Roland VK 8 M

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Specifications

The Roland VK-8M Organ Module puts Roland's acclaimed “Virtual ToneWheel” organ sound in a convenient desktop unit with nine harmonic bars and retro-style wood panels. COSM ® Amplifier and Rotary Speaker Modeling further complement these authentic sounds, while an audio input and Active Expression feature let players fade in an external tone with a pedal. The VK-8M makes adding distinctive organ sounds to any setup easy. 

 Desktop organ module with acclaimed VK-8 “Virtual ToneWheel” sound
 
 9 harmonic bars for a range of authentic organ tones
 
 4 COSM amp types with overdrive, plus rotary speaker modeling and reverb
 
 Line input for blending in an external sound using Active Expression and pedal
 
 D Beam controller with multi-colored LED and templates for easy realtime control
 
 36 User registrations for storing custom sounds
 
 Attractive wooden side panels
 
 Optional bracket for stand mounting
 
 
Enhanced Virtual ToneWheel Modeling
 
What’s a Tone Wheel? Tone wheels are the actual moving parts that define the sound of an organ. The most celebrated traditional vintage organ used a total of 91 tone wheels to create its distinctive sound. And these sounds varied depending on the year the tone wheels were made. Fortunately, Roland’s Virtual ToneWheel Modeling technology can accurately recreate the sound of several tone wheel types.

A Classic Organ Reborn By simulating 91 tone wheel voices in constant independent oscillation, Virtual ToneWheel technology gives the VK-8M realistic organ sounds with full polyphony. Three tone wheel types are available (Vintage 1, Vintage 2 and Clean) with different amounts of leakage. Nine harmonic bars and easy front-panel controls make sound editing ultra-intuitive.

Percussion, Vibrato and Chorus Effects The VK-8M’s stellar organ sounds wouldn’t be complete without those classic percussion, vibrato and chorus effects. Using the front-panel controls, you can add a percussion effect on the second or third interval while choosing to decrease the volume (soft) or lengthen the decay (slow). You can also add smooth vibrato and chorus to suit your taste.
 
Realistic Rotary Speaker and Amp Sounds
 
A classic organ deserves a classic rotary speaker. That’s why the VK-8M is graced with a COSM rotary model than not only simulates the sound of a well-known rotary speaker, but also the construction of its tube amp circuits, actual speaker cabinet characteristics and natural ambience.

And with four types of COSM amp models, the VK-8M can crank out a range of overdriven amp sounds perfect for rock and jazz players alike. COSM Amp Type IV stands out in particular for its incredible gain stage and powerful distorted sound.
 
New Active Expression for Dynamic Performances
 
With its 1/4-inch Line input, any external sound can be fed into the VK-8M and blended in with the organ sound. Simply connect your favorite synth or sound module and use Active Expression to gradually fade in the external sound using an optional expression pedal.

Use it to slowly bring in a pad sound or brass—adding fullness and texture to the sound—or to bring out a particular section of a song. With Active Expression, you can add more depth to your sound while keeping your hands on the keyboard.

Sound Generator   Virtual ToneWheel Method
 
  Part  3 Parts (Upper, Lower, Pedal)
 
  Maximum Polyphony   Full Polyphony
Organ
  Tone wheel   VINTAGE 1, VINTAGE 2, CLEAN
Leakage Level
 
  Vibrato and Chorus   V1, V2, V3, C1, C2, C3
 
  Percussion  SECOND, THIRD, SOFT, SLOW
 
  AMP Simulator   TYPE I, TYPE II, TYPE III, TYPE IV
Overdrive
Tone
 
  Reverb  ROOM, HALL, CHURCH, SPRING
Reverb Level
 
  D BEAM   CRESCENDO, ROTARY SPEED, RING MODULATOR, TONE WHEEL BRAKE, SPRING SHOCK, GLISSANDO
 
  Internal Memory   Registration memory: 36 (User Memory)
 
  Connectors  OUTPUT Jacks (L/MONO, R): 1/4 inch phone type,
INPUT Jacks (L/MONO, R): 1/4 inch phone type,
PHONES Jack: Stereo miniauture phone type,
EXPRESSION PEDAL Jack,
MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT),
AC ADAPOR Jack (DC 9V)
 
  Power Supply   AC Adaptor (PSB-1U)
 
  Current Draw   700 mA
 
  Finish   Side Panel: Natural Wood Walnut Finish
 
  Accessories  Owner's Manual, Edit Mode Quick Reference, AC adaptor, AC Cord
 
  Options  Pedal: PK-25(25-Key Pedalboard)/PK-7(20-Key Pedalboard)/PK-5A(Dynamic MIDI Pedal), Expression Pedal: EV-7, Damper Pedal: DP-8/DP-2, KC-Series Amplifier: KC-1000/KC-550/KC-350/KC-150/KC-60, Others: BKT-8(Bracket Kit), PDS-15(Pad Stand)
 
Size and Weight 
  Width  233 mm 9-3/16 inches
 
  Depth  275 mm 10-7/8 inches
 
  Height  77 mm 3-1/16 inches
 
  Weight  1.7 kg 3 lbs. 12 oz.

Outstanding Performance Controls
 
The VK-8M incorporates an improved D Beam controller with an LED that changes color as you move your hand closer or further away. Use the light-sensing D Beam to create effects like tone wheel motor stops or to even control rotary speed.

Saving your favorite settings is now more convenient than ever,thanks to six Registration buttons. When used in conjunction with Bank Select, up to 36 user registrations can be instantly recalled during performance.

The VK-8M can be controlled from any MIDI keyboard, making it easy to add Roland’s Virtual ToneWheel sounds to any player’s rig. The space-saving tabletop design is also great for sequencing setups.