Roland Zenbeats Reviews

Let me start out by saying Ive been checking in on RolandZenbeats off and on for maybe 6-8 months (just a best guess). My first impression was “ah, this is awesome - real potential here”. But then the bugs and crashes and freezes got me.

I’ve checked back maybe every 45 days or something since then and it’s just been rock solid, steady improvement after steady improvement after steady improvement. I think I own just about every music production app worth owning on iOS these days (and scores of apps not worth owning!) and I have to say, never before have I ever seen an app improve consistently like this. Ever. No where even close that I can think of. This thing has just gotten better and better and better. Now it’s super stable, reliable, powerful and for my money, the best tool for top to bottom on iOS at the moment. I said it. I believe it.

I’m all about Roland these days, extremely refreshing, extremely impressive. This brand has earned my respect and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

I switched from stage light to Zenbeats the moment I found out about the merger and new app was released.... I loved everything about it.... wanted it to be my DAW for my iPhone am Ipad.... PERIOD.... then last night I updated my software to iOS 13 and now the bugs have begun... piano mode is glitching badddd, audio files that have been imported will lose sound randomly while playing, the drum sequencer will intermittently not let you click in notes towards the end of the pattern...longer load time for app to start up, etc... I know it’s new and so is the update and I have a lot of faith in the good peeps over at Roland.... please get this fixed ASAP so I can continue producing and tel the world about how amazing RolandZenbeats is! Thank you in advance!!!!

I will turn this to a 5 star review the second the midi and buffer size bugs are fixed

RolandZenbeats shows so so much potential~ but for the last two months I have been trying to use it and Roland keeps releasing updates that break it even more. The latest update is crazy I cannot believe it was publicly released~ it was supposed to fix all midi issues and it won’t even let you select midi settings for individual tracks, instead any midi setting you change on one track effects all midi tracks- a little beta testing would have made this extremely obvious to the developers

Roland- you are sitting on a goldmine with the most capable iPhone DAW IF you can get it together to get this to work smoothly- I would literally be so excited I would get the zenbeats logo tattooed on my forehead to help you advertise this wonderful and liberating tool so that more people can enjoy its potential~ however right now it is a broken toy~~~ PLEASE invest in this with proper development. I would be happy to help you beta test

Do you clear I want to ensure that no one experience as what I have with respect to Zen beats and their lack of support as it has cost me money.
The application itself is nice of course like all software they were defects I understand this however at this point I have purchased for sound packs that I no longer have two of them I never received.
This alone is something I can understand however I never received a single response after sending multiple support request not one single response they were all completely ignored.
So I want to ensure that you all understand if you invest money in this product there is a chance that you will lose that money and have to take potential legal actions as I am looking to do at this point.
On a separate note I have had a relationship with Roland for over 25 years and it’s very sad to see all of this happened just because the support for one of their products is so poor it’s nonexistent as far as I know.

Absolutely freaking fantastic now. When I first started using RolandZenbeats, it felt like abandonware. Roland purchased the original app then sort of left it out to dry. Then updates started to trickle in. Then free content was added. Stability. THEN ZENCORE. THEN MORE STABILITY. Now it easily has the most robust scenes mode, actual scene to timeline recording (looking at you, BeatMaker 3), better automation, an SFZ compatible sampler, and more. At this point the only thing that would make it “complete” for me is a sample chopper akin to Logic’s quick sampler or BM3’s sampler. For now, there are good AUv3 plugins that work the same and Zenbeats hosts it amazingly. I would definitely check this out again if you’ve ditched it as it’s now matured into the best on-the-go solution.

I bought this way back b4 Roland and didn’t use it much. Roland has started to upgrade RolandZenbeats into something that’s fun and usable! I have a lot of Roland gear and the MC 707 the newest one. I’d love to see Roland focus RolandZenbeats on its connection to the 707 and 101. Give us a simple vst or track that controls clip launch on the gear! I’m using an app for this but having it in zen beats would be awesome. Pop up window with 8x8 buttons 👌 also a vst shell that gives you custom cc sliders and knobs do people could control all their older gear would be a simple selling point for RolandZenbeats

I absolutely love RolandZenbeats and pay for the ultimate but the sound doesn’t work half the time. Really getting tired of getting a song going and then having the sound not work for multiple hours. Then sometimes it cuts off only for a minute or two. It would be nice to just work through one project without getting a major headache every time. It’s setup perfect if only it worked :(

I want to give zenbeats 5 stars because when it’s working it deserves nothing less. But occasionally, with no rhyme or reason, a session that I was working on and saved will load up with some or all of the audio files missing. The waveforms will be there as I put them, edited and placed in the exact same way, but they’re empty. This is a huge issue even if it’s a project you just started, and luckily it hasn’t happened on any projects I’ve spent hours working on, but I’m pretty terrified it will and there will be nothing I can do about it. Roland please fix this so I can keep using what’s otherwise my favorite DAW on ios.

Can’t recommend this enough for iPhone and iPad. Liked it so much I upgraded to Ultimate to have access to all the tools and loops, and to use it on my Mac as well. Essential for those who might also be using Roland Cloud on the desktop, as project exchange between mobile and desktop is seamless. Workflow is one of the best I’ve used with a touchscreen. Great as a sketchpad but easily handles full-fledged projects as well. Great support and online training materials too.

RolandZenbeats is currently very frustrating to work with. Note editing is slow and cumbersome. Basic editing tools are burried behind a press-and-wait hidden menu system; Two seconds of holding to open the menu, then make a selection (which often just fails to execute the action, forcing you to press, hold, repeat) - meanwhile there's fields of unused space in the UI where common task buttons could go, not there. What takes moments in any other DAW takes minutes in RolandZenbeats. RolandZenbeats should still be in private beta, not in the market for sale. I'm so surprised Roland put their name on a product this bad.

I love RolandZenbeats, I use it constantly and it has totally given my creative process the kick in the pants that it needed. I was thinking that the whole MPE thing was just a fad but now I just can’t stop using to make songs, the iPad makes it easy to control. The fact that Roland made the iOS app unlock free really makes me a fan of Roland, giving people something to play around with during all this pandemic stuff, very cool.

The Question I would like to ask Roland, do you intend on making some kind of dedicated controller for Zenbeats?
Something like what the novation launchkey is to Ableton Live but with support for MPE, that would be cool!

UPDATE: The new zencore expansion is totally worth it, the sounds are amazing!!!

You guys are on fire! This came outta nowhere. I like the tie-in with the whole “Zen” thing on your currently announced batch of pro synths. How far you gonna take Zenbeats? Can you make it deep for professionals? I am rooting Roland on!

Important question: does this sequence external gear? Hope it does. Having Midi learn is one thing...sending midi note/cc data out is another

Only sucky thing: I couldn’t just apply/merge my Rolandcloud account with the Backstage (or whatever) account...unless I am missing something.

I've been giving RolandZenbeats a second chance, for about a week. I produce music for multiple outlets, and needed a quick mobile sketchpad. Once you come to grips with the mind boggling mess of a GUI, your left with very strange behavior from AU/VSTish plugins, but still very good sounds. Basic instruments are really good, and the sound banks are very nice as well, which is why this program is so frustrating. It must be an iOS thing, because Cubasis falls flat as well.

Specific Issues:
1. Latest Update breaks monitoring, gives you a fit of Feedback in headphones. Seriously.
2. Settings selection in the main mixer gives you crazy Tetris Esq blocks all over, why?
3. Is basically broken in playback of older songs, they are very low volume and get lost in feedback loops caused by the device microphone, as in the iPad mic.
4. Crashes about every minute or freezes and glitches, unusable currently.

My system is a 2020 Ipad Pro on iOS14.

First of all, the Devs have been fantastic to work with. This is huge undertaking for them going across 4 platforms!!! RolandZenbeats looks like its plain on the surface but it can go deep!!!! I finally have an app that I can do all my producing in and not have to manage 4-6 different apps to get the same result I can in Zenbeats!!!! Great app and the sound packs are phenomenal!!!!!

Onerez.

With 808 and 909 kits, a 303 would bump my rating all the way up... instead the synths sound cheap and old, Roland is a name I’ve come to trust for quality, this falls a bit flat, even the GUI is a bit awkward. Once I delved into the loops, I had some fun, but I wouldn’t rely on them for the bones of a composition. Honestly if it had a 303 to sequence, I’d be spending money to unlock other content. I found myself writing in korg gadget within a few minutes instead.

This is really evolving into an amazing DAW. I have all the DAWs on iOS and desktop and this really is becoming a favorite. If it was possible to automate plug ins and instruments with touch control that would be incredible, you can do it with midi assigned controller but touch would be fantastic. Can’t wait to see what is coming next!

I love this zenbeats app been using it for quite a while now but I wonder about something is there anyway for me to get my song files back when I open RolandZenbeats all of my files were deleted out of my files folder

Love the concept and as the owner of Roland products, I know this will be a quality product.
Its my first time using it. After 15 minutes I was about to saving a project and RolandZenbeats crashed. Again love this idea, but I’m afraid of working on something longer and having RolandZenbeats crash.

The demo doesn’t allow me to try out plugins, so I’m forced to spend $15 to try it. Sorry, should say 15 points (seriously, do you think your users are 5 years old? We do understand how money works.)

Spent $15 and when I try to use 3rd-party plugins I get a screen asking me to pay to unlock the functionality. RolandZenbeats Store shows that I purchased it, but this piece of junk won’t recognize my purchase.

Even the functionality I can use isn’t much use, as it crashes every now and then. Every time I open it, RolandZenbeats assumes I want to start putting something together with drums, and even if I change the startup setting, it still starts with a drum track. I can only assume that this toy is only aimed at non-musicians.

Avoid it and find an alternative.

There’s a whole lot to love about Zen Beats. It looks great, lots of functionality, and you don’t need a doctorates in string theory to use it. The addition of the ZC1 definitely takes it up a notch. I only have one major complaint. There’s no excuse for a quantize swing to be omitted. Come On Man!!! You gotta add swing to the quantize window! Other than that I’m diggin it.

Ok, updated review...
Roland and the folks from Stagelight did provide a cross-grade, it is a reworked version of the later app, and it works pretty well. I hope Roland sticks with RolandZenbeats, as it could turn out to be a real hit. RolandZenbeats still needs some help, but I trust Roland has the resources to throw at it. I do hope Roland either hired or retained the original programming team, as they will have the best feel for where to take RolandZenbeats .

All that said, give us more sample and loop packs that are not just EDM & hip hop, etc. And please, continue to buff up the central app.

The Zenbeats free version is awesome to try out. I now have the Ultimate Unlock so I can jump across my iOS, MacOS and Windows devices depending on what I’m using. Plugin support has improved with the latest updates. Drum machine is a favorite features but the X factor here is the sampleverse instrument. It’s got some really unique sampling abilities mixed with modular synthesis, which is even cooler with the MPE on screen note grid. Check that out!

since I first opened your app and all the prompts to sign up and confirm etc... consider not everyone has fast wifi. I been staring at sign up screens and rewriting my email and re doing passwords ( btw, I don't need or want a password for my "Roland account") for far too long. I'm still not signed up because spectrum apple and your servers aren't playing nice. howbout holding off all that sign up crap after someone's had a chance to se what they are doing it for. btw I have a tr8-s and love it.

Why do I have to create an account just to use an app?? I have over 180 internet accounts to keep track of already!!

Response to developer: if you didn’t have a weird requirement for users to buy disposable “store points” for in-app purchases, users wouldn’t NEED a Roland account to “keep track of purchases”. I suspect you’re violating App Store policy with this...

Please have the availability to have better access in the zenbeats user folder
I love the instrument samples availability but I would love to have more sounds by adding soundfonts ( :

I am a child and I was amazed by how much fun RolandZenbeats is it is better than any thing. Even though there’s some parts I dont know I still love it

I like the UI and workflow that RolandZenbeats provides. I wish it supported AU midi effects but hopefully that’s on their roadmap. I look forward to seeing where Roland takes RolandZenbeats.

It has 808 on your phone! What more could you want?? Even someone not musically inclined could make music!

Needs small details tended to. No midi for midi keyboards, no Bluetooth midi, and can use some operation upgrades. Still a good app, but with the right support and updates. It could be great!

During scan it stops at Ruismaker noir pauses for a few seconds and crashes

I’d like to be able to use this with AUM or Auria but RolandZenbeats doesn’t show up as an IAA or AuV3. Not sure it’s robust enough to use as a DAW in its current form. Fix the interoperability issues and you have a winner.