Simple Operation; Connectivity; Major Options - Roland VS-1680 User Manual

Preparations

Simple Operation

The VS-1680 can be operated as easily as a conventional
multitrack recorder. You will be able to enjoy all of the
advantages of a home studio from the day of purchase.
The VS-1680 uses the well-known graphics ("icons") made
famous by Roland's VG-8 and V-Drums. The large, full-dot
graphic display is backlit and inclined, so it is easy to read
when used on stage, or wherever high visibility is required.

Connectivity

A wide variety of connectors and jacks are provided,
including two balanced XLR connectors. The VS-1680
features a wide input sensitivity range—from mic level (-50
dBu) to line level (+4 dBu)—and phantom power, allowing
you to plug in condenser mics that require external power.
There are six sets of balanced input jacks, handling a wide
input sensitivity range, from line level (+4 dBu) to mic level
(-50 dBu). Furthermore, you can choose either the high-input
(GUITAR (Hi-Z)) jack for directly plugging in an electric
guitar, or the INPUT 8 jack.
Besides the RCA phono type (stereo) MASTER jacks, (stereo)
AUX A and AUX B jacks, and (stereo) MONITOR jacks are
also provided. You can monitor an effect send and other
outputs without affecting the MASTER OUT signal.
The VS-1680 provides both coaxial and optical digital I/O
connectors. With these, you can digitally connect the VS-1680
to popular consumer electronic devices such as CD players,
DAT recorders, MD recorders, and so on.
A SCSI connector (DB-25 type) is also provided, allowing
you to connect the VS-1680 to external SCSI devices such as a
Zip drive or CD-R drive.
MIDI IN and MIDI OUT/THRU connectors are also
provided. You can synchronize the VS-1680 with an external
MIDI sequencer, use the MIDI sequencer to control the VS-
1680's mixer, sound an external MIDI sound generator with
the metronome, and more.
Besides tracks for recording audio signals, the VS-1680 has a
sync track for storing MIDI clock messages. You can even
synchronize MIDI sequencers that are not compatible with
MTC (MIDI Time Code) or MMC (MIDI Machine Control).
18

Major Options

Internal 2.5" IDE Hard Disk:
If your VS-1680 does not already have an internal hard disk,
we recommend that you install one. An internal hard disk
makes your entire VS-1680 studio more compact and easier
to transport, and eliminates connection problems that can
occur with an external disk drive. It is also required for
creating audio CDs directly from the VS-1680.
* In order to take full advantage of the VS-1680's potential—the
number of tracks that can be recorded/played simultaneously
and recording capacity—we recommend that you use a hard
disk that is 2.1 GB in size or greater.
CD-R Drive (approved by Roland):
A CD-R or CD-RW drive connected with a SCSI connector.
Such a device allows you to create songs on the VS-1680 and
burn them onto your own original audio CDs. Additionally,
you can use a CD-R for backing up song data to inexpensive
CD-R discs.
VS8F-2:
An effect expansion board that can be installed in the VS-
1680. You can install two of these boards, each of which
supplies two stereo effects, for a total of four stereo effects or
eight mono effects.
* The VS8F-1 effect expansion board is for use with the VS-880.
It cannot be used in the VS-1680.