Roland V-Combo VR-09

I link my Vr 09 up with a studiologic 73 note acuna weighted keyboard (Controller) playing the second of the split sounds ,mostly piano and this leaves the Vr09 used for bass or organ.
The more I use it playing live the more I appreciate just how well designed and clever this keyboard is. The set up with a second keyboard via midi is so versatile and intuative ,
and works much better for me than splitting my 88 note Roland Rd700nx.
Moving octaves is very easy with one touch of a button after selecting which part one wants to shift individually, as is transposing if needed.
The piano sound sits well in the mix with most styes of music and there is enough selection to get any subtle nuance one likes. I run it through a small keyboard mixer to give me some eq control. The weight of the Vr09 and the acuna work well for me as both my other 88 note keyboards are very heavy by comparison.
Either on its own or with a second keyboard this board works extreemly well for live playing , with all the adjustments I need on the fly and no deep menues to have to delve into.

5 octaves velocity but no aftertouch

You can put a damper and an expression pedal

Almost all 200 sounds editable

UTILIZATION

The feel is soft, I obviously prefer heavy touch, but given the weight of the gadget, you can not do better =)

5.5 kgs is perfect to carry by bike or on foot for rehearsals and gigs.  It is 1 m long and 30 cm wide, I could even put a strap on it, holding it to my stomach; I plan to tinker with it soon: Keytar style.

I hesitated between the VR09 and Korg Kross, a heavier but good keyboard.  This one is and especially good choice for selecting sounds on the fly, which is fast and efficient.  We choose a category, following the style of current music and begin playing. The choice of octaves is just outside of handsreach but available. =)

I had a Nord Stage 76 I loved, but it was heavier and bigger.  I needed a more versatile unit so I took a Kronos X 88, but it made me quickly irritated me, trying to lug it around by car with the 1.50 m length and 23 kg of weight. So I traveled with the VR-09; I even have a cable to connect to a friend's stereo.

I managed without the manual, being accustomed to the Nord Stage.  I the VR-09 to be a clone of the latter, the same provisions of separate sections for organ, piano, and synth.

SOUNDS

The sounds are very good.  It can do edits that are not possible with a Nord Stage: Add a slow attack or filter the piano with a LPF, for example, but not all things are possible.  You must know in advance which parameters are editable.

The sound of the pianos are very good for the price, half sympathetic resonance and damping in the treble. The Rhodes are great too, there's also the Wurli, FM piano, and clavinet with auto-wah that fires after the strike force, selectable in two seconds, cool!

There is currently no aftertouch, it lacks a bit, so we compensate with D-beam or joystick.

Found sounds that that were available in my first synth, Roland E16, piano and used batteries; it brings back memories ...

OVERALL OPINION

I have had it since early January because I could not go to lug a big bag with 23 kgs content. I've tried the Korg Kross with VR09 side by side: good fun too, but there are no knobs for quick editing effects on the Korg.

Value: decent price if you're looking compactness and weight. This is my clone of the Nord Stage without the addition of samples, but I try to seek a balance. =)

5 Octaves

One hundred sounds, divided into four parts, organ keyboard synth and rhythm.

USB twelve o'clock etc.

UTILIZATION

Touch is basic, it's synth-based. We are used to this kind of touch. This is for live.

Setup is simple, everything is obvious logic.

The manual is clear.

SOUNDS

It is a keyboard for all styles. Caution is the general anyway. But this is also its strength. The effects section is particularly successful, it sounds great.

I love the piano, violins and organs. A little less synths. It lacks a bit.

The expression is great, no problem.

OVERALL OPINION

2 months of use.

I tested the Nord Lead Stage 88, the VR-09 without the food problem on the piano. It replaces a Korg SP 250 for the scene in my case. While the feel of 250 is better, but the VR-09 the food on her. Only RD 700 competes with him for piano sounds, and kills to touch and expressiveness. I hesitated with the Korg SV-1 which I find sexy, dressing a little plastoc the vr-09 does not like the comparison, but the touch is a little heavy knew the SV-1 for my taste.

More

- The weight, when you do lives you understand why it counts.
- The effect section.
- Pianos other organs but also the most anyway.
- Price.
- Ease of programming sounds very logical, intuitive to death.

The least

- We have an I-Pad for the publisher, and I when I see working condition at Mac. Bhen I do not want. ROLAND made a mistake by forcing people to go through mac. I'm sure they will change their minds in strength is critical that many of us do.

So yes I do it again the same choice, if you have to live, this keyboard is ideal. And I think ROLAND was this philosophy. This is a super versatile keyboard conclude with a sound unlike any other.

Roland Keyboards Organs - VR09
Roland Organ with three sound engines, Organ, Piano and Synth, Drums -------- 88 Notes
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- Provision of clear and simple controls for intuitive operation

- Sound Generator Organ: Virtual Tone Wheel organs with 9 harmonics

- Functions of the transistor organ modeling (Organ "Vox")

- COSM Technology (Rotary Effect)

- Piano 88 keys multi-sampled

- Engine synth series SH-01 (compatible with iPad editor)

- Split and Layer Function

- Compressor, Overdrive, Delay, Reverb, Tone, MFX, rotary
(7 intuitive simultaneous effects possible)

- Effects of insertions:
more than 13 variable parameters for organs (excluding MFX)
more than 41 global effects for work sounds
ALL SOUNDS are editable

- DUAL Mode: superposition of two tones (split or not)
- Portamento, Transpose
- Looper built
- Rhythm Patterns

REGISTRATIONS: Registrations backup machine 100 and / or USB. Saves labor and sounds make any songs


- USB port for recording songs and sound settings
- Mains operation or 8 AAA batteries LR6
- Adjustable LCD screen and illuminated correctly (tried out)
- Function D-BEAM: hand flying a sensor for activating effects or control other commands

BANKS OF SOUNDS:
pure Roland with a significant improvement on the effect of organ sounds and felt

Organs / Piano / Synth / Drum Kit


CONNECTORS:

Damper / Expression / pick In (pedal organ) / Phones / MIDI in-out / Ext input (external audio player) / Output LR (output amplifier) ​​/ USB (PC connection for static data MIDI) - DC In (feed 240V transformer supplied or eight LR6 1.5V AAA (auto switching power supply)
V-LINK for control of video effects and lights to the rhythm of the game



options: Pedals (expression, damper, foot switch) - Cover or Case - USB - Pedal Organ - Headphones - Stand


UTILIZATION

TOUCH:
The feel is smooth and semi-light, it is perfect for lead licks fast and crooked, aftertouch is an honest and almost intuitive at first sensitivity, which was confirmed later. The keyboard is quiet and does not sound as tapping plastic buttons, mechanical is silent for a camera of this caliber.

OPERATION MANUAL:
In French and included in PDF on the site ROLAND CE. Complete and explicit it is after many hours intuitive (I come after two months)
Just missing the sound banks and DATA Drum Kit (for itself from the adventure it seems)

GENERAL SETUP:
easy as pie, just refer to our experiences or manual

MIDI CHANNEL SELECTION: simple qu'élémentaire

SOUNDS

PRACTICES OF SOUNDS:
The organ sounds compete with NORD and HAMMOND

Omission of other editors about the questionable quality of organ sounds, important variable parameters are determined over time:

All sounds can be worked to the desired grain
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- THE ORGAN

- The zippers are their office

- 7 precision parameters to refine the tone wheel to perfection
(Without relying on 7 live and cumulative effects listed above)

- 25 levels of attenuation or bass boost and treble


SIMULATION making surround sound proximity (as in the days of our models):

- 32 levels of noise simulation flight cabins also
32 levels of audible clicks for driving as well as the keys are released


- All delays can be re-configured

- The vibrato and chorus share are qualities well as number 3


SYNTH EFFECTS PIANO:
Traditional, nothing new at Roland matter but what do banks and sounds are not so substantial in number, they are not included in the instructions but in an addendum PDF lol

Sounds perfectly suited to blues-rock currently practiced and the pop and variety.



OVERALL OPINION

I also use daily for 4 months in rehearsal and live soon.
I intend to also connect it to the active Mackie 300W stereo with a good subwoofer 400W, just to ensure return outside and ensure sound in my mid-sized rooms. (Essential expression)

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This almost made my default choice: one octave more would have been welcome to ensure good splits, lack of stock on the market (the dropper, Roland does not believe in do you say it), the obligation to take a pedal EV5 (are better) instead of EV7,
account also drop and too expensive for my taste for little mechanical difference
(High and low setting stops on EV7) = Boss Roland.

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I tried the North and Hammond through my surroundings, I hesitated between SK1 and it, and that made me look for this model are:

price, weight, working logic Roland sounds and of course
quality sounds "almost" like mail Hammond
and an intuitive work that reminds us that this is not the machine that must order
(Korg is sometimes too heavy on the matter) so it offers very nice features
with details that also make a difference.

For Design = No comment, it's clean and quality buttons, knobs and actuators is very correct.



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Essentially, we must not forget that this device is a synth
so it must be somewhat hard work sounds for
as expected, with this device results so it is playable and possible!

Just for fun:
At our last rehearsal, blues rock big sounds good penetrating point and very dirty
rhythmic and harmonic although very elegant, guitarist stopped playing,
bluff by the groans of the U.S. Strato which engendered harmonics without
he had to play, because in the next moment the silence of the strings it was found that the VR09 was essentially the same harmonic, although connected to a studio console good quality and on her a Marshall lamp

Although grain Hammond is not 100% reproducible it is now "almost" matched, simply bosser its sounds as bump his repertoire, it is the essence of a synth
it allows us to.

I'm not a professional, so this model is perfect for me.

And as I do not like like everyone else, so I opted for this friendly and energetic machines full of hidden resources that I continue to explore every day.


Excellent keyboard extra for Blues Rock, I recommend,
a gem of technology and to be a small price very convincing.

I now judge in time and wear.
Good zic all

ps: battery operating time 8:30 (I was able to take a vacation to bosser my new book, Onstage 5:00)