Roland VP-330
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VP-330 | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Roland Corporation |
Dates | 1979-1980[1] |
Price | $2695[1] |
Technical specifications | |
Polyphony | Paraphonic |
Oscillator | Single master VCO divided into full note range[2] |
LFO | Sine wave[2] |
Synthesis type | Analog subtractive |
Filter | 7 band-pass for human voice tones; 10 band-pass for vocoder[2] |
Attenuator | Single attack and release shared by all voices |
Aftertouch expression | No |
Velocity expression | No |
Effects | 2 parallel BBDs per channel (4 BBDs total) for stereo ensemble effect[2] |
Input/output | |
Keyboard | 49 keys[2] |
Left-hand control | Pitch bend |
External control | Vocoder hold via foot switch |
The Roland VP-330 is a paraphonic ten band[2] vocoder and string machine manufactured by Roland Corporation from 1979 to 1980.[1] While there are several string machines and vocoders, a single device combining the two is rare, despite the advantage of paraphonic vocoding, and the VP-330's synthetic choir sounds are unique. Despite the VP-330's electronic string and choir sounds being less realistic than those of the tape-based Mellotron, touring musicians used it as a lighter and more robust alternative.[3]
Architecture
In addition to vocoding and generating string sounds, the VP-330 can also play four different choir sounds, each of which uses four bandpass filters, shared from the same pool of seven total.[2] Like Roland's other string machines of the era, such as the RS-202, it features a BBD-based ensemble effect that thickens the strings, and optionally the choirs and vocoder.
Notable users
- 10cc[1]
- Laurie Anderson (on O Superman)[1][4]
- BT[5]
- Michael Boddicker (on Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing))[1]
- A Certain Ratio[1]
- Vince Clarke[1]
- John Foxx[1]
- Greg Hawkes[6]
- Mike Oldfield[1]
- Isao Tomita[1][7]
- Underworld[8]
- Vangelis[1] (including on the Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner[9] soundtracks)
- Yellow Magic Orchestra[10]
Legacy
In 2016, Roland made a digital recreation of the VP-330, named the VP-03, as part of their Boutique range. In 2019, Behringer released their own VP-330 clone, the VC340.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Forrest, Peter (March 2003). The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers, Part Two: N-Z, Revised and Expanded. p. 144. ISBN 0-952437-73-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g VP-330 service notes, 1979-09-21, p. 7
- ^ Magnus, Nick (Feb 1992). "Vocal Codes From The Underground". Music Technology. Vol. 6, no. 3. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 54–58. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ Berge, Svein; Brundtland, Torbjørn (2016-11-21). "Röyksopp's vocoder playlist: Transvolta, Laurie Anderson, Kraftwerk and more". The Guardian. UK: Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ Buskin, Richard (December 2001). "Emotional Experience". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
hawkes auction
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Beecher, Mike (Feb 1983). "Isao Tomita". Electronics & Music Maker. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 50–52. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ Tingen, Paul (December 2000). "Everything In its Place". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group.
- ^ Clews, Richard (November 1997). "Inside the Synth Lab". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group. Archived from the original on 2006-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
- ^ Tanaka, Yuji (November 11, 2014). "Yellow Magic Orchestra: The Pre-MIDI Technology Behind Their Anthems". Red Bull Music Academy.