Jump to content


Please subscribe to MPN’s YouTube Channel!

Ekewaka

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,096

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Ekewaka

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    As for the "inspiration factor," it would certainly be way less... but when you're playing the world's most uninspiring gig to begin with, that ceases to be an issue.

    That sounds so jaded and miserable! :cry:

     

    I like playing any instrument, even grandmother's harmonium, so that's not for me not an excuse to do a bad gig.

     

    Back to VR-09. Hard to talk about it as I have yet to put my fingers on one but I hope the built-in synthesizer section is the positive surprise, for me.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    However, there are so many cases where a lightweight and cheap clone with additional benefits is good.

     

    You may have coined a phrase there: "clone with benefits."

    That is pretty good...

     

    I like it myself. Consider is © copyrighted now.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    For example try to stuff in a Hammond into a small car heading for bar gig with inches of space for the keyboard and open beer bottles everywhere.

    You should probably get those open beer bottles out of your car.

     

    ...it would indeed be interesting as I don't drink, unless someone had a party in my car.... Anyone who has done bar gigs knows what's going on 1am in tight places. Especially at jams with unsure people bringing up beer on-stage... Anyway, back to VR-09 discussions. I know more early April when my pre-ordered unit shows up.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Yes, I also doubt a Hammond user would suddenly switch to a sole VR-09 for gigs. However, there are so many cases where a lightweight and cheap clone with additional benefits is good. For example try to stuff in a Hammond into a small car heading for bar gig with inches of space for the keyboard and open beer bottles everywhere.

     

    I was going to get an Electro but with VR-09 and Casio PX-5S announced in January I could now get two units, one with organ/synth focus and the other with piano and layering with 88-weighted keys. And each one could handle the other side as well. Means more flexibility. For one gig I could take the DP, for others the VR-09, for some both. And for other gigs I could add a MIDI controller and Mainstage. Pretty crazy configurations you could have today for a meager price. Add to it the new EV 12" self-speakers coming out in April and I could get this kind of rig for the same price as a Nord Electro 4D....

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Maybe it's reasonable software updates for one of the smaller companies, but I don't see Roland doing any of those things. And the part about panning probably isn't even possible due to how it's implemented in the hardware. I hope to be wrong, but that would mean that Roland isn't Roland anymore. That board was probably a logical response to increased competition in the lower end of the market, not a sign of Roland becoming a more customer focused company. Big company = no flexibility. It's why Clavia makes such great stuff.

     

    I seriously doubt the logic of a big company not having any flexibility, especially as I work in a big company where we could push out an urgent SW fix within 24 hours if needed. Anyway, let's see if any firmware fixes will address those issues, for me they are no showstoppers exactly, I could easily work around them or not being bothered by them at all.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I have no argument with the compromises needed to hit a price point. It's $999, I'm not going to complain about no aftertouch, s single fx chain, a low end keybed, etc. The things that bug me are in software, when it seems like the unit could have had better functionality at no increase in manufacturing cost. i.e. being able to use the pedal for sustain on piano but rotary speed toggle on organ, or being able to pan your split/layered sounds to opposite sides. It's still a nice board that, yes, will fill a niche for lots of people. I just think it could have been better at the same price, with a little more thought to some common real world applications.

     

    Those sound like reasonable firmware updates... This is a 1.0 unit after all.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Methinks this thread is full of way too many expectations and words. It's a $999 keyboard, people! It will fill a niche for sure. Perfectionists and pros probably want to look at different options. :wave:

     

    ... personally I'm so happy what you could get for $999 adjusted to inflation level pricing, compared with 10 or 20 years ago....

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I take a Squire VM 77 to bar gigs, paid $190 as a used one, it sounds good and I don't take a Fender MIA one for crappy bar gigs of many reasons -- anyone done bar gigs know why. Same with an Yamaha XF, I would not take such an instrument to bar gigs. In addition, anyone who has done such gigs know about the limited space available for keyboard players. VR-09 size-wise would be good.

     

    Also, if you really want high fidelity sound, even a Nord will not cut it without a 20k PA system for getting full fidelity, which I doubt many bar bands are interested to get.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Yes I doubt any emulation will ever please B3 users. However, in a real life band scenario, you are just part of the overall sound and in most cases the weakest link is the amplification, anyway. So if VR-09 passes the most rudimentary 'sounds good enough as organ', I'm pleased.

     

    As a bonus I really like all the synth aspects as I could use it for the eighties string and Jupiter-style sounds, me thinks that's the hidden gem with this device. Anyway, I know more when I have one in my hands, hopefully early April.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Yeah it's nice to have the 76 keys on the stage...but I have a weighted 88-note stage piano underneath anyway, so I'm really looking for my ideal "everything-but-piano" board (for a covers band)

     

    Yes, that's my goal for VR-09 as well so that's why I ordered it. Plus, I could take it to places where you have to squeeze in as a keyboard player....

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Well, I don't ask too much for $999, I'm already overwhelmed by the sonic soundscapes of VR-09. If I need more synthesis, there are more applicable hardware of laptops to be used.

     

    As for the eternal 'right brand when you play' -- seeing enough musicians with vintage gear not making them great is a good way to look at this issue. At some point someone like Herbie Hancock could take any keyboard and make magic.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    It's true that old-style wood panels and real metal is more sturdy. However modern plastics are very durable and it's a compromise between weight/cost. I could take it as I'm not that keen to drag 50lbs+ keyboards to gigs, just need good cases.

    Roland V-Combo VR-09

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    The YouTube video was interesting. I really like all the work Roland did to make the keyboard easy to use at gigs. Sometimes me thinks usability/ergonomics is 1/3 on the importance factor concerning live keyboards. This might even justify somewhat weaker sounds compared with other options.

     

    As for synths. The times I need synth sounds on-stage. no need for a Korg MS-20 or MiniMoog or even a old/new Prophet, some basic synth sounds is all I need. If I need synth sounds in the studio, I have enough SW plug-ins to create new soundscapes the next 2300 years.

     

×
×
  • Create New...