Yohei KunimitsuMechanical Development Dept., Roland Corporation. Joined Roland Corporation in 2021, where he’s been engaged in the mechanical design of electronic drums. In the development project for the VQD106, he was responsible for the design of the NEQ-K/H while leading the development of noise and vibration measurement methods for electronic musical instruments.Hideki ToyonoProduct Planning Group Manager, Drums & Percussion Business Dept., Drums & Percussion Division, Roland Corporation Joined the company in 1988. He worked on the development of electronic pianos before transitioning to electronic drum development in 2011. Temporarily, he supported the launch of a factory in Malaysia, and returned to the drum development team. He oversaw the development of the VQD106.Roland CorporationFounded in 1972, Roland is a comprehensive electronic musical instrument manufacturer offering a wide range of products for use in professional studios and live performances, as well as for home use. The company develops, man-ufactures, and sells synthesizers, digital pianos, electronic drums, mixers, DJ equipment, and guitar amplifiers. Roland is a pioneer in creating cutting-edge technologies and products, and has continued to introduce new value to the musical instrument market, earning it the unwavering trust of professional musicians worldwide.Roland VQD106 V-Drums Quiet DesignRoland introduced the quietest iteration yet of its drum se-ries, V-Drums, in October 2024. This entirely new electronic drum kit, designed with noise reduction in mind, provides unparalleled quietness without compromising playability or expression. To enhance noise suppression and vibration damping, each and every component—including the striking surface and stands—was redesigned to significantly reduce noise during playing. The drums absorb the vibrations gener-ated by strikes, preventing transmission through the air and floor. Compared to previous V-Drums kits, the sound level has been reduced by some 75%. Even when the pads are struck with drumsticks, the sound volume remains at around 60 dB, comparable to the volume of everyday conversation.Shaving off noise, decibel by decibel, bears fruitActual feedback from users “Now I can practice to my heart’s content, even late at night!”measurements. After more than 5,000 measurements, the new electronic drum kit, the VQD106, which ensures high quietness without losing the feel of playability, was released in October 2024.After the release, Roland held an event where several amateur drummers were invited to the company house to try out the electronic drums. All were amazed by how quiet they were. One participant, who purchased the product immediately, wrote in his blog: “Now I can practice to my heart’s content, even late at night!” Currently, the VQD106 is so popular that production can’t keep up with demand.Toyono looks back on the nearly 10 years from conception to product release and comments, “It’s satisfying to know the product we created will remain in the world. Developing this elec-tronic drum kit was the greatest challenge of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed my time. It made me glad to be alive.”The sound level meter and measurement technology devel-oped by Rion contributed significantly to the VQD106. Reducing the noise and vibration transmitted to the surrounding environ-ment enhances the value of Roland products, so the relationship between Roland and Rion is certain to deepen. The VQD106 devel-op ment project has brought clear benefits to both companies.They spent day after day experimenting with different mate-rials to find the ideal striking surface, changing the position and number of pores in the material, and adjusting other factors as needed. They would try a new method, measure the noise with a sound level meter, then move on to another, measuring once more. They simply repeated this process again and again. “Our goal was to reduce the impact of noise on the surroundings as much as possible,” recalls Kunimitsu. “The process involved reducing the noise step by step, one decibel at a time, but we could clearly see the difference in the sound level meter readings. Because we could rely on the accuracy of the device, we were able to decide on a course of action and follow through with confidence.”In addition to measuring noise in the quiet halls at the Roland headquarters factory, they also tested in a 30-year-old, two-story, light steel-framed company house to simulate the kind of envi-ronment where the product would actually be used.”Over about two years, the electronic drums gradually became quieter and quieter. During measurements at the company housing, they discovered that even rain could affect the readings. The team waited for neighbors to finish chatting outside before continuing, and even waited for baby swallows to fledge and leave their nests under the eaves. They paused the measurements when-ever the sounds of cicadas, cars, airplanes, or helicopters were heard. When even the air conditioner began to interfere, they switched it off and continued the measurements in the summer heat, drenched in sweat. Over time, they successfully achieved a level of quietness where even the faintest noises could affect 5
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