The response to the V700R was varied from the get go. Many didn't want the built in Fantom synth, which I thought was great and still do. It's actually a slimed down Fantom G Synth. I run two 61 key Midi controller keyboards and a percussion pad through mine and it's perfect for songwriting and composition. The In/Out section is great for a small studio. I have 16 channels running with the addition of a Motu 2408 Mk III via ADAT. Some wanted 32 channels, some wanted this , some wanted that, the ****s were endless. I even wanted to see some capabilities it didn't have but that's all it is. Redesign it for me. I, I, me, me, mine.
  Marketing is the executioner here, I would have to say. Companys that make these type of devices spend big bucks on design and if it doesn't take the market with big numbers the bean counters step in. It's a market niche device and they should keep it the lineup because of it's design and capabilities no matter what they come up with next. Look at the Reac system. I would be sad to see the VS700 system go down but many times development and advancement requires new hardware. We all know about that $$$

Yep definitely right. All this is about money.

I'm one of those that wanted a somewhat "costum" device and for some reasons I still do not understand why they forgot some very useful or common options.  

One adat I/O port so no hope to work in 96khz cause channel count drop to 4 I/O, so you have to buy another 2000$ VS-700r to get full s/mux 8 channels, cause about every 8 channels adat preamp do 96khz over 2 adat cable. Focusrite, Presonus, Audient, etc. That's a very STEAP investment to avoid subtle higher end distortion... Strange they haven't tought of it.

The Fantom is bit bridged in 64 bits... So no ACT possible and it is supposed to be "seamlessly integrated" with a software that prone 64bits supremacy since version 5.... Strange they haven't tought of it either.

This is hard to select a preset in the Fantom in a hurry, when the guy is standing next to you and want to hear 4-5-6 or 12 differents EP sound and say "this one... ehh no back to this one.... how was this one sounding already?". 2-3 mouse clicks to get there and again and again is not handy... at all. They haven't seen this one too, or should I say use?

What about integrating an expansion system that was discountinued less than 2 years after launch? Only 3 ARX cards availible and the brass one is no where to be found anymore... A little lack of vision maybe?

Should we talk about releasing the first MAJOR Sonar overhaul in more than 10 years two years after the launch of the VS-700 or we should talk about the evidence that the design of this new version was done with absolutely no consideration for the VS-700?

The direct mixing thing is something that I won't get back to.... but WHY IN HELL they haven't tought of it? The Octa-Capture can do it! It is an obvious "sorry we forgot..." message! What kind of marketing research is this? Who said "No thanks, I don't use more than 2 headphones in my studio" or "If they're not happy with the same mix or don't like latency they can go somewhere else I don't care"? Come on....

Why do I take the right to highlight those evidences? Because everything is a question of money these days (and probably since the dawn of mankind) and they got MINE and let me say that I'm not the son of a doctor or a president and every single cent was painfully earned and deserved. So yes I, I, I, deserve the right to know if those things can be fixed because me, me, me won't be able to buy something else even if I sell a soon to be discountinued product of Mine.

They did a redesign with the Octa-Capture and that was a part of the answer. They made the console stand-alone because people asked for it.  The VS-700 didn't worked well for some reasons and it's our job, the customers, to point 'em out and better yet, suggest solutions that make sense from what we experiment. A lot of companies are proud to advertise that their new features are an answer to users feedback or request, the question is : is Roland' such a company? Maybe.... not..... or....

For shure, if nothing is said and everybody don't seem to care nothing will be improved... and will disapear in silence. It's not what I wish.

What's This? "I don't use more than 2 headphones in my studio" or "If they're not happy with the same mix or don't like latency they can go somewhere else " You get latency when listening to the mixes thru the headphones?

Not a noticable one with a low track count but it start to build up when sending 4-5 stereo mix when tracking 8+ channels and playing back 20+ tracks with some effects, with my cpu which is not an i7. That's the nature of routing channels in real time throught the computer.

There's no latency when using the direct mixer but gives only one mix with no reverb and the dsp compressor is recorded in Sonar.  The Octa-Capture take care of (half) this but obviously you have to buy it! 

Anyway the point is not to give a rant at the VS or whoever it is just to show the importance of telling what's wrong when we find it.  Obviously no gear is perfect but some tend to be (think the RME UFX).  I think Roland is almost there and wonder if they gave up the entry high-end recording world. 

Sorry for the dramatisation in my previous post but every aspects discussed above are things I should have known before buying. The VS still a great system though and is becoming one of the best value in the market since prices have dropped and some used ones pop on ebay. 2500$ for the set used? Nothing on earth beat that.

If the points discussed over here are things that won't affect your workflow, the VS-700 might be your ultimate machine. Roland are right on one point, it really sound p-r-i-s-t-i-n-e.

I saw a Vs-700 studio on eBay for $2800. Console and Rack. Great deal.
I guess now is the time to buy if ya need one.

I wish they wouldcome out with a card that would go in the arx slot to give us multiple monitor mixing capability...

stratrat1


I wish they wouldcome out with a card that would go in the arx slot to give us multiple monitor mixing capability...

That would certainly be cool. However, you can add on an Octa-Capture to the VS-700r and that will give you four more monitor mixes since the Octa-Capture has four built in.


SP

I just bought the V-Studio 700 (I love it-warts and all) from Musicians Friend in March. No problems except that the wait was about 3 weeks. It figures though that Roland would discontinue it. I owned the Vm-7200 console and processor along with 3 of the VS880 recorders. Great units - BUT - DISCONTINUED!!!
The V-Studio is going to have the problems it has from now until I sell it and soon there will be no support unless Cakewalk continues to write S/W to use it. Fortunately for me, it doesn't matter as this is the last console I buy and I will work around the stupid parts and the annoying parts and I will probably buy the Octa-Capture just so I have another few tracks.
It's seems typical to me that NO ONE appreciates their customers enough to make a quality platform with controller and support that will stand the test of TIME in measurments of Decades instead of seasonal trade shows.

Don't need an octa capture ...I already have 2 700r's

I've been considering selling my VS-700R as I'm using the Octa-Capture (love the Auto-Sen feature)a nd have never use the Fantom VS much.  I'll be keeping the VS-700C and software.  Any idea what price would be reasonable to sell it for?

Cheers,

jayson