VR ‘Chorus’-Effects : Hex-Chorus, Chorus, Twin-Rotary, Pitch Shifter, ‘GM2-Chorus’

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

• standard MFX ‘Hex-Chorus’
• standard MFX ‘Chorus’
• MFX ‘Twin Rotary’: MFX Twin-Rotary can be used as a customisable Chorus – see chapter below
• MFX Pitch Shifter can be used as famous ‘Roland RD Chorus’:
  This Chrorus is particulary suited for softening Pianos (as an ‘RD sound’), modern EPs, Clavs and acoustic/semiacoutic guitars
  Select MFX ‘PITCH SHIFTER’ and set MFX knob to 9-9:30 o’clock
• GM2-Chorus: a very nice, wide and warm sounding Chorus that only can be used with VR GM2-engine:
  When using VR GM2 engine (e.g. with a 2nd midi keyboard), send ControlChange CC93 to the 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

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)