Product Description

The GW8 is the next generation of Roland's unique GW-Series workstations with intelligent backing-track functionality. With its fresh, contemporary sound-set and expressive interactive musical styles from pop to rock, plus authentic ethnic styles and a multi-format USB Memory Player feature, the GW8 will bring a world of music to your fingertips. It's especially well-suited for "one-man-band" performance.

Features
Contemporary music workstation with high-quality 128-voice sound engine derived from Roland's renowned Fantom-X Series

Wide variety of contemporary sounds and interactive backing styles with special focus on Latin American genres, plus additional banks of ethnic sounds and styles from around the world

Onboard 16-track sequencer for saving your interactive performances

USB Memory Player feature allows direct playback of MP3, .WAV, AIFF and SMF files from USB key; Center Cancel feature for audio files enables karaoke-style sing-along

Newly-designed graphical display, plus Style Select button, Analog Modify knob and D BEAM

Style Converter and Playlist Editor software included

Flagship Sound Engine with Easy User Interface
With Roland's world-leading sound technology at its core, the GW8 rivals any workstation on the planet with its rich, expressive sound. The GW8 comes loaded with hundreds of the freshest and most essential sounds taken from Roland's top workstations. In addition to its authentic sound set, the GW8 is equipped with many user-friendly controls, such as the expressive D BEAM and the Analog Modify knob, which allows instant adjustments of sounds to suit your taste. The GW8 is perfect for live entertainers who play multiple roles in their performances.

Intelligent Backing Styles
The GW8 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 GW8 is equipped with ethnic instrument sounds and authentic regional musical styles, with special focus on Latin American genres. Each backing style has four intros, four main patterns, and four ending progressions for you to craft your own arrangements live.

USB Memory Player Feature
One of Roland's most popular new features is built into the GW8: 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 GW8's Center 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 GW8 is Roland's Style Converter software for PC, which lets you create and convert your own MIDI data into GW8 backing styles and install them via commercially available USB Flash memory devices. Also included is the Playlist Editor for customizing the order of songs. Users can easily create a dedicated Playlist for each gig.

Technical Description

Specifications
Keyboard: 61 keys (with velocity)

Sound Generator
Maximum Polyphony: 128 voices

Parts: 16 parts + Keyboard part

Wave Memory: 256MB (16-bit linear equivalent)

Preset Memory:
- Performances: 128, Tones: 896 + 256 (GM2) + World, Rhythm Sets: 32 + 9 (GM2) + World

User Memory:
- Performances: 128, Favorite Performances: 100, Favorite Tones: 100

Effects:
- MFX: Upper and Lower / 78 types, Chorus: 3 types, Reverb: 5 types

Backing Track
Backing type: Style, Song, USB Memory Player

Tempo (MIDI): 20 to 250

Style Variations: 4 Intro, 4 Main, 4 Ending, 4 Fill In, Sync Start, Stop, One Touch Setting

Song (16-track Recorder): 16-track, Rec mode (Mix, Replace), Count in, Punch In-Out, Input Quantize

USB Memory Player:
- 999 songs, SMF: format-0/1, Audio File: WAV/AIFF/MP3

Preset Memory:
- Styles: 130 + World

User Memory:
- Styles: 100, Songs: 200

Other
Controllers: D BEAM Controller x 1, Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever x 1, Control Knobs x 2

Display: 240 x 64 dots white graphic LCD

Connectors: Output Jacks (L/MONO, R), Ext Input Jack, Headphones Jack, MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT), Hold Pedal Jack, Control Pedal Jack, USB Connectors: COMPUTER (supports USB MIDI) / MEMORY (supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Flash Memory)

Power Supply: DC 9 V (AC Adaptor)

Current Draw: 1,000 mA

Accessories Included: Owner's Manual, CD-ROM, (Style Converter 3.0, Playlist Editor), AC Adaptor (PSB-1U), Music Player Pad, USB Memory Protector
USB (MIDI)

Operating System: Windows: XP Home SP2 or later/Windows XP Professional SP2 or later/Windows Vista*

* This does not work with the 64-bit Edition of Windows Vista.

Size and Weight
Width: 1,045 mm, 41-3/16 in.

Depth: 318 mm, 12-9/16 in.

Height: 102 mm, 4-1/16 in.

Weight: 6.0 kg, 13 lbs. 4 oz.

*The specifications are subject to change without notice.

Product Rated 9.8 Out of 10 (2 ratings)

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