Matching bellows performance on Roland accordions

[xocd]

I am trying to match the bellows feel on my FR3x to that of my reeded accordion: I would like to have about the same relationship between applied force and resulting dynamics. I have played with two features: the air valve adjustment (rotating ring arount the air valve) and the bellows control parameter (blc), which I now have set to "light".

After a lot of messing around I have not yet found a setting that matches what I get from the reeded accordion: the bellows feels either too hard or too easy to pull and the dynamics are not responsive as I am used to. (I might be pulling a Goldilocks.) Is there a parameter/control that I am missing or does one eventually just get used to it?

Thanks,

 

[Geronimo]

I am trying to match the bellows feel on my FR3x to that of my reeded accordion: I would like to have about the same relationship between applied force and resulting dynamics. I have played with two features: the air valve adjustment (rotating ring arount the air valve) and the bellows control parameter (blc), which I now have set to light.

After a lot of messing around I have not yet found a setting that matches what I get from the reeded accordion: the bellows feels either too hard or too easy to pull and the dynamics are not responsive as I am used to. (I might be pulling a Goldilocks.) Is there a parameter/control that I am missing or does one eventually just get used to it?

I have an FR-1b which probably showcases the principal problem more coarsely than the later x series. In a nutshell, it does too much of too little. At different pressures on my acoustics, the various reeds respond differently to pressure changes in volume and in sound quality and with bass reeds being rather slow to take up amplitude (which results in comparatively slow tone quality changes while volume changes as a result of the faster or slower air flow are quite faster).

That means that a complex tonal balance rides on consistency of pressure and the speed and shape of rather subtle volume changes. Its a really intricate complex expression control.

On the Roland, it is a volume control, period. And a crude and drastic one at that. Its just not the same thing.

 

[JIM D.]

Hi Isidro:
When you come down this weekend with your Pigini, bring your 3x and I'll demonstrate the ease of a "V" accordions bellows control verses an acoustic accordion's bellows.
JIM

 

[landro]

As mentioned in other related threads and alluded to here , there is a lot of control on the Roland bellows action and I definitely prefer the bellows action on the Roland vs acoustic for most of my playing but the Roland does not lend itself well to the bellows shake. Bellows shaking it is not impossible but significantly uncomfortable and much more difficult than with any conventional accordion. It remains my only complaint with it.
My experience is with the FR2, FR3X and FR7X.

 

[JerryPH]

Bellows shaking it is not impossible but significantly uncomfortable and much more difficult than with any conventional accordion. It remains my only complaint with it. My experience is with the FR2, FR3X and FR7X.

Let me add that my experience with the FR-8X matches yours. There is no way to do an authentic good quality bellows shake (but the slower bellows shake used often in Cajun music, for example, might be possible to do?)... or rather, lets just say that I cannot do it... but then again, how many songs does one play that demand bellows shakes? Im more than willing to give up that one thing for the dozens of other things that the digital accordion can do.

Oh... and the bellows control on a Roland are deceiving. They make it too easy to get great expression with about 1/2 the effort. If you are not careful and get used to playing like that, when you go back to an acoustic accordion, it becomes a lot more effort or it sounds like a mouse is pulling at the bellows, at least this is exactly what happens to me! :lol:

 

[Glenn]

I can’t do bellows shake on my acoustic very well so I’m not expecting much on my Roland[emoji4]. Like Jerry I experience a clear change in bellows action when switching between accordions but I think it is worth it for the ease of expression with the Roland. I don’t think it’s possible to copy the feel of a 4 or 5 reed acoustic instrument with the Roland bellows whatever the settings. This doesn’t take away from the fact it’s a great instrument. I experience differences in bellows action between my Burini and my Accordiola and accept that for what it is.