I've posted some patches back at Vguitar forums
http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=59.0
http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=59.0
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Roland VB-99
- Thread starter fokof
- Start date
As Im extrememly new to this, and am intrigued, what exactly is this? An effects processor?
Or is it one of the items where the pickup goes on the bass, and you can make your bass sound like synth, organ, etc.
If so, Im really intrigued.
Or is it one of the items where the pickup goes on the bass, and you can make your bass sound like synth, organ, etc.
If so, Im really intrigued.
I'll try a short and concise answer...
It's three things in one ;
-FX processor
-Pitch to MIDI converter
-Proprietary processor , with GK pickups and COSM sound modeling technology.
You can use it as anormal FX processor with a normal bass but you would miss 90% of the power of the thing.
It,s main feature works with a GK pickup.
The GK pickup is a sytem wich has one pickup per string.That pickup has a 13pin conector wich send the signals from the six strings to the processor. The processor then treats the signal as modeling with different type of basses and synth.
Roland , RMC and Graphtech produces GK pickup. (maybe others I don't know of)
It is also a Pitch to MIDI converter, but the tracking and the latency are un-playable. There is no Pitch to MIDI system that works for bass in 2009 , sorry.....
They added this feature to the VB99 because there is one in the VG99.....
It's three things in one ;
-FX processor
-Pitch to MIDI converter
-Proprietary processor , with GK pickups and COSM sound modeling technology.
You can use it as anormal FX processor with a normal bass but you would miss 90% of the power of the thing.
It,s main feature works with a GK pickup.
The GK pickup is a sytem wich has one pickup per string.That pickup has a 13pin conector wich send the signals from the six strings to the processor. The processor then treats the signal as modeling with different type of basses and synth.
Roland , RMC and Graphtech produces GK pickup. (maybe others I don't know of)
It is also a Pitch to MIDI converter, but the tracking and the latency are un-playable. There is no Pitch to MIDI system that works for bass in 2009 , sorry.....
They added this feature to the VB99 because there is one in the VG99.....
So, in total noob language, it can make your sound sound like lots of different instruments, etc.?
Well here's the thing, in noob language.
It can make your bass sound like any other bass.
Examples: it can make your bass sound like a Jazz, a Precision, a Thunderbird, a MusicMan, an acoustic, an upright, a synth bass, plus others.
In addition it can model any type of effects device, such as overdrive/distortion, chorus, reverb, wah, phaser, etc.
And it can model any type of amplifier and loudspeaker, such as Ampeg SVT and FlipTop, Fender Bassman, SWR SM-400, Acoustic 360, and others.
In other words it's a very flexible and complete bass emulator.
Visit this page for a more detailed description, as well as a few select sound clips I've recorded with the old V-Bass. The new VB-99 can do all of those and more.
It can make your bass sound like any other bass.
Examples: it can make your bass sound like a Jazz, a Precision, a Thunderbird, a MusicMan, an acoustic, an upright, a synth bass, plus others.
In addition it can model any type of effects device, such as overdrive/distortion, chorus, reverb, wah, phaser, etc.
And it can model any type of amplifier and loudspeaker, such as Ampeg SVT and FlipTop, Fender Bassman, SWR SM-400, Acoustic 360, and others.
In other words it's a very flexible and complete bass emulator.
Visit this page for a more detailed description, as well as a few select sound clips I've recorded with the old V-Bass. The new VB-99 can do all of those and more.
does the vb99 have guitar to midi conversion so you could use external midi devices?
and can you control plug-in's from the computer with this?
and can you control plug-in's from the computer with this?
Yes it does have guitar to MIDI conversion but don't hope to base all your bass playing on MIDI sounds. It's not the same, many of the nuances of your playing will get lost and it'll feel very odd.
There's a computer (both Windows and MacOS) editor for the new VB and VG 99 models. I've tried it a bit, looks very nice and user friendly.
Disclaimer: I still don't own a VB-99 but I hope to sometime this fall.
There's a computer (both Windows and MacOS) editor for the new VB and VG 99 models. I've tried it a bit, looks very nice and user friendly.
Disclaimer: I still don't own a VB-99 but I hope to sometime this fall.
Man those are great sound samples!!!
Makes me want one even more, maybe two. lol.
Thanks for the show.
Kevin
Makes me want one even more, maybe two. lol.
Thanks for the show.
Kevin
OK a tip I just discovered for the VB and FC300 users;
I could not find why I had to press two times on the CC control for the effects to open/close , the answer;
- If you need to use CC control in order to On/Off stuff , on the FC300 parameter has to be at "Latch" and in the VB99 it has to be at momentary .
Another tip ;
- make an "initial patch" with all those assignement and your favorite effects , with the Librarian , you paste it to all empty patches.
Then if you start a patch from scratch , all your assignements will be there.
I could not find why I had to press two times on the CC control for the effects to open/close , the answer;
- If you need to use CC control in order to On/Off stuff , on the FC300 parameter has to be at "Latch" and in the VB99 it has to be at momentary .
Another tip ;
- make an "initial patch" with all those assignement and your favorite effects , with the Librarian , you paste it to all empty patches.
Then if you start a patch from scratch , all your assignements will be there.
Just did a test that might be of some interest , for those of you thinking about pitch to MIDI ;
-the latency of an open low B string is; (drum roll ) 130ms !!!!!!!!!
EDIT: And that doesn't include the latency of my A/D , so it's probably more 135-140ms....
-the latency of an open low B string is; (drum roll ) 130ms !!!!!!!!!
EDIT: And that doesn't include the latency of my A/D , so it's probably more 135-140ms....
I don't have one, but am interested.
Any regrets or disapointments now?
do you think it still worth the investment
, and what % of playing time would you use a VB-99 specific feature?
Any regrets or disapointments now?
do you think it still worth the investment
, and what % of playing time would you use a VB-99 specific feature?
Too bad this link doesn't work anymore...
Hope my friend still works at Guitar Center by the time I have some money for this thing.
I added a video of a specific patch I had to program for my cover band;
Invalid Link Removed
Any regrets or disapointments now?
do you think it still worth the investment
, and what % of playing time would you use a VB-99 specific feature?
No regrets at all. I only regret not buying it before.
I lost money on trying Pitch to MIDI before buying this , that would be another regret.
Very worth the investment for my needs.
I play fretless in a trio , there is lots of space to fill , so I'm bringin that tool slowly, I don't want to scare the other two members!
I use it all the time now. Not to it's 100% potential but it's slowly changing my approach. I never was into FX , so it's a learning process for me. Also this thing is so flexible , I still learn it 10 months after.
