Roland ‘Go’ range of keyboards for beginners include the GO-61K GO: KEYS and the GO: PIANO (Roland has also launched the compact GO:MIXER). You can use it to create music or to learn how to play. Roland has used premium onboard sounds on these keyboards (taken from its pro-level synths and pianos).
Highlights of Rolands Go Keyboards
- GO: KEYS (Go-61K) is designed for beginners who want several sounds, rhythms, and want to create their own music.
- GO: PIANO (Go-61P) is for those who wish to learn to play piano.
- Both models are portable and have features like battery-powered, Bluetooth connectivity, headphones jack and built-in speakers.
The onboard sounds are taken from Roland’s pro-level synths and pianos, it supports Bluetooth which allows you to work with music education apps on your favorite mobile devices.
- Roland GO-61K: 61-Keys Keyboard with hundreds of musical patterns
- Roland Go-61P: 61-Keys piano with various practice features
- Roland GO:Mixer: Compact mixer
Roland Releases GO:PIANO With Alexa Built-in
Roland’s Go:Piano will now come equipped with Alexa voice assistant that will allow players to communicate with the piano using voice commands, without taking their hands away from the keys.
So you can instruct Alexa to change the sound on Roland’s new keyboard and it will do that for you, without you having to select any buttons/menu items.
The voice command will let you control certain features of the digital piano, will give the Go access to cloud-based sharing features (so you can easily share performance recordings with family/friends), will let you access a huge library of play-along songs (to refine your skills) and lot more. This new functionality could open up several new playing possibilities.
Roland will be adding new capabilities to the Alexa assistant over time, and even expanding its use to other Roland instruments.
Roland GO Series: Various Products
GO: KEYS (Go-61K)
Features one-touch operation, allowing players to play songs with ease. Has musical patterns that play in real time. The keyboard features a touch panel and backlit LCD, and comes loaded with over 500 built in sounds.
Bluetooth connectivity can be used with Smartphones or tablets to jam to favourite tracks or record songs using music creation apps.
The keyboard has fantastic sounds, backing tracks and loop features. You can use it for music creation or for playing in small gigs and practice sessions. Its also great for travelling musicians and songwriters who want something compact but with better sounds and features.
Make sure you invest in good pair of monitors to fully appreciate the sounds (it comes with built in speakers though).
Roland GO-61K: Technical Specs
Number of Keys: 61, touch response
Polyphony: 128 Notes
Other Controllers: 10 x performance pads
Presets: Over 500 sounds, Loop Mix (12 sets x 56 patterns), Effects: Chorus, Reverb
Sequencer: SMF recorder, MIDI Recording: Standard MIDI Files
Audio Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux in), Audio Outputs: 1 x 1/8″ (headphones/main out), USB: 1 x Type Micro-B
MIDI I/O: Bluetooth
Pedal Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ (pedal)
Amplifier: 2 x 2.5W, Power Supply: DC power adapter (included) / 6 x AA batteries
Dimensions: Height: 3.25″, Width: 34.56″, Depth: 10.68″, Weight: 8 lbs. 10 oz.
- Roland GO-61K: Buy on Amazon | Buy on zZounds
GO: Piano (GO-61P) Review
The GO: PIANO features 61 full-size piano-style keys. It features several high-quality piano sounds, besides organs, strings and more sounds. Same touch panel, backlit LCD, Bluetooth connectivity as the GO: KEYS.
‘Go Piano’ is an affordable digital piano for beginners. If you always wanted to learn to play the piano, this is a keyboard that you may consider. It comes with 61 full-sized, touch response keys.
The layout is simple, comes with 500+ sounds, different instrument sounds have been assigned to a range of keys on the keyboard itself. The user can create on-the-fly looped phrases by playing notes on the keyboard and then use an X/Y control pad for sonic tweaking.
So does the piano come with weighted keys? No, the ‘Go Piano’ doesn’t come with fully weighted keys! The keys are semi-weighted (designed to be lightweight).
The keyboard can run on six AA-sized batteries allowing for portable convenience.
Tech Specs of GO-61P
Number of Keys: 61 Full size keys with touch response
Presets: 10 x piano, 7 x electric piano, 7 x organ, 16 misc tones
Polyphony: 128 Notes
Audio Inputs: 1 x 1/8″ (aux in), Audio Outputs: 1 x 1/8″ (headphones/main out)
USB: 1 x Type Micro-B, MIDI I/O: Bluetooth 4.0
Pedal Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ (pedal)
Amplifier: 2 x 2.5W
Power Supply: DC power adapter (included) / 6 x AA batteries
Dimensions: Height: 3.25″, Width: 34.56″, Depth: 10.68″, Weight: 8 lbs. 10 oz.
- Roland GO-61P: Buy on Amazon | Buy on zZounds
Roland GO:MIXER
Roland also announced a palm-sized mixer as part of the same range, and it will be called the GO:MIXER. It allows up to five instruments to be recorded into a smartphone at the same time, and is aimed at DIY video producers. See PRICE on Amazon.
Buying Links
Source: Roland
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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