hermanjoe Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 I am grwoing interested in the Roland V-Combo. I have searched the forum and found a lot of positive things from some of the users. I really would like a board that has drawbars and the possibility of synth sounds and strings. I had the pleasure of playing the V-Combo and liked it a lot. Can any users offer advice on this board? I noticed Roland isn't making it anymore, so I'm wondering how quikly I need to act on it. Thanks "Learn the changes, then forget them." -Charlie Parker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted August 28, 2004 Share Posted August 28, 2004 HermanJoe, Since you say you have searched around and read the available info within the forum, your basic request for advice could probably be answered there. I'm not clear on what additional info you seek. Check out this thread and the links within it...then come back and ask any specific questions you have about the V-Combo. V-Combo Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moj Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Keyboard Mag did a report on the V-Combo. Here's the link: http://www.keyboardmag.com/archive/0603/0603_r1.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hermanjoe Posted August 29, 2004 Author Share Posted August 29, 2004 Okay, I have read a ton more stuff on the V-combo including the short keyboard review and Eric's extensive review. I have a few other questions. Basically I am trying to see if the V-Combo is worth is price or should I just buy a VK-8M and add that to my current rompler which is a Korg Karma. Eric, you said the quality of the synth sounds are okay but not great. I would expect to have to uprade using the srx expansion which would be another expense. I think the V-combo is around 2k plus about $300 for each srx expansion card. Anyway it's a pretty high price to pay. I am also trying to compare it to the Kurzweil k2661 which has an organ mode as well, but many have said it's not as good as the V-combo or CX-3 I am used to. Any advice here would be great. Thanks "Learn the changes, then forget them." -Charlie Parker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by hermanjoe: Okay, I have read a ton more stuff on the V-combo including the short keyboard review and Eric's extensive review. I have a few other questions. Basically I am trying to see if the V-Combo is worth is price or should I just buy a VK-8M and add that to my current rompler which is a Korg Karma. Eric, you said the quality of the synth sounds are okay but not great. I would expect to have to uprade using the srx expansion which would be another expense. I think the V-combo is around 2k plus about $300 for each srx expansion card. Anyway it's a pretty high price to pay. I am also trying to compare it to the Kurzweil k2661 which has an organ mode as well, but many have said it's not as good as the V-combo or CX-3 I am used to. Any advice here would be great. ThanksIf you want a good clobewheel but only want to carry one board to gigs, them this machine is worthy of consideration. Possibly it would also work for you as a top board with more versatility than the VK8. The VK8M is certainly an alternative way to get the clonewheel sounds. The considerations there are: Its one more thing to hook up and you will need a mixer if you don't have one or possibly one with more channels if your current one is full. To use it effectively you will have to program your main board to control when MIDI gets sent and when it does not, at least if you need to do fast changes.I think the V-combo has the same keybed as the VK-8, and that is a real nice keybed for playing organ on - your existing main board may not be as good. So these things don't mean the VK8M is not the solution for you - but should be taken into consideration. The overriding principal is that you should work backwards from what you would like your total rig to look like rather than considering each piece in isolation. Many of us who have built up our road rigs over time failed to do this, and have rigs that always need "just one more piece" so we know how important it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Originally posted by hermanjoe Basically I am trying to see if the V-Combo is worth is price or should I just buy a VK-8M and add that to my current rompler which is a Korg Karma. Eric, you said the quality of the synth sounds are okay but not great. I would expect to have to uprade using the srx expansion which would be another expense. I think the V-combo is around 2k plus about $300 for each srx expansion card. Anyway it's a pretty high price to pay. I am also trying to compare it to the Kurzweil k2661 which has an organ mode as well, but many have said it's not as good as the V-combo or CX-3 I am used to. You should be able to buy a V-Combo new for around $1800 or maybe less. Used they are going for about $1500-1600. The SRX cards are about $200 or thereabouts. So your total investment to get a V-Combo + one SRX (I recommend SRX07 Ultimate Keys) would be in the $1700-2000 range, depending on whether you bought it new or used. As for the quality of the synth sounds...they are good Rompleresque sounds, like the Roland JV and XV sounds that are presets in a multitude of these Roland instruments. There is not too much in the way of editing capability, so you are pretty much married to the sounds in the SRX cards. The V-Combo is not a full-blown synthesizer...it is more of a performance keyboard with the ability to play great organ, decent pianos and the synths are an add-on feature that does make it a very flexible one-keyboard rig. You really need to decide what it is that you are trying to do. Like I mentioned earlier, I think the V-Combo is a great jack of all trades keyboard. The user interface is nice and built quality is high. Navigating sounds on the SRX cards is a pain. As good as the Kurzweil may be as a synth, I think you would be disappointed in the KB3 mode when compared to a more traditional solution like the V-Combo or VK8. If you like your Karma, you should probably keep it as it totally blows away the V-Combo in terms of synth horsepower. You could look into the VK8m or Voce V5. I personally like the V5, but you do need an external Leslie simulator as it does not have a Leslie sim. I think the Voce tone is stronger than the VK8. You could also look into the Electro rack...lots of options! You need to play these keyboards and really think about what makes the most sense for your gigging needs. Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted August 29, 2004 Share Posted August 29, 2004 Are you an organist first, or a keyboard player first with an occasional need for organ sounds? There is a big philosophical difference. An organist uses the seemingly limited palette of the organ drawbars, chorus vibrato, and percussion to the utmost, changing drawbar settings on the fly, and using idiomatic playing techniques like smears and spanks that cry out for a certain keyboard action. If you are an organist first, the V-Combo provides a good organ experience and OK synth and piano. If you don't need drawbars and dedicated controls for chorus vib and percussion, then a rompler with an organ mode will maybe suit you better. The point is, no keyboard can be all things to all people, so choose carefully by first deciding what is most important to you. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hermanjoe Posted August 30, 2004 Author Share Posted August 30, 2004 Guys, I would be using the V-Combo as a keyboardist who Needs great organ but also needs strings and some synth sounds. I have a Korg Cx-3 for complete organ dedication, which I'm thinking of selling anyway. I would like to buy a hammond chop. So the V-combo could take its portable place. I like the action on the Roland a lot better. I also thought of just adding a VK-8M to my Karma setup. But things get more complicated that way. Eric's right, there are a lot of options and directions to go. I'd say 95% of the time I'm playing organ and strings. I'm just not happy with the Karma's organs, but I like it as a synth. "Learn the changes, then forget them." -Charlie Parker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhythm n beatz Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 Do the draw bars send midi control messages? Any rumors of it being replaced or discontinued? What's the best selling price these days? I can't seem to find it in any stores, only online and Roland doesn't have the owners manual available online either. My studio is my instrument RnBeatz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hermanjoe Posted November 11, 2004 Author Share Posted November 11, 2004 I have seen v-combo's in daddy's junky music but I do believe it's on its way out. A lot of places don't carry them anymore. I have found a few online places when i searched it months ago, but that was a few months ago. "Learn the changes, then forget them." -Charlie Parker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 I'm surprised it's being discontinued, it wasn't on the market for very long. Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 I doubt it is discontinued...do we have verification of this? It has been out for just over a year, if memory serves me correctly. It is a niche instrument and not as heavily advertised or "placed" like the Fantom. It took me a long time to find one where I live and I bought it the next day after trying it! I still think it is a great keyboard and would not mind using it at all...I just grew more attached to the more organic and funky tone of the Nord Electro. The V-Combo still has an unrivaled keyboard action as far as organs go, in my opinion. Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gianni by rome Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 DEMO SOUND OF VR760 !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thElement Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 I recently bought one and traded in my VK8. I play mostly Blues, R&B and Rock and this board gives me everything for live work. It's got XLR outs which are great for long runs to the PA when required. I've got SRX-07 Ultimate Keys expansion in it too. To me, the organ on this board is spot on (as are the EPs and pianos - with a bit of COSM tweaking and reverb). If it's not, it's so easy to tweak. The LCD on the V-combo also makes it so much more accessible than the VK8 or module. Synth sounds are OK but not many of them - recommend the SRX-07. Don't know if Roland are dropping the V-combo but I did get an excellent trade in on the VK-8 (they also matched the best online price for the V-combo} and the sales guy hinted at an incentive from Roland to help the deal. Nord Electro 3 Roland JV-90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted November 12, 2004 Share Posted November 12, 2004 I have played them and like them, too. Ever since I saw Ted Baker use one last time I saw Steely Dan live, I have like that board. Becker and Fagan do not allow the use of lame boards, and it sounded good through the PA that night! "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted November 12, 2004 Share Posted November 12, 2004 To me it has that Roland top octave shrillness that I don't like. Electro does organ better, but with fewer bells and whistles. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhythm n beatz Posted November 13, 2004 Share Posted November 13, 2004 Are the keys the same as any other current Roland keyboard? I haven't found one yet that I can play. My studio is my instrument RnBeatz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thElement Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 No, the keyboard is a new "quick fire" keyboard with waterfall keys. It's most like the VK-8 but with 76 keys. It's OK for piano (non weighted) and superb for organ, EP, synth and layering sounds. What do you mean you haven't found one yet you can play? Nord Electro 3 Roland JV-90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masone81 Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 I have recently gone through the same process of researching the V-Combo on this and other forums. I had pretty much decided that if the piano was decent, that this was definitely the board for me. Well, I went to the music store and played the unit, going straight for the piano sounds. They aren't as good as the RD-700 or a Yamaha S-90, but they are definitely good for a performance situation. The pianos aren't studio quality, but for me they are GREAT for a live situation. And yes, my primary instrument is piano, not organ. As far as organ's are concerned, the V-Combo is AWESOME. I have already recorded the organ and gotten many compliments. The action is a compromise for piano, but it is great for the organ and synth sounds. I needed ONE keyboard to cover all the bases because I often fly out and can only take one board. The V-Combo is perfect for this. I may get and SRX expansion to give me more sounds, but I'll more than likely just use Logic and Reason on my PowerBook to give me the extra sounds I need. Bottom line is: Try it. If you are satisfied with the piano sounds, this board is awesome. Mason Roses are red Violets are blue All my base Are belong to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhythm n beatz Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 When I say I haven't found one I can play I mean in a store. How do the sound of the Ultimate Keys and Concert Piano expansion boards compare to what comes with the RD700 or Yamaha boards? My studio is my instrument RnBeatz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thElement Posted November 14, 2004 Share Posted November 14, 2004 I recently sold an RD700. Mainly because it was too weighty to lug around, but also I was never happy with the piano sounds themselves - fine through headphones, but somehow lacking through a PA with the band. In fact, I mostly used "EasyRocker" from Ultimate Keys SRX. It may not be the ultimate piano patch but it's brilliant for cutting through the mix in a live situation. May still use it live but the VR-760 pianos fit the bill for me. Incidentally, all the SRX-07 sounds are much better through the VR-760 and so editable on the fly with the 760's access to buttons and knobs for EQ, reverb etc. This board is so playable! Agree with every word that Mason said above. Hell, I even had the guitarists in the band comment on the great organ sounds - and they've been hearing a VK8 for the last 2 years! Nord Electro 3 Roland JV-90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duby Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Where can I find a good mp3 samples of VK-8? I have downloaded demo files from Roland´s page, but I would like to hear something else... Thank you! Duby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Coury Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Current low online price for the VK8 = 1600 Current low online price for the V-Combo = 1800 Even without an SRX expansion card -- the unit comes with enough piano, and BASIC synth stuff to MORE than make it worth it! I decided not to go with an organ-only product when I decided to cut my rig down to 2 boards. With the V-Combo, I can play tunes that may require 2 keyboards - none of them being organs (e.g., clav/horns split on top, strings on the bottom). The extra $200 is a no-brainer IMO. "Oh yeah, I've got two hands here." (Viv Savage) "Mr. Blu... Mr. Blutarsky: Zero POINT zero." (Dean Vernon Wormer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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