Roland V-Bass Turbo Start

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V-Bass

Virtual Bass

System

It’s a Fact…

The V-Bass is an amazing virtual bass system based on Roland’s acclaimed COSM® technology and the new GK-2B Divided Pickup. The V-Bass accurately models the worlds most popular basses—everything from classic electrics to upright acoustic bass, fretless bass and more—and can combine them with the sounds of the world’s greatest bass amplifiers and polyphonic effects. Features Include:

• COSM Bass technology models of classic electric, acoustic, fretless and custom usercreated basses using a standard bass guitar with a GK-2B divided pickup for bass

• Instant access to popular solid state and tube amp models, speaker cabinets, plus original amp models

• Unsurpassed bass effects include modeled wah, modeled overdrive/distortion, compression, delay, chorus, reverb

• Incredible synth bass sounds, polyphonic effects, wild sound effects and more

• Onboard expression pedal for realtime parameter control

• 1/4” bass input jack for direct access to amp modeling and non-polyphonic effects

• Works with 4-, 5- and 6-string basses

Setting the GK-2B Pickup

To ensure the best possible tracking and sound quality, adjust the V-Bass’s pickup driver settings. After attaching the GK-2B pickup:

1. Press the GK SETTING button.

2. Press F1 (SETTING) and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to choose the string setup that applies to your bass: 4-, 5- or 6-string.

3. Press F2 (GK POSI) and turn PATCH/VALUE to select the string position you used when you installed the pickup.

4. Press F4 (GK TYPE) and turn PATCH/VALUE to select the type of divided pickup that’s installed on your bass.

5. Press F5 (DIRECTION) and turn PATCH/VALUE to select the direction in which the pickup is installed: Normal or Reverse.

6. Press EXIT to return to the main screen.

Note: For more detailed pickup settings, refer to page 16 of the V-Bass Owner’s Manual.

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Adjusting Each String’s Sensitivity

Setting the string sensitivity is critical for obtaining maximum performance from your V-Bass. Use the following procedure to set the string sensitivity:

1. Press the GK SETTING button.

2. Press PAGE  several times to display Page 4.

3. Pluck the bottom string to activate its sensitivity meter display.

4. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to raise or lower the sensitivity of that string.

Note: If the level indicator extends all the way to the right of the display, the sensitivity is too high. Reduce the sensitivity using the PATCH/VALUE dial.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the remaining strings.

6. Press EXIT when you’re finished.

Using the Tuner

Here’s how to use the V-Bass’s built-in tuner:

1. Press the TUNER/BYPASS button—this turns on the tuner.

2. Play a string and watch the display to see the note name of the string you’re tuning. Adjust the string’s tuning so only the center tuning indicator lights. Repeat this for all of your strings.

3. Press TUNER or EXIT when you’re done.

Note: You can tune to a non-standard tuning reference if you wish. See the V-Bass Owner’s Manual for details.

Selecting Patches

The V-Bass has 200 factory patches, organized by bank and number. There are 100 preset and 100 user patches, organized in 50 banks of four patches each. There are a few ways to select and audition patches.

To select a patch:

1. Make sure you’re on the Play page by pressing EXIT several times.

2. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to select the desired patch.

To select a patch using use the pedals:

1. Step on the  and/or  BANK pedals to select the desired bank.

2. Step on Pedal 1-4 to choose the desired patch within the selected bank.

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V-Bass

Virtual Bass

System

To select a patch using the S1/S2 buttons on the GK-2B:

1. Press SYSTEM.

2. Press F4 (GK FUNC).

3. Press F4 (Down/S1-Up/S2).

4. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to display “PATCH SELECT.”

5. Press EXIT twice—you can now use the S1/S2 buttons to select patches.

Selecting COSM Amp Settings

The V-Bass system has a wide variety of different COSM amp and speaker models. Use the following procedure to try different COSM amp settings.

1. Select the 15-3 Mod Bass patch.

2. Press COSM AMP.

3. Press F1 (ON/OFF) and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to turn on amp modeling.

4. Press F4 (TYPE), and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to select and audition amp models. When you’re done, select Bass 360.

5. Press PAGE  or COSM AMP to move through the pages that display the available parameters for each model. For this example, go to Page 4.

6. You can select any displayed parameter you wish to change by pressing the corresponding F button, and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to set its value. For this example, press F4 to choose the amp speaker type parameter.

7. Turn PATCH /VALUE to try out the available speaker types.

Note: If you want to save your edits, use the following procedure to save them as a new user patch.

Saving a Patch

Parameter edits you make are temporary, lasting only until you switch to another patch. To preserve an edited patch, save—or “write”—it as a new user patch.

1. Press WRITE.

2. Turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to select the desired user location in which your new patch is to be saved.

3. Press WRITE again.

Note: Preset patches are permanently stored in the V-Bass’s memory and can’t be re-written or erased. You can, however, edit a preset patch and save it as a new user patch.

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Selecting COSM Bass Settings

The V-Bass system also has a large assortment of different COSM bass guitar models. Use the following procedure to try the different COSM bass settings:

1. Select the 15-3 Mod Bass patch.

2. Press COSM BASS.

3. Press F1 (ON/OFF) and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to turn on bass modeling.

4. Press F4 (TYPE), and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to select and play the various bass models. For this example, select Vari Bass.

5. Press PAGE  or COSM BASS to move through the pages that display the available parameters for each model. When you’re done, go to Page 2.

6. Press F1-F6 to select any displayed parameter you wish to change, and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to set its value. For this example, press F5 to choose the bass body type parameter.

7. Turn PATCH /VALUE to try out the available body types.

Note: If you want to save your settings, save your patch as described earlier.

Editing Patch Effects

Use the following procedure to edit the currently selected patch’s effects:

1. Select the 15-3 Mod Bass patch.

2. Press EFFECTS.

3. Press   to display the effects in Mod Bass.

4. Press   to display the Delay effect.

5. The top row of F buttons turn the displayed effects on and off. Press F3 to select the delay and turn it on.

6. You can turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to choose pre-programmed settings for the delay, or select CUSTOM to program the effect from scratch. Select CUSTOM for this example.

7. To edit an effect’s parameters, press the bottomrow F button—F4-F6—beneath the effect. Press F6 to edit the delay.

8. Press F1 to select the delay time, and turn the PATCH/VALUE dial to set its value.

Note: To preserve your new settings, save your edits as a user patch.

Roland V-Bass Turbo Start

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual