Roland VP-330

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
A Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus
ManufacturerRoland Corporation
Dates1979-1980[1]
Price$2695[1]
Technical specifications
PolyphonyParaphonic
OscillatorSingle master VCO divided into full note range[2]
LFOSine wave[2]
Synthesis typeAnalog subtractive
Filter7 band-pass for human voice tones; 10 band-pass for vocoder[2]
AttenuatorSingle attack and release shared by all voices
Aftertouch expressionNo
Velocity expressionNo
Effects2 parallel BBDs per channel (4 BBDs total) for stereo ensemble effect[2]
Input/output
Keyboard49 keys[2]
Left-hand controlPitch bend
External controlVocoder hold via foot switch

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.[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

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. 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. 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.
  5. Buskin, Richard (December 2001). "Emotional Experience". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  6. "Greg Hawkes, The Cars Vocoder Plus Synthesizer". LiveAuctioneers. Nov 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  7. Beecher, Mike (Feb 1983). "Isao Tomita". Electronics & Music Maker. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 50–52. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  8. Tingen, Paul (December 2000). "Everything In its Place". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group.
  9. Clews, Richard (November 1997). "Inside the Synth Lab". Sound On Sound. UK: SOS Publications Group. Archived from the original on 2006-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  10. Tanaka, Yuji (November 11, 2014). "Yellow Magic Orchestra: The Pre-MIDI Technology Behind Their Anthems". Red Bull Music Academy.
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