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]
| VP-330 | |
|---|---|
_-_alex_studio.jpg) A Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus | |
| Manufacturer | Roland Corporation |
| Dates | 1979-1980[1] |
| Price | US$2,695[1] equivalent to $11,314 in 2023 |
| 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 SVC-350 is a similar vocoder in rack-mount form designed to accept external inputs.[4]
Architecture
editIn 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
edit- 10cc[1]
- Laurie Anderson (on O Superman)[1][5]
- BT[6]
- Michael Boddicker (on Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing))[1]
- A Certain Ratio[1]
- Vince Clarke[1]
- Phil Collins
- John Foxx[1]
- Greg Hawkes[7] (of The Cars)
- Tony Mansfield
- Mike Oldfield[1]
- Queen
- Isao Tomita[1][8]
- Underworld[9]
- Vangelis[1] (including on the Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner[10] soundtracks)
- Yellow Magic Orchestra[11]
- Minoru Mukaiya from Casiopea
- Koz (on Levitating)
Legacy
editIn 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
edit- ^ 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. Susurreal. 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.
- ^ "Roland SVC-350 Vocoder". Retrieved 2021-07-14.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Greg Hawkes, The Cars Vocoder Plus Synthesizer". LiveAuctioneers. Nov 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
- ^ 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 (Dec 2000). "Underworld: The Making of "Everything, Everything"". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ Clewes, Richard (Nov 1997). "Vangelis: Recording at Nemo Studios". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ Tanaka, Yuji (November 11, 2014). "Yellow Magic Orchestra: The Pre-MIDI Technology Behind Their Anthems". Red Bull Music Academy.