madoues
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Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
OK, I've bought one and have been using it a bit.
I haven't even hooked it up to a computer yet so can't comment on that.
It will be used mostly as a mixer for playing with a sound system.
Generally all seems to work fine. It is very intuitive, most controls are easy to find even with the limited number of buttons.
Like others have said it is built like a tank, it looks and feels like quality gear, which is what I have come to expect from Roland.
I found it odd that the compressor and EQ for each channel were directly available, but the reverb sends are in the main mixer menu!? OK, I can get used to that even though I find it a bit awkward.
But the digital input, OMG!! I wanted to use the digital input for a Roland VG-99 guitar processor.
Looks like the whole unit locks up to this digital source, but it looses the signal, often.
Change the patch on the VG, the guitar cuts out for a bit, sometimes a long bit, anywhere from approx. 1-8 seconds.
Turning the volume down on my guitar will cut it out, or even just putting my hand on the strings to deaden them can cause this.
Its not every time, but very often.
Please tell me I'm wrong, but it looks like this unit uses analog presence detection at its digital input to determine the source of digital sync. And it is not good at all, way to short a time period to be of any use. There is no way I can use this digital input for the VG, so I just lost two inputs if I can't find a fix for this.
The worst part, is that when this happens, not only the guitar will cut out, the whole mixer cuts out since it locks/unlocks to this source.
I tried three different cables, 75 ohms. My VG works great with a Roland M-1000 SPDIF mixer that I have. The LED that detects SPDIF signal presence is steady on the M-1000, no blinking or anything, so I doubt the problem is with the VG unit.
Is anyone having this issue with the digital input, with another piece of gear that has digital output?
Needless to say, I will be contacting technical support for this, but wanted to issue a heads up for anyone wanting to use the digital input.
And if anyone has an idea for something to try, please let me know.
Dan
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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Brandon Ryan [Roland]
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/08/27 15:07:00
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madoues
OK, I've bought one and have been using it a bit.
I haven't even hooked it up to a computer yet so can't comment on that.
It will be used mostly as a mixer for playing with a sound system.
Generally all seems to work fine. It is very intuitive, most controls are easy to find even with the limited number of buttons.
Like others have said it is built like a tank, it looks and feels like quality gear, which is what I have come to expect from Roland.
I found it odd that the compressor and EQ for each channel were directly available, but the reverb sends are in the main mixer menu!? OK, I can get used to that even though I find it a bit awkward.
But the digital input, OMG!! I wanted to use the digital input for a Roland VG-99 guitar processor.
Looks like the whole unit locks up to this digital source, but it looses the signal, often.
Change the patch on the VG, the guitar cuts out for a bit, sometimes a long bit, anywhere from approx. 1-8 seconds.
Turning the volume down on my guitar will cut it out, or even just putting my hand on the strings to deaden them can cause this.
Its not every time, but very often.
Please tell me I'm wrong, but it looks like this unit uses analog presence detection at its digital input to determine the source of digital sync. And it is not good at all, way to short a time period to be of any use. There is no way I can use this digital input for the VG, so I just lost two inputs if I can't find a fix for this.
The worst part, is that when this happens, not only the guitar will cut out, the whole mixer cuts out since it locks/unlocks to this source.
I tried three different cables, 75 ohms. My VG works great with a Roland M-1000 SPDIF mixer that I have. The LED that detects SPDIF signal presence is steady on the M-1000, no blinking or anything, so I doubt the problem is with the VG unit.
Is anyone having this issue with the digital input, with another piece of gear that has digital output?
Needless to say, I will be contacting technical support for this, but wanted to issue a heads up for anyone wanting to use the digital input.
And if anyone has an idea for something to try, please let me know.
Dan
Hi Dan, Sorry to hear you are having trouble with Dig I/O. Please let us know what the result from Tech Support is.
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/08/27 15:35:20
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Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk]
Hi Dan,
Sorry to hear you are having trouble with Dig I/O. Please let us know what the result from Tech Support is.
Thanks for your reply, Brandon. I sent them an e-mail and will post here with the results. Dan
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/08/28 12:34:38
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Well, I have received a reply from tech support. They sent me a firmware update, version 1.19.
This is great news, because it confirms to me that this unit is software upgradeable, which I suspected, but now it is confirmed.
I may not be able to try this until later in the weekend, but I'll post results on Monday, at the latest.
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/08/30 16:42:51
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Did the firmware update which went fine.
The unit does in fact lock up much quicker than it used to with firmware 1.17,
like 1-2 seconds instead of the 2-8 seconds it used to take.
However, the problem of all audio cutting out when I change patches on the VG-99 is still there, also when the volume on the guitar is reduced to 0. So it is still not a useable scenario.
It would be nice if someone that has a VS100 and also a keyboard that has a digital out, to just connect the keyboard to the VS100 digital in and see if patch changes cause these dropouts or unlocking of the digital signal. That would eliminate the VG-99 once and for all. Anyone willing to try this?
Dan
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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Muziekschuur at home
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/09 10:06:07
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Interesting scenario. When you think of it, it makes sense. But I would never thought of using it the way you do. Please keep us posted...
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Jeff Evans
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/10 10:26:57
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Sounds like the Guitar synth sending its signal digitally to the V100 is not the way to go. A better option would be to send the analog signal from the VG99 into the V100. (I doubt you are going to hear any major difference) There may have to be some sort of update on the VG99 (not sure if that is possible) in order to change what the digital signal is doing.
By the way I think the VG99 is a totally amazing bit of kit as they say. That is one amazing processor!
Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
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Muziekschuur at home
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/11 02:46:22
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Why should he be doing something wrong? If he sets the output of his VG99 to digital then in the VS100 it should be an incoming signal.
Ah well. I hope he finds the culprit. I do hope to be able to use a VG99 sometimes.
Cakewalk Sonar Platinum Windows 7 32bit & 64bit (dualboot) Gigabyte mobo Intel dual quad 9650 & 4GB Ram RME DIGI9636 & Tascam DM24. M-audio Rbus & SI-24 Alesis Pro active 5.1 & Radford 90 transmissionline monitors. Roland RD-150 piano Edirol UM-880 & alesis fireport. Remote recording Alesis HD-24 & Phonic MRS 1-20. P.A. D&R Dayner 29-8-2 & behringer MX8000 (& racks) Rackpc Sonar Platinum with win10 AMD X6 1055T, 16GB Ram Dell inspiron 17R 6gb ram W10 two SSD's Sonar Plat.
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/13 05:53:33
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As we have come to expect, Cakewalk are following through with their support.
It took tech support a little while to find a VG-99 to test with, but they have confirmed the problem with another VG-99. To me, this is good news, because it confirms that my gear is not defective. Hopefully they can find a fix for this through a firmware update.
In the meantime however, I have found a workaround. My Roland M-1000 digital mixer works ok with the VG-99. If I send the VG digital signal to the M-1000, and the M-1000 output to the VS-100, it works fine. And all the analog inputs are available for other gear. This is fine for now, however, this input is not what it should be. And I would not have bought the VS-100 if it didn't have an spdif input; this saves unnecessary DA & AD conversions, especially for recording.
Eight inputs fills up quickly, but it is possible to put a whole band through this mixer(well almost). When our band plays, there is usually a PA system c/w tech available. But if there were not, I could bring my own PA speakers and use the VS-100 as mixer. Two mics, one for the singer and one for sax, one stereo electric piano, one stereo digital drum, and digital in for VG-99(guitar). The bass player has his own amp. Good for a small venue, not just for practices.
Yes, the VG-99 is quite a beast, sometimes overwhelming. It is not a plug it and forget it type of gear, You must sit down and fiddle with it to get the sound you want. Without the VG, if you have three or four pedals, it is not hard to get the sound you want, you have basically chosen the sound(s) when you bought the pedals. But with the VG, all the pedals are there at your finger tips. If you are just searching for nice sounds, you can fiddle all day with it and never decide which sound is best suited for a certain song. But if you know in your head exactly what you want, it is fairly easy to use, once you have learned the programming functions. This has been my experience so far, but I still need to sit down with it at some point and really nail down a half dozen key sounds that I could use most of the time.
Dan
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/13 06:31:43
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Jeff,
You are right, guess I should have also checked for an update to the VG-99 firmware before.
But I just checked, and my unit does have the most recent firmware.
It is not impossible that the problem is in the design of the VG-99 digital output and not the VS-100 input.
But my best guess at this point is that the VS-100 is at fault, especially since CW have confirmed it already had a problem with digital sync with firmware version 1.17. My situation may show another facet of the same problem. The new version 1.19 is a definite improvement, but it is not quite fully fixed, I believe.
Dan
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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Jeff Evans
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/13 08:39:30
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The Roland M -1000 would be regenerating a stable clock that the V 100 is obviously happy locking onto. I assume you have to sync to the incoming clock from the VG99. I am sure they will improve that in a future update for the V 100 if as you say the problem is in there. That M1000 looks like a nice piece of gear and being only a single rack would make it handy. I have got a Yamaha 01V and that would be a nice mixer to use live as well. Having a digital mixer in the studio is cool too. Its great that you can keep your guitar sound all digital from the VG to the PA. I was watching Frank Gambale demonstrating the VG99 on You Tube yesterday. I know Frank personally as I came from the same city in Australia. He is into this alternate tuning thing too. (top two strings down an octave, bottom four up a fourth!) He was using a double neck guitar but I could imagine how pleased he is being able to get that from the VG whenever he wants. You can construct keyboard voicings on guitar but you have got to relearn the instrument! Frank is switching back and forth between that and normal! Is there a Frank Gambale preset? I was amazed at the acoustic guitar sound that came out from a strat with the pickup. The Bass model has got a cool acoustic bass sound that results after modelling from a normal electric bass. I am sure its midi out or USB connection would be great for triggering synth patches as well. You have got quite a job ahead of you programming that machine. I am not a guitarist but I have been quite taken by that thing. With something like that you could create huge changes in guitar sounds and effects for each song or several changes per song.
post edited by Jeff Evans - 2009/09/13 08:43:12
Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
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Crg
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/13 23:54:05
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madoues
Jeff,
You are right, guess I should have also checked for an update to the VG-99 firmware before.
But I just checked, and my unit does have the most recent firmware.
It is not impossible that the problem is in the design of the VG-99 digital output and not the VS-100 input.
But my best guess at this point is that the VS-100 is at fault, especially since CW have confirmed it already had a problem with digital sync with firmware version 1.17. My situation may show another facet of the same problem. The new version 1.19 is a definite improvement, but it is not quite fully fixed, I believe.
Dan
I'm not familiar with either unit but are there clocking settings on each unit? A BNC connector? Make one master, one slave? It's definitely a communication problem on a firmware level, but I don't see how SPDIF would give a damn what the VG is doing as far as patch changes since they're internal to the VG. Are you running Midi to the V 100?
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/16 12:17:24
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I'm not familiar with either unit but are there clocking settings on each unit? A BNC connector? Make one master, one slave? It's definitely a communication problem on a firmware level, but I don't see how SPDIF would give a damn what the VG is doing as far as patch changes since they're internal to the VG. Are you running Midi to the V 100?
Craig, The VS100 options for digital input are "OFF" or "AUTO". I was expecting a "MANUAL" option so it would stop looking for digital in and just expect it to be there, but there is not this manual option. No options in the VG-99 either. No other connector for sync on either unit. That 's what I found odd also, that patch changes would do this, but also turning the volume down fully or just deadening the strings will also do this, never when the guitar is being played. This really baffled me and is why I wrote that it looked like the VS100 looks for audio presence to detect digital sync. Maybe that's not what is happening, but that was my conclusion. Dan
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madoues
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Re:Nice unit in general, but I have a MAJOR problem using the digital input
2009/09/16 13:03:23
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Jeff,
I am using the M-1000 just for patching at the moment. There are no other controls other than volume, but since it mixes the digital inputs, I guess it's fair to call it a mixer. But that is really all it does as far as being a mixer, no busses other than the main one, no effects, compression, etc. However, it has sample rate conversion on each digital input which means the inputs don't have to be in sync or match the format of the destination gear. And the USB interface is a nice feature.
If I had a 01V, I am not sure that I would have bought the VS-100(or even the M-1000), since it will be used mostly for live mixing, but one of the nice things about the VS is it's small footprint for what it does. It is unobtrusive enough that you can have it right beside you on a small stand, or even attached to your mic stand.
Yes, the VG-99 alternate tunings are really great. Easy to use and even overuse if not careful; the song has to always come first, the tuning(and playing) must contribute to it and not just be an excuse to try something new. I have fallen in that trap on one occasion, but luckily, after seeing the expressions on band members' faces, I have gone back to standard tuning for that song.
I'll go see the video you are talking about, I never heard of this alternate tuning you mentionned, but it is very intriguing.
Dan
Sonar 2016, i7 4770K, Asus Z87-A, Win7, Tascam DM-4800, MOTU 828MKIII, Tranzport, Peavey VMP-2, Focusrite ISA-828, Benchmark MPS-400, JBL LSR4328Ps, Mics(U87s, 414s, C460s, ....)
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