Roland announced the release of the GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer, combining PCM synthesis with digital instrument modeling from the VG-99 V-Guitar System.
The GR-55 features two independent synthesizer sound engines, each loaded with 900 of Roland’s sounds, including pianos, organs, strings, vintage and modern synths, percussion, and more. A third sound engine is driven by Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM), the guitar modeling technology behind Roland’s VG-99 V-Guitar System. With COSM, the GR-55 can emulate electric and acoustic guitars, basses, and other instruments, as well as guitar and bass amplifiers.
The GR-55 is designed to allow players to combine the three sound engines plus their guitar’s normal input to create “any sound from the familiar to the original.” Two independent multi-effects processors are available for various tone-shaping options, plus global reverb, chorus, delay effects and EQ to add sweetening.
The GR-55 is designed to give guitarists a library of sounds, with no editing required. The onboard lineup of presets comes with category buttons. Sounds can be created and edited with the LCD display, front panel, and EZ Edit features. Also onboard is a phrase looper designed to let players capture on-the-fly recordings with sound-on-sound overdubs.
The GR-55 features a USB song player that lets users trigger WAV files on a USB flash drive using the onboard pedals. The GR-55 also functions as an audio and MIDI interface for computers, with a rear-panel USB 2.0 port. Users can integrate with their digital audio workstation software, recording GR-55 sounds as audio in the DAW and using the GR-55’s pitch-to-MIDI capabilities to trigger MIDI sounds such as virtual synths and samplers with their guitar.
The GR-55 is equipped with Roland’s 13-pin GK interface, and includes a Roland GK-3 divide pickup (GR-55GK model; also available without the pickup as GR-55S). The GK-3 can be installed on most steel string guitars with no modification to the instrument. In addition, many different GK-ready instruments are commercially available from various top guitar manufacturers, the company assures.
Pricing & Availability
The GR-55 is now shipping with an MSRP of $979.00, or $1,199.00 with a GK-3 Divided Pickup included.
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