Roland VS880EX

Hi all....

Recently picked up a VS880EX to do more remote recording... all I've got to say is: 'dam these things are hard to figure out'! Most confusing piece I've ever laid hands on. Anyone know of some good resources...

Thanks in advance

Jim Emery ....who is hoping to have more time to lurk around here sometime soon.

Jim,

The thing itself is good, but the manual stinks. EVERYONE got the same problem trying to understand how to use it. The best reseource I know of is this
http://www.vsplanet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum& f=6

other than that; it's all about trial and error

Cheers,

The instruction manual.

Switch on, press the Song button till you get New song, press yes and store the last one safely, all the lights come on - press the mixer buttons until all you have left is a red record light on the channels you want to use - monitor through headphones and look at the levels display while doing some tests, to get the mix right - press the main RECORD button which lights up red - it's now in a state of 'ready to record' - press START (Play) or preferably use a footswitch which is what I do - and you will reassuringly see the channel buttons flashing as you record - press the footswitch again to stop - give pushes as required to the channel buttons until they all show Green instead of red - push rewing-to-start - push play - listen to your recording.

Adding FX is easy, a three key-press sequence in all cases before you start adjusting parameters; same for channel EQ. To add further tracks, leave the ones you are happy with flashing green, set up unused channels to flash red, monitor through phones and record overdubs while listening to the original tracks.

This is the ideal way to use the 880EX.

If you want to use inserts, editing, cut sections out etc, then the whole scenario is different and the thing becomes a nightmare of studying the exact shape and timing of a very limited graphic display of waveforms. It can be done - I've done a serious 'edited' track just once with mixdowns, bouncing, marking points, moving sound etc. It's a very concentrated process and involves memorisation rather than visualisation, unlike editing waveforms on a Mac or PC. You can't see enough detail, or enough of the track, to work intuitively.

Like any system, if you persevere and learn how, you can get quite skilled at using the interface. Your time would be better spent learning to use CuBase though.

Since the VS880EX will not export 8 tracks to 8 on a PC and I have never been able to read its raw format off a ZIP, I've always used it as the equivalent of an 8-track tape with FX - something which is superb for overdubbing multi track work if you can keep it clean and not require edits, and which will mix down to a good stereo master. I maybe don't use 90 per cent of its functions and if I really needed those functions, I would immediately switch to recording directly on to multi track PC or Mac. The big advantage of the VS880EX is zero latency (for practical purposes), quiet enough for studio or concert use, and very quick in operation.

David,

I wish Roland could hire some good manual writers though...

<big snip>

I agree, the Roland's are not much else than a digital 'tape recorder' and a 'mixer' with some 'outboard effects' built in. The only time I'm using the editing functions are when I got multiple vocal v-tracks from where I cut and past the good parts to a final vocal track. I'm only using about 25% of all the things you can do with my VS-1880.

The good thing is that Roland's are stable (compared to a computer) and portable. The bad thing is that you can only export single stereo tracks (or two mono tracks) at the time using SP/Dif to a computer WAV file.

P.S. Make sure that the right input is connected to the track you are recording, or else you only got a nice long recording of 50 cycle hum when you are done

Cheers,

It's so funny how much difference the manual can make. I have this Fostex digital recorder that I foolishly dropped 1000 bucks on about a year ago and then used once, and the manual reads like 'are your base belong to us' On the other hand, the manual for my Mackie mixer is a delight and very informative.

Anybody interested in my Fostex vf16? I'd sell for half what I paid which would be $500, unless they are selling for way more on ebay, but I doubt it....

Cheers everyone, Aaron

Me too love

You know who really knows how to use the VS880EX(and the 2480)in our house...it's the kids, and they've never even read or looked at the manual.

I think a lot of it has to do with them not having any fear or trusting in the machine...if they mess up, there's always an endless supply of tomorrows to try again, and they love to tinker with the machines in ways I'd never imagined, stuff that's not in the book.

Andrea http://www.andrearogers.com

I'll give it to our kids.... maybe they can figure the thing out. Great idea!

Jim Emery

Have all the manuals... I am kind of a techno wiz. Guess I expected this thing to be easy... sigh.

Jim Emery

Thanks Roger. Actually I'm kind of mad at the VSplanet sight. I ws all over it before I bought.... seemed like a good idea at the time.

I guess in a nutshell, the learning curve is steep and I am probably going to sell it because I want to spend what little spare time there is making music and not fighting with this box. Does have good sound though.

Jim Emery

Jim,

Well, my advice is not to give up already. When you know how to handle the box it's in fact real easy to handle. Just start up the Roland, plug in the input cables from the microphone/guitar, create a song, select a track in the song to record too, set some input levels and then press the 'rec' button

And if you know how to handle a Roland, recording with everything else will be REALLY simple!

Cheers,

Yes just bought the how to cd off ebay cost 24.95 free shipping , really nice here is the adress, gflash69 or contact him at ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Ask for Roland VS- 880ex Turbpstart DVD - Rare Guide for the DAW item # 170458434158 pass it on.