Perhaps the stupidest question posted here

[thomeyd]

Hi folks,

Apologies in advance for what may be a set of questions waaaay beneath this group. I sincerely appreciate any advice, however.

I bought a used Roland VS-840 from a local music store (that has since gone out of biz) a few years ago. It came with no documentation, and i can find nothing on the Roland web sites (and i've looked!).

I'm able to plug all my stuff into the input connections, and get sound out through the master channel to my PA system. HOWEVER, i can't figure out for the life of me how to put effects on more than one channel at a time.

In other words, I can put an effect on channel 1 (my guitar), but cannot simultaneously put a vocal effect on a mic'd channel (channel 3, for example). It seems as though it "forgets" the first effect.

I'm not even trying to record, just trying to use this like a mixer to make happy noises in our living room. Can this be done? Do I need to put a Zip disk in there to make it remember mixer settings? I've pushed every button until my eyes glaze over and neck hurts.

Help is totally appreciated!!!!
TD

[ssscientist]

Being the low end of the Roland multitrack line it's entirely possible that your unit has just one effect processor inside. That would account for the 'forgetting the guitar effect' phenom...

I've seen (and answered) WAAAAAY stupider questions than yours.

And welcome to the board.

[Jim Marquard]

If I recall, the VS-840 and VS-880 came standard with one stereo effects processor which was capable of producing either one stereo effect or two mono effects. How one does this, I don't know as I don't own the unit. One major complaint that I have heard from roland owners is Roland's lack of online documentation. This site does have a Roland forum so you may be able to ask how to split the effect into two mono effects there. You may also find somebody on that forum who may scan the manual for you for free. Roland does sell user manuals and videos on their sight and you might do a web search and find the users manual on a third party site. Check Musician's Friend as they have many manuals for download in PDF form, though they may not have it since they generally give you links to the companies' websites. But a web search might find you what you need.

Peace, Jim

[bassman10]

Use the VS-840 and PA's effects loop if they have them. Don't really know what you have.

[lpdeluxe]

I think you're misrepresenting yourself. That is NOT the stupidest question I've seen here. Not even 12th.

[thomeyd]

Thanks to each of you that toook the time to respond. I do appreciate it.

After a few more grueling Google sessions, I was able to find a post to some Roland forum that hinted strongly that my unit does NOT support effects on multiple channels, and that has to be accomplished in the context of recording mulitple tracks.

I'll post this question on a new thread, but I realize now that my needs are pretty simple (just want to rock out in my living room with no ambitions to ever record the result!) and would love to get multiple effects. I wonder if there exists such a thang!

Again, thanks to all. Happiest of Holidays!

Tom

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by thomeyd

Again, thanks to all. Happiest of Holidays!

Tom

Hey Tom I've asked questions that were more stupid than this one.

However at this website - http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/p_recording.html

"The VS-880 is a digital system designed for audio recording and post-production.
The system provides a 8 tracks recorder, a digital mixer, two multieffect processors, internal hard disk and SCSI interface for external mass storage. All this is included in a small and portable unit."

I'm not sure what they mean by two multieffect but it seems that you may be able to do what you want to do.

By the way you may want to search the BOSS website since their recording equipment is now called BOSS

However, you probably already have found these sites.

There is also a Roland Website in the UK and they have some upgrades, perhaps that's what you need to fix the problem.
http://www.roland.co.uk/prodcatdetail.asp?ID=VS-880EX

[Dracon]

Hey I found the manual at the US Roland Site

http://www.rolandus.com/support/supp...s/vsappgd2.pdf

and it has the following information at page 96

"Using the 2 effects processors built into the VS8F-1 expansion board (if installed) you can add additional
creativity during the mixdown process. For example, maybe you have a ‘dry’ vocal on Tr. 1-1 (no effects
recorded on it). Tr. 2-1 has a piano that was originally recorded using reverb. Tr.3-1 is the BASS guitar with
no effects. Tr. 4-1 is an acoustic guitar that was also recorded with reverb. Tr. 5-1 is your dry (no effects)
solo saxophone recording. You decide that you want to add reverb to the vocal on Tr. 1-1 during the
mixdown. You might also want to add chorus to the saxophone.
You will select EFFECT # 1 to Tr. 1-1 and select the output of EFFECT # 1 to the final stereo mix. You will
then select EFFECT # 2 to Tr. 5-1 and select the output to the final stereo mix. Each EFFECTS device can be
selected to the appropriate effect you are looking for."

and then it guides you step by step how to do it.

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by Dracon

By the way you may want to search the BOSS website since their recording equipment is now called BOSS

Wrong. Boss is to Roland what Chevrolet is to Cadillac. High line DAW's carry the Roland name, while lower line DAW's are marketed under the Boss name. Nice try though.

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by ssscientist

Wrong. Boss is to Roland what Chevrolet is to Cadillac. High line DAW's carry the Roland name, while lower line DAW's are marketed under the Boss name. Nice try though.

I believe you may be right. The BOSS that I found was at the Japanese website and it may marketed differently in different countries. Anyway, I did find the manual at the US Roland Website. I believe that's what he was looking for. The US website never even mentions BOSS and they only talk about Roland.
The URL for the Manual is below.

http://www.rolandus.com/support/sup...cs/vsappgd2.pdf