"I Believe in Music" by Ikutaro Kakehashi

Started by MusicOverGear, October 22, 2014, 11:14:39 AM

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MusicOverGear



Just arrived in the mail and I'm not sure I can wait until tomorrow to tear into it. Anyone here read it? I was surprised I couldn't find any references with search.

I've been reading about the history of synths lately, getting more into old school sound design. It seems Roland had a bigger part than I ever realized in shaping the path of music technology.

Also since about day 3 with my GP-10 I became aware that there was a deep philosophy behind the design of the device - a sort of spirit in the machine - I think there is a Japanese word for it.

I'm hoping this book will give me some insight into all of that. I already got the broad strokes of Mr. Kakehashi's bio from the web. Can't wait to read what's inside this book.

Elantric


papabuss

FENDER STRATOCASTER (1974); BRIAN MAY RED SPECIAL; VG 99; GR 55; Yamaha DX 7

Music was my first love and it will be my last (JOHN MILES)

Rhcole

I drooled over the larger Roland modular synths in the 70's but couldn't afford them. I started with an ARP Odyssey and an Oberheim Expander module with a sequencer- all considered classics today but I would have gladly traded for a System 100.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/sys100.php



Bill Ruppert

Yes I read it about 4 years ago.
It has ZERO to do with Roland today.
Roland USA office follows NOTHING of his writings and believes.
At one time I was going to try and contact him and ask why.
I got tired and gave up.

He is a brilliant man.

montyrivers

Is Kakehashi among the executives who moved to buy out Roland from shareholders recently or does he sit apart from all of the business management and operation at this stage in his life?

Elantric

Quotehe sits apart from all of the business management and operation at this stage in his life

This ^

Tony Raven

I'm a fan of the man.

The book isn't perfect. IMNSHO, he skims too lightly over some really potentially interesting topics, whether you're a musician or a gear wonk or have been poking at MIDI since the early days or whatever. But, having said that, to give ALL the topics the space they likely deserve would've easily quadrupled the size of the book.

It's certainly enlightening to learn Kakehashi's underlying design principles, & astounding to realize just how quickly he turned a ramshackle watch-repair business into a cutting-edge producer of serious musical instruments. Who knew he's such a dedicated fan of church organs? His early struggles to introduce electronic instruments at NAMM are amusing -- wasn't so long ago that the term was seen as self-contradictory!

I wish he'd have said something about how they got into accordions, but the only real gap is in the story of Roland's industrial side -- vinyl printer/cutters, rotary engravers, medical CAD/CAM, even a 3D printer. (Someday, I'd like to own a volume that deals with each product Roland's ever produced. :o)

Elantric

http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=71451&sid=e9d52e368f0bfc00fc79a81ab9a832c8

Well, Roland has produced more groundbreaking electronic instruments than any other manufacturers. Too bad they are focused on V-Drums and guitar/bass stuff (Boss). Can't fault them, though, because the synth market is like 1/100th of the guitar market.

Elantric

He is now focused on a different company called

ATV Global

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikutaro_Kakehashi

http://atv-global.com/

ATV[edit]
In 2014, Kakehashi founded the ATV Corporation. [6] Together with Paulo Caius, former CEO of Roland Iberia, Founder and CEO of Roland Systems Group EMEA, Makoto Muroi, a prestigious research engineer for music and audiovisuals, also former President of the Roland Systems Group Japan, Mark Tsuruta, former CEO of Roland Audio Development USA and Glenn Dodson, previous CEO of Roland Australia, they've decided to start again with a dedicated and experienced team. ATV has been growing since; with a vast team of experienced engineers focused on providing the market with brilliant and exciting new products in both market fields.


http://atv-global.com/music/drums/ad5




admin

#14
https://cdm.link/2019/11/roland-analog-remakes-statement/
QuoteWe are very aware of the very strong passion that synth fans have for the JUPITER-8, and some continue to wait for us to introduce a true analog version. This is something we do not plan to do.
Our founder Mr. Kakehashi always said, "Never chase a ghost", and I really understand his meaning. "Chasing the ghost" of the original JUPITER-8 or TR-808 does not make sense as we will never catch them, and this effort would not align with our vision for the future.

admin

Watch oral history

Former Roland employees

Chris Bristol (former CEO)
Paul Youngblood (former Product Manager)

https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/paul-youngblood