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Roland VP-330

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(Redirected from Roland SVC-350) Analog vocoder and string synthesizer from Roland Corporation
VP-330
A Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus
ManufacturerRoland Corporation
Dates1979-1980
PriceUS$2,695 equivalent to $11,314 in 2023
Technical specifications
PolyphonyParaphonic
OscillatorSingle master VCO divided into full note range
LFOSine wave
Synthesis typeAnalog subtractive
Filter7 band-pass for human voice tones; 10 band-pass for vocoder
AttenuatorSingle attack and release shared by all voices
Aftertouch expressionNo
Velocity expressionNo
Effects2 parallel BBDs per channel (4 BBDs total) for stereo ensemble effect
Input/output
Keyboard49 keys
Left-hand controlPitch bend
External controlVocoder hold via foot switch

The Roland VP-330 is a paraphonic ten-band vocoder and string machine manufactured by Roland Corporation from 1979 to 1980. 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.

The Roland SVC-350 is a similar vocoder in rack-mount form designed to accept external inputs.

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. 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

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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ VP-330 service notes, 1979-09-21, p. 7
  3. 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.
  4. "Roland SVC-350 Vocoder". Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  5. 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.
  6. Buskin, Richard (December 2001). "Emotional Experience". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  7. "Greg Hawkes, The Cars Vocoder Plus Synthesizer". LiveAuctioneers. Nov 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  8. Beecher, Mike (Feb 1983). "Isao Tomita". Electronics & Music Maker. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 50–52. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  9. Tingen, Paul (Dec 2000). "Underworld: The Making of "Everything, Everything"". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  10. Clewes, Richard (Nov 1997). "Vangelis: Recording at Nemo Studios". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  11. Tanaka, Yuji (November 11, 2014). "Yellow Magic Orchestra: The Pre-MIDI Technology Behind Their Anthems". Red Bull Music Academy.
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