I've been posting alot of comments about some of the new products which I have received in the past week, but now I'd like to tell you about a new version of the VA7 I was shipped today. I bought more VA5's and VA7's because the price was lowered substantially and I felt they were a really good buy, but with version 2.0 plus Music Assistant I'm blown away with how good they have made an already great keyboard.
First off, there is now the music assistant which is a data base for User Programs, much like the Yamaha PSR9000 and PSR2000 with instant access to over 700 user program files on Zip and a convenient Find function. The difference between the music assistant and a User Program Set is that the music assistant manages individual user program files on zip disk and that these user programs can be accessed directly.
Next there is now UP1, UP2, LW1 and LW2 fields on the master page for switching off the upper and lower parts via the touch display. What's also great is that now all four sounds can be turned on for a 4 voice layered sound across the entire keyboard.
Next, the VariPhrase part can now be assigned to both the left or the right half of the keyboard. This is great in the event you want to add vocal phrases to a left hand voice in split mode while triggering accomp. styles. Also, now you can layer all 4 voices or just one or more with a vocal variphrase sample. You couldn't do this with version 1.
Next, if you have a SMF with no lyrics, you can add lyrics in the VA7 by writing lyrics right in the VA7.
Next, it is now possible to set the metronome volume.
Roland is also now included 4 floppy disks with 100 of the songs that were from the G1000 zip disk songs which they discontinued because of copyrights about 2 years ago.
All of this is now available for under $2000.00.
The VA5 has also dropped in price but does not include the new features of version 2 because there is no zip disk or variphrase. I just got new ones of these too and I have to pull one out and see if there are 4 layers available in the VA5. It price has dropped to under $1500.00.
Both are now outstanding values in my opinion.
Roland also notified me that customers can get the version 2 upgrade from Roland by contacting the store where they bought there keyboards. I've been told that there are many disks involved and a new zip disk. I don't know if there is any charge for this. I will find out asap.
Regards,
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
_________________________
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene (Closed after 51 years)
West Hills, California
(Retired 2021)