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Description

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.

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Roland W-30 | The first Roland workstation

Video thumbnail for Roland W-30 | The first Roland workstation by Espen Kraft

Roland W-30 | The first Roland workstation

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Video thumbnail for Roland W-30 sampling and sequencing - early '90s Techno style by SynthMania

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

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for Roland W30 Workstation - Epic Tutorial - The Prodigy - Part 1 - Sampling & Truncate by Thomas Matthew Evans

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

Thomas Matthew Evans

Thomas Matthew Evans

Video thumbnail for [Drums] 12-bit samplers: Akai S900 and Roland W-30 quick "lo-fi" comparison by Arty-gz

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

Arty-gz

Arty-gz

Video thumbnail for Roland W-30 (Test Disk 1,2 e 3) by Tiago Mallen

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

Tiago Mallen

Tiago Mallen

Video thumbnail for Roland W-30 Realtime filter and sounds by bleepbit

Roland W-30 Realtime filter and sounds

bleepbit

bleepbit

Video thumbnail for Roland W-30 | A change of display and it looks brand new again! by Espen Kraft

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

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Video thumbnail for Roland W30 (1989) best 12bit Sampler Keyboard Workstation | Quick Review | No Talking Sounds by Andrew G Dugros

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

Andrew G Dugros

Andrew G Dugros

Video thumbnail for [preview] 12-bit samplers: Akai S900 and Roland W-30 quick "lo-fi" comparison by Arty-gz

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

Arty-gz

Arty-gz

Reviews

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

  • To make samples play fully without holding keys, access the W-30's sample edit menu and set the "Gate" parameter to "OFF".

    Source
  • Utilizing "Subtone of" under Tone Parameters allows for resampling without additional memory by setting start/stop points in Wave Settings without truncating.

    Source
  • The ZuluSCSI board uses a different processor unaffected by chip shortages, offering an advantage over SCSI2SD and BlueSCSI models.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Ensure to save changes after adjusting sample parameters to avoid losing the new settings.

    Source
  • Replacing a dark screen involves disassembling the entire unit, which can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with the process.

    Source
  • Users have managed screen replacements by purchasing new parts, indicating availability but also the complexity involved in installation.

    Source
  • Booting the W-30 requires a 1.07 boot disk, as earlier versions like 1.06 cause disk errors and fail to boot.

    Source
  • 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.

    Source

User experience

  • A failed disk drive can effectively brick the W-30, highlighting the importance of maintaining or replacing aging hardware components.

    Source
  • 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.

    Source

Software and compatibility

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

    Source

Other

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

    Source

4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 19 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
morten_vammen

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

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Alexander Metzger uses Roland W-30

Alexander Metzger

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

Alexander Metzger, also known as Alex Butcher, who is associated with World of Intros, Vengeance Sound, and Refx, is seen using the Roland W-30 synthesizer in a cover photo on his Facebook page.

See how Pompi Suradimansyah uses Roland W-30

Pompi Suradimansyah

Keyboardist, Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video, you can see a picture of Pompi with a Roland W-30.

See how John Morrow uses Roland W-30

John Morrow

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via Hardcorejunglism

In his hardcorejunglism.com interview, John recounts the studio setup of his Foul Play days:

"... the set-up changed quite a bit over the first couple of years but the kit we used included an Atari ST, Akai S1000, Yamaha DX7, Roland W-30 Workstation and later an Apple Power Macintosh 8100"

See how Howard Goodall uses Roland W-30

Howard Goodall

Singer, Keyboardist

...
Verified via Bluesky Social

Howard Goodall has confirmed the use of the Roland W-30 workstation, as well as Proteus modules and an Akai S-series sampler, stating, "Yep amongst other things I used all the Proteus modules, an Akai S-series sampler, and a Roland W-30 workstation back then." This information is verified through his post on Bluesky Social.

See how WATCHMAN uses Roland W-30

WATCHMAN

Drummer, Music Producer

...
Verified via musit(ミュージット)

In an interview with Musit, WATCHMAN confirms that he used the Roland W-30, a sequencer/sampler/keyboard, during the early days of his band The Sleepwalk:

使用機材は姉から譲り受けたYAMAHAのストラトキャスター(型番不明)に、音楽仲間たちから頂いたBOSSやMAXONなどのコンパクトエフェクター群、それと自分の最初期の宅録機材であるROLAND:W-30(シーケンサー/サンプラー/キーボード)、BOSS:SE-50(マルチエフェクター)、TASCAM:PORTASTUDIO 424(4chカセットMTR)を使っていました。歌は当時マイク知識がゼロだったので笑、普通のカラオケ用マイクとリハスタにあったSHUREのSM58か何かで録っていました。

M

Moe Z MD

Music Producer

...
Verified via Gearspaceforum

In this April 15, 2009 Gearslutz forum reply, engineer Paul Arnold shares that, while working with Tupac during the recording of "Outlaw", he and Moe Z MD "tracked the beat from Moe's Roland W-30 and Emu SP-1200 as Pac rehearsed the parts with his family."

Album Usage

The Roland W-30 has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland W-30, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Steinberg Cubase
Steinberg Cubase Music Software
2
E-mu SP-1200
E-mu SP-1200 Production & Groove
2
Roland S-760
Roland S-760 Audio Samplers
2
Oberheim Matrix 6R
Oberheim Matrix 6R Synthesizers & Sound Modules
1
Emu Emulator IV
Emu Emulator IV Audio Samplers
1
Akai MPC 5000
Akai MPC 5000 Keyboards, Synthesizers & MIDI
1

Community setups

Show yours
tastatore

tastatore

Gear IQ 544

S

syndrom6667

Gear IQ 93

duque

duque

Gear IQ 92

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