VR Firmware

Why and howto upgrade the Firmware on VR09, VR09B and VR730

 
Latest Firmware Version is 1.13 for ALL VRs

Early VR09 ‘sans B’ upgraded to 1.11 (1.12, 1.13) become identical to VR09-B

v1.13 is only a “EU-regulations” update that changes “auto-off” settings (for the worse).
There is no need to upgrade from 1.12 to 1.13 !

Owners of a VR09-B or VR730:
If your VR09B/730 is still on 1.11 it’s recommended to upgrade to 1.12 (1.13): it fixes the ‘organ percussion V/C bug’ and adds ‘key touch setting’ for VR730

Owners of a VR09 ‘sans B’ (orange color writings on the board):
If you never have ‘upgraded’, your V-Combo is most likely on a very early firmware version (1.01 or 1.03).
Upgrading to latest firmware is highly recommended as it adds “Rotary-Type 3”, a couple of new sounds, many bug-fixes etc.

Howto know the actual firmware version of your VR

  • turn VR OFF
  • press & hold button [EXIT] (button at right/down of the dial wheel)
  • turn VR ON (while holding [EXIT])
  • hold [EXIT] until the version is shown on display

To quit the ‘version screen’, release [EXIT] and push it again – or simply restart VR

Howto Upgrade VR

IMPORTANT for VR09 ‘sans B’ (first gen 2014 model) users:
If your VR is still at initial firmware or first updates 1.01/1.02/1.03, updating to actual 1.12 (1.13) has to be done in 2 steps:
– first update to 1.11
– then update to 1.12 (1.13)
Usb-stick required for upgrade

A firmware upgrade is done via USB-stick (usb-drive, thumb-drive).
Use an ‘ordinary’ usb-stick (with default FAT format, preferably USB2.0 and maximal 32 GigaByte)
⇒ You can use the same usb-stick you’re using for saving/loading VR registrations (audio files etc) ⇐
(Tips for USB-sticks and formating: see GEAR)

The upgrade prodecure
  1. Before updating, SAVE your REGISTRATIONS to the usb-stick. Place the usb-stick into VR, go to VR menu ‘Media Utility’, confirm ‘SAVE Registration’, enter a file name and save
     
  2. Copying the firmware file to the usb-stick:
    • download the update file(s) from Roland website
    • the file has a name like ‘vr09_sys_v112.zip’ which is a so called ‘file archive’ (‘zip’-file), bundling several folders and files. Do NOT copy this ‘zip’-file to the usb-stick – instead open it and copy its CONTENT:
      On modern PCs (Windows 10, MacOS) double-click the file: a window opens showing a folder like “vr09_sys_v112”: go down the folders until you reach “_R053_VR09”: mark this folder with the mouse and drag it to the root of the usb stick
      On older Operating Systems (e.g. Windows XP) you have to manually extract the content (using 3rd party software) then copy “_R053_VR09” to the usb stick

      • The usb-stick should look like this:

  3. Upgrading the VR:
    • Run the VR on the power adaptor (NEVER update while running on batteries). Do NEVER INTERRUPT the update procedure
    • turn VR OFF
    • plug the usb-stick into VR (VR09: left usb-compartement / VR730: usb-socket at rear side)
    • Press and hold both [ON/OFF] and [FAST/SLOW] buttons in left ‘ROTARY SOUND’ section and turn VR ON
    • After some seconds the display should show ‘Updating…’, the rotary button will blink during update.
    • NOTE: updating to v1.11 will take ca. 45 minutes
    • When the display shows “Finished.” then the update is finished 🙂
    • Restart VR and enjoy
  4. Reinstall your REGISTRATIONS: with usb-stick in VR, go to VR menu ‘Media Utility’, scroll to ‘LOAD Registrations’ and confirm, select the previsouly saved backup file and load it
Re-Installing firmware

It is possible at anytime to ‘re-install’ firmware (1.11 + 1.12/1.13), e.g. as ‘last hope’ to fix VR software failure when factory reset did not help
Is is possible to ‘down-grade’ to a former version (identical installation procedure). It’s possible that newer ‘upg-files’ are not readable with ‘very old firmware’.

Firmware history

VR09 was initially shipped with firmware 1.0
VR09-B and VR730 were initially shipped with firmware 1.11
Keys bought from stores or 2nd hand may have newer firmwares

Firmware bugfixes and features:


Verion 1.13 : Update for VR09/VR09-B/VR730

- changes 'auto-off' settings due to EU 'energy regulations' (useless update)


Verion 1.12 : Update for VR09/VR09-B/VR730

- Organ bugfix: V/C is NOT applied to percussion anymore
- Registrations: settings for damper/expr. pedal now saved to each registration (before: global setting)
- [VR730 only] added 'keyboard touch'


Versions 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.11 (summary) : Upgrade from VR09 to VR09-B

- Rotary/Organ: new rotary-type "3", rise+fall time, leslie-brake, wet/dry for OverDrive, expanded range for key-click, 'mod-lever' settings 
- Looper: added: import audio files (backuped loops), delete phrases
- VA-Synth: added: reset individual 'VA edited synth sounds' to factory sound
- Registrations: added: loading individual registrations from usb
- Added: 'Seamless transition' when switching to a new patch/registration (warning: EFX of the new patch will be applied to the old patch)
- Added: New sounds:
  - 10 sounds in E.PIANO category
  - 15 sounds in SYNTH category
  - 'Grand' got stereo left-right distrubution
- Added: Metronome
- Added: Octave switch for organ and drum
- Transpose: expanded range 
- Expression Pedal: added: 'per part' setting
- Added 'Solo Mode' (like in Jupiter-50/80 or ATELIER Series)
- Display: 
    - new 'drawbar setting popup', drawbar settings now displayed as numerical values as well
- ATELER organ 'features': 
   - Activation of ATELIER Mode: all sounds are loaded without 'VR-EFX' 
   - compatible to ATELIER 'registration sets' and 'smf midi song files' (commercial packs or personal sets of Atelier owners)
- Midi:
  - 'per part' program change for sounds by 'classic' midi (PC+Bank select)
  - receive CC7 (volume) and CC11 (expression)