Roland Unveils New Computer Recording Bundle

SI-24 (Click for a close-up)

Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

New at Summer NAMM is Roland's Studio Package Pro, a hardware/software bundle that gives musicians everything needed to record music on a computer. The Studio Package Pro consists of three elements: The SI-24 Studio Interface, RPC-1 PCI Interface Card, and Emagic's Logic RPC Pro software for Mac or PC. This combination provides 24-bit/96kHz recording and professional MIDI sequencing with a motorized control.

The Studio Package Pro is centered on the SI-24 Studio Interface. This entirely new mixing surface is equipped with eight XLR/TRS inputs, a Guitar Hi-Z input, plus digital I/O in S/P DIF and R-BUS formats--all with 24-bit/96kHz sound quality. The SI-24's 13 motorized faders, 12 rotary knobs and 5.1 surround joystick can all be used to control Logic's mixing functions and plug-ins. There's even a Screen Set function for changing Logic's screen sets remotely.

Audio is passed from the SI-24 to and from a computer via the included RPC-1 R-BUS Interface Card, a PCI audio card with drivers for Windows, Macintosh and ASIO 2. The SI-24 connects to the RPC-1 via a single R-BUS cable, which can handle eight channels of bi-directional 24-bit/96kHz digital audio, along with MIDI information received from the SI-24's MIDI In and Out ports--making the SI-24 a useful MIDI interface as well.

All recording is handled in the computer via the bundled Logic RPC Pro software. This special version of Emagic's award-winning music production software for Mac or PC provides eight channels of simultaneous 24-bit/96kHz recording, 24 tracks of playback, 5.1 surround mixing, level and pan automation, a host of killer plug-ins and more. And since the SI-24 is designed to control many of Logic's mixing functions--including track level and panning, EQ, plug-in parameters and soft synths--users gain hands-on control of their software. The SI-24 also includes controller templates for popular software such as Pro Tools and Cubase, plus a "Learn" mode for setting up user presets more easily.