(I) Hardware (Laptops, Tablets)

Note: this covers only Windows laptops and tablets

If you want to use V-Combo Editor live on stage or dive in to the ecosystem of software-music and VSTs for ‘Microsoft’ you must get a Windows tablet or laptop.

Here’s some pros/cons of Windows compared to Mac. Note that from the disponibilty of music software, Windows and Mac are very close (whereas IOS/iPad is a completely different world)

• pro: Windows has laptops with with touch display, all kind of ‘tablet’ units etc. Apple does not offer laptops with touch display nor a ‘OSX tablet’.
• pro: Windwows devices are generally less expensive than Macs.
• pro: you find a lot of free software for Windwows, much more than for Mac
• pro: Windows has a giant repertoire of VSTs, thousands of free ‘oldschool’ (free) VSTs: in the beginning of VST development, all was done on Windows.
• con: native midi handling is very basic and requires additional apps (see below, ‘Software’)
• con: native audio handling is very basic and handicaped by ‘latency’ (that means a sound from a VST sounds with a delay after the ‘key hit’). Therefore Windows requires additional ‘audio software’ (see below ‘Software’)

What laptop/tablet for Roland VR?

Tablet or Laptop?
For using on stage, a “Windows tablet” or “2-1 laptops” with touch display is strongly recommended:
Tablets come with no or a ‘soft attach’ keyboard. To be used ‘like a laptop’ the display (tablet) has to be supported by a stand
‘2 in 1’ laptops are ‘real laptops’ where the display can be detached from the keyboard and be used as a ‘tablet’

Compared to laptops, a ‘tablet’ is easier to mount (laptops require full sized ‘laptop stands’), easier to control during playing keys (‘finger touch’ compared to mouse) and looks more ‘discrete’ (laptops on stage might look ‘repelling’ for the audience – from an aesthetical view and also because it always ends with the musician scotched with his head to the laptop nervously scratching on the mouse-pad)

Display size the larger the better to ‘look at’ and control apps BUT also the more ‘dominant’ on stage from audience view:
a huge 15.4 inch tablet is nice for visibility and even allows to use ‘scanned piano sheets’ like a paper sheet, but it can cover your face/body for the audience.

So: 10 inch is the absolute minimum for visibiliy/control
12 inch might be good compromise if you also want to use a ‘song sheet app’ (with notes)
15 inch is as near as conforable as paper piano sheets

Audio: with the quality of modern onboard audio cards there is no need for an external audio interface (at least for live usage).
Connecting both usb (midi) and analog audio of the laptop/tablet to VR (usb-in and EXT Input) usually adds audio fuzz: use a small submixer instead

‘bargain’ devices
To run ctrlr Editor and ‘simple VSTs’ the lowest speced tablet/laptop at 200 USD/€ is all you need.
Unfortunately bargain windows tablets or 2-1 have disappeared from most manufacturer portfolios but you can look for 2nd-hand/refurbished devices or ‘no-name’ products
If you’re a lucky resident of Europe (Germany) you might look for 2nd hand Medion Akoya 2-1 : they are sold 50-100 euros (kleinanzeigen.de), quite often in mint condition
Examples for different display sizes (in inch):
– 10-11″: 2-1 2nd hand: HP-X2-10, Lenovo Miix 310, Medion Akoya E1003 / new : LENOVO IdeaPad Duet, Duet 3, no-name ‘Windows tablets’
– 12-13″: 2-1 2nd hand: Medion Akoya E2212T, P2214T / new: LENOVO IdeaPad Duet 5
– 15″: (e.g. for 2-sided piano sheets): 2-1 2nd hand: S6212T/S6214T “2-1” with huge 15.6 inch display (see picture)

‘performance’ devices
To run preformance-hungry VSTs (virtual Grands, virtual Organs) the more power the better: Intel i5 is the minimum processor, i7 is better. Examples:
12-13 inch display: Microsoft Surface Pro, Lenovo X12, Lenovo IedalPad Duet 5, Lenovo Yoga Duet, Dell Latitude Detachables (expensive …)
15 inch dsiplay : (2nd hand): 15: Microsoft Surface-Book

‘2nd hand’ or ‘refurbished’
Why not an older but 2nd hand unit in good condition:
Older Microsoft Surface Pro or Surface books have various performance and display sizes from 10-15 inch.

Medion “2-1″ ‘detached’ 15.6”-display working as Windows-tablet for EDITOR, Note-Sheet app, Audacity, ‘simple’ VSTs etc

(II) Software

Audio- and Midi-Software required for Windows

To overcome Windows limited midi and audio capabilties the following software is highly recommended:

Audio : ASIO-driver
To suppress native Windows-‘latency’ you must install a so called ASIO audio driver:
– if you use an external soundcard / audio-interface, it usually comes with with the manufacturers Asio-driver
– if you use ‘onboard audio’ or e.g. Behringer interfaces, get the (free) ‘Asio4all’ driver

The Asio driver has to be set in the ‘audio config’ of the DAW, virtual instrument, etc
Note that when using Asio only one application (one DAW, one virtual instrument etc) can output audio: you cannot run e.g. several standalone instruments, mp3-backing track or YT video.

Midi : CopperLan
Other than Mac/OSX, Windows cannot midi-connect several applications to one port or midi-connect applications to other applications
The solution for Windows are so called ‘virtual midi ports’ which have to be installed by software
A 100% stable and reliable software is CopperLan: it’s a’router’ that offers vitual midi ports which are combined with virtual midi cables, so that you can build any connections between keyboards, apps, virtual instruments, DAWs, midi-sequencers etc
CopperLan can be combined with ‘multi-client’ midi ports of ‘LoopMidi’
You find installers for CL and LoopMidi (carefull reqad CopperLan_VCombo_Tutorial_1.2.pdf) in: Virtual Midi Ports

Software EDITORS for the VR09/09B/730

see this website, top menu ‘VR Editors’)

Digital songbooks (setlists) for MS-Windows

Songbooks		MobileSheets	Camelot	Song Repertoire	Songbook Linkesoft	Music Reader
OS	Win	+	+	+	+	+
	OSX	–	+	–	+	+
	IOS	+	+	–	+	+
	AND	+	–	–	+	+
	LINUX	–	–	–	–	–
Trial version		+	+	+	–	+
Price Euro/USD		13	150	15/yr	15	15/yr
Program change		Yes	Yes	See (1)	No See *	No
Set lists		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Formats		pdf jpg txt chordpro	pdf jpg txt chordpro	pdf jpg txt	pdf txt chordpro	pdf txt
Comments		very good, has ‘band sync’, quite cheap	mighty ‘setlist-DAW’, expensive (Win/OSX)	very nice design, midi is in develpmnt (see [1])	oldfashioned Win version, midi only for ios+android	extreme under performer unuseable!

Note: MobileSheets and Camelot can be controlled by VR registration program changes (e.g. song switching)
Note: SongRepertoire: midi-send (CC, bank select/program change) was recently added (9/2020), midi receive is ‘in work’

TechnoToys Omega

“oldschool” midi software package with arp, sequencer, drumbox (e.g. for Ctrlr Editor external program launcher). Download