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Roland VB-99

#121
brianchiu said:
The phase in GK setting is set to NORMAL (factory setting), isn't that what it should be?

About the OUTPUT TYPE, I haven't looked at that yet, good suggestions! Thanks! :)

Anybody's using PDS-10 stand? I'd like to know if it's worth the money and extra weight ...:cool:
Click to expand...

About the output type: i looked it up;
its in the first "Global" screen, .. under F4 you can select the output type i was writing about earlier.
Mind you that this is a selectable output type wich you have to select for each independent global preset that you store, so you can make a few global presets, one meant to be used in your homestudio, one can be made for when you use your live rig ... or whatever you like more to store .....! even with an EQ setting for each preset !

Good luck with experimenting!
 
#122
hairman said:
About the output type: i looked it up;
its in the first "Global" screen, .. under F4 you can select the output type i was writing about earlier.
Mind you that this is a selectable output type wich you have to select for each independent global preset that you store, so you can make a few global presets, one meant to be used in your homestudio, one can be made for when you use your live rig ... or whatever you like more to store .....! even with an EQ setting for each preset !

Good luck with experimenting!
Click to expand...

This is very helpful, thanks a lot!! :)
 
#123
I have a PDS-10 stand wich is amazingly solid and versatile , but it is Efffin heavy !!!!
Since the last 5 years , I'm in a "lightweight" quest so I took a Manfrotto camera stand , wich is aluminium made , and fitted a wood plate with a Bicycle quick release.
Takes a bit longer to setup , the PDS is very user friendly and I recomand it , but if weight is a concern , you can do one like I did for 25$. ( I got the Manfrotto used for 20$ ! )

On the road I bring the camera stand and at home I use the PDS.

Check this thread ;
http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=1506.0


I've posted some patches overthere , feel free to do so too!
http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?board=59.0
 
#125
Is BOSS FV-500L volume pedal compatible with VB99? How does it work? a stereo 1/4" cable? does it control all the outputs even XLR outputs (sub out)?

And,I still can't quite figure out how to use [bass direct sound]+[FX] without going through COSM, sometimes I just need to add a bit of EQ on my dry bass sound, how do I do that? 'Cause when I press BASS DIRECT and switch GK3B to BASS I can't add any effect on that dry bass sound...:hmm:


Thanks!
 
#126
brianchiu said:
Is BOSS FV-500L volume pedal compatible with VB99? How does it work? a stereo 1/4" cable? does it control all the outputs even XLR outputs (sub out)?
Click to expand...
Yes you can use it as an expression pedal. You'll need a stereo jack.

brianchiu said:
And,I still can't quite figure out how to use [bass direct sound]+[FX] without going through COSM, sometimes I just need to add a bit of EQ on my dry bass sound, how do I do that? 'Cause when I press BASS DIRECT and switch GK3B to BASS I can't add any effect on that dry bass sound...:hmm:
Click to expand...
In the first page of your COSM bass A (or B) , turn the F1 knob (cosm bass sw) to "Normal pickup".

Or

Setup any COSM bass , say a Fender Jazz , then go to the page 14 , put the cosm bass level to 0 and your normal bass to 100.



The Manual is also your friend .....
 
#129
People ,
I have finally scored an FC-300 to use with my VB-99 and man is the FC-300 HEAVY ( but the expression pedals are butter :) ) . Well it's a real deep piece of gear so I have lots to learn but one thing that puzzles me is ; how can I limit the number of patches that show up when in SYS-EX mode and choosing the VB-99 patches from the FC-300 ? I have the VB-99 set to only show the 200 USER patches but when I scan through them from the FC-300 it goes through all 400 patches ( including the presets ) before it cycles back to the first one again . Has anyone sorted out how to get the FC-300 to follow the Patch Extent setting in the VB-99 ? I tried changing the Bank Extent setting in the Utility Settings section of the FC-300 but that doesn't seem to apply to SYS EX mode .


Thanks for any help you can provide .
 
#130
brianchiu said:
when you do so, do you have to turn on DIRECT BASS and put your GK3B to MIX?
Click to expand...

I don't have a GK3B but from what I read in the VB99 manual (page 16) , you should leave it @ MIX.
You didn't have a manual with your GK3B ?

Personaly with my main bass (fretless) , I use the A channel as a sound processor of my mag pickup only and use the B channel for other duties. If you do so , be sure to use the "ch delay" in the mixer section and apply a 3ms delay on your mag processor.
 
#131
boomski said:
People ,
I have finally scored an FC-300 to use with my VB-99 and man is the FC-300 HEAVY ( but the expression pedals are butter :) ) . Well it's a real deep piece of gear so I have lots to learn but one thing that puzzles me is ; how can I limit the number of patches that show up when in SYS-EX mode and choosing the VB-99 patches from the FC-300 ? I have the VB-99 set to only show the 200 USER patches but when I scan through them from the FC-300 it goes through all 400 patches ( including the presets ) before it cycles back to the first one again . Has anyone sorted out how to get the FC-300 to follow the Patch Extent setting in the VB-99 ? I tried changing the Bank Extent setting in the Utility Settings section of the FC-300 but that doesn't seem to apply to SYS EX mode .
Click to expand...
Yeah it is built like a tank!
It's probably gonna outlast me the way it's built.....

For the patch extent thing , I haven't figured that one out either , we might call it a bug. I always arrange my patches before a gig with the Librarian so it is not a big deal for me.
 
#132
fokof said:
I don't have a GK3B but from what I read in the VB99 manual (page 16) , you should leave it @ MIX.
You didn't have a manual with your GK3B ?
Click to expand...

Yes, I did read the manual,I'm just clumsy when it comes to hi-tech stuffs...:(


fokof said:
Personaly with my main bass (fretless) , I use the A channel as a sound processor of my mag pickup only and use the B channel for other duties. If you do so , be sure to use the "ch delay" in the mixer section and apply a 3ms delay on your mag processor.
Click to expand...

I finally figured out and I did the same as you do; but I find the DIRECT BASS(green button) still sounds better than the A channel(mag pickup), even there's nothing added in A channel; what do you think? or is there something wrong with my VB99? :hmm:

3ms is a very helpful tip,great thanks! ;)
 
#133
brianchiu said:
I finally figured out and I did the same as you do; but I find the DIRECT BASS(green button) still sounds better than the A channel(mag pickup), even there's nothing added in A channel; what do you think? or is there something wrong with my VB99?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong , any processor , any pedal will change the sound somehow.
Check in the diagram on the manual , page15 , the direct button bypasses all the processing , so the bass signal doesn't pass through an A/D , a processor then a D/A , that's why the sound is a bit different.

I use the VB99 for the processing , and if I need a "pure" signal from my bass , I go straight to a DI ....
 
#134
Hi People ,
I am not sure how helpful this is but I agree that the sound is subjectively better using the bass direct function when compared to running it through the V-Bass circuitry even with all the effects switched off ( which I imagine is why Roland included the function ) . Additionally , on all 3 of my V-Bass set ups I usually use cable ties to attach an actual guitar cable to the length of the GK cable and then run the guitar cable from my bass directly into the V-Bass BASS IN on the actual V-Bass module . I find that , even on my basses with internal GK electronics built in , the GK jacks or cables can sometimes be noisy or have the sound cut out when I least need it so I find it is worth the extra effort .

Peace .
 
#136
That tip will not work if you use the "BASS DIRECT" button.
That's why I don't use it.You can't apply a delay to it.

You have to apply a delay to your mag IF you also use the B engine for a COSM bass sound because these take more processing than your normal sound thus creating phasing problems.You also may prefer the sound of 4ms or 5ms.
This phenomena is not an issue with synth sounds ,only when you use your mag AND a COSM bass and mix the two together.

Roland did a good thing to add that delay in the mixer section.
It's the same thing as the delay in the input section of a digital board , it creates the same effect anyways.

Before experimenting with this , try with the Phase switch on the GK setup page ( System/GK/page 3/F1 )
Try your mag and a COSM bass at 50/50 and switch that phase , on one of my bass , it completly cured the phenomena.

Sorry , I didn't explained that before! :ninja:

PS:I started a thread on that subject there ;
http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=1787.0

EDIT: There is a 2,7ms difference between the "Bass direct" and the "normal PU" so to avoid phasing issues , you'd have to apply 2,7ms to the direct bass.
 
#137
boomski said:
Additionally , on all 3 of my V-Bass set ups I usually use cable ties to attach an actual guitar cable to the length of the GK cable and then run the guitar cable from my bass directly into the V-Bass BASS IN on the actual V-Bass module . I find that , even on my basses with internal GK electronics built in , the GK jacks or cables can sometimes be noisy or have the sound cut out when I least need it so I find it is worth the extra effort .
Click to expand...

I already did that for my IEM :)

I agree that the GK cable is the weekest link in the chain.
I would love to get a better quality GK cable but unfortunatly , Roland seems to be the only supplier.
 
#138
Yesterday during my rehearsal, my E string suddenly lost punch as well as volume level,it's like the gain dropped more than half,but only that string, other 4 strings are fine (I was using a COSM bass sound,nothing to do with my normal bass pick-up); I checked and reset the GK setting and still can't recover it; is my GK3B broken? Has anyone had this problem before?
 
#139
I get that problem all the time on my A string.

It's usually the GK cable. Also get connector cleaner and clean those GK inputs.

I actually get this so often that it's getting annoying. But until I get money to buy another GK cable I have to keep dealing with it.

I might not know a lot about how technology works, but if you ask me I'd say that the GK-3b pickup is a durable piece of equipment. Mine has been through a lot! And it still sounds awesome!
 

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