Overview:

  V-Combo Editor increase VR sound capabilities
  VR EFX effect chain : How it works
  VR MFX : Overview of VR ‘MFX Multi Effects’
  VR ‘Chorus’-Effects : Hex-Chorus, Chorus, Twin-Rotary, Pitch Shifter, Modulaton-D, ‘GM2-Chorus’
  Exploring MFX ‘Twin-Rotary’ : as Rotary, Chorus-Effect, etc
  Fading and sustaining sounds within (dual) layers : how to apply expression and damper pedal to selective sounds
  Using VR ‘hardware faders’ (ADR, cutoff, resonance)
  Creating a Split with 3 sounds (2 in upper, 1 in lower)
  Using ‘VR hidden sounds’
  MONO vs. STEREO amping : howto avoid distorting of sounds when using VR with mono-lineout
  VR internal distortion of Sounds : how to avoid VR preamp distortion (especially with OD, COMP etc)

 

V-Combo Editor: increase VR sound capabilities

Compared to ‘VR keyboard interface’, programming VR with the help of V-Combo EDITOR offers an ‘overwelming’ amount of addtional possibilities to create and shape ‘VR sounds’.
As most of these ‘hidden features’ save to VR Registrations you can use them on stage without being connected to a laptop/tablet:

• up to 4 zones (splits)
• up to 9 parts (voices), for ‘big layers’
• hundreds of additional ‘hidden sounds’
• full flexibility to apply ADR-envelope, Resonance/Cutoff, Portamento to ANY part (voice)
• ‘playing aids’ like ‘soloing voice’, ‘chord intelligence’, ‘leading bass’ etc
• additional effect parameters
• more flexibility in routing the effect chain

Note: due to the sheer amount of ‘additional features’, V-Combo Editor requires a ‘steep learning curve’. Full support is given in Facebook Group “Roland V-Combo VR-09 / VR-09-B / VR-730”

VR ‘EFX’ effect chain

VR has a single ‘effect chain’ which adds up to 7 effects ‘in series’:
COMPRESSOR ↠ OVERDRIVE ↠ MFX ↠ ROTARY ↠ TONE ↠ DELAY ↠ REVERB

How do the effects work:

• REVERB is a global effect : it’s applied to all sound sections: Organ, PIANO/SYNTH sounds, DRUM, D-BEAM SFX, VR Rhythm (and VR ‘GM2 engine’)
  Reverb length can only be adjusted globally, not per part/sound
• all other effects are applied:
  – to Organ in upper+lower manual + bass
  – to PIANO/SYNTH/DRUM sounds only in upper manual (never to lower)
  – to D-Beam SFX
• in a split, the effects cannot be applied to lower manual (except organ)
• in a (dual) layer the effects cannot be applied to ‘individual parts’ but only to both sounds
• the only way to ‘overcome’ the routing of parts (manuals/voices) through the EFX chain is by using V-Combo Editor

VR MFX: an overview

A short overview of VR ‘Multi-Effects’ and their applications

NOTE: MFX with ‘TEMPO’ controlled with VR Tempo-setting synchronise to VR Rhythms

MFX	Description	VR usage
TWIN ROTARY	the only ‘deeply customisable’ effect of VR (customised by VR ‘Rotary’ settings)	multiple applications: ‘standalone Leslie’; improve ‘VR Rotary’; ‘Chorus’; ‘Tremolo’ (see trick ‘Twin Rotary’)
SMALL PHASER 1/2	legendary ‘Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Phaser’ (variant 1/2 corresponds to EHx ‘colour switch’)	famous in guitar world and Jean-Michel Jarres synth albums
PHASER	standard Phaser	–
STEP PHASER	standard Step Phaser: step length is set by MFX knob	–
TEMPO STEP PHASER	a standard Step Phaser: amount is set by MFX knob, step length is set by VR ‘TAP TEMPO’ setting	–
CHORUS	standard ‘dry’ Chorus	works nicely on vintage E-Pianos
HEXA-CHORUS	complex multi-dimensional Stereo Roland Chorus	works for any sound
FLANGER	standard Flanger	–
MODULATION-D	complex delay that works as a ‘Chorus’ and stereo-delay (see trick ‘MFX Chorus’)	small amounts are excellent to fatten up synth sounds or to ‘pub-ify’ pianos, larger amounts add complex delay
TREMOLO 1/2	standard stereo/mono tremolo	“the” effect for E-Pianos
T.WAH 1/2	‘auto-wah’ (controlled by key pressure/velocity)	often used on vintage E-Pianos (and guitar sounds)
RING MODULATOR	frequency modulation effect used in experimental synthesizer music	not too many applications 🙂
BIT CRASH	a variable ‘digital’ distortion effect	small amounts add a nice ‘vintage hiss noise’ to sounds, higher amounts (knob > 12 o’clock) can make e.g. Clavs very aggressive
DISTORTION	a rough transistor distortion	due to it’s harsh sound rater limited
SLICER	a note ‘repeat’ or ‘chopper’ effect: rate is set by MFX knob	commonly used for ‘Baba O’Riley’
TEMPO SLICER	like SLICER. Amplitede is set by MFX knob, rate is set by VR ‘TAP TEMPO’ setting	commonly used for ‘Baba O’Riley’
PITCH SHIFTER	a very flexible effect	as a chorus (see trick ‘Chorus Effects’), ‘detuner’ (e.g. ‘bar piano’), ‘harmonic multiplexing’ (e.g. adding quart/quint/octaves)

VR MFX ‘Chorus’-Effects : Chorus / Hex-Chorus / Twin-Rotary / Pitch Shifter / Modulation-D / GM2-Chorus

Multiple Effects of VR can be used as a ‘Chorus’-Effekt:

• standard MFX ‘Chorus’
• standard MFX ‘Hex-Chorus’
• MFX ‘Twin Rotary’: MFX Twin-Rotary can be used as a customisable Chorus – see trick ‘Twin-Rotary’ on this webpage
• MFX ‘Pitch Shifter’ can be used as a nice chorus that can rassemble the famous ‘Roland RD Chorus’:
  This Chrorus is particulary suited for softening Pianos (as an ‘RD sound’), modern EPs, Clavs and acoustic/semiacoutic guitars:
  To use as chorus, set MFX knob to 9-9:30 o’clock
• MFX ‘Modulation-D’, when used at 9-9:30 o’clock it sounds simliar to ‘Pitch Shifter chorus’, but adds a short ‘stereo echo’
• GM2-Chorus: a very nice, wide and warm sounding Chorus – unfortunately it can be used only with VR GM2-engine:
  When using VR GM2 engine (e.g. with a 2nd midi keyboard), send ControlChange CC93 to the GM channel

Exploring MFX ‘Twin-Rotary’ (Rotary, Chorus-Effect…)

MFX TwinRotary is an interesting effect that has many ‘inner values’ and allows polyvalent ‘applications’, e.g. as ‘yet another Leslie’, chorus-effect, tremolo, LFO etc
TwinRotary is directly coupled to VR Rotary options (fast/slow, woofer/tweeter acceleration/speed and even ‘rotary type’) – independent of the state of ‘VR ROTARY ON/OFF’ button. The possibilty to tune MFX-TwinRotary by ‘rotary’ options makes it more customisable than any other VR effect

For usage of TwinRotary as ‘standalone Leslie’ see also Organ Settings

Examples: one can…

• use TwinRotary as Leslie-type forVR organ: see Organ Settings
• use TwinRotary as Leslie for any sound, avoiding distorting the sound through any’Rotary Amp’ : wee Organ Settings
• add a Multi-Dimensional-Chorus’ effect to e.g. a synth sound – with customisable amplitude, rate and ‘character’:
  set rotary-on/off to OFF and rotary-speed to ‘fast’ (enlighted position is used as ‘effect ON’)
  set MFX to TwinRotary and rise the level. In VR menu ‘Rotary’, customise type, ramps, speeds:
      – select type for a more ‘mono’ (type 1) or more ‘spacy’ (type2/3) effect
      – set all ‘ramps’ (fall/rise/accel.) to 127
      – set woofer/tweeter ‘slow speeds’ to 0 (this allows to turn the effect off by switching rotary to ‘slow’)
      – adjust (detune) woofer/tweeter ‘fast speeds’ in the range of 10-20 to optimise a ‘spacy effect
  adust MFX knob for the right amount of the MFX
• add a Tremolo-(LFO)-Effect ‘customisable’ in rate AND amplitude to any sound, e.g. EPs.
  This ‘trick’ makes use of the ‘tremolo component’ that is part of any Leslie sound:
  set rotary-speed to ‘fast’ (enlighted position is used as ‘effect ON’)
  set rotary-on/off to OFF. Set MFX to TwinRotary and turn it on. In VR menu ‘Rotary’, customise type, ramps, speeds:
      – select type: type 1 is rather mono-tremolo, type 2 is a nice stereo-tremolo, type 3 is identical to 2 (just a bit louder)
      – set all ‘ramps’ (fall/rise/accel.) to 127
      – set woofer/tweeter ‘slow speeds’ to 0 (this allows to turn the effect off by switching rotary to ‘slow’)
      – set woofer/tweeter ‘fast speeds’ to a (identical) value in the range of 80-100
  adust MFX knob for the right amount of the MFX
• add a ‘stereo-spread’ effect to any sound by using TwinRotary at ‘Rotary stop’:
  set rotary-on/off to OFF. Set MFX to TwinRotary and turn it on. In VR menu ‘Rotary’, customise type, ramps, speeds:
      – select type for different types of ‘spacing’
      – set all ‘ramps’ (fall/rise/accel.) to 127
      – set woofer and tweeter ‘slow and fast speeds’ to 0
  use MFX knob to tune the amount of the effect

Fading and sustaining sounds within layers

A classic situation in a ‘layer’ : expression/sustain pedal shall only work on one of the sounds, e.g. fading a 2nd synth sound in/out.

We explain some use cases:

• Piano + Strings (pad) layer: sustain (damper) shall be applied to piano but not to strings:
  With any of VR ‘factory’ settings of VR menu «Controller» “Damper Part”), damper pedal works on both sounds, sustaining piano and ‘endlessly holding’ the strings (or any pad sound)
  To avoid the latter one has to use CTRLR EDITOR to address additional ‘hidden options’ for ‘Damper Part’
  – in Editor SOUNDS load piano into the SOLO-voice and Strings (Pads) into Upper SYN1
  – in Editor STAGE ‘Foot Pedals’, set ‘Damper Part’ to ‘SOLO+LOW’
  Now the damper will only sustain piano (in SOLO voice). As a side effect, you can modify Strings (Pads) live with VR envelope/filter faders
  NOTE: depending on your split/zone configuration, use other options like “UPP”, “UPP+LOW” etc.
• Piano-String layer (dual): Fading in/out Strings (or any other sound from SYNTH section) with Expression pedal
  – on VR, set a piano/string layer with piano in part [1]
    press and hold a button from PIANO section, then press STRING (or any other SYNTH) button
  – enter VR menu «Controller» “Expression Part” and select “to LOWER/DUAL2”
  Now the expr. pedal can be used to fade-in/out the strings in part [2]
  NOTE: you can also use strings in part [1]: then set “Expression Part” to “UPPER/DUAL1”
• SYNTH-SYNTH layer (dual): Fading in/out one of the synth sounds with Expression Pedal
  A classic is the intro of Alphaville “for ever young’ 😉
  – on VR, set a layer of SYNTH section sounds with the sounds you want to fade in part [1]
    press and hold the button of the sound to fade, then press the 2nd sound button
  – enter VR menu «Controller» “Expresson Part” and select “to UPPER/DUAL1”
  Now the expr. pedal can be used to fade-in/out the synth patch in part [1]
  NOTE: with “Expression Part” set “to LOWER/DUAL2” you can fade the patch in part [2]
  

Using VR ‘hardware faders’ (ADR, cutoff, resonance)

The usage of ‘VR hardware faders’ to modify piano or synth sounds is a real mystery 🙂
If and how faders apply to sounds, depends on the manual setup and the VR sound sections used (PIANO or SYNTH)

manual setting	sound section	faders apply to :
one single sound (upper)	PIANO or SYNTH	to the sound
layerd sound (dual)	– PIANO + PIANO – PIANO + SYNTH: – SYNTH + SYNTH:	to NO sound to the SYNTH sound to both SYNTH sounds
split (upper/lower)	– PIANO / PIANO – SYNTH / SYNTH – PIANO / SYNTH – SYNTH / PIANO	to NO sound to both sounds to lower SYNTH sound to upper SYNTH sound

Creating a Split with 3 sounds (2 in upper, 1 in lower)

On VR ‘factory’ it’s only possible to create a split with 2 sounds: one in upper and one lower manual
Using VR ‘hidden parts’ it’s possible to layer more sounds

A sophisticted tool for using these ‘hidden parts’ is CTRLR EDITOR

Alternatively we show an ‘easy way’ to create a split with 3 sounds: 2 in upper manual, 1 in lower manual
This split only has one limitation: one of the 2 upper sounds must be a sound from VR PIANO section (piano, ep, clav, others)
All you need is:
– a ‘tool’ capable to send midi Control Change and Program Change to VR: midi controller, ‘midi app’ (ipad, PC), DAW, etc
– a listing of ‘midi bank/program’ addresses of VR sounds:
  go to Roland Website for VR09, ‘Support’ and download ‘VR-09 VR-730 MIDI Implementatiion’

Let’s create a split with Sound A and P layered in upper, Sound C in lower manual, where P is a sound from VR PIANO section:

1. on VR, open VR menu ‘MIDI’ , search for ‘MIDI IN Mode’ and set to ‘MODE 2’
2. on VR, to ‘test’ the layer you’d like to use later, create a dual layer with at least one sound of PIANO section, note the name of the (a) PIANO patch: this is Sound P (the other is Sound A)
3. on VR create a split with two sounds: Sound A in upper, and a Sound C of your choice in lower
4. search Sound P in the Midi-Implementation, Chapter 7. Tone List ‘Piano Section’ and get its numbers for PC#, Bank Select MSB and Bank Select LSB.
   Example: “GrandPianoV”: PC#: 57 ; MSB: 6 ; LSB: 0
5. in the midi-tool, send a ‘bank+program’ to VR: a triplet of 2 ‘Control Changes’ and a ‘Program Change’ on Midi-Channel 1 (!)
   MSB : Control Change CC-0 with the value of MSB, e.g. ‘6‘
   LSB : Control Change CC-32 with the value of LSB, e.g. ‘0‘
   PC: Program Change with the value of PC# minus one (!) e.g. ‘56‘ (= 57-1)

Now VR has an upper manual layer of sound A and P (e.g. GrandPianoV), and in lower manual sound C: Save this to a VR Registration

NOTES:
– If Sound A is from SYNTH section it can be modified with VR faders ADR, Cutoff, Resonance
– You can change Sound A and Sound C: place the cursor in the display and select another sound
– Changing LEVEL of Sound A and C: place the cursor in the display and use the LEVEL buttons
– Changing LEVEL of Sound P (Piano): this is a bit cumbersome:
  1. un-split (press SPLIT button) 2. change level of part [2] 3. re-split 4. reload Sound P by midi
– Some tools (e.g. DAWs) provide a comfortable ‘bank+program’-send option to use with MSB/LSB/PC values
– Some tools send midi ‘hex-strings’: use MSB/LSB/PC hex-numbers in brackets of ‘Midi-Implementation’, e.g. (38h) :
  Format of hex-string is: “b0 00 msb b0 20 lsb c0 pc“, Example ‘GrandPianoV’: b0 00 06 b0 20 00 c0 38
  a very efficient tool for Windows is ‘MIOS Studio’ (download from web and start):
  set MIDI IN/OUT to ‘Roland…’ port. Open menu Files/’SysEx Tool’, type the hex-string into Send-field, press Send

Using ‘VR hidden sounds’

VR has a huge number of ‘hidden sounds’ (ca. 700): they include the soundset of Roland ATELIER organs and ‘extra sounds’. These sounds fully save to VR registrations.

We present 2 ways to recall these sounds:

1. Using CTRLR EDITOR
2. Using simple midi bank+progam message to load sounds into VR ‘parts’ (manuals). This is explained in VR and Midi – load sounds remotely

MONO vs. STEREO amping

The VR is NOT good at mono-sounds. While some high spec keyboards use specifically recorded ‘real mono samples’ the VR ‘L/Mono’ output simply summarises the 2 stereo R+L signals into a mono signal.
The problem is that simple summation of stereo R+L channels produces so called ‘interferences’ (somehow also called ‘phase distortions’): as both channels of a ‘stereo sound’ are slightly different, their summation can result into ‘wiping out’ frequency ranges whereas others are overemphasised, and so called ‘beats’ (like a slow chorus effect) can occur.
The result is that, when running the VR through Lineout L/Mono, many of its stereo sounds, particulary acoustic pianos, are sounding distorted.
Another side effect is that stereo effects will sound differently, e.g. MFX “stereo tremolo” sounds like running a the double tremolo rate.
VR has a “MONO PIANO” patch which unfortunately is no mono recorded piano sample but also a “summarised” Roland stereo-pianos that shows the same ‘interference distortions’ as like using the L/Mono socket
For this reason it’s highly recommended to use the VR always in STEREO – 2 separate speakers or at least a ‘twin amp’. (see Amps, Monitors, etc for examples)

WORKAROUND for using VR in mono:

If you’re forced to use mono PA/speakers or you’re an orthodox follower of the “I-used-mono-my-entire-life-and-won’t-change” doctrine you can apply this trick to avoid the interferences: instead of ‘L/mono-sum’ use EITHER L OR R channel as ‘mono’:

• connect ‘L/Mono’ lineout to PA and stick a ‘blind’ TS-plug into ‘R’-lineout – the ‘blind plug’ prevents VR from ‘making stereo-to-mono-sum’ and gives you the pure L-channel
• alternatively use ‘R’-lineout without connecting ‘L’: this will give you the pure R-channel

Important notes when using ‘pure L or R channel for mono’:

1. acoustic pianos sound differently on R/L channel: on left side, bass notes are emphasised whearas on right side discant notes are more dominant. If you use the “R”-channel, VR Grands will sound (even more) brighter (shriller). Recommendation is to use “L” channel (+ R-blind plug) with less shrillness and bigger bass
2. never apply MFX STEREO-TREMOLO (e.g. on EPs): stereo tremolo will result in a totally destroyed sound. Use mono tremolo instead
3. pure R/L has a positive effect on VR organ Leslie (!): in some situations (e.g. with certain chords) L/Mono-sum adds side-bands to the Leslie rotation, resulting in ‘un-realistic spin frequencies’ – which do not appear when using pure R or L for mono

VR internal distortion of Sounds (level adjustment)

If the internal volume-level of a patch is too high it is driven into VR ‘internal saturation’ (pre-amps, DSP chips etc) which adds harsh ‘crushed’ distortion to the sound
Running a patch into saturation (‘level-distortion’) can happen unintentionally e.g. while customising sounds. Examples:
– adding MFX to a sound: some MFX like (Hex)Chorus rise the ‘internal level’
– OVERDRIVE: OD multiplies the organ level: level-distortion will add to OD and make the harsh VR-OD even uglier
– TONE: setting TONE far left/right especially on ‘fat’ sounds (e.g. some EPs) rises the total level
– (heavy) layering can result in a too high ‘summ level’
Traps: on some sounds/customisations the inherent sound effect can ‘mix’ with level-distortion – you must learn to hear the difference. Examples:
– OverDrive or MFX ‘Distortion’: level-distortion can overlap with the proper ‘Effect-distortion’
– ‘barky’ EPs: be careful with TONE, MFX …: when the ‘bark’ starts sounding ‘crushed’ the EP got into level-saturation.
Avoid/fix level-distortion of your patches (registrations):
– test your patches with headphones. PA or amps are not sufficiently sensible to detect the ‘beginning’ of distortion
– hammer down ‘fortissimo’: when you hear distortion lower levels (LEVEL fader/buttons) – and add some headroom
– when using ‘organ’ as part of a ‘mixed’ registration take care of the ‘Organ Level’ bug (see below)