At the 2010 NAMM Show, Roland announced the V-Combo VR-700 keyboard.
Featuring the best of Roland’s Virtual Tonewheel organ, full key multi-sampled piano, and pro synthesizer sounds, the V-Combo is designed for players who need an all-in-one keyboard for a variety of musical settings.
Description:
Using Roland’s Virtual Tonewheel engine, the V-Combo simulates the unique structure and distinctive sound of vintage organs. The new amplifier and rotary simulator faithfully reproduces the sound needed for jazz, rock, funk or gospel, while the 76-key waterfall action captures the feel of a vintage organ. Add an optional PK-25 or PK-7A pedalboard for a more console-organ type feel.
The V-Combo takes its lead from Roland’s popular instruments, including everything from expressive full key multi-sampled acoustic grand pianos, classic electric pianos, to realistic strings, brass, bass and guitar sounds. With tone remain capability onboard, the 76 keys can easily layer two ensemble tones together, or layer and split with the organ tones.
In addition to the ten harmonic bars on the front panel, the V-Combo also incorporates a variety of expressive controllers for even more exhilarating performances. The red harmonic bard allows players to control the volume of the Ensemble tones. With the D Beam, players can create authentic organ-specific effects, such as wheel braking, or perform filter and level tone shaping on ensemble tones using an infrared light beam.
XLR and ¼” outputs make the V-Combo ready for any stage, while the USB port and Song Player function enables direct playback and control of backing tracks from USB memory. Keyboardists can also back up and recall Favorites and system settings from USB memory, making the V-Combo easy to share at rehearsal studios.
The V-Combo VR-700 is scheduled to ship in March with a suggested retail price of $2,329.00.
What do you get when you distill down all of the failed products of the last 5 years of Roland history? a winning product? Perhaps.
The VR-700 is a rehash of the not-so-popular VR-760 combo and the even-less-popular Sonic Cell. With the Nord Stage, and Korg's newest SV-1 vintage keyboard, do we really need another entry into the retro scene?
On a somewhat positive note, you can play WAVs and MP3s from USB, and the VR-700 pianos are improved from the VK-9 and VR-760 products, but at the loss of SRX, or ARX expansion board capabilities. As a VR-760 owner, a great improvement is to add the SRX-07 Vintage Keys and SRX-12 Classic EPs expansion boards.
I like the VR-760 combo, and the expansion cards certainly breathed new life into it. The VR-760 is certainly worth the $800 that I paid for it. I'm not convinced the new VR-700 really delivers at the current $2000 price tag.
Time will tell.
What do you get when you distill down all of the failed products of the last 5 years of Roland history? a winning product? Perhaps.
The VR-700 is a rehash of the not-so-popular VR-760 combo and the even-less-popular Sonic Cell. With the Nord Stage, and Korg's newest SV-1 vintage keyboard, do we really need another entry into the retro scene?
On a somewhat positive note, you can play WAVs and MP3s from USB, and the VR-700 pianos are improved from the VK-9 and VR-760 products, but at the loss of SRX, or ARX expansion board capabilities. As a VR-760 owner, a great improvement is to add the SRX-07 Vintage Keys and SRX-12 Classic EPs expansion boards.
I like the VR-760 combo, and the expansion cards certainly breathed new life into it. The VR-760 is certainly worth the $800 that I paid for it. I'm not convinced the new VR-700 really delivers at the current $2000 price tag.
Time will tell.
What do you get when you distill down all of the failed products of the last 5 years of Roland history? a winning product? Perhaps.
The VR-700 is a rehash of the not-so-popular VR-760 combo and the even-less-popular Sonic Cell. With the Nord Stage, and Korg's newest SV-1 vintage keyboard, do we really need another entry into the retro scene?
On a somewhat positive note, you can play WAVs and MP3s from USB, and the VR-700 pianos are improved from the VK-9 and VR-760 products, but at the loss of SRX, or ARX expansion board capabilities. As a VR-760 owner, a great improvement is to add the SRX-07 Vintage Keys and SRX-12 Classic EPs expansion boards.
I like the VR-760 combo, and the expansion cards certainly breathed new life into it. The VR-760 is certainly worth the $800 that I paid for it. I'm not convinced the new VR-700 really delivers at the current $2000 price tag.
Time will tell.
I own a VR-760 combo; and the SRX ultimate keys card; I love mine. It is so gig friendly especially in a jam or improv setting. I saw the VR 700 and was disappointed at the lack of organ overdrive control. I like the Nord Stage but not the LED drawbars; too hard to click up or down instead of grabbing a handful of real sliders. It would be nice of the old VR 760 had USB so you could edit presets; etc; but it still rocks; heavy and heavy duty. I won't sell mine. keyboardkarl
I'm looking for a second keyboard, but can't quite justify paying 2000 dollars for one, especially when I already own a computer and could buy a controller keyboard for 500 dollars or less. I guess I'm waiting for something that really knocks my socks off.