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Roland VS880 •
•
Introduction
Expansion
E�ects
V-Xpanded Digital Multitrack •
• Auto Mix
• Recorders • MIDI
By Paul Nagle Published May 1997 • Conclusion
• Odds & Sods
• Enhancements At A Glance

SOS Competitions
During the last year the Roland VS880 has established itself as the cornerstone of many
small or semi-professional studios, my own included. Reviewed back in March 1996's SOS, Win! sE Electronics RNR1 & Gemini II
the original unit was a compact 8-track hard disk recorder with integral digital mixer, SCSI Microphones
interface and an optional e�ects card (VS8F-1). With a maximum of eight virtual tracks for
every real track, it o�ered ample scope for trying out alternate mixes or several takes of a Readers' Ads
solo. By means of Roland's own cunning compression routines, the VS880 was able to
squeeze the maximum recording time from a hard disk without sacri�cing quality — VIEW ALL ADS
although if you did turn compression o�, it was reduced to playing back only four
simultaneous tracks. From the same manufacturer
• Roland System 100 Revisited | Audio Examples

Expansion October 2024

• Roland System 100
October 2024
Not content to rest on their laurels, Roland created several useful (and free)
• Talkback: Tarek Musa
improvements in the form of system-updating MIDI �les. Now, a year on, they have August 2024
released the V-Xpanded version of the VS880, at the same price as the original but with • Intersecting Sequences
some useful new additions. Existing owners needn't fear being left out in the cold, since August 2024
all the V-Xpanded features are available in the form of the S1 System Expansion kit, • Roland RD-08
consisting of a Zip disk, new manuals and front-panel reference stickers, all at a very July 2024
reasonable £49. (If you don't own a Zip drive contact your Roland dealer, who should be
able to perform the upgrade for you. If all else fails you can return your unit to Roland.) SIGN UP TO
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The new VS880 V-Xpanded supports six tracks of uncompressed audio. I suspect this may
be pushing the sysem to its limit, and that eight may simply not be possible with existing
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hardware. Remember that Roland (unlike some of their competitors) do not restrict you
to �xed track lengths, allowing you to allocate available time to tracks as you require.
Personally, I'm happy using eight tracks at MT1 compression mode (approximately 2:1
compression) and think such things should always be judged by your ears and not a
meaningless spec sheet.

E�ects
The expanded VS880 o�ers 10 new e�ects types, as follows: Voice Transformer, Mic
Simulator, 19-band Vocoder, Hum Canceller, Lo-Fi Sound Processor, Space Chorus, The Secrets Of Pink Floyd’s Quadraphonic PA
Reverb 2, 4-band Parametric EQ, 10-band Graphic EQ and Vocal Canceller. Examples of
these appear in a new bank of 100 presets, taking the total to 300 presets in all, with 100
of these user-programmable. For my money, the Voice Transformer alone (probably
derived from the Boss/Roland VT1 self-contained Voice Transformer box, reviewed SOS
November 1996) justi�es the upgrade fee, providing, as it does, a range of real-time voice
pitch and formant characteristics. Some of the gender-bending factory presets are quite
uncanny, transforming tenor to soprano (or vice versa) with none of the
"munchkinisation" associated with cheap vocal processors. Even my own squeaky voice
could be translated into a reasonably convincing Darth Vader or a manic gerbil on helium.
A Robot Voice option sets incoming vocalisations to a �xed pitch of your choice, creating Recording The Abbey Road Orchestra - Chapter 2
some unique special e�ects. If that weren't enough, real-time editing is available via the
�rst �ve channel sliders, which control �ve parameters of the voice transformer — so you
can tweak as you record. Note that, due to the processing power required, the Voice
Transformer and the 19-band Vocoder use up both e�ects slots when in use.

My other favourites are the Space Chorus (designed to simulate Roland's classic SDD
320), the 19-band Vocoder and the Lo-Fi Processor. The last is complete with a resonant
�lter (low-, high- or band-pass) and can transform your clear, crisp recordings into the
wheezing output of a toy radio or low-resolution sampler. It also derives some grungy,
processed electronic e�ects from the most polite and sanitised sources.
AR Rahman & Firdaus Studios: A Scoring Stage For The
The Mic Simulators apparently use Roland's COSM (Composite Object Sound Modelling) 21st Century
technology, and aim to transform the sound of your humble 'Karaoke mike' into that of a
high-quality condenser microphone. I expected this to be a little gimmicky but was
surprised that my initial results showed rare promise, adding 'air' to the recordings of
acoustic drums, for example. Even my nastiest microphones were able to exhibit
improved tonal qualities with minimal e�ort, although much practice will be needed to
fully exploit these capabilities.

One of the most popular questions I hear about the VS880 is "how do I record with
e�ects?" It is often desirable to add an e�ect during recording rather than leave it until
the �nal mix, so Roland have taken note and added new insert options. Understanding
signal �ow is essential to get the most from the mixer, and the much-improved manual
now includes a better explanation of the busses, despite a curious plumbing analogy
based on kitchen sinks, bathtubs and toilets.

Thankfully, it is now possible to assign stereo reverbs and delays to both e�ects slots, not
just slot 1. E�ects can be added at the master output stage for a last-minute EQ or
compression of the whole mix.

Auto Mix
Previously, VS880 owners wanting to perform an automated mixdown had to do so by
sending MIDI control changes from an external sequencer. The V-Xpanded VS880 allows
you to record real-time mixes along with the audio data — up to 12,000 events per song.
Mixer events can be recorded statically or during song playback, or even generated
automatically for smooth fades between two existing points. If you don't already use a
MIDI sequencer, this facility will be an invaluable addition. Even if you do, it's sometimes
handy to keep everything in one place, although EQ settings must be automated, as
before, via external sequencer control. Each track has its own base level, set from -12 to
+12dB. This is great for altering the relative volume of a �nished track without a�ecting
an existing automated mix.

MIDI
I was delighted that Roland have now introduced scene and e�ects patch selection via
MIDI. I was less than delighted that the manual advises that we refer to "the separately
sold MIDI implementation" if we require information on scene selection and real-time
e�ects manipulation via MIDI controllers. Most manuals have a MIDI section at the back,
and I hope that this V-Xpanded approach is a temporary aberration and not some
ominous indicator of future direction. I haven't yet seen this optional 'extra', so I can't tell
you exactly how many e�ect parameters can be modi�ed in this way. A nice new touch is
the use of MIDI to switch track status: by sending Controller 29, with various values, you
can switch tracks into play, mute, record or source modes, something I'll be adding to my
Cubase mixer map as soon as I get a chance.

Conclusion
If you're still pondering the merits of stand-alone hard disk recorders, perhaps weighing
them against a wholly computer-based solution, you owe it to yourself to check out the
VS880 V-Xpanded. With its automated mixdown, integral e�ects and virtual tracks, the
whole philosophy of the VS880 is liberating, recalling the days when you just switched on
a tape deck, hit record and made music.

For existing VS880 owners, the choice is simpler: if you have the e�ects card, you should
not be without the S1 expansion kit. If you don't yet have the e�ects card, I can only
assume it's on your shopping list, after which the upgrade should be on there too.

Odds & Sods

• A stereo signal can now be mixed in at the master output stage, taking its source
from inputs 1&2, 3&4 or digital. This last option is ideal when two VS880s are
operated in synchronisation.
• It is now possible to use the 3-band EQ in both the simpler track->input mode
and the more �exible input>mix/track->mix mode (at least for up to eight
selected channels). I should perhaps explain that track/mix mode is designed for
controlling VS880 tracks alongside external sources.
• Something that surprised (and worried) me when I �rst heard about it was the
inclusion of SCMS (Serial Copy Management System), which allows you to infect
the digital output of the VS880 with the SCMS digital protection virus. Fortunately
this can easily be switched o�, so we'll say no more about it.
• There are some new options for creation of sync tracks and tempo maps from
mark points, etc. For example, if you can tap reliably at the start of each bar, the
VS880 can convert these mark points to a tempo map.
• A small tweak to the Remaining Space display means that this value can now be
represented as time, % free, actual space (in Mb) or events free.
• Peak levels may now be held on the track level display — useful for setting input
gain accurately.
• Finally, the Operating System provides basic disk diagnostics, in the form of a
 surface scan which is done either at drive initialisation or later.

I'm not sure what future plans Roland have for the VS880, but my �rst suggestion
would be a backlit LCD kit (the VS880's display being the only real annoyance) and
my second the ability to switch virtual tracks during playback.

Enhancements At A Glance
• 6-track playback in Master (uncompressed) mode.
• Auto Mixing functions without need of an external sequencer.
• Scene and e�ects changes via MIDI.
• 10 new e�ects algorithms with 100 additional presets.
• Improved e�ects inserts.
• Can now use stereo reverbs and delays in both e�ects slots.
• Can now use 3-band equaliser in both mixer modes.
• Improved manuals.

Pros Cons
• Integrated 8-track hard disk recorder • Non-backlit LCD.
with virtual tracks. • No phantom powered mic inputs.
• Compression allows more recording
time per hard disk.
• E�ects card keeps all processing in
digital domain.
• Digital mixer.
• SCSI.

Summary
The VS880 was already a superb studio tool; the new V-Xpanded machine has even more
going for it, with mixer automation, improvements to the already excellent e�ects
implementation, and an extra two tracks in uncompressed mode.

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