Land of the Rising Sound | A Roland Retrospective

Land of the Rising Sound: A Roland Retrospective.
The story of Roland is one of the most expansive and influential in the world of music technology. This feature length documentary sets out to tell it through their iconic inventions.
Roland: www.roland.com/global/
General Thanks:
First of all, a huge and heartfelt thank you to some anonymous synth experts who not only leant me a jaw dropping array of rare equipment, but who also gave up time from their busy schedules to show me how to use it and who even helped record it on location. I owe you a debt of gratitude, but the entire community at large does too. Thank you!
I also need to thank Gordon Reid for answering my tedious questions and for helping with the explanations of some trickier technical aspects. Furthermore, both Gordon and Sound on Sound need crediting for having already gone the whole 9-yards on the subject:
www.soundonsound.com/music-bu...
Named Thank yous: Paolo @ SynthMania, Dan, Michael and Joe @ Reverb.com, Conny @ Asteroid Killer Music, Gordon Reid, Paul & Ian Gilby @ Sound on Sound, Peter Venuto @ Synth Palace, Sanj Sen @ Ropey Sound, Pea Hicks, Brandon @ Zibby Bone, Marko Ettlich @ RetroSound, Ra Smith @ madFAME, JP Geersing @ synthsandstuff, Synth4ever, Reuben Jones, Patrick Gill, Woody @ Piano Shack, Andrew Pimblott @ Roland, David Åhlund @ Roland Artist Relations Centre, Romain Segaud, Pendle Poucher @ Sound Dust, Pablo and James @ The Toy Rooms, Paul Hartnoll @ Orbital, Paul @ M&S Organ Parts, Richard @ Retro Synth Ads, Rob Nicholls, Synthetic Machines, Ed Lewis, Joseph Hecht, Jason Scammell @ Now and then FX. Ian Livingstone. Some other people who know who they are!
Links:
SynthMania: KZbin: / synthmaniadotcom
Reverb.com: / reverbmarket
Joe George: www.joegeorgemusic.net/
Asteroid Killer Music: / asteroidkillermusic
Synthetic Machines: / syntheticmachines
Ropey Sound: www.ropeysound.com/
Synth Palace: www.synthpalace.net/
SynthPalace KZbin: / @synthpalace3048
Peter Venuto: / electricrainbowness
Pea Hicks: / @peahix
MC-8 website: rolandmc8.wordpress.com/
Zibby Bone: / zibbybone
RetroSound: / retrosound72
madFAME: / madfameltd
Linn LM-1 video referenced in the film: • The Linn LM-1: The Dru...
JP Geersing: / synthsandstuff
Synth4ever: / @synth4ever
Woody: / @woodypianoshack
Liam Howlett’s W30 original video: • The Prodigy - Liam How...
Reuben Jones: / tucker10
Patrick Gill: / patrickgillmusic
Anders Enger Jensen: / hariboosx
Some soundtrack excerpts from this film: / s-2zi3u
Additional incidental music provided by Joseph Hecht:
/ polygonimbus
Other Image Credits:
Title image by Romain Segaud
www.romainsegaud.com/
The three System 100m cases, the red and blue Roland SH-101s and the Devil Fish 303 are photos I took at Curve Pusher Studios in Hastings last year. You can book time to record with those here:
www.curvepusher.co.uk/studio/r...
Several press release photos and manuals from Roland.com
www.roland.com/global/products/
Several images (JV80, VG-8, VS-880, UA-100) by Sound on Sound Ltd
www.soundonsound.com/
ATV A Frame images
www.aframe.jp/
Various advert scans by Retro Synth Ads
retrosynthads.blogspot.com/
Ace Tone R-1 images by M&S Organ Parts
msorganparts.com/
Ace Tone FR-1 images from Encyclotronic
encyclotronic.com/drum-machin...
Ace Tone FR-6 images by Rob Nicholls
provincialparcs.bandcamp.com
Some creative commons Ace Tone images from Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Tone
Some GS-500 print ads from Wayne Scott Joness superb archive
www.joness.com/gr300/GS-500.html
MC-8 photos by Pea Hicks
Behind-the-scene photos at Roland from Ralph Dyck’s collection
rolandmc8.wordpress.com/2010/...
Additional 727 logo image from here:
djjondent.blogspot.com/2017/08...
CMU 800R photos:
www.gearslutz.com/board/elect...
www.matrixsynth.com/2018/05/r...
Social:
/ alexballmusic
/ alexballmusic

[@DestroyER82]

When "fan made" documentary completly demolishes anything that serious media or TV ever done. This is absolutely marvelous in quality and range of information and also in production level like spot on amount of talking and sound/music, editing, effects and so on. Hat down and huge respect.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! Guess it's easier to make something without corporate considerations. Just throw up a camera and go.

[@drjazz7278]

It looks and sounds like a zillion bucks has been spent making it

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@drjazz7278 Thanks! Zero bucks were spent. Just petrol money and a lot of hours. :)

[@papahuge]

+1 Incredibly well made and entertaining documentary.

[@Sparks127]

@@AlexBallMusic I'm sure Rory Daniels approves! Fantastic documentary. Brought back so many memories of programming the JX3-P, Set me up for a DX-7, then an M1 and a D-50. Luckily by then I'd been programming Theatre Lighting boards across several Continents so "protocol" involved "mindset"

[@LGR]

This was obviously a monumental task to put together. Massive props, this was fantastic.

[@MrMG43]

Clint was here! That's how you know this video is fantastic :)

[@mima85]

@Knobcore Actually the two worlds are closely related for a good number of reasons, just think about the fact that a lot of early computers and game consoles had a little synthesizer in them (the C64's SID, the Yamaha OPL2 and OPL3 in the PC/DOS world, the FM synthesis and squarewave-cruncher chips in game consoles, etc...), and all the great music that came out from such systems. Also add the fact that every digitally-controlled synthesizer, even analog ones, actually has a little computer inside, in the form of a full Z-80 system or based around an Intel/Motorola/whatever microcontroller.

[@MiriusTube]

haha read that, slowly, in your voice

[@justahfreakin]

what you said

[@TheParadox1010]

"the synth flopped" "5 years later the synth was everywhere" even when Roland fails, they succeed

[@mark.audacity]

Can you imagine the rage of being a Roland marketing exec in the 80s and 90s? “WHY do they only like our stuff AFTER IT FAILS!?”

[@dreamstaticsounds]

@@mark.audacity they probably should have looked in the mirror, lol.

[@connollysoviet2359]

Fantastic documentary. The BBC would be proud of this standard.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@xXAjaxXx]

What really impresses me about this is all the demos you do. Anybody with enough patience can rattle off a bunch of Roland facts in front of pictures of synths, but you actually have the access to these instruments and take the time to demonstrate what they sound like. The difference that makes is huge.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! I'm in the very fortunate position where people are letting me access their instruments and so I'm trying to do the best I can with that opportunity. Really glad to hear that comes across. Thank you!

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

@@AlexBallMusic You have a lot of talent composing and playing.

[@garyturner5204]

Alex Ball you are impressive, knowledgeable and talented! Thank you for sharing here with us all! A wonderful and engaging production!

[@bwgti]

I’m only a third of the way through and this aspect makes the documentary phenomenal. The demo with the giant modular synth is incredible.

[@BothoHohbaum]

Indeed. It looks like you already made yourself familiar with a variety of such instruments for years. For a synth noob it is a real achievement to get even one sound out of the instrument that somehow resembles the musicians intent. A phase you left behind years ago, obviously.

[@Ishkur23]

Fucking brilliant, mate. Now do Korg.

[@justinhavu]

Yes, please!!

[@fawltytenor]

After Yamaha, of course.

[@DjSegwon]

You didnt read the pinned comment, lol

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Awesome idea! Yamaha also!

[@serge2603]

@David Harrell =)) And Behringer of course)

[@johnnyparker2128]

I planned to quit watching this about every 5 minutes until I ended up watching the entire video. Great job!

[@imnsane91]

idem LOL

[@davebellamy4867]

It was too good. That guy was amazing.

[@dubfx]

Same here!

[@southendbusker7534]

...congrats on your attention span level up

[@1981chrismartin]

Me too!

[@DarthPanthro]

Even still today scientists are unable to "mix" latin and jazz rhythms

[@AlexBallMusic]

The eighth wonder of the world.

[@graxjpg]

Bossa nova?

[@M364A]

just get two of em, sync em up, then play latin and jazz rhythms at the same time

[@rcz2439]

And now I want Yamaha, Moog, Korg, Oberheim,...

[@josephwright5921]

R Cz I would especially like to see Oberheim, then Korg.

[@777jones]

Joseph Wright I always thought Korg the name sounds like a 1980s synth tone.

[@hevyonez97]

Definitely Oberheim! 👍🏿😁

[@florianstorck2718]

and PPG + Waldorf

[@HilarioGalan]

I canceled my doctors appointment to watch this. Writing this in case I die.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Hope the synths gave you life.

[@TheLarryBrown]

Man: what happened? Dr: You were in a horrible car accident but you're going to live. Man: OH NO! Will I be able to play my Roland synthesizers? Dr: Yes you will! Man: Oh that's great! I could never play before!

[@prettypointlessvideo]

@@TheLarryBrown Dr. Zeus, Dr. ZEUSS.

[@coolmancam1032]

Bro that's one of the funniest comments ever lol

[@oaktreeyt6488]

Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:51 Ikutaro Kakehashi 1:41 Start of Ace Tone 2:02 R-1 Rhythm Ace 2:26 FR-1 Rhythm Ace 2:59 Ace Tone Organs 3:15 Kakehashi leaves Ace Tone and founds Roland - 1970s - 3:35 TR-77 Rhythm 4:33 TR-55 and TR-33 4:40 SH-1000 (song) 5:40 AF-100 BeeBaa Fuzz 6:00 BOSS 6:16 EP-30 Electric Piano 6:24 RE-201 Space Echo and Ace Tone EC-10 7:56 SH-2000 and SH-3 8:05 SH-5 (song) 8:50 BOSS CE-1 Chorus Ensemble 9:23 System 100 (song) 10:04 System 700 12:03 System 700 Song 13:04 RS-202 14:00 GR-500 and GS-500 (song) 15:28 MC-8 MicroComposer 16:26 CR-78 CompuRhythm 17:12 Jupiter 4 17:57 ProMars 18:10 SH-7 19:08 SH-7 Song 20:18 SH-1 20:43 Song with CR-78, SH-1, Jupiter 4 and Promars 22:00 Paraphonic 505 22:16 Paraphonic 505 Song 23:22 System 100M 24:43 System 100M Song 26:03 BOSS DR-55 26:26 VP-330 - 1980s - 27:23 TR-808 29:14 Jupiter 8 30:14 Jupiter 8 Song 31:30 TR-606 Drumatix and TB-303 Bass Line 33:04 Juno 6 34:31 Juno 6 Song 36:11 Juno 60 36:21 SH-101 37:34 SH-101 Song 38:42 MIDI 39:15 Jupiter 6 Song 40:16 Jupiter 6 40:57 JX-3P and PG-200 41:47 JX-3P and PG-200 Song 42:46 MSQ-700 42:54 CMU-800R 43:20 TR-909 44:38 Roland's survival through the Yamaha-DX7 45:43 BOSS Stompboxes 46:37 HM-2 47:05 TR-707 47:57 MKB-1000 and MKB-300 48:07 Juno 106 48:57 Juno 106 Song 49:43 JX-8P 50:20 Super JX 50:38 Octapad 50:54 DDR-30 51:11 RD-1000 51:47 Acid 55:31 D-50 58:21 W-30 - 1990s - 58:55 JD-800 59:30 JD-800 Song 1:00:30 JV-80 1:00:46 JV-1080 1:01:06 BOSS VT-1 1:01:56 VG-8 1:02:10 V Drums 1:02:39 JP-8000 1:03:38 VS-880 - 2000s - 1:04:23 VP-9000 1:05:57 V-Synth 1:06:46 Jupiter 80 1:07:51 TR-8 1:08:04 Plug-Out 1:08:29 Boutique Versions 1:09:00 Song with modern Roland products 1:10:17 ATV A-Frame 1:10:36 R.I.P. Ikutaro Kakehashi 1:11:03 Outro If I missed anything, feel free to reply!

[@Brendici]

Thank you for taking the time to index this marvelous video. I wondered if I had missed mention of my beloved MKS-80 and MPG-80 Programmer. Nope. Too many great products to cover them all, I suppose.

[@jaypublic6477]

@@Brendici likewise the JD-XA. All of these iconic too. Regardless, what a great documentary! Congratulations.

[@git606]

I’ve watched this 3 times now and just marvel at your documentary skills, you really are extremely talented, surely the best documentary on Roland.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks very much Andrew.

[@lordnevets9184]

I've watched this with tears and joy and respect and regret. Thank you so much. I've learnt the name of a Man who, without me knowing, has touched my soul and diverted the crash of a teenage life, drove the spirit of my heady 20s and given me the warmth of great memories in my 30s, 40s and at the onset of my 50s. Ikutaro Kakehashi. I thank you. This has been a fortuitous discovery stumbling upon this video and I feel blessed to of done so. Thank you Alex. This is stunning. And DAMN BOY! YOU CAN PLAY A MEAN SYNTH! Again, Thank you. I'll never forget this.

[@farquoi]

Great research, filming, editing, writing, narration, ... and he actually plays music. Amazing, amazing. A million thumbs up. This belongs on Netflix or something

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks! Yes, always music is the thing that I'm interested in, rather than just making sounds.

[@prophetofdoom5999]

I know I’m late to the game, but this documentary is bonkers. As someone just becoming interested in synths (I’ve been a drummer my whole life), I learned an incredible amount of information. Well done and thank you for this amazing piece of content!

[@StofffeGbg]

A massive amount of work must have gone into making this. Hands down the best Roland documentary I've seen. Great work!

[@AlexBallMusic]

It did. Thank you very much.

[@ricochetsixtyten]

Musicians in early 80s: ''303 is never gonna be useful for anything...'' Techno musicians: Hold my 909

[@Doctormix]

This is awesome, you should have a lot more views and subscribers!!!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Claudio, nice to see you here!

[@killer151489]

I have absolutely no idea about 95% of the content of this video, but it's so mesmerising and captivating watching all those retro, vintage instruments, .. amazing, keep it up 👐

[@EHiggins]

I was a teenager in the 80's. Seeing all of those synths, and drum boxes in action was awesome!

[@amatplayer]

This is one of the best video's Ive watched in a long time on YT. In fact, it is the best.

[@youreale]

@@williamtopping indeed

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

_Amazing_ job, Alex!!! I enjoyed watching this so much, and special thanks for the shoutout at the W-30 clip in particular ;-) I can only imagine how long it took to put it together, and the patience and amount of research this entailed! Thank you very much for all your fantastic contributions to the synth world - (p.s. if you do decide to go for the Korg one... after a well-deserved looong rest! - I have a few of those to contribute as well :-D )

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks SO much for your help Paolo, your clips were invaluable! You're a huge resource of knowledge and equipment, so really grateful for your help. Korg - would be great further down the line, but it would be another monster. Think the plan is some of the icons who burned bright and faded fast as those stories are easier to tackle...

[@JyotiMishra]

I knew you would love this, Paolo! :-D

[@KutWrite]

...and the music was so good, I'm coming back again just for that.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

@@JyotiMishra I knew you would love this one too! :-D Hi, Jyoti!!! :-)

[@herbcraven7146]

I finally took the time to watch this film, and I'm so glad I did. Roland is never given enough credit for their groundbreaking work in the world of synthesis, and continues to push the technology forward long after so many of the legendary pioneering synthesizer companies crashed and burned. I especially love how the company's "failures" were only failures because they were so far ahead of their time. Ikutaro Kakehashi should be revered on par with Bob Moog, Alan Pearlman, Tom Oberheim, Dave Smith, and Don Buchla. Thank you for an expansive, beautiful documentary that finally compiles nearly all of the amazing achievements of Roland in one place, Alex.

[@mystscot9814]

4 years ago today we lost Ikutaro Kakehashi, what a legacy to leave behind. Thank you for allowing us to express our creativity using your creations. Gone but never to be forgotten. Honourable mention to Alex on this monumental documentary, the research and time in his excellent skills to present us with what is possibly the best Roland documentary I've come across, so again, thanks Alex.

[@joelspaulding5964]

This was a proper documentary. The soundtrack is so intrically involved with the subject matter. Truly phenomenal- Subscribed. Current and former Roland player, with a Korg, Ensoniq and Sequential also floating around the house.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you, I appreciate the support.

[@fernandes5986]

I'm a an 80s metal guitar freak, but this documentary is AMAZING. Please do more like Korg, Yamaha or Moog, etc.

[@DizzleFitzpizzle4eva]

That was SOOOOOO cool when you rabbit holed the boss heavy metal pedal into the Swedish death metal scene … buzzsaw!!! I am a big fan of Entombed … that was awesome !!!

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

This is so cool. I drooled over many of these synths, when they showed up in my local music store, back in the 70s. I was just in my teens, and could not afford them, but I poured over every brochure I could get my hands on. A few years later, I got a ARP Odyssey, and my journey began. Now I have the good fortune of being able to own a lot of good classics, and contemporary synths, thanks to Behringer and others. It’s a great time to be into synth music. Thanks so much for sharing this comprehensive overview of Roland gear. Best wishes for your continued success.

[@IlBiggo]

"The story of Roland begins in Osaka" (shows Mount Fuji) .-D But honestly, what a memory trip! This is a great documentary. The love is showing.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ha, yeah. I needed to find some rights free footage of Japan from the 40s and that was the best I could find. Poetic license.

[@mrdiggie3321]

One of the best historical synth vids I've ever seen. Amazing work.

[@MrOly0001]

thee $4k used wow

[@slimyelow]

Every demo track you make Alex is a totally unique sonic and compositional gem. I just luv 'em all.

[@ElijahRock92]

This documentary needs a sequel especially with Roland's move towards subscription services for vintage synths.

[@AndersEngerJensen]

Man, this is such a massive feat. I had goosebumps all the time, this is what I’ve been dreaming of making since I started collecting the old Roland brochures and magazines. All the goodies all rolled up in one! I’m stoked that I could contribute my tiny little VT-1 part, 😂😎🎹

[@AlexBallMusic]

👊

[@L00PdeL00P]

Love your music, dude

[@AlexBallMusic]

As I can’t fit it into the video description and there’s been quite a few people asking. Here is the list of who was composing and performing what: Alex Ball: TR-77, SH-1000, EC-10, RE-201, SH-5, System 700 (with much help from Sanj Sen), System 100m, RS-505, Jupiter 4, Promars, SH-1, CR-78, SH-7, TR-808, Jupiter-8, TB-303, TR-606, Juno-6, SH-101, JX-3P, TR-909, TR-707, VP-9000, System 500, System 1m, System-8, TR-8s, Boss HM-2, CE-2 and DM-2 JP Geersing @ Synthsandstuff: Jupiter-6 kzbin.info Paolo Di Nicolantonio @ Synth Mania: Ace Tone FR-1, Hammond XK-3c, RS-202, W-30, JV-1080, Jupiter-80 kzbin.info Conny Johansson @ Asteroid Killer Music: Boss CE-1, JX-8P kzbin.info Synthetic Machines: System 100 kzbin.info Peter Venuto / Synth Palace / SLURP: GR-500 / GS-500 kzbin.info Pea Hicks: MC-8 kzbin.info/door/tJfsUa_J6DMp-p2eS7hp5w Brandon @ Zibby Bone: VP-330 / TR-727 kzbin.info Marko Ettlich @ Retro Sound: Additional VP-330 and D-50 music kzbin.info Joe George @ Reverb.com: AFM100 Bee Baa Fuzz kzbin.info www.joegeorgemusic.net/ Espen Kraft: MSQ-700 kzbin.info/door/a5swc5zZU-xdI8T2RzhL4Q Anders Enger Jensen: Boss VT-1 KZbin: kzbin.info Ra Smith @ madFAME: DR-55, R-8 (heard but not seen), DDR-30, Juno-106 kzbin.info Woody @ Piano Shack: D-50 kzbin.info/door/27jRFKGzztB9u9T5GkPH_g Reuben Jones: JD-800 kzbin.info Patrick Gill: JP-8000 kzbin.info Synth4ever: V-Synth, JX-10 kzbin.info/door/NsgT_XxwSPdjRka1LD7RRw

[@mothhh2114]

@@BBB-zy6er And 20:40

[@arcadianguitars3936]

Dude!! You’ve made ‘THE Synth Documentary’…congratulations and thank you 🙏

[@ynnebbenny]

That was the best documentary I have seen in years. Coming from a 60 year old who has never touched a synth in his life, your documentary held me with fascination the whole time. WELL DONE !! and thank you !

[@tornghost]

Wow Alex, you're really raising the ante here, and you didn't even monetise it! Thank you :D

[@AlexBallMusic]

Roland story is a huge one! Think the video is monetised, but just the basic one, so doesn't always play an ad.

[@miaroscfala]

59:30 My era! This type of 80's production reminds me of the films, TV and memories of my childhood. So comforting!

[@derandi8567]

Impressively well made! The units, the demos, the background information, all arranged in a clear timeline, even portraying the human behind that excellent company.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks you and thanks for watching.

[@NathanChisholm041]

My JP-8000 is my favorite synth i own! I was big into Trance in the 90s and early 2000s and still are and it was a beast....

[@drjazz7278]

Just finished watching. If KZbin give awards for straightforward scholarly briliant quality content.. it's yours

[@Kj16V]

In the future, after the machines have risen up and defeated mankind, they will come across your synthesiser music and say *The fleshlings know the superior music of the Machine People. Perhaps they are not savage beasts as we thought .* The machines will decide to spare the human race from destruction, all because of your synthesiser tunes. Congratulations, you're the saviour of mankind and you don't even know it!

[@pgray46]

So goodKj16V, you are a visionary fo sho... Be blessed my brother

[@hickorymccay2994]

I've read enough Stanislaw Lem to know where this is going.

[@gooserayos]

I was feeling a bit down, but this made me so happy. Thank you for your energy making this. Thank you for Ikutaro Kakehashi and all the people at his companies. Without them we wouldn't have the music we love today.

[@madmac66]

As someone who grew up a punk and metal guitarist in the 80s and 90s and only later got into synths this fills a big gap in my education. Like everyone else I need more now on all the big hitters. Fascinating history especially of the rags to riches story

[@Toolsquatch]

Your videos are quickly becoming a great resource for anyone wanting to learn about synthesizers, I came to see you recreate Daft Punk sounds on an MS-20 out of curiosity and I've gotten so much more wonderful content out of your channel since then: keep up the *fantastic* work!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you! I think these stories are worth telling as they mean a lot to so many people and the joy of 2019 is that it's possible to do that!

[@bandfromtheband9445]

Most definitely! This post is astonishing and something that I never thought that I would ever see! Amazing work, Alex! Thank you....so much!!!

[@cdnb3]

From someone who performed on a SH-1000 in the late 1970s to early 1980s, and who spent a lot of the 1980s in keyboard rooms drooling over the Jupiters, Junos, JXs and later the D-50, as well as all of the other Roland products, this is absolutely a fantastic film. I want to watch it in a theatre !

[@abxorb]

That was an amazing documentary, made me realise that Roland probably was present in 80% of all of my childhood's favourite music. ♥ Thank you so much for putting all of this together, awesome work! 😊

[@huntrrams]

Awesome documentary! With the demos I felt like I was at a virtual museum exhibit!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers!

[@synth4ever]

Amazing work Alex, you put your heart and soul into everything you do! Thanks for this in-depth retrospective on Roland -- I'm honored to have been able to contribute. Keep up the great work as always!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you for your bits, was great to include those. Your choral V-Synth piece is wonderful.

[@slowneutron6163]

"Put on 'White Rabbit'. I need a rising sound."-Dr. Gonzo, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

[@aniketvardhan1253]

Dear Alex, just found this and your channel, can say that it's definitely better than seeing a therapist. Thank you sincerely for such brilliant work.

[@budgetkeyboardist]

This is one of the documentaries that I rewatch about 2 times per year because it's so good.

[@InstrumentalJourney]

The Roland company. ..thank you for all the great synths..

[@richard2090]

This documentary is of such high quality I don't think the Beeb could touch it. This is PHD strength knowledge, hats off (not high hats) to you and your insights. You've answered a whole load of questions I didn't even know I had, and at 48 years old, pretty sure everything in my growing up music life has just been finished off by this incredible YT video :-) thank you

[@compnmuzac]

I will cherish the "Letter of Thanks for Mr. Roland for submitting my Synth Music Demo with a Roland 90 Min Cassette Tape as a Gift for entering !

[@garyturner5204]

Thank you so very much for this concise and informative video covering the history of Roland and their many iconic synthesizers, drum machines, sound effects processors and so much more! Covering the time line, development and production of so very many Roland products truly lays out the how and why of where Roland has come from, and evolved along the way. You have done an impeccable job on this video! A tribute to the Roland companies, their staff, founder and products enabling many thousands to have fun creating music they love! THANK YOU!

[@ian_b]

I nearly invented Acid House, the "nearly" being that I didn't. But I had a Drumatix, a Pro-One, a Prodigy, a Jen SX-1000 and a Juno 106. And I loved twiddling with short fast sequences on the Pro-One while widdling the knobs around. But like an idiot, my "serious" attempts at music were 4-tracking sub-par 3rd rate Hawkwindesque attempts at psychedelic rock while bemoaning the hopeless inadequacy of my riddim section for that purpose. Despite the fact that I'd kept the analogue faith when everyone else got a DX7, I'd started off doing electropop and I adored filter sweeps. Oh, hindsight. What a thing it is. *edit* and I could've picked up a TB303 as well looking back. Everything analogue was in those precious years going for peanuts (as noted in the documentary).

[@cgpokoy]

This documentary gives me way more satisfaction than any film could do... good memories of the sound of my childhood and awesome jams years later, technical & engineering insights, history of music and the tech behind, and finally some awesome handmade music. A big heartfelt Thank You!!!

[@sedumjp]

'The bass that launched a thousand trips'... Chef's kiss for that delicious line, seemingly thrown away right at the end of the 303 segment. You could give a production company £250K to make this film and it would get nowhere how interesting, informative and just damn enjoyable this is.

[@kentune38]

Incredible documentary. As others have said, the kind of standard you'd think could only be provided by a broadcaster. Fantastic sourcing and programming of original instruments. Love the circuit diagrams and original magazine adverts. Wonderful work. A labour of love, truly.

[@Nightmoore]

This was absolutely legendary. Incredible production......one of the finest videos ever posted on KZbin.

[@EspenKraft]

This is a great video Alex, I love watching this as I eat my morning cereals. Congrats on a massive achievement! :)

[@Ca11mero]

This is one of many reasons why I like minimal wave, one of the few genres that still relies heavily on analog synths.

[@danielboni6749]

Alex Ball, you should be a star... Hope you will keep on enjoying us like this for a long time !!!! Thank U mate !

[@andrewblackburn1426]

Man, those are some great-sounding instruments, even 40+ years later. Great job showing off this classic gear!

[@JustPlayingBass]

Fantastic show. Growing up in the 70s/ early 80s, these synth sounds were wondrous and still are. Best in depth documentary I've seen. Thanks you so much for sharing.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks for watching. Yes, a familiar sounds to so many of us, their influence is deep.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I started playing guitar, still do, but I was always drawn to the crazy sci-fi/cyber sounds. Dropped LSD and listened to The Prodigy Fat of the Land on headphones... changed my whole outlook on music, life as well. Wound up playing with the synths more than the guitars when we would go to music stores. I gotta pull out my recording equipment, my MicroKorg, JP-8080, Eurorack and some guitars and actually create a new track for the first time in over a decade. *Almost forgot my Arturia MicroBrute, Electrix Filter Factory (and other effects units), etc.

[@orkymorky1]

Genuinely the best video on KZbin, I watch it most weeks

[@javierb5645]

This is the 3rd time i watch this documentary it's soooo great

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@danskopalj6826]

Hats off to you. This is a brilliant documentary. Watched and enjoyed this immensely. Thankyou Alex for this wonderful work! I had a JX-3P and a D-50 years ago but didn't appreciate their legacy at the time. Seeing and hearing them again made me emotional. What a wonderful history and story.

[@larryknicks]

The story of Roland was fortunately recommended to someone with a few pocket operators. Knew there was a lot involved with a lot of personal favorites in music, but how many pieces there is is baffling.Thank you for this vast well of knowledge. Time to dive in! ✌🏾👽

[@cephlopodic]

🐙 thank you ALEX ! ive been drowning in a cold sea of synth facts & figures, reviews,opinions, bits n pieces.....until now. finally you have given me the gift of PERSPECTIVE. thru your beautiful KORG retro and now ROLAND, I "can see clearly now". thanx again my brother. i wish you PEACE LOVE AND ANALOG.

[@gazvlogs7459]

DUDE you are SO talented!

[@peterson3]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3qyl5SEqb6rsJY

[@FallingIslands]

This is it. This is the best synthesizer channel on KZbin.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thank you!

[@jean-paulsabiche9653]

Thxs a lot for all those memories ,when I used to have Jupiter-6 in early 90's(cost me 1800frcs,about150 pounds at that time),how great were those deep sounds!

[@bmhater1283]

1800 Francs? Pre-Euro France?

[@jean-paulsabiche9653]

@@bmhater1283 For sure! Every analogic synth was cheap at that time.

[@dreamstaticsounds]

This was superb. Thank you for making it!

[@jackcraig4655]

Just incredible. Well done! x

[@chipbarber8883]

This is such an outstanding retrospective, I’ve watched it twice! Having lived through much of this it really brought back the wide-eyed excitement of seeing these new products showing up in music stores and in the hands of band mates. Thank you for this!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Chip!

[@VoidloniXaarii]

this video presentation was sooo amazing! Best documentary i've seen in the past 5+ years at least!

[@oroszistvan2639]

Alex, this is great work! Thank you!!

[@themetamorph]

An absolute joy to watch,thank you!

[@OriginalRaveParty]

What an incredible documentary. I can only imagine how much research, time and effort went into creating such a brilliant video!

[@stephenalcaide1778]

Thank you so much for this documentary. You will never know how happy this made me. I love you man!

[@bilkun]

Absolutely incredible content right here! Enjoyed in so much! Thank you

[@romeopopescu]

Can't thank you enough for this! Fantastic work!

[@hawk194]

This is one of the best synth videos ever. Thank you.

[@brianmalik9383]

Remarkable work in every aspect--- story, sound, camera, edit!

[@BroadbandBrat]

That was a fantastic documentary!! Thank You!!

[@undercrackers56]

An excellent video and such a warm tribute.

[@alejandronieto576]

Hey, great video!!! During the first 30 minutes I thought this video was made by Roland, but then as I realised that this whole production was made by a single KZbinr (with help from many people, of course) I was pleasantly surprised. I learned much from this. I will go on to see your other videos. Greetings from Buenos Aires.

[@bobacks]

As a Roland fanboi, I salute you, sir.

[@AlexBallMusic]

🖖

[@a1b1]

Incredible!!! Thank you for making this film.

[@MerrickGuitar]

Amazingly put together, going to have to watch this more than once. Thanks!!!

[@greggregory2554]

I've lost faith/interest/obsession in music tech in general but bloody heck, this is a superb video! Started watching and could not stop. Nice production. @ 10:05 😎

[@AlexBallMusic]

Glad to have been entertaining in that context, thanks for letting me know! 🙂

[@themaster1336]

What was the music being performed at 9:56? It’s haunting and compelling. I want to immerse myself in this sound!

[@AlexBallMusic]

@TheMaster13 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqqypWd6jrRmeJI

[@themaster1336]

@@AlexBallMusic ahhhhhhhhh... ****deeep sigh***** Thank You 🙏 Soul is actively being soothed 😊

[@emrazum]

that first paraphonic tune is so nice. This is an incredibly great video. Love the score and how it fits in with the story. You're amazing!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks. Yes, the 505 is really cool. Was great to get to play one.

[@sakariheikkila]

Great work! And great mini tunes. Thank you so much, learned a lot!

[@speeedskater]

love it , love the sounds, love the history of them, well done

[@steadfastcoward]

I'm only 9 minutes into this and I'm just not worthy! THANK YOU, this is beyond awesome!

[@JCooperAudioSystems]

Great documentary. I love Roland products. I am happy to own several of these since the mid 90's.

[@nauhkw]

Amazing piece of work, what a pleasure to watch (and to listen to).