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Roland Announces New V-Bass VB-99 !!!

#283
Do a little search ....

On this thread from page 7.

The general concensus is that there is too much latency to use pitch to midi alone. In conjonction with a COSM can be OK.
I bought a GI20 to try this and it doesn't work. Then I bought the VB99 and am in heaven , tracking and latency speaking.
 
#284
Looking back through this this thread it is about 6 months since I last asked this question ( boy how time flies ) but has anyone ever gotten the midi note triggering to work right consistently on low volume notes ( without having to crank the GK levels ridiculously high) ? Despite claims by some of slow tracking or high latency I have yet to see anyone report that they can get the unit to output a steady stream of notes at normal playing volume WITHOUT using a pick . If you can't get the unit to consistently trigger a synth using normal playing strength/dynamics then how can you gauge the usefulness/accuracy of it's MIDI tracking ? Also , I am still wondering if anyone has sussed out how to program a Sitar patch .

Peace
 
#285
fokof said:
Do a little search ....

On this thread from page 7.

The general concensus is that there is too much latency to use pitch to midi alone. In conjonction with a COSM can be OK.
I bought a GI20 to try this and it doesn't work. Then I bought the VB99 and am in heaven , tracking and latency speaking.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I saw some posts saying it works fine as a midi controller to your pc, but no specifics on people using it to control things like soft synths in this thread(like dimension, rapture etc) I would be using it with Sonar.
I am a bit cautious to order one since they are so pricey
 
#286
Recently got my vb-99 very pleased by the quality of the COSM sounds.
The unit is acting as my recording device too now. I am searching for a way to record both the roland pickup and regular bass pickup, It appears you can only do one or the other? i am trying to record a loop through my regular pedalboard, and layer a vb-99 sound on top of it into my DAW.


boomski said:
Looking back through this this thread it is about 6 months since I last asked this question ( boy how time flies ) but has anyone ever gotten the midi note triggering to work right consistently on low volume notes ( without having to crank the GK levels ridiculously high) ? Despite claims by some of slow tracking or high latency I have yet to see anyone report that they can get the unit to output a steady stream of notes at normal playing volume WITHOUT using a pick . If you can't get the unit to consistently trigger a synth using normal playing strength/dynamics then how can you gauge the usefulness/accuracy of it's MIDI tracking ? Also , I am still wondering if anyone has sussed out how to program a Sitar patch .

Peace
Click to expand...

I hope a firmware revision comes out and helps with the midi tracking, it's not too great at the moment.:(
 
#290
alotabass said:
im thinking of getting the Roland VB99. Has anyone here tried to trigger sounds from an external module using the VB99. Im curious how this thing would track with lets say a Yamaha or Korg Module. Using the bass as strickly a midi controller. :) Thoughts?
Click to expand...

The pitch to MIDI in the VB99 is as bad as the GI20 or any of the Axon's.

OK to start or stop a sequence , start a loop , send a Program change but decent pitch to MIDI for electric bass in 2009 doesn't exist. Yet.....
The tracking is atroscious and the latency is unplayable.

You don't buy a VB99 for the pitch to MIDI , you buy it for the COSM sounds.
I absolutly love my VB99 , all the sounds I can have , all the FX , the flexibility. I gave up on Pitch to MIDI a while ago.....

If you use a guitar as a tracking device , that can be a different story , tracking with guitar is a lot better. Not perfect , but a lot better.
 
#293
Ive been watching the guitarist I work with envy when he got his new roland VG unit. Now I hope to be getting mine soon as it comes available at the nearest guitar center but one question.....anyone know how well it will work with the lightwave laser pickup system? GC doesnt have it yet so I would have to special order it and they dont do returns on special orders so im getting cold feet here:help:
 
#294
Matt Golgotha said:
As I can't find anywhere near me with a VB-99 in stock at the moment can some advise how the boss/roland compare?
Click to expand...
Never tried the Boss but the slicer in the VB99 has 20 different rythm pattern. Work as nice as the slicer I have in my DAW.

LaMarquis J said:
anyone know how well it will work with the lightwave laser pickup system? GC doesnt have it yet so I would have to special order it and they dont do returns on special orders so im getting cold feet here:help:
Click to expand...

You have to get a GK system in order to work with the VB99.GK is a pickup by string , signal passing through a 13pin cable.
I don't know if Lightwave has a GK option.You should check with them.
If not , you have a couple of options;
Roland have their GK3B pickup probably your best bet since the others uses are piezo based , you could install the Roland in front of any pickup;
Invalid Link Removed
RMC has a piezo system and Graphtech has a system too.
I personaly have a Graphtech in my custom Warmoth and in my Carvin fretless and it works flawlessly.
 
#296
fokof said:
Never tried the Boss but the slicer in the VB99 has 20 different rythm pattern. Work as nice as the slicer I have in my DAW.
Click to expand...

I took the plunge and ordered the VB-99 with the RAD-99 rack kit yesterday. Should turn up the same day that the Graphtech install on my Jazz bass gets finished.

This may sound a silly question (and possibly a bit over kill) but is it worth controlling the 99 via my old V-bass?
 
#297
LaMarquis J said:
I have the 13pin option added to the Lightwave pickups on the back of my Ritter Rapter bass. Is that what you are referring to?
Click to expand...
That's it. I didn't know Lightwave offered that option.
You're ready for a VB99 , bass-wise. :cool:

Do you know if it is piezo based ?
I ask 'cause in the VB99 , you have different options for pickups , you have all the GK series and different piezo models. There is no other choices than those.
This thing is a modeling device , so it take the sound from the GK pickup and transforms it into whatever preset your on.
If the pickup source sounds VERY different from a GK or a piezo , you can have bad results.
So I would check with lightwave if your kit is close "sounding" to a piezo or a GK before taking the plunge.....

EDIT; just went to the the Lightwave site , and read that they sleep in the same bed with Graphtech , so chances are you'll be OK......
 
#298
Matt Golgotha said:
This may sound a silly question (and possibly a bit over kill) but is it worth controlling the 99 via my old V-bass?
Click to expand...

Can be interesting for you to drive both units if you need to but there are other smaller options.
-The Behringer FCB1010
-Roland FC300
-probably other I don't know of
You'll have to check if the MIDI control possibility of the old Vbass is good, I don't know that unit.

I personaly bought the FC300 , had it before the VB99 , it's built like a tank and the integration is total with both units.
Only one RJ45 cable to plug (DC and data) , you see on the LCD what is happening/name of patches/tuner , etc.... stuff you can't have with a MIDI controller. More $$$ but very worth it with the VB99 IME

I'd say sell the old vbass to get a FC300.....
 
#299
fokof said:
Can be interesting for you to drive both units if you need to but there are other smaller options.
-The Behringer FCB1010
-Roland FC300
-probably other I don't know of
You'll have to check if the MIDI control possibility of the old Vbass is good, I don't know that unit.

I personaly bought the FC300 , had it before the VB99 , it's built like a tank and the integration is total with both units.
Only one RJ45 cable to plug (DC and data) , you see on the LCD what is happening/name of patches/tuner , etc.... stuff you can't have with a MIDI controller. More $$$ but very worth it with the VB99 IME

I'd say sell the old vbass to get a FC300.....
Click to expand...

I think you have a point, although I may keep the V-bass for some of the "rougher" gigs :)

I still have a GR-1 and a GR-30 gathering dust - would running these via the Midi converter section of the VB-99 give lower latency?
 

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