Welcome back to another installment of Two Eds Are Better Than One—where Roland's Ed Diaz and Chuck Levin’s own Ed Spence team up to showcase the incredible power and flexibility of Roland’s newest innovation: the V-Stage.
In our latest session, we took things to the next level—literally—by diving into the computer integration capabilities of the V-Stage 88 and 76 models. Spoiler alert: this isn’t just a stage piano. It’s a studio powerhouse in disguise.
USB-C Audio + MIDI = Game-Changer
Right on the back of the V-Stage, you’ll find a USB-C port—your gateway to an incredible range of audio and MIDI possibilities. Out of the box, the V-Stage is USB Audio Class Compliant, meaning you get stereo in/stereo out connectivity perfect for livestreaming or simple computer recording.
But plug in that USB-C cable, install the official Roland drivers, and boom—you unlock:
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18 audio inputs
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4 audio outputs
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MIDI I/O
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All over one cable
Inside your DAW of choice—whether it’s Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, or MainStage—you’ll see channels for everything:
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Main output
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Sub output
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Dedicated channels for Organ, V-Piano, EP, Synth A, Synth B
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Line input channels
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Mic input (yep, there's a mic input too)
And it’s not just passive routing. Each voice can be actively tracked as separate audio streams, making multitrack recording a breeze.
Real-Time DAW Control and Scene Switching
Want to trigger different scenes on your V-Stage as your backing track plays? Easy.
With MIDI tracks from your DAW, you can automate patch changes, layer setups, and more—live. No extra button presses needed. It’s an MD’s dream setup.
Plus, if you're performing with backing tracks or a click for your band, the sub out can send isolated audio directly to in-ears—keeping your main output clean for the front-of-house mix.
Full Integration, Minimal Setup
One of the standout moments from our demo? Watching Ed switch from organ to piano to synths in real-time while recording—all without ever stopping the DAW. Every part was captured on its own audio track automatically.
This is real plug-and-play integration. No menu-diving. No rerouting. Just seamless performance-to-recording workflow.
Bonus: Roland Cloud Goodies Included
When you pick up a V-Stage 88 or 76, you also unlock over $600 worth of free content from Roland Cloud:
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Jupiter-8
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Juno-106
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JX-8P
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SH-101
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Prismatic Layers sound collection
That’s four legendary synth models + an expansive library of sounds—all available to load directly into your V-Stage.
Who's It For?
The V-Stage isn’t trying to replace every Roland keyboard—but it fills a very smart niche.
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Worship leaders & MDs: Flexible I/O, pro-grade sounds, scene switching, and mic support—perfect for Sunday service setups.
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Touring musicians: Lighter than a Phantom or RD-2000, but with deep sound and control capabilities.
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Studio players: Built-in interface, multitrack audio/MIDI support, and sound expansion make it a production-ready workstation.
If you’re not using sequencing or sampling and just want killer piano, organ, and synth sounds with modern connectivity, the V-Stage delivers—without compromise.