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Description

Unleash your creativity with the Roland VariOS, a versatile and innovative synthesizer that puts a world of sonic exploration at your fingertips. This open-ended sound module is designed for musicians who crave flexibility and customization. The Roland VariOS allows you to manipulate and expand your sound library with ease, offering real-time control over pitch, tempo, and more. Its powerful engine not only supports a wide range of samples but also enables you to load up to 330MB of user samples, ensuring you have the right sound for any musical project.

The VariOS stands out with its ability to emulate legendary Roland synths such as the Jupiter-8, TR-808, and the TR-909, bringing classic sounds into the modern digital age. Whether you are in the studio or on stage, this unit seamlessly integrates with your setup through MIDI and USB connections, ensuring smooth operation and compatibility with your existing gear. The intuitive interface and high-quality LCD display make navigation and sound editing straightforward, even for those new to synthesis.

With its robust features, the Roland VariOS is perfect for producers, composers, and live performers who demand both authenticity and adaptability in their music production tools. Dive into the depths of sound design and discover new possibilities with this dynamic synthesizer.

Key Features:

  • Open-ended sound module with user-expandable capabilities
  • Real-time pitch, time-stretch, and formant control
  • Emulations of classic Roland synths like Jupiter-8, TR-808, and TR-909
  • Supports up to 330MB of user samples
  • MIDI and USB connectivity for seamless integration
  • High-quality LCD display for easy navigation and editing
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magermunson

Roland VariOS System Module - Features

Video thumbnail for Roland VariOS System Module - Features by magermunson

Roland VariOS System Module - Features

magermunson

magermunson

Video thumbnail for Roland VariOS System Module - Introduction by magermunson

Roland VariOS System Module - Introduction

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magermunson

Video thumbnail for ROLAND VariOS INSIDE by ALEXALBA by ALEXALBA

ROLAND VariOS INSIDE by ALEXALBA

ALEXALBA

ALEXALBA

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland VariOS.

Features and functionality

  • The Roland V-Synth XT's VocalDesigner module allows real-time Variphrase vocoding with presets like RAW VOCODER for live performance.

    Source
  • The Roland VariOS offers unique Variphrase processing, which isn't fully replicated by modern software like Melodyne, despite advancements in audio manipulation technology.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The VT-4, based on VP-330 technology, offers up to 4-note polyphony but differs from the VP-9000's Robot mode.

    Source
  • Modern tools like Celemony Melodyne and Zypantiq Pitchmap provide more advanced capabilities than Variphrase, such as real-time re-tuning and detailed audio separation.

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Software and compatibility

  • Using the VariOS may require dealing with outdated technology, including SCSI cables and Zip drives, which could be cumbersome compared to contemporary digital solutions.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Variphrase units are available on the secondhand market for approximately $250, but the required additional hardware may not justify the cost for some users.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
bobjack

Good!

Nice sampler! Great thing in it - its a layering sampling - you may polyphonically play your own samples

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Amon Tobin uses Roland VariOS

Amon Tobin

Composer, Music Producer

Two Fingers

...
Verified via Emusician

“More than a sampler, the Roland is a real-time time-stretching, pitch-shifting machine,” he explains. “It lets you do something that Kontakt does: You can replay the notes of a sampled instrument in real time, and it will keep the quality of the sound and the time intact, but you can change the melody. It is not the system that most time stretching uses, which is to separate the samples to space them out farther from each other so you don't get that frr-frr-frr sound when things get stretched. Roland VariOS really stretches the sound so you don't get the breakup. I use the Roland for time stretching and pitch shifting and Kontakt for laying out sounds.”

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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