The boss roland gear converts your guitar notes into midi data, and using a standard pin connection, triggers midi audio from one of their devices such as the gp10, or the older vg99, or the gr55. A vg 99 patch stores all the parameter settings that make up a particular sound. The vg99 can also send guitar to midi note onoff conversion via 5 pin midi out, or midi over usb to a pcmac, to trigger softsynths, or perform auto tabulature using guitarpro 6. This allows the gr 55 to be a powerful audio processor and connects to the guitar using a pin midi cable. When the gr55 is running in bass mode, it can access all the vb 99 bass processor cosm bass models. Roland gr55 guitar synthesizer black with gk3 divided. This comprises a 6 channel pickup one for each string and a selector unit which can change volume, select patches, either the guitar original pickups, the gk3 pickup or both. Be sure to refer to the readme document as this download contains two separate updates depending on the current operating system being used. How to rock out with alternate patches roland canada. Gr55 librarian is a software that allows you to manage sound patches in the gr. A vg99 patch stores all the parameter settings that make up a particular sound. In addition to its own internal synthesizer voices, the gr55 also offers the cosm guitar modeling technology featured in its groundbreaking vg99 product along with cosm amplifiers and multieffects. This was an exceptionally wellproduced 26 minute video featuring japanese guitarist jun yamazaki.
The fundamental difference between vg and gr is that vg. For my own studio and live work, i have a roland gr33 synthesizer and a vg99 cosm guitar processor, and though each offers more features in its own specialised area than the gr55, the advantages of combining both technologies in an easytomanage package are obvious, not. Vg99 in the studio part 4 comparison of real and vamp youtube. The vg99 models two voice outputs which is awesome to say the least. I still have a gr1and a gr33, both dont see much use at all a few months back i bought a used axon ax100 mkii, yep internal sounds are crap but it does a decent job when i use it to trigger spectrosonics omnisphere or trilian plus. Unlike the more recent roland gr55, the vg99 does not offer pcm synthesis, such as the ability to reproduce drums, piano, etc. If youre the kind of person who digs into your roland boss gear, odds are you go way. The gr55s powerful triplecore engine comprises two pcm synthesizers with over 900 tones powered by the latest roland synthesis technology and cosm guitar modeling, featuring a virtual treasure trove of guitar, bass, amp, and synth models. Roland vb99 vs roland gr33b like the vg99, the vb99 has an emulation of vintage roland gr synth technology. Not only does it feature a good selection of synthesizer sounds, the onboard cosm effect modeling gives it the ability to create some sounds similar to vguitar systems like the vg88, but it isnt a full vguitar system. Born in brooklyn, new york, on may 5, 1959, steve stevens first picked up the guitar when he was only seven years old. To demonstrate the roland gc1 gk ready strat you need to connect to a gr55, vg99, or other pin compatible device. Now i use two of them vg99 and gr33, they are very popular and really cool devices.
Here are some sound samples recorded with my roland gr55. Currently, rolands flagship guitar synthesizer is the incredible gr55. Roland gr700 blue remake with gr300 blue finish, new handles, and handsome natural wood end blocks. But the synth tracking on the gr55 is definitely better if you care about synth stuff. Rolands gr55 guitar synthesizer is a revolutionary new product combining pcm synthesis with digital instrument modeling derived from the respected vg99. The roland gr55 is a powerful guitar synthesizer with thousands of synth, guitar, and bass voices in an enormous builtin library, perfect for metal, fusion, and rock. Its obvious that line 6 is better in the tone department with its piezo bridge and sensor techniques. The gr55 has a 0 latency cosm modeling engine built in 12 of the vb99 dual modeling with some cool analog type synths and various bass and guitar models, plus a mutli effects unit, as well as the dual pcm synth engine 2 x gr20s but fully editable. Furthermore, the cosm guitarmodeling engine needs zero detection time, allowing the. I thought it would be cool to play the latest roland guitar synthesizer, the gr55, with the first roland. Now i use two of them vg 99 and gr33, they are very popular and really cool devices.
I have tested the gkexpander with the roland gr55 and vg99 synthesizer. If youre the kind of person who digs into your roland boss gear, odds are you go way beyond factory patches and settings. The gr55 is a guitar synthesizer that includes a wide variety of sounds. Rolands gr55 guitar synthesizer is a revolutionary new product combining pcm synthesis with digital instrument modeling derived from the respected vg99 vguitar system. All of these may be downloaded at no charge and loaded into the user bank of the gr55 using the roland included gr55 librarian software, or there is an excellent shareware program for programming the gr55. This is a driver for using the gr55 on mac os x v10. The gp10 does not have dual signal paths as the vg99 has, so it does not have the ability to produce two cosm instruments at the same time. But where the vg99 stops, the gr55, for about half the price does all of the two voice modeling the vg99 does, but goes way further by adding two more additional voices which are based on keyboard and synth sounds over 900 of them. Contributed by byron struck for the roland australia blog. Maybe not quite on par with the axon units, but very close. This is a driver for using the gr55 on mac os x 10. Roland gr55 and vg99 acoustic guitars martin, guild, nylon.
One place for sharing all patches sign in to follow this. This system program updates your gr55 to the latest version 1. There are four footswitches, three of which may be used to select patches or. It is fantastically powerful the gr55 is watered down for cosm guitar stuff.
In this booklet, we show you how to select, save, and manage your patches in the vg99. Honing his craft while playing in manhattan, stevens recorded an unreleased album with his band, fine malibus, and also played as a session guitarist. How big of improvement is the model on jtv vs the original. Get the latest updatesdrivers, owners manuals, and support documents for your product. Gkexpander roland gr55 vg99 gk3 guitar synthesizer.
In 2007 roland released a free promotional dvd in japan for the new vg99. Boss ve500 vocal performer vguitar boss tone video boss vs. I chose the vg99 based on my own personal priorities. I have been on the roland v guitar forums discussing this new gr55 unit. I can create unique sounds now with two synth modeling engines at one time. The vg88 uses advanced cosm technology to model the most popular guitars and amplifiers in history, as well as produce some very unique guitarmeetssynth sounds of its own. And there is an electronically buffered standard guitar input, to allow any guitar to use the modeling and effects in the roland gr55 or vg99. Gkexpander add guitar input to roland gr55 access cosm.
The dvd is book ended by two performance videos with yamazaki making excellent use of the live performace features of the vg 99, notably the dbeam controller and the ribbon controller. I spent literally months tweaking and creating many soundspatches for the vg99. A vg99 cant do a fender rhodes, piano, or french horns, bassons, saxes. The fundamental difference between vg and gr is that vg is a guitar processor and gr is a guitar synth. Realtime editing and patch data backups, bulk patch editing. Roland gr55 guitar synthesizer robert marcello artist. The only saving grace of the 55 again, in my opinion is the vg stuff, which basically makes it a cheaper, diet vg99. While i have no previous roland gk experience i do have a fair amount of pitch tracking experience with hardware effects such as boss oc2 analog mono octaver, boss se70 synth effects, boss vf1 synth effects, boss gt10b synth effects, sonuus b2m pitchto.
Roland unequivocally states that this is the fastest and most responsive guitar synthesizer they have ever made. Roland gr55 guitar synthesizer black with gk3 divided pickup. The roland vg99 is a guitar multieffects unit built with a dual engine for running two modeling effects simultaneously. I spent one afternoon installing the gk3 pickup on an american elite tele and getting some patches together, and the show went without a hitch. But if bass players were expecting to find a clone of the gr33b under the hood, they will instead find the same virtual gr300 as found in.
In the history of guitar modeling, no manufacturer has devoted more time, resources, and passion into. One place for sharing all patches effects and processors. Even without owning a physical vg99, you may download the vg99 editor and see all the vg99 parameters controls fx features. Both vg99 and gr55 perform both cosm modelling and midi.
It is also rumored to apparently drive external synths very well. It has a 20 second looper, some aspects of the vg 99 modeler and very good synth sounds. Roland vg99 advanced dual engine cosm modeling synthesizer. Although guitar modelling is no longer a novelty, we should remember that roland pioneered this important area of guitar processing some 12 years ago with their vg8 system, which modelled not only amplifiers, effects and speakers but also guitar pickups and pickup position. Roland use this same hex pickup to drive their cosm composite object sound modelling guitar and ampmodelling vgseries processors, so it seemed inevitable that these two different. The very cool thing about the gr55 s guitar output jack is that on a patch by patch basis, you can reroute and choose the signal type that will emerge from this jack. The vg99 and gr55 have the exact same modeling algorithm for creating acoustic guitar, and they sound great. Stratocaster, gr55 guitar synthesizer, vg99 vguitar system, and vb99 vbass system. Stay up to date with boss news, artists, promotions, events, and more. The dvd is book ended by two performance videos with yamazaki making excellent use of the live performace features of the vg99, notably the dbeam controller and the ribbon controller. Roland gs500 demo video with gr55, vg 99 and bxvx guitar synthesis.
Second, im a metheny fan, and wanted to have that gr300 kind of sound without spending a lot more money on a gr55 or vg99. Roland gs500 demo video with gr55, vg99 and bxvx guitar synthesis. Roland gr55 guitar synth assigning fx to the exp pedal. The vg99 allows you to use two simultaneous modeled guitars, making possible such things as 12 string sims with altered tunings. Unfollow roland vg99 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Check the condition of the strings and the tuning of the guitar. Pg200 updated nos newoldstock photos of the roland pg700, programmer for the roland gr700. In its simplest usage, the gr55 is a repository of some of boss best guitar effects like reverb, delay and chorus that sound great. The gr55 represents rolands latest breakthrough advances in guitar synthesis, offering playability, features, and sound quality that far surpasses the capabilities of. I think you are dead wrong about the difference between tracking of the gr 33 and gr 55. Subscribe to the boss newsletter to get the latest articles, videos, and news about your favorite boss products. In this booklet, we show you how to select, save, and manage your patches in the vg 99.
The latest in rolands pioneering vg range could qualify as the best guitar synth ever made. I spent literally months tweaking and creating many soundspatches for the vg99, and. If you need internal pcm sounds, the roland gr55 has the same modeling and alt. Trying to decide between vg99 and gr55 the gear page. Unfollow roland vg 99 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Roland gr77b for reaktor download a modeled roland gr77b for native instruments reaktor 5. Gr 55 requires an interface mounted on the guitar called a gk3. Before you start, check the system program version of your gr55. When you dont have room on stage for a synth, just put it on the floor. Also, the gr55 has builtin synth sounds so you have a lot of capability in one unit but its all watered down. Its an extremely deep unit, as roland really threw in the proverbial kitchen. Those sounds are really useful, and is almost worth it alone for the money.
The gr55s cosm guitar modeling section is not nearly as comprehensive as as the vg99s. Roland have put elements of their two very different approaches to guitar synthesis in a single box. The gk expander is a breakout box for roland gk2gk3 pin guitar. A version check will be necessary to distinguish which update should be used. Roland has finally heard their users and given them pretty much complete autonomy on the way their sounds are tweaked, triggered and even the routing paths. In 2007 roland released a free promotional dvd in japan for the new vg 99.
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