Roland VK8 Combo Organ
No longer available at zZounds
Single-manual keyboard, double-manual virtual tonewheel sound, with "waterfall" keyboard, rotary speaker model, and D-Beam controller.
Overview
The VK-8 Combo Organ puts the enhanced Virtual ToneWheel sound of the flagship VK-77 in an attractively priced single-manual design with a cool new "waterfall" style keyboard. But it doesn't stop there: The VK-8 also sports rotary speaker modeling based on COSM technology, new orchestral voices, and a D-Beam controller - making it the new leader in combo organs.
Features
61-note single manual combo organ with enhanced Virtual ToneWheel technology
Cool waterfall keyboard with velocity-sensitive keys plays like classic organs-great for glissandos
Sophisticated rotary speaker modeling with overdrive effect
Traditional panel layout: 9 harmonic bars, Vibrato/Chorus knob, and new Percussion button
D-Beam controller with Preset templates for more expressive performance
New! Orchestral voices for a wider sonic palette (e.g. piano, strings, choir, etc.)
Onboard reverb and chorus effects
2 MIDI inputs for connecting a MIDI keyboard or optional PK-7 pedalboard - enjoy full polyphony while playing pedals and keys!
Authentic solid wood cabinet and vintage keys
Features
61-note single manual combo organ with enhanced Virtual ToneWheel technology
Cool waterfall keyboard with velocity-sensitive keys plays like classic organs-great for glissandos
Sophisticated rotary speaker modeling with overdrive effect
Traditional panel layout: 9 harmonic bars, Vibrato/Chorus knob, and new Percussion button
D-Beam controller with Preset templates for more expressive performance
New! Orchestral voices for a wider sonic palette (e.g. piano, strings, choir, etc.)
Onboard reverb and chorus effects
2 MIDI inputs for connecting a MIDI keyboard or optional PK-7 pedalboard - enjoy full polyphony while playing pedals and keys!
Authentic solid wood cabinet and vintage keys
Specs
Specifications
Keyboard
Waterfall keyboard: 61 keys (with velocity)
Sound Generator
Organ: Virtual Tone Wheel Method
Other Tones: PCM Sound Generator
Parts
Upper Organ, Lower Organ, Pedal Organ, Other Tones
Maximum Polyphony
Organ: Full polyphony
Orchestral: 64 voices
Organ
Tone Wheel;: Vintage 1, Vintage 2, Clean
Leakage Level
Vibrato and Chorus: V-1, V-2, V-3, C-1, C-2, C-3
Percussion: Second Third, Soft, Slow
Amp Simulator: Type I , Type II, Type III
Overdrive
Tone
Reverb: Room, Hall, Chrch, Spring, Reverb Level
D Beam: Crescendo, Rotary Speed, Ring Modulator, Tone Wheel Brake, Spring Shock
Other Tones
Piano, Electric Piano 1, Electric Piano 2, Strings, Jazz Scat, Choir, Synth, Brass
Effects: Chorus, Reverb
Internal Memory
Preset Memory: 64 (User memory)
Connectors
AC Inlet
MIDI Connector
(Keyboard In, Pedal In, Out)
Hold Pedal jack
Expression Pedal jack
Control Pedal jack
Output jack, (L (Mono)/R): 1/4 in. TRS phone type
Phones jack: Stereo 1/4 in. phone type
Rotary Tone Cabinet connector
Power Consumption
15 Watts
Finish
Top Panel: Simulated Walnut
Side Panel: Natural Wood Walnut Finish
Dimensions: (W x D x H) 1160 x 344 x 109 mm, 45-11/16 x 13-9/16 x 4-5/16 in.
Weight: 32 lbs. (14.5 kg)
Accessories included: Owner's Manual, Edit Mode Quick Reference, Power Cable
Keyboard
Waterfall keyboard: 61 keys (with velocity)
Sound Generator
Organ: Virtual Tone Wheel Method
Other Tones: PCM Sound Generator
Parts
Upper Organ, Lower Organ, Pedal Organ, Other Tones
Maximum Polyphony
Organ: Full polyphony
Orchestral: 64 voices
Organ
Tone Wheel;: Vintage 1, Vintage 2, Clean
Leakage Level
Vibrato and Chorus: V-1, V-2, V-3, C-1, C-2, C-3
Percussion: Second Third, Soft, Slow
Amp Simulator: Type I , Type II, Type III
Overdrive
Tone
Reverb: Room, Hall, Chrch, Spring, Reverb Level
D Beam: Crescendo, Rotary Speed, Ring Modulator, Tone Wheel Brake, Spring Shock
Other Tones
Piano, Electric Piano 1, Electric Piano 2, Strings, Jazz Scat, Choir, Synth, Brass
Effects: Chorus, Reverb
Internal Memory
Preset Memory: 64 (User memory)
Connectors
AC Inlet
MIDI Connector
(Keyboard In, Pedal In, Out)
Hold Pedal jack
Expression Pedal jack
Control Pedal jack
Output jack, (L (Mono)/R): 1/4 in. TRS phone type
Phones jack: Stereo 1/4 in. phone type
Rotary Tone Cabinet connector
Power Consumption
15 Watts
Finish
Top Panel: Simulated Walnut
Side Panel: Natural Wood Walnut Finish
Dimensions: (W x D x H) 1160 x 344 x 109 mm, 45-11/16 x 13-9/16 x 4-5/16 in.
Weight: 32 lbs. (14.5 kg)
Accessories included: Owner's Manual, Edit Mode Quick Reference, Power Cable
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
(48 ratings)
Submitted April 25, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com
"Jon Lord's sound at your fingertips..."
If your locking for a real hammong, buy real hammond there's no substitute. If you want to save, money space, this is exelent alternative.
Sound
Sound is very expressive, and very very close to B3, almoust perfect. Chorus/Vibrato is identical, very good stuff. It has killer overdrive effects, and drawbars are nice and smooth. Only thing that could be better is leslie simulator, it's a little thin, lacks that wrooompf on low's and scatering on high's, but haves nice doppler efect and it can be bypassed if you have real leslie. Other tones are not good, they are not useable at all, they sound cheap, i don't know why did they put them there, it's better to put nothing than crap... But generaly speaking this is an organ, you dont need other tones, you can use them only for emergency :)
Features
Layout of controls is perfect, on the left are the drawbars. Top panel is similar to B3, on the left is vibrato/chorus control, in the middle leakage, overdrive and reverb, and on the right percussion. It's built to recreate B3, and match Jon Lord's style of play, so if you are Deep Purple fan, you must get this. There is no display, but the B3 doesn't have display, and theres realy no need for one, exept maybe for editing and patch browsing... It's has good midi capabilities, and ballanced stereo output's as well as leslie speaker output.
Ease of Use
Well besides presented controlls on the panel,… read more that are realy easy to use, and you can set sound you want in a flash, advanced tweaking is not possible without manual. Roland supplies a quick editing refference, and i suggest that you allways have it with you. Manual covers everything else.
Quality
This product is well-made and built to last for decades, sturdy and robust. The wood finish is nice but can be easily damaged, so flight case IS A MUST! Key's are great, watterfall key's perfectly recreate B3's keys, and are built for organ style plaing. They even recreate double-trigger, THIS IS NOT FAULTY MANUFACTURE, B3 has indentical reaction, and double-trigger is crutial for some organ playng styles. Key's have very fast triger and sound at the slightest touch, making fast-play styles easy.
Value
This product is worth every penny, you get an decent organ for your money.
Manufacturer Support
Never had any problems with roland devices
The Wow Factor
Im proud of it, it's one mean machine.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist, band menager
Musical Style:
Rock, jazz, blues, fusion read less
Sound
Sound is very expressive, and very very close to B3, almoust perfect. Chorus/Vibrato is identical, very good stuff. It has killer overdrive effects, and drawbars are nice and smooth. Only thing that could be better is leslie simulator, it's a little thin, lacks that wrooompf on low's and scatering on high's, but haves nice doppler efect and it can be bypassed if you have real leslie. Other tones are not good, they are not useable at all, they sound cheap, i don't know why did they put them there, it's better to put nothing than crap... But generaly speaking this is an organ, you dont need other tones, you can use them only for emergency :)
Features
Layout of controls is perfect, on the left are the drawbars. Top panel is similar to B3, on the left is vibrato/chorus control, in the middle leakage, overdrive and reverb, and on the right percussion. It's built to recreate B3, and match Jon Lord's style of play, so if you are Deep Purple fan, you must get this. There is no display, but the B3 doesn't have display, and theres realy no need for one, exept maybe for editing and patch browsing... It's has good midi capabilities, and ballanced stereo output's as well as leslie speaker output.
Ease of Use
Well besides presented controlls on the panel,… read more that are realy easy to use, and you can set sound you want in a flash, advanced tweaking is not possible without manual. Roland supplies a quick editing refference, and i suggest that you allways have it with you. Manual covers everything else.
Quality
This product is well-made and built to last for decades, sturdy and robust. The wood finish is nice but can be easily damaged, so flight case IS A MUST! Key's are great, watterfall key's perfectly recreate B3's keys, and are built for organ style plaing. They even recreate double-trigger, THIS IS NOT FAULTY MANUFACTURE, B3 has indentical reaction, and double-trigger is crutial for some organ playng styles. Key's have very fast triger and sound at the slightest touch, making fast-play styles easy.
Value
This product is worth every penny, you get an decent organ for your money.
Manufacturer Support
Never had any problems with roland devices
The Wow Factor
Im proud of it, it's one mean machine.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist, band menager
Musical Style:
Rock, jazz, blues, fusion read less
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No longer available at zZounds
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