MusicRadar

The VP-770 could easily be used to create backing vocals.

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• Review

Launched at NAMM 2006, the VP-550 has a reputation as perhaps the best vocal production keyboard currently available.

Seamlessly blending a vocoder, realistic vocal backing, a good set of ensemble sounds and a foolproof interface, the VP-550 has confirmed Roland as a key vocal keyboard technology player.

Overview

Cosmetically, the VP-770 is significantly different to its predecessor, sporting many new controls, a new LCD display (there was no LCD on the VP-550), a jog wheel, a USB memory stick slot and an altogether more classy looking design.

First impressions are very good. The VP-770 is reassuringly heavy and seriously 'pro'. With its solid metal chassis and some vintage 2009 wood end panels, it feels like it could stand any abuse thrown at it.

All this adds up to a classy, high quality feel. The keyboard is also very playable and now has channel aftertouch for applying pitchbend, modulation, volume changes and other functions.

On the very left of the keyboard is a USB slot that allows backup of preset registrations, sound looper phrases, system backups and playback of audio files in WAV, AIFF and MP3 formats.

Any audio file can be assigned to the lowest 15 notes of the keyboard for playback using the nifty Audio Key feature – great for solo performers. You could bring backing tracks for a song in its component parts and trigger the chorus from one key, intro from another and end from another and so on, almost like a very simplified Ableton Live.

"With its solid metal chassis and some vintage 2009 wood end panels, the VP-770 feels like it could stand any abuse thrown at it."

Below the USB slot are the familiar Roland pitch bender and two new assignable buttons for mode switching and effect control. The main control section contains the volume control, a V-link control (for controlling video images in sync with your music when connected to other V-link equipped gear) the also familiar D-Beam for controlling pitch, filter or expression and a new phantom-powered XLR/ combo mic input. This is a great addition to the keyboard and means any type of mic can be connected. There's also an external audio input.

We're pleased to report that the included headset mic works well, picking up all the inflections and diction required for realistic vocoding, while the new mic preamp does a great job without introducing any noticeable noise.

What's also cool is that you can add compression, a noise gate or EQ to the input, too, though it would have been nice to have a few more effects on board. Surely at this price Roland could have squeezed in a chorus, phaser, flanger and delay at least?

Sound Looper and more

The Sound Looper is a handy new tool and expands on the Soundcheck feature from the VP-550. We can see this being a hit with solo performers who like to create on the fly. Anything routed through the VP-770 can be captured and looped, be it dry or vocoded vocals or the ensemble sounds.