FR-4x, FC-300 Beginner Level Performance

[VirtualAccordionist]

XXX

 

[torch]

Thanks for the video. One feature of the 7x that I miss is its ability to bend notes by pressing the keys a bit more. I think you can bend notes using one of the pedals or switches on the FC-300. Have you tried it yet?

 

[VirtualAccordionist]

XXX

 

[torch]

I'd think players on any level can take advantage of bending notes. Slow easy tunes like Tennessee Waltz or Hwaiian tunes can certainly use some bending notes. Try bending notes on the clarinet. It gives you a very good Hawaiian guitar effect. The pedal steel guitar in the 4x, too me, is not good at all.

I got an inspiration from your video. I might try my Gordius Lttile Giant midi foot controller with the 4x. Anyway, keep up the good work.

 

[JerryPH]

Using the FC-300 for this is massive overkill... I like the pedal, but at $450US or $600+ Cdn, it is way overpriced for this task. No chin switches is another bad move by Roland. On the 8X, just set one of the chin switches to do that for you, and you are gold.

 

[torch]

I fully agree; it's overkill, and the FC-300 is overpriced just like many other products by Roland. That's why I wanted try midi foot controllers I already own. The dirt cheap Behringer FCB 1010, a knockoff of the Roland FC series, is quite capable especially when it is fitted with inexpensive mod chips. but it can not send pitch bend messages. I have some USB midi devices that can send many different MIDI controller messages including modulation and pitch bend. Once I get more familiar with the 4x, I will have to try them.

 

[JerryPH]

...when it is fitted with inexpensive mod chips. but it can not send pitch bend messages. I have some USB midi devices that can send many different MIDI controller messages including modulation and pitch bend. Once I get more familiar with the 4x, I will have to try them.

Cant the 4x do after-touch? Just press a bit harder to cause a pitch bend, no?

 

[debra]

Using the FC-300 for this is massive overkill... I like the pedal, but at $450US or $600+ Cdn, it is way overpriced for this task. No chin switches is another bad move by Roland. On the 8X, just set one of the chin switches to do that for you, and you are gold.

Does the 8x not just have pressure variant pitch bending? So press harder on a key to bend the note (down)?
I cannot find that in the 4x description though.

 

[JerryPH]

Look up one message.
Looks like this is another thing that the 4x lacks... Also explains why the keyboard mat feel more natural in a bg way!

 

[Keymn]

Now if the VAccordion was Bluetooth compatible, Irig blue board would be nice addition. Not sure if the host on the accordion connected to the Yamaha udbt01 will provide Bluetooth? I just contacted support on this matter. It does work with Korg arrangers. I notice the new Roland pianos have Bluetooth. Is the Behringer pedal similar?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UDBT01
http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigblueboard/

 

[torch]

The 3x or the 4x doesn't have aftertouch. So that's one feature of the 7x that I miss. For many, it is not a big deal, but the inability to layer two orchestra sounds in the 3x and the 4x makes a huge difference. Maybe Roland might delight us by offering an updated OS. At first, the 7x could not layer two orchestral sounds, either.

I have the Blueboard by IK Multimedia. We might see a Bluetooth "out" feature in digital accordions in the future but very unlikey to see Bluetooth receiver feature in digital accordions as it would require a full computer OS system. For insance, the Blueboard works only on IOS devices and Mac. IK Multimedia didn't even provide a driver for Windows whereas Korg Bluetooth MIDI devices support Windows machines by providing a driver. The driver is needed to translate Bluetooth into midi messages. Actually, both the Blueboard and Korg Bluetooth devices have to use their own special IOS apps that do the translation. So that's another layer of software for them to work...

 

[Keymn]

The 3x or the 4x doesnt have aftertouch. So thats one feature of the 7x that I miss. For many, it is not a big deal, but the inability to layer two orchestra sounds in the 3x and the 4x makes a huge difference. Maybe Roland might delight us by offering an updated OS. At first, the 7x could not layer two orchestral sounds, either.

I have the Blueboard by IK Multimedia. We might see a Bluetooth out feature in digital accordions in the future but very unlikey to see Bluetooth receiver feature in digital accordions as it would require a full computer OS system. For insance, the Blueboard works only on IOS devices and Mac. IK Multimedia didnt even provide a driver for Windows whereas Korg Bluetooth MIDI devices support Windows machines by providing a driver. The driver is needed to translate Bluetooth into midi messages. Actually, both the Blueboard and Korg Bluetooth devices have to use their own special IOS apps that do the translation. So thats another layer of software for them to work...

I have the Songbook Plus app on my iPad. I am able to select the song in the app and it sends a control change to a programmed bank/register on the 4x. This is done through the USB computer port on the bottom of the accordion.
I just set this up today, hope to publish a YouTube video on this soon.
The blue board works good for a page turner on this songbook app I think, , but I do not have one and tried it.
:b :b :b :ch

 

[Keymn]

As stated before, the Yamaha UDBT01 translates Bluetooth to an IOS device. That is what I use to change registers from song book Plus app. This developer is working with arrangers, particularly Roland VAccordion, Korg PA, BK7m Roland and Yamaha. Select a song on iPad that is preprogrammed for a particular bank on the accordion and start playing!
http://www.baum-software.ch/english.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UDBT01

 

[JerryPH]

As stated before, the Yamaha UDBT01 translates Bluetooth to an IOS device. That is what I use to change registers from song book Plus app. Select a song on iPad that is preprogrammed for a particular bank on the accordion and start playing!

Hang on... are you saying that as you switch songs, it can change a register on the V-Accordion?? How about sets or UPGs, for example in song 1 you use set 1, register 11 and then in song 2 you use UPG 44, register 12, can it do this? What a time saver that would be if it could do this!

... or could it change the register/set/UPG as the song is played at the proper moment?

 

[Keymn]

As stated before, the Yamaha UDBT01 translates Bluetooth to an IOS device. That is what I use to change registers from song book Plus app. Select a song on iPad that is preprogrammed for a particular bank on the accordion and start playing!

Hang on... are you saying that as you switch songs, it can change a register on the V-Accordion?? How about sets or UPGs, for example in song 1 you use set 1, register 11 and then in song 2 you use UPG 44, register 12, can it do this? What a time saver that would be if it could do this!

... or could it change the register/set/UPG as the song is played at the proper moment?

Yes.

 

[Keymn]

As stated before, the Yamaha UDBT01 translates Bluetooth to an IOS device. That is what I use to change registers from song book Plus app. Select a song on iPad that is preprogrammed for a particular bank on the accordion and start playing!

Hang on... are you saying that as you switch songs, it can change a register on the V-Accordion?? How about sets or UPGs, for example in song 1 you use set 1, register 11 and then in song 2 you use UPG 44, register 12, can it do this? What a time saver that would be if it could do this!

... or could it change the register/set/UPG as the song is played at the proper moment?

Yes, for example:4x
I have bank 1-1 jazz sounds. Programmed songs on the app that need this setup will go to UPG 1-1. And then on iPad you have the leadsheet, lyrics, etc. for that song too. I have been doing this with my Korg arranger for years. In my setup I use Just my accordion and iPad. Never touch my arranger, the app does the settings as programmed.
The Baum Songbook Plus app is about $40 but I think it is worth it. There is a lite version you can try. The app support is awesome and they can send the setup sheet for VAccordion, BK7m, etc. I am not affiliated with this app company but happy to share this.
Just think, if the next generation of the VAccordion has backing styles built in...

There is one glitch. Even if I set cc00, cc32 and pc to off in the global midi settings, still transmits a control message. I did not have this problem with my fr7 or Korg PA3x. With the songbook app you just need to receive. I just consulted Roland on this. :hb

 

[Keymn]

Hang on... are you saying that as you switch songs, it can change a register on the V-Accordion?? How about sets or UPGs, for example in song 1 you use set 1, register 11 and then in song 2 you use UPG 44, register 12, can it do this? What a time saver that would be if it could do this!

... or could it change the register/set/UPG as the song is played at the proper moment?

Yes, for example:4x
I have bank 1-1 jazz sounds. Registers 1-7 on that bank will have different orchestra, organ accordion sounds as programmed. Programmed songs on the app that need this setup will go to UPG 1-1.
Just think, if the next generation of the VAccordion has backing styles built in...

</QUOTE>

 

[Keymn]

 

[Keymn]

Hang on... are you saying that as you switch songs, it can change a register on the V-Accordion?? How about sets or UPG's, for example in song 1 you use set 1, register 11 and then in song 2 you use UPG 44, register 12, can it do this? What a time saver that would be if it could do this!

... or could it change the register/set/UPG as the song is played at the proper moment?
[/quote]

Yes, for example:4x
I have bank 1-1 jazz sounds. Registers 1-7 on that bank will have different orchestra, organ accordion sounds as programmed. Programmed songs on the app that need this setup will go to UPG 1-1. And then on iPad you have the leadsheet, lyrics, etc. for that song too.

 

[torch]

There are other IOS apps that do similar things; bank changes, program changes, lyrics, and all that. It is good that one can use these apps to have more control. I just wish the USB port of the FR4x could be used to do what Virtualaccordionist demonstrated with the FC300. It seems that the 4x doesnt allow it.

By the way, I received a reply from Elane Electronics in regards to their FR8x MIDI foot switch.
http://www.accordions-asia.com/pedals/Elane_FS-7M_midi.php They think it should work on the FR4x as this foot controller sends the same midi data as the Roland FC300.

As much as I want these foot switches, I really dont want to give up on the on the single midi in/out in the 4x. I dont use midi in gigs, but if I do, it will be served as out not as in to drive a midi vocal harmonizer, play VST sounds, or run vArranger. There is someone here one this forum who posted pics. He installed a midi input and midi out in his FR7.