SOUND Canvas for PC

★ ★ ★ SOUND Canvas Overview

What is SOUND Canvas?

The SOUND Canvas app is a software synthesizer that emulates the highly popular GS format sound source of the Roland Sound Canvas series. It is compatible with the sound for "GS", "GM2", and "GM" and includes a built-in SMF player for playing Standard MIDI Files. The app also features a variety of effects and can play SMF for "SC-88Pro" and "SC-8820". It is available for iPhone and iPad and requires iOS 8.1 or later.

Software Features and Description

1. SOUND Canvas is a software synthesizer that emulates perfectly the highly popular GS format sound source, along with a bulit-in SMF *1 player for playing Standard MIDI Files.

2. It is based on the Roland GS standard that has been de facto standard sound source, "SOUND Canvas Series" of Roland Desk Top Music (DTM).

3. You can enjoy the old data created by SOUND Canvas series and a variety of GS data on the market from Roland with high quality sound.

4. *1: SMF:Standard MIDI File with extension ".mid". The SMF to play in the SOUND Canvas is recommended SMF format 0.

5. -Two types of graphical user interface: “Sound Canvas skin” for music data creation and “Player skin” for practicing with instruments or karaoke application.

6. The classic Roland Sound Canvas sound module is reborn as a software synthesizer for iPhone or iPad.

7. - MIDI interface (separately sold) connection enables to receive MIDI data from the external devices to play sounds.

8. *3: Subtle nuance of Tone color, Volume balance, trigger timing of note on may vary depending on the data.

9. - Convenient functions:"LOOP" mode to repeat your specifying region, "SONG LIST PLAY" to play sequentially plural songs, and more multifunction.

10. - High quality MIDI file sounds by its 1,600 tones and 63 factory drum presets.

11. - Available with a music application compatible for the Core MIDI.

12. Liked SOUND Canvas? here are 5 Music apps like Fantasy Soundboard; Soundtrap Studio; Bose SoundTouch; mysoundプレーヤー;

Download and install SOUND Canvas on your computer

GET Compatible PC App

App	Download	Rating	Maker
SOUND Canvas	Get App ↲	27 3.15	Roland Corporation

Or follow the guide below to use on PC:

Select Windows version:

Windows 10
Windows 11

Install SOUND Canvas app on your Windows in 4 steps below:

Download an Android emulator for PC:
Get either Bluestacks or the Nox App >> . We recommend Bluestacks because you can easily find solutions online if you run into problems while using it. Download Bluestacks PC software Here >> .

Install the emulator:
On your computer, goto the Downloads folder » click to install Bluestacks.exe or Nox.exe » Accept the License Agreements » Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.

Using SOUND Canvas on PC [Windows 10/ 11]:

Open the Emulator app you installed » goto its search bar and search "SOUND Canvas"
The search will reveal the SOUND Canvas app icon. Open, then click "Install".
Once SOUND Canvas is downloaded inside the emulator, locate/click the "All apps" icon to access a page containing all your installed applications including SOUND Canvas.
Now enjoy SOUND Canvas on PC.

Download a Compatible APK for PC

Download	Developer	Rating	Current version
Get APK for PC →	Roland Corporation	3.15	1.2.2

Download on Windows 11

For Windows 11, check if there's a native SOUND Canvas Windows app here » ». If none, follow the steps below:

To get started, Download the OpenPC software »
- Upon installation, open OpenPC app » goto "Playstore on PC" » click "Configure_Download" button. This will auto-download and install PlayStore on your computer.

To use SOUND Canvas,
- Login to the PlayStore we just installed
- Search for "SOUND Canvas" » then Click "Install".
- SOUND Canvas will now be available on your Windows start-menu.

Minimum requirements	Recommended
8GB RAM SSD Storage Processor: Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3000 Architecture: x64 or ARM64	16GB RAM HDD Storage

Get SOUND Canvas on Apple macOS

Download	Developer	Reviews	Rating
Get $19.99 on Mac	Roland Corporation	27	3.15

Download on Android: Download Android

SOUND Canvas functions

- Two types of graphical user interface: "Sound Canvas skin" for music data creation and "Player skin" for practicing with instruments or karaoke application.

- High-quality MIDI file sounds with 1,600 tones and 63 factory drum presets.

- Convenient functions such as "LOOP" mode to repeat a specified region and "SONG LIST PLAY" to play sequentially plural songs.

- MIDI interface connection enables receiving MIDI data from external devices to play sounds.

- Compatible with a music application compatible for the Core MIDI.

✔ Pros:

- Full selection of digital instrument sounds

- Highly optimized and efficient

- Continuously updated by Roland

- Good manual for learning the workflow

- Great for song creations

- Ideal for those who love Roland instruments

☹ Cons:

- Takes time and effort to get comfortable with the workflow

- Requires a MIDI controller to use as a standalone app

- Slowly fading away from existence due to lack of Audio Units support

- No auto-learn feature

- Needs improvements

Top Pcmac Reviews

Time to $##& or get off the pot, add AUV3

By Strizbiz (Pcmac user)

So I’ve always been a fan of Roland, going back to the Juno’s, the Jupiter, my old W30 and D5 as well as drums machines I’ve owned, and this is a great app as far as just having all the bread and butter sounds for song creations. You do need a midi controller to use it as a stand alone. When this first came out it was a 5 star app for me, but that was years ago and before we had Audio Units, and since then this app is slowly fading away from existence for me. I really don’t use it now and when I purchase my next IPad, unless this becomes an Audio Unit I’m not going to install it. Roland, I really hope you keep this app alive and add AUV3 support, if not it was nice while it lasted.
Great collection of instrument sounds.

By asfdasfdasf (Pcmac user)

This is the collection of instrument sounds that I use most on iOS. Roland defined the general collection of digital instrument sounds with this app in the 1990s and has been perfecting it ever since. The full selection of instruments is all here and they the app great. Also the collection is highly optimized, very small in storage size and very efficient. It does take some time and effort to get comfortable using the workflow, but there is a very good manual. While all apps have room for improvement, and it would always be good to see more developer attention for apps, Roland has continued to update this app over the past several years, including its latest update today.
great app, but apparently misunderstood

By iPad Trill (Pcmac user)

i used to love my SC-55 back in the day, so thank you Roland for bringing this to iOS. as for the numerous complaints about not being able to save settings... READ THE MANUAL. press menu then select help, then go to page 21... it's all right there. i also was able to play the this app live as a the app module, as well as toggle on/off the playing in the background issues stated in other reviews. i can appreciate the frustration expressed in the other reviews, but it's just a matter of knowing how to use it. best of luck to all SC users.
2 to 4 stars...

By Didiodee (Pcmac user)

One of the best the app bank but need improvements... No auto learn... Too many lil bugs... No 5d or mpe... Interface is yukkkkk... Background and inapp problems time to time... No velocity control... Effects eq etc are limited and not easy to change and parameter on the way... Still use it but not live on stage or I run it on another device getting ready to get back to my main iPad and do with gadget, sampletank, garage band, noise, etc... none of them have so much good sounds inside even if each one have some gorgeous...