# Roland Corporation

> Roland Corporation is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments - synthesizers, drum machines, digital pianos, electronic drums, and guitar effects. Founded in 1972 by watch-repairman-turned-inventor Ikutaro Kakehashi, Roland built cheap, simple machines for hobbyists, co-created the MIDI standard that lets instruments talk to each other, and produced boxes like the TR-808 and TB-303 that flopped commercially, got rescued from bargain bins, and became the backbone of hip-hop, house, and techno.

- **Founded:** 1972
- **Headquarters:** Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
- **Founders:** Ikutaro Kakehashi (Founder)
- **Team size:** ~2,783 employees (2022)
- **Products:** TR-808 Rhythm Composer, TB-303 Bass Line, Juno / Jupiter synthesizers, V-Drums, Boss guitar effects
- **Notable:** Co-created the MIDI standard (1983), still the universal language of electronic music, Ikutaro Kakehashi received a Technical Grammy Award in 2013 for the invention of MIDI, TR-808 became the most sampled and influential drum machine in music history

## Products & services

- **TR-808 Rhythm Composer** — Programmable analog drum machine whose booming kick and snappy claps became the foundation of hip-hop, electro, and house.
- **TB-303 Bass Line** — Sequenced bass synthesizer designed to replace a bass guitarist; its squelchy filter accidentally created acid house.
- **Juno / Jupiter synthesizers** — Affordable analog and digital polyphonic synths (Juno-106, Jupiter-8, D-50) that became studio staples.
- **V-Drums** — Electronic drum kits with quiet mesh heads that made practice and recording possible in apartments; latest 3 and 5 Series launched 2025.
- **Boss guitar effects** — Compact stompbox pedals and multi-effects units under the Boss brand, ubiquitous on guitarists' pedalboards worldwide.
- **Digital pianos** — Home and stage digital pianos and keyboards spanning beginner to concert instruments.
- **Roland Cloud** — Subscription software service delivering faithful recreations of Roland's classic synths and sounds to computers and mobile.
- **AIRA / DJ gear** — Modern dance and DJ instruments including grooveboxes and controllers inspired by the classic TR and TB lines.

## Achievements

- Co-created the MIDI standard (1983), still the universal language of electronic music
- Ikutaro Kakehashi received a Technical Grammy Award in 2013 for the invention of MIDI
- TR-808 became the most sampled and influential drum machine in music history
- TB-303 spawned an entire genre, acid house
- V-Drums created and led the electronic drum category
- 50+ years as a continuously operating global instrument maker, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Announced the V-Drums 3 and 5 Series electronic drum kits with new V31 and V51 sound modules.
- **2024-01** — Continued expansion of Roland Cloud and new instrument releases across synth, piano, and drum lines.

## Links

- Website: https://www.roland.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rolandcorporation
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RolandGlobal
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RolandChannel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolandglobal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Roland/

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-21