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saxak « The keyboard scene par excellence »
Published on 08/16/11 at 09:10See the chart for details. Essentially, this is to remember the V-Combo (name for short).
First, the general appearance: it looks great! In three words: vintage at will! Everything is there: simplicity (fuselage charcoal brushed aluminum), style (color wenge wood paneling on the sides), charisma (wide panel on two levels with knobs and drawbars old style analog synthesizer), aesthetic (keyboard keys ivory ). No, not a fighter, but rather one of the best keyboards I have ever seen.
Then, touch the famous "waterfall" simply magnificent! Also in three words: a real treat! In addition to aesthetics, we can retain the flexibility and incredible sensitivity. It is both soft, dynamic, fast and incredibly accurate. I am a pianist who, despite all the keypads to touch heavier than I have tried, no one can find touch and the sensitivity of a real piano. However, although the V-Combo does not claim this (as it has a light touch, not heavy), it is much more sensitive than most other keypads on which I played. Attention, his touch "waterfall" is dangerously addictive and enjoyable. Once you have laid his hands on it, you can not stop you.
Finally, by far the most important sound: simply great! Again and again in three words: a real killer! How to describe the sounds of incredible purity? Some would argue that there is not enough, but Roland has focused on quality over quantity. And it shows! All that is looking for a keyboardist is inside. Sounds of acoustic piano sounds of organ tone wheel, to the sounds of electric piano (Rhodes, Wurlitzer, clavinet) and other various and varied sounds, everything is there! Even a rhythm section accompaniment. And if you do not have enough, it's not a problem: two expansion slots for SRX cards allow you to access any sound imaginable.
In short, a real feast for the eyes, fingers and ears. Not to mention its many options (built-in equalizer, full of sound editing, memory register, midi interface and video ...) that make it an ideal master keyboard.
UTILIZATION
On its use, a single word is needed: intuitive!
Indeed, with the V-Combo, no need to look for hours in the menus and submenus to change or edit sound. Everything is easily accessible and super intuitive, for the simple reason that everything is in front.
Thus, with its many knobs, it is possible to modulate the sound, add, remove and edit effects, play with the EQ, assemble several sounds together or move from one sound to another as you see fit, d a simple snap of a finger. And that, in real time! Very useful in concert.
SOUNDS
As mentioned above, it is a real killer! A concentrate of pure tones, "vintage" and perfectly authentic.
Of course, the original, it has only a fairly limited number of sounds: a pipe organ, three acoustic pianos, electric pianos and 18 six other sounds, from bass to lead synth, to brass, or violin sounds and keyboards. A total of 28 sounds. That said, we should not see this as a default, but rather as the will of Roland to propose here what is best in simulator tone wheel organ modeling and sounds among the most requested by a keyboardist.
For my part, as a pianist, I do not care to have 36 piano sounds. I prefer to have one, but it's perfect. This is the spirit of the V-Combo.
Thus, you will find three outstanding piano sound (the rounder the brightest), six essential sounds of electric pianos (including two Rhodes, a Wurlitzer and clavinet), some really nice sounds (especially bass, synths and tablecloths lead, the violins are poor and brass are shit), and finally the best for last, an organ sound with breathtaking worthy of a real Hammond B3. Taking advantage of the same simulator as the famous VK88, this is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best organ sound is digital, all brands.
Add to that the drawbars, Leslie simulator, all variations of his own at B3 (vibrato, chorus, amp, distortion, percussion), and you get ... a real Hammond B3 organ, and less congestion. Not forgetting also the amp simulators electric pianos and all modulation options to its own synths, customizable as you like and modified in real time.
Therefore, despite its 28 sounds, you have not finished having fun. And for those who always want more, you can still add up to two of the many existing SRX expansion boards, each containing hundreds of sounds of all kinds. Once installed, the cards will be part of the machine and the sounds they contain may also be modified and configured just like the original sounds. In other words, the possibilities of the V-Combo are endless (almost).
OVERALL OPINION
For over four years that I use regularly and I do not part with for anything. At home or in concert again, it's a real treat.
In a rare elegance, the V-Combo is a dynamic instrument and super versatile. As would Michlef is a Swiss Army knife.
Featuring some of the best existing Roland sounds (including its various acoustic and electric pianos, and especially his famous simulator tonewheel organ of unquestionable purity), able to adapt to any style music with the addition of two expansion cards, with an exceptional feel and a midi interface and video, not to mention its use hyper intuitive, that makes him the ultimate stage piano!
First, the general appearance: it looks great! In three words: vintage at will! Everything is there: simplicity (fuselage charcoal brushed aluminum), style (color wenge wood paneling on the sides), charisma (wide panel on two levels with knobs and drawbars old style analog synthesizer), aesthetic (keyboard keys ivory ). No, not a fighter, but rather one of the best keyboards I have ever seen.
Then, touch the famous "waterfall" simply magnificent! Also in three words: a real treat! In addition to aesthetics, we can retain the flexibility and incredible sensitivity. It is both soft, dynamic, fast and incredibly accurate. I am a pianist who, despite all the keypads to touch heavier than I have tried, no one can find touch and the sensitivity of a real piano. However, although the V-Combo does not claim this (as it has a light touch, not heavy), it is much more sensitive than most other keypads on which I played. Attention, his touch "waterfall" is dangerously addictive and enjoyable. Once you have laid his hands on it, you can not stop you.
Finally, by far the most important sound: simply great! Again and again in three words: a real killer! How to describe the sounds of incredible purity? Some would argue that there is not enough, but Roland has focused on quality over quantity. And it shows! All that is looking for a keyboardist is inside. Sounds of acoustic piano sounds of organ tone wheel, to the sounds of electric piano (Rhodes, Wurlitzer, clavinet) and other various and varied sounds, everything is there! Even a rhythm section accompaniment. And if you do not have enough, it's not a problem: two expansion slots for SRX cards allow you to access any sound imaginable.
In short, a real feast for the eyes, fingers and ears. Not to mention its many options (built-in equalizer, full of sound editing, memory register, midi interface and video ...) that make it an ideal master keyboard.
UTILIZATION
On its use, a single word is needed: intuitive!
Indeed, with the V-Combo, no need to look for hours in the menus and submenus to change or edit sound. Everything is easily accessible and super intuitive, for the simple reason that everything is in front.
Thus, with its many knobs, it is possible to modulate the sound, add, remove and edit effects, play with the EQ, assemble several sounds together or move from one sound to another as you see fit, d a simple snap of a finger. And that, in real time! Very useful in concert.
SOUNDS
As mentioned above, it is a real killer! A concentrate of pure tones, "vintage" and perfectly authentic.
Of course, the original, it has only a fairly limited number of sounds: a pipe organ, three acoustic pianos, electric pianos and 18 six other sounds, from bass to lead synth, to brass, or violin sounds and keyboards. A total of 28 sounds. That said, we should not see this as a default, but rather as the will of Roland to propose here what is best in simulator tone wheel organ modeling and sounds among the most requested by a keyboardist.
For my part, as a pianist, I do not care to have 36 piano sounds. I prefer to have one, but it's perfect. This is the spirit of the V-Combo.
Thus, you will find three outstanding piano sound (the rounder the brightest), six essential sounds of electric pianos (including two Rhodes, a Wurlitzer and clavinet), some really nice sounds (especially bass, synths and tablecloths lead, the violins are poor and brass are shit), and finally the best for last, an organ sound with breathtaking worthy of a real Hammond B3. Taking advantage of the same simulator as the famous VK88, this is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best organ sound is digital, all brands.
Add to that the drawbars, Leslie simulator, all variations of his own at B3 (vibrato, chorus, amp, distortion, percussion), and you get ... a real Hammond B3 organ, and less congestion. Not forgetting also the amp simulators electric pianos and all modulation options to its own synths, customizable as you like and modified in real time.
Therefore, despite its 28 sounds, you have not finished having fun. And for those who always want more, you can still add up to two of the many existing SRX expansion boards, each containing hundreds of sounds of all kinds. Once installed, the cards will be part of the machine and the sounds they contain may also be modified and configured just like the original sounds. In other words, the possibilities of the V-Combo are endless (almost).
OVERALL OPINION
For over four years that I use regularly and I do not part with for anything. At home or in concert again, it's a real treat.
In a rare elegance, the V-Combo is a dynamic instrument and super versatile. As would Michlef is a Swiss Army knife.
Featuring some of the best existing Roland sounds (including its various acoustic and electric pianos, and especially his famous simulator tonewheel organ of unquestionable purity), able to adapt to any style music with the addition of two expansion cards, with an exceptional feel and a midi interface and video, not to mention its use hyper intuitive, that makes him the ultimate stage piano!