Paul McCabe

SVP Research & Innovation

Roland Future Design Lab

About Me

Paul McCabe is the SVP of Research and Innovation and leader of Roland Future Design Lab, Roland’s horizon-scanning R&D group. In more than 30 years with Roland, Paul has held positions in product management and marketing, and served as the President & CEO of Roland Canada before relocating from Vancouver to Los Angeles in 2017. As the leader of Roland Future Design Lab (RFDL), Paul oversees a growing team of engineers, data scientists, and technologists exploring the frontiers of emerging tech, trends, and shifts in creative culture around the world. Paul is a composer and sound designer, and at ADC he will be happy to talk with you about future opportunities with RFDL and your thoughts on Tron: Ares.

 

Sessions

  • Provenance Is Coming #2: How It Works
    12:20 - 12:50 UTC | Wednesday 11th November 2026 | Bristol 1
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced

    How can provenance be built into the tools musicians already use? Join representatives from Roland and Universal Music Group for a practical introduction to the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and the Creator Assertions Working Group (CAWG). Learn the core technical concepts behind C2PA, see how provenance information can travel with content, and explore reference implementations. The session will also explain how audio developers can begin adopting these standards and contribute to their continued development. NOTE: Part 1 of this talk took place on Tuesday. Catch up on-demand if you missed it!

  • Provenance Is Coming #1: Why It Matters
    12:20 - 12:50 UTC | Tuesday 10th November 2026 | Bristol 1
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced

    As AI-generated music becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish from human performance, how can artists prove that a recording is genuinely theirs? Join representatives from Roland and Universal Music Group to explore why provenance is becoming critical to the future of music. Learn how provenance standards can help artists document the creative process, protect their rights, and provide credible evidence of human authorship and performance. The session will also examine emerging streaming-service policies and AI transparency laws, and what they could mean for artists, audio developers, and the next generation of creative tools. NOTE: Part 2 of this talk will take […]

  • Roland X Neutone

    DIY NEXT
    16:20 - 16:50 UTC | Tuesday 11th November 2025 | Bristol 3
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced

    Music and DIY culture have long been intertwined — from handmade folk instruments to modular synths and open-source software. Roland, with its own legacy in DIY through the AMDEK brand, draws on this spirit in a new collaboration with Neutone, a cutting-edge AI audio company. In this session, Roland Future Design Lab and Neutone will share a technology preview that explores the intersection of DIY hardware and trainable AI audio models. Designed to empower hands-on creators, this proof-of-concept reflects a new direction in music technology — one that blends personalization, experimentation, and machine learning. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look […]

  • Roland’s Holistic Approach to AI for Music Creation
    12:20 - 12:50 UTC | Tuesday 12th November 2024 | Bristol 3
    Beginner
    Intermediate
    Advanced

    This presentation introduces Roland's approach to AI for music creation and will include a technical demonstration of a new AI-powered application. Roland will also overview its holistic strategy for AI which considers R&D, policy, and governance mechanisms. As a general-purpose disruptive technology, Artificial Intelligence is in the process of impacting virtually every aspect of life, including creativity. As a leading music technology innovator, Roland is highly optimistic about the potential of AI to enhance and empower human music making but is deeply aware of the need to innovate responsibly.