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Roland W-30

$448.60 Price Tier: Budget

4.0 (19)

1 Review

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3 community setups

5 wishlisted

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Page last updated Jun 20, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 20, 2026.

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5.0 (2)

$448.60 5 available Used

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Average Price: $449

Budget/Beginner

$500

$1501+

Price Tier

In the Synthesizers category, Roland W-30 is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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Description

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The Roland W-30 is a classic sampling workstation synthesizer that offers a unique blend of 16-voice polyphony and versatile sampling capabilities, making it a standout choice for musicians who crave both power and flexibility in their creative arsenal. Released in the late '80s, this synth became a powerhouse in the realms of electronic and hip-hop music, thanks to its sleek integration of sampling and sequencing functions.

At the heart of the W-30 is its ability to sample up to 15 seconds at a time, which can be expanded with optional memory upgrades. Whether you're crafting intricate soundscapes or laying down hard-hitting beats, the W-30's 61 semi-weighted keys provide a responsive and expressive experience. Its intuitive interface, featuring a user-friendly LCD display and a dedicated disk drive for storing samples and sequences, ensures that your workflow remains smooth and efficient.

Perfect for live performances and studio projects alike, the Roland W-30 supports MIDI connectivity, allowing seamless integration with other devices. This synthesizer's robust construction and reliable performance have made it a favorite among touring musicians and producers who demand durability alongside functionality.

Key Features:

61 semi-weighted keys for expressive playing
16-voice polyphony for rich, layered sounds
Built-in sampling capability with up to 15 seconds of sampling time
Expandable memory for extended sampling capacity
Integrated sequencer for creating complex compositions
User-friendly LCD display for easy navigation
Dedicated disk drive for sample and sequence storage
MIDI connectivity for seamless integration with other gear

Product specs

Brand	Roland
Model	W-30 61-Key Sampling Music Workstation
Finish	Black
Year	1989 - 1992
Made In	Japan
Categories	Workstation Keyboards
Analog / Digital	Digital
Key Size	Full Size
Keyboard Action	Synth Action
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Number of Keys	61 Keys
Polyphony	16 Voices

FAQs

What type of synthesis does the Roland W-30 use?: The Roland W-30 is a digital sampling workstation, allowing users to create and manipulate sounds using its built-in sampler and digital synthesis capabilities.
How many keys does the Roland W-30 have and what is their action type?: The Roland W-30 features 61 full-size keys with a synth action, providing a responsive feel suitable for a variety of playing styles.
What is the polyphony of the Roland W-30?: The Roland W-30 offers 16-voice polyphony, enabling the playback of up to 16 notes simultaneously.
Does the Roland W-30 support MIDI connectivity?: Yes, the Roland W-30 includes MIDI Input, Output, and Through ports, allowing for integration with other MIDI-compatible devices.
What is the sampling capability of the Roland W-30?: The Roland W-30 features a built-in sampler with a 30kHz sampling rate, providing 14.4 seconds of sampling time for creative sound design.

Videos

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Espen Kraft

Roland W-30 | The first Roland workstation

Espen Kraft

Roland W-30 sampling and sequencing - early '90s Techno style

SynthMania

Roland W30 Workstation - Epic Tutorial - The Prodigy - Part 1 - Sampling & Truncate

Thomas Matthew Evans

[Drums] 12-bit samplers: Akai S900 and Roland W-30 quick "lo-fi" comparison

Arty-gz

Roland W-30 (Test Disk 1,2 e 3)

Tiago Mallen

Roland W-30 Realtime filter and sounds

bleepbit

Roland W-30 | A change of display and it looks brand new again!

Espen Kraft

Roland W30 (1989) best 12bit Sampler Keyboard Workstation | Quick Review | No Talking Sounds

Andrew G Dugros

[preview] 12-bit samplers: Akai S900 and Roland W-30 quick "lo-fi" comparison

Arty-gz

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland W-30.

Features and functionality

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To make samples play fully without holding keys, access the W-30's sample edit menu and set the "Gate" parameter to "OFF".
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Utilizing "Subtone of" under Tone Parameters allows for resampling without additional memory by setting start/stop points in Wave Settings without truncating.
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The ZuluSCSI board uses a different processor unaffected by chip shortages, offering an advantage over SCSI2SD and BlueSCSI models.
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Setup and maintenance

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Ensure to save changes after adjusting sample parameters to avoid losing the new settings.
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Replacing a dark screen involves disassembling the entire unit, which can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with the process.
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Users have managed screen replacements by purchasing new parts, indicating availability but also the complexity involved in installation.
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Booting the W-30 requires a 1.07 boot disk, as earlier versions like 1.06 cause disk errors and fail to boot.
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The W-30 boots from the hard drive with the highest SCSI ID; ensure no higher ID disks are added post-setup to maintain boot functionality.
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User experience

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A failed disk drive can effectively brick the W-30, highlighting the importance of maintaining or replacing aging hardware components.
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Users report that certain CD ISOs can crash the W-30, possibly due to byte size allocation issues that don't comply with Roland's format.
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Software and compatibility

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ZuluSCSI eliminates the need for special SD card formatting, simplifying the setup with .img and .hda files for hard drives and CD ISOs.
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Other

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Avoid purchasing SCSI chips from upsellers on platforms like Reverb or eBay; they shouldn't exceed 10 USD or euro.
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4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 19 Ratings

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morten_vammen

128

about 11 years ago

Simple, but effective for its time.

After using the 808 to trigger DDL, using the EPS and the SP, I settled for the W30. The ability to edit sounds when the sequencer runs, and the alternate loops and the crunchy bass-heavy sound was cool. Perfect for golden age chop-shop-hiphop. I made my first album with it straight to dat argumented by 2 303s, an Sh09 with audio input for proccesing and some drum machines and fx. When I switched for a Akai/Cubase setup, my jingle clients wanted the old grit back....http://www.discogs.com/Aum-Morph/release/578409

Roles:

Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Experimental