The World in a Workstation

The GW-8 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 GW-8 will bring a world of music to your fingertips. It’s especially well-suited for “one-man-band” performance.

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; Centre 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 GW-8 rivals any workstation on the planet with its rich, expressive sound. The GW-8 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 GW-8 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 GW-8 is perfect for live entertainers who play multiple roles in their performances.
Intelligent Backing Styles
The GW-8 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 GW-8 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 features is built into the GW-8: 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 GW-8’s Centre Cancel function can minimise main vocals from pre-recorded songs, great for karaoke-style performances or music practice.
Style Converter & Playlist Editor
Bundled with each GW-8 is Roland’s Style Converter software for PC, which lets you create and convert your own MIDI data into GW-8 backing styles and install them via commercially available USB Flash memory devices. Also included is the Playlist Editor for customising the order of songs. Users can easily create a dedicated Playlist for each gig.

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, Favourite Performances: 100, Favourite 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
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 inches
Depth
318 mm
12-9/16 inches
Height
102 mm
4-1/16 inches
Weight
6.0 kg
13 lbs. 4 oz.

Listen to a demo/sample played on this instrument.

Sample 1