Roland vs1880

[dlc1880]

Does anyone out there own a roland VS1880 and if so what experiences have
you had bad or good with it? I just recently purchased one and wanted to get
some feedback from other owners. Thanks...........................

[vulcanofga]

I bought an 1880 a month ago and I love it.I am still learning all of the features and techniques for using them.It is a little more technical and confusing than I thought it would be the first couple times I tried to record on it, but after a few short hours of reading the rather redundant owners manual I am navigating the controls much better.I am a little overwhelmed with all of the extra features, such as auto-mix and snap shots and EZrouting.It's not that I don't understand them it's just too much to handle right out of the box.I think I am going to focus on the basics of tracking, mixing and mastering.

I would like to know your thoughts and ideas on it.

monty,

[Roel]

Hey, I've got mine for 5 months now... Something like that. I first read the manuals, just to know what I can do, and now I'm starting to get the hang of it. Never used the EZ-routing. hehe. Should read the manuals again. Automix is quite easy once you get the hang of it.

I suggest you just read the manual, cover to cover. Then, when you're working with it, you know what's possible, and you know where to look for it when you need it. From then on, just play around, and get back to the manual when you need it. Mine is still VERY near all the time...

As for how I like it etc... Never had anything to compare it with. I had some decent results, that I'm happy with. On the other hand I'd rather have alot more and more expensive gear blah blah.

I don't get my singer to sound the way I want him to. Got a decent mic, so I guess the mic pre's are the weakest link now. That will be my next investement.

Don't have much more to say about it for now...

[Dave_M]

I got my 1880 back around Christmas time. I watched the video and read the owners manual then sat down and tried to record "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles. Laying down the tracks, 12 string, six string, bass guitar, tambourine and marracas went smoothly. But, like you guys, I'm having trouble using the more advanced features, like compression on the vocals and mixing down. It's a drag being artist and engineer all at once. After going back to the video and book, I re-recorded all the tracks but it still sounds thin. The bass guitar is the only low frequency sounds.

Then I tried a rock/blues jam using my Boss Dr-5 drum machine, keyboards, bass and did the lead guitar with my GT-3. This turned out MUCH better. There's something about recording acoustic guitars that I'm not quite catching on to. But that's an engineer learning curve problem. The VS1880 does all I need it to do.

[Dave_M]

I got my 1880 back around Christmas time. I watched the video and read the owners manual then sat down and tried to record "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles. Laying down the tracks, 12 string, six string, bass guitar, tambourine and marracas went smoothly. But, like you guys, I'm having trouble using the more advanced features, like compression on the vocals and mixing down. It's a drag being artist and engineer all at once. After going back to the video and book, I re-recorded all the tracks but it still sounds thin. The bass guitar is the only low frequency sounds.

Then I tried a rock/blues jam using my Boss Dr-5 drum machine, keyboards, bass and did the lead guitar with my GT-3. This turned out MUCH better. There's something about recording acoustic guitars that I'm not quite catching on to. But that's an engineer learning curve problem. The VS1880 does all I need it to do.

[vulcanofga]

Dave,

I enjoyed your post.I am still learning my 1880's features and it is improving daily.I do have a tip on recording acustic guitar.Try using a condensor mic about 12 to 18 inches away from the sound hole or btween the sound hole and the end of the fret board pointing to the sound hole,and place a dynamic mic 6 to 8 inches from the fret board between the 10th and 12th fret.Use some inserted compression on the condensor mic with a nominal threshold and a medium attack time, make your release kinda long.Experiment with the boost setting I usually have to boost mine about 6db. hope this helps. monty

[Dave_M]

Monty, thanks for the advice. So far, I've recorded acoustic guitars direct into the board and with a dynamic mic. I don't own a condensor mic yet. Does any one have suggestions for brand/model condensor mics?
Thanks!

[vulcanofga]

I use an Oktava mk319, I only bought it cause it was on sale for $199 and included a midiman mic pre-amp.I think it is a good mic.If I were buying another cond mic I would go with the marshall I think it is the 1000 model,It costs around $189 and I have heard some good things about it. monty

[MrZekeMan]

Hey guys,

I'm a "soon to be" VS owner myself. I have the 2480 on order.

On the mike question. The Neumann tlm-103 is money in the bank. It will, however, take 6 or 7 hundred out of your bank account.

For something a little less expensive, the Marshall MXL-67g comes highly recommended.

I'm really interested to see what kind of treatment Roland gives the preamps in the the new 2480. Hopefully they will be usable, and I can get by without having to buy a preamp for a while.

Zeke

[MrZekeMan]

BTW,

I ordered the RAP three times CD compilation set that the pro's from Rec. Audio Pro put together, and they had some pretty impressive stuff on there that was recorded on VS series work stations.

Zeke

[vulcanofga]

Thats cool MRZekeMan, I recorded an original blues tune on my 1880 and burned it to a cd and mailed a copy to my local blues radio station and they are playing it on the air!!Man is that cool or what?I have always dreamed of having "air play" instead of "playing air" I am having a ball with this recording gear!!

Monty,

[MrZekeMan]

That's pretty cool Monty.

I just unpacked my 2480 about 30 minutes ago. Started reading the owners manual. wheeeeeeew!! It's gonna take a while before I understand it well enough to start tracking.

Zeke