ÂØÒňΠWorkshop VB-99 V-Bass System On-the-Gig Sound Settings 009 Roland Corporation U.S. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Corporation U.S. VB99WS0
About the Workshop Booklets Roland s VB-99 V-Bass System is, simply put, the most powerful bass processor ever made. It s the second generation V-Bass system from Roland, and it offers an unprecedented set of creative sound-making tools for the bassist. Featuring dual COSM bass and amp modeling paths, two independent multi-effects processors, massive realtime control options, pitch-to-midi conversion, and USB, the VB-99 is a bassist s dream machine, capable of producing sounds that are limited only by your imagination. Each VB-99 Workshop booklet focuses on one VB-99 topic, and is intended as a companion to the VB-99 Owner s Manual. About This Booklet The VB-99 lets you tailor its sound output to match the amplification system you re connected to and the environment you re performing in without changing the settings stored in individual patches. We ll show you how in this booklet. Understanding the Symbols in This Booklet Throughout this booklet, you ll come across information that deserves special attention that s the reason it s labeled with one of the following symbols. A note is something that adds information about the topic at hand. A tip offers suggestions for using the feature being discussed. Warnings contain important information that can help you avoid possible damage to your equipment, your data, or yourself. Adjusting the VB-99 s Sound Output for Your Performance Environment The VB-99 gives you an astounding amount of soundshaping power, allowing you to store a complete finished sound in every patch, including instrument, amps, effects, EQ, and so on. However, when you perform with the VB-99, you ll probably find that you need to adjust the overall sound of all patches slightly to optimize your tone for a given performance situation. Why is this? Well, because every performance situation is a bit different. For instance, at a live gig you ll probably plug the VB-99 into an instrument amplifier, while for a recording session you ll likely connect it directly to a mixer or a computer. And when you play live, the acoustics of a given room may be very different from those where you originally created your patches. For example, you might find your patches sound too wet in a live room or too dry in a dead-sounding room, or that you want to add a little treble or bass to the overall sound. Obviously, it s not practical or desirable to go into each patch and tweak the sound for every gig. That s why the VB-99 provides a number of parameters that let you tailor the overall sound of all patches, while not actually affecting the stored patch data itself. These parameters are stored in groups called Global Settings, global meaning that they affect every sound coming from the VB-99 s outputs. In a Global Setting, you can make the following sound adjustments: Main Output Select This adjusts the VB-99 s MAIN outputs to match the device you re plugging in to, be it headphones, a mixer, a bass amp, etc. Global Main EQ and Global SUB EQ These powerful four-band equalizers allow you to independently adjust the tone of signals sent to the VB-99 s MAIN OUT and SUB OUT jacks. Global Reverb Level This setting increases or decreases the overall reverb level relative to the level set in each patch.
Global noise suppressor adjustment This adjusts the noise suppressor threshold relative to the threshold level(s) set in each patch. Global SUB OUT Level This increases or decreases the level of signals sent to the SUB OUT jacks relative to the SUB OUT levels set at the system level or in each patch. You can edit, name, and recall 0 different Global Settings. This lets you quickly and easily set up the VB-99 s sound output for the environments you perform in frequently. Editing Global Settings Press GLOBAL, and then use the PAGE buttons to go to Page in the display. (The current page number is shown in the upper right-hand corner of the display.) MAIN OUTPUT SELECT On Page of the Global Setting screens, you can select the type of device you re connecting the VB-99 s MAIN OUT jacks to. These settings add some subtle equalization to the signal to compensate the VB-99 s sound to match the inherent tonal characteristics of various instrument amplifiers. The exception is the LINE/PHONES setting, which outputs an un-equalized, flat response sound. The sound output from the SUB OUT jacks is always equivalent to the LINE/PHONES setting. Additionally, these jacks provide balanced output on XLR connectors. This allows you to use the MAIN OUT jacks to feed an onstage amplifier, and simultaneously use the SUB OUT jacks to feed a balanced direct signal to a house sound system or a recording rig without having to use a direct box. To learn more about assigning sounds to the SUB OUT jacks, see the VB-99 Owner s Manual. 4 Use the F knob or button to choose the Global Setting (-0) you d like to edit. There is no save procedure when working with Global Settings. All the adjustments you make to a selected Global Setting are saved automatically. Use the PAGE buttons to select the desired Global Setting screen, and use the F knobs and/or buttons to make the desired adjustments. When you re done, press EXIT to return to the Play screen. Use the F4 knob or button to choose the desired MAIN OUTPUT SELECT setting: AMP WITH TWEETER Use this setting when plugging into the frontpanel input of a bass amp, and when the speaker system you re using with the amp incorporates a high-frequency driver. AMP NO TWEETER This setting is for plugging into the front-panel input of a bass amp, and when the speaker system you re using with the amp incorporates a standard speaker compliment with no highfrequency driver. LINE/PHONES Use this setting when connecting to a line level device like a mixer or audio recorder. Also, use this setting when monitoring the sound via headphones connected to the VB-99 s rear-panel PHONES jack. The Play screen is the VB-99 s home screen. It s the screen that s displayed after the VB-99 finishes its power-up sequence. You ll usually want to return to the Play screen when you re done editing any VB-99 functions.
Tips for Choosing the Best MAIN OUTPUT SELECT Setting Let your ears be your guide The names given to the MAIN OUTPUT SELECT settings are only starting points. Try all the settings to see which one sounds best with your particular rig. When connecting to a full-range system, choose LINE/PHONES A fullrange system reproduces sound in an uncolored way, so there s no need to compensate the VB-99 s output. Examples of a full-range system would be a PA system, a keyboard amp (such as Roland s KC series), or a studio monitoring system. Try the LINE/PHONES setting first, even when plugging into a bass amp You may find that this un-equalized setting works best with your amp. Turn off the VB-99 s COSM speaker modeling when amplifying the VB-99 through bass speakers The speaker system in a typical electric bass amp colors the sound, and plays a significant role in determining the amp s overall sound character. This sound coloring is why the VB-99 includes models of bass speakers in the first place. But COSM speaker modeling sounds best when it s used with a full-range speaker system. If you leave it on when amplifying the VB-99 through a bass speaker, you re effectively coloring the sound twice, and this will usually result in an undesirable dark and/or boxy sound. To avoid this, we recommend that you create patches with COSM speaker modeling turned off for these applications. COSM speaker modeling is part of the VB-99 s COSM amp section. To learn more about working with COSM speaker modeling, see the VB-99 Owner s Manual. Global MAIN EQ The Global Main EQ is a four-band equalizer that adjusts the tonality of the sound coming out of the VB-99 s MAIN OUT jacks. The High and Low EQ bands are fixed shelving-type EQs, while the Low Mid and High Mid bands are fully adjustable parametric EQs. 4 5 Up to nine additional EQs are available for shaping your sound within each patch. Go to Page of the Global Setting screens. Use the F knob or button to turn the Global Main EQ on and off. Use the F knob to set the overall gain of the EQ (TOTAL GAIN). Adjusting an EQ band changes the volume of the frequency range that s assigned to it. As such, the overall volume of the entire signal may be changed, especially with dramatic EQ adjustments. After you ve finished adjusting all the EQ bands, toggle the EQ on and off while playing and use the TOTAL GAIN control to compensate for any level difference that may have been introduced. The goal is to achieve the same volume when the EQ is on or off. While playing, use the F4 and F5 knobs to adjust the EQ s Low and High bands as desired. + settings boost the band, while - settings cut the band. At 0, the EQ band is turned off. (Use the F4 and F5 buttons to quickly set an EQ band to 0.) Use the PAGE buttons to go to Page of the Global Setting screens. 4
6 While playing, use the F knobs and buttons to adjust the Low Mid and High Mid EQ bands. For the Low Mid band: select the frequency with the F knob or button. adjust the bandwidth or Q of the selected frequency with the F knob or button. adjust the gain of the selected frequency with the F knob. At 0, the EQ band is turned off. (Use the F button to quickly set the Low Mid EQ band to 0.) For the High Mid band: select the frequency with the F4 knob or button. adjust the bandwidth or Q of the selected frequency with the F5 knob or button. adjust the gain of the selected frequency with the F6 knob. At 0, the EQ band is turned off. (Use the F6 button to quickly set the High Mid EQ band to 0.) Global Noise Suppressor, Reverb, and SUB OUT Adjustments Use the PAGE buttons to go to Page 6 of the Global Setting screens to adjust the following. Global Noise Suppressor (NS) Threshold The VB-99 includes noise suppressors that reduce hum and noise that are picked up by your instrument s pickups. Up to four noise suppressors can be active at any given time: one for each COSM instrument (A and B), and one in each multieffects processor (A and B). BUZZ HUM Even though they re named Low Mid and High Mid, these EQ bands can actually be set to adjust a specific frequency over a very broad range, from 0 Hz to 0 khz. Global SUB EQ The Global SUB EQ is a four-band equalizer that adjusts the tonality of the sound coming out of the VB-99 s SUB OUT jacks. Functionally, it s identical to the Global Main EQ. Navigate to Pages 4 and 5 of the Global Setting screens to adjust the Global SUB EQ. The noise suppressors work by suppressing noise and hum that rise above a certain level, or threshold. The threshold control in each noise suppressor lets you dial in the level at which the noise occurs and silence it. Due to conditions in your performance environment such as the presence of AC line noise, RF interference, etc. you may need to raise the noise suppressors thresholds to get rid of noise. Conversely, you may want to lower them in conditions where noise interference isn t present. Using the Global NS setting, you can offset the threshold settings stored in each patch as necessary. Use the F knob to adjust the Global NS setting until the noise disappears. + settings raise the threshold, while - settings lower it. Press F to quickly set the threshold to 0 db. (At 0 db, the VB-99 uses the threshold settings stored in each patch.) Depending on the noise suppressor settings and other settings in the currently selected patch, adjusting the Global NS threshold may have no audible effect. 5
Global Reverb Level The VB-99 s mixer allows you to add ambience to the sound with a reverb effect, simulating the sound of playing in a reverberant environment such as a large room or a concert hall. Each VB-99 patch can store different mixer and reverb settings. When you re creating patches, the amount of reverb you add is likely to be greatly influenced by the environment in which you make the settings. For example, if you re creating patches in an acoustically dead room such as a carpeted and curtained living room or bedroom you ll probably turn the reverb level up to liven up the sound. On the other hand, if you re creating patches in an acoustically live space like a large room with a high ceiling and hardwood floor you ll dial back the reverb amount. The reverberation conditions in a given performing environment may be quite different from where you created your patches, necessitating a change in reverb level. Using the Global Reverb Level, you can raise or lower the overall reverb level relative to the reverb level stored in each patch. Use the F knob to adjust the Global Reverb Level as necessary. Settings above 00% raise the reverb level, while settings below 00% lower it. Press F to quickly set the level to 00%. (At 00%, the VB-99 uses the reverb levels stored in each patch. At 0%, the reverb is effectively turned off.) If the reverb effect in the currently selected patch is turned off, adjusting the Global Reverb Level will have no audible effect. Global SUB OUT Level This is handy for situations where the MAIN OUT jacks are connected to your onstage amplification system and you re using the SUB OUT jacks to send a separate feed to a house PA system or audio recorder. By adjusting the SUB OUT level globally, you can easily optimize this output signal with one control. Use the F knob to adjust the Global SUB OUT Level as necessary. Settings above 00% raise the SUB OUT level, while settings below 00% lower it. Press F to quickly set the SUB OUT level to 00%. (At 00%, the VB-99 uses the SUB OUT level set system-wide or in each patch.) When the Global SUB OUT Level is set to 00%, the nominal level of the SUB OUT jacks is +4 dbu (line level). If there are no signals assigned to the SUB OUT jacks, adjusting the Global SUB OUT Level will have no audible effect. Naming a Global Setting You can name Global Settings to keep track of settings for the environments you perform in frequently. Use Step in Editing Global Settings to navigate to Page of the Global Setting screens. (If you re still in another Global Setting screen, simply use the PAGE buttons to navigate to Page.) Use the F knob or button to choose the Global Setting (-0) you d like to name. Press F (NAME). The VB-99 allows you to assign signals to the rearpanel SUB OUT jacks, either on a system-wide basis or individually per patch via settings made in the mixer section. The Global SUB OUT Level adjustment allows you to increase or decrease the overall SUB OUT level relative to the system or patch levels. 6
4 5 Enter the desired name for the Global Setting: To select a character use the PATCH/VALUE dial. To change to a different character position use the PAGE buttons. To insert or delete a character, or enter a blank space use the F-F buttons. To change the selected character s type use the F4 button. To change the selected character s case use the F5 button. When you re finished, press the EXIT button to return to the Play screen. Selecting a Global Setting To select a Global Setting: Press GLOBAL. Use the PAGE buttons to navigate to Page in the display. Use the F knob or button to select the desired Global Setting. 4 Press EXIT to return to the Play screen. Tip: Create a Home Global Setting No matter what patch you re using at any given time, the VB-99 is always affected by the parameters set in the currently selected Global Setting. Because of this, we recommend that you create a home Global Setting, one that you call up when you re back in the environment where you practice and create VB-99 patches. You may find that you ll want to create more than one home Global Setting for example, one for working with headphones/studio monitors and another for playing the VB-99 through an instrument amp. To make a flat Global Setting, use the procedures described previously to select an unused Global Setting and make the following adjustments: MAIN OUTPUT SELECT Select LINE/PHONES. Global Main EQ Set all GAIN controls to 0 db. (Alternately, you can simply set MAIN EQ SW to OFF.) Global SUB EQ Set all GAIN controls to 0 db. (Alternately, you can simply set SUB EQ SW to OFF.) NS Select 0 db. Reverb Select 00%. SUB OUT Level Select 00%. When the VB-99 ships from the factory, all the Global Settings are set as shown above. After you ve made these adjustments, give this Global Setting an appropriate name, such as Home or Flat Output. And don t forget to call up this Global Setting when you get back to your home environment after a gig! The End We hope you ve found this workshop helpful. Keep an eye out for other VB-99 Workshop booklets available for downloading at www.rolandus.com. This is a good idea, because it creates a benchmark Global Setting that you can always return to. How you set up this Global Setting is up to you, but a suggestion would be to set all the parameters flat that is, so they have no effect on your VB-99 patches at all. 7