Roland FR-1 User Guide

r®

Owner’s Manual

WARNING – To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this device to rain or moisture.

For EU Countries

This product complies with the requirements of European Directive EMC 2004/108/EC.

For the USA

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
— Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
— Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
— Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Unauthorized changes or modification to this system can void the users authority to operate this equipment.
This equipment requires shielded interface cables in order to meet FCC class B Limit.

NOTICE

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

AVIS

For the U.K.

IMPORTANT: THE WIRES IN THIS MAINS LEAD ARE COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE.

BLUE:
BROWN:

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this apparatus may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying
the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.
Under no circumstances must either of the above wires be connected to the earth terminal of a three pin plug.

This product must be disposed of separately at
your local waste recycling centre.
Do not dispose of in household waste bin.

NEUTRAL
LIVE

For Canada

The technology used in the FR-1 is covered by U.S. Patent No. 6.946.594.

Copyright ©2008 ROLAND EUROPE. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Europe S.p.a.

r

Owner’s Manual

ENGLISH ENGLISH

Thank you for purchasing the Roland FR-1 V-Accordion. The FR-1 is an amazingly versatile electronic instru­ment that can emulate the sounds of a vast array of accordions. The major advantage of the FR-1 is that it
allows you to change sounds without changing instruments. Apart from the financial benefit (the FR-1 costs
only a fraction of all emulated originals), this also means that you can use your familiar playing style and
techniques while covering a host of different musical genres.

Before using the FR-1, carefully read the sections entitled “Using the unit safely” on p. 5 and “Important notes” on p. 6.
These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit. Additionally, in order to feel
assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided by your new FR-1, the (printed) Quick Start docu­ment and Owner’s Manual should be read in their entirety. Those documents should be saved and kept on hand for
future reference.

This manual applies to two instruments:
FR-1 (the keyboard version) FR-1 (the button version)

ENGLISH ENGLISH

•All product names mentioned in this document are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.

FR-1 V-Accordion

Features

1. Features

PBM (Physical Behavior Modeling)

The FR-1 V-Accordion is based on Roland’s sound generation
technology called “PBM” (Physical Behavior Modeling) whose
sonic result is very close to the sound of traditional accordi­ons.

Super realistic accordion simulations

The FR-1 contains sounds that were obtained by sampling
popular traditional acoustic accordions. Different tuning sys­tems are also available.

Orchestral sounds

4 orchestral and 4 organ sounds are available for use instead
of the traditional accordion sounds. The FR-1 also provides 3
orchestral bass and chord sounds for the Bass and Chord sec­tions.

The digital advantage

The V-Accordion includes all functions and sounds of a tradi­tional accordion, thus conveying a truly natural feel and
sound. Yet it also provides the advantages only an electronic
musical instrument can give you:

•reduced overall weight;

• possibility to choose among a wide variety of sounds;

•tuning stability over time and wear resistance of all
mechanical parts;

• you can sound in a different key than the one you are
playing in (transpose function);

• you can play with headphones, i.e. without disturbing your
neighbors or family.

Superb performance flexibility

The V-Accordion allows you to control external MIDI-com­patible instruments. The Treble keyboard and chord/bass but­tons are velocity-sensitive, while the bellows controller pro­vides more articulation possibilities than any other MIDI key­board, MIDI wind instrument, etc., you may know.

Useful accessory

The FR-1 has a compartment for optional rechargeable
Ni-MH (AA-type) batteries. Consider purchasing such batter­ies (you will need 8) when performing on stage.

Contents

1. Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2. Important notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

3. Panel descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Treble control panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Bass control panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Connection panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Personalizing your FR-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4. Setting up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Attaching the straps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Securing the adapter, MIDI and/or audio cables. . . . . . . . . 12

Switching the power on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Listening to the demo songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Touring the FR-1’s sections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Using the orchestral/organ sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

5. Other practical functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Switching off sections you don’t need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Using the metronome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Pitch change functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Song function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

DRUMS function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

6. Editing FUNCTION settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Selecting the desired function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

7. MIDI parameters (FUNCTION group) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

MIDI parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

8. Saving your settings (User Program). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

9. Treble Mode (only on the model with button-type

keyboard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

10. Restoring the factory defaults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

11. Using optional batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

12. Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

13. Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Demo Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

MIDI Program change messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

MIDI Implementation Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

r

4

Using the unit safely

Used for instructions intended to alert
the user to the risk of death or severe
injury should the unit be used
improperly.

Used for instructions intended to alert
the user to the risk of injury or material
damage should the unit be used
improperly.

* Material damage refers to damage or

other adverse effects caused with
respect to the home and all its
furnishings, as well to domestic
animals or pets.

• Before using this instrument, read the instructions below and the
Owner’s Manual.

• Do not open (or modify in any way) the unit or its AC adaptor.

• Do not attempt to repair the FR-1 or replace parts within it
(except when this manual provides specific instructions directing
you to do so). Refer all servicing to your retailer, the nearest
Roland Service Center or an authorized Roland distributor, as listed on
the “Information” page.

• Never use or store the FR-1 in places that are:

• Subject to temperature extremes (e.g., direct sunlight in an

enclosed vehicle, near a heating duct, on top of heat-generat­ing equipment); or are

• Damp (e.g., baths, washrooms, on wet floors); or are

• Humid; or are

• Exposed to rain; or are

• Dusty; or are

• Subject to high levels of vibration.

•Make sure you always have the FR-1 placed so it is level and sure
to remain stable. Never place it on stands that could wobble, or
on inclined surfaces. When not in use, do not place the FR-1 ver­tically due to instability. If placed in the vertical position on the
floor/stage, ensure that it leans against a stable vertical surface e.g. a wall
or a heavy musical instrument.

• Be sure to use only the AC adaptor supplied with the unit. Also,
make sure the line voltage at the installation matches the input
voltage specified on the AC adaptor's body. Other AC adaptors
may use a different polarity, or be designed for a different volt­age, so their use could result in damage, malfunction, or electric shock.

• Use only the attached power-supply cord. Also, the supplied
power cord must not be used with any other device.

V-Accordion

r

Using the unit safely

The symbol alerts the user to important instructions
or warnings.The specific meaning of the symbol is
determined by the design contained within the
triangle. In the case of the symbol at left, it is used for
general cautions, warnings, or alerts to danger.

The symbol alerts the user to items that must never
be carried out (are forbidden). The specific thing that
must not be done is indicated by the design contained
within the circle. In the case of the symbol at left, it
means that the unit must never be disassembled.

The ● symbol alerts the user to things that must be
carried out. The specific thing that must be done is
indicated by the design contained within the circle. In
the case of the symbol at left, it means that the power­cord plug must be unplugged from the outlet.

• Do not allow any objects (e.g., flammable material, coins, pins); or
liquids of any kind (water, soft drinks, etc.) to penetrate the FR-1.

•Immediately turn the power off, remove the adaptor from the
outlet and request servicing by your retailer, the nearest Roland
Service Center or an authorized Roland distributor, as listed on
the “Information” page when:

• The AC adaptor’s cord or plug has been damaged; or

• Objects have fallen into or liquid has been spilled onto the FR-1; or

• The unit has been exposed to rain (or otherwise has become wet); or

• The FR-1 does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked

change in performance.

•In households with small children, an adult should provide super­vision until the child is capable of following all rules essential for
the safe operation of the FR-1.

• Protect the FR-1 from strong impact.
(Do not drop it!)

• Do not force the adaptor to share an outlet with an unreasonable
number of other devices. Be especially careful when using exten­sion cords—the total power used by all devices you have con­nected to the extension cord’s outlet must never exceed the power rating
(watts/amperes) for the extension cord. Excessive loads can cause the
insulation on the cord to heat up and eventually melt through.

• Before using the FR-1 in a foreign country, consult with your
retailer, the nearest Roland Service Center or an authorized
Roland distributor, as listed on the “Information” page.

• Batteries must never be heated, taken apart, or thrown into fire
or water.

ENGLISH ENGLISH

ENGLISH ENGLISH

• Do not excessively twist or bend the adaptor cord, nor place
heavy objects on it. Doing so can damage the cord, producing
severed elements and short circuits. Damaged cords are fire and
shock hazards!

• This instrument, either alone or in combination with an amplifier
and headphones or speakers, may be capable of producing sound
levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate
for a long period of time at a high volume level or at a level that is
uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears,
you should immediately stop using the FR-1 and consult an audiologist.

• DO NOT play a CD-ROM disc on a conventional audio CD player.
The resulting sound may be of a level that could cause perma­nent hearing loss. Damage to speakers or other system compo­nents may result.

• Never expose rechargeable Ni-MH batteries to excessive heat,
such as sunshine, fire, or the like.

• The FR-1 and the adaptor should be located so that their location
or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation.

•Always grasp only the plug on the AC adaptor cord when plug­ging into or unplugging from, an outlet or this unit.

5

FR-1 V-Accordion

Features

• At regular intervals, you should unplug the AC adaptor and clean
it by using a dry cloth to wipe all dust and other accumulations
away from its prongs. Also, disconnect the power plug from the
power outlet whenever the FR-1 is to remain unused for an extended
period of time. Any accumulation of dust between the power plug and
the power outlet can result in poor insulation and lead to fire.

• Try to prevent cords and cables from becoming entangled. Also,
all cords and cables should be placed so they are out of the reach
of children.

• Never climb on top of, nor place heavy objects on the FR-1.

• Never handle the AC adaptor or its plugs with wet hands when
plugging into or unplugging from, an outlet or this unit.

• Before moving the FR-1, disconnect the AC adaptor and all cords
coming from external devices.

• Before cleaning the FR-1, turn off the power and unplug the
adaptor from the outlet.

•Whenever you suspect the possibility of lightning in your area,
disconnect the adaptor from the outlet.

2. Important notes

• If used improperly, batteries may explode or leak and cause dam­age or injury. In the interest of safety, please read and observe
the following precautions.

• Carefully follow the installation instructions for batteries, and

make sure you observe the correct polarity.

• Avoid using new batteries together with used ones. In addi-

tion, avoid mixing different types of batteries.

• Remove the batteries whenever the unit is to remain unused for an

extended period of time.

•If a battery has leaked, use a soft piece of cloth or paper towel to wipe

all remnants of the discharge from the battery compartment. Then
install new batteries. To avoid inflammation of the skin, make sure that
none of the battery discharge gets onto your hands or skin. Exercise
the utmost caution so that none of the discharge gets near your eyes.
Immediately rinse the affected area with running water if any of the
discharge has entered the eyes.

• Never keep batteries together with metallic objects such as ballpoint

pens, necklaces, hairpins, etc.

• Used batteries must be disposed of in compliance with whatever
regulations for their safe disposal that may be observed in the
region in which you live.

• Keep any screws, reference caps, the hexagonal wrench and
other small parts you may remove in a safe place out of chil­dren’s reach, so there is no chance of them being swallowed
accidentally.

Power supply

• Do not connect the FR-1 to same electrical outlet that is being used by an
electrical appliance that is controlled by an inverter (such as a refrigera­tor, washing machine, microwave oven, or air conditioner), or that con­tains a motor. Depending on the way in which the electrical appliance is
used, power supply noise may cause this unit to malfunction or may pro­duce audible noise. If it is not practical to use a separate electrical outlet,
connect a power supply noise filter between this unit and the electrical
outlet.

• The AC adaptor will begin to generate heat after long hours of consecu­tive use. This is normal, and is not a cause for concern.

• The use of an AC adaptor is recommended as the unit’s power consump­tion is relatively high. Should you prefer to use batteries, please use the
rechargeable Ni-MH type.

•When installing or replacing batteries, always turn off the power on this
unit and disconnect any other devices you may have connected. This way,
you can prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices.

• Before connecting the FR-1 to other devices, turn off the power to all
units. This will help prevent malfunctions and/or damage to speakers or
other devices.

Placement

• This device may interfere with radio and television reception. Do not use
this device in the vicinity of such receivers.

• Noise may be produced if wireless communications devices, such as cell
phones, are operated in the vicinity of the FR-1. Such noise could occur
when receiving or initiating a call, or while conversing. Should you expe­rience such problems, you should relocate such wireless devices so they
are at a greater distance from this unit, or switch them off.

• Do not expose the FR-1 to direct sunlight, place it near devices that radi­ate heat, leave it inside an enclosed vehicle, or otherwise subject it to
temperature extremes. Excessive heat can deform or discolor the unit.

•When moved from one location to another where the temperature and/
or humidity is very different, water droplets (condensation) may form
inside the FR-1. Damage or malfunction may result if you attempt to use
the FR-1 in this condition. Therefore, before using the FR-1, you must
allow it to stand for several hours, until the condensation has completely

r

evaporated.

6

• Do not allow objects to remain on top of the keyboard or buttons. This
can be the cause of malfunction, such as keys or buttons ceasing to pro­duce sound.

• Depending on the material and temperature of the surface on which you
place the unit, its rubber feet may discolor or mar the surface. You can
place a piece of felt or cloth under the rubber feet to prevent this from
happening. If you do so, please make sure that the unit will not slip or
move accidentally.

Maintenance

• For everyday cleaning wipe the FR-1 with a soft, dry cloth or one that has
been slightly dampened with water. To remove stubborn dirt, use a cloth
impregnated with a mild, non-abrasive detergent. Afterwards, be sure to
wipe the unit thoroughly with a soft, dry cloth.

• Never use benzine, thinners, alcohol or solvents of any kind, to avoid the
possibility of discoloration and/or deformation.

Additional precautions

•Please be aware that the memory contents can be irretrievably lost as a
result of a malfunction, or the improper operation of the unit. To protect
yourself against the risk of loosing important data, we recommend that
you periodically save a backup copy of important data you have stored in
the unit’s memory (see p. 26).

•Please be aware that all data contained in the unit’s memory may be lost
when the unit is sent for repairs. Important data should always be backed
up (see p. 26), or written down on paper (when possible). During repairs,
due care is taken to avoid the loss of data. However, in certain cases (such
as when circuitry related to memory itself is out of order), we regret that
it may not be possible to restore the data, and Roland assumes no liability
concerning such loss of data.

• Unfortunately, it may be impossible to restore the contents of data that
was stored in the FR-1 memory once it has been lost. Roland Corporation
assumes no liability concerning such loss of data.

• Use a reasonable amount of care when using the FR-1’s buttons, sliders,
or other controls; and when using its jacks and connectors. Rough han­dling can lead to malfunctions.

•When connecting / disconnecting all cables, grasp the connector
itself—never pull on the cable. This way you will avoid causing shorts, or
damage to the cable’s internal elements.

• To avoid disturbing your neighbors, try to keep the FR-1’s volume at rea­sonable levels. You may prefer to use headphones, so you do not need to
be concerned about those around you (especially when it is late at night).

•When you need to transport the unit, package it in the box (including
padding) that it came in, if possible. Otherwise, you will need to use
equivalent packaging materials.

• Avoid touching or scratching the shiny underside (encoded surface) of
the supplied CD-ROM. Damaged or dirty CD-ROM discs may not be read
properly. Keep your discs clean using a commercially available CD cleaner.

• To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices,
always turn down the volume, and turn off the power on all devices
before making any connections.

• To prevent an inadvertent disruption of power to your unit (should the
plug be pulled out accidentally), and to avoid applying undue stress to
the AC adaptor jack, anchor the power cord using the cable strip, as
shown in the illustration.

V-Accordion

r

Precautions for optional batteries

• If a battery leaks fluid, changes color or shape or changes in any other
way, do not use it, otherwise it may cause heat generation, bursting or
fire.

Battery handling

• Incorrect handling of batteries, rechargeable batteries, or a battery
charger can cause leakage, overheating, fire, or explosion. Before use, you
must read and strictly observe all of the precautions that accompany the
batteries, rechargeable batteries, or battery charger. When using
rechargeable batteries and a charger, use only the combination of
rechargeable batteries and charger specified by the battery manufacturer.

Strap holder precaution

• Never unscrew the strap holder rings to avoid damaging the FR-1’s plas­tic housing, which eventually compromises overall stability and safety.

ENGLISH ENGLISH

Precautions for optional batteries

• The temperature range for use of the batteries depends on the battery
type being used. Please see the documentation that came with the bat­teries.

• Do not use or store batteries at high temperature, such as in strong direct
sunlight, in cars during hot weather or directly in front of heaters. This
may cause battery fluid leakage, impaired performance and shorten the
batteries’ service life.

• Do not splash fresh or saltwater on a battery or allow the terminals to
become damp. This may cause heat generation and formation of rust on
the battery and its terminals.

• If newly purchased batteries exhibit rust, generate heat or seem abnormal
in any other way, do not use them. Take them back to your dealer.

• Keep the batteries out of reach of babies or small children.

• Be sure to carefully instruct any person on the proper way of handling a
battery.

• Never dispose of the battery in a fire. Never heat it. Doing so may melt
the insulation, damage the gas release vents or protective devices, cause
combustion through chemical reaction with generated hydrogen, ejec­tion of battery fluid, bursting or fire.

• Do not use batteries with the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals
reversed, as this may drain the batteries or cause abnormal chemical
reactions.

• Do no strike or drop the batteries. Strong impact can cause leakage of
battery fluid, heat generation, bursting or fire.

• Never try to connect several batteries in parallel as this may cause leak­age of battery fluid, heat generation, bursting or fire.

• Do not alter or remove protective mechanisms or other parts. Never dis­assemble the batteries.

• If any fluid from a battery comes in contact with the eyes, flush the eyes
immediately, washing them thoroughly with clean water from a tap or
other source and consult a doctor. Strong alkaline fluid can damage the
eyes and lead to permanent loss of eyesight.

• If skin or clothing comes in contact with any fluid from the battery, wash
the area immediately with clean water from a tap. Battery fluid can cause
skin damage.

•When a battery is no longer usable, dispose of it in accordance with all
applicable local laws and regulations.

ENGLISH ENGLISH

7

FR-1 V-Accordion

Panel descriptions

3. Panel descriptions

Treble control panel

A

B

A

VOLUME knob

This knob allows you to set the V-Accordion’s overall vol­ume. Turn it all the way to the left (“POWER OFF”) to switch
the FR-1 off. Turn it towards the right to switch it on.

B

ORCH BASS button

This button is used to switch the ORCHESTRAL BASS sec­tion on and off.

C

LEFT REGISTER button

This button is used to assign the 3 Bass registers to the
BASS (light off) or CHORD section (light on). See page 16
for details.

D

ORCH CHORD button

This button is used to switch the ORCHESTRAL CHORD sec­tion on and off.

E

FUNCTION/SET register

This register has three functions: after pressing [SET] (it
flashes in blue), you can use the Treble registers to select
one of the following Sets. The Sets have been programmed
at the factory and cannot be changed.

1 CLASSIC 1+2 I FOLK
2 JAZZ 2+3 D FOLK
3 BANDONEON 3+4 F-FOLK
4 ALPINE

C

D

GHI JEF

F

Treble registers (1~8)

The Treble section provides the following 4 switches (“reg­isters”) that allow you to select 8 different accordion foot­ages.

Treble registers

1a Bassoon 3a Clarinet

1b Bandon 3b Musette

2a Master 4a Piccolo

2b Organ 4b Oboe

Each register [1] ~ [4] allows you to select two registrations.
When you select an accordion registration, the corre­sponding register lights green.

When you select Set 3+4, “F FOLK” , the footages change
as follows. This is not printed on the front panel, so please
refer to the table below:

Treble registers (Set 7= 3+4)

1a Bassoon 3a Sw Valse

1b Jazzy 3b Mr Gus

By pressing and holding [FUNCTION÷SET] , you gain access
to “hidden” parameters and MIDI functions. Press it
together with register [1] or [2] to change octaves. Press it
together with register [3] to check the battery status (see
p. 31)

r

8

2a Arnold 4a Av Musette

2b 4 Voix 4b SOS Musette

Registers [1] ~ [4] can be used to select the following orches­tral sounds (various musical instruments that are not
related to the accordion):

Orchestral registers (

1 Strings 3 Clarinet
2 Sax 4 Scat Voice

And finally, registers [1] ~ [4] allow you to select the follow­ing organ sounds:

Organ registers (

1 Full 3 R & B
2 Jazz 4 Perc

[ORCHESTRA]

[ORCHESTRA]

lights)

flashes)

Pressing the register of the selected sound again will
change the speed of the Rotary effect (fast or slow).

G

ORCHESTRA/ORGAN button

Press this button once (it lights) to be able to select an
orchestral sound for the treble keyboard (or buttons). Press
it again (it flashes) if you want to play an organ sound with
your right hand.

Press it yet again to return to the accordion sounds (the
button goes dark).

Note: The Treble section can be assigned one accordion sound, OR

one orchestral sound, OR one organ sound. Combinations (accordion
+ orchestral, for example) are not available.

H

USER PROG/DEC and METRONOME/INC buttons

The [USER¥PROG] button allows you to activate/switch off
the FR-1’s memory function (see p. 27). In FUNCTION
mode, this button is used to decrease the value of the
selected parameter.

Bass control panel

K

V-Accordion

The [METRONOME] button is used to switch the FR-1’s
metronome on and off (see p. 17). In FUNCTION mode, this
button is used to increase the value of the selected param­eter.

I

DRUMS/DEFAULT button

This button is used to switch the DRUMS function (see
p. 19) on and off. While FUNCTION mode is active (see
p. 21), this button allows you to recall the factory setting
for the selected parameter.

J

SONG/DEMO button

This button allows you to switch to SONG mode where you
can practice your left- or right-hand playing using one of
the 4 internal songs (the FR-1 plays the part of the other
hand). See page 18.

Press and hold this button to listen to the FR-1’s 8 demo
songs.

Bass control panel

r

ENGLISH ENGLISH

K

Bass registers

These registers allow you to select the desired bass (and
chord) mix. They include the following accordion footages:

Bass registers

18’/4’/2’

2 16’/8’/8-4’/4’/2’

3 16’/2’

Note: Each register is assigned to only one registration or sound
(unlike the treble registers, which allow you to select from two
sounds).

ENGLISH ENGLISH

The FR-1 allows you to play:

•accordion chord and bass sounds (like on an acoustic
accordion);

•accordion bass lines with orchestral chords (but no accor­dion chords);

•accordion chord parts with orchestral bass notes (but no
accordion bass notes).

• one orchestral bass sound and one chord sound
That explains why the bass registers’ assignments some­times depend on the status of the [LEFT¥REGISTER] button.
See p. 16 for details.

The bass registers are also used to select orchestral sounds
for the Bass or Chord section.

9

FR-1 V-Accordion

Panel descriptions

Connection panel

M

L

L

DC IN socket

This is where you can connect the supplied power
adaptor (PSB-1U). Note that you can also purchase 8
optional batteries and use the FR-1 without the
adaptor.

M

MIDI OUT/IN socket

This socket can be used to receive or transmit MIDI
data. Its function depends on the setting of the “MIDI
OUT/IN” parameter (see p. 26).

Note: After selecting the “MIDI IN” setting, you will hear noth­ing when you play on the FR-1’s keyboards: it will only respond
to MIDI messages received from an external device.

N

OUTPUT L/MONO (TREBLE) & R/MONO (BASS) sockets

These sockets can be connected to an amplifier, a
mixing console or a wireless system. If you use both
connectors, the FR-1’s output is stereo. In that case
the signal of the Treble section is transmitted mainly
to the L/MONO socket, while the R/MONO socket
transmits mainly the bass (and chord) signal. If you
only use one jack (connected to the “L” or “R” socket),
the FR-1’s output is mono.

N

O

PHONES socket

This is where you can connect the supplied earphones
or optional stereo headphones (Roland RH-A30,
RH-200s or RH-300). Doing so does not mute the
OUTPUT sockets.

Note: When using the supplied earphones, do not set the vol­ume too high (i.e. past “12 o’clock”) to avoid distortion.

Important remark

After connecting any cable to the FR-1, be sure to never
place it on the side when not using it.

•Always stand the V-Accordion on its rubber feet (and in
the corresponding direction) to avoid damaging the
plugs.

•Always handle and move the FR-1 with care and pay
special attention to the cable slack to avoid damaging
or bending the cables.

• If you place the FR-1 on your lap, ensure that the audio
and adaptor cables run between your legs (not side­ways) to avoid damaging or bending the cables.

O

Personalizing your FR-1

The artwork you see behind the treble registers (above the Roland logo) can be replaced either with one of the six sheets
supplied with the FR-1 or with a graphic you create yourself. To do so, proceed as follows:

(1) Use the supplied hexagonal wrench to loosen the

two screws holding the “traforo” cover:

There is one screw on either side.

Be careful not to turn the screws too far—they
should remain in the traforo cover.

r

(2) After loosening both screws, you can open the

traforo cover:

Note: Be careful not to scratch the housing of your FR-1.

(3) Remove the sheet from underneath the traforo

cover and insert another one.

While creating your own sheet, pay attention to the
following:

• You can use your color printer and a graphic program

to create your own artwork.

• Be sure to use paper or rather thin media—cardboard

is usually too thick.

•For a professional look, be sure to prepare a sheet

with the following dimensions: 297mm (L) x 89mm
(H).

(4) Secure the traforo cover by tightening the two

screws using the supplied hexagonal wrench.

10

V-Accordion

OUTPUT

L/MONO + R/MONO

INPUT

L + R

Use either a long signal cable (10m or more) or an optional wireless system (recommended).

To a wall outlet

r

Setting up

4. Setting up

Connections

The FR-1 has a compartment for 8 optional rechargeable Ni-MH (AA-type) batteries. Consider purchasing such batteries when per­forming on stage.

Using the OUTPUT sockets

The FR-1 needs to be connected to an
amplification system. If you are using
optional batteries and need to connect the
FR-1 to a PA system or mixer, we recom­mend using a wireless system to avoid hav­ing to use excessively long signal cables.

You can also use the supplied earphones or
a pair of optional headphones (Roland
RH-30A, RH-200, RH-200S or RH-300).

Note: To prevent malfunction and/or damage to
speakers or other devices, always turn down the
volume, and turn off the power on all devices before
making any connections.

Note: When using the supplied earphones, do not
set the volume too high (i.e. past “12 o’clock”) to
avoid distortion.

ENGLISH ENGLISH

Attaching the straps

Proceed as follows to attach the straps to your FR-1:

(1) Unpack the straps.
(2) Put the FR-1 on a stable surface.

The connection panel must face down.

(3) Slide the upper end of one strap through the holder ring

(see the illustration).

The upper end is the part with the Velcro portions and the
clip.

(4) Fasten the strap’s upper part to the Velcro layer below it.

ENGLISH ENGLISH

(5) Close the security clip to ensure that the strap cannot

come loose.

(6) Repeat steps (3)~(5) for the other strap.

The upper strap ends should look as follows:

(7) Turn the FR-1 around (with the connection panel on the

left side, see below).

11

FR-1 V-Accordion

Setting up

(8) Slide the lower end of one strap through the

holder ring as shown.

(9) Slide the strap end through the upper eyelet of its

plastic buckle (see the illustration).

Strap holder precaution

Never unscrew the strap holder rings to avoid damag­ing the FR-1’s plastic housing, which eventually com­promises overall stability and safety.

Bass strap precaution

Never hold your V-Accordion by its bass strap when
carrying it. Otherwise, the bottom of the “cassa bassi”
enclosure or the strap may get damaged.

Securing the adapter, MIDI and/or audio cables

Proceed as follows to ensure that the adapter cable, a
MIDI cable or the audio cables doesn’t/don’t come
loose while you are playing.

Your FR-1 comes with an adapter and an attachment
strip that allows you to secure the adapter cable and
optional MIDI as well as audio cables to the right strap.

(1) Prepare the adapter cable and the attachment

strip as follows:

(10) Turn the strap end around and insert it into the

lower eyelet, then pull it tight.

(11) Slide the plastic clip over the loose and long lower

strap ends to secure the strap.

Be sure to attach the strip before the ferrite core on
the adapter cable. If you like, you can also add the
MIDI cable and audio cables to this assembly.

(2) Secure the attachment strip as shown in the illus-

tration, making sure that the ferrite core cannot
slide out of the loop.

Note: You may want to adjust the length first to suit your
preference.

(12) Repeat steps (8)~(11) for the other lower strap

end.

r

12