VS-Series Compatibility Guide
Current Operating Systems
v1.05 v2.03 v2.51 v3.203 v2.011 v1.020 VS-1680 VS-1880 VS-1824 VS-2000 VS-2400 VS-2480 v2.024/2.5 v1.014/1.5 v1.500 v2.005 v1.504 v2.504
VS-840 VS-840EX VS-840GX VS-880 VS-880EX VSR-880
This document lists the compatible external drives for Rolands VS-series line of digital studio workstations. For more information go to www.RolandUS.com or call us at 323-890-3741.

VS-2480

SCSI to IDE Bridge
Manufacturer Acard Tech Model ARS 2000 Capacity 120GB Storage Yes Record/Playback No

Compatible CD Mechanisms

Manufacturer Plextor Plextor Plextor Plextor TEAC Model PX-W4220 PX-W8220T/S PX-W124TS PX-W1210TS CD-W512SB Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Record/Playback No No No No No

Removable Media Drives

Manufacturer Song Vault Model Song-Vault DVD Capacity 4.3GB Storage Yes Record/Playback No
External (SCSI) Hard Drives
Manufacturer Song Vault Song Vault ASC Model Song Vault Song Vault Pro VirDIS * Capacity 120GB 120GB Variable Storage Yes Yes Yes Record/Playback No No No
* VirDIS (Virtual Disk) is a new product that connects any VS Recorder with a SCSI port to a PC-compatible computer. You can use this product for virtual HD backup and recovery to your computer, virtual CD backup, and even virtual CD for Audio disc recording. For more info, go to www.VirtualSCSI.com.
Legacy Products (VS-880/880EX/890/1680/1880/1824/VSR-880)
The VS-880, VS-880EX and VSR-880 can format a compatible drive in either 512MB or 1GB partitions. For drives larger than 1GB, they are capable of addressing up to four 1GB partitions per SCSI ID (drives smaller than 500MB will automatically be formatted to their fullest capacity in a single partition). The VS-1680 and VS-1880 can format a compatible drive in either 1GB or 2GB partitions and can access up to eight partitions. The VS-840 can format 100MB on a Zip drive, and the VS-840EX can format up to 250MB on a Zip drive. Most SCSI hard drives that adhere to AV specifications will work with the VS-Series Workstations. Keep in mind, drives that do not meet AV specs, though not recommended for recording and playback, are often still reliable for data storage. In the following charts, we have made a distinction as to the reliability of each drive for both storage and recording/playback. Suggested specifications for recordable hard drives: 13ms access time, active termination, slip sectoring, no or intelligent recalibration, 1:1 interleave, MacIntosh compatible.
2008 Roland Corporation U.S.

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Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Record/Playback Yes Yes * Yes * Yes *
Manufacturer Model Capacity Castlewood Orb 2.2GB IoMega Zip 100/250 100/250MB Syquest 135/230 135/230MB Syquest SyJet ** 1.5GB * VS-880, VS-880EX and VSR-880 only do not use physical format ** Should be physically formatted before use

Magneto Optical Drives

Manufacturer Olympus Sony Fujitsu Model 2.6GB MO Vertex 2.6GB 640/230 Capacity 2.3GB 2.3GB 540/230MB Storage Yes Yes Yes Record/Playback No No Yes
Internal (IDE) Hard Drives
Manufacturer Model Capacity IBM DBOA-2540, DHAA-2540 540MB IBM DPRA-20810, DSOA-20810 810MB IBM DSOA-21080 Travelstar 2LP, DMCA-21080 1GB IBM DMCA-21440, DTNA-22160 1.44GB, 2.1GB IBM DARA-212000 12.07GB* Hitachi DK212A-81, DK223A-81 810MB Hitachi DK212A-10 1GB Hitachi DK223A-11 1.1GB Hitachi DK213A-13 1.3GB Hitachi DK224A-14, DK225A-14 1.4GB Hitachi DK225A-21, DK226A-21 2.1GB Hitachi DK238A-32, DK227A-41 3.2GB, 4.0GB Hitachi DK228A-65, DK23AA-90 6.4GB*, 9.0GB* Hitachi DK23AA-12 12.0GB* Quantum Europa 540AT / 810AT 540MB / 810MB Toshiba HDD2731 or MD-1002 MAV 1GB Toshiba HDD2716 or MK-2103 MAV 2GB Toshiba HDD2619 or MK-3003 MAV 3GB Toshiba MK4309MAT / MK6409MAV 4.3GB / 6.4GB* * Please note that the VS-880, VS-880EX and VS-890 will only work with drives that are 6GB or less in size

Manufacturer Quantum Quantum Seagate Song Vault ASC Model Atlas XP34300W Atlas XP34550W ST39140/73N Song Vault Pro * VirDIS ** Capacity 4.3GB 4.3GB 9.1GB 120GB Variable Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Record/Playback Yes Yes Yes No No
* VS-1680/1880/1824 only ** VirDIS (Virtual Disk) is a new product that connects any VS Recorder with a SCSI port to a PC-compatible computer. You can use this product for virtual HD backup and recovery to your computer, virtual CD backup, and even virtual CD for Audio disc recording. For more info, go to www.VirtualSCSI.com. Warning! Use only SCSI devices when connecting external peripherals to your VS-Workstation. Parallel Port disk drives are not compatible and you could damage one or both devices.

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Contact Sources
Rackmoutn SCSI Drives SoundLogic 760-789-6558 Glyph Technologies 800-335-0345 Rorke Data 800-328-8147 Internal Drives Epoch Sales Think Computer
Desktop SCSI Drives APS 800-354-1213 Epoch Sales 800-736-3762 x310 Think Computer 800-726-2477 x128 Sound Vault www.ungo.net
800-736-3762 x310 800-726-2477 x128

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The VS-1880 packs all of the acclaimed features of the best-selling VS-1680 and adds several exciting new enhancements. Features include: 18-track playback, 8 Track simultaneous recording 28-channel, fully automated digital mixer 24-bit A/D-D/A converters for improved sound quality Dedicated CD-RW Mastering button for instant access to CD-burning menus New CD Writing Mode makes writing and copying CDs faster Four stereo multi-effects processors with two optional VS8F-2 Effects Boards 24-bit MT-PRO recording mode for superb dynamic range and phenomenal sounding recordings

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The Demo Song Spiderweb has 4 guitar solos recorded on Virtual Tracks 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Track 2. Use the following procedure to select Virtual Tracks: 1. Press SCENE, so it is lit and press the #3 button. 2. Press LOCATOR 2, then PLAY to listen to the guitar solo. 3. Press the TRACK SELECT button for Channel 2. 4. CURSOR to V. Trk in the upper left hand corner, then use the TIME/VALUE dial to select V Track 3. 5. Press LOCATOR 2, then PLAY. You should now hear a different guitar solo.
NOTE: The VS-1880 must be stopped to change V-Tracks.
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The VS-1880 can have up to 4 independent stereo effects processors on board using 2 optional VS8F-2 Effects Expansion Boards. Use the following procedure to apply effects to the guitar solo on track 2: 1. 2. 3. 4. Press SCENE so it is lit and press the #3 button. Press LOCATOR 2. Press the TRACK SELECT button for Channel 2. CURSOR to EFX Ins and press ENTER/YES. Press PLAY. At this point, there are no effects on this track. CURSOR to FX1 and use the TIME/VALUE DIAL to select Ins. You should now hear the track with the effect Guitar Multi 1. Press STOP to halt playback. Hold SHIFT and press F3 EFX A then press F1 [FX1]. Press F2 [Sel] and use the TIME/VALUE DIAL to select P055 BluesDrv and press F4 [Exec]. Press LOCATOR 2 followed by PLAY. Press F2 [Sel] and use the TIME/VALUE DIAL to select another effect (try P059 SLDN Lead) and press F4 [Exec]. Press PLAY/DISPLAY to return to the main screen.
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The VS-1880 ships pre-loaded with several demo songs. Use the following procedure to select and playback a song: 1. While holding SHIFT press F1 [SONG]. 2. Press PAGE repeatedly until SEL is displayed above F1, then press F1 [Select]. 3. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select the song SPIDERWEB and press F4 [Exec]. 4. Press YES. If Re-Load Current? is displayed, press YES. 5. Press SCENE, so it is lit and press the #1 button. 6. Press PLAY after the scene has loaded. 7. Use the Master Fader to control the level of the song and use the Channel Faders to adjust the levels of the Tracks. 8. Press STOP to halt playback. 9. Press ZERO to return to the beginning of the song.

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Note: You can use the FF and REW buttons to move forward or backward in one-second steps.
10. Press SCENE so it is lit and press the #8 button to load Scene #8 which is a different version of the song. Press PLAY. Try loading other Scenes.
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EZ Routing makes it simple to set up the VS-1880 for most recording and mixing applications. Use the following procedure to configure the VS-1880 to record Input 1 on Track 4: 1. Press EZ ROUTING and CURSOR to [Recording]. 2. Press F4 [Exec] followed by F1 [Rec]. 3. Press the Input 1 SELECT button followed by the Track 4 STATUS button. A line should appear in the display connecting Input 1 to Track 4. 4. Press F2 [Step]. 5. Use the CURSOR buttons and the TIME/VALUE DIAL to set the Panning and Level and press F2 [Step]. 6. Use the CURSOR buttons and the TIME/VALUE DIAL to select the desired Effect under EFX1 and press F2 [Step]. 7. If you would like to record the output of the effects processors, press the EFFECT RTN button for the desired effect processor (EFX 1-4) followed by the Track 4 STATUS button. A line will appear in the display indicating that EFX1 is connected to Track 4. Press F2 [STEP] twice. 8. Press F4 [Exec] followed by ENTER/YES. 9. Press PLAY/DISPLAY. The VS-1880 is now ready to record. NOTE: The Demo songs in the VS-1880 are protected so you will not be able to record in these songs.

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With the VS-1880, you can record, edit, mix, master, and burn CDs all with one workstation (CD burning requires the optional VS-CDRII CD Writer). Here are the basic steps to mix down using the Mastering Tool Kit, and burning a CD (we will assume you have already recorded your song on tracks 1-16): Mixing Down 1. Press CD-RW MASTERING, then press F1 [MstRm]. 2. CURSOR to Sw and use the VALUE DIAL to select On. 3. CURSOR to CDRRecMode and use the VALUE DIAL to select On. 4. CURSOR to FXIns and press ENTER. 5. CURSOR to FX1 and use the VALUE DIAL to select Ins. 6. Hold SHIFT and press F3 [EFX A] then press F1 [FX1]. 7. Press F2 [Sel] and use the TIME/VALUE DIAL to select P210 Mixdown and press F4 [Exec]. 8. Press PLAY/DISPLAY, then press REC and PLAY to mix down your song. Listening to your Mix 1. Press PAGE to display MPly above F6, then press F6 [MPly]. 2. Press ZERO, then press PLAY. Use the Master fader to control the level of your song. Writing a CD 1. Insert a blank CD or CD-RW into the VS-CDRII. 2. Press CD-RW. Press F2 [CD Wt]. CD-R Write Ready? is displayed. Press YES. 3. STORE Current? is displayed. Press YES (Press NO only if you have already saved your song to disk). 4. Use the CURSOR buttons to highlight the WRITE METHOD box. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to select Disk at Once. 5. Press F5 [Exec], then press YES. 6. Read the Copyright Agreement screens and press YES twice if you agree to the terms set forth regarding copyrights. The VS-CDRII will begin writing to the CD. The length of your recording will determine how long the CD takes to burn.

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You can display the waveform for any track for more precise editing. Use the following procedure: 1. Press PLAY/DISPLAY to return to the main screen (if necessary). 2. Use the UP/DOWN CURSOR buttons to select a Track. 3. Press the PAGE button repeatedly until WAVE is displayed above F5. Press F5 [WAVE]. 4. Use F1, F2, F3, and F4 to adjust the view of the waveform. 5. Use REW and FF to move to a different point of the song. 6. Press F5 [WAVE] to exit.