Is it possible to use computer effect with any of the Roland VS serious (2000 and up)

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cvd

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Hello folks,

I"m still debating if I want to spend the chunk of change for the VS-2480. My time would be better spent on songwriting, but hell, as much as studio time is, it may be a worthwhile investment after I release a few CD's :)

Let me get on to my point now. From what others have told me, computer effects and proccessors are heaps cheaper than the hardware standalone units. I really don't want to get a completly computer based system (pro tools, etc) beucase of the portability, and the pain in the ass of dealing with a computer. But, these plug ins and effects the computer based systems have is pretty persuasive.

So, to get the best of both worlds, is it possible to send effects from the PC to the VS? If it is possible, what hardware upgrades would I need to make to the PC?

Do you even think a VS series would be a wise investment at this point?


Thanks!

Chris
 
Yeah, it's possible, but the signal would have to be sent as an audio signal and returned to another track. Frankly, the on board FX of the higher end Rolands are pretty good, and there's a lot of them. I like the "small hall" reverb a lot. Some of the mastering tools are pretty good, especially "clean comp". The problem is A-D conversion.
Let's say you send an analog line out of the Roland. You just used it's pres, which is not a good thing to do. Alternatively, you send the signal by S/PDIF to your soundcard. You *haven't* involved the Roland's pres, which is good. You can set up an aux send, but not without using the Roland's pres. What it can't do is send and receive a digital signal simultaneously. As I understand it, it would have to be an analog signal. Anything you gain from better FX would be lost the moment the signal touches the VS preamps. You could send the signal to a PC, and then back, but then you are into that whole computer based recording system, and you'd have to synch the tracks afterwards. At that point, it is easier to send the Roland's tracks to the computer, and process them there. The VS2000 has the ability to import and export WAV files, so I think you could move tracks back and forth fairly seamlessly.
When the VS1824, VS2000, or whatever, is sent a good digital signal, and that signal stays entirely in the digital domain, a VS studio can produce stunning quality sound. This becomes particularly apparent when the signal is sent to an external D-A convertor, and then to the monitors. Basically, I use my VS1824 as a hard drive with mixing and FX capabilities, and a CD backup/burner. In general, I never record more than 2 tracks simultaneously with it, because I can only send it 2 digital signals. The only use of the VS studio's pres in the last 3 years has been for talkback mics. The problem with a VS studio isn't FX, it has plenty of that. The problem is its preamps. If you can get around them, you can do great work on one. It's a great box for editing, mixing, and post production processing, as long as everything stays in the digital domain. Is the VS studio a wise investment? That depends on your needs. I recorded a full blown album on one, sending it 2 digital signals at a time. I also use it extensively as a remote stereo recorder. I feed it 2 S/PDIF tracks from a Joemeek twinQ, and it works very well. What it doesn't do well, in my opinion, is record a bunch of simultaneous tracks. For that, you have to send it line level signals from outboard pres. That decreases the effect of the Roland's pres, but doesn't make them go away. The 2480 is reputed to have better pres than 1824 or 2000, but I haven't used them, so I don't know.-Richie
 
Roland VS880

I just bought a VS880 off ebay....does the same apply when trying to connect these up to a PC? it has a VS Expansion board on it ...
 
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