vArranger Forums

May I have this last version too, Dan?

Thanks :-)

[OK]

I send chords from my guitar to any arranger like Varranger2 without any problem (in this case, using Dan's advises about threshold).
My MIDI interface is a Roland GR-55.
You can see some videos of it on my site: carlospessoamusico.com
In the videos I am using a Korg PA-700 but I use varranger exactly the same way! When I want to solo, in the Korg I fire a pre-recorded chord sequence, in Varranger I use vRIFF.
I do not feel the need of anything else for chording and this is how I play life with about 200 songs where I play chords totally relaxed as any keyboardist :-) I am doing this for years now and I would like more guitarists know this is possible.

I'm using version 1.18.00 and would also like to try that smother version.

Carlos Pessoa says present! :-)
But I'm afraid we are the only two :-) And we already are aware of each other :-)

It seams there is now a version more recent than mine. Can I have it Dan? Thanks.

I want to apologise antoniozappino and other members who made an offer but I have changed my mind and will keep my vArranger licence.
SO, IT IS NOT FOR SALE ANY MORE.

Wich, in fact, makes me happy because I really wanted to keep using it and being part of vArranger users community.

This last months I have been testing all possibilities trying to find the best and, at the same time, the simplest setup solution for me. At some point I've decided that I would only use my Roland BK-5 as arranger and no computer at all. I was fed up with USB and driver issues and not satisfied using SoundFonts.
But then, this solution is too limited. No chord loops (as a guitarist that is a killer feature for me), less styles, far from the versatility and easy of use and tweak of vArranger,...

So, after, many weeks testing, comparing and making choices, I have decided to go like this:
I will keep my Roland BK-5 as a backup for now and can even use some styles on it if I want to but my main setup from now on will be:
vArranger with ketron SD2 sound module.
I finally have concluded that this choice is the one that gives me the best sound and the most flexible and simple to operate arranger that I know of.

Next months, I hope to be able to share some videos showing how I use vArranger and why it is the best solution for me.

New option:

vArranger Licence + SD2 vArranger SoundFont.
Value: 350€+100€=450€
Price asked: 250€ paid to me + 50€ for licence transfer paid to Dan. (you save 150€!).

Thanks (obrigado) peixotolopes :-)
Um abraço.

I am very interested in answers to this question too! Anyone?

I have a Ketron SD2, a Roland BK-7m and a Roland BK-5.
SD2 have a more "natural" sound but less quality, BK-7m and BK-5 have "more sophisticated" sounds but, as any other current Roland hardware, at least from E and BK lines, they sound strangely harsh which makes them too much aggressive most of the time. Bk-5 is harsher than BK-7m.

Thank you Dan.

And as you see, once you get a vArranger licence, you get a great software arranger and a five star support from Dan :-)

Having decided to eliminate the computer from my setup and reduce this to a minimum as I am not playing that much anymore, I am putting my Varranger licence and some soundfonts for sale.

The "package" includes:

vArranger2 Licence: 350€ value.
vArranger2 SD soundfont (plays Ketron styles with the percussion track): 100€ value.
JazMan Genesys Pro8 GM/GS 24Bit SoundFont: 90€ value.
JaZMan SF88 GM/GS SoundFont: 80€ value.
Jazman GM 24Bit: 50€ value.
These are the best GM SoundFonts I ever tried.

TOTAL VALUE: 670€
VALUE ASKED: 350€ +50€(vArranger transfer fee paid directly to Dan). *


* The Varranger licence transfer have a cost of 50€ that the buyer must pay to Dan. I think the SD soundfont doesn't need any transfer but we may confirm that with Dan.


I accept PayPal transfer.
SALE CANCELLED! Read my fourth post below.

Roland UM-2G.
PrintScreen atatched.

Later, I will give examples.

Pekilik, please stop messing up my thread! I want to keep it simple and focused on the subject I started it for. You can start your own threads instead of diverting this one.

Dan, sorry the delay. I was convinced that I would be automatically notified of replies but was not.

I am using the SD2 connected through a Roland UM2 MIDI interface. The interface is in advanced mode. My Windows is version 10.

I am being trying several Sf2 and modules with vA2. I notice that, many times, when starting a new style, sounds are completely messed up and I need to reset MIDI to get them right.
I am now using the Ketron SD2 and I notice that often. Specially when switching between styles from different formats like from a yamaha style to a roland style, for example.
Is there any solution for this? Dan?

Quote from: Dan on February 16, 2016, 08:54:32 PM
Yes, the fill in moment is something that I need to improve

HI Dan. Have you made improvements in the way that vArranger plays Roland Styles in this last version 1.17.97?

I would say yes.
Because it seams to me that it now plays them much better. I have some styles that were unusable and now are playing nicely.
Some of them even sound better than played by the BK-7m itself and I do not remember to have such good results with the older version.
I discovered that they still have some issues if I use Ketron SD2 as sound module but I would say that the SD2 is not as efficient, quick and well balanced as the BK-7m. (In general, I am getting better results with BK-7m than with SD2. Still wonder if SD1000 would be better than BK-7m).

So, If you have improved Roland styles playing, I want to thank you.
I was using a combination of playing some Roland styles in the BK-5 that I recently bought for that purpose and some other with vArranger depending on how well they sounded. Now I am in the process of trying to play them all with vArranger. So far, so good 

Wow! So quick! Thank you Dan! 

me too please 

Bom, estás a arranjar maneira de eu gastar mais uns 400€?
Essa parte de ter de nivelar sons, afinar as coisas, é precisamente ao que mais tento fugir. No meu caso pessoal, os ritmos da Roland soam-me sempre muito bem sem precisar de alterar nada. Aliás, já usei um Korg Pa800 durante um tempo e acabei por voltar para a Roland com o BK-7m.
Estas coisas são um bocado de gosto pessoal e cada um acaba por gostar mais de uma máquina ou outra e ainda bem, senão andávamos todos com o mesmo som :-)
Já estava com o caminho a seguir mais ou menos definido e, depois dos teus comentários, acho que vai mesmo ser assim: Por ora, vou continuar a basear tudo no Roland mas irei explorando e afinando outros ritmos para usar no vArranger. Com o tempo, possivelmente acabarei por usar só o vArranger. Vai depender do SD1000 também. Com o SD2 não fico suficientemente satisfeito relativamente ao Roland.
Mas o que me deixa feliz é que me ando a divertir bastante com todas estas experiências :-)
Abraço.

Ver se aparece um dia destes então. 3. Ainda muito poucos.

Já reparei que tens um SD2 e um SD1000. Achas que notarei muita diferença na qualidade dos ritmos se comprar um SD1000? (Tenho um SD2).
Sobretudo,gostava de ter melhor balanço entre os vários sons mas duvido que a diferença justifique os 440€.
Eu tenho andado muito indeciso porque gosto muito mais do resultado que obtenho usando os ritmos do meu Roland BK-7m nele próprio. Por isso mesmo, comprei agora um BK-5. No vArranger só consigo gostar mais de uns poucos ritmos da Ketron, por isso tenho andado tentado a desistir dele. Mas, por outro lado, a flexibilidade de controlos é tão grande que estou a tentar fazer um uso combinado, usando o melhor de cada um conforme a música a tocar. Tem sido uma maratona de testes :-)

Thank you so much Tidon.

I will soon start the experiments 

Is it possible to do this?:

1. Connect a guitar interface Roland GR-55 to MIDI-IN of a keyboard controller with MIDI interface like M-Audio Axiom or Novation impulse.

2. Set the keyboard controller as the first MIDI-IN PORT in vArranger . (Both GR-55 and the keyboard transmitting in channel 1).

In my dream, this way, I could control chords and play Righ Hand Sounds with the guitar or with the keyboard alternatively whenever I want. Is my dream correct or would I have problems? :-)

I have a Roland EXR-3 keyboard that I would like to use to play the Left Hand sounds on vArranger. (In my case, as a guitarist, the keyboard is the second instrument :-)

Problem is: This keyboard transmits played notes on channel 4 and, as stated in it's manual, this is not changeable.

Is there a way to change this channel on vArranger or it only receives MIDI data for Left Hand on channel one?

Thanks in advance.

Quote from: Dan on February 11, 2016, 10:28:11 PM
Let me know what can be improved with Roland styles

Well, as I am experimenting, there are so many factors that influence the final result that it's not easy to explain. But I feel that, most of the times, I get better style execution with the hardware itself (Roland BK-7m in my case) that with vArranger (using BK-7m as sound module).
Where I feel the bigger differences is in the fill-ins. The hardware always play nice fill-ins. With vArranger, it depends when I hit the button or pedal. (By the way, this is something I also got with a Korg Pa800 I had before and was one of the reasons that made me get back to Roland).

The balance between style sounds also seems quite different in some cases...

But then, as I said, there are so many factors in game. For example: I have to use GM for better results. Do not like the results I get with GM2 or GS...

So, I leave it to you Dan, to improve things along the time as you always do so well.

Hi Dan, I am using version 1.17.93. If there is any improvement in the way vArranger executes Roland styles, I would also like to try the last version. Thank you.

Are there any demos of those sounds on Youtube?

Peut-être la plus important raison que m'a fait acheter vArranger c'étè precisement celle la!

Comme guitarist, cherchant depuis longtemps pour cette solution, j'ai trouvez le ciel en faisant comme ca:

Avec un Roland GR-55, je controle vArranger avec la reconnaissance d'accords en temps réel. (A dire que, pour moi, ca fonctionne parfaitement. C'est une question de bien regler le GR-55 et l'arrangeur).
Mais presque toutes mes performances (songs) ont une sequence (song chords) préparée de façon que, quand je veux, j'áppuit sur vRIFF et la song chord commence. A partir de ce moment, je suis libre pour faire des solos et vArranger s'en ocupe des accords. Aprés, quand je veux, il suffit d'appuyer une autre fois sur vRIFF. La "song chords" s'arrete et vArranger est pret a reconnaitre mes accords. De noter que le rythme continue toujour sans étre afecté et que je peux toujours utiliser librement les variations. (Je les controlle avec des pedals).

Cela me donne toute la liberté que j'ai cherché pendant toutes ces annes.
Tout ca fonctionne precisement comme je l'ávais rêvé. Dan est vraiment un genie!
Avec vArranger et Dan, Il suffit de rever ou demander, et voila, c'est fait :-)

(Pardonnez mois mon faible francais).

Am I right assuming that Ketron SD2 has the same sound quality / engine as SD5 and SD1000 has the same sound quality / engine has SD7?
Because if this is true, after hearing the demos of SD7 on YouTube, I want to buy an SD1000 and marry it with my vArranger! 

I don't remember now but I think I never tried ASIO OUT. I have to try it then.
In that case I could rely on the software synth as a backup sound module if needed. This because I steel prefer the superior sound quality I get with BK-7m and even more with Ketron SD2.
But I have to admit that the sound quality of the integrated vArranger software synt is quite good already. And sometime ago I also bought JazMan SF88 soundfont which is a software version of the Roland SC88 that, seams to me, have the same sound quality than the hardware version.

Hi Lylo. It seams to have been a great party.

Yes, indeed vArranger is VERY stable, simple to use and complete. That's why I decided to use it live. I tried some other softwares before but things where too much complicated, limited or unstable for my taste. Examples? I tried BIAB (too much bloated, too many problems, not a real arranger), OMB (too much complicated / outdated, limited), Live Styler (a promising option until development stopped), Ableton Live (not an arranger, very limited for our specific needs) and some others.

If we have a backup computer like you, we can use vArranger life without fears. I only have one computer right now. That's why I keep my BK-7m ready to go on stage. It is my backup. But I never needed it. (The EXR-3 I'm also using is only serving as a controller keyboard. It was my first arranger :-).

Lylo, don't you have lag using software synths? I tried them and there still is a small lag that makes it not suitable for me.

Não sou do Brasil mas de Portugal. Como também falo português, qualquer coisa, disponha :-)

I'm not from Brazil but from Portugal. As I also speak portuguese, anything, be my guest :-)

Presente 

I normally take half an hour to bring everything from my car and then about one hour to setup. Can be quicker if needed :-)

By the way, stewbow, in my case, cables and buttons are precisely part of the dream :-) When I played in a band, I was the guy who make the connections and read all the manuals from start to finish :-)

I would like to introduce myself to this great community in order to start sharing my experience with vArranger and give my contribute to its best development.

I have been visiting this forum for about a year trying to get the most information possible about vArranger. A month ago, I finally decided to take the plunge and buy it. I was using a Roland BK-7m as my arranger and wanted something more practical for my Reveillon gig this year. The decision was between vArranger and a Roland BK-9. The Roland BK-9 has everything I need. vArranger has even more features. But I never found any software arranger really good before. So, I was quite renitent.

Being a guitarist I have also some more issues to solve than a keyboardist when considering the use of vArranger (or any arranger by that mater). I was using a Roland GR-09 as guitar to MIDI interface and always had good chord recognisance with the arrangers I used. But I decided to buy a Roland GR-55 in order to improve that part of my setup too.

Man, the first days of testing were so frustrating! I just couldn't get good results with Roland GR-55 and vArranger. But I am used to that kind of difficulties and just kept tweaking, exploring, searching this forum,... and finally, by the second or third week, things started working together.

I then decided to move forward and prepare vArranger to be my arranger for my Reveillon gig. Preparation of styles, sounds, lyrics, controllers, MIDI interfaces,... Total madness, but, by the end of december, I was ready.

So, the real test came. The Reveillon gig. 6 hours of continuous playing with people dancing all the time! Used many Roland and Ketron styles and some SMFs.
RESULT:
6 hours of playing and singing pleasure!!! vArranger is so much easier to use and effective than my BK-7m. With only a touch of a key I have a new style, new sounds, the lyrics displayed,... no more frustrating waitings between songs while I try to setup everything through ridiculous screens and stupid scroll wheels like those of the BK-7m!

I also used a Ketron SD2 as sound module and this gave me a much more natural and present sound than BK-7m would have to. On top of that, it also allowed me to use Ketron styles and discover that, they too, are the best in many cases!

So, for me, after this gig, vArranger is a total winner and will certainly be my first choice arranger from now on. And, as such, I will be glad to share my experience with it in this forum and be part of this great community of like-minded people and help our genie Dan to make vArranger the best arranger in the World. (Which, probably, it already is :-)

Here is a picture of my Reveillon gig setup: