Roland VR09 / VR730 V-Combo EDITOR v1.12.23

CTRLR V-Combo EDITOR for Windows, MacOSX, Linux

V-Combo EDITOR is a (free) editor for Roland V-Combo VR09, VR09B and VR730.
It does not provide ‘proper sounds’ but works as an elaborated controller for VR that unlocks tons of ‘hidden VR features’ (sounds, multi-zones/layers etc).
For MS Windows, V-Combo EDITOR is available as standalone application, for MacOS/OSX (and also Windows) it is provides as a ‘panel-plugin’ for CTRLR platform.

NEW: 02/11/2024: HOTFIX Release v1.12.23 “refreshed”
the inital major hotfix release 1.12.23 fixes a MAJOR bug in V-SYNTH.
Since v1.12.23 has ben refreshed with some feature updates

NEW FEATURES & BUGFIXES update of v1.12.23:
+ new: bugfixes & display of 'existing VR patches' in SOUND-GM2 'PCH PARSER' 
+ ESB (Editor Sound Browser): easily search sounds by name
+ AEx Sounds: in dropdown lists, all working ATELIER 'Extended Expression' sounds are prefixed by a bullet
+ MidiMapper: added 'drawbar value mapping' for VR Organ sysex to CC and CC to VR-sysex
+ eXtra Sounds: added special patch 'VR-ORGAN' in eXtra:OTHERS (see (?)-Info popups)
+ added 'sound category' indicator in Editor 'displays' (see (?)-Info popups)
+ some re-edited (?)-Info popups
BUGFIXES:
+ V-SYNTH: all 'per-partial' contollers (faders, pots,...) were creating a 'mess' on partials (the bug did not concern VSSD)

Direct download for experienced EDITOR users (newbies see “Installation of…”) : panel-plugin + exe (Win/OSX/Linux)

Features of “V-Combo EDITOR”

Access to hundreds of ‘hidden’ sounds of the VR09/730:
- Roland ATELIER concert organ sounds (ca. 500)
- ‘hidden’ keyboard sounds (> 300 accoustic instruments and synth sounds)
- more than 2000 GM2, GS and Sound-Canvas sounds of VR ‘GM2 sound engine’
Increased timbrality from 2 voices (VR without EDITOR) to 9 voices (or 26 with GM2)
Multi-Zone setup (up to 4 splitted/layered zones) for VR keyboard
Editor/organizer for VR registration sets (using VR *.upg-files from usb thumb drives)
Virtual-Analog synthesizer “V-SYNTH” (Roland Jupiter-80/VR-iPad-app styled) and (GAIA styled) “Sound-Designer”
MIDI Mapper for various live controls (VR-sysex to CC mapping, V-SYNTH patch load, etc)
Builtin rhythm sound control
Additional ‘undocumented’ sound controls for VA synthesizer, keyboard sounds and GM2-sounds
EDITOR patch register for sounds edited with V-SYNTH and/or EFX
Hammond style organ with 2 drawbar sets and (customisable) presets
Direct ‘upload’ of GM2-sounds into the ‘keyboard layer’ for playing on the VR keys (NEW in v.1.12.13)
Direct access of parameters instead of menu-diving on the VR keyboard
Integrated In-line tutorials. Video tutorial on youtubes
Compatible to Roland VR09/VR730 firmware v.1.12
Documentation from Raymond (related to older EDITOR version, but still helpfull) : V-COMBO EDITOR MANUAL

Supported Operating Systems

CTRLR V-Combo EDITOR runs on:
– Microsoft Windows: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 8, 10, 11
– OSX (Apple MacOS): any OSX Version
– Linux: tested on Ubuntu: it runs up to editor release v1.12.09 (newer versions crash)

Installation of CTRLR EDITOR

Important Infos:
– the project website ‘ctrlr.org’ has been’freezed’ by its owner. V-Combo Editor panels on ‘ctrlr.org’ are OUTDATED
– recent Editor panels (and CTRLR software installers) are available from this v-combo website
– strongly recommended CTRLR versions are: Windows: 5.4.29 ; OSX: 5.3.198; Linux: 5.4.16
! Do NOT use newer versions of CTRLR as they are faulty and instable !
Help for setting up ctrlr can be found in Raymonds V-COMBO EDITOR MANUAL. It covers older editor panels but is still valid for many things. Setup is also explained in README

EDITOR is based on CTRLR platform software. There are several methods to ‘install’ EDITOR (CTRLR):

MS-Windows: Standalone EDITOR
Windows users can run the standalone. It’s an integrated package of CTRLR platform plus EDITOR in one executable (no installation):
1. download the Windows standalone (*.exe-file)
2. start EDITOR by clicking the downloaded ‘exe’ file.
Note: CTRLR experts/developpers and/or users of multiple CTRLR panels should use method ‘2’ (CTRLR panel-plugin).
MS-Windows: CTRLR-platform + EDITOR panel plugin
1. download and install CTRLR .exe-installer available at MS-Win subfolder
2. download the EDITOR panel-plugin-file (*.bpanelz)
3. start CTRLR, push ‘ctrl menu show’ button in the left vertical menu, select ctrlr-menu ‘File > close’ to unload the old panel-plugin (important!), select ctrlr-menu ‘File > open’ and load the new panel-plugin-file
OSX / MacOS: : CTRLR-platform + EDITOR panel plugin
Installation for OSX/MacOS:
1. download and install CTRLR .dmg-installer available at OSX/Mac subfolder
2. download the EDITOR panel-plugin-file (*.bpanelz)
3. start CTRLR, push ‘ctrl menu show’ button in the left vertical menu, select ctrlr-menu ‘File > close’ to unload the old panel-plugin (important!), select ctrlr-menu ‘File > open’ and load the new panel-plugin-file
Linux: : CTRLR-platform + EDITOR panel plugin
CTRLR Editor on linux runs on Ubuntu up to editor release v1.12.09:
1. download and install CTRLR .sh-installer available at linux subfolder
2. download the EDITOR panel-plugin-file V-Combo-EDITOR_1129-Linux.bpanelz
3. start CTRLR, push ‘ctrl menu show’ button in the left vertical menu, select ctrlr-menu ‘File > close’ to unload the old panel-plugin (important!), select ctrlr-menu ‘File > open’ and load the new panel-plugin-file
VST
EDITOR can run as a VST2 plugin for your DAW. You must generate the VST out of CTRLR on our own. Instructions are given in the inline-help of the panel

!! WARNING when UPDATING the panel!! BEFORE LOADING A NEW PANEL INTO CTRLR, CLOSE THE OLD PANEL. Otherwise you a) risk to block the midi ports (MS Windows) and b) suffer from a bulk popup of hundreds of ‘info’ and file-browser windows: if this happens, wait until it comes to a halt, then close all popups, then close all panel instances within CTRLR

Usage of CTRLR EDITOR

When using the EDITOR for the first time and after each download of a new release, press the [README] button in EDITOR left menu (left lower corner) and follow the hints.
All you need to know (‘first usage’, connecting EDITOR to PC, EDITOR features & handling, ‘tricks’, specs etc etc etc) is explained in the Info and QuickHelp Menus integrated in the editor

Bugreports and ideas/wishes/change requests etc are highly appreciated. Please use the youtube vids for communication. Eventually use the VR09/730 facebook group or EDITOR youtube channel for requests.

Links and More downloads

Video tutorials on youtube: [EDITOR setup, usage] [EDITOR GeneralMidi setup] [EDITOR v1.12(8) update]
Documentation (from Raymond) : [V-COMBO EDITOR MANUAL]
Instrument definition files for CUBASE
Instrument definition .ins-file for V-ARRANGER
‘oldschool’ software package [TechnoToys Omega] with arp, sequencer, drumbox (for Editor external program launcher)

EDITOR version history

v1.12.23 11/2024: release refresh: minor bugfixes, "existing VR patch" dispaly in SOUND-GM2 "PCH PARSER" 
v1.12.23 09/2024: release refresh: Editor Sound Browser, MidiMapper 'drawbar value mapping, etc
v1.12.23 08/2024: hotfix for major bug in V-SYNTH: fixed general disfunction of 'per-partial' controllers
v1.12.22 07/2024: hotfix for major bug in saving/loading EDITOR patch registers in SOUND-KBD and V-SYNTH
v1.12.21 06/2024: adds new features, fixes/improves SYNTH 'envelope/filter' and V-Piano
v1.12.20 11/2023: fixes important bugs in V-SYNTH/VSSD and STAGE-RHYTHM and adds some new features
v1.12.19 09/2023: hotfix: faulty behaviour of channel volumes in SOUND-GM2 in mode 'GM2-engine'
v1.12.18 07/2023: hotfix ‘error popup windows’ when loading sounds into solo/lower/bass manual, bugfixes and adds some improvements and bugfixes
v1.12.17 06/2023: VA 'Sound Designer', Roland Sound-Canvas sounds, VA-synth PCM bugfix, bugfixes, features
v1.12.16 01/2023: 'virtual midi keyboard', bugfixes: SLT load, UPG-Editor, 'DIAL', Windows-standalone<
v1.12.15 09/2022: ATELIER sound set for GM2 engine, improved UPG-Editor, bugfixes
v1.12.14 06/2022: reorganized SOUND-tabs, 'DIAL' for sound select, new features, optimisations, bugfixes
v1.12.13 01/2022: Juno-Gi layer integration, improvments to V-Piano, JidiMapper, GM2 sound handling, many features, bugfixes
v1.12.12 01/2021: More builtin-Help, V-Piano, V-Organ, ATELIER, upg-Editor, bugfixes
v1.12.11 04/2020: STAGE view, multi-zones, 2 bass voices, MIDIMapper, V-Piano, QuickHelp
v1.12.10 12/2019: Version info, EXPERT/NOVICE mode, PCM-waveforms, V-Piano, sounds load withMFX
v1.12.9 01/2019: HOTFIX (DEL synthesizer-registration)
v1.12.8 08/2018: Timbrality, 'hidden' sounds and controls, rhythm control, program launcher +performance&bugfixes
v1.12.7 05/2018: EDITOR registration, SYNTHESIZER upgrade, V-ORGAN "Hammond style",  +performance&bugfixes
v1.12.6 04/2018: new Look, enhanced upg/registration editor, added controls, improved performance, bugfixes
v1.12.5 02/2018: HOTFIX for wrong registration order in upg-editor. UM1/UM2 VCE/SYN now fully parallel
v1.12.4 02/2018: dded: upg/registration editor, drumsets, improved workspace, bugfixes
v1.12.3 01/2018: added: patch registers, selector for VR-Key sounds, controls. Improved workspace.
v1.12.2 12/2017: modified panel surface, del. KBD/GM2-Tabulator, moved GM2 to main-tabulator
v1.12.1 12/2017: initial beta version