SuperNATURAL Modeling: Roland Pianos
If you have read our extensive comparison of digital pianos, you have surely noticed that we often describe Roland instruments with the same word: expressive.
When a pianist sits down at a Roland keyboard from the FP or RD series, something special often happens. The sound seems to respond fluidly, almost alive, under the fingers. This magic is not a matter of chance; it has a name: the technology SuperNATURAL.
But what exactly is it? How does a computer manage to imitate the soul of a wooden and metal acoustic instrument? To understand this, we need to dive under the hood and compare two visions of sound creation.
The problem with the traditional method: Sampling
To understand Roland's revolution, we first need to understand how most other digital pianos work: through sampling (sampling).
Imagine sampling as a photo book. The manufacturer places microphones in front of a real piano and records (takes a sound photo) each key at different levels of force (softly, moderately, very loudly).
When you press a key on your digital keyboard, the computer looks for the corresponding "photo" and plays it.
It's an excellent method, but it has mechanical limits:
The stair-step effect: Since the piano can only hold a limited number of recordings per key (usually 3 or 4), you may sometimes hear an artificial jump when transitioning from a very soft play to a very loud play.
The loop (Looping) : The sound of a real piano note that resonates lasts a very long time. To save computer memory, manufacturers often record the beginning of the note, then take a small fraction of the sound that they "loop" while lowering the volume to simulate the end of the note. The human ear eventually perceives this unnatural repetition.
The Roland solution: Real-time physical modeling
Rather than using a photo book, Roland decided to build a physical simulator. This is the heart of SuperNATURAL technology.
Instead of playing a pre-recorded audio file, the keyboard's computer chip calculates and generates the sound in real time. The computer instantly analyzes the speed of your finger, the force of the strike, and mathematically calculates how a virtual hammer would strike a virtual string inside a virtual wooden resonating box.
This revolutionary approach is based on three fundamental pillars:
1. A perfectly smooth velocity response (Zero "stair")
Since the sound is calculated mathematically on the fly, there are no longer jumps between different volume levels. If you play a crescendo very slow, from an absolute whisper to a crashing chord, the sound changes color (the famous timbre) infinitely and continuously. The sound is not just louder, it becomes brighter and more percussive, exactly like the steel of a real piano string.
2. A natural decay of the note (Zero "loop")
With SuperNATURAL, there is no more cheating or sound looping. When a note resonates and fades, the computer calculates the evolution of the harmonics until total silence. The result is a complex, rich note ending that fades away naturally.
3. The sympathetic and organic resonance
On a real piano, if you hold down the sustain pedal and play a single note, you don't just hear that string vibrating. All the other strings of the piano start to vibrate gently by acoustic "sympathy." The SuperNATURAL engine simulates all these complex interactions, even including the mechanical noise of the dampers lifting.
📖 Vous hésitez entre l'échantillonnage et la modélisation ? Lisez notre guide : [Piano numérique ou clavier : Comment faire le bon choix ? (Yamaha, Roland et Nord)]
For stage purists: An organic and living sound
This technology makes perfect sense for stage musicians. When playing live, we seek organic and dynamic performances. We want an instrument that breathes with us, not a rigid machine that spits out cold sequences.
Because the SuperNATURAL sound reacts to the slightest of your nuances, it forces you (in the best sense of the term) to play with more intention. The instrument adapts to you, not the other way around. This is what allows for vibrant performances, whether you are playing a pop ballad or a percussive riff in the middle of a show.
Where to find SuperNATURAL technology?
Roland has integrated this technology into several of its series, making expressiveness accessible to all budgets:
FP Series (FP-10, FP-30X, FP-60X): The perfect entry point. These portable pianos offer SuperNATURAL sound combined with the excellent PHA-4 key action, providing formidable precision for home or studio.
The V-Stage keyboard: Designed specifically for the stage, this formidable keyboard incorporates the best sounds of pianos, organs, and synthesizers modeled by Roland. Its intuitive control panel makes it the ultimate machine for active keyboardists.
RD Series (RD-88, RD-2000): The legendary professional stage pianos from Roland, combining ultra-powerful modeling engines with wooden or hybrid keyboards.
🛒 [Explorez notre inventaire complet de pianos et claviers Roland]
Come feel the difference
Computer theory and modeling algorithms are fascinating on paper, but music is about sensation. The interaction between the key that depresses under your finger and the sound that bursts from the speakers must be experienced to be understood.
That’s why our entire team at the Victor Music Center invites you to come sit in at the branch. Come play a few chords on a Roland FP-30X to test the fluidity of the SuperNATURAL sound. Come push the dynamic limits of the V-Stage keyboard.
And remember that your musical investment is always protected with us. Thanks to our own repair workshop and our specialized technician on site, we provide after-sales service right here in Quebec. A well-maintained keyboard ensures total peace of mind for all your future performances.
📞 [Passez nous voir en magasin pour essayer la magie SuperNATURAL ou contactez-nous pour trouver l'instrument parfait !]
