Roland VS8F-3 User Manual

Supplementary Manual

For users of VS-1680/1880/1824/1824CD

Thank you and congratulations on your purchase of the VS8F-3 Plug-In
Effect Expansion Board.
You can only use your VS8F-3 after updating the system program of
your VS-1680/1880/1824/1824CD.
Before updating this unit, carefully read the sections entitled:
“Supplementary Manual (this manual)” and “VS8F-3 Owner’s Manual.”

Contents

Limitations on VS-1680/1880/1824/1824CD...............2

Before you use the VS8F-3 .........................................3

Checking the system version of your V Studio........................3

Using the SETUP DISC to update the system version ............4

Rules for installing effect expansion boards.............................6

Where to install the VS8F-3 (Checking slot A) .........................6

Use your VS8F-3 (VS8F-3 Use Sw Parameter)..........................6

Installing plug-in effects in the V Studio ...................7

Installation procedure..................................................................7

Backing up your VS plug-in programs .....................................7

Re-installing your plug-ins .........................................................8

Uninstalling a plug-in ..................................................................8

Using the effects..........................................................9

Selecting and editing a plug-in...................................................9

Troubleshooting ........................................................11

202

Copyright © 2004 ROLAND CORPORATION

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form
without the written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

Roland Web site http://www.roland.com/

Important

VS-1680/1880/1824/1824CD

There are functional limitations for the VS-1680/1880/1824/1824CD when a VS8F-3 is installed. These are the
limitations of the systems, not a malfunction of your V Studio.

■

It is necessary to turn the VS8F-3 Use Sw Parameter (p. 6) On when you use a VS8F-3.

It is also necessary to shutdown and reboot your V Studio after turning the VS8F-3 Use Sw (p. 6) On. When you turn
it Off, it is necessary to shutdown and reboot your V Studio again.

■

When VS8F-3 Use Sw Parameter is turned On, your V Studio cannot record or play back track 15 and 16.

However, it is possible to edit track 15 and 16 even while the VS8F-3 Use Sw is turned On. If you need to record to
or play back sound on track 15/16, turn the VS8F-3 Use Sw Off.

■

Do not install VS8F-3 to slot A of your V Studio while VS8F-3 Use Sw is turned Off.

Both of slot A and slot B will not function if VS8F-3 is installed to slot A while VS8F-3 Use Sw is turned Off.
Turn VS8F-3 Use Sw On when you use VS8F-3.
Please see below illustration regarding the setup.

Limitations on

Slot A Slot B

VS8F-3
Use Sw

Off
On

■

Sound may not come out from your V Studio if you insert an effect into a channel or the

VS8F-3

Not work

Work

VS8F-3 VS8F-3

Not work

Work

VS8F-3
Use Sw

Off
On

Slot A Slot B

Not work

Work

Not work

Slot A Slot B

VS8F-2 VS8F-2

Work

VS8F-3
Use Sw

Off
On

Work
Work

master block without selecting a Plug-In patch.

If no Plug-In patch is selected, a message “NO PLUG-IN” will be displayed on Effect Menu Screen. In this case, select
a Plug-In patch (p. 9) or turn the insert effect off.

■

Screen display will slow down if a tracks is being played while the Plug-In Edit screen is
displayed.

During playback of tracks, the display speed of the level meter or EQ graph will be slow. So there may be a gap
between the sound coming out from your V Studio and the movement of the level meter on the screen. Also, it may
take time to change screens after editing parameters.
During playback of tracks, the system will display a message “Serial Rx Buffer Full” on the Plug-In Information
screen after switching from the Plug-In Edit screen. This means the V Studio screen drawing capacity is full. Press
[ENTER/YES] to go back to the Plug-In Edit screen. If [EXIT/NO] is pressed, the message will disappear.

■

The capacity of the event memory will be decreased when the V studio is updated.

If the system compatible with VS8F-3 is installed, the capacity of the event memory will be decreased as follows. The
event data (phrases, auto mix or markers) created on the system before update may not be loaded perfectly.

Capacity of Event Memory

VS-1680 Approx 18,000
VS-1880/1824/1824CD Approx 14,000

The system will cut down the events that cannot be loaded automatically.
Please check the number of events on your songs before doing a system update.

Before Update ➔ After Update

→

Approx 13,000

→

Approx 12,000

VS8F-3

Not work

Work

How to check the number of events.

1.

Set Remain Display parameter (in System Parameter 2 screen) to “Event.”

2.

Press [SHIFT] + [PLAY(DISPLAY)] buttons several times on the PLAY screen.

You can then check the remaining capacity of current song events.

3.

Subtract the remaining capacity from 18,000 for a VS-1680, from 14,000 for a VS-1880/1824/1824CD.

You will find the number of events used on for the current song. Check that capacity of the event memory will not
be shorted after system update.

2

Before you use the VS8F-3

To use a VS8F-3 in a V Studio, the system program version of the V Studio must be
compatible with the VS8F-3.

recorder before installing the VS8F-3. If you find the version is not compatible with the
VS8F-3, please update the software using the SETUP DISC contained in this package. The
update should be executed once prior to the installation of the VS8F-3. If you find the
system program version is compatible with the VS8F-3, the update is not necessary.
In this chapter, the notes and cautions regarding installation of VS8F-3 are stated. Please
read them carefully and install the board correctly.

Checking the system version of your V Studio

1.

Power up your V Studio while holding down TRACK SELECT/CH EDIT [1]+
TRACK STATUS [1].

Continue holding down these buttons until “Version Info” appears in the display.

2.

Checking the system version of your V Studio.

If the version is lower than the version numbers given below, you must update the
system of your V Studio. Update the system as described below.

Please check the system program version of your V Studio

When starting up in Step 1,
you must continue holding
down the buttons until the
lowest line of the screen
shows “Version Info.”

• VS-1680: Version 2.500 or later

• VS-1880: Version 1.500 or later

• VS-1824/1824CD: Version 1.500 or later

■

Backing up your songs

To ensure the safety of your data, we recommend that you back up the songs saved on
your hard disk to CD-R/RW disc, and then initialize your hard disk before updating the
system program. You can restore the backed-up songs to your internal hard disk using
the CD-R RECOVER command.

1.

Back up songs (performance data) saved on the hard disk to CD-R/RW discs.

As described in the owner's manual, back up all songs that you want to keep. When doing
so, back up not only the songs in the current drive (partition), but also any songs that are
saved in other partitions.

2.

Initialize the hard disk (Drive Initialize).

Songs saved on the hard disk will be completely erased, and the disk will be free of data.
Initialize the hard disk as described in the owner's manual of your V Studio.

When you execute the Drive Initialize command, all songs saved on the hard disk will
be erased. It will not be possible to use the Undo function to recover the erased
songs. If you accidentally erase a song you wanted to keep, there is no way to
recover the song. Roland Corporation can assume no responsibility whatsoever
concerning the recovery of any lost content. Before you execute the Drive Initialize
command, you must back up any song you want to keep.

3.

Perform the Shutdown procedure (Owner’s Manual of V Studio “Turning Off the
Power”) and turn off the power of all equipment connected to the V Studio.

Version number of
the current system appears here.

The explanations in this
manual include
illustrations that depict
what should typically be
shown by the display.
Note, however, that your
unit may use a newer,
enhanced version of the
system (e.g., including
newer features), so what
you actually see in the
display may not always
match what appears in the
manual.

3

Before you use the VS8F-3

Using the SETUP DISC to update the system version

Here's how to update the system program of your V Studio so that it will support the
VS8F-3. You'll need to perform this step just once for V Studios whose system does not
yet support the VS8F-3. To update the system program of your V Studio, use the “SETUP
DISC” included in the package. This SETUP DISC contains the system program that
makes a VS-1680/1880/1824/1824CD compatible with a VS8F-3.

If you're using the VS-1824CD, you can update your system using the internal
CD-R/RW drive. If you're using the VS-1680/1880/1824 (the model without an internal
CD-R/RW drive), you will need an external SCSI CD-RW drive for the update, such as
the VS-CDR-II/III or a compatible Plextor CD drive. The VS-CDR-I can not be used for
this update.

■

Updating the system program of your V Studio

Please read “Backing up your songs” (p. 3).
We recommend that you back up the songs saved on your hard disk, and then initialize
the hard disk.

1.

Turn on the power of the V Studio, and eject the disc tray.

If you use the VS-CDR-II/III or a compatible Plextor CD drive, turn on the power of CD
drive.

2.

Place the SETUP DISC on the disc tray.

3.

Close the disc tray.

4.

Perform the Shutdown procedure (Owner’s Manual of V Studio “Turning Off the
Power”).

5.

Turn on the power of the V Studio.

The opening title screen and the “Setup Drives” message will appear. The CD-R/RW
drive will be checked. Please wait. When the checking process is complete, the system
will ask “Update System Program?”

If you have already
downloaded the most
recent system program
from the Roland website,
or already performed the
update using the SETUP
DISC (so that your unit
supports the VS8F-3), you
don't need to update
again.

Check the Roland website
http://www.roland.com/
for the latest system
upgrade for your product.

Songs and backup data
you created before
updating the system will
still be usable in their
existing form. (Data
compatibility is
preserved.) However, the
system may not load full of
event data because of
difference in remaining
capacity of event memory.

If the message “Update System Program?” is not displayed on step 5, it is not necessary
to update the system of your V Studio. If you would like to overwrite the system by
force, please read “Updating the system program of V Studio by force” (p. 5).

6.

If you want to update the system to the displayed version, press [ENTER/YES].

A message will ask “Keep User Setting?”

7.

Specify whether you want to preserve your user routing, system setting and user
effect patch settings when the update is performed, or whether all of these
settings are to be initialized. Press [ENTER/YES] or [EXIT/NO] to make your
selection.

• [ENTER/YES]➔ settings will be preserved

• [EXIT/NO]➔ settings will be initialized

The display will indicate “Now Working..,” and the system update will begin.
When the system update is completed, “Please Reboot OK” message will appear.

Never turn off the power while the update is in progress. Doing so will destroy
the operating program of the V Studio itself, and it will no longer be possible to
start it up.

If you press [ENTER/YES] in response to “Init User Setting Sure?,” all settings will be
initialized to their factory defaults.

8.

Remove the SETUP DISC.

If you decide not to
update, press [EXIT/NO].
The update process will be
halted, and the V Studio
will start up as usual.

If you pressed [EXIT/NO]
in Step 7, the display will
ask “Init User Setting
Sure?” If you are sure you
want to initialize the
settings, press
[ENTER/YES].
If you decide you don't
want to proceed with the
initialization, press
[EXIT/NO]. In this case,
you are returned to Step 7.

4