Rosie goes digital!

[Rosie C]

I really didn't expect to ever buy a digital accordion. But, I retire this month, and my retirement present to myself was a vintage Roland XV-3080 rack synth, with a dinky M-Audio Axiom-25 controller keyboard:



Much fun has already been had, particularly with the "MidiKit" application - directly editing MIDI files to access the features of the XV and re-living the 8-bit computing of my youth.

But then I was playing my acoustic Guerrini in a dance band and it wasn't going to be loud enough without getting microphones fitted. By chance as I was thinking this over, I saw a post here about an FR-1X, and a couple of days later I've arranged to sell my Hohner Concerto and arranged to buy a used Roland FR-1X which I'm getting on Thursday. Very exciting! Very unexpected!

 

[Ventura]

may the force be with you

 

[Tom]

Congrats, Rosie, you’re gonna love it!

 

[Rosie C]

Congrats, Rosie, you’re gonna love it!

I think I am, it feels meant to be. Since buying my Guerrini, I didn't like playing the Hohner so much, so I'm happy I've been able to sell that - making the FR-1X that much more affordable. I'm expecting some photos to arrive later today and I'm planning to view it tomorrow

I'm interested to see how much I'll use the internal synth in the FR-1X, and how much I'll just use the FR as a MIDI controller for the XV

 

[Tom]

I think I am, it feels meant to be. Since buying my Guerrini, I didn't like playing the Hohner so much, so I'm happy I've been able to sell that - making the FR-1X that much more affordable. I'm expecting some photos to arrive later today and I'm planning to view it tomorrow

Does it come with Dale Mathis, Noel or other sounds? You’ll be going down the rabbit hole soon! Of course, you’ll be able to midi out, but having some nice sounds local is nice.

Mine got all wiped out and I now only have the Mathis which is sounding pretty ok. I’m actually considering trying it at the farmers market soon. I never got into programming it.

Have fun!!!!

 

[Ventura]

it is notable how quickly you began to feel and understand
the limitations of build and quality, in touch, sound,
and squeezability, and how quickly you stepped up to
instruments that could do more, much more, than just be played..

as for the internal sounds, if you like the orchestral sounds on the
Bass side, and if they respond for you in a way that feels good
to your bass background, then i think that alone will open up
some doors for you in how you can use an Accordion..
have fun !

 

[JerryPH]

Welcome to the digital world, I think you are going to be happy and well occupied with things now!

 

[Rosie C]

Well, I've had it less than a day, but I already love it! I had expected it to be quite a bit different to an acoustic accordion, but it isn't that different. At least not for banging out my Morris tunes in G major. It came with a Roland WNA1100 USB dongle, which I've not used yet but looks interesting.

I've already hooked it up to my XV3080 with a MIDI cable and initial results are promising. I'll have to create a 'performance' set with the right voices for treble, bass, chords to get the best out of it. The XV only has a couple of built-in accordion voices, but there's expansion cards with another dozen that sometimes come up on ebay.

It also came loaded with some 3rd party voices, though I've not yet worked out how to access them.

 

[Mike t.]

I don’t mean to pish/posh your accordion purchase but really welcome to the group of us retired folk! Congratulations! It’s been 4 1/2 years for me, you are going to love it and wonder how you ever had time for work! The morning cup of coffee or tea is so much better not having to rush getting ready for… what’s that word? “Work” Every day is a Saturday. You can practice your songs till the cows come home.

 

[Pipemajor]

It also came loaded with some 3rd party voices, though I've not yet worked out how to access them.

If you haven't done so already, can I suggest you download the manual from the Roland website.
It has all the relevant information.

 

[Rosie C]

If you haven't done so already, can I suggest you download the manual from the Roland website.
It has all the relevant information.

Thanks! We're in the middle of putting our house up for sale, so while I have it, I'm afraid I've just skimmed it.

 

[oldbayan]

The FR-1X is a nice little beast, its sound engine is impressive. I had a FR-1Xb for while, my only grief was that the bellows were small and a bit hard. Welcome to the digital world of musical fun.

 

[JerryPH]

I don’t mean to pish/posh your accordion purchase but really welcome to the group of us retired folk! Congratulations! It’s been 4 1/2 years for me, you are going to love it and wonder how you ever had time for work! The morning cup of coffee or tea is so much better not having to rush getting ready for… what’s that word? “Work” Every day is a Saturday. You can practice your songs till the cows come home.

I am a few months away from that myself and looking forward to it.
The joke a few months ago was that I was 9 months away (just 9 months go go), and there was all kinds of talk of births and what not... haha!

Three months to go, just three more... lol

I think the first month I am just going to veg and bask in the freedom before I buckle down and start setting some musical goals.
That's going to be a nice gift to give myself.

Lead the way Rosie, I plan to follow... accordion, digital and acoustic, are going to be more in my life... who-hoo!

 

[Giovanni]

I don’t mean to pish/posh your accordion purchase but really welcome to the group of us retired folk! Congratulations! It’s been 4 1/2 years for me, you are going to love it and wonder how you ever had time for work! The morning cup of coffee or tea is so much better not having to rush getting ready for… what’s that word? “Work” Every day is a Saturday. You can practice your songs till the cows come home.

Mike t ......................WORK is a naughty 4 letter word !! if you keep saying it you will have to stand in the corner of the class ....just like in the good old days when I went to school !!! in Bombed out Britain !!!! plus get 100 lines for homework !!!

 

[Tom]

I am a few months away from that myself and looking forward to it.
The joke a few months ago was that I was 9 months away (just 9 months go go), and there was all kinds of talk of births and what not... haha!

Three months to go, just three more... lol

I think the first month I am just going to veg and bask in the freedom before I buckle down and start setting some musical goals.
That's going to be a nice gift to give myself.

Lead the way Rosie, I plan to follow... accordion, digital and acoustic, are going to be more in my life... who-hoo!

I am not convinced you will have time for your accordion!

 

[Rosie C]

The FR-1X is a nice little beast, its sound engine is impressive. I had a FR-1Xb for while, my only grief was that the bellows were small and a bit hard. Welcome to the digital world of musical fun.

I find if I adjust the bellows to have a good feel, they move too much air, so I have to change bellows direction more than I'd like. So I have them a little firmer than I'd like, so I can change direction at the same places as my acoustic accordion.

 

[JerryPH]

I find if I adjust the bellows to have a good feel, they move too much air, so I have to change bellows direction more than I'd like. So I have them a little firmer than I'd like, so I can change direction at the same places as my acoustic accordion.

That is one of the concessions of playing a digital. The first few seconds I play one or another, I feel the differences, but they fade fast as I concentrate on what song I am playing over what box I am holding. Give it time, there is a bit of an acclimation period.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

The FR-1X is a nice little beast, its sound engine is impressive. I had a FR-1Xb for while, my only grief was that the bellows were small and a bit hard. Welcome to the digital world of musical fun.

I've been retired since 1996 and I haven't quit yet, nor do I intend to anytime soon!

There was once a popular sign that read, "Work is the curse of the drinking class."

 

[Alan Sharkis]

I find if I adjust the bellows to have a good feel, they move too much air, so I have to change bellows direction more than I'd like. So I have them a little firmer than I'd like, so I can change direction at the same places as my acoustic accordion.

Keeping the bellows on the stiff side also means:

1. Subtle changes in pressure from your left palm can mean big changes in dynamics.

2. This may sound counterintuitive, but it also means that you will be less likely to develop shoulder pain.

 

[JerryPH]

So.... when do we get to see the v-accordion in a video?