Roland Introduces the V-Mixing System
January 28, 1999Roland Corporation is proud to introduce the
V-Mixing System, the world's first affordable separate-component digital mixers,
featuring breakthrough design and innovative new effects in the tradition of
Roland's acclaimed V-Studio workstations. Comprised of theVM-7200/7100 V-Mixing
Processors and VM-C7200/C7100 V-Mixing Consoles, the V-Mixing System gives users
many configuration options between console and processor, yielding up to 94
channels of digital mixing and eight stereo effects processors when fully expanded.
The
first thing users will notice about the V-Mixing System is that it's a separate-component
system, employing an all-digital console with quiet motorized faders and an
expandable 3U rackmount processor which contains all inputs, outputs and effects.
The benefit of this separate-component design is the elimination of long, heavy
multi-channel audio cables between the stage or studio and the mixing console.
Instead of audio, the V-Mixing System primarily exchanges digital control data
between console and processor, enabling placement of the console up to 220 yards
(200 meters) from the processor, as well as MIDI control of the processor via
Mac/PC sequencer.
The V-Mixing Processors come with two stereo multi-effects processors, and
can be expanded with three additional VS8F-2 Effects Expansion Boards for up
to eight stereo or 16 mono channels of automated effects processing. In addition
to very high-quality dynamics processing, studio reverb, delay, chorus, multi-effects,
and more, these VS-1680-quality effects also include COSM Mic Simulations and
a new Speaker Modeling algorithm-which allows audio output to sound as if it's
playing back through a variety of popular nearfield studio monitors, as well
as television/radio speakers and sound reinforcement cabinet simulations. The
COSM speaker models are truly stunning, especially when paired with Roland's
new DS-90 24-bit digital reference monitors for studio applications or Roland
SST sound reinforcement speakers for live sound.
In addition to its amazing effects power, the V-Mixing System offers Roland's
best 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, extensive Scene memory including electronically
controlled input gain, onboard mix automation with quiet motorized faders, 24
fader groups, dual-channel delays, 4-band parametric EQ + channel HPF, and Surround
5.1 mixing capabilities. The V-Mixing System also offers a Realtime Spectrum
Analyzer which can be used with an onboard noise generator and oscillator to
adjust for the acoustics of any given studio or live sound venue.
Central to the V-Mixing System is its flexibility in component configuration.
A 25-fader VM-C7200 or 13-fader VM-C7100 console can be used to control either
one or two VM-7200 or VM-7100 processors, and a processor can be controlled
via one or two consoles. Up to 94 channels of mixing are possible using two
expanded VM-7200 processors and a VM-C7200 console.
Internal
flexibility is provided via liberating "FlexBus," and "virtual
patchbay" functions. FlexBus allows for 12 individual busses to be freely
switched between auxiliary and recording functions. The input/output routing
is much like a "virtual patchbay," allowing users to define a destination
channel for each input, while each of eight Assignable Output jacks or 24 optional
Multi-Outputs can pull from any source channel, from any bus, or directly from
an individual channel-bypassing the bus routing altogether. With the Multi-Outputs,
input channels can be connected directly to a multitrack recorder from any point
in the signal path, enabling 24-channel direct simultaneous recording. Together
with the optional Cascade Kit and I/O Expansions, a maximum of 48 channels of
multitrack recording plus 46 additional channels of simultaneous mixing is possible.
Helpful mixer "extras" include transport buttons and locate/channel
buttons for controlling external multitrack recorders, 999 Scenes and Locators,
nine mute groups and 24 fader groupings, an Output/All Mute button for silent
connection of audio cables, SmartMedia storage capability, and a built-in Sampling
Rate Converter for conversion within the 32-48kHz range and compatibility with
asynchronous digital audio. Onboard "EZ Routing" even allows users
to quickly store and recall comprehensive mixer templates complete with instrument
names on each channel.
V-Mixing System options include VS8F-2 Effects Expansion Boards, which provide
two stereo effects processors each for a maximum of eight stereo/sixteen mono
effects; the VM-24E I/O Expansion Board, which offers three RMDB II jacks on
a single board-each jack providing 8-in/8-out 24-bit digital audio I/O for a
total of 24-in/24-out audio with a single expansion board; the 1/3U rackmount
DIF-AT Interface Box for ADAT/Tascam, which converts signals between RMDB II
and ADAT/Tascam T-DIF and handles 8-in/8-out digital audio; and the VM-24C Cascade
Kit, which allows for connecting two VM-Series processor units in line without
sacrificing an MTR bus.
Together with the acclaimed Roland V-Studio workstations and the new DS-90
24-bit digital reference monitors, the new V-Mixing System completes the professional
and affordable all-digital recording environment which Roland has been pioneering
over the past several years. For more information, visit Roland on the web at www.rolandus.com. |
