Roland announce the GW-8 workstation with intelligent backing-track functionality

June 17, 2008

Roland’s GW-8 is the next generation of their GW-series workstations with intelligent backing-track functionality. Roland say that with their world-leading sound technology at its core, the GW-8 rivals any workstation on the planet with its rich, expressive sound. They tell us that it features a wide variety of contemporary sounds, intelligent backing styles, and additional banks of ethnic sounds and styles from around the world.

A multi-format USB Memory Player feature allows direct playback of MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF files from USB key, while the Centre Cancel feature for audio files enables karaoke-style sing-along.

Here's the details in Roland's own words...

Features

* Contemporary music workstation with high-quality 128-voice sound engine derived from Roland's renowned sound-module lineup
* Wide variety of contemporary sounds and intelligent backing styles, plus additional banks of ethnic sounds and styles from around the world
* USB Memory Player feature allows direct playback of MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF files from USB key; Centre Cancel feature for audio files enables karaoke-style sing-along
* Newly designed graphical display, plus Style Select button, Analogue Modify knob, and D-BEAM
* Style Converter and Playlist Editor software included
* Onboard 16-track sequencer for saving your interactive performances

Flagship Sound Engine with Easy User Interface
With Roland's world-leading sound technology at its core, the GW-8 rivals any workstation on the planet with its rich, expressive sound. The GW-8 comes loaded with hundreds of the freshest and most essential sounds culled from Roland's top sound modules. In addition to its authentic sound set, the GW-8 is equipped with many user-friendly control devices, such as the expressive D-BEAM and the Analogue Modify knob, which instantly adjusts sounds to suit your taste. The GW-8 is perfect for live entertainers who play multiple roles in their performances.

Intelligent Backing Styles
The GW-8 is packed with a huge collection of styles, representing a broad range of music genres, from contemporary rock, pop, dance, jazz and beyond. In addition to the excellent library of contemporary sounds and styles, the GW-8 is equipped with ethnic instrument sounds and authentic regional musical styles.* Each backing style has four intros, four main patterns, and four ending progressions for you to craft your own arrangements live

*Style selection may vary from country to country.

USB Memory Player Feature
One of Roland's most popular new features is built into the GW-8: the Multi-format Song Player that allows song data to be played directly from USB Flash memory (accepts MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF format). In addition, the GW-8's Centre Cancel function can minimize main vocals from pre-recorded songs, great for karaoke-style performances or music practice.

Style Converter & Playlist Editor
Bundled with each GW-8 is Roland's Style Converter software for PC, which lets you convert your own MIDI data into GW-8 backing styles via commercially available USB Flash memory devices.

Also included is the Playlist Editor for customising the order of songs. Users can easily create a dedicated Playlist for each gig.

Pricing and Availability:
Available September 2008

For more information, visit their web site at www.rolandus.com.

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