Roland Virtual Accordion
Encyclopedia
The Roland Virtual Accordion is the world's first electronic instrument to use Physical Behaviour Modelling
(PBM) to simulate a wide range of acoustic instruments, including many musettes
, bandoneon
, concertina
, and other ethnic accordion
s and melodeon
s. It also features a range of Orchestral instruments, all of which respond to the bellows movements, etc.
Manufactured by the Roland Corporation
, the V-Accordion, which was released in 2004, comes in two models- The FR-5 and the FR-7. The FR-7 features built-in battery-powered amplifiers and speakers, making it independent of mains power. The FR-5 is identical, except it lacks the internal speakers. The operating system within the instruments is upgradeable through the extensive MIDI features.
The V-Accordion is the result of some 7 years development by a Roland Europe team based in Italy.
Since the introduction of the first models - the FR-5 and FR-7 - there have been several additions to the range:
FR-5b and FR-7b are 5 Row Chromatic Button versions of the originals, with several additions.
Due to the success of these four models, a further four "cut-down" models have been introduced as follows:
The FR-3 and FR-3s models are simplified V-Accordions with very few programming facilities, but still with extensive MIDI features and a number of converter bass systems. These feature a 37 note piano keyboard (G - G) plus 120 bass.
There are also 5 Row Chromatic Button versions: the FR-3b and FR-3sb. In all cases with the FR-3 models the "s" denotes built-in speakers. All the FR-3 family run from ordinary AA NiMh cells
.
Continuing the development of the V-Accordion range, Roland have recently added the FR-2 Model. Available in both piano and button versions, the FR-2 has some innovations compared with the previous models, notably the addition of Drum Pads to the left-hand controls. There are no internal speakers in the FR-2 which has 34 right-hand keys (or 82 buttons) and 96 bass buttons.
The latest addition to the range is the tiny FR-1. Aimed at children the FR-1 comes in two versions - a piano treble keyboard of 26 keys and a 5 row button treble with 37 notes. Both versions have 72 bass buttons. The FR-1 has a limited range of Drum Pads. This model is featured in a new educational programme planned by Roland Europe, with instructional material in printed form, backed by DVD demonstrations, all by Sergio Scappini.
Roland has recently put together a team of demonstrators in an attempt to bring the accordion to renewed popularity. The team includes players such as Ludvic Beier, Eddie Monteiro, Cory Pesaturo
, Paul Stanga, and Don McMahon.
Physical modelling synthesis
In sound synthesis, physical modelling synthesis refers to methods in which the waveform of the sound to be generated is computed by using a mathematical model, being a set of equations and algorithms to simulate a physical source of sound, usually a musical instrument...
(PBM) to simulate a wide range of acoustic instruments, including many musettes
Musette de cour
The musette de cour or baroque musette is a musical instrument of the bagpipe family. Visually, the musette is characterised by the short, cylindrical shuttle-drone and the two chalumeaux. Both the chanters and the drones have a cylindrical bore and use a double reed, giving a quiet tone similar to...
, bandoneon
Bandoneón
The bandoneón is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It plays an essential role in the orquesta típica, the tango orchestra...
, concertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
, and other ethnic accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
s and melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
s. It also features a range of Orchestral instruments, all of which respond to the bellows movements, etc.
Manufactured by the Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
, the V-Accordion, which was released in 2004, comes in two models- The FR-5 and the FR-7. The FR-7 features built-in battery-powered amplifiers and speakers, making it independent of mains power. The FR-5 is identical, except it lacks the internal speakers. The operating system within the instruments is upgradeable through the extensive MIDI features.
The V-Accordion is the result of some 7 years development by a Roland Europe team based in Italy.
Since the introduction of the first models - the FR-5 and FR-7 - there have been several additions to the range:
FR-5b and FR-7b are 5 Row Chromatic Button versions of the originals, with several additions.
Due to the success of these four models, a further four "cut-down" models have been introduced as follows:
The FR-3 and FR-3s models are simplified V-Accordions with very few programming facilities, but still with extensive MIDI features and a number of converter bass systems. These feature a 37 note piano keyboard (G - G) plus 120 bass.
There are also 5 Row Chromatic Button versions: the FR-3b and FR-3sb. In all cases with the FR-3 models the "s" denotes built-in speakers. All the FR-3 family run from ordinary AA NiMh cells
AA battery
An AA battery is a standard size of battery. Batteries of this size are the most commonly used type of in portable electronic devices. An AA battery is composed of a single electrochemical cell...
.
Continuing the development of the V-Accordion range, Roland have recently added the FR-2 Model. Available in both piano and button versions, the FR-2 has some innovations compared with the previous models, notably the addition of Drum Pads to the left-hand controls. There are no internal speakers in the FR-2 which has 34 right-hand keys (or 82 buttons) and 96 bass buttons.
The latest addition to the range is the tiny FR-1. Aimed at children the FR-1 comes in two versions - a piano treble keyboard of 26 keys and a 5 row button treble with 37 notes. Both versions have 72 bass buttons. The FR-1 has a limited range of Drum Pads. This model is featured in a new educational programme planned by Roland Europe, with instructional material in printed form, backed by DVD demonstrations, all by Sergio Scappini.
Roland has recently put together a team of demonstrators in an attempt to bring the accordion to renewed popularity. The team includes players such as Ludvic Beier, Eddie Monteiro, Cory Pesaturo
Cory Pesaturo
Cory Pesaturo is an American musician from Rhode Island. Pesaturo is an accordion player, who also plays the piano, clarinet, and saxophone. He began playing at the age of nine, and in 2002, became the youngest person to win the National Accordion Championship...
, Paul Stanga, and Don McMahon.