Roland VS880 User Manual

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March 17, 1998

The ability to synchronize multiple VS-880s allows you to greatly expand your recording environment. You gain additional tracks, inputs, effects, and more while maintaining the incredible sound quality, compatibility, and user interface that the VS-880 provides. Think about the possibilities of owning two VS-880s: 16 tracks for playback, 128 Virtual Tracks, 4 digital stereo effects processors (with two optional VS8F-1s), and 28 channels of automated mixing. This document will explain how to connect multiple VS-880s so that they play in sync with each other and the audio from both VS-880s is monitored from the master unit. There are different methods for synchronizing VS-880s, depending on the number of VS-880s you are syncing, the mixer mode you are using, and the operating system that you are using. In this document we will show you how to synchronize multiple VS-880s using two different methods: MIDI Time Code (MTC) and MIDI Machine Control/Digital Clock. We will begin by explaining how this is accomplished with VS-880s using the V-Xpanded (2.xx and higher) operating system. Then, we will explain the same procedures for VS-880 owners using a pre-expanded (1.xx) operating system.

Connecting Multiple VS-880s — V-Xpanded

VS-880

Digital Audio Workstation

Supplemental

Notes

I. Connecting Two VS-880s (V-Xpanded Version 2.xx and Higher)

The following section will explain the procedure for synchronizing two VS-880s that use the V-Xpanded (2.xx and higher) operating system. We will use MIDI Time Code (MTC) to synchronize the two VS-880s and we will route the audio from the slave VS-880’s digital output to the master VS-880’s digital input so that the audio from both VS-880s is sent through th

e mix output of the master VS-880.

Connections

1) Connect the MIDI OUT port of the master VS-880 to the MIDI IN port of the slave. 2 ) Connect the Digital output of the slave VS-880 to the Digital input of the master.

NOTE: Make sure that both VS-880s are powered on and that the current song’s sampling rate (48kHz,

44.1kHz, or 32kHz) is the same on both units. If you are unsure what the current song’s sampling rate is set to, press PLAY/DISPLAY to access the Play screen (if necessary). Then, hold SHIFT and press SONG. The sampling rate will be displayed under “SYNC MODE.” The sampling rate is linked to the song. If the sampling rates do not match, you will need to create a new song on one of the VS-880s with a sampling rate that matches the other unit.

Settings for the Master VS-880

One of the easiest ways to sync two VS-880s together is to designate one of them as the master unit sending MIDI Time Code and the other unit as the slave set to external sync. Use the following procedure to setup a VS-880 as a master device in this scenario.

1) Press SYSTEM until “MIDI PRM?” is displayed. Press YES/ENTER.

2) Press PARAMETER right until “MIDI Thru” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “MIDI Thru = Out.”

3) Press PARAMETER right until “SysEx Tx” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “SysEx Tx = On.”

4) Press PARAMETER right until “MMC” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “MMC = MASTER.”

5) Press PARAMETER right until “CtrLocal” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “CtrLocal = On.”

6) Press PARAMETER right until “CtrType” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “CtrType = Off.”

7) Press SYSTEM until “Sync/Tempo PRM?” is displayed.

8) Press YES/ENTER and “Syn:Source” will be displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “Syn:Source = INT.”

9) Press PARAMETER right until “Syn:Gen” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “Syn:Gen = MTC.”

10) Press SYSTEM until “System PRM?” is displayed. Press YES/ENTER and “SYS Master Clk” will be displayed. 1 1) Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “SYS Master Clk = DIGITL.”

Master Unit

MIDI OUT

Digital In

MIDI IN

Digital Out

Slave Unit

®ÂØÒÅˆÎ VS-880 Supplemental Notes

Settings for the Slave VS-880

U se the following procedure to setup the other VS-880 as a slave device.

1) Press SYSTEM until “MIDI PRM?” is displayed. Press YES/ENTER.

2) Press PARAMETER right until “SysEx Rx” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “SysEx Rx = On.”

3) Press PARAMETER right until “MMC” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “MMC = SLAVE.”

4) Press PARAMETER right until “CtrLocal” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “CtrLocal = On.”

5) Press SYSTEM until “Sync/Tempo PRM?” is displayed. Press YES/ENTER and “Syn:Source” will be displayed.

6) Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “Syn:Source = EXT.”

Routing the Digital Output of the Slave to the Mix Output of the Master

Now that we have made all the necessary settings for synchronizing the two VS-880s, we need to route the audio from the slave unit to the master so that we have a unified mix output that contains the signal of the master and slave units. There are different methods for doing this depending on which mixer mode you are using.

U se the following procedure to route the audio output of the slave VS-880 to the master in INPUT-TRACK mode:

1) On the master VS-880, press EDIT/SOLO until “MST StereoIn = “ is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “Digital.”

2) Press PARAMETER right so that “MST StIn Level =” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to adjust the overall level for the slave unit.

3) Press PARAMETER right so that “MST StIn Bal =” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to adjust the balance of the slave unit, if desired.

When you press PLAY on the master VS-880, both units will start playing. Use the master fader on the slave unit to adjust the overall level of the slave unit. The master VS-880’s mix output will now contain audio from both units.

U se the following procedure to route the audio output of the slave VS-880 to the master in INPUT MIX/TRACK MIX mode:

1) On the master VS-880, hold SHIFT and press SELECT to switch to INPUT MIX/TRACK MIX mode.

2) Press SELECT to choose INPUT MIX mode (if necessary).

3) Press CH EDIT button 5 to select channel 5.

4) Hold SHIFT and press Aux Send (CH EDIT button 6).

5) Press PARAMETER right until “IN5 Channel Link =” is displayed. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “ON.”

6) Hold SHIFT and press Input/Buss (CH EDIT button 1).

7) Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select “INc BUSS Sel = MIX.”

8 ) Turn the Input 5 PAN knob all the way left and right and then back to center. When you press PLAY on the master VS-880 both units will start playing. You can use the Channel 5 fader to

adjust the overall level of the slave unit. The master VS-880’s mix output will now contain audio from both units.

II. Connecting Three or More VS-880s (V-Xpanded Version 2.xx and Higher)

The following section will explain the procedure for synchronizing three or more VS-880s that use the V-Xpanded (

2.xx and higher) operating system.

C onnections

1) Connect the MIDI OUT port of the master VS-880 to the MIDI IN port of the first slave unit. Connect the MIDI OUT port of the first slave unit to the MIDI IN port of the next slave unit. Connect all other slave units in a similar manner.

2) Connect the Digital output of the first slave VS-880 to the Digital input of the master. Connect the Digital output of the next slave unit to the Digital input of the first slave unit. Connect all other slave units in a similar manner.

NOTE: Make sure that both VS-880s are powered on and that the current song’s sampling rate (48kHz,

44.1kHz, or 32kHz) is the same on both units. If you are unsure what the current song’s sampling rate is set to,

press PLAY/DISPLAY to access the Play screen (if necessary). Then, hold SHIFT and press SONG. The sampling rate will be displayed under “SYNC MODE.” The sampling rate is linked to the song. If the sampling rates do not match, you will need to create a new song with a sampling rate that matches the other unit(s).

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