Roland
Corporation Licenses Revolutionary Dimension BeamTM Technology From
Interactive LightRoland
Musical Instruments to Incorporate Innovative Light-Sensing Controllers January
29, 1998
In an agreement which promises to change the face of musical instrument technology,
Roland Corporation recently licensed Interactive Light Inc.'s revolutionary Dimension
Beam technology for a range of upcoming musical instruments. The integration of
this technology into new cutting-edge Roland instruments gives musicians unprecedented
instantaneous control over their music creation through expressive hand and body
motions, instrument motion and movement on stage. Dimension Beam technology
employs an ultra-sensitive infrared beam to detect motion without any contact
and convert it into MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) and analog control
messages, literally turning a musician's body movements into an instrument controller.
The first Roland instrument to incorporate a Dimension Beam controller will be
the new MC-505 Groovebox, a dance music-oriented beat box/MIDI sequencer and sound
module which joins the very successful MC-303 Groovebox as part of Roland's best-selling
dance products line. With the addition of the Dimension Beam technology, a disc
jockey can now add physical control and dynamic body movement to the popular sounds
and dance rhythms contained in the MC-505 Groovebox. The MC-505 is scheduled to
be introduced in the U.S. at the NAMM Show in January 1998, and it is tentatively
scheduled to be introduced in Japan in January 1998. With the Dimension Beam
controller, even the subtlest of hand gestures will be detected and converted
into instrument control messages on the MC-505, opening up a range of expressive
control possibilities over note volume, instrument effects, sound altering parameters,
sound playback and even the notes themselves. This first-of-its-kind technology
is under exclusive musical instrument license to Roland Corporation, and will
be incorporated into a range of other Roland musical instruments in the months
to come, opening up whole new avenues for music expression. "Ever since we
introduced our Dimension Beam product, we have been overwhelmed by the positive
feedback from musicians like Peter Gabriel, Jon Anderson, Jonathan Moffet and
Trevor Rabin," said Amir Rubin, Interactive Light's Chief Executive Officer. "Now
we are thrilled to popularize this technology through our new relationship with
Roland, a true pioneer in the music industry." "In licensing this technology,
we are bringing musicians an incredibly expressive tool for music making," said
Ikutaro Kakehashi, Chairman of Roland Corporation. "Roland's new 'D-Beam' equipped
instruments will truly be on the cutting edge of music and sound creation. And
in partnering with Interactive Light - much like our recent partnership with Microsoft
Corporation - Roland has once again established a relationship with an industry
leader." Interactive Light, a privately held company based in Santa Monica,
California, sells the Dimension Beam, a product that allows a musician to control
MIDI devices in real-time with their body and instrument motions. Interactive
Light's Hydra Productions subsidiary creates shows and applications utilizing
the Dimension Beam. Interactive Light also develops and markets sports oriented
video game simulators to arcades, stadiums, amusement parks, and other locations.
For more information, contact Stuart Wallock, (310) 581-8411, VP of Marketing
& Sales, Interactive Light, 1202 Olympic Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90404,
United States, www.interactivelight.com.
Roland is a world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of electronic
musical instruments, professional audio equipment, multimedia products and music
accessories. For more
information, contact Roland Corporation, Daiwa Dojima Bldg., 4-16 Dojimahama 1-chome,
Kita-ku, Osaka 530, Japan, www.rolandcorp.com.
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