Roland V-Bass VB-99 Specification sheet

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© 2009 Roland Corporation U.S.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Roland Corporation U.S.
The trademarks listed in this document are trademarks of their respective owners, which are separate companies from Roland.Those companies
are not aliated with Roland and have not licensed or authorized Roland’sVB-99. Their marks are used solely to identify the equipment whose
sound is simulated by Roland’sVB-99.
VB99WS01
Introduction to the VB-99
®ÂØÒňήWorkshop
VB-99 V-Bass System

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About the Workshop Booklets
Roland’s VB-99 V-Bass System is, simply put, the most powerful bass
processor ever made. It’s the second-generation V-Bass system from Roland,
and it offers an unprecedented set of creative sound-making tools for
the bassist. Featuring dual COSM bass and amp modeling paths, two
independent multi-effects processors, massive realtime control options,
pitch-to-MIDI conversion, and USB, the VB-99 is a bassist’s dream machine,
capable of producing sounds that are limited only by your imagination.
Each VB-99 Workshop booklet focuses on one VB-99 topic, and is intended as
a companion to the VB-99 Owner’s Manual.
About This Booklet
This booklet introduces you to the VB-99. We’ll give you an overview of what
it is and what it does, and discuss its concept and application. We’ll also talk
about some of the technologies that are part of the VB-99.
The trademarks listed in this document are trademarks of their
respective owners, which are separate companies from Roland. Those
companies are not affiliated with Roland and have not licensed or
authorized Roland’s VB-99. Their marks are used solely to identify the
equipment whose sound is simulated by Roland’s VB-99.
Understanding the Symbols in This Booklet
Throughout this booklet, you’ll come across information that deserves
special attention—that’s the reason it’s labeled with one of the following
symbols.
A note is something that adds information about the topic at hand.
A tip offers suggestions for using the feature being discussed.
Inside the V-Bass System
The “V” in V-Bass stands for “virtual.” In computer
terms, virtual means to use software to create
something that doesn’t physically exist, or to recreate
something that exists in the real world in the digital
realm. The VB-99 is essentially a computer, one that’s dedicated to processing
bass sounds. Its software uses Roland’s proprietary digital technology called
“Composite Object Sound Modeling”—or“COSM”for short—to process your
bass and turn it into a different bass or another instrument, one that’s
created virtually, entirely within the VB-99.
In addition to instrument modeling, the VB-99 uses
COSM to create a multitude of different virtual bass
amplifiers and speakers, from vintage to modern. To add the icing on the
cake, the VB-99 provides a staggering selection of effects to process your
sound just the way you like it, including COSM models of classic stompbox
and rack effects. You can store all your sounds in 200 custom patches for later
recall, and control sounds and patches in real time in a number of ways.
Using USB, you can connect the VB-99 to your computer, where you can
transfer audio and MIDI back and forth, and even edit and store patches
using the VB-99 Editor software. With the Bass to MIDI function, you can
use your bass to trigger external MIDI instruments such as a hardware
synthesizer or a virtual instrument in a computer.
The VB-99’s versatile and convenient form
factor makes it easy to integrate into a
number of different environments. It works
great as a table-top device in a recording
studio, or it can be mounted in a rack with
the optional RAD-99 rackmount adaptor.
If desired, you can mount it on a stand for
quick access in a performance. An integrated
foot controller—the FC-300 (shown in the
image to the left)—is available as well,
which provides comprehensive foot control
for switching patches and controlling an
enormous variety of VB-99 functions.

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COSM Instrument Modeling
With the VB-99’s COSM instrument modeling, you can turn your bass into a
completely different instrument. That instrument could be:
an electric bass—
• Inside the VB-99 are ten electric
bass models, including vintage and modern Fender
basses, a Gibson Thunderbird, a Hofner “Beatle
bass,” a Rickenbacker 4001, a Music Man StingRay,
and more. Each electric bass model has pickups
that sound just like the original articles, and you
can shape the tonality of the instruments to taste
with a powerful EQ. There’s even a“Vari”bass model
that allows you to construct your own custom
virtual electric bass inside the VB-99.
an electric guitar—
• Have you ever wanted to play some lead guitar on
your bass? Now you can. The VB-99 features two different classic electric
guitar models, the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul. (The VB-99
also provides COSM guitar amps and stompboxes for processing these
models—and any other instrument model, for that matter.)
an acoustic bass—
• The VB-99 features a
comprehensive model of an upright acoustic
bass. This variable instrument has numerous
adjustable parameters that allow you to dial in
the sound just the way you want, including body size, resonance, string
buzz, and many more.
a synthesized instrument—
• Utilizing digitally
created waveforms, the VB-99 can transform
your bass into something completely unique
and un-bass like. Use the Pipe model to make
your bass sound like a woodwind instrument,
or the Organ model to impart, well, an organ-
like quality. Among the many available synth
voices is a spot-on model of the GR-300, Roland’s classic analog
polyphonic guitar synthesizer from the early 1980s.
For more information on COSM instruments, see the VB-99 Owner’s
Manual.
Unlocking Instrument Modeling with a Divided Pickup
The VB-99 creates its virtual instruments by processing each of the strings on
your bass individually. This is accomplished by using a special pickup called
a “divided” pickup, such as Roland’s GK-3B. This type of pickup is actually
multiple separate pickups, one for each string. As you play, the signal for
each string—along with the output from the normal pickups in your bass,
if desired—is sent through a special 13-pin cable to the VB-99. Additionally,
the divided pickup’s control section provides a knob and two switches that
allow you to control various VB-99 functions remotely from your instrument,
and a three-way switch for choosing the divided pickup, the normal pickups,
or both.
Input for connecting the
normal bass output
Three-way switch for
selecting GK pickup and/
or normal bass
Multiple separate
pickups, one for each
string (works with four-,
five-, and six-string
basses)
GK knob and S1/S2 switches
for controllingVB-99 functions
13-pin output
Anatomy of the GK-3B Divided Bass Pickup
The normal pickups in a bass sense the sum total of the instrument’s
strings, creating a single monophonic output. For this reason, they
can’t be used to drive the VB-99’s COSM instrument modeling section.
Divided pickups are also sometimes called “hex,” “hexaphonic,” or
“polyphonic” pickups.

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Installing a Divided Pickup
The Roland GK-3B provides an easy way to add divided
pickup capabilities to your favorite bass. It works with
four-, five-, and six-string basses, and can be easily
attached to most instruments with no modifications.
It can also be attached to many flat-top acoustic
basses as well. (Roland’s previous generation divided
pickup—the GK-2B—can be used with the VB-99,
too.) Roland also offers the GK-KIT-BG, a kit version
of the GK-3B that can be permanently installed
inside your instrument (professional installation is
required).
Another option is to purchase and install a piezo-type divided pickup
system. These systems incorporate pressure-sensitive piezo elements in
bridge saddles that replace the original saddles on your bass. The output
from the individual saddles is then fed to a preamp with a 13-pin output. A
piezo divided pickup system is necessary in applications where the GK-3B
can’t be used, such as with any instrument that has an unusually wide or
narrow string spacing. A piezo system can also be installed on a standard
electric bass as an alternative to the GK-3B. Pickup manufacturers such as
RMC and Graph Tech Guitar Labs offer piezo divided pickups. In most cases,
professional installation is required.
RMC piezo pickups on a Godin flat-top acoustic bass
If you wish to purchase an instrument with a divided
pickup built in, bass manufacturers such as Brian
Moore, Godin, and more offer “Roland-ready” or
“synth access” basses. These instruments are factory-
equipped with divided pickups and 13-pin outputs
that can be plugged directly into the VB-99 or any
previous V-Bass System, as well as most Roland guitar
synthesizers and guitar/bass-to-MIDI converters.
Alternate Tunings, Pitch Shifting, and Polyphonic Effects
Once the VB-99 has the strings’ signals, it converts them to digital
information so they can be processed individually with its digital brain.
Besides transforming your bass into any of the instruments described earlier,
applying processing to each string individually allows for some incredible
realtime options, such as the following.
Instant alternate tunings—
• Along with many other settings, you can
store instrument tunings in patches, and call them up at the turn of a
dial or touch of a button.
Pitch-bend effects—
• You can change the pitch of an individual string or a
combination of strings using one of the VB-99’s controllers. This allows
you to create pedal steel and “B-bender” type effects on the bass.
Dual-string emulation—
• COSM lets you turn your bass into an instrument
with dual-string courses (like a 12-string guitar or a mandocello), with
both fine and course pitch control of the secondary strings.
Harmony—
• Play instant harmonies based upon a key and scale that you
determine.
Polyphonic effects—
• or“Poly FX”allow you to apply powerful
effects processing to each string individually. Available
Poly FX include compression, limiting, fretless emulation,
distortion, octave, ring modulator, Slow Gear, and string
modeling.
So, Is It a Bass Synthesizer?
Because it alters the entire bass sound, has synth-type voices on board, and
interfaces with a divided pickup, the COSM instrument modeling in a V-Bass
system is often mistaken for a synthesizer. It’s not, however; COSM actually
does all its modeling magic in real time using super-fast digital signal
processing (DSP) chips to alter the bass sound as you play. In this way, it’s
more akin to using a multi-effects processor—well, actually multiple super-
powerful multi-effects processors, all running at once.
Like the VB-99, a guitar/bass synthesizer—such as Roland’s GR-20—utilizes
string information from a divided pickup. However, it processes that
information in a much different way. When a string is played and sensed by
the divided pickup, the guitar/bass synth determines the pitch of the string,
13-pin jack on a
Brian Moore instrument
Bass with a Roland GK-3B
Divided Pickup installed

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and then it converts that pitch into digital information that triggers a sound
engine, either internally in the synth or externally via MIDI. As such, the bass
is only used as an input device—like the keys on a keyboard synth—to play
sounds you call up on a menu, such as piano, strings, drums, and so forth.
With the VB-99, the string signals from your bass are always the fundamental
building blocks of the sound you hear, even when the realtime modeling
process modifies that sound into something quite unlike a bass. As a result,
playing a COSM instrument always feels and responds just as naturally as
playing your normal bass, with every subtle expressive nuance coming
through.
Bass to MIDI
While COSM instrument modeling itself isn’t a synthesizer, the
VB-99 does have the ability to use the divided pickup signal to
trigger sounds in an external synthesizer or sound module via
MIDI. This is called the “Bass to MIDI” function, and it’s basically like having a
Roland GI-20 GK-MIDI Interface built in.
Connecting a Normal Bass Without a Divided Pickup
If you like the sound of your normal pickups as is—or you
don’t want to install a divided pickup—you can still use
your bass with the VB-99. Just plug its output into the
VB-99’s rear-panel 1/4-inch BASS INPUT jack. You won’t
be able to use COSM instrument modeling (including its alternate tunings
and polyphonic effects) or the Bass to MIDI function; those require a divided
pickup. But you can use all the rest of the VB-99’s processing options,
including COSM amps and effects.
As mentioned earlier, the Roland GK-3B and other divided pickup
systems allow you to send the normal pickup output along with the
divided pickup output over the 13-pin cable connection. The GK-3B
control unit has an onboard switch to allow you to easily switch
between regular bass, divided pickup output, or both, and the VB-99
has internal mixing options to blend the sounds as well. Another quick
way to bring your normal pickups into the signal chain is with the front-
panel BASS DIRECT switch.
COSM Amps to the Max
Once you’ve created a COSM instrument—or plugged your regular bass
into the BASS INPUT—you can “amplify” it virtually using a COSM amplifier
model. The VB-99 offers 12 COSM bass and guitar amps, from vintage
legends to modern classics. Each amp model offers uncannily accurate
sound replication, as well as a set of familiar controls (volume, bass, treble,
bright switch, etc.) as found on the real amp. The amp’s speaker system—a
critical component of any bass or guitar amp’s sound—is modeled as well,
with a selection of five different virtual mics and variable mic positioning.
You can mix and match speaker types at will, or turn the speaker models off
altogether if desired.
For a detailed listing of the COSM amps and speakers, see the VB-99
Owner’s Manual.

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Effects, Effects, and More Effects
The VB-99 provides multi-effects to the gills—everything you need to
sweeten, tweak, twist, and/or mangle your tone. The list of included effects
reads like a history of Roland and BOSS signal processing, all under one
hood. In addition, there are many COSM models of classic stomp boxes and
effects units from other manufacturers.
The effects are organized into different groups, and all groups are available
simultaneously. One effect within each group can be selected at any one
time. The effects groups are described as follows.
COMP—
• Provides compression and limiting effects, from stompbox
emulations to models of vintage studio rackmount units.
OD/DS—
• 12 different overdrive and distortion effects are provided here,
including models of legendary pedals from BOSS and others.
EQ—
• Shape your sound with a powerful four-band parametric
equalizer.
DELAY—
• Multiple mono and stereo delay effects are provided here, as
well as reverse delay, and models of tape and analog units. You can also
do sound-on-sound recording with the HOLD effect.
CHORUS—• Add depth and richness with mono and stereo chorus
effects.
MOD 1 and 2—
• These two groups feature 27 effects types, including
pedal wah, touch wah, phaser, flanger, tremolo, slicer, pitch shift,
octave, etc. Any one effect type can be selected for each group: MOD
1 and MOD 2.
NS—
• This effect is a noise suppressor to reduce hum and noise.
FV—
• Foot volume, controlled via an optional expression pedal, the
FC-300 Foot Controller, or MIDI.
For a detailed listing of the effects and effects parameters, see the
VB-99 Owner’s Manual.
The Effects Chain
The order of the VB-99’s effects can be changed at will. The COSM bass and
normal pickup paths can be adjusted as well, allowing you to apply separate
processing to them if desired. For example, this is particularly useful for
applying traditional bass effects and COSM amp simulation to one set of
pickups, and not the other. Effects placed after the pickups will be applied
to both signals.
Processing Times Two: Dual Signal Paths
Okay, now that we’ve detailed what the VB-99 offers in the way of sound
processing, let’s double it. That’s right—the VB-99 provides two separate
and independent signal paths, A and B. And every processing option we’ve
described so far—COSM bass, COSM amps, and multi-effects—can be set
up and used independently on both the A and B paths. That’s an amazing
amount of signal processing power!
The VB-99’s POLY FX can only be applied to one signal path at a time,
A or B.

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With the two signal paths layered together, it’s like playing two instruments
at once, with separate amplification and effects to boot. Imagine playing
a super-clean electric bass and an upright together...or a rock bass/amp
combo layered with a raging electric guitar/stack/fuzz box. And, of course,
you can always blend in your bass’normal pickup sound as well, giving you a
third tonal option. The sound-shaping possibilities are nearly endless!
Dedicated front-panel buttons controls allow you to easily
select, edit, and balance the A and B signal paths
Mixing It Up
To combine the A and B paths, there’s an onboard mixer. As you’d suspect,
you can adjust levels and panning for each path as you like. But there’s also
a four-band EQ (separate from the effects section) that allows you to shape
the overall tone of both paths, along with an additional delay effect and a
reverb effect to add some final sweetening to your sound. The mixer also
lets you route the A and B signal paths to any (or all) of the VB-99’s multiple
outputs.
One of the VB-99’s mixer screens
Dynamic Control: Adjusting the Mix Balance with Your Playing
Dynamics
The Dynamic feature allows you to control the A and B signal paths with your
picking dynamics. By adjusting how hard or soft you play, you can blend A
with B (or vice versa), or switch between the two paths. This can be used for
many expressive effects, from subtle to extreme.
Patch Me In
The VB-99 provides a total of 400 patches. 200 patches contain preset sounds
that demonstrate various VB-99 features, while 200 user patches offer
locations to store your own custom settings for later recall. Furthermore,
patch categories allow you to organize patches by music style or 10 user-
defined categories.
Patches can be selected with the PATCH/VALUE dial, the FC-300 (discussed in
a bit), or via program change commands sent from an external MIDI device.
You can also assign five of your most-used patches to the front-panel DIRECT
PATCH buttons for quick access.
Revolutionary Realtime Control
The VB-99 gives you a multitude of ways to control its sounds and effects
in real time during performances. Up to 18 different parameters per patch
can be assigned to various onboard buttons and controllers, as well as
optional external footswitches and pedals. Nearly any VB-99 parameter can
be controlled—for example, the pickup selection on a COSM bass, the gain
of a COSM amp, the rate or depth of an effect, etc. In many cases, multiple
parameters can be assigned to a single button or controller, so you can make
multiple adjustments with a single action.

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CONTROL Buttons
Parameters can be assigned to the VB-99’s two
CONTROL buttons. This gives you handy access from
the front panel.
F Knobs
Under the display are six F knobs. The “F” stands for “function,” and they’re
normally used to adjust parameters on the VB-99’s various editing screens.
However, when the home screen is displayed, they can be assigned to
control any six VB-99 functions of your choice—and these assignments can
be saved on a system-wide basis or per patch.
D Beam and Ribbon Controller
The VB-99 offers two realtime controllers usually only seen on keyboards and
grooveboxes: a D Beam and a ribbon controller. These two controllers give
you exciting realtime control possibilities not normally associated with bass
performance.
D Beam
The D Beam is an invisible infrared light beam that emanates
from the VB-99’s D Beam controller. When you pass your hand
over the D Beam, the assigned parameter or parameters are
adjusted.
Ribbon Controller
The ribbon control is a touch-sensitive strip on the right
side of the VB-99 panel.When you run your finger along the
strip, the assigned parameter or parameters are adjusted.
CTL 3,4 and EXP PEDAL Jacks
You can connect optional footswitches to the CTL 3,4 jack
(two FS-5Us or one FS-6) and an optional expression pedal
to the EXP PEDAL jack (EV-5, FV-300L, etc.).
GK Knob and S1/S2 Switches
As we mentioned earlier, the GK knob and S1 and S2 switches on the GK-3B
control unit or a Roland-ready bass can be used to remotely control various
VB-99 functions.
A Perfect Companion: The FC-300
The FC-300 MIDI Foot Controller offers the ultimate control for the VB-99.
With five patch selection switches, two bank switches, two control switches,
and two expression pedals, it’s the perfect integrated foot controller for the
VB-99. There’s even an onboard display that shows VB-99 patch info. And
when the VB-99’s tuner is activated, the FC-300 display switches to a tuner
screen.
If the onboard pedals aren’t enough, the FC-300 has rear-panel jacks
for connecting up to six optional footswitches or up to three optional
expression pedals for additional realtime control. (Various combinations of
both switches and pedals can also be configured).
It’s simple to connect the FC-300 to the VB-99: just use a single
CAT 5 Ethernet cable—the type of cable used for networking
computers—to connect the RRC2 jacks on each unit. The CAT
5 cable provides two-way communication with the VB-99, and
allows the VB-99 to provide remote power to the FC-300, so there’s no
fussing with an AC adaptor or batteries.

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The FC-300 can also function as a full-featured MIDI controller,
providing Program Change, Control Change, note, and System Exclusive
control for any MIDI device.
MIDI
Nearly any assignableVB-99 parameter can be controlled
via MIDI commands sent from an external device,
such as a MIDI sequencer, keyboard, or another VB-99.
Additionally, you can send numerous MIDI commands
to the MIDI OUT jack from the VB-99’s various controllers
and the FC-300.
Audio Outputs
The VB-99’s rear panel provides multiple output jacks to connect to any
desired destination. The MAIN OUT jacks utilize 1/4-inch jacks, while the
SUB OUTS provide a balanced output on XLR connectors. There’s also a
S/P DIF DIGITAL OUT, as well a PHONES jack for connecting headphones.
Audio signals in the VB-99 can be freely assigned to any combination of
MAIN, SUB, and DIGITAL outputs via the mixer, either globally or per patch.
When you’ve plugged a bass’ normal output into the VB-99, its unprocessed
signal is available at the BASS OUTPUT jack.
USB
The VB-99 features a USB jack that you can connect to a personal
computer for data exchange.
Connecting the VB-99 to a computer requires installation of the VB-99
USB Driver on the computer. For the latest version of the USB driver,
check the VB-99 downloads page at www.RolandUS.com.
The VB-99 Editor and Librarian
The VB-99 Editor software allows you to edit, save, and load VB-99 patches
using an intuitive full-color graphic display. The VB-99 Librarian provides
a way to organize patches in groups. The Editor and Librarian can be
downloaded at www.RolandUS.com.
The VB-99 Editor’s main screen
Audio/MIDI Interface Functionality
With the VB-99 USB Driver installed on a compatible Windows or Mac
computer, you can use the VB-99 as a USB audio and MIDI interface. This
allows you to record and playback audio through the VB-99 with digital
audio workstation (DAW) software, and transfer MIDI information with
MIDI-capable software, such as a MIDI sequencer. If you have a divided
pickup installed on your bass, you can use the Bass to MIDI function to play
software-based virtual instruments.

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The VB-99’s flexible USB routing allows you to record the VB-99’s total sound,
or record a dry, unprocessed signal to DAW software while monitoring the
sound with COSM amps and effects during recording. When it’s time to mix,
you can play the dry audio back through the VB-99’s COSM amps and effects,
and then re-record the result on another track. This is a process known as
“reamping,” and it gives you the ability to adjust bass sounds to match your
needs at mixdown, rather than having to commit to them ahead of time.
Wow.
No doubt about it, the VB-99 is a bass processing
powerhouse. With its amazing COSM sound-
shaping ability, powerful multi-effects processing,
realtime control options, and USB connectivity, this
is a digital bass tone machine like no other.
They say that less is more, and that’s often true. But the processing power
in the VB-99 is so massive that we can’t resist offering a hypothetical
combination of things that can be done in a single patch:
Two different COSM instruments, each with altered tuning, detune, and
•
pedal bend (blended with the normal bass sound if desired)
Three different overdrive/distortion effects
•
Two different COSM amp/speaker rigs•
Nine (!) different four-band parametric EQs•
Three different delays (or five if you don’t mind giving up two EQs)•
Two different compressor effects•
Two different chorus effects•
Reverb•
Bass to MIDI conversion•
USB audio/midi interfacing with a computer•
Whew! If you can settle for only seven four-band EQs and three delays in this
hypothetical patch—we suspect that’s probably enough—you can add in a
bunch more effects options, too, such as wah, flanger, phaser, etc.
Of course, this isn’t the only possible combination of effects; there are many
different iterations to be had. You may hardly ever need to use all this power
at once—but it’s good to know it’s there when you want to kick it up a notch
with some out-of-this-world sounds!
The End
We hope you’ve found this workshop helpful. Keep an eye out for other
VB-99 Workshop booklets available for downloading at www.RolandUS.com.