Then: The Legacy of “The Future. Redefined.”
The 2016 event introduced several innovative products, including the Aerophone digital wind instrument and BOSS’s KATANA guitar amplifier series. Key technologies, such as Prismatic Sound Modeling and digital pads, first adopted in the V-Drums TD-50 kit, established new global standards for expressive electronic drums and remain central to today’s V-Drums flagship models. Furthermore, the SYSTEM-8 synthesizer offered expandability through PLUG-OUT technology, enabling hardware and software integration via Roland Cloud. Collaborations with Serato DJ also significantly expanded possibilities for hardware-software linked performances. Many of these products and technologies have supported Roland’s growth by expanding the market and creating new product categories.
Now: New Products for a New Generation
The vision set forth by ‘The Future. Redefined.’ continues to inspire a new generation of products and technologies that provide richer creative experiences before, during, and after performance. From September to October 2026, Roland plans to announce over 10 new products across various fields, including pianos, drums, guitar-related products, synthesizers, and professional A/V equipment.
A recent example of this vision is the FP-40 digital piano and its companion app, Piano Sphere, which embody the company’s ‘Direct Connect’ strategic focus. This product is poised to bring new value to the digital piano market. Developed in collaboration with Learnfield, known for its popular piano learning app Skoove, Piano Sphere provides FP-40 users with a connected environment offering guided lessons, interactive learning tools, and real-time feedback. This aims to support skill improvement and sustained learning motivation.
Masahiro Minowa, Representative Director and CEO, commented, “The 2016 ‘The Future. Redefined.’ event was groundbreaking, significantly changing how we connected with our customers through the internet and creating new product categories that are now pillars of our business. We continue to uphold that spirit of innovation in both product development and customer experience as we move into the future. Realizing ‘Connected Instruments,’ as outlined in our mid-term management plan, is one of our initiatives to embody the ‘Direct Connect’ strategy we will focus on. We invite you to look forward to the future music creation experiences Roland aims to achieve.”
Next: Looking Towards the Future
Roland operates under the belief that “instruments should support lifelong creative enjoyment,” focusing on developing products and experiences that enable people to create, learn, perform, and connect. Recent innovations demonstrate the future possibilities enabled by digital instruments, exemplified by products with built-in Wi-Fi functionality that further integrate hardware with digital services. The latest V-Drums sound modules and the FP-40 with the Piano Sphere app are prime examples.
The company is committed to advancing its ‘Direct Connect’ and ‘Innovation’ key strategies, as outlined in its 2026-2028 mid-term management plan, to enhance customer creative experiences and strengthen engagement.
For product inquiries, please contact Roland Product Support:
Roland Product Support
