Introduction VariOS 303 is a trial application that transforms your VariOS into a completely different sound module. When the VariOS 303 program is installed, you can use the VariOS as an analog modeling bass synthesizer. In addition to parameters such as cutoff and resonance, a Pattern Sequencer function is also provided. Copyright © 2003 ROLAND CORPORATION All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.
Specifications/System requirements Specifications System requirements (Windows) VariOS 303 Operating system: Sound Generator: Analog Modeling Waveforms: Saw Square Parts: 1 Maximum Polyphony: 1 voice Patches: 128 Step Sequencer: 16 Steps Microsoft® Windows® XP Home/XP Professional/ 2000 Professional/Me/98SE CPU: Pentium®/Celeron™ or compatible processor, 400 MHz or better Pentium® III 500 MHz or better is recommended RAM: 128 MB or more (256 MB or more is recommended) Free space required on hard disk:
Names of Things and What They Do Refer to "Names of Things and What They Do" in the "VariOS User Guide." The following points will be different when you use VariOS 303. Front Panel B C B. PITCH/TIME/FORMANT Knobs PITCH (C1) Knob TIME (C2) Knob FORMANT (C3) Knob Adjusts the TUNING (pitch). Adjusts the cutoff frequency. Adjusts the resonance. C. Indicators TEMPO This does not function for VariOS 303. Rear Panel Q R Q.
Installation Before you begin installation Before you begin, you must install the driver as described in the "Installation" chapter of the "VariOS User Guide." If you are using Mac OS 9, install OMS and make settings. You cannot install the VariOS 303 main program if the driver has not been installed. Installing the VariOS 303 main program 1. Hold down the three buttons [MENU], [
Startup and settings Starting up VariOS 303 1 ⇓ ⇑ 1 ⇑ 2, 3 ⇑ 1 1. Hold down the [Menu] and [
Startup and settings 5. If you’re using VariOS 303 by itself, set the Through Output field to “Roland VariOS MIDI.” If you are using VariOS 303 with other sequencer software, set the Through Output field to “none” to prevent VariOS 303 from sounding notes in duplicate. 6. The Receive Ch field specifies VariOS 303’s MIDI receive channel. VariOS 303 will receive note-on and control change messages on the channel you specify here.
Basic operation Basic operation for VariOS 303 (main unit) Selecting patches Turn the [VALUE] knob to select patches. Playing from a connected keyboard (MIDI Mode) You can connect your MIDI keyboard to the VariOS. In this case, you can change the MIDI routing (PC mode, Internal mode) in the following ways. PC mode When using a USB connection, the MIDI connectors on the rear panel of the VariOS will function as a USB MIDI interface (Roland VariOS External MIDI).
Basic operation Internal mode The MIDI connectors of the rear panel of the VariOS are connected directly to the sound generator section. fig.042-007a Computer Sequencer software VariOS Sound generator section Procedure: 1. Press the [MENU] button so it is lit. 2. Turn the [VALUE] knob to select “Menu1 MIDI Mode,” and press the [VALUE] knob. 3. Turn the [VALUE] knob to switch the setting between “Internal” or “PC.” fig.
Basic operation Basic operation for VariOS 303 Controller Changing Skins You can change the appearance of VariOS 303 by choosing [Skin] from the [Setup] menu. Selecting a patch To select a patch from a list, click the [LIST] button. Editing a value You can edit values by clicking (and dragging) buttons, sliders, or knobs. If you feel that the panel sliders or knobs are too small for you to make detailed adjustments comfortably, try clicking (and holding) a knob and dragging the mouse farther away.
Basic operation Initializing a value You can reset a parameter to its initial value by holding down the Ctrl (control) key of your computer and clicking the slider or knob. Renaming a patch To rename a patch, click the [NAME] button. Writing a patch Click the [WRITE] button to open the Write dialog box. Select the write-destination patch number, and click the OK button. Patches will be saved in the VariOS itself.
Screen reference Main screen 2 1 3 5 4 6 7 Parameter 1 WAVEFORM Value SAW, SQR 2 TUNING CUTOFF FREQ RESONANCE ENV MOD -63–+63 0–127 0–127 0–127 DECAY 0–127 ACCENT 3 NAME LIST 4 SYNC 0–127 — — INT, MIDI TEMPO 5 PATTERN MODE 20–250 1–6 STEP, SLIDER, EFFECT 0–127 — 6 VOLUME READ MASTER TUNE 7 WRITE RUN/STOP Description Switches between the two audio source waveforms. SAW: Sawtooth wave SQR: Square wave Adjusts the pitch in a range of one octave up or down.
Screen reference Step Pattern Input screen 6 1 2 3 4 5 A pattern consists of sixteen steps. In this screen you can input data for each step. Parameter 1 PTN ON/OFF 2 PTN SHIFT 3 C–B, TIE 4 OCTAVE SHIFT DOWN OCTAVE SHIFT UP 5 ACCENT SLIDE MUTE 6 BACK NEXT 12 Description Note-on messages from an external MIDI keyboard can be used to play patterns. Note-off messages will stop the playback. Shifts the key (transposes the pitch) of the phrase you programmed for the pattern.
Screen reference Slider Pattern Input screen 1 2 3 4 A pattern consists of sixteen steps. In this screen you can input all sixteen steps simultaneously. Parameter 1 ACCENT SLIDE 2 NOTE, TIE 3 OCTAVE SHIFT DOWN OCTAVE SHIFT UP 4 MUTE Description Switches the accent (p. 11) on/off. If this is on, the pitch will change smoothly between the preceding note and the current note. These input notes. C–B: Specify the pitch. TIE: Extend the length of the note of the preceding step into the current step.
Screen reference Effect screen Bass Multi provides Comp/Limiter, Overdrive or Distortion, 3-band equalizer, Chorus or Flanger, and Delay effects connected in series. This algorithm is a multi-effects for bass. 1 2 3 4 5 1. COMP Parameter COMP RATIO GAIN THRES ATTACK RELEASE Value OFF, ON 1.5:1, 2:1, 4:1, 100:1 -60– +12 dB -60–0 dB 0–127 0–127 Description Turns the comp/limiter on/off. Sets the “source sound:output sound” compression ratio. Adjusts the output gain.
Screen reference 4. CHORUS Parameter CHORUS MODE RATE MOD LEVEL DEPTH FEEDBACK Value CHO, FLNG 0.05–10.0 Hz 0–127 0–127 -98– +98 % Description Selects whether to use chorus or flanger. Adjusts the speed of modulation for the chorus or flanger. Volume of the chorus or flanger sound. Adjusts the depth of modulation for the chorus or flanger. Adjusts the proportion of the effect sound that is fed back into the effect. Negative (-) settings will invert the phase. 5. DELAY This is a stereo delay.
Cautions when using VariOS 303 with another sequencer Synchronizing the step sequencer to the tempo of your MIDI sequencer If you are using VariOS 303 with your MIDI sequencer, you can set VariOS 303 Controller's [SYNC] switch to MIDI so that the VariOS 303 step sequencer will be synchronized to the tempo of your MIDI sequencer. 1. Set VariOS 303 Controller's [SYNC] switch to MIDI. (Refer to p. 11) 2. Start up your MIDI sequencer. 3.
Starting up VariOS 303 from a PC card The VariOS trial applications "VariOS-8" and "VariOS 303" can be copied to a PC card, so that the programs can be started up from a PC card inserted in the VariOS. This is very convenient, since you can start up a VariOS trial application simply by inserting the PC card into the card slot of the VariOS and turning the power on. (If you have copied more than one trial application onto the PC card, you can use the [VALUE] knob at start-up to switch applications.
Starting up VariOS 303 from a PC card 7. Unmount the PC card drive that is mounted on your computer. • Windows: In the task tray, double-click the eject icon. Then click the item that indicates the PC card drive (this will differ depending on your version of Windows; see below) to unmount the drive. fig.02-taskicon Windows XP, 2000 Windows Me USB high-capacity storage device USB disk • Macintosh: Drag the PC CARD on the desktop into the “Trash”.
MIDI Implementation System Exclusive Message Parameter Address Map ●Data Transmission * This instrument can use exclusive messages to exchange many varieties of internal settings with other devices. The model ID of the exclusive messages used by this instrument is 00H 6DH. ❍Data Request 1RQ1 (11H) This message requests the other device to transmit data. The address and size indicate the type and amount of data that is requested.
MIDI Implementation ❍Patch Effect ❍Patch Pattern +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Offset | | | Address | Description | |-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00 00 | 0aaa aaaa | Delay Send Level (0 - 127) | | 00 01 | 0aaa aaaa | (reserved) (0 - 127) | | 00 02 | 0aaa aaaa | (reserved) (0 - 127) | | 00 03 | 0aaa aaaa | (reserved) (0 - 127) | | 00 04 | 0aaa aaaa | (reserved) (0 - 127) | | 00 05 | 0aaa aaaa | (reser
MIDI Control Change Table VariOS 303 MIDI Control# 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 MIDI Controller Name Bank Select MSB Modulation Breath Type Foot Type Portament Time Data Entry MSB Volume Balance Pan Expression General Purpose Controller 1 MSB General Purpose Controller 2 MSB General Purpose Controller 3 MSB General Purpose Controller 4 MSB Bank Select LSB Modulation
MIDI Control Change Table MIDI Control# MIDI Controller Name Parameter Name 60 61 62 63 64 Hold 1 (Hold) 65 Portamento 66 Sostenuto (Sostenuto) 67 Soft 68 Legato Foot Switch 69 Hold 2 70 Sound Controller1 71 Sound Controller2 72 Sound Controller3 73 Sound Controller4 74 Sound Controller5 75 Sound Controller6 76 Sound Controller7 77 Sound Controller8 78 Sound Controller9 79 Sound Controller10 80 General Purpose Controller 5 81 General Purpose Controller 6 82 General Purpose Controller 7 83 General Purpose C
