Roland maxWerk User Manual

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Listening to the demo song

fig.Cover

1. Hold down the [EXIT] button and press the [> (CURSOR)] button.

The demo play screen will appear.

2. Press the [VALUE] dial ([ENTER]) to start playback.

3. Turn the [PITCH]/[TIME]/[FORMANT] knobs to adjust these parameters.

4. Press the [ENTER] button to stop playback. If you press the [EXIT] button, you're returned to the demo play screen.

* In addition to the VariOS demo song described here, you can also listen to V-Producer demo songs (p. 41). * Since the demo song is stored in internal memory, it will not play if you have deleted the demo song data

from internal memory. In this case, refer to “Reloading the internal demo song into the VariOS”(p. 129).

* Use of the song data supplied with this product for any purpose other than private, personal enjoyment

without the permission of the copyright holder is prohibited by law. Additionally, this data must not be copied, nor used in a secondary copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright holder.

User Guide

For details on all functions and screens of the VariOS, refer to "VariOS Reference Manual" (VariOS_Reference_E.pdf), found in the English -- Manual (PDF) folder of the CDROM. This manual can also be viewed by using the V-Producer "Help" command. This manual also contains information such as a MIDI implementation chart for the VariOS.

Adobe Corporation's Acrobat Reader is required in order to read the PDF file. You can download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe website (http:// www.adobe.com/). This address may change without notice.

Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” (p. 154), “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” (pp. 2--3), and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (pp. 4--5). 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 unit, User Guide should be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference.

written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

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.

001

• Before using this unit, make sure to read the instructions below, and the Owner’s Manual.

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002a

• Do not open or perform any internal modifications on the unit.

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003

• Do not attempt to repair the unit, 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.

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004

• Never use or store the unit 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.

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005

• This unit should be used only with a rack or stand that is recommended by Roland.

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006

• When using the unit with a rack or stand recommended by Roland, the rack or stand must be carefully placed so it is level and sure to remain stable. If not using a rack or stand, you still need to make sure that any location you choose for placing the unit provides a level surface that will properly support the unit, and keep it from wobbling.

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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.

008a

• The unit should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions, or as marked on the side of unit.

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008ey

• Use only the attached power-supply cord.

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009

• Do not excessively twist or bend the power 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!

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010

• This unit, 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 unit, and consult an audiologist.

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011

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

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013

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

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014

• Protect the unit from strong impact.

(Do not drop it!)

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015

• Do not force the unit’s power-supply cord 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.

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016

• Before using the unit in a foreign country, consult with your retailer, the nearest Roland Service Center, or an authorized Roland distributor, as listed on the "Information" page.

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023

• 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.

101a

• The unit should be located so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation.

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102b

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

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104

• 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.

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106

• Never climb on top of, nor place heavy objects on the unit.

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107b

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

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108a

• Before moving the unit, disconnect the power plug from the outlet, and pull out all cords from external devices.

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109a

• Before cleaning the unit, turn off the power and unplug the power cord from the outlet.

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110a

• Whenever you suspect the possibility of lightning in your area, pull the plug on the power cord out of the outlet.

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118

• Whenever you've removed any screws—whether it be when connecting something to the ground terminal, or when installing a rack-mount adaptor —be sure to place the screws out of reach of small children, so they won't be swallowed accidentally.

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IMPORTANT NOTES

291b

In addition to the items listed under “IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS” and “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” on pages 2, 3 and 4, please read and observe the following:

Power Supply

301

• Do not use this unit on the same power circuit with any device that will generate line noise (such as an electric motor or variable lighting system).

307

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

Placement

351

• Using the unit near power amplifiers (or other equipment containing large power transformers) may induce hum. To alleviate the problem, change the orientation of this unit; or move it farther away from the source of interference.

352a

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

352b

• Noise may be produced if wireless communications devices, such as cell phones, are operated in the vicinity of this unit. 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.

354a

• Do not expose the unit 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.

355

• To avoid possible breakdown, do not use the unit in a wet area, such as an area exposed to rain or other moisture.

Maintenance

401a

• For everyday cleaning wipe the unit 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.

402

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

Additional Precautions

551

• Please be aware that the contents of memory 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 on a PC card.

552

• Unfortunately, it may be impossible to restore the contents of data that was stored on a PC card once it has been lost. Roland Corporation assumes no liability concerning such loss of data.

553

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

554

• Never strike or apply strong pressure to the display.

556

• 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.

557

•A small amount of heat will radiate from the unit during normal operation.

558a

• To avoid disturbing your neighbors, try to keep the unit’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).

559a

• 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.

562

• Use a cable from Roland to make the connection. If using some other make of connection cable, please note the following precautions.

• Some connection cables contain resistors. Do not use cables that incorporate resistors for connecting to this unit. The use of such cables can cause the sound level to be extremely low, or impossible to hear. For information on cable specifications, contact the manufacturer of the cable.

563

• Unauthorized duplication, reproduction, hiring, and lending prohibited.

564

• Before you open the included CD-ROM, you must read the “license agreement.” Opening the CD-ROM will be taken to mean your acceptance of the license agreement.

Using PC Cards

704

• Carefully insert the PC card all the way in—until it is firmly in place.

fig.PC card

Eject

705

• Never touch the terminals of the PC card. Also, avoid getting the terminals dirty.

Handling CD-ROMs

801

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

Supported cards:

PC card, Compact Flash Type II compliant You can use microdrives or media conversion cards that are compliant with "Compact Flash Type II."

Interface specification:

PC Card ATA

Operating voltage:

5 V

* Cards that operate on 5 V or 5 V/3.3 V can be inserted.

Cards that operate only on 3.3 V cannot be used.

• In order to use a PC card, you must first format it using the VariOS, according to the procedure described in

“8-5 Format”

(p. 115).

of this document.

• Do not insert cards whose specifications differ from those listed above. Doing so may damage the device.

• Never insert or remove a PC card while data is being written to the card or while a formatting operation is being executed. Doing so may damage the device.

851

• Unauthorized recording, distribution, sale, lending, public performance, broadcasting, or the like, in whole or in part, of a work (musical composition, video, broadcast, public performance, or the like) whose copyright is held by a third party is prohibited by law.

853

• Do not use this unit for purposes that could infringe on a copyright held by a third party. We assume no responsibility whatsoever with regard to any infringements of third-party copyrights arising through your use of this unit.

204

* Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

206e

* Screen shots in this documents are reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.

ADD

* Windows® XP is known officially as: “Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system.”

206f

* Windows® 2000 is known officially as: “Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system.”

206g

* Windows® Me is known officially as: “Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition operating system.”

207

* Apple and Macintosh are registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

209

* MacOS is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

220

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

231

* OMS is a registered trademark of Opcode Systems, Inc.

232

* FreeMIDI is a trademark of Mark of the Unicorn, Inc.

233

* VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies AG.

USING THE UNIT SAFELY......................................................................2

IMPORTANT NOTES ...............................................................................4

Contents ..................................................................................................6

Introduction...........................................................................................11

Check the contents of the package.........................................................................................................12

Startup.........................................13

Names of Things and What They Do...................................................14

Front Panel.................................................................................................................................................14

Rear Panel.................................................................................................................................................. 15

V-Producer screen....................................................................................................................................16

Restoring the factory settings (Factory Reset)......................................................................................18

Connections with external devices.....................................................19

Attaching the rackmount adaptors........................................................................................................19

Connecting MIDI and audio devices.....................................................................................................20

Installation.............................................................................................21

Windows users..........................................................................................................................................21

Installing V-Producer ................................................................................................................... 21

Installing the Driver...................................................................................................................... 22

Macintosh users........................................................................................................................................ 31

About the included MIDI drivers............................................................................................... 32

Installing OMS...............................................................................................................................32

Installing V-Producer ................................................................................................................... 33

Connections and OMS setup.......................................................................................................34

MIDI and audio settings........................................................................38

Listening to the demo songs...............................................................41

Loading the demo songs .........................................................................................................................41

Playing the demo song ............................................................................................................................ 42

Turning the VariOS on/off ....................................................................43

Turning on the VariOS when connected to a computer..................................................................... 43

Turning off the VariOS when connected to a computer..................................................................... 44

Contents

Operation Guide: Software

(V-Producer).................................45

An overview of V-Producer..................................................................46

What is VariPhrase?......................................................................................................................48

What is encoding?......................................................................................................................... 49

Loading wave files (Load Wave Files) ................................................50

Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List) ..................52

Auditioning a sample ..............................................................................................................................53

Switching the keyboard map.................................................................................................................. 54

(Phrase Map)..................................................................................................................................54

(Groove Map).................................................................................................................................54

Deleting a sample.....................................................................................................................................55

Copying a sample.....................................................................................................................................55

Editing the sample parameters (Sample Edit)....................................56

Key Assign mode .......................................................................................................................... 56

Playback mode...............................................................................................................................57

Robot (robot voice switch)........................................................................................................... 58

Reset................................................................................................................................................58

Re-encoding a sample (Wave Edit) .....................................................59

Waveform preview ....................................................................................................................... 59

Changing the encoding type .......................................................................................................60

Changing the original tempo ......................................................................................................60

Changing the location of a event ................................................................................................61

Creating a song (Vari Track)................................................................62

Changing the tempo................................................................................................................................. 62

Setting the time signature........................................................................................................................62

Arranging samples................................................................................................................................... 63

Editing a frame..........................................................................................................................................64

Select the frame to edit.................................................................................................................64

Moving a frame ............................................................................................................................. 65

Changing the length of a frame...................................................................................................65

Copying a frame............................................................................................................................65

Deleting a frame............................................................................................................................66

Loop playback........................................................................................................................................... 67

Using the Quick Loop function to set the loop region.............................................................67

Editing the settings of a frame (Frame Properties)..............................................................................68

Solo/Mute/Volume/Pan settings.........................................................................................................68

Playing your MIDI keyboard and recording

(RealTime Rec)..........................................................................................................................................69

Phrase editing (Scope Editor)..............................................................70

Phrase scope................................................................................................................................... 70

Groove scope .................................................................................................................................70

Editing in the Phrase Scope ................................................................71

Waveform display area................................................................................................................71

Note display area .......................................................................................................................... 71

Controller display area.................................................................................................................71

Contents

Editing the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics...................................................................................... 72

Erasing controller data ................................................................................................................. 74

Editing notes .............................................................................................................................................75

Grid Snap setting........................................................................................................................... 75

Selecting multiple notes ............................................................................................................... 75

Changing the pitch (fixed movement of the note upward or downward)........................... 76

Adjusting the legato timing......................................................................................................... 76

Moving a note to another position .............................................................................................76

Adding a note................................................................................................................................76

Changing the length of a note.....................................................................................................77

Erasing a note ................................................................................................................................77

Copying a note...............................................................................................................................77

Dividing a note.............................................................................................................................. 77

Joining two notes........................................................................................................................... 78

Editing the velocity....................................................................................................................... 78

Modify Recording.....................................................................................................................................79

Quantize..................................................................................................................................................... 80

Editing in the Groove Scope................................................................81

Original waveform display area.................................................................................................81

Slice (note) display area................................................................................................................81

Controller display area.................................................................................................................81

Editing the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics...................................................................................... 82

Editing a slice (note).................................................................................................................................82

Selecting multiple slices ............................................................................................................... 82

Moving a slice................................................................................................................................ 82

Adding a slice................................................................................................................................83

Adjusting the length of a slice..................................................................................................... 83

Deleting a slice...............................................................................................................................83

Copying a slice by dragging and dropping ..............................................................................83

Copying a slice with the Copy and Paste commands.............................................................. 84

Modify Recording.....................................................................................................................................84

Quantize..................................................................................................................................................... 84

Saving....................................................................................................85

Saving a song ............................................................................................................................................85

Exporting a wave file...............................................................................................................................85

Using the effects of the VariOS (Mixer) ..............................................86

Using the Mixer ........................................................................................................................................ 86

Using effects..............................................................................................................................................87

MULTI (Multi-effect).................................................................................................................... 87

CHORUS ........................................................................................................................................87

REVERB.......................................................................................................................................... 87

Switching the effect type..............................................................................................................88

Taking advantage of the VariOS Keyboard(VariOS Keyboard) ........89

Using the VariOS Keyboard....................................................................................................................89

Note name display........................................................................................................................ 89

Turning a note on/off from your computer keyboard............................................................ 90

Surface controller .......................................................................................................................... 90

Contents

Operation guide:

Sound module (VariOS) ................91

An overview of the VariOS...................................................................92

Internal structure of the VariOS............................................................................................................. 92

“Samples” and “performances”..................................................................................................92

To play sounds ..............................................................................................................................92

Saving sounds................................................................................................................................92

What is “keyboard map”?............................................................................................................ 92

Sample playback ...........................................................................................................................92

Maximum sample time.................................................................................................................92

Maximum polyphony................................................................................................................... 92

Basic operation of the VariOS .............................................................94

The screen and basic operation .............................................................................................................. 94

Switching the screen ................................................................................................................................94

Editing a value..........................................................................................................................................95

Assigning a name ..................................................................................................................................... 96

Selecting a sample .................................................................................................................................... 97

Changing the tempo of a sample ...........................................................................................................98

Tempo sync setting.......................................................................................................................99

Playing the VariOS from a connected keyboard (MIDI Mode)....................................................... 100

PC mode ....................................................................................................................................... 100

Internal mode...............................................................................................................................100

Changing how the sounds are produced............................................................................................ 102

Changing the Keyboard Map setting....................................................................................... 102

Changing the Key Assign Mode............................................................................................... 102

Changing the Playback Mode ................................................................................................... 103

Loading and saving................................................................................................................................ 103

VariOS Menu Reference.....................................................................104

Menu 1 Sample Edit (sample settings)................................................................................................ 105

Menu 2 Part Edit (part settings) ........................................................................................................... 107

Menu 3 Controller Edit (Controller settings) .....................................................................................108

Menu 4 Effect Edit (Effect settings)...................................................................................................... 111

Menu 5 Tune (Tuning settings)............................................................................................................112

Menu 6 Utility......................................................................................................................................... 112

Menu 7 System........................................................................................................................................ 113

Menu 8 DISK........................................................................................................................................... 113

Contents

Appendix...................................117

Synchronization settings ...................................................................118

Synchronizing as a slave (MIDI Clock)............................................................................................... 118

V-Producer synchronization settings.......................................................................................119

ProTools........................................................................................................................................ 120

Logic Audio..................................................................................................................................120

Cubase VST..................................................................................................................................121

SONAR 2.0 ................................................................................................................................... 122

Synchronizing as a slave (MTC)...........................................................................................................123

Synchronization settings on the master device ......................................................................123

Synchronizing as the master (MIDI Clock).........................................................................................124

Synchronization settings on the slave device(s)..................................................................... 124

Synchronizing as the master (MTC) .................................................................................................... 125

Synchronization settings on the slave device(s)..................................................................... 125

Controlling the VariOS from your MIDI sequencer..........................126

Using your MIDI sequencer to play data (SMF)

created by V-Producer........................................................................127

Export SMF data..........................................................................................................................127

Load the SMF data into your MIDI sequencer .......................................................................127

When not using the USB MIDI functionality of the VariOS

(Connecting the VariOS to an external MIDI interface) ...................128

Connections.............................................................................................................................................128

MIDI port settings in V-Producer ........................................................................................................ 128

MIDI MODE setting on the VariOS..................................................................................................... 128

Reloading the internal demo song into the VariOS.........................129

Troubleshooting..................................................................................130

Problems related to the USB driver (Windows) ................................................................................130

Problems related to the USB driver (Macintosh)............................................................................... 133

Problems when using the VariOS........................................................................................................134

Deleting the driver ................................................................................................................................. 142

List of messages.................................................................................144

Error messages displayed by V-Producer...........................................................................................144

VariOS (sound module) related errors.....................................................................................144

V-Producer errors........................................................................................................................144

Errors displayed by the VariOS (sound module)..............................................................................146

MIDI-related ................................................................................................................................ 146

Hardware-related........................................................................................................................146

Disk and file-related ...................................................................................................................146

List of shortcuts..................................................................................148

Specifications......................................................................................150

INDEX...................................................................................................151

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS .............................................154

Introduction

Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the VariOS. The VariOS is a completely new type of audio-based music production environment, which consists of a VariPhrase sound generator (VariOS) and software (V-Producer for VariOS). VariPhrase not only lets you edit the tempo and pitch of audio material as easily as you can with MIDI data, it also provides pinpoint control—graphically, and in real time—over any region within a phrase sample that you choose to focus in on. Processes that were difficult to perform on previous audio-based music production systems can now be performed with breathtaking ease on the VariOS.

Conventions followed in this manual

• indicates Windows-related explanations.

• and indicate MacOS-related explanations.

MacOS

Introduction

Check the contents of the package

This package contains the following items. When you open the package, check that no items are missing. If any items are missing, please contact your dealer.

VariOS

fig.01-00aPanel_50

AC cable

This is the only AC cable you should use with the VariOS. Do not use any AC cable other than the supplied one, since doing so may cause malfunction.

Rackmount adaptor

Use this if you want to install the VariOS in an audio rack. For details on how to attach the adaptor, refer to “Attaching the rackmount adaptors” (p. 19).

❏

VariOS CD-ROM

This CD-ROM contains the VariOS drivers and software (V-Producer).

* Please be sure to read the included license agreement before you open the CD-ROM case. * Do not touch the shiny side (data side) of the disc, or allow it to become scratched. The disc may become

unreadable if you do so. If the disc gets dirty, use a commercially available CD cleaner to clean it.

❏ License agreement

This license agreement permits you to use specific software whose copyright is owned by Roland Corporation. You must read this before you open the CD-ROM case.

■ VariOS User Guide

This is the manual you are holding. It describes how to connect the VariOS and get it set up, guides you through its basic operation, and offers solutions for some of the problems you may run into.

* For details on all functions and screens of the VariOS, refer to "VariOS Reference Manual"

(VariOS_Reference_E.pdf), found in the English -- Manual (PDF) folder of the CD-ROM. This manual can also be viewed by using the V-Producer "Help" command. This manual also contains information such as a MIDI implementation chart for the VariOS. Adobe Corporation’s Acrobat Reader is required in order to read the PDF file. You can download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe website (http://www.adobe.com/). This address may change without notice.

Startup

This section introduces the basic concepts of the VariOS, and explains how to install the software and drivers, and how to make connections with external devices.

Names of Things and What They Do

Front Panel

fig.01-01PanelFront_75

A. PC Card Slot

This is used when saving VariOS data (p. 114).

B. PITCH/TIME/FORMANT Knobs

PITCH (C1) Knob Modifies the pitch. TIME (C2) Knob Modifies the playback speed (time). FORMANT (C3) Knob Modifies the tonal character (formant).

You are free to assign the parameter that will be adjusted by each knob (p. 108). The above assignments are the power-on defaults.

C. Indicators

MIDI Lights when a MIDI message is received. TEMPO Blinks at the tempo (p. 98). PC Lights when the MIDI mode of the VariOS is “PC” (p. 100). USB Lights when connected to a computer via USB.

D. Display

Various information is shown here according to the operations you perform.

E. MENU Button

Accesses the various functions of the VariOS.

F. EXIT Button

Returns you to the previously displayed screen (p. 94). Depending on the content of the menu, this button also functions as CANCEL.

DGHIJK

G. CURSOR Buttons

Used to move the cursor (p. 95).

H. VALUE Dial

Turn this dial to edit a value. Pressing the VALUE dial will function as ENTER (confirm). If you turn the VALUE dial while pressing it, the value will change in larger steps (p. 95).

I. VOLUME Knob

Adjusts the overall volume that is output from the MAIN OUT jacks and the HEADPHONE jack. By pressing the VOLUME knob you can audition (preview) the current sample.

J. PHONES Jack

You can connect a set of headphones to this jack. Use headphones with an impedance in the range of 32–600 ohms.

fig.1-01a

K. POWER Switch

Turns the power of the VariOS on/off (p. 43). The power is on when the switch is in the inward position, and off when the switch is in the outward position.

Power is on when switch is depressed

Power is off when switch is released

Rear Panel

fig.01-02PanelRear_75

LNOPQRM

L. AC Inlet

Connect the supplied power cord here.

* For details on the power consumption, refer to p. 150.

The unit should be connected to a power source only of the type marked on the side of unit.

M. Grounding Terminal

In some cases, depending on the environment in which the unit is installed, the surface of the panel may sometimes feel rough and grainy. This is due to an infinitesimal electrical charge, which is absolutely harmless. However, if you are concerned about this, connect the ground terminal (see figure) with an external ground. When the unit is grounded, a slight hum may occur, depending on the particulars of your installation. If you are unsure of the connection method, contact the nearest Roland Service Center, or an authorized Roland distributor, as listed on the “Information” page.

● Unsuitable places for connection

• Water pipes (may result in shock or electrocution)

• Gas pipes (may result in fire or explosion)

• Telephone-line ground or lightning rod (may be dangerous in the event of lightning)

Names of Things and What They Do

N. USB Connector

Use a USB cable to connect the VariOS to your computer.

O. MIDI Connectors

Connect external MIDI devices here (p. 20). Use MIDI cables (sold separately) to make connections.

IN Receives MIDI messages from an external device. OUT Transmits MIDI messages to an external device.

P. DIGITAL OUT

These jacks output digital audio signals (stereo). Two types are provided; optical and coaxial. Output settings are made in the screen where you specify the effect signal flow (p. 86, p. 111). You can use both types of OUT connector simultaneously; they will output the same sound.

Q. INPUT

Connect a line-level source or mic here if you want to input audio into the VariOS.

AUDIO IN Jacks

LEVEL Knob Adjusts the level at which audio is input from the AUDIO IN jacks. GAIN switch Switches the AUDIO IN input jacks between line level and mic level.

* The audio signal that is input to AUDIO IN will be mixed with the sound of the VariOS and output from MAIN OUT.

R. OUTPUT

Connect your amp or mixer to these jacks. Output settings are made in the screen where you specify the effect signal flow (p. 86, p. 111).

DIRECT OUT Jacks Output the sound unprocessed by effects or only the multi-effect sound in stereo. MAIN OUT Jacks

Output the audio signal in stereo. If you want to use monaural output, connect only the L jack.

Names of Things and What They Do

V-Producer screen

fig.02-03_75

A. Locator (p. 41)

The locator contains functions for controlling the playback of V-Producer, such as song play/ stop.

B. Sample List (p. 52)

Sample List displays a list of the samples that are loaded into the VariOS. To load a sample into the VariOS, press the [b’] (Load Wave Files) button (p. 50) and load a wave file (.wav or aiff) from your computer. At this time the wave file will automatically be converted (encoded) into a format that allows VariPhrase processing to be used. The samples shown in the sample list can be played directly from your MIDI keyboard. You can also drag and drop them to arrange them in the Vari Track. To display the Sample List, click the [b] (Sample Info) button located at the bottom of the screen.

C. Sample Edit (p. 56)

Sample Edit lets you set various parameters for the samples in the sample list. These settings determine how the sample will sound. To display Sample Edit, click the [b] (Sample Info) button located at the bottom of the screen.

Names of Things and What They Do

D. Wave Edit (p. 59)

Wave Edit lets you re-encode samples from the sample list (e.g., to change their encoding type or modify the tempo data). To display Wave Edit, click the [b] (Sample Info) button located at the bottom of the screen, and then click the [d] (Wave Edit) tab.

E. Vari Track (p. 62)

Vari Track is the basic screen you will use when creating a song. Drag and drop samples from the sample list to arrange them into a song. Samples that are placed in this way are called “frames.”

F. Frame Properties (p. 68)

Frame Properties lets you modify the settings (volume, pitch, location, etc.) of a frame in the Vari Track.

G. Scope Editor (p. 70)

Scope Editor is where you edit playback data for the frames that are placed in the Vari Track. Here you can edit Pitch, Time, Formant, volume (Dynamics), and notes. To display the Scope Editor, click the [g] (Scope Editor) button located at the bottom of the screen, or double-click a frame that has been placed in the Vari Track.

The Scope Editor provides two methods of editing.

• If you want to freely modify the melody by editing the notes (pitch) of a phrase:

Phrase Scope

[Edits apply to] ..........Green frames that were placed with the sample list Keyboard Map (p. 54)

set to [P].

• If you want to divide a phrase into events and change the playback order:

Groove Scope

[Edits apply to] ..........Purple frames that were placed with the sample list Keyboard Map (p.

54) set to [G].

Names of Things and What They Do

Restoring the factory settings (Factory Reset)

Here’s how to restore the VariOS to the factory-set condition.

1. Press the [MENU] button so it’s lighted. The MENU screen will appear.

* Initially, the MENU screen will show the most recently selected menu. You need to go to the top level

menu. You can get there by pressing and continuing to hold the [MENU] button for a few moments (when the [MENU] button is not illuminated), or by pressing the [EXIT] button.

2. Turn the [VALUE] knob to select “Menu 6 Utility,” and press the [VALUE] knob.

3. Turn the [VALUE] knob to select “Menu 6-4 Factory Reset,” and press the [VALUE]

knob.

4. The display will ask “Factory Reset OK?,” so press the [VALUE] knob.

* If you press the [EXIT] button, the Factory Reset operation will be cancelled. * This operation will not restore the internal demo song of the VariOS. Please read “Reloading the

VariOS internal demo song” (p. 129).

Connections with external devices

Attaching the rackmount adaptors

If you want to install the VariOS in a rack, attach the rackmount adaptors as shown in the diagram.

fig.angle

Remove three screws (on each side) from the right and left panels of the VariOS.

Using the screws you removed in step 1, attach the rackmount brackets to the VariOS. You must use the screws that you removed. Do not use any other screws.

Connections with external devices

Connecting MIDI and audio devices

Connect your MIDI and audio devices to the VariOS as shown in the diagram below.

Do not connect the USB cable at this time. You will connect it later during the “Installation” (p. 21) procedure. (If you connect the USB cable to your computer, installation of the USB driver will begin.)

fig.02-connect.eps

* 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.

Set the GAIN switch to LINE, and adjust the INPUT level.

Headphones

Front

USB connector

USB cable

USB

Audio

outputs

INPUT

* This can be switched by Audio

Input Jack (p. 113).

VariOS

MIDI keyboard

MIDI IN

MIDI cable

MIDI OUT

OUTPUT(MAIN)

INPUT

Powered Speaker

If you have a MIDI interface that you are already using, you may connect your MIDI keyboard to the MIDI interface as shown below.

fig.02-MIDI.eps

MIDI interface

MIDI IN

MIDI cable

MIDI OUT

VariOS

MIDI keyboard

USB cable

USB

Installation

This chapter explains how to install the software and connect the VariOS with your equipment.

The installation procedure will differ depending on your system. Please proceed to one of the following sections, depending on the system you use.

• Windows users.....................................................p. 21

• Macintosh users...................................................p. 31

Windows users

■ Installing V-Producer

If you are using Windows XP Professional/2000, you must log on using a user name with an administrative account type (e.g., Administrator).

2 3

Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your computer.

* Exit all currently running software (applications) before you perform the

installation.

Click the Windows start menu, and from the menu, select “Run...”. Open the “Run...” dialog box.

In the dialog box that appears, input the following into the “Open” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\V-Producer\Setup.exe

When the Choose Setup Language dialog box appears, make sure that “English” is selected, and click [OK].

The installer will start up. Follow the on-screen directions to perform the installation.

* If an earlier version of V-Producer is already installed, you'll be presented with the

“Confirm File Deletion” dialog box. Click [OK] to delete the old version of VProducer.

V-Producer 1.x (for VP-9000) cannot be used simultaneously with this version of V-Producer.

The drive name “D:” may

e different for your system. Specify the drive name of your CD-ROM drive. To check the drive name of your CD-ROM drive, double-click the My Computer icon.

The InstallShield Wizard Complete dialog box will appear.

Next, install the driver. (->Installing the Driver (p. 22))

Installation

■ Installing the Driver

Here's how to install the driver that allows the VariOS to be detected and handled as a MIDI device and an external storage device (expansion drive) of your computer.

The installation procedure will differ depending on your system. Please proceed to one of the following sections, depending on the system you use.

• Windows XP users ..............................................p. 22

• Windows 2000 users............................................p. 26

• Windows Me users..............................................p. 29

Windows XP users

◆ Preparations for installing the driver

With the VariOS disconnected, start up Windows. You must log on using a user name with an administrative account type

(e.g., Administrator).

What is a driver? A “driver” is software that transfers data between the VariOS and application software running on your computer, when your computer and the VariOS are connected by a USB cable. The driver sends data from your application to the VariOS, and from the VariOS to your application.

Disconnect all USB cables except for a USB keyboard and USB mouse (if used).

Open the System Properties dialog box.

1. Click the Windows start menu, and from the menu, select Control Panel.

2. In “Pick a category”, click “Performance and Maintenance.”

3. In “or pick a Control Panel icon”, click the System icon.

fig.2-1

Click the Hardware tab, and then click [Driver Signing].

Open the Driver Signing Options dialog box.

Make sure that “Driver Signing Options” is set to “Ignore.”

Depending on how your system is set up, the System icon may be displayed directly in the Control Panel (the Classic view). In this case doubleclick the System icon.

If it is set to “Ignore”, simply click [OK]. If it is not set to “Ignore”, make a note of the current setting (“Warn” or “Block”). Then change the setting to “Ignore” and click [OK].

Installation

5 6

Click [OK] to close the System Properties dialog box.

Exit all currently running software (applications). Also close any open windows. If you are using virus checking or similar

software, be sure to exit it as well.

Prepare the CD-ROM. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your computer.

Click the Windows start menu, and from the menu, select “Run...”. Open the “Run...” dialog box.

In the dialog box that appears, input the following into the “Open” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\Driver\USB_XP2K\SETUPINF.EXE

* The drive name “D:” may be different for your system. Specify the drive name of

your CD-ROM drive.

After installing the driver, restore the original setting.

The SetupInf dialog box will appear. You are now ready to install the driver.

◆ Installing the driver

Use the USB cable to connect the VariOS to your computer.

fig.02-USB

Computer

Set the VariOS’s power switch to the ON position. Near the task bar, your computer will indicate “Found New Hardware”.

Please wait.

USB connector

USB cable

VariOS (Rear)

You must power up the VariOS according to the procedure given on p. 43.

Installation

The Found New Hardware Wizard will appear. Make sure that the screen indicates “Roland VariOS,” select “Install from

a list or specific location (Advanced),” and click [Next].

fig.2-7_20

The screen will indicate “Please choose your search and installation options.”

Select “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install,” and click [Next].

Make sure that the “Model” field indicates “Roland VariOS,” and click [Next]. Driver installation will begin.

If the “Driver Signing Options” setting was not set to “Ignore”, a “Hardware Installation” dialog box will appear.

If “Driver Signing Options” is set to “Warn,”

fig.2-5

1. Click [Continue Anyway].

2. Continue the installation.

If “Driver Signing Options” is set to “Block,”

fig.2-5a

1. Click [OK].

2. When the “Found New Hardware Wizard” appears,

click [Finish].

3. Using the procedure described in the

“Troubleshooting” section “Q. Device Manager shows “?”, “!”, or “USB Composite Device”” (p.

131), delete the data for the VariOS that was wrongly detected. Then install the driver using the procedure described in

“Installing the Driver” (p. 22). When doing so, set “Driver Signing Options”in step 4 to "Ignore."

The Insert Disk dialog box will appear. Click [OK].

The Insert Disk dialog may not appear. In that case, proceed to next step.

The Files Needed dialog box will appear. Input the following into the “Copy files from” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\Driver\USB_XP2K

The Found New Hardware Wizard will appear. Make sure that the display indicated “Roland VariOS,” and click Finish.

Wait until “Found New Hardware” appears near the taskbar. A “VARIOS_DRV” window will appear. Click the [X] (close) button to close the “VARIOS_DRV” window.

Installation

The drive name “D:” may

e different for your system. Specify the drive name of your CD-ROM drive.

When driver installation has been completed, the System Settings Change dialog box will appear.

Click [Yes]. Windows will restart automatically.

If you were unable to (install the VariOS driver as directed, or if you are unable to use the VariOS even after installing the driver, please delete the driver. (->Deleting the driver (p.

142))

You have finished installing the VariOS driver.

Next, proceed to “MIDI and audio settings” (p. 38).

If you changed the driver signature option...

If you changed the driver signature option in step 4, restore the original setting after Windows restarts. After you have restored the original setting, proceed to “MIDI and audio settings” (p. 38).

Installation

Windows 2000 users

◆ Preparations for installing the driver

With the VariOS disconnected, start up Windows.

Log on to Windows as a user with administrative privileges (such as Administrator).

Open the System Properties dialog box. Click the Windows start menu, and from the menu, select Settings |

Control Panel. In Control Panel, double-click the System icon.

fig.05-2e_30

Click the Hardware tab, and then click [Driver Signature].

Disconnect all USB cables except for a USB keyboard and USB mouse (if used).

6 7

Open the Driver Signing Options dialog box.

Make sure that “Driver Signing Options” is set to “Ignore.” If it is set to “Ignore”, simply click [OK].

If it is not set to “Ignore”, make a note of the current setting (“Warn” or “Block”). Then change the setting to “Ignore” and click [OK].

Click [OK] to close the System Properties dialog box.

Exit all currently running software (applications). Also close any open windows. If you are using virus checking or similar

software, be sure to exit it as well.

After installing the driver, restore the original setting.

Prepare the CD-ROM. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your computer.

Click the Windows start menu, and from the menu, select “Run...”. Open the “Run...” dialog box.

In the dialog box that appears, input the following into the “Open” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\DRIVER\USB_XP2K\SETUPINF.EXE

The SetupInf dialog box will appear. You are now ready to install the driver.

◆ Installing the driver

Use the USB cable to connect the VariOS to your computer.

fig.02-USB

Installation

The drive name “D:” may

e different for your system. Specify the drive name of your CD-ROM drive.

Computer

USB cable

USB connector

Set the VariOS’s power switch to the ON position.

If the “Driver Signing Options” setting was not set to “Ignore”, a “Digital Signature Not Found” dialog box will appear.

If “Driver Signing Options” is set to “Warn,”

1. Click [Yes].

2. Continue the installation.

If “Driver Signing Options” is set to “Block”

VariOS (Rear)

You must power up the VariOS according to the procedure given on p. 43.

1. Click [OK].

2. When the “Found New Hardware Wizard” appears, click [Finish].

3. Using the procedure described in the “Troubleshooting” section “Q. Device Manager

shows “?”, “!”, or “USB Composite Device”” (p. 131), delete the data for the VariOS that was wrongly detected. Then install the driver using the procedure described in

“Installing the Driver” (p. 22). When doing so, set “Driver Signing Options”in step 5 to "Ignore."

Installation

The Insert Disk dialog box will appear. Click [OK].

The Files Needed dialog box will appear. Input the following into the “Copy files from” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\DRIVER\USB_XP2K

The “Find New Hardware Wizard” may be displayed. Verify that “Roland VariOS” is displayed, and click [Finish].

The System Settings Change dialog box may appear. Click [Yes]. Windows will restart automatically.

The drive name “D:” may

e different for your system. Specify the drive name of your CD-ROM drive.

If you were unable to install the VariOS driver as directed, or if you are unable to use the VariOS even after installing the driver, please delete the driver. (->Deleting the driver (p.

142))

You have finished installing the VariOS driver.

Next, proceed to “MIDI and audio settings” (p. 38).

If you changed the driver signature option... If you changed the driver signature option in step 5, restore the original setting after Windows restarts. After you have restored the original setting, proceed to “MIDI and audio settings” (p. 38).

Windows Me users

◆ Preparations for installing the driver

With the VariOS disconnected, start up Windows.

Exit all currently running software (applications). Also, close any open windows. If you are using a virus checker or similar

software, be sure to exit this as well.

Prepare the CD-ROM. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive of your computer.

Click the Windows start menu, and from the menu, select “Run...”.

Installation

Disconnect all USB cables other than those for a USB keyboard or USB mouse.

Open the “Run...” dialog box.

In the dialog box that appears, input the following into the “Open” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\DRIVER\USB_ME\SETUPINF.EXE

Open the SetupInf dialog box. You are now ready to install the driver.

◆ Installing the driver

Use the USB cable to connect the VariOS to your computer.

fig.02-USB

Computer

USB connector

USB cable

VariOS (Rear)

The drive name “D:” may

e different depending on your system. Type the name of your CD-ROM drive.

You must power up the

Set the VariOS’s power switch to the ON position.

VariOS according to the procedure given on p. 43.

The New Hardware Found dialog box will appear. Input the following into the “Copy files from” field, and click [OK].

D:\ENGLISH\DRIVER\USB_ME

The drive name “D:” may

e different depending on your system. Type the name of your CD-ROM drive.

Installation

Once the driver has been installed, the New Hardware Found dialog box will close.

In the SetupInf dialog box, click [OK]. The SetupInf dialog box will close.

If you were unable to install the VariOS driver as directed, or if you are unable to use the VariOS even after installing the driver, please delete the driver. (->Deleting the driver (p.

142))

You have finished installing the VariOS driver.

Next, proceed to “MIDI and audio settings” (p. 38).

Macintosh users

Before installation

● To ensure that V-Producer will operate correctly, please make the following settings on

your Macintosh.

1. Open Control Panels from the Apple menu.

2. Make the following settings:

• In the Memory control panel, turn virtual memory “off.”

* If virtual memory is “on,” the performance of the Preview function will be impaired. V-Producer

will operate regardless of whether virtual memory is turned on or off.

• In the Energy Saver control panel, set “never” as the idle time until the computer

enters power-conserving sleep mode.

• In the Monitors (or Monitors & Sound) control panel, set the Color Depth to “Millions.”

• From the "Apple Menu," select "Chooser," and set "Apple Talk" to "Inactive."

Installation

3. If you have installed an antivirus program, use the Extensions Manager

to disable that program.

4. Restart your Macintosh.

● Disconnect the V-Producer from the Macintosh

If the power of the VariOS is turned on, a message like the following will appear when the Macintosh is started up. Perform the steps described below as appropriate for the message that is displayed.

• If the screen indicates:

“Driver needed for the USB device “VariOS” are not available. Would you like to look for these drivers over the Internet?”

> click [Cancel].

• If the screen indicates:

“Software required for using device `unknown device’ cannot be found. Please refer to the manual included with the device, and install the necessary software.”

> click [OK].

Installation

■ About the included MIDI drivers

This product contains the following MIDI drivers.

Driver for OMS

This is a driver for using the VariOS with OMS.

Driver for FreeMIDI

This is a driver for using the VariOS with FreeMIDI. In order to use this driver, you will need to separately obtain version 1.35 or higher of FreeMIDI. For instruction on how to install the VariOS Driver and how to make the FreeMIDI settings, refer to Readme FM-E.HTM file in the English - Driver

- VariOS FreeMIDI Driver-E folder on the CD-ROM.

■ Installing OMS

In order to use V-Producer you must have OMS (Open Music System). OMS is a MIDI driver that acts as a bridge in conveying data between V-Producer and the VariOS. OMS uses an application named OMS Setup to create a document called “Studio Setup.” The names of your MIDI devices and the state of the actual connections are registered in this document. Here we will give a brief explanation on how to install OMS and make settings, but for details please refer to the manual (OMS_2.3_Mac.pdf) included on the CD-ROM.

If you are already using OMS, proceed to “Installing V-Producer” (p. 33).

From the English folder of the CD-ROM, open Driver, then open OMS2.3.8, and double-click Install OMS 2.3.8.

Click [Install].

When installation is completed, a dialog box will recommend that you restart your Macintosh. Click [Restart].

You have now finished installing OMS. Next, you will install V-Producer.

You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view OMS_2.3_Mac.pdf. The latest version of Adobe Adrobat Reader can be downloaded from the Adobe website. http:// www.adobe.com (This URL may change without notice.)

The driver can be installed only on a drive on which the system is installed.

■ Installing V-Producer

Exit all currently running software (applications).

Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

Double-click the V-Producer Installer Installer icon (found in the English folder of the CD-ROM) to start up the installer.

Verify the [Install location], and click [Install].

Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation.

Installation

If you are using a virus checker or similar software,

e sure to exit this as well.

When installation is completed, a message telling you that “Installation is

completed” will appear. Click [Quit].

About memory

The “Memory is full ...” error may appear if you open a large song or run out of memory while editing a song, or depending on the monitor resolution and color depth. It will not be possible to load files or edit further. If this occurs, exit V-Producer. Then, in the Finder, click “V-Producer” to select it. Next, from the Finder menu, choose File - Get Info - Memory, and under Memory Requirements, increase the amount of memory used by VProducer.

*If you will be loading samples of the maximum length (150 seconds stereo; 300

seconds monaural), we recommend that you increase the memory allocation to 192 MB or more.

In the Finder, select the VProducer icon. Then, from

the Finder menu, choose File - Get Info - Memory, and under Memory Requirements, Preferred

Size of Memory Requirements.

Installation

■ Connections and OMS setup

Installing the VariOS OMS driver

Use the following procedure to install the VariOS driver. The included VariOS OMS Driver-E is an add-on module for using the VariOS with OMS. In order for you to use it, OMS must already be installed on the hard disk from which you started up.

* Disconnect the VariOS from the Macintosh before you perform the installation.

1 2

4 5

Exit all currently running software (applications).

Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

Double-click the VariOS OMS Driver-E Installer icon (found in the English - Driver - VariOS OMS Driver-E folder of the CD-ROM) to start up the installer.

Verify the [Install Location], and click [Install].

fig.3-2

If a message like the following is displayed, click [Continue].

The other currently running applications will exit, and installation will continue.

If you are using a virus checker or similar software,

e sure to exit this as well.

A dialog box will indicate Installation completed. Click [Restart] to restart your Macintosh.

OMS settings

Here’s how to make OMS settings. Before you make these settings, make sure that the MIDI devices connected to your Macintosh and all peripherals are powered up.

Use a USB cable to connect the VariOS to your computer, and turn on the power of the VariOS.

fig.02-USB

Computer

USB cable

VariOS (Rear)

Installation

You must power up the VariOS according to the procedure given on p. 43.

2 3

USB connector

Easy method using the sample settings

The "Driver" folder of the CD-ROM contains a sample OMS setup file named "VariOS OMS Studio." As an easy way to make OMS settings, you can copy this file into the "Opcode" folder of your hard disk, double-click to open it, and continue the setup procedure from step 9 of p. 37.

Within the location (hard disk) to which you installed OMS, go to the Opcode - OMS Applications folder, and double-click OMS Setup.

In the “Create a New Studio Setup” dialog box, click [OK]. This creates a new studio setup.

fig.02-oms-set-1.eps_30

In the OMS Driver Search dialog box, click [Search] without checking the check box.

If your MIDI interface is connected to a serial port, check the port to which it is connected.

fig.02-oms-set-2.eps_30

If AppleTalk is on, a dialog

ox will appear, asking you whether to turn it off or leave it on. We recommend that you use the Chooser in the Apple menu to inactive AppleTalk.

If the “Create a New Studio Setup” dialog box does not appear, select the File menu and click “New Studio Setup.”

If an error dialog box is displayed during the setup, disconnect all MIDI cables connected to the VariOS, and make the OMS settings once again.

Make sure that the OMS Driver Setup dialog box correctly indicates VariOS USB IF.

Only the MIDI devices connected directly to the Macintosh are displayed here. Verify that your device(s) are displayed correctly, and click [OK].

MIDI devices that are not powered up will not be detected automatically by OMS. If a MIDI device that you thought was connected is not detected, click [Troubleshoot] and follow the on-screen directions.

Installation

fig.02-oms-set-3.eps_30

The OMS MIDI Device Setup window will appear.

Add a check mark to all of the VariOS USB IF ports (Port 1, Port 2, DX7 II), and click [OK].

In the screen for saving the studio setup, click [Save] to save the setup.

The ports for VariOS USB IF will be displayed. Each port has the following function.

Port name

displayed

Port 1 Roland VariOS MIDI Port for the VariOS sound module section Port 2 Roland VariOS External MIDI Port for the VariOS rear panel MIDI connector DX7 II Roland VariOS Sync Macintosh internal synchronization (sync) port

A problem with the OMS Setup program causes the third port to be displayed as “DX7 II.” Please rename this port in step 8.

Assign the following port name Function

Use the following procedure to specify the MIDI device for each VariOS port.

fig.02-oms-set-4.eps

Double-click "Port 1" for "Roland VariOS." The MIDI device information dialog box shown below will appear.

Specify "Roland" as the manufacturer name.

Select the model. Since the VariOS does not appear in the list, select "Other."

Input the device ID number of the sound module. Click the number and enter it from the keyboard. For the VariOS, enter "17."

Assign a name to the sound module. Click the mouse here, and enter "Roland VariOS MIDI."

Make transmission and reception settings for synchronization messages such as MIDI time code. Chec k all of these bo x es .

Click the question mark icon, and in the window that appears, choose an icon that you like and double-click it.

Check "Controller," "Multitimbral," and all "Receive Channels."

Use the same procedure to make settings for the other ports (“Port 2” and “DX7 II”). Input field

as follows.

Installation

• Set “Port 2” to “Roland VariOS External MIDI”

• Set “DX7 II” to Roland VariOS Sync”

* For “DX7 II,” you must check all of the items in field . (By default these are

unchecked.) If these are left unchecked, synchronization will not operate correctly.

fig.02-oms-set-6.eps

* If a dialog box similar to this appears, click

“No More Warnings.”

fig.02-oms-set-5.eps_50

From the Edit menu choose OMS MIDI Setup. In the dialog box that appears, check [Run MIDI in the background], and click [OK].

From the File menu, choose Make Current. If you are unable to select Make Current, it has already been

applied, and you may continue to the next step.

To verify that MIDI transmission and reception are occurring normally, choose [Test Studio] from the Studio menu.

You will enter MIDI transmission/reception test mode, and the cursor will change to a  shape. When the cursor changes to the  shape, click the "Roland VariOS MIDI (Port 1)" icon you specified earlier. If the “MIDI” indicator of the VariOS (front panel) blinks, the settings have been made correctly. If MIDI transmission cannot be performed, the Macintosh warning sound will play. Once again, check that all devices are set correctly. Then choose [Test Studio] from the Studio menu, and exit test mode.

From the File menu choose Quit to exit OMS Setup. A dialog box will suggest that you save, so click [Save]. Basic settings for OMS are now completed.

A diamond mark(

) indicated the settings are enabled.

You have now finished installing the VariOS driver. Proceed to “MIDI and audio settings” (p. 38).

MIDI and audio settings

Here’s how to make settings for the MIDI port and the computer’s audio device that will be used to communicate with the VariOS.

Turn on the power of the VariOS. Before starting up V-Producer, you must power up the VariOS and connect the VariOS to your

computer via a USB cable. If you inadvertently start up V-Producer before powering up the VariOS or connecting the USB cable, or if you power down the VariOS or disconnect the USB cable while V-Producer is running, you must exit V-Producer, and then restart it.

Start up V-Producer.

• Windows: From the start button, choose Programs (or All Programs) - V-Producer - V-Producer for VariOS.

• Macintosh: In the Roland - V-Producer folder, double-click the V-Producer2 icon.

V-Producer will start up.

On Mac OS, V-Producer supports two MIDI drivers: OMS and FreeMIDI.

If your system has both of these MIDI drivers, a screen will appear the first time you start up V-Producer, allowing you to select either OMS or FreeMIDI. You can also choose between OMS or FreeMIDI in this MIDI Settings dialog box. (However, if no driver is installed in your system, you will not be able to choose between OMS and FreeMIDI.) For details on installing the OMS or FreeMIDI compatible drivers, refer to “About the included MIDI drivers” (p. 32) in this manual.

In V-Producer’s Option menu, click MIDI/Audio Settings.

• Macintosh: Click MIDI settings.

The first time you start up V-Producer, MIDI/Audio Settings (on the Mac, MIDI Settings) will open automatically, so this operation will not be necessary.

fig.02-midi01

In the MIDI Device area, specify the MIDI port to which the VariOS is connected. Normally, you will select “Roland VariOS MIDI,” as shown in the diagram.

If nothing is displayed in the port field, it is possible that the VariOS USB MIDI driver was not installed correctly. Check the connection between the VariOS and the computer, and install the USB MIDI driver using the procedure described in “Installation” (p. 21).

MIDI and audio settings

On the Macintosh, the name you assigned in step 8 of “OMS Settings” (p. 36) will

MacOS

If you will not be using the USB MIDI functionality of the VariOS (i.e., When not using the USB MIDI functionality of the VariOS (Connecting the VariOS to an external MIDI interface)), refer to page 128.

be displayed. Select the port that corresponds to the VariOS sound generator port (Port 1).

About the MIDI Clock field

The MIDI Clock field is an on/off setting for the MIDI Clock (F8) messages transmitted from the port to the VariOS. The VariOS can receive MIDI Clock messages from V-Producer and synchronize to the master tempo of V-Producer. Normally, you will leave this field checked. On some MIDI interfaces, such as Mark Of The Unicorn Corporation’s MIDI Express, or Emagic Corporation’s amt8, MIDI Clock messages input to one port are output from all ports. This means that if you have specified one of these MIDI interfaces in the Sync Mode dialog box ([Option] - [MIDI Sync]) as the MIDI Clock output destination, duplicate MIDI Clock (F8) messages will be sent to the VariOS, causing the tempo to be doubled. In this case, uncheck the MIDI Clock box so that the VariOS will play back at the correct master tempo.

fig.02-midi02

If you are using a MIDI keyboard, set the [MIDI IN Port (Keyboard)] field to the MIDI input

port to which your MIDI keyboard is connected. If your MIDI keyboard is connected to the VariOS, select “Roland VariOS External MIDI” as shown in the diagram.

OS On the Macintosh, the name you assigned in step 8 of “OMS Settings” (p. 36)

MacOS

fig.02-midi03

The VariOS Drive field indicates the drive letter given the VariOS when it was mounted on your computer. Press [Scan] to select the drive automatically.

The VariOS Drive may not be detected automatically for some systems. In this case, open My Computer and check the drive name for VariOS (e.g., F:), and then select this for the VariOS Drive field.

will be displayed. Select the port that corresponds to the MIDI connector on the rear panel of the VariOS (Port 2).

(Windows only)

MIDI and audio settings

fig.02-midi04

(Windows only)

In the Audio Device (Preview) field, select the audio device that you will use for V-Producer’s preview function.

OS On the Macintosh version there is no Audio Device (Preview) field. The internal

MacOS

sound functionality of the Mac will be selected. The Preview function lets you use the audio device of your computer to audition

sample data stored on your computer without loading it into the VariOS.

Audio device adjustments

Here you can make adjustments for the audio device in the Wave Edit screen (p. 59).

• Adjust slider

Adjusts the discrepancy between the Wave Edit screen display and when the audio is heard. Play back a waveform in the Wave Edit screen. If the cursor (vertical line) is later than the actual sound, move the slider toward the left. If the cursor (vertical line) is earlier than the actual sound, move the slider toward the right.

• High CPU Load

Adjusts the CPU load. If you check this, the CPU load will be heavier, but you will get a faster response when you click the Wave Edit playback or stop button. If you experience pops in the sound when you play something back in Wave Edit using USBconnected speakers, un-check this setting.

Click [OK]. If a message of “MIDI Offline!” appears, V-Producer and the VariOS are not communicating

correctly. Check the following points.

• Is the VariOS powered up?

• Is the VariOS connected correctly?

You have now completed preparations for using V-Producer.

Listening to the demo songs

Loading the demo songs

Start up V-Producer. Before starting up V-Producer, you must power up the VariOS and connect the VariOS to your

In V-Producer, choose Open Song from the File menu. Browse to the [Roland] - [V-Producer] folder -> Demo Songs folder, and open demo song files (.vpd).

* Loading the samples will require approximately one minute. Please wait until loading is complete.

In some cases when you open a song, a dialog box of “[sample name] Load File Name” may appear. This will appear if the user has moved a sample file that is used

by the song file, or if V-Producer does not know the location of the sample file. Please specify the file location of the sample name shown in the dialog box.

Listening to the demo songs

Playing the demo song

You will use V-Producer’s Locator to play back the songs.

fig.02-locator

Current time

To beginning Fast-forward Stop Play

Click the [Play] button in the Locator to play back the song. When you play the song, the current time will change.

* If the demo song does not play, read “Q. No sound when you play back the demo song” in the

“Troubleshooting” section (p. 136).

• To stop the song Click the [Stop] button.

• To move the current location a measure at a time Click the [Fast-forward] or [Rewind] buttons.

• To change the tempo of the song

Master tempo: Drag the tempo value upward or downward. Relative tempo: Drag the speed value upward or downward.

* Relative tempo (speed) smoothly adjusts the tempo even while the song is playing. Use this when you

want to make a temporary change in tempo. This will not be saved in the song.

Upper value: measure.beat.tick Lower value: hours:minutes:seconds:frames

Rewind

Tempo Pitch Speed

• To transpose the overall playback pitch in semitone steps Drag the pitch value upward or downward.

To power down the VariOS, you must use the procedure described in "Turning the VariOS on/off" (p. 43). "Turning the VariOS on/off" (p. 43) contains important information about handling the VariOS, so please be sure to read it.

About the demo songs

For the song names and other details, refer to Readme.txt (found in the [Roland] - [V-Producer]

- [DemoSongs] folder).

Turning the VariOS on/off

* Once the connections have been completed, turn on power to your various devices in the order specified.

By turning on devices in the wrong order, you risk causing malfunction and/or damage to speakers and other devices.

* This unit is equipped with a protection circuit. A brief interval (a few seconds) after power up is required

before the unit will operate normally.

Turning on the VariOS when connected to a computer

Start up your computer.

Make sure that the USB cable is connected, and turn on the power of the VariOS. The power is on when the switch is pressed inward, and off when the switch is in the outward

position.

fig.1-01a fig.on

Power is on when switch is depressed

Push

The computer will detect the VariOS as a drive.

• Windows 2000/Me:

In My Computer or Explorer, the VariOS will be displayed under the name “removable disk.”

• Windows XP:

In My Computer or Explorer, the VariOS will be displayed under the name “VARIOS_DRV.”

In Windows XP, when you power up the VariOS and it is recognized by your computer as a USB drive, a “VARIOS_DRV” window will open, but you should click the [X] (close) button to close the “VARIOS_DRV” window. You must not write files directly into the VARIOS_DRV window or delete files from it. The system may fail to operate correctly if you do so.

• Macintosh:

VariOS will displayed on the desktop as “VARIOS_DRV.”

Power is off when switch is released

Your computer will detect the VariOS as a drive (VariOS drive) that can be read or written, allowing wave files to be transferred to and from it. You must use the dedicated V-Producer software to transfer files between your computer and the VariOS.

Do not use the Explorer or Finder to directly write or delete files on the mounted VariOS drive. Doing so may cause the VariOS to malfunction.

* “Mounted” means that your computer has recognized the VariOS drive.

Turning the VariOS on/off

Turning off the VariOS when connected to a computer

Use the following procedure to turn off the power of the VariOS. If you fail to use the correct procedure to turn off the power, your computer may display a warning message.

In Windows Me, powering down the VariOS before unmounting the drive may cause an error to occur in Windows. You must use the following procedure when powering down.

If V-Producer is running, exit the program.

Unmount the VariOS drive that is mounted on your computer.

• Windows: In the task tray, double-click the eject icon. Then click the item that indicates the VariOS drive (this will differ depending on your version of Windows; see below) to unmount the drive.

fig.02-taskicon

Windows XP, 2000 USB high-capacity storage device Windows Me USB disk

• Macintosh: Drag the VARIOS_DRV on the desktop into the “Trash”. Alternatively, click the VARIOS_DRV on the desktop, then choose the Eject command from the Special menu

(shortcut [ ] + [E]).

Turn off the power of the VariOS.

When you power down the VariOS, the entire contents of the VariOS drive recognized by your computer will be deleted. If you have stored important data in the VariOS drive, you must save the song in V-Producer (p. 85) before powering down the VariOS, or save it to the flash ROM or PC card of the VariOS.

Operation Guide: Software

(V-Producer)

This chapter explains the basic operation for V-Producer in the order of your actual workflow. Once you have read through this chapter, you will have mastered its basic operation.

An overview of V-Producer

V-Producer is software that controls a sound module (VariOS). It reads wave files stored on your computer and sends them to the VariOS. At the same time, it also displays the files on the screen as samples. Simply by placing samples on a screen that corresponds to the six "parts" of the VariOS, you can automatically control the VariOS, making it sound accordingly. This lets you easily create a song using multiple tracks on the VariOS. Since the VariOS uses Vari Phrase technology, there is no need for you to make time-consuming adjustments to the size of the samples. You can also use your MIDI keyboard to play samples in real time and record them. In addition, you can make use of a variety of editing features, which allow you to edit the Time, Pitch, Formant, as well as perform transpositions.

The following diagram shows the actual workflow.

fig.03-01

From audio clip CDs, waveform

V-Producer

editing programs, or VariPhrase collections (.vpw)

Wave files

(.wav or .aiff)

VariPhrase format

files (.vpw)

Loaded into V-Producer next time

Load Wa ve Files

Load a wave file

Sample List

VariTrack

Samples

Make settings for

samples and play them

Create a song

Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame Frame

ScopeEditor

Save

Save song

Export

wave

Export

SMF

Send samples

VariOS

(USB)

MIDI control

Edit Frame

V-Producer file

(.vpd)

Load into V-Producer

Wave file

(.wav)

Load waveform into other software

SMF file

(.mid)

Use other software

to control the VariOS

via MIDI

An overview of V-Producer

1. Loading wave files (Load Wave Files) (p. 50)

Load wave files (.wav or .aiff) from your computer into V-Producer. At this time the following processes will be performed automatically.

• The wave file will be converted into a VariPhrase format file that can be handled as VariPhrase data (Encoding, p. 49)

• The VariPhrase format file (.vpw) will be sent to the sound module (VariOS) via USB.

• The VariPhrase format file (.vpw) will be saved on the computer’s hard disk.

2. Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List) (p. 52)

The wave files that were loaded in step 1 will be displayed as a list of samples. You can use your MIDI keyboard to directly play the samples that are shown in the sample list. You can also place samples in the Vari Track by dragging and dropping them. In the Sample Edit screen (p. 56) you can edit various sample parameters to specify how the sample will play. In the Wave Edit screen (p. 59) you can re-encode the sample (convert the encoding type or modify the tempo data).

3. Creating a song (Vari Track) (p. 62)

Create a song by dragging and dropping samples from the sample list. A sample that is placed in this way is called a “frame.” You can also use your MIDI keyboard to play the samples in real time and record them. In Frame Properties (p. 68) you can edit the settings (volume, pitch, location, etc.) of each frame placed in the vari track.

4. Phrase editing (Scope Editor) (p. 70)

Edit the performance data for the frames that you placed in the track. You can edit Pitch, Time, Format, volume (Dynamics), and notes. In the Scope Editor you can use two methods of editing.

Phrase Scope (p. 71)

The performance data in a frame is interpreted as a phrase. This method is used mainly to edit the melodic aspect of a phrase. For example, in the case of a vocal sample, you can vary the melody line, or add harmony to create chords. This type of editing is particularly useful for samples that contain a monophonic melody, such as vocals.

Groove Scope (p. 81)

The performance data in a frame is interpreted as a rhythm pattern. This method is used mainly to edit rhythm material. For example, in the case of a drum pattern sample, each of the slices delineated by events will be a drum sound, such as bass drum or snare. By changing the time location of the slices you can reconfigure the drum pattern. This type of editing is particularly useful for rhythm samples such as drum patterns.

5. Saving (p. 85)

Save the results of your editing.

Save song Save a V-Producer file (.vpd). This file can be loaded by V-Producer (p. 85). Export wave Convert the song into a wave file (.wav) and save it (p. 85)

Export SMF

Convert the song into an SMF (.mid) file and save it. This data (SMF) created by V-Producer can be played back in your MIDI sequencer (p. 127).

An overview of V-Producer

What is VariPhrase?

VariPhrase is proprietary Roland technology that uses newly developed encoding methods with several algorithms to analyze and extract the three elements of sound—pitch, time, and formant (tonal character)—from the sample, allowing you to control these independently in real time.

fig.vari-E

value

formant

pitch

value

pitch

Original

value

Original

sampling key

On a conventional sampler, pitch, time, and formant always change together.

Pitch

"Here comes V ariPhrase"

Original phrase Record the words "Here comes VariPhrase" sung at a constant pitch.

Original

time

note number

Time Time

value

Original

sampling key

When you use VariPhrase Solo encoding, time and formant will remain fixed, and only the pitch will vary. This lets a single sample cover a wider range of notes.

Pitch

"Heeeeee

VariPhrase lets you control the phrase in real time. As shown here, you can freely and independently control the pitch, time, and formant even while the phrase is playing.

time formant

note number

This opens up possibilities for completely new performance expressions and sound design that were unavailable on previous synthesizers or samplers. On a conventional sampler, using phrase samples involved the following problems:

• Changing the tempo affected the pitch.

• Changing the pitch of a vocal sample would also change the playback speed (time) and tonal character (formant).

• The sampled phrase was simply played back, and could not be varied.

• Since one sample could cover a range of only a few keys, you needed samples at multiple pitches if you wanted to play a wider range.

• If you wanted to play multiple samples in synchronization, the samples had to be at the identical tempo.

• If you play the keys in a chord at different moments, the sounds are heard out of sync with each other.

• Changing the pitch or tempo degrades the sound quality.

VariPhrase eliminates all of the above problems.

An overview of V-Producer

What is encoding?

In order use VariPhrase to freely control the pitch or time, the sample must be encoded in order to extract its pitch/time/formant data. There are three encoding types. Choose the encoding type that is most suitable for each phrase.

● SOLO

This type accurately extracts the pitch, time, and formant data. This encoding type is ideal for singlenote and melodic audio phrases such as vocals or sax, and lets you take full advantage of VariPhrase’s potential. If you use this encoding type, you will be able to control the formants and use the robot voice function (refer to “Sample Edit” p. 56). Even if you encode using SOLO, you will still be able to play polyphonically.

● BACKING

This type extracts pitch and time data. It is the ideal encoding type for percussive phrases, such as drum or percussion rhythm patterns.

● ENSEMBLE

This type extracts pitch and time data. It is the ideal encoding type for chordal phrases with ambience.

The pitch and time data that is extracted is simply added to the audio file, and the wave data itself is not processed in any way; i.e., this is a non-destructive process. This means that you can later reencode using a different encoding type, or re-edit the wave.

Loading wave files (Load Wave Files)

Here’s how you can load wave files from the hard disk of your computer and send them to the VariOS. When you execute this command, the Load Wave Files dialog box will appear.

1. Start up V-Producer.

* Before starting up V-Producer, you must power up the VariOS and connect the VariOS to your

computer via a USB cable. If you inadvertently start up V-Producer before powering up the VariOS or connecting the USB cable, or if you power down the VariOS or disconnect the USB cable while VProducer is running, you must exit V-Producer, and then restart it.

2. At the bottom of the screen, click the [Sample Info] button ( ) to access the Sample

List screen. In Sample List, click the [Load Wave Files] button (or choose File - Load Wave Files menu).

fig.03-02LoadwavefileButton_50

* V-Producer is able to load wave files in Wave file format (.WAV), AIFF file format (.AIF), or VariPhrase

format (.VPW).

Loading wave files (Load Wave Files)

3. Load the wave file as described in the illustration below.

fig.02-04Loadwavefile

This area shows the wave files that are on your computer. The wave files within the folder you selected at the left will be listed at the right.

- Conventional wave files (.wav, .aiff)

- VariPhrase format files (.vpw) In the list at the right, click the wave file that you

want to load into the VariOS. * By clicking the headings above the list you can

sort the list in various ways.

This area lists the samples that will be loaded into the VariOS. The file name, encoding type, tempo, and number of measures are displayed.

- To delete a sample from the list, right-click the sample (in Mac OS, [Control]-click) and choose "Delete." (Pressing the [Delete] key will also delete the sample.)

- You can change the Encode Type and Tempo of the sample you selected by clicking it.

* Samples that have already been encoded are displayed in light blue. In this case you will not be able to change the Encode Type or T empo.

* What is encoding? To make it possible for you to make realtime changes in the pitch, time, and formant of the samples used by the VariOS, the wave data must be "encoded." There are three encoding types.

Specify the type of conversion (encoding *1) that will be used for loading into the VariOS. Normally, you will use the "Auto" setting.

In "Auto" mode, the encoding type will be set to "Backing," and the tempo will be calculated automatically (*2). (You can change these settings in step 4.)

These settings are not needed for files that are already encoded (.vpw).

Specify the location of the VariPhrase format file that will be created by encoding.

- Same as original

The VariPhrase format file will be saved in the same folder as the original wave file.

- Use

The VariPhrase format file will be saved in the location you specify. * If the original sample is on a non-rewritable

medium such as CD-ROM, the VariPhrase file will automatically be saved in the specified "Use"

location. * Next time you select files for loading into the

VariOS, you can specify the .vpw file that was saved here, so the encoding process can be

omitted.

If you want to manually specify the encoding type and tempo, select "Manual."

The options shown at the right will appear. This is convenient when you are loading two or more items of wave data of a specific tempo.

* Set the encoding type as follows.

SOLO

BACKING

EMSEMBLE

Load the wave files of the Load List into the VariOS.

* Loading will be halted when the memory of the VariOS becomes full.

* Loading will perform the following processes automatically:

- Encode wave files

- Save the encoded wave files

- Send the samples to the VariOS If you click [Cancel], the content you

specified will be discarded and the dialog box will close.

Single-note vocal or instrumental phrase (sax, trumpet, etc.)

Phrases with a clear attack, such as rhythm loops or guitar chording

Sustained phrases such as choir or strings

Auditions the selected wave file.

The sound will be heard from the sound card

of your computer. (Sound will not be produced from the VariOS.)

Auditions the selected Wav file.

Adds the selected Wav file to the "Load List" below.

Displays the amount of memory used within the VariOS.

This encoding type is suitable for monophonic vocals or instruments (sax, trumpet, flute, etc.). If you use this encoding type, you

SOLO

BACKING

EMSEMBLE

will be able to control the formants and use the robot voice function (refer to "Sample Edit"). Even if you encode using SOLO, you will still be able to play polyphonically.

This encoding type is suitable for decay-type instruments. In particular it is suitable for phrases that contain instruments with a clear attack (rhythm loops, drums, percussion, guitar chording).

This encoding type is suitable for sustained-type instruments. It is particularly suitable for sounds that contain gradual changes in tone (such as choir or strings). This encoding type handles the broadest range of sounds.

* If you encode using BACKING or ENSEMBLE, you will not be able to control the formant or use the robot voice function.

* About tempo "Auto" mode will automatically calculate the tempo of loop audio materials. Audio material that has been trimmed for looping and has a 4/4 time signature will be automatically calculated in a tempo range of 80--160. If the automatically set tempo of the sample is double or half what it should be, you can adjust it using the Tempo [x 2] or [x 1/2] b utton of the "Load List" ( ).

Original tempo

The sample tempo (original tempo) you specify here is the basic tempo used to synchronize the sample to the master tempo of V-Producer. You must set this to the correct tempo. Otherwise, the length of the note will not be correct.

[Example: if the original tempo of the sample is  =100] If the master tempo is set to

back at double the speed at which it was sampled. If the master tempo is set to at half the speed at which it was sampled.

 =200, the sample will play

 =50, the sample will play back

Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List)

At the bottom of the screen, click the [Sample Info] button ( ) to access the Sample List screen.

fig.03-03de

Opens the "Load Wave Files" dialog box that lets you load samples

Stereo/mono indication

VariOS sample number

Preview button: Auditions the sample

Sample name

Copies the sample

Encode type indication

SOL: Solo BAC: Backing ENS: Ensamble

Deletes the sample from the VariOS's memory (the file will not be deleted)

This switches the keyboard map. Click to switch the setting

Phrase Map:

The sample can be edited in the Phrase Scope, and can be played at the pitch of each key.

"Here comes V ariPhrase"

Groove Map:

The sample can be edited in the Groove Scope, and can be divided at event locations and assigned to each key.

"Here" "comes" "Va" "ri" "Phrase"

VariOS memory status

When editing on a monitor with a limited viewing area (800 x 600 pixels), use the mouse to drag the boundary to left and right as necessary while you edit.

Search button

When you click on a frame placed in the Vari Track, the corresponding sample will be selected.

Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List)

Auditioning a sample

1. Use the mouse to select the sample you want to audition.

You can also use the [ ][ ] keys of your computer keyboard to select a sample.

fig.03-03maru

2. Click the [Preview] button shown in the diagram,

or press the [P] key of your computer keyboard to audition the sample.

• The sound will be heard from the VariOS.

3. You can play your MIDI keyboard to audition the selected sample.

* One free part in the Vari Track (p. 62) is required in order to audition the sample. If you have used

all six parts of the Vari Track, you will not be able to audition samples from the sample list while the song is playing. The part being previewed will be indicated as in the Vari Track indicator.

* While you are auditioning a sample from your MIDI keyboard, you can turn the PITCH/TIME/

FORMANT knobs of the sound module (VariOS) to adjust the pitch, playback speed, and tonal character (formant).

* FORMANT is available only for samples with an encoding type (p. 51) of SOLO.

Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List)

Switching the keyboard map

“Keyboard Map” is a parameter that specifies how a sample loaded by V-Producer will be sounded when it is triggered via MIDI. You can select one of the following two modes. To switch between modes, press the button that is shown at the far right of each sample in the sample list.

■ (Phrase Map)

The sample will be sounded at the pitch corresponding to the note number. When you edit a sample for which this mode is specified, the Phrase Scope will automatically be used for editing (p. 71). Samples set to this mode will be displayed as green frames on the Vari Track.

[Example: If the sample is of a voice saying “Here comes VariPhrase,” the pitch will vary according to the key you play.]

fig.keymap

"Here comes VariPhrase"

■ (Groove Map)

The sample will be divided at event locations, and each slice of the waveform will be assigned to its own note number (in semitone steps from C3). When you edit a sample for which this mode is specified, the Groove Scope will automatically be used for editing (p. 81). Samples set to this mode will be displayed as purple frames on the Vari Track.

[Example: If the sample is of a voice saying “Here comes VariPhrase,” each slice of the waveform will be played by different semitones starting at C3.]

fig.keymap2

"Here" "comes" "V a" "ri" "Phrase"

Use your MIDI keyboard to try out each map, and listen to the difference.

Deleting a sample

To make best use of the memory of the VariOS, here’s how you can delete unwanted samples from VariOS memory.

1. At the bottom of the screen, click the [Sample Info] button ( ) to display the sample

list.

2. Click the sample that you want to delete.

3. Click the [Delete Sample] ( ) button.

The selected sample will be deleted from the memory of the VariOS.

*If the sample has already been placed in the Vari Track, the following message will appear: “Since this

sample is being used in the Vari Track, it cannot be deleted. This sample on the Vari Track will be selected, so press the [Delete] key to delete it.” After this message is displayed, press the [Delete] key to delete the selected sample from the Vari Track, and then click the [Delete Sample] button

once again.

Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List)

If you select [Delete All Unused Samples] from the Option menu, all samples not used in any part of the Vari Track will be deleted in one operation.

Copying a sample

If you want to play the identical sample with different settings, use the following procedure to copy the sample.

1. At the bottom of the screen, click the [Sample Info] button ( ) to display the sample

list.

2. Click the sample that you want to copy.

3. Click the [Copy Sample] ( ) button.

The selected sample will be copied within the VariOS.

4. The Save dialog box will appear. Specify a location on your computer in which to save the copied

sample.

Editing the sample parameters (Sample Edit)

fig.sampleedit

In this screen you can edit various parameters for a sample that was sent to the VariOS. Click the [Sample Info] button ( ) located at the bottom of the screen to display this screen. Here we will explain the basic parameters used to play a sample on the VariOS.

fig.03-06

■ Key Assign mode

The Key Assign mode selects whether the sample will be played polyphonically (POLY) or monophonically (SOLO). If you want to play a monophonic instrument (such as sax or flute) legato, it is effective to select SOLO.

Values

Poly: More than one note can be played simultaneously. Solo: Only the last-played note will sound.

Default setting: Poly

■ Playback mode

The Playback mode selects how the sample will be played. If you want to use legato (*) playing to play a melody different than the original sample, choose “Time Sync.” If you want the sample to play back from the beginning each time you press a key, choose “Retrigger.”

* “Legato” originally means to “play smoothly,” but here it refers to the technique of playing the next key

(note-on) before releasing the previous key (note-off) so that the sound is never halted.

Values:

Editing the sample parameters (Sample Edit)

"Here comes VariPhrase"

Retrigger:

Time Sync:

key OFFkey ON

"Here comes VariPhrase"

"Here comes VariPhra"

"VariPhrase"

"comes Vari"

key OFFkey ON

"Here"

key OFF

key ON

"VariPhrase"

key OFF

key ON

"comes"

Each time you press a key, the sample will play back from the beginning. This will produce an effect

key OFFkey ON

like a musical “round.”

● Key Assign: Poly When you play legato, the playback point (of the newly played

key OFFkey ON

sounds) will be synchronized to the sound that is playing from the beginning. As shown in the diagram, you can produce chords

key OFFkey ON

even in the middle of a phrase.

● Key Assign: Solo If you set the Key Assign mode to SOLO and play legato, the pitch will change starting at the playback point of the previously played note. You can play your keyboard to produce a melody that is completely different than the original phrase.

key OFF

key ON

Step: Each time you play a key, the sample will play to the next event (p. 61) and then stop.

Default setting:

In Phrase Scope mode Time Sync In Groove Scope mode Retrigger

If you set a (Groove Map) sample to anything other than "Retrigger," the sound will be interrupted and will not play back correctly.

If you set a (Phrase Map) sample to anything other than “Time Sync,” you cannot play legato.

Editing the sample parameters (Sample Edit)

■ Robot (robot voice switch)

Turn this ON if you want to remove the sense of pitch from the sample (i.e., to ignore the original pitch of the sample and sound it at the pitch that you play). In the case of a phrase sample, you can use your keyboard to play a melody that is entirely different than the original sample, in this way using a single sample to play a variety of melodies.

Values: OFF, ON Default value: OFF

* This setting is valid only for samples whose Encode Type (p. 51) is set to SOLO. * If slight pitch changes in the original phrase are an important part of the performance expression, the

Robot Voice function may not produce satisfactory results. The results may also be unsatisfactory if the key you play is far away from the pitch of the original phrase.

■ Reset

fig.03-08

If you press this button, the values you edited in Sample Edit will return to their default settings. Try pressing this button if you have been editing the parameters and can no longer hear any sound, or if you experience similar problems.

Re-encoding a sample (Wave Edit)

If you want to change the encoding type of a sample that is already loaded into the VariOS (for example, if the sample is a solo vocal phrase, and you want to change it from “Backing” to “Solo”), or if you want to change the original tempo of the sample (for example, if the sample tempo does not match the song, you can re-encode the sample in the Wave Edit screen). At the bottom of the screen, click the [Sample Info] button ( ) and then click the [Wave Edit] tab ( ) to access the following screen.

fig.03-10

To re-encode, click the [Edit] button ( ) to enter edit mode.

* For details on encoding, refer to “What is encoding?” (p. 49) .

■ Waveform preview

Rewind

Moves the cursor location to the beginning of the waveform.

Stop

Stops playback of the waveform.

Play

Plays the waveform starting from the cursor location.

* Waveform playback in the Wave Edit screen will be heard from the sound card of your computer (not from

the VariOS).

Play step

Plays the waveform one slice at a time (i.e., an individual region of the waveform separated by events)

Re-encoding a sample (Wave Edit)

Loop

If you want playback to occur repeatedly, turn looping on.

Zoom tool

Expands or contracts the waveform display.

■ Changing the encoding type

For details on the encoding type, refer to “What is encoding?” (p. 49).

1. At the bottom of the screen, click the [Sample Info] button ( ), and then click the

[Wave Edit] tab ( ) to access the Wave Edit screen.

2. In the sample list shown at the left, click the sample that you want to edit.

3. Click the [Edit] button ( ) to enter Edit mode.

4. Press a button in the diagram to specify the encoding type.

: Solo encoding

: Backing encoding

: Ensemble encoding

5. Finally, click the [Save] button. The sample will be saved, and re-sent to the VariOS. If you click

the [Cancel] button, your changes will be discarded and you will exit Edit mode.

■ Changing the original tempo

If the tempo of the sample does not match the song, you can change the original tempo of the sample.

fig.03-19

1. As described in steps 1–3 of “Changing the encoding type,” enter Edit mode.

2. Adjust the tempo by entering a new value in either the “Tempo” or “Beats” field.

To edit numerically, double-click the value and edit it in the dialog box that appears.

: Doubles the value

: Halves the value

3. Finally, click the [Save] button. The sample will be saved, and re-sent to the VariOS. If you click

the [Cancel] button, your changes will be discarded and you will exit Edit mode.

■ Changing the location of a event

Events demarcate the notes that you edit in the Scope Editor screens (p. 70). In the Groove Scope (p.

81), you can slice the sample at the locations of the events you specify here, and reassemble the slices

as desired. Initially, V-Producer will automatically place events in the sample, but you are free to add, delete, or adjust the location of the events.

1. As described in steps 1–3 of “Changing the encoding type,” enter Edit mode.

2. The events are shown in the event display area.

fig.03-23

3. Click one of the Event Edit tools to select a tool, and edit the events in the event display area.

fig.03-24

Arrow.................... Drag an event to move it

Pen......................... Click to add an event

Eraser.................... Click to delete an event

Re-encoding a sample (Wave Edit)

Slider (Depth) ...... Moving the slider will cause an event to be automatically

assigned wherever a strong attack (a point where the volume changes suddenly) is detected.

* Try using the play step button to play individual slices (waveform divided by events).

4. Finally, click the [Save] button. The sample will be saved, and re-sent to the VariOS. If you click

the [Cancel] button, your changes will be discarded and you will exit Edit mode.

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Now let’s actually create a song. Songs are created using the Vari Track. To create a song, you will drag and drop samples from the sample list into the Vari Track. The samples placed in this way are called “frames.” You can also use your MIDI keyboard to play samples in real time and record your performance.

fig.03-28E

Auto Scroll button Grid Snap button

MARKER TEMPO METER (time signature) area

Frame

Time ruler

Playback cursor

Changing the tempo

1. Double-click the TEMPO area

fig.03-29

2. The Add Tempo dialog box will appear. Specify the desired tempo.

* You can also right-click ( Control-click in MacOS) a tempo event you added, and edit or delete

it by choosing [Add Tempo] or [Delete Tempo] from the menu that appears.

Setting the time signature

1. Double-click the METER (time signature) area.

fig.03-30

2. The Add Meter dialog box will appear. Specify the desired time signature.

Zoom tool

* You can also right-click ( Control-click in MacOS) a time signature event you added, and edit

or delete it by choosing [Add Meter] or [Delete Meter] from the menu that appears.

Arranging samples

The Vari Track consists of six parts, which correspond to the six parts of the sound module (VariOS). The time ruler in the upper area of the screen indicates the measure numbers. Now let’s place some samples in the Vari Track.

1. Drag a sample from the sample list (hold down the mouse button).

2. Continuing to hold the mouse button, move the sample over the Vari Track, and release the

mouse button (i.e., drag and drop the sample).

3. The sample will be placed at the location of the mouse cursor.

fig.03-31E

Drag and drop

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Editing a frame

Samples placed in the Vari Track are shown as rectangular bars, which are called “frames.” You can edit the structure of your song by moving, copying, and pasting frames.

■ Select the frame to edit

First you need to select the frame(s) that you want to edit. There are several ways to do this.

To select one frame

Use the mouse to click the frame

To select multiple frames

Drag the mouse to describe a rectangle that includes the desired frames.

fig.03-32

* To select a rectangle from above a frame, hold

down the [Ctrl] key and [Shift] key of your computer keyboard while you drag ( On MacOS, hold down the [ ] key and [Shift] key while you drag). You can hold down the [Shift] key of your keyboard and click a frame to add it to your selection.

To select a region of time

Drag the mouse over the time ruler to select the frames that are included in that region.

fig.03-33

If the Grid Snap button ( ) is pressed at this time, the starting point and ending point of the selected region will be automatically adjusted to the nearest grid to the left.

* If you select a region of time, the marker,

time signature, and tempo data can also be selected for copying. In addition, you can select all parts that are in that region of time.

■ Moving a frame

1. Select the frame that you want to move. It will be highlighted.

2. Press and hold the mouse button on the selected frame, drag it to the desired destination, and

release the mouse button (“drag and drop”).

* You cannot move multiple frames that were selected as a time region (p. 64). * If you turn off the Grid Snap button ( ), you will be able to make precise moves regardless of

the grid size.

* Using the zoom tool ( ) located in the lower right of Vari Track you can expand or

contract the size of the display grid.

■ Changing the length of a frame

1. When you move the mouse near the beginning or end of a frame, the cursor will change shape as

shown in the diagram.

* When dragging the left edge to shorten the frame, it is not possible to move it any further toward the

right than the note data existing in the frame.

fig.03-36

Creating a song (Vari Track)

2. Continuing to hold down the mouse button, drag to left or right and then release the mouse

button.

* Extending a frame will not affect the length of the phrase (sample). This means that if you extend a

frame beyond the length of the phrase, the extended portion will be silent.

■ Copying a frame

You can copy a frame any number of times to the desired locations. This is an easy way to create repeated rhythms, etc. Here are several ways in which you can copy a frame.

Copy by dragging and dropping

1. Select the frame that you want to copy.

2. Press and hold the mouse button on the selected frame, drag it to the desired location, and release

the mouse button while pressing the [Ctrl] key of your keyboard ( in MacOS, the [Option] key).

* Two or more frames selected by time region (p. 64) cannot be copied by dragging and dropping.

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Copy by using the

1. Select the frame that you want to copy.

2. Use one of the following methods to copy the frame.

• Choose Copy from the Edit menu.

• Right-click ( in MacOS, Control-click) the selected frame, and choose Copy from the

menu that appears.

• Press [Ctrl] + [C] on your keyboard ( in MacOS, [ ] + [C]).

3. Click the copy-destination location.

The part you clicked will be highlighted, and the playback cursor (vertical line) will move to the location you clicked.

4. Use one of the following methods to paste the frame you copied.

• Choose Paste from the Edit menu.

• Right-click ( in MacOS, Control-click), and choose Paste from the menu that appears.

• Press [Ctrl] + [V] on your keyboard ( in MacOS, [ ] + [V])

Copy and Paste commands

Copy a frame more than once (the Repeat function)

You can use the Repeat function to easily create repeated rhythm patterns.

1. Select the frame that you want to copy.

2. Use one of the following methods to execute the Repeat function.

• Choose Repeat from the Edit menu.

• Right-click the selected frame ( in MacOS, Control-click), and choose Repeat from the

menu that appears.

• Press [Ctrl] + [R] on your keyboard ( in MacOS, [ ] + [R]).

3. When the Repeat Copy dialog box appears, specify the number of repetitions.

4. Click OK.

■ Deleting a frame

1. Select the frame that you want to delete.

2. Use one of the following methods to delete the frame.

• Choose Cut or Delete from the Edit menu.

• Right-click the selected frame ( in MacOS, Control-click), and choose Cut or Delete from

the menu that appears.

• Press [Ctrl] + [X] ( in MacOS, [] + [X]) or the [Delete] key on your keyboard.

* When you use these delete commands to delete a frame, the original location will become a blank, and

the overall length of the song will not change. If you want to shorten the song by deleting measures (for example if you want to remove two measures from the introduction), use the Delete Measure command on the Edit menu.

* If you right-click the PART name ( in MacOS, Control-click) and choose “Delete Frames”]

from the menu that appears, all frames will be deleted from that part.

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Loop playback

You can use loop playback to listen repeatedly to a specific region.

1. In the locator, turn on the loop button.

fig.03-37

2. The loop markers will be displayed in the time ruler.

fig.03-38_75

3. Drag the loop markers to left or right to specify the start point and end point of the loop.

4. Press the play button, and playback will loop between the loop markers.

■ Using the Quick Loop function to set the loop region

The Quick Loop function sets the selected region as the loop region. Select a frame in the Vari Track, and click the Quick Loop Position button in the locator. The beginning and end of the frame will be set as the loop region. If you drag over the time ruler to select a region and then click the Quick Loop Position button, that region will be set as the loop region.

fig.03-39

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Editing the settings of a frame (Frame Properties)

You can edit the frame properties to change the settings (volume, pan, pitch, etc.) of a frame that was placed on the Vari Track. Click to select the frame you want to edit. (It will be enclosed in a red border.)

f i

Switches the frame properties between displayed/hidden.

Sample

name

Stereo/mono indication

Encode type indication SOLO: Solo

BAC: Backing ENS: Ensemble

Location of frame as beginning and end (measure:beat:tick) Edit the numeric values by dragging them up or down with the mouse.

Adjusts the length of frame to the length of the region actually sounded by that frame. (The actual sounding locations of the frame will depend on the locations of the note data within the frame.)

Adjusts the volume (0--127) of the frame Edit the numeric value by dragging it up or down with the mouse.

Adjusts the panning of the frame (left L63--center 0--right R63) Edit the numeric value by dragging it up or down with the mouse.

g . 0 3

4 0 E

*If you loop the playback as described in “Loop playback” (p. 67) while editing the various frame property parameters, you can hear the results of your edits while you make them. This makes it easier for you to get exactly the right pitch and volume.

Transposes the pitch in semitone steps (-63--0--+63) Edit the numeric value by dragging it up or down with the mouse.

Selects the Take for realtime recording

Solo/Mute/Volume/Pan settings

The Vari Track contains six parts, and you can make Solo/Mute/Volume/Pan settings for each part.

fig.03-42E

Pan+ (offset pan) Use this to adjust the panpot setting of each part. The value you specify here is added to the panpot value for each frame that you specified in the frame property area. Edit the numeric value by dragging it up or down with the mouse.

Vol+ (offset volume) Use this to adjust the volume setting of each part. The value you specify here is added to the volume value for each frame that you specified in the frame property area. Edit the numeric

MUTE Mutes the part. To cancel muting, click the button once again.

SOLO Plays only that part. To cancel solo, click the button once again.

value by dragging it up or down with the mouse.

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Playing your MIDI keyboard and recording (RealTime Rec)

1. In the sample list, click to select the sample that you want to record.

When you play your MIDI keyboard you will hear the selected sample.

* If you do not hear sound when you play your MIDI keyboard, make sure that your keyboard is

connected as described in “Connecting MIDI and audio devices” (p. 20). Then click the Options menu item “MIDI/Audio Settings” ( in MacOS, “MIDI Settings”), and make sure that the port for your MIDI keyboard is selected in the [MIDI IN Ports (Keyboard)” field.

2. In the Vari Track, select the part that you want to record.

* Click a [Rec] (record-part) button ) to select the part that you want to record. The indicator of

that part will change to (MIDI keyboard is being thru-ed). When the song is played, the frames placed in this part will not be heard.

* Frames that have already been placed in the part whose [Rec] (record-part) button ( ) is clicked

will be overwritten and lost when you record.

• If you do not press a ( ) button, recording will occur on an empty part.

• The state of each part is shown by the indicator as follows.

Playback: the part can be played back (normal state) Muted: the part is muted (the [M] button is pressed, or another part is soloed [S])

Record: the indicator will be in this state when you press the [REC] button and then press the

[] button MIDI thru: the MIDI keyboard is being thru-ed. The part for which you press the [REC] button will be in this state. (During playback, the frames placed in this part will not sound.) If you have not pressed the [REC] button, MIDI thru will be assigned automatically. When stopped, part 1 will be selected as the MIDI thru part. While playing, a part containing no frames will be selected as the MIDI thru part.

3. In the locator, press the record button ( ) and then press the play button ( ) to begin

recording. Perform by playing your MIDI keyboard and turning the PITCH/TIME/FORMANT knobs of the VariOS.

* If desired, you can first press the play button ( ) to begin playback, and then press the record

button ( ). In this case, recording will begin at the moment you press the record button. You may find it convenient to use loop playback while you practice, and then press the record button when you are ready to begin recording.

4. In the locator, press the stop button ([ ]) to stop recording. The frame you recorded will be

created in the Vari Track.

5. If you recorded repeatedly while using loop-playback, a recorded take will be created for each

repetition of the loop. “Take 1” will be the recording for the first iteration, “take 2” for the second, and so on. Use the Frame Take field in Frame Properties to select your favorite take.

* As an alternative to the recording method described here, you can use “Modify Recording” (p. 79),

in which you will add data while looping a single frame.

Phrase editing (Scope Editor)

The scope editor lets you edit the performance data within a frame. By using the scope editor you can visually edit pitch, time, and formant data for any location within a phrase. The scope editor will be either the Phrase Scope or the Groove Scope, depending on the keyboard map (p. 54) setting in the sample list. Since you can edit while listening to the playback loop, you can hear the results of your editing while you work. In addition, it’s easy to restore a phrase to its previous state, so you can repeat cycles of trial and error as many times as you like.

■ Phrase scope

The Phrase Scope will appear when you edit a frame that was pasted with the sample’s “Keyboard Map” set to (Phrase Map). As its name suggests, the Phrase Scope interprets the performance data within the frame as a phrase, and is used mainly to edit melodic elements of the phrase. For example, in the case of a vocal sample, you can change the melody line or even add harmony to turn the sound into a chord. This technique is particularly powerful when applied to single-line samples such as vocals.

fig.phrase1

■ Groove scope

The Groove Scope will appear when you edit a frame that was pasted with the sample’s “Keyboard Map” set to (Groove Map). The Groove Scope interprets the performance data within the frame as a rhythm pattern, and is used mainly to edit rhythmic elements. For example, in the case of a drum pattern sample, each slice (a waveform region divided by events) will be a drum sound such as bass drum, snare, etc., and you can re-configure the drum pattern by changing the time location of these slices. This is particularly useful when used on rhythm part samples such as drum patterns.

fig.phrase2

Editing in the Phrase Scope

The phrase scope will open when you double-click a green frame.

fig.03-ps01e

Curve select

Auto scrollTool buttonsModify record

Ruler

Grid snap Quantize

Waveform display area

Note display area

Reset curve

Controller select

Curve view

Time zero input

Time keep

● Waveform display area

The waveform of the encoded sample is displayed here. When you edit notes or time, the results will appear in this area. You cannot directly edit the waveform in the waveform display area.

* If the waveform is not displayed, try using the scroll bar located at the right of the waveform display area

to adjust the displayed area (upward or downward).

Events (blue)

Controller display area

Sample data Zoom tool

fig.03-ps02e

If you play from the middle of a phrase, the sound will be heard starting at the location of an event (blue line).

About pitches in the waveform display area

•For samples encoded in the SOLO type, the waveform will be displayed at the positions of the notes.

•Pitches in the waveform display area are only approximate, and may not be accurate for some samples.

•For samples encoded in a type other than SOLO, the entire waveform will be displayed at the same pitch.

● Note display area

The notes corresponding to the waveform display area are shown here. You can use these notes to edit the pitches of the phrase. To edit a note, select a tool from the tool buttons.

● Controller display area

In this area you can edit the PITCH, TIME, FORMANT, DYNAMICS, and VELOCITY parameters. Use the [Controller select] buttons at the left to select the parameter you want to edit. Edit the selected parameter by using the mouse to drag the curve directly.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

Editing the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics

Here’s how to edit the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics in the specified region of the phrase.

1. Select the parameter that you want to edit.

At the left of the controller display area, press one of the [Controller select] buttons to select the parameter you want to edit: [PITCH], [TIME], [FORMANT], or [DYNAMICS].

PITCH (Control change number 16) Varies the pitch. TIME (control change number 17) Varies the playback speed.

FORMANT (control change number 18) DYNAMICS (control change number 11 Expression) Varies the volume.

* You cannot edit the formant if the sample was encoded in a type other than “SOLO.” Even if you press

the FORMANT button, the red line indicating the formant will not be displayed.

2. Use one of the following methods to specify the region that you want to edit.

If the sample was encoded as “SOLO,” varies the tonal character (formant).

To select a desired region

To extend the selected region To select an event Click the waveform display area.

To select multiple events Drag the mouse to left or right in the waveform display area. To cancel your selection

Drag the mouse to left or right in the controller display area. To select a region in grid units, turn on the Grid Snap button. Hold down the [Shift] key of your keyboard and click in the control- ler display area.

Click in an unselected part of the controller display area, or click the border.

3. Use the [Curve select] buttons to select the type of curve.

fig.03-ps03

You can select one of three curves to specify how the parameter will change. Click either the Flat, Linear, or Rounded curve button.

● Flat : The parameter will be increased or decreased equally.

● Linear : The parameter will be increased or decreased in a straight line.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

● Rounded : The parameter will be increased or decreased in a rounded curve.

* You can also right-click ( in MacOS, control-click) the controller display area and choose a

curve from the menu that appears.

● Reset curve : Resets the curve in the selected region.

4. Hold down the mouse button on the selected region in the controller display area, and drag

upward or downward. When you reach the desired value, release the mouse button.

* If you selected the Linear or Rounded curve, the value will be increased or decreased around the point

at which you pressed the mouse button.

Time Keep function

When editing the time in Curve Edit mode, you can use the Time Keep function. If the Time Keep function is turned on, the curve will be adjusted when you edit the Time so that the length of the selected region will stay the same. You can use this when you want to create a slight change in the Time parameter, but want the overall length to remain unchanged.

Click the [Time Keep] button ( ) to switch the Time Keep function on/off.

* This is not valid for Time Zero input.

Time Zero input

If you want to stop (“zero”) time in the Phrase Scope, click the [Time Zero] button ( ) to change the cursor to the Time Zero input tool. To use this, drag the Time Zero input tool across the Time curve, moving the mouse toward the right and then releasing it. When you input Zero Time, a Time Zero line (a dark blue line shown at the bottom of the control area when displaying the Time parameter) will appear, and the waveform display area will be striped. If you want to cancel the Time Zero line, click it with the eraser tool.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

■ Erasing controller data

There are two ways to erase controller data.

● Using the Reset Curve button

1. Select a region.

2. Click the Reset Curve button ( ).

● Using the eraser tool

1. Select the eraser ( ) tool button.

2. When you drag the eraser tool over the controller display area to select a region, the controller

data in the selected region will be erased. You can also erase this data by clicking the selected region of the controller display area.

To delete control data other than Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics that you input during realtime recording, etc., select a region in the control display area, right-click ( in MacOS, control-click), and choose “Clear Other Controls” to delete the data.

Editing notes

By editing notes you can modify the melody of a phrase or create chords. By default (when a frame is first pasted), a note is placed at the original pitch of the sample (the key that will sound the sample at its original pitch). One note will be displayed for each event. In the phrase scope you can move or add notes to freely play the sample just as if you were controlling the VariOS from your keyboard. For example, you can create a chorus melody from just a single vocal melody.

fig.03-ps12

If you want to play legato in the phrase scope, go to the Sample Edit screen (p. 56) and set the sample Playback mode (p. 57) to “TIME SYNC.” If you edit a note with the Playback mode set to “RETRIGGER,” the beginning of the sample will be played each time the pitch changes, and you will be unable to play legato.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

■ Grid Snap setting

Turn this on if you want to place notes or select regions at intervals of the grid spacing.

When you drag a note to move it, the note will move in units of the grid. For example, if the grid spacing is set to one measure, a note that was intentionally placed a 1/16th note ahead of the bar line will move in steps of one measure, maintaining its position 1/16th note ahead of the bar line. To switch the display grid, drag the numerical value shown at the right of the grid button, and choose from the pulldown menu that appears.

Values:

BAR 1 measure 1/2 Half note 1/4 Quarter note 1/8 Eighth note 1/8T Eighth note triplet 1/16 16th note 1/16T 16th note triplet 1/32 32nd note 1/32T 32nd note triplet 1/64 64th note 1/64T 64th note triplet

Default setting:

1/16

■ Selecting multiple notes

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. You can use the following methods to select multiple notes. The selected notes will turn red.

• Use the arrow cursor to drag left or right in the note area to select a region. The notes in that region will be selected.

• Hold down the [Shift] key of your computer keyboard and click the mouse on each desired note to select two or more notes.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

■ Changing the pitch (fixed movement of the note upward or downward)

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Use the mouse to drag the note, and then press the [SHIFT] key of your computer.

The mouse cursor will be shown as an up/down arrow.

3. Drag the note upward or downward.

The waveform display area will show how the phrase has changed. The keyboard shown in the vertical axis of the waveform display area will give you an idea of the pitch that will sound. The vertical axis of the note area will indicate the note number with which the phrase will be played.

■ Adjusting the legato timing

A note will be colored light blue to indicate that it is played legato with the adjacent notes.

* Notes colored light blue are the default notes generated when you paste a sample into the Vari Track. In

contrast, the notes you add by recording or by using the pen tool are colored purple. You cannot delete light blue notes.

fig.03-ps15e

Legato

By moving a light blue note to left or right, you can adjust the note-on and note-off timing while preserving the legato playback.

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Move the mouse near either end of the note.

3. Drag the note to left or right.

The notes at either side of the note you dragged will contract or expand automatically to preserve the legato playback.

■ Moving a note to another position

You can move a note to a desired position. At this time, light blue notes will preserve the legato playback.

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Drag the note upward, downward, left, or right.

* If you want to limit the movement of the note to the vertical direction, hold down the [Shift] key and

drag the note upward or downward.

■ Adding a note

You can add new notes. Notes you add are displayed in purple.

1. Choose the pen ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. At the location where you want to add a note, press and hold the mouse button, drag to the right,

and then release the mouse button. A purple note will be added.

■ Changing the length of a note

You are free to change the length of a purple note.

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Move the mouse near either end of the note.

3. Drag the note to left or right.

■ Erasing a note

Purple notes can be erased. Light blue notes cannot be erased.

1. Choose the eraser ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Click the mouse on the note that you want to erase.

* By dragging the eraser cursor across the note display area to select a region, you can delete all the

purple notes in that region.

■ Copying a note

Purple notes can be copied. Light blue notes cannot be copied.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

1. Select the note that you want to copy.

2. Use one of the following methods to copy the note.

• Choose Copy from the Edit menu.

• Right-click ( in MacOS, control-click) the selected note, and choose Copy from the menu that appears.

• On your computer keyboard, press [Ctrl] + [C] ( on MacOS, press [ ] + [C]).

3. Click the ruler of the phrase scope to move the playback cursor (the vertical line) to the starting

location at which you want to copy the note.

4. Once again click the note display area, and use one of the following methods to paste the note

you copied.

• Choose Paste from the Edit menu.

• Right-click ( in MacOS, control-click) and choose Paste from the menu that appears.

• On your computer keyboard, press [Ctrl] + [V] ( on MacOS, press [] + [V]).

■ Dividing a note

You can divide a note into two notes. For example, you can divide a note at the point where you want to modify the melody, and then move the divided notes upward or downward to change the pitch at the desired timing.

1. Choose the scissors ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Click the mouse at the location where you want to divide the note.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

■ Joining two notes

You can join two notes that were divided.

1. Adjust the two notes so that they are horizontally aligned.

2. Choose the bond ( ) from the tool buttons.

3. Click between the two notes that you want to join.

■ Editing the velocity

1. Using the [Controller select buttons] located at the left of the controller display area, choose

[VELOCITY].

A graph of the velocities will be displayed.

2. Use the arrow cursor to directly drag the velocity graph upward or downward.

The graph you are editing will turn red.

3. If more than one note exists at the identical timing, click in the note display area on the note that

you want to edit, and the corresponding velocity graph will turn red.

* In the phrase scope, adjacent legato notes are located at the same pitch, the velocity of the second and

subsequent notes will be ignored. Even though you will be able to edit the velocity of the second and subsequent notes on the screen, the sound produced by the VariOS when you play legato will use the velocity of the first note located at that pitch.

fig.03VeloE

Legato notes located at the same pitch

The velocities can be edited in the screen, but when the sound module plays these notes, the second and subsequent notes will have the same velocity as the first note.

Modify Recording

This function lets you modify or edit the selected frame in real time. Modify Recording differs from conventional realtime recording (p. 69) in that when you loop-record, the data will be added to the same take. For example, you would use Modify Recording if you want to record the kick on the first cycle, snare on the second, and hi-hat on the third.

Realtime Recording

Modify Recording

1. Loop-playback a frame.

2. Click the Modify Record button shown below.

fig.03-ps20

Editing in the Phrase Scope

When loop-recording, the first cycle is recorded on take 1, the second as take 2, and so on. Use the frame property parameter Frame Take to select your favorite take. When loop-recording, the data recorded on each cycle is added to the same take. Events will be added, and Pitch, Time, Formant, and Dynamics data will be overwritten over the previously recorded data.

● Punch-in/out button

fig.03-ps21

When you press the punch-in/out button, the punch-in/out anchors will be displayed at the beginning and end of the selected region in the time ruler of the scope editor screen. Recording will apply to the region indicated by the punch-in/out anchors—anything you play outside this region will not be recorded.

*The location of the punch-in/out anchors will move according to any increases or decreases due

to TIME editing.

3. In the locator area, press the record button ( ) and then press the play button ( ) to begin

recording. Perform by playing your MIDI keyboard and/or turning the PITCH/TIME/FORMANT

of the VariOS.

knobs

* You can also press the play button ( ) first, and then press the record button ( ). In this case,

recording will begin at the moment you press the record button, so you can practice while the playback continues looping, and then press the record button when you are ready to record.

4. In the locator area, press the stop button ( ) to stop recording.

Editing in the Phrase Scope

Quantize

Quantize is a function that adjusts the note locations to left or right so that the notes line up with intervals of the displayed grid.

1. As described in “Selecting multiple notes” (p. 75), specify the region that you want to quantize.

2. Set the numeric value at the right of the quantize button to specify the quantization rate (the

amount of adjustment). You can adjust the quantization rate in a range of 0%–100% by dragging the numeric value

upward or downward. With a setting of 100%, the note locations will be aligned precisely with the grid intervals.

3. Click the quantize button to execute the quantize operation.

fig.03-ps22

If you did not get the result you expected, choose [Undo] from the [Edit] menu, then try the operation over again using other settings.

If notes are connected by legato, the first note will adhere to the grid, and subsequent notes will move in parallel with the first.

Editing in the Groove Scope

When you click a purple frame, the groove scope will open.

fig.03-gs01e

Ruler

Curve select

Reset Curve

Controller select

Auto scrollTool buttons PreviewModify record

Grid snap Quantize

Original waveform display area

Slice (note) display area

Controller display area

Curve View

Sample information Zoom tool

● Original waveform display area

The sample waveform is divided into slices at event locations, and the slices are displayed in this area. Slices are numbered sequentially from the beginning. If you hold down [Shift] and click a slice in the original waveform display area, the slice whose number you clicked will be added to the original location of the slice display area.

● Slice (note) display area

Here you can edit slices (notes). Slices (waveforms) are displayed in stair-step fashion. The vertical axis shows the type of slice (arranged in order from the bottom), and the horizontal axis shows the timing at which each slice will be heard.

fig.03-gs02

Slice name display area

The name of the slice is shown here. You can double-click the slice name to re-name it.

By right-clicking the slice name ( on MacOS, control-clicking), you can switch the display between the slice name and the note name.

● Controller display area

Here you can edit the PITCH, TIME, FORMANT, DYNAMICS, and VELOCITY parameters. Use the [Controller select buttons] at the left to switch parameters. Use the mouse to directly edit the curve.

Basic operation is the same as in the phrase scope.

Editing in the Groove Scope

Editing the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics

You can edit the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics in the desired region of the phrase. The procedure is the same as in the phrase scope, as described in “Editing the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics” (p.

72).

* Unlike the phrase scope, the groove scope does not change the timing of a slice (note) when you edit the

TIME parameter. For this reason, the groove scope does not have the “Time Keep” and “Time zero input” functions that are provided in the phrase scope. (Moving the TIME curve to the bottom will produce a zero time.)

Editing a slice (note)

Editing a slice is essentially the same as editing a note in the phrase scope.

fig.03-gs03

When you want to edit slices in the groove scope, go to the Sample Edit screen (p. 56) and set the playback mode of the sample to “Retrigger” (p.

57). If the playback mode is anything other than “Retrigger,” editing an event will cause the sound to be interrupted or otherwise fail to play correctly.

* The groove scope provides a preview function for each slice.

• If the button is on, you can audition a sample by clicking it.

• If the button is on, you can audition a sample by moving the mouse cursor over it.

■ Selecting multiple slices

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. You can use the following methods to select multiple slices. Selected slices will turn red.

• Drag the arrow cursor to the left or right in the event display area or controller display area to specify a region. The slices in the region will be selected.

• Hold down the [Shift] key of your computer and click the mouse on a slice to add it to or remove it from your selection.

■ Moving a slice

You can freely move a note to another location.

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Drag the slice up, down, left, or right.

If there is no original waveform corresponding to the slice, the waveform display of the slice will be a straight line.

* If you want to limit the movement of the slice to the vertical direction, hold down the [Shift] key and

drag the slice upward or downward.

■ Adding a slice

Here’s how to add a new slice.

1. Choose the pen ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Hold down the mouse button at the location where you want to add a slice, drag to the right, and

then release the mouse button. If you extend the slice beyond the length of its original waveform, the waveform display of the

slice will be a straight line. If you hold down [Shift] and click a slice in the original waveform display area, the slice of the number you clicked will be added to the original location of the slice display area.

■ Adjusting the length of a slice

1. Choose the arrow ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. Move the mouse near either end of the slice.

Editing in the Groove Scope

3. Drag the slice to left or right.

If you extend the slice beyond the length of its original waveform, the waveform display of the slice will be a straight line.

■ Deleting a slice

1. Choose the eraser ( ) from the tool buttons.

2. In the slice display area, click the mouse on the slice you want to delete.

* By dragging the eraser tool across the slice display area to select a region, you can delete the slices

from the corresponding region.

■ Copying a slice by dragging and dropping

1. Select the slice that you want to copy.

2. Press and hold the mouse button on the selected slice, move it to the desired destination, and

then hold down the [Ctrl] key ( in MacOS, the [Option] key) of your keyboard and release the mouse button (drag and drop).

Editing in the Groove Scope

■ Copying a slice with the Copy and Paste commands

1. Select the slice that you want to copy.

2. Use one of the following methods to copy the slice.

• Choose Copy from the Edit menu.

• Right-click ( in MacOS, control-click) the selected slice, and choose Copy from the menu

that appears.

• Press [Ctrl] + [C] ( in MacOS, [] + [C]) on your keyboard.

3. Click the ruler of the groove scope| to move the playback cursor (the vertical line) to the

location at which you want the pasted slice to begin.

4. Use one of the following methods to paste the copied slice.

• Choose Paste from the Edit menu.

• Right-click ( in MacOS, control-click) and choose Paste from the menu that appears.

• Press [Ctrl] + [V] ( in MacOS, [] + [V]) on your keyboard.

Modify Recording

The procedure is the same as for “Modify Recording” (p. 79) in the phrase scope.

Quantize

The procedure is the same as for “Quantize” (p. 80) in the phrase scope.

Saving

Saving a song

In the same way as in most programs, you will save your work by choosing [Save Song] or [Save As] from the File menu. The song will be saved in V-Producer format (in Windows, the file name extension is .vpd).

In V-Producer, the actual audio data used by a song (.vpw files) is handled separately from the song file (.vpd file) that uses this audio data. The song file contains only references to these audio files. This means that if you copy or back up only the song file to another computer, you will be unable to play back the song. If you select "Save song with the sample files" when saving, all sample files (.vpw files) used by the song will be copied to the same folder as the song file. By moving this entire folder, you can move your song to another computer or create a backup.

About the sample files (.vpw) used by the song

The settings file named “song name + PRM.ini” that is saved in the same folder as the song file (.vpd) stores the location (absolute path) of the sample files (.vpw) used in the song. For this reason, if you change the location of the samples used in the song, V-Producer will lose track of the sample file locations. In this case, the next time you open the song, the "[sample name] Load File Name" dialog box will appear. Please specify the file location of the sample name shown in the dialog box.

* The [Export SMF] command on the File menu will save the song in SMF format, so you can load it into

another sequencer and use it to play the VariOS. For details, refer to “Using your MIDI sequencer to play data (SMF) created by V-Producer” (p. 127).

Exporting a wave file

The [Export Wave File] command on the File menu will export data as a wave file. Since wave files are a standard format, they can be loaded into virtually any program. When exporting wave files, you have the following options:

Song Export a single wave file for the entire song

Export separate wave files for each part of the song

Multiple Part

* The internal effects of the VariOS (see “Using effects” (p. 87) ) will not be reflected by the wave file

export function.

When you save, the parts that are checked in the “Export Part” field will be output. Each part will be saved in the folder you've specified, using this format: “specified file name _ part number.’

Using the effects of the VariOS (Mixer)

V-Producer has a Mixer window in which you can control the level, pan, etc., of the six parts of the VariOS, and an Effect window in which you can adjust the effect parameters. The following diagram shows the effect signal flow.

fig.newmixer_80

Master Level

Reverb

Chorus

Multi-FX

Out Assign

Reverb

MAIN

OUT

DIGITAL

OUT

DIRECT

OUT

MAIN

M-FX

DIR

Sound

Generator

OUTPUT

Using the Mixer

Reverb Send

Level

Chorus Send

Level

Multi-FX Send

Level

Multi-FX Cho

Send Level

Multi-FX

fig.04-MIX01

The mixer window will appear when you click the mixer button in the tool bar

Chorus Rev

Send Level

Chorus

Multi-FX Rev

Send Level

Multi-FX

Master Level

of the main window.

fig.04-MIX02E

M-FX send level

Adjusts the depth of the multi-effect

* Valid only when output assign is set to [M-FX]

Chorus send level

Adjusts the depth of the chorus

* This has no effect if output assign is set to [DIR]

Reverb send level

Adjusts the depth of the reverb

* This has no effect if output assign is set to [DIR]

Panpot

Adjusts the stereo position of each part

Slider (level)

Adjusts the volume of each

Output assign

Specifies the output destination of the original sound

Effects

Opens the effect window corresponding to each button

Using effects

When you press the [MULTI], [REVERB], or [CHORUS] button of the mixer window, the corresponding effect window will open.

Using the effects of the VariOS (Mixer)

■ MULTI (Multi-effect)

fig.04-MIX03E

ON/OFF switch

Type select button

■ CHORUS

fig.04-MIX04E

ON/OFF switch

Type select button

Multi-FX Master Level

Volume of the multi-effect output

Chorus Master Level

Volume of the chorus output

Multi-FX Cho Send Level

Adjusts the chorus depth for the multi-effect output

Multi-FX Rev Send Level

Adjusts the reverb depth for the multi-effect output

Multi-FX Out Assign

Specifies the output destination of the multi-effect MAIN: output from "MAIN OUT" DIR: output from "DIRECT OUT"

Displays the list of types

Chorus Rev Send Level

Adjusts the reverb depth for the chorus output

Displays the list of types

■ REVERB

fig.04-MIX05E

ON/OFF switch

Displays the list of types

Type select button

Reverb Master Level

Volume of the reverb output

Using the effects of the VariOS (Mixer)

■ Switching the effect type

There are 40 types of multi-effect, eight types of chorus, and nine types of reverb.

1. Click the type select buttons ( ) located above the displayed effect type name. The effect

type will change. Alternatively, you can click the TYPE field ( ) to view a list of effect types, and directly

select the desired type.

* For details on the parameters of each effect, refer to the Reference Manual (pdf).

Taking advantage of the VariOS Keyboard(VariOS Keyboard)

Using the VariOS Keyboard

fig.toolbar

Click the keyboard button in the toolbar to open the keyboard.

PITCH/TIME/FORMANT knobs Control the pitch/time/formant of the part being auditioned. Screen

Part buttons Velocity fader Adjusts the velocity of the notes.

Keyboard Click the keyboard to listen to the part being auditioned.

fig.1_80

Shows the MIDI messages of the part being auditioned and the part(s) specified by the MONITOR PART buttons. Specify the part(s) whose MIDI messages will be displayed in the screen.

ScreenPITCH/TIME/FORMANT knobs

Part buttons

Velocity

Velocity fader

■ Note name display

fig.3

By pressing the [Shift]+[N] keys, you can switch the note names of the note-on keys between displayed and hidden.

fig.2

By placing the mouse pointer on the keyboard and right-clicking ( in MacOS, control-clicking), and choosing “View Note Name” from the menu that appears, you can show or hide the note name display for the note-on keys.

Keyboard

Taking advantage of the VariOS Keyboard(VariOS Keyboard)

■ Turning a note on/off from your computer keyboard

1. Press the [Shift]+[K] keys.

fig.5

If you place the mouse pointer on the keyboard and right-click ( in MacOS, control-click), and choose “Change PC Keyboard” from the menu that appears, you will be able to turn notes on/off from the keyboard of your computer.

fig.trackkey

The keys of your computer keyboard will correspond to notes as shown in the diagram..

You can use the up/down keys [ ][ ] to shift the octave. Once again, press the [Shift]+[K] keys. Alternatively, right-click ( in MacOS, control-click) and uncheck “Change PC Keyboard” in the menu that appears to exit this function.

■ Surface controller

fig.6

When you double-click in the screen, a rectangular frame as shown in the diagram will appear. By dragging the mouse inside this frame, you can simultaneously control both pitch and time. When you click the parameter name, the parameter indication will change in the order of PITCH-TIMEFORMANT, and the parameter to be controlled will be assigned to each axis. It is possible to specify the same parameter for the X-axis and Y-axis, such as PITCH-PITCH or TIMETIME. However in this case, the X-axis movement will be ignored, and control will occur only on the Y-axis.

* This function is disabled if the Part button is on.

Screen

Operation guide:

Sound module (VariOS)

An overview of the VariOS

Internal structure of the VariOS

■ “Samples” and “performances”

The VariOS uses two units of sound: “samples” and “performances.” A “sample” consists of a wave with VariOS sample parameters. Data that assigns samples to the six parts is called a “performance.” The internal memory of the VariOS can contain only one performance. A performance has six parts, and can use up to a total of 128 samples. By assigning samples to the six parts and sending MIDI messages to each part, you can play multiple samples simultaneously. The six parts in V-Producer’s Vari Track (p. 62) correspond to the six parts of the performance.

■ To play sounds

The VariOS is not ready to produce sound immediately after you turn on the power. Samples must first be loaded into internal memory. Connect the VariOS to your computer via a USB cable, and use the V-Producer’s “Load Wave Files” command (p. 50) to send wave files (WAV or AIFF) or Vari Phrase format files (VPW) from your computer to the VariOS. At this time, V-Producer will convert (encode) (p. 49) the wave files into Vari Phrase format. If you want to re-encode a previously loaded sample in a different format, use V-Producer’s “Wave Edit” command (p. 59).

■ Saving sounds

The samples that are loaded into the VariOS can be saved in the internal flash ROM of the VariOS, or on a PC card inserted into its card slot. When you save a performance (p. 114), not only the performance settings but also all samples in internal memory will be saved (excluding samples for which there is no wave data, or samples that cannot be saved). In other words, a “performance” contains all the data necessary for playing one song. When you load a performance into the VariOS, the samples that were saved with it will also be loaded. You can also save or load samples individually (p. 113).

■ What is “keyboard map”?

The VariOS has a “Keyboard Map”(p. 107) parameter that describes the state of the keyboard. This parameter is set separately for each part, and has two states. If keyboard map is set to “Phrase Map,” the sample assigned to the part can be played at the pitch of each key. If keyboard map is set to “Groove Map,” the sample assigned to a part is divided at events (p. 61), and assigned to each key. This means that you can randomly play different sections of the sample from different keys without regard to their original order within the sample. If you turn on the Loop switch (p. 106), you can repeatedly play a section within the sample.

■ Sample playback

Samples will normally play from the beginning of the wave. You cannot play a sample from some arbitrary point. If you want to play a sample from some point in the middle, set the keyboard map to “Groove Map.” Alternatively, you can set the playback mode (p. 105) to “STEP” so that each press of the keyboard will sound successive slices (regions between events) of the sample. When playing a sample from the middle in this way, playback will be in units (slices) divided by events (p. 61).

■ Maximum sample time

The maximum sample length is 2 minutes 30 seconds stereo, or 5 minutes monaural. Samples longer than this cannot be loaded. Also, the total time of all samples in the internal memory of the VariOS cannot exceed this amount.

■ Maximum polyphony

The maximum polyphony is 14 notes (voices). If the VariOS receives data attempting to play more than this number of voices simultaneously, notes will be omitted. If the number of requested voices exceeds 14, the VariOS will give priority to the most recently played sounds, and will begin turning off older notes. A stereo sample will use up two notes (voices) for each sound.

fig.041-VariOSGaiyou-E

Computer

Wave file (WAV)

An overview of the VariOS

Wave file (AIFF)

Vari Phrase format file (VPW)

Internal memory

No. (PC#) 001 002

Save samples

003 : 016 : 128

Encode

Send samples

Name SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3 : SAMPLE 16 : NO WAVE DATA

Save performance

Re-encode

Part 1 2 3 4 5 6

Load performance

Sample No. (PC#) 002 002 001 003 016 003

Load samples

Perform

Internal flash ROMInternal flash ROMInternal flash ROM

SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2

SAMPLE 16

SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2

SAMPLE 3

PC cardPC card

SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3

SAMPLE 16

SAMPLE 2

SAMPLE 9 SAMPLE 3

SAMPLE 15

Basic operation of the VariOS

The screen and basic operation

The VariOS has the following two modes.

Sample select mode (MENU button dark)

In this screen you can select a sample to play. Here you can also select parts and adjust the tempo of the sample.

MENU mode (MENU button lit)

Here you can make various settings for the VariOS.

Switching the screen

fig.042-002

Sample select switch

Press the [MENU] button so it's not lighted, and the sample select screen wil0l appear.

MENU screen

Press the [MENU] button so it's lighted, and the MENU screen will appear. (Initially, the MENU screen will show the menu that you last selected.) To see the top menu, press and hold the [MENU] button.

Tempo adjustment screen

In the "sample select screen," press the [V ALUE] knob and the tempo adjustment screen will appear. To return to the "sample select screen," once again press the [V olume] knob or press the [EXIT] button.

Moving to a lower le vel

Turn the [V ALUE] knob to select a menu, and then press the [V ALUE] knob .

Moving to a higher lev el

Press the [EXIT] button.

Editing a value

fig.042-003

Moving the cursor

Use the [CURSOR] buttons to move the cursor to the v alue you w ant to edit. * If the screen contains only one value that can be edited, the cursor will not move.

Editing the value

Turn the [V ALUE] knob to edit the value. If you press in on the [V ALUE] knob while y ou turn it, the value will change in larger steps.

Basic operation of the VariOS

Cursor (underline)

Basic operation of the VariOS

Assigning a name

Several screens of the VariOS allow you to assign a name. (For example, Menu 6-2 Sample Rename or 8-2 Save.) Regardless of the type of name you are assigning, the procedure is the same.

Performance: up to 16 characters Sample: up to 12 characters Folder: up to 16 characters Volume label: up to 11 characters

Access the screen in which you want to assign a name, and use the following procedure.

1. Use the [CURSOR] buttons to move the cursor to the location where you want to enter a

character.

fig.042-0031

Cursor (underline)

2. Turn the [VALUE] knob to specify the desired character.

You can use the following characters and symbols.

For a performance, sample, or folder A--Z a--z 0--9 ! # $ % & ' ( ) + - = @ [ ] ^ _ ` { } space For a volume label A--Z 0--9 $ % ' - _ @ ! ` ( ) ~

By turning the [VALUE] knob while pressing it, you can conveniently shift between uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numerals, symbols, and spaces. (Lowercase characters will not be displayed for a volume label.)

3. Press the [VALUE] knob, and the display will ask “Are You Sure?” Press the [VALUE] knob

once again to finalize the name. If you press the [EXIT] button you’re returned to the name entry screen.

In any of the name entry screens, you can press the [EXIT] button to discard the currently edited name and return to the previous screen.

fig.042-0032

Selecting a sample

* When the VariOS has just been powered up, it is not ready to produce sound. You must load samples into

its internal memory. Before you continue with the following procedure, you must use the V-Producer’s “Load Wave Files” command to send samples to the VariOS (p. 50).

1. Press the [MENU] button so it’s not lighted. The sample select screen will appear.

fig.042-004

Basic operation of the VariOS

Sample number Part number

Sample nameCursor (underline)

Dark

2. Make sure that the cursor is located at the sample number, and turn the [VALUE] knob to select

the desired sample.

fig.042-0042

Sample number

Cursor (underline)

3. You can press the [VOLUME] knob to preview (audition) the selected sample.

* If there is no sample, the display will indicate “NO WAVE DATA,” and no sound will be heard.

fig.042-043

4. To select a different part, use the [CURSOR] buttons to move the cursor to the part number, and

turn the [VALUE] knob to select a part.

fig.042-0044

Cursor (underline)

Basic operation of the VariOS

Changing the tempo of a sample

1. Press the [MENU] button so it’s not lighted. Access the sample select screen, and then press the

[VALUE] knob to access the tempo change screen.

fig.042-005

Tempo Clock source

Cursor (underline)

2. Move the cursor to ClockSrc (clock source), and use the [VALUE] knob to select either INT or

MIDI. Clock Src (clock source) specifies whether the tempo clock of the VariOS will use its own internal clock (INT) or an external clock (MIDI). If you are using the VariOS by itself, select INT. If you are using the VariOS in synchronization with a sequencer or other device, select MIDI. For details, refer to “Controlling the VariOS from your MIDI sequencer” (p. 126).

fig.042-052

Clock source

Dark

Cursor (underline)

When you are using V-Producer, V-Producer will automatically set the clock source to “MIDI.” This will cause the VariOS to synchronize to the tempo of V-Producer.

3. Move the cursor to Tempo (master tempo), and turn the [VALUE] knob to adjust the tempo in

steps of 0.1. If you turn [VALUE] knob while pressing it, the tempo will change in steps of 1. Master Tempo specifies the master tempo of the VariOS.

If the Clock Src parameter is set to MIDI, the master tempo will be displayed as “—.-.” Available Settings: 20.0–250.0

fig.042-053

Tempo

Cursor (underline)

f ig.042-054

The tempo indicator on the front panel of the VariOS will blink to indicate the tempo.

* If the tempo does not change when you adjust the master tempo, make sure

that the “Tempo sync setting” (p. 99) explained on the next page is turned on.

■ Tempo sync setting

If you want to play back the sample at its original tempo, turn off Tempo Sync (this is a part parameter). Tempo Sync specifies whether the playback speed of the sample assigned to each part will synchronize to the master tempo or external clock (ON), or will not synchronize (OFF).

Procedure:

1. Press the [MENU] button so it’s lighted, and access the MENU screen.

fig.042-006

Menu name

* The MENU screen displays the menu that you selected most recently. You need to go to the top level

menu. You can get there by pressing and continuing to hold the [MENU] button for a few moments (when the [MENU] button is not illuminated), or by pressing the [EXIT] button.

2. Turn the [VALUE] knob to select “MENU2 Part Edit,” and press the [VALUE] knob.

fig.042-0062

Basic operation of the VariOS

light

3. Turn the [VALUE] knob to select “Menu2-3 Tempo Sync,” and press the [VALUE] knob.

fig.042-0063

4. Use the [CURSOR] buttons to move the cursor to the part number, and turn the [VALUE] knob to

select a part.

fig.042-0064

5. Use the [CURSOR] buttons to move the cursor to the “ON” (or OFF) location, and turn the

[VALUE] knob to switch the setting ON/OFF.

fig.042-0065

While V-Producer is being used, V-Producer will automatically turn tempo sync “ON” for all parts. This will cause the VariOS to synchronize to the tempo of V-Producer.

* If the master tempo is set to a value four times or more of the original tempo of the sample (p. 51), it will

not be possible to synchronize the sample to the master tempo.

Basic operation of the VariOS

Playing the VariOS from a connected keyboard (MIDI Mode)

You can connect your MIDI keyboard to the VariOS. In this case, you can change the MIDI routing in the following ways.

■ PC mode

When using a USB connection, the MIDI connectors on the rear panel of the VariOS will function as a USB MIDI interface (Roland VariOS External MIDI). When USB is not connected (and when your computer is not powered up), the MIDI connectors on the rear panel of the VariOS are connected directly to the sound generator section.

fig.042-007

Computer

When USB is connected

Sequencer software

When USB is not connected

■ Internal mode

The MIDI connectors of the rear panel of the VariOS are connected directly to the sound generator section.

fig.042-007a

VariOS

Sound generator

section

VariOS

Sound generator

section

Computer

Sequencer software

100

VariOS

Sound generator

section

Roland maxWerk User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

IMPORTANT NOTES

Contents

Introduction

Check the contents of the package

Startup

Names of Things and What They Do

Front Panel

Rear Panel

V-Producer screen

Restoring the factory settings (Factory Reset)

Connections with external devices

Attaching the rackmount adaptors

Connecting MIDI and audio devices

Installation

Windows users

■ Installing V-Producer

■ Installing the Driver

Macintosh users

■ About the included MIDI drivers

■ Installing OMS

■ Installing V-Producer

■ Connections and OMS setup

MIDI and audio settings

Listening to the demo songs

Loading the demo songs

Playing the demo song

Turning the VariOS on/off

Turning on the VariOS when connected to a computer

Turning off the VariOS when connected to a computer

An overview of V-Producer

What is VariPhrase?

What is encoding?

Loading wave files (Load Wave Files)

Make settings for samples and play them (Sample List)

Auditioning a sample

Switching the keyboard map

■ (Phrase Map)

■ (Groove Map)

Deleting a sample

Copying a sample

Editing the sample parameters (Sample Edit)

■ Key Assign mode

■ Playback mode

■ Robot (robot voice switch)

■ Reset

Re-encoding a sample (Wave Edit)

■ Waveform preview

■ Changing the encoding type

■ Changing the original tempo

■ Changing the location of a event

Creating a song (Vari Track)

Changing the tempo

Setting the time signature

Arranging samples

Editing a frame

■ Select the frame to edit

■ Moving a frame

■ Changing the length of a frame

■ Copying a frame

■ Deleting a frame

Loop playback

■ Using the Quick Loop function to set the loop region

Editing the settings of a frame (Frame Properties)

Solo/Mute/Volume/Pan settings

Playing your MIDI keyboard and recording (RealTime Rec)

Phrase editing (Scope Editor)

■ Phrase scope

■ Groove scope

Editing in the Phrase Scope

Waveform display area

Note display area

Controller display area

Editing the Pitch/Time/Formant/Dynamics

■ Erasing controller data

Editing notes

■ Grid Snap setting