When you are a bit a clever and skilfully
user of a VA7/76 Roland keyboard you know
that those negative messages of the last days
are not fair and not true. A clever user makes own registrations(userprograms on a VA)
I owned a PSR9000, a good instrument but the
VA7 offered me more.Now I have 530 registra-
tions ,all edited by myself with the best
drumsets and the best sounds and effects.
It took a lot of time because those 530 styles and registrations are all converted
styles from other instruments.I combined them
with a suitable VA7 presetstyle and the re-
sult is great for using the stylemorphing.
When you have problems with effects, change
them ,it is very easy to do. The presetstyles
on a VA7/76 are of a high level and there are
FOUR VARIATIONS.
It is good working with the touchscreen.
STYLEMORPHING means that tou can use the drum
track, the basstrack or the accompaniments-
tracks of a presetstyle, one of them or all
together in combination with a userstyle
without programming . This is very easy.
Which keyboard offers you the possibility
to have a userstyle with a drumtrack with
16 or 24 measures in combination with a bas-
track of 8 measures and accomp.tracks of a
lenghts of 64 measures if you want that.
Of course with differences for Maj.,Min.and
Sept. WHEN YOU WANT THIS.
To do these things and to learn how, will
take some time but when you are an intelli-
gent musician maybe the VA7/76 is the best
choice for you. I am not a merchant or a dea-
ler.I am not a singer too, the VA7 speaks
for me.
Mart Weeho

Well spoken, Mart.

That's very nice reading someone's defence for VA7. I just ordered (and paid) for a VA5 and I was quit frustrated with the negative comments of many people. I think the VA5 and above kbds are very nice machines and even their specifications (objectively) are superb to many others...
Thanks for giving value to my money! I wasn't sure they had enough...

The VA series is VERY, VERY nice. Some features are alittle clumsy for live use, but they are not all played live, are they? Roland made a great package in this VA line up - enjoy!

Thank you Mart, I am glad that you tell us
once more how good the VA7 is. I am still
very happy with my VA7 too and I can not see
why the VA7 or the VA76 should not be good
for playing on stage.
You can prepare everything and all the styles
you need are on the Zipdisk or ready to play
in a userprogram.What are your special pro-
blems in a livesituation Uncle Dave?
Deb

The touch screen is the biggest problem. Too much room for error, if you miss the EXACT spot you are looking to touch. A button is easier to feel. The lack of real time controllers & Buttons is the other problem. I need to access more things than they let me. I also like to start an arrangement with manual bass, and then switch to arranger mode in the middle, then switch back later on (sometimes). This was not possible without using specific performances. Once you go into arranger mode, the manual mode would not remember the bass part.
I want simple On/Off funtions for the main stuff. That's all. I guess I am spoiled by earlier models that gave us more conrol.

The things you say can all be prepared in a
Userprogram ( a registration). What you say
about the touchscreen is not a problem when
you play a VA a few days.You get used to it.
Uncle Dave you are an exellent entertainer,
you are a busy man I think, but when you
could have one more houre a day you became
a good VA player. I am sure of that.
Mart Weeho

I had no trouble at home with the VA7, but on the job - I need to make quick changes, and I sometimes miss the exact spot that you need to touch on the screen. Unless your eyes are glued to the screen, it's hard to get the right spot everytime. Then there's the pressure problem - push too light and it doesn't change - too much AGG. No thanx.

Mart W

I noticed you mentioned the VA can do accompaniment tracks up to 64 measures. Can you tell me a bit more about that? For instance: if you triggered an accompaniment that went more than a few measures would it always switch chords when your hands changed chords - or would it hold the pattern and notes it began with until the end of the number of measures you programmed- or can you choose your preference for this in setup? - but not affect the arranger bass and drum track? My interest is in finding ways to use the accompaniment at times more like a sequenced midi file (not altered by chord changes while it plays) - but still having drum and bass tracks used in typical arranger fashion.

thanks
Mike

Regardless of how many measures a pattern has, it should ALWAYS change the chord structure with your hand movments. If you want a long phrase, just hold your hand still and wait till the phrase plays out. The very nature of intelligent arrangers is that they "follow" the hand movements.

Hi Mike,
The arranger of a Roland VA keyboard can
be used as a sequencer.You could play as an
example on the Maj.track for all parts, drum
,bass and 6 accomp.tracks your music.On the
Min.track the next part of your music and on
the Seventh track again the following part.
Until now you used only the original part of the arranger. The same you could do on the
Original advanced, the variation and the
var.advanced track. Even the four fills and
the four intro's and endings could be used
for a sequence. In this case you use your
left hand only when you change to the next
part of your sequence. With youre right hand
you can play live.When you use the split
between the upper 1 and the upper 2 you can
play with two hands. When you place the split
for the arrangerpart, which now only should be used for changing the sequenced parts,in
that way that you have on the left part of
the keys just enough keys for playing a Maj.
a Min. and a Seventh chord you could play
live on nearly the whole keyboard while you
have at the same time your selfmade accom-
paniment .
I do not believe it is possible to alter
only the bass by changing chords and not in
the same time the other parts of the arran-
ger.About this last point I am not totally
sure and I will take an extra view in the
menu.
Mart Weeho

UDave and Mart

From what you guys have to say - sounds like my best bet for the example I gave - is to reserve only a small section of the left side of the keyboard for triggering chord changes - that way I am free to use most of the keyboard for full two handed playing without triggering a new chord accompaniment (when and if I don't want to)- that way I could record a longer sequence/midi passage to be used in a style as accompaniment - and play without running my left hand (comping) into the zone where it changes the chord.

did i get it??

Mike

ps - also - is it possible to save changes the split point as part of a variation - or part of a registration??

[This message has been edited by Mike H (edited 03-27-2002).]

Hi,

I wonder if Roland has heard the (negative)comments that were written. And indeed, I do not agree on all bad comments that the VA-series had to have. I create my own USP for about every song and everything goes very fast. That's just the way I think

But if Roland knows about the comments, what would they do about it in their follow-up?

Sander
A proud VA-7 player

Mike,
yes you can save the split point within a registration, but if you think to use the arranger the way you wrote, then I definitely advice a VA 76: on a VA 7 simply there isn't enough room (notes) to use your left hand that way.
Andrea

Dreamer

As to keyboard length - I am thinking to trigger the VA via my 88 key FP3 anyway - (regular piano action) - so room shouldn't be a problem. I'll just have to get used to reaching down aways with my left hand to play chords. Unlike the Ketro/Solton stuff - I don't think you can program the FC7 pedals to toggle between registrations or midi files to change split point or modes - but the VA76 at least has a couple of programmable pads that the VA7 didn't have.

Sander
As to Roland listening?? I sent them an email awhile back re: different ideas developed from comments on this board - here is what they sent me back:

Dear Mr. Heimbuch:

Roland Corporation U.S. has received your e-mail message regarding your
idea for Roland arranger keyboards. We appreciate your interest in Roland
products.

However, please be advised that for legal reasons, Roland Corporation U.S.
does not consider any unsolicited and unpatented third party ideas or
proposals. Therefore, unfortunately we cannot consider your idea at this
time. We trust that you can understand our position.

Thank you for your interest in Roland.

Very truly yours,

Fumie Wolff
Legal Secretary


How about them apples

Mike

What the HELL does THAT mean? I suppost it lets them off the hook for "stealing" other peoples idea's and calling them suggestions of their own! What a crock ! I am very surprised.

Awwww... that hurts! Roland seems not to care about his/her users on this point!

I did respond to that email from Roland- for what its worth I post it here just to follow up on my puny threat!!

Mike H

To Roland Corp:
Hello Fumie

Thanks for taking time to write back about my suggestions. I think you will
find however, if you look a bit deeper into the reality of not only what
Roland does - but what every other manufacturer of any item in the world
does - and that is to take full advantage of any idea that crosses anyone's
mind or desk at any time - that might add in some measure to sales or
marketability.

My ideas are neither original nor unique - and I do not value them so highly
as to think I am in posession of some incredible bit of knowledge. What I
have suggested has in fact been recommended by other users to not only
Roland but other arranger manufacturers as well - 3 of whom have implented
the chord recognition scheme I suggested as a direct result of unsolicited
customer input.

For me to get a mail reply stating that Roland corporation is not interested
in my suggestions simply because they didn't ask me for it - is
fundamentally stupid on alot of fronts - and ignores the obvious insult to
someone who clearly understands music and is a customer. It would be very
interesting to see if Mr. K felt the same way about 'unsolicited opinions'
if he was in the room with us while I shared my ideas with him. What you
might have said as a responsible employee, charged not only with
legalities - but also with some level of pr responsibility - is that "I will
pass your comments on to someone for examination."

For myself, I do understand your position - it is incredibly short
sighted - and I will pass your sentiments on to the readers of the internet
forums dealing with arrangers. I am sure they will be impressed that their
professional observations, comments and suggestions can't make it past the
receptionist.

regards
Mike Heimbuch

What Roland says is the policy of most of the
bigger international factories, not only in
music. It is nothing special, they have to
do this.It is to prevent claims!

Mart - a question for you on the VA

You mentioned that you could program a style accompaniment up to 64 measures if you wanted to. Can you do that as a variation within a style?? - Say you had one variation that was more typical/shorter - and had another that was longer - more like a sequenced accompaniment - in fact you could record it as such and convert it to style? Seems like if you wanted to play two handed with the left hand moving around some without triggering a chord change - you could set the split point pretty low and that long accompaniment could function more like a midi file you play against.

Mike H

When I understand your question right, this
could be an answer. It is possible to have
a style with four variations with for all
parts a track of 8 measures in which just
one track of 32 measures. As an example.
You can convert a midifile with no more
tracks than the arranger allows you to a
style as one variation. The other variations
can be different.

Mart
thanks - and can you store different split points in variations of the style?

MH

A short answer this time, NO ! The split is
not part of a variation but of the keys.

The split point can be saved inside a User Program (and is the same for all the style variations)

Well.........
Since the VA76 has two programmable pads now - maybe I could use one to change the split when desired since my two choices will probably be pretty consistent.

Another thing - I wonder why the FC7 doesn't let you assign various functions to the pedal like the SD1 FS13 does? - although I admit that scrolling through the intro-variation-advanced var-ending comprises most of the necessary functions.

thanks
Mike H

Mike,
you are too complex for today's arrangers!

Dreamer - you're great!!!
I'm not so complex - just far removed!! its all so abstract here in the far north - When I get my hands on something besides the little PSR's, WK2's and lower end Casio's that are the only things available here - I will have far less time to ask questions - hopefully!!

BTW - Your advice on VA has been quite helpful - MH

I heard one in use last night, and my impressions are that it is the g1000, minus many buttons, some new sounds, and the variphrase. Which means, its not worth it, the g1000 still rules when it comes to live use. I bought a 9000pro, and it sounds muchh much better than both keyboards, but again, for live use, it just doesnt have the features that this g1000 has. I am even THHHISSSSS close to selling it.
Bravo Roland on this classic arranger, but keep in mind some of the things that made the g1000 such a hit, and dont focus on new tricks if its going to hinder live use convenience.

Macb........
It seems alot of folks DEFINITELY need and prefer the button access over the touch screen- and quickness/surety in live play is a big reason - so I'd guess valuing the G1000 a bit higher for live play depends a great deal on how quickly you need to move between tunes?? - nature of the music, the audience mood shifts, etc.... I go slow

For myself - I enjoyed the touch screen of the Triton I had briefly - even if Korg is a little page intensive. Nothing perfect eh?

MH

Actually one of the reasons I bought the VA is the touch screen. I am gadget guy and I loved it immediately. I aggree that some buttons would have made a bit more suitable for live use, but I use it live with no problem. It just takes a little time to get used to it. You learn easily to aim the correct field on the screen!

I love the Touch Screen.
That's why I'm buying the VA7.
I have a question for you all.
I found a web site that makes professional new styles for VA7 and other arrangers, do you guys know if there is something similar here in the US? This is the address: (www.midispot.dk/UK/index.htm)Can I create myself personal styles that I can use to play my music and save as user program? I mean a basic loop, the variation, the fill in, the intro and the ending? I don't own the VA7 yet, so this question will sound a little dumb. Thanx

Maximo,
the VA7 has extensive style creating and editing abilities and the final result will depend only on one's ability...and patience!
Re. the comparison between VA7 and G1000, I agree that the G 1000 has a "quicker" interface and maybe better overall internal styles (but they are all in the zip disk which comes with the VA7, anyway), but the sounds are WAY better in the VA. A few sounds (like the soprano sax) are the same, but almost all the others are new, especially the most important ones: just try the VA7 stereo grand piano, the electric pianos or the V-drums: come on!

Mike, the pads can be programmed to change around 12 different functions but not split point . the FCpedal can be progranned to control around 33 different functions on each of the 7 pedals. Hope this helps, Chalky.Va76 owner.

chalky

Thanks so much for the tips - its good to know since Roland doesn't publish manuals on line to learn about these things.

MH

Does the VA76 still retain important arranger buttons on the top of the keyboard, like reset, half fill, hold, etc?

Yes, it does.

It's interesting to see all the various replies regarding VA7/76.
I was an owner of a VA76 using it in a live situation for 8 months and fair enough, after editing the registrations you can get good results. For me, it just sounds like a glorified G1000 (own one of these, SD1 and Korg Triton pro).
To sum it up I'd say it's like any other keyboard. If you're prepared to put the time into it you are rewarded. For live use though, I found it a pain in the rear. It's OK if you are using preset registrations and not accompanying anyone. If a professional singer comes up to you and gives you any music that suits them for you to play, you have to be able to call up a rhythm with the right tempo, a suitable left hand sound and right hand sound plus solo (no time to set transpose. You have to do it in your head if they are to sing in a different key to the score they've given you).
All this has to be done within seconds, otherwise it makes you look like an idiot and not very professional. The VA7/76 fails in this department. The touch screen is just too slow to navigate around.
Also, changing upper 1 and 2 sounds are far slower than with a G1000.
To sum it up VA76 is good for a home keyboard, for live use shop around.

A real good musician does not need a trans-
posebutton and can play with every singer
without an arranger in every key.
By the way the VA76 HAS A TRANSPOSEBUTTON!!
The problems you name are the same for each
keyboardplayer and not only for VAplayers.
How often a professional singer pops up and
asks you for music? A real professional sing-
er sings in the right key!
You see I do not agree with your opinion.
The VA76 is the G1000 plus very good extra's.
The VA76 is very good on stage!

.....I can't ........ I just can't..........



[This message has been edited by Uncle Dave (edited 04-06-2002).]

Obviously everyone has their own opinions.
However what really stinks about the VA76 is that there was so much hype over the whol Variphrase feature, and then you cant even incorporate that into the styles. That is useless.
Also compared to, lets say a g-1000, the whole way of thinking of the va76 has changed, and seems almost backwards in my opinion. Where all of the weapons were right in front of you on the older keyboards, they are hidden on the new. In my line of music, switching styles with great spee, and switching sounds is a MUST, and I ust don't see the VA76 being able to handle that.
A friend of mine has had this keyboard and is now selling it for way lower than what he bought it for because he is really just sick of it. There was a point where he literally wanted to thrw it out the window. Coming from a guy who only buys arranger keyboards, was very insightful since he has had experienc with technics, korg and roland. He did buy a Yamaha 9000pro which according to him totally steps on the va76.

Just another point of view.

macbabbi,
your friend told you bull shi*, the VA76 plays varyphrace in the arrangment and now after the release of VA-7 version 2 software the VA-7 KB does it too. Va-7 and VA76 are way better that any other arranger KB and yourself sayd in your message that all the functions are there, they are just not available on the front panel like it was in the G-1000. And plus you should ear the new v sounds, no other arranger KB gaves you the same quality for the same price range. Your friends didn't have the time and maybe also the capability to program the VA-76. VA7 and VA76 are a step in the future of arranger KB.
Read more in this forum about it and go try one yoursef before writing such a statement.
Your friend probably is one of those I wanna make music but I don't understand anything about programming, and programming is the only way to make original music out of a keyboard that will produce the same sound for any song composed by anyone who owns the same KB in the world. Don't listen to your friend and also don't listen to me either, if you are interested to the KB go try one yourself and read as much as you can and " pay attention" to what you read, you may be surprised!

Maximo