadabe|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Chadabe|date=1 May 2000|title=Part IV: The Seeds of the Future|url=http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|url-status=dead|journal=Electronic Musician|publisher=Penton Media|volume=XVI|issue=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928230435/http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref> Kakehashi proposed developing a standard with representatives from [[Oberheim Electronics]], [[Sequential Circuits]], [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]], [[Korg]], and [[Kawai Musical Instruments|Kawai]].<ref name="chadab51002" /> He and [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]] of Sequential Circuits unveiled MIDI in 1983.<ref name="chadab5100">{{cite journal|last=Chadabe|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Chadabe|date=1 May 2000|title=Part IV: The Seeds of the Future|url=http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|url-status=dead|journal=Electronic Musician|publisher=Penton Media|volume=XVI|issue=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928230435/http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|archive-date=28 September 2012}}</ref><ref name=":0">[http://www.emusician.com/artists/1333/the-30-top-instruments-and-innovations-of-rolands-ikutaro-kakehashi-1930-2017/62364 The 30 Top Instruments and Innovations of Roland's Ikutaro Kakehashi (1930-2017)], ''[[Electronic Musician]]''</ref> It remains the industry standard.<ref name=":03">{{Cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/02/ikutaro-kakehashi-life/|title=The life and times of Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Roland pioneer modern music owes everything to|date=2 April 2017|work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=6 September 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 1990s ===
[[File:Roland SH32 - Product Photography.jpg|thumb|Roland SH-32 WAS Synthesizer]]
In, 1991 Roland released the [[Roland JD-800|JD-800]], a digital synthesizer with many sliders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The History Of Roland: Part 3|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/music-business/history-roland-part-3#14|access-date=6 November 2020|website=www.soundonsound.com}}</ref> In 1993, they released the [[Roland JD-990|JD-990]], which is the rackmount version of the JD-800.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The History Of Roland: Part 4|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/music-business/history-roland-part-4|access-date=6 November 2020|website=www.soundonsound.com}}</ref> In 1994, Kakehashi founded the Roland Foundation and became chairman. In 1995, he was appointed the chairman of Roland Corporation.
Roland instruments were also featured in the "There Goes A . . . " series of videos by Dave Hood.

=== 2000s ===
In 2001, Kakehashi resigned as chair of Roland Corporation and was appointed as a special executive adviser.<ref name="musicnews">{{cite web |title=Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi dies, aged 87 |url=https://www.musicinstrumentnews.co.uk/2017/04/02/roland-founder-ikutaro-kakehashi-dies-aged-87/ |website=Music Instrument News |access-date=2 June 2024 |date=2 April 2017}}</ref> In 2002, he published an [[autobiography]], ''I Believe in Music.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kakehashi |first=Ikutaro |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=09Z8a0lKyPcC |title=I Believe in Music: Life Experiences and Thoughts on the Future of Electronic Music by the Founder of the Roland Corporation |date=2002 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-0-634-03783-2 |language=en}}</ref> His second book, ''An Age Without Samples: Originality and Creativity in the Digital World'', was published in 2017.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/arts/music/ikutaro-kakeshashi-roland-808-drum-machine-dead.html|title=Ikutaro Kakehashi, Engineer Behind Revolutionary Drum Machine, Dies at 87|work=The New York Times |date=4 April 2017 |access-date=6 September 2018|language=en|last1=Pareles |first1=Jon }}</ref>

=== 2010s ===
In 2018, Roland launched a subscription service called [[Roland Cloud]]. Users of the service can download and emulate a number of Roland synthesizers (modelled through a proprietary paradigm called ''ACB''<ref>{{Citation |title=AIRA — Analog Circuit Behavior | date=6 February 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy428RHu1mw |language=en |access-date=17 October 2022}}</ref>) and drum machines in audio plugin formats. This collection also includes orchestral modules (namely the Roland SRX racks) and new additions such as original sampled instruments. 

=== 2020s ===
Throughout 2022, Roland celebrated their 50th anniversary by releasing two new editions of their Space Echo tape delay through their Boss brand, along with selling commemorative merchandise and clothing through their online streetswear shop ''Roland Lifestyle''. Later on, a collaboration with Dais Records<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corporation |first=Roland |title=Roland - Company - Press Releases - 2022 - DAIS RECORDS ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION STREETWEAR COLLABORATION WITH LEGENDARY ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BRAND ROLAND |url=https://www.roland.com/us/company/press_releases/2022/Dais-Records-Announces-Limited-Edition-Streetwear/ |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=Roland}}</ref> was announced on 8 June ahead of the release of the JUNO-X synthesizer the following month. A new [[Roland Jupiter-4|Jupiter-4]] emulation for Roland Cloud<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogerson |first=Ben |date=17 June 2022 |title=New Jupiter-4 plugin brings more solar system synth power to the Roland Cloud |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/roland-jupiter-4-synth-plugin |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref> and an [[Non-fungible token|NFT collection]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=TB-303, TR-808 and SH-101 commemorated in new NFT collection by Arthr |url=https://musictech.com/news/arthr-a-journey-through-synths-nft-tb-303-tr-808-sh-101/ |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=MusicTech |language=en-GB}}</ref> also materialised in the summer and autumn respectively.