FR-3s/-3

V-Accordion

Compact is Beautiful!

Even the junior members of the V-Accordion family, the FR-3s and FR-3, provide all the features of a traditional accordionand a lot more! Lightweight and portable, the FR-3s and FR-3 will be appreciated by budding accordion players and experienced entertainers alike for their portability and flexibility!
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Realistic accordion simulation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The FR-3s/3 can simulate up to 10 different accordions, each including 10 Treble registers, 7 Bass/Chord registers, and 7 Free Bass registers (Free Bass and Bass/Chord are mutually exclusive). For these high-quality sounds, Roland sampled traditional acoustic accordions to provide an instrument that can emulate various accordion types, complete with their specific tuning characteristics. And although it is an electronic instrument, the FR-3s/3 faithfully responds to bellows movements and pressure for authentic expressiveness. Stronger inward and outward movements create a richer, fuller sound, while lighter movements make the sound softer and quieter. Theres even a unique bellows resistance regulator that can be set to match the players strength or preference. Increasing or decreasing the bellows resistance is a matter of selecting one of four positions using a conveniently located wheel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LED display and interactive Roland logo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The FR-3s/3 comes with a 3x7-segment LED for monitoring the current sound selections and setting a host of parameters. The illuminated Roland logo is interactive in that it changes color depending on the accordion Set and section (accordion or orchestra) you select. You can even choose your favorite color (from among 26 options), which may prove invaluable when you play in an accordion ensemble with several FR-3s/3 users. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ins and Outs

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The FR-3s/3 can be connected to various external devices (sequencer, arranger keyboards, etc.) using the onboard MIDI socket. Combined with a wireless system you connect to the external outputs, the FR-3s/3 can be used on the biggest stages while granting its player absolute freedom of movement. Both the FR-3s and the FR-3 also provide a headphone socket, while the FR-3s comes with a set of professional-quality neodymium speakers (hence the s in FR-3s).

Educational functions

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The FR-3s/3 is ideal for students. And not just because it is the smallest accordion in the world to provide a Free Bass mode, but also because it boasts an adjustable metronome. Thanks to the instruments MIDI functionality, students can even record their performance on their computer. Practising has never been easier or more efficient! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orchestral sounds

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The V-Accordion includes 10 orchestral sounds (including Trombone, Trumpet, Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, etc.) that can be used together with the traditional accordion sounds in one of four selectable modes.
q The FR-3s/3 has a compartment
for optional AA-type batteries (either one-way or rechargeable).
q The FR-3s is provided with an onboard digital amplifier
and two speakers. The FR-3 doesnt have speakers and is therefore the lightest member of the V-Accordion family (but just as flexible as the FR-3).

FR-3s/-3 Specifications

q 37-key piano-type treble keyboard/120 bass buttons q 7 new Orchestral Chord/Orchestral Free Bass registers with completely new sounds
q Onboard MIDI socket q Supplied with an adapter and a battery compartment (for optional AA-type batteries) q Bellows resistance regulator
s Keyboard Right hand: Piano-type, 37 keys, velocity sensitive, Left hand: 120 bass buttons with velocity, Standard, Free Bass, Orchestral Bass, Orchestral Chord, Orchestral Free Bass s Bellows Real pneumatic detection of bellows pressure, high-resolution pressure sensor, bellows resistance regulator s Sound source Max polyphony: 64 voices, Wave ROM: 32 Mbytes Wave ROM s Tones 10 Accordion Sets, each one including: 12 Treble registers, 7 Bass registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Chord registers, 10 Orchestral sounds, Treble reed footages: 4, Bass reed footages: 5, Chord reed footages: 3, Free Bass footages: 2 s PBM (Physical Behaviour Modeling) Noises: Stopping-reed growl, Closing valve noise, Left button noise, Individual reed simulation: Hysteresis threshold, Expression curve, Pressure variant filter, Pressure variant pitch deviation, Reed waveform switching: By bellows acceleration, By note repetition speed s Musette tuning Micro tuning presets: 16: Off, Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish s Effects Reverb: 8 types, Chorus:

8 types, Cassotto and Sordina simulation: Yes s Panel controls Knob controls: Volume, Treble/Bass balance, Reverb, Chorus s Panel Switches Treble Registers: 10 + Orchestra + Set, Bass Registers: 7, Metronome: On, Off, Other switches: Sordina Mellow/Bright, Power s Operation Modes Orchestra Mode: Solo, Dual, High, Low, Octave: Down, 0, Up for Treble and Orchestra s Speakers (Only FR-3s) 2 x 10cm speakers s Other Onboard connectors: Headphones Jack (Stereo), Output Jack: L/Mono(Treble), R/Mono(Bass), MIDI connector OUT/IN switchable, Power supply: External AC adapter (100V~240V universal), Battery (optional): AA type battery s Dimensions 483 (W) x 258.4 (D) x 428.13 (H) mm, 19-1/16 (W) x 10-3/16 (D) x 16-7/8 (H) inches s Weight FR-3: 7.1 kg, 15 lbs 11 oz (without straps and without optional battery), FR-3s: 8.1 kg, 17 lbs 14 oz (without straps and without optional battery) s Supplied accessories External AC adapter, Owners manual, Accordion cloth, Straps, Bass reference caps * The specifications are subject to change without notice.

QUICK START

FR-3s/3 - FR-3sb/3b
STRUCTURE OF THE V-ACCORDION
Before we show you how to operate the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b, we briefly wish to explain the configuration of the V-Accordion. The FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b is a Virtual accordion, which reproduces the sounds of various accordions. Therefore the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b has no real reeds but virtual reeds. Moreover, the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b has additional orchestral sounds, which you can play individually or in combination with the accordion sounds. Register: here you select the treble and bass section of the individual sounds (accordion & orchestra) that you would like to play with. When you go into the parameter list, you will select the musette detuning, for each register. All parameters must be saved, if you want to keep them. Otherwise they will get lost when selecting another SET or switch off the V-Accordion. Set: the individual sections (treble, bass etc.) are put together in one set so that you will immediately have all your settings at hand. The FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b offers 10 sets User Program: you can select 10 programmable User Programs. Working with those memories has the advantage that you can recall frequently used settings at the press of a button. Parameter List: the parameters contained in this list allow you to change some important functions (e.g. bellows sensitivity, Treble mode, Bass & Chord modes) or archiving your settings via MIDI
SWITCHING THE POWER ON AND OFF
Connect the supplied adapter to the FR-3s DC IN socket. Connect the FR-3s DC INLET socket to a wall outlet that meets the specifications (see page 59) Press the FR-3s [POWER] button to switch it on. Start playing. Press the FR-3s [POWER] button again so that its indicator goes dark.
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Quick Start FR-3s/3_FR-3sb/3b
QUICK START LISTENING TO THE DEMO SONGS
Switch on the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b with the [POWER] button. Press and hold the [ORCHESTRA] register until the display looks as follows:
With the registers [1] and [2] (VALUE -/+) select another demo song (the number of the song will be indicated in the display). Adjust the volume with the [VOLUME] knob. Press [ORCHESTRA] register again to leave the demo song mode.
CHANGING THE TREBLE MODE (ONLY FR-3sb/FR-3b)
Press and hold the [SET] register until the display shows a parameter names, then release it. Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Treble Mode parameter.
With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired Treble Mode. More information about the individual modes can be found in the manual on pages 39/40/41.
TREBLE MODE C-Griff Europe C-Griff 2 B-Griff Bajan B-Griff Fin D-Griff 1 D-Griff 2 You can, however, unscrew the buttons and install they in the right places so as to make the white and black buttons correspond to the notes being played.
Press the registers [1/-] or [2/+] simultaneously to return to the factory setting of the currently selected parameter. Without saving: press [SET] register to leave the Parameter Mode. Saving: press and hold [SET] register until the display looks as follows:
Press register [2/+] to save the settings
Press [SET] again to confirm your intention
If you dont want to save your changes, after that Wrt appears in the display, press [1/-]. In that case the display shows the No message. Press [SET] again to leave the Parameter Mode.
QUICK START SETTING THE BELLOWS SENSITIVITY
Press and hold the [SET] register until the display shows a parameter names, then release it. Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Bellows Curve parameter.
With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired Bellows Curve. More information about the individual bellows curve types can be found in the manual on page 43.
BELLOWS CURVE Fixed Low 5 Light Fixed Med 6 Standard Fixed High 7 Heavy X-Light 8 X-Heavy

HOW TO READ THE DISPLAY

- In Normal Mode this digit is the same register as Bass register - In Free Bass Mode this digit shows Free Bass register and its flashing - Bass Register - Free Bass if the digit in the middle is flashing Treble Register Set number

Orch. Bass if dot is On

Orchestra if dot is On
Orchestra Chord if dot is On Orchestra Free Bass if dot is On but the digit in the middle is flashing

PLAYING THE ACCORDION / SELECTING THE ACCORDION SETS
Place the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b, press a treble register above the piano/button keyboard and select one (or more) bass registers above the bass buttons. Play on both keyboards and move the bellows as with an acoustic accordion. Select a different register to change the timbre. Adjust the total volume with the [VOLUME] knob, and with the [BALANCE] knob adjust the volume between treble and bass. Press the [SET] register.
5 Classic Jazz I-Folk D-Folk F-Folk SET 0 Sp-Folk Bandoneon Alpine Cajun Tex Mex
St will flash in the display and the Roland logo flashes in blue to signal that you need to press a register [1]~[0] to select a SET memory. Press one of the registers [1]~[0] to select a SET memory. The Roland logo lights in blue. Use the [SORDINA] switch to simulate the wooden resonance chamber (On/Off). The sound will be attenuated
SELECTING THE TREBLE AND BASS REGISTERS
Place the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b, press a Treble register above the piano/button keyboard and select one (or more) Play on the piano/button keyboards and move the bellows as with an acoustic accordion. Select a different register to change the timbre.
5 TREBLE REGISTERS Bassoon 6a Musette Bandon 6b Musette Harmon 7a Violin Organ 7b Violin Master 8 Oboe 9 Clarinet 0 Piccolo TREBLE REGISTERS - SET Bassoon 6a Av Muset 2 Jazzy 6b Sos Muset 3 Arnold 7a Sw Valse 4 Beguine 7b Mr Gus Voix 8 Oboe 9 Clarinet 0 Piccolo
Remark: Every time when you press the Musette [6] and Violin [7], you can choose to add or remove the detuned reed [8-]
Press a Bass register and select one (or more). Play on the bass and chord buttons and move the bellows as with an acoustic accordion. Select a different register to change the timbre.
BASS&CHORD REGISTERS 3 8-16/8/8-4/4/8/4/16/8/8-16/2 1
Adjust the total volume with the [VOLUME] knob, and with the [BALANCE] knob adjust the volume between treble and bass.
Selecting a Musette detune: Press and hold the [SET] register until the display shows a parameter names, then release it. Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Musette Detune parameter.
With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired Musette Detune. More information about the individual Musette Detune types can be found in the manual on page 39.
7 MUSETTE DETUNE Off 8 D-Folk L Dry 9 Italian L Classic 10 German H F-Folk 11 Alpine American L 12 Italian H American H 13 D-Folk H North Eur 14 French German L 15 Scottish

USING FREE BASS MODE

Press the three [FREE BASS] registers simultaneously and with a bass register select the desired sound. If needed, select a different bass registration.
FREE BASS REGISTERS Low High Low + High Low + High Low Low Low + High High Low + High Low High

Press the three [FREE BASS] registers simultaneously to change in normal bass mode.
QUICK START PLAYING WITH ORCHESTRA SOUNDS IN TREBLE
Press the [ORCHESTRA] register and then the register with the desired orchestra sound. The Roland logo now lights in red. The display shows the number of the last Orchestra sound you selected. That number (the right-most digit) is followed by a dot.
5 ORCHESTRA Trombone Trumpet T-Sax A-Sax Clarinet REGISTERS 6 Harmonica 7 Violin 8 Flute 9 Jazz Org 0 Blues Org
Press a different register to select a orchestra sound. Press and hold the [ORCHESTRA] register, while you select the desired Orchestra Mode with [7], [8], [9] or [0]
SOLO [0]: DUAL [9]: HIGH [8]: LOW [7]: only orchestra sound; orchestra & accordion sound; higher notes with orchestra sound, deeper notes with accordion sound; higher notes with accordion sound, deeper notes with accordion sound.
To change the Volume of the treble orchestra sound: press and hold the [SET] register Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Orchestra Level parameter. With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired value. The range value is -40 ~ Std ~ 40 Press the registers [1/-] or [2/+] simultaneously to return to the factory setting of the currently selected parameter. To switch off the orchestra part, press the [ORCHESTRA] register again.
PLAYING WITH ORCHESTRA BASS SOUNDS
Press the three [ORCH BASS] registers simultaneously and with the bass register select the desired sound.
1 ORCHESTRA BASS REGISTERS 1 Acoustic 5 Picked 2 Bowed 6 Tuba 3 Fingered 7 Tuba Mix 4 Fretless
Press a different register to change the sound. To change the volume of the bass orchestra sounds: press and hold the [SET] register Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Orchestra Bass Level parameter. With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired value. The range value is -40 ~ Std ~ 40 Press the registers [1/-] or [2/+] simultaneously to return to the factory setting of the currently selected parameter. Press the three [ORCH BASS] registers simultaneously to change in normal bass mode.
QUICK START PLAYING WITH ORCHESTRA CHORD SOUNDS

Simultaneously press the three [ORCH CHORD] registers in the middle and with the bass register select the desired sound.
4 ORCHESTRA CHORD REGISTERS St. Strings 5 Choir Chorus Organ 6 Harps + Strings Steel Guitar 7 Guitar + Organ Stereo Orch Brass
Press a different register to change the sound. To change the volume of the chord orchestra sounds: press and hold the [SET] register Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Orchestra Chord Level parameter. With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired value. The range value is -40 ~ Std ~ 40 Press the registers [1/-] or [2/+] simultaneously to return to the factory setting of the currently selected parameter. Press the three [ORCH CHORD] registers simultaneously to change in normal chord mode.
PLAYING WITH ORCHESTRA FREE BASS SOUNDS
Press the three [FREE BASS] registers simultaneously.
Simultaneously press the three [ORCH FREE BASS] registers in the middle and with the bass register select the desired sound.
1 ORCHESTRA FREE BASS REGISTERS 1 Trombone 5 Perc Organ 2 Clarinet 6 Ac Guitar 3 Oboe 7 Ac Piano 4 Flute
Press a different register to change the sound. To change the volume of the Free Bass orchestra sounds: press and hold the [SET] register Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Orchestra Free Bass Level parameter. With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired value. The range value is -40 ~ Std ~ 40 Press the registers [1/-] or [2/+] simultaneously to return to the factory setting of the currently selected parameter. Press the three [ORCH FREE BASS] registers simultaneously to change in normal Free Bass mode.
CHANGING THE BASS & CHORD MODE AND THE FREE BASS MODE
Press and hold the [SET] register until the display shows a parameter names, then release it. Use the [3/] or [4/] register to select the Bass & Chord Mode and Free Bass Mode parameters.
With the [1/-] or [2/+] register, select the desired Bass & Chord Mode and Free Bass Mode. More information about the individual Bass&Chord Mode and Free Bass Mode types can be found in the manual on pages 43/44/45.
BASS & CHORD MODE Bs Rows Bs rows A 7th Bs rows A 5dim Bs rows B 7th Bs rows 5 5dim Bs rows Bx 7th FREE BASS MODE 1 minor 3rd 2 Bajan 3 Fifth 4 N.Europe 5 Finnish
Remark: The FR- 3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b is supplied with several reference caps (concave and with lines) designed to help you locate the bass and chord buttons without looking at them. (more information about the reference caps can be found in the manual on page 23)

Slide up to remove

Reference cap

Slide over button

QUICK START RECALLING AN USER PROGRAM

Press the [ORCHESTRA] and [5] registers. The Roland logo lights in red.
Press the Treble register [1]~[0] that is assigned to the User Program you want to use. Press the [ORCHESTRA] and [5] registers again to leave this mode.

SAVING THE USER PROGRAM

Press and hold the [SET] register until the [UP-] message starts flashing. Press the Treble register [1]~[0] of the User Program memory where you want to save your settings. Press the [ORCHESTRA] and [5] registers again to leave this mode. More information about the User Program function can be found in the manual on pages 36/37.

ACTIVATING FACTORY RESET

Switch on the FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b while holding down the [SET] and [ORCHESTRA] registers. The display change to:
The FR-3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b now again sounds and behaves like when you first bought it.
Remark: You can reset the FR- 3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b to its factory settings, which means that your own Global settings are replaced by the settings the FR- 3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b contained when you first go it. You may wish to archive your settings before initializing the FR- 3s/3 or FR-3sb/3b.