Roland VT-4 Voice Transformer

[VOLUME] knob

Adjusts the volume of the LINE OUT jacks and the PHONES jack.

[MIC SENS] knob

Adjusts the input sensitivity of the mic connected to the MIC IN jacks (front/rear).

PEAK indicator

Lights if the mic input level is excessive. Use the [MIC SENS] knob to adjust the sensitivity so that this indicator lights occasionally.

[KEY] knob

Specifies the key used when applying the effect of the [ROBOT] button or the [AUTO PITCH] knob (p. 5).

[BYPASS] button

Disables the effects (including reverb).

[ROBOT] button

Transforms your voice into that of a robot, with a fixed pitch and an expressionless character.

[MEGAPHONE] button

Gives your voice a distorted character as if you were speaking through a megaphone.

[MANUAL] button

Applies the current settings of the sliders and the [AUTO PITCH] knob to the sound.

[FORMANT] slider

Adjusts the formant. Negative ("-") settings produce a masculine character; positive ("+") produce a feminine character.

[PITCH] slider

Adjusts the pitch of the voice. You can adjust this in a range of 1 octave up or down.

[VOCODER] button

Transforms the sound into a vocoder voice.

Scene memory [1]–[4] buttons

Recall effect settings (scenes). The button of the "recalled" scene memory is lit. You can store up to eight scenes. See "Recalling Effect Settings (Scene Memories)” (p. 6).

[BALANCE] slider

Adjusts the balance between the unprocessed voice (NORMAL) and the effect-processed voice (EFFECT).

[REVERB] slider

Adjusts the amount of reverberation.

[HARMONY] button

Adds harmony to your voice.

[AUTO PITCH] knob

Corrects the pitch. This lets you constrain your vocal to the key specified by the [KEY] knob, creating a warbling pitch change that is typical of dance music. The amount of correction increases as you turn the knob toward the right. If this is "OFF," correction is not applied.

[PHANTOM] switch

Turn this "ON" if you want phantom power to be supplied to the MIC IN jack (rear). Phantom power is not supplied to the TRS phone plug.

[LINE OUT] switch

Switches the audio that is output from the LINE OUT jacks.

• STEREO: Stereo audio will be output.
• MONO: The processed sound (L/MONO) and the unprocessed sound (R/BYPASS) will be output separately.

PHONES jack

Connect headphones (sold separately) here.

[POWER] switch

Turning the Power On/Off

After you've made connections correctly, turn on the power in the order of this unit → connected devices. When turning the power off, do so in the order of the connected devices → this unit.

MEMO: This unit can operate on USB bus power or on batteries. If you want to use it on batteries, install batteries beforehand (p. 11).

MIC IN jack (front)

Connect a mic that is compatible with plug-in power (sold separately). This is only for use with a mic that is compatible with plug-in power.

LINE OUT jacks

Connect these jacks to your amp or monitor speakers.

MIDI IN connector

Connect a MIDI device. You can use incoming MIDI note messages to play the robot voice, etc. (p. 5).

USB () port

If this port is connected to your computer via a commercially available USB 2.0 cable, you can use the VT-4 as a USB audio interface. If USB bus power is supplied, the unit operates on USB bus power.

MIC IN jack (rear)

Connect a mic (sold separately) here. If a condenser mic is connected to the XLR connector, phantom power can be supplied (p. 2).

Pin assignment of MIC IN jack (rear)

A diagram shows a connector with TIP, RING, SLEEVE labeled as HOT, COLD, GND respectively. Another diagram shows a 3-pin XLR connector labeled 1: GND, 2: HOT, 3: COLD.

Applying an Effect

1. Connect your mic to the MIC IN jack (front or rear). If you connect a condenser mic to the MIC IN jack (rear) via an XLR connector, turn the [PHANTOM] switch on.
2. Turn the [BYPASS] button on.
3. While vocalizing into the mic, use the [MIC SENS] knob to adjust the input sensitivity. Adjust the sensitivity so that the PEAK indicator lights occasionally. Adjust the input sensitivity accurately. If the mic input level is too low or too high, the effect won't work correctly.
4. Press a scene memory button to recall a scene (p. 6).
5. Turn the [BYPASS] button off.
6. Vocalize into the mic. Your voice processed by the effect is output.

When inputting voice into the mic, input the voice of only one person. If multiple voices are input, the effect won't work correctly. Take care that sound from the speaker does not enter the mic.

MEMO: If feedback occurs, set the noise gate (p. 7).

Editing the Effect

1. Press the [MANUAL] button. You can press a scene memory button to recall a saved effect, and then edit those effect settings (p. 6).
2. Use the controllers (buttons, knobs, sliders) to edit the effect settings.

*1 To select an effect variation, hold down an effect button and press a scene memory button. See "Effect Variation List" (p. 11).

3. As necessary, save the effect settings in a scene memory button (p. 6).

Using the [KEY] knob to specify the key

You can specify the key that is used when applying an effect with the [ROBOT] button or the [AUTO PITCH] knob.

A circular diagram shows keys A, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A#. Major and minor scales are indicated.

MEMO: To specify a minor scale, turn the knob three clicks to the right from the desired key indication. For example, if you want to set the key to "Am," turn the knob three clicks to the right from the "A" position, setting it to the "C" position.

Inputting Note Messages to the MIDI IN Connector

You can use note messages input via the MIDI IN connector to play the robot voice. You can also play the vocoder voice, or generate harmony notes.

1. Connect a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI device to the MIDI IN connector.
2. While inputting note messages from the MIDI device, vocalize into the mic. The VT-4 switches to robot voice (the [ROBOT] button is lit), and the robot voice is sounded by the incoming note messages. (The robot voice turns on automatically.)
3. If you want to add harmony, turn the [HARMONY] button on, and input your voice. Up to four notes of harmony are heard based on the note messages that are input (When you turn the [HARMONY] button on, polyphonic (POLY) mode is enabled).
4. If you want to perform with a vocoder voice, turn the [VOCODER] button on, and input your voice.

* To exit robot voice, press the [ROBOT] button (the [ROBOT] button goes dark). * The settings of the [KEY] knob and the [AUTO PITCH] knob are ignored if note messages are being input.

Suppressing Feedback (Noise Gate)

You can make noise gate settings to suppress feedback.

1. Hold down the [MANUAL] button and press the [VOCODER] button (keep holding down the [MANUAL] button). The scene memory [1]–[4] buttons light.
2. Continuing to hold down the [MANUAL] button, press one of the memory [1]–[4] buttons to set the noise gate. Higher-numbered scene memory [1]–[4] buttons apply the noise gate effect more strongly.

Preventing Unintended Sound (Low Cut Filter)

You can make low cut filter settings to prevent the VT-4 from unintentionally producing sound in response to low-frequency sounds nearby (such as the kick sound of a drum set).

1. Hold down the [MANUAL] button and press the [HARMONY] button (keep holding down the [MANUAL] button). The scene memory [1]–[4] buttons light.
2. Continuing to hold down the [MANUAL] button, press one of the scene memory [1]–[4] buttons to set the low cut filter. Higher-numbered scene memory [1]–[4] buttons specify a higher frequency below which the sound is cut.

Clarifying the Sound (Enhancer)

By applying the enhancer effect, you can improve the clarity of the high-frequency region.

1. Hold down the [MANUAL] button and press the [MEGAPHONE] button (keep holding down the [MANUAL] button). The scene memory [1]–[4] buttons light.
2. Continuing to hold down the [MANUAL] button, press one of the memory [1]–[4] buttons to set the enhancer. Higher-numbered scene memory [1]–[4] buttons apply the enhancer effect more strongly.

Using the VT-4 As a USB Audio Interface

By using a commercially available USB 2.0 cable to connect the VT-4 to your computer, you can use the VT-4 as a USB audio interface.

Note: You must install the USB driver before connecting the VT-4 to your computer. Download the USB driver from the Roland website. For details, refer to Readme.htm which is included in the download.

Link: http://www.roland.com/support/

Playback

Sound played back by your computer can be output from the VT-4 via the following routes.

Recording

The mic sound processed by the VT-4 can be recorded on your computer.

Making Settings for Other Functions

1. Turn on the power while holding down the [ROBOT] button. The [MANUAL] button blinks.
2. Turn the [KEY] knob to select the parameter that you want to set.

Making Settings for Other Functions (cont.)

Editing the setting of the parameter that you selected.

Checking the volume

The total value of the scene memory [1]–[4] buttons that are lit indicates the "ones" place. The [MEGAPHONE] button is lit if the value is 10–19, and the [ROBOT] button is also lit if the value is 20. For example, if the value is “18,” scene memory [1], [3], and [4] buttons and the [MEGAPHONE] button are lit.

Saving the setting

4. When you have finished making settings, press the [MANUAL] button. The setting is saved.

Backing Up or Restoring the Scene Memories

You can use your computer to back up scene memories and restore them from your computer.

Backing up

1. With the VT-4 powered-off, connect the VT-4 to your computer via a USB cable.
2. While holding down the [VOCODER] button, turn the power on. The [ROBOT] button and the [BYPASS] button light, and the scene memory buttons through the [MANUAL] button blink while moving between left and right.
3. On your computer, open the “VT-4” drive.
4. From inside the BACKUP folder, copy the backup files to your computer.
5. When copying is finished, perform the appropriate operation on your computer to disconnect the USB drive.
6. Turn the power off, and on again.

Restoring

1. As described in “Backing up" (p. 10), open the "VT-4" drive on your computer.
2. Copy the backup files from your computer into the RESTORE folder.
3. When copying is finished, perform the appropriate operation on your computer to disconnect the USB drive.
4. Press the [MANUAL] button.
5. When the blinking button goes dark, turn the power off and then on again.

Using Batteries Even When Connected to USB

If the VT-4 is connected to a USB port that does not support USB bus power, such as when using the VT-4 and the MX-1 (Mix Performer) with AIRA LINK, you can use the VT-4 in battery-powered mode.

1. While holding down the [HARMONY] button, turn the power on. The VT-4 is in battery-powered mode. To return to the usual mode, turn the power off and on again.

Restoring the Factory Settings (Factory Reset)

Here's how to return the VT-4 to its factory-set state.

1. While holding down the [BYPASS] button, turn the power on. The [MANUAL] button blinks. If you decide to cancel factory reset, turn the power off.
2. Press the [MANUAL] button to execute factory reset.
3. When all buttons blink, turn the power off and on again.

Effect Variation List

MEMO: You can hold down an effect button to see the currently selected effect variation (the scene memory button blinks).

Installing Batteries

As an alternative to USB bus power, you can use commercially available AA nickel-metal hydride batteries or alkaline batteries to power the unit.

Note: If USB bus power is being supplied, the unit uses USB bus power even if batteries are installed.

1. Remove the battery cover.
2. Taking care to observe the correct orientation of the batteries, insert the batteries into the battery case.
3. Close the battery cover.

* When turning the unit over, be careful so as to protect the buttons and knobs from damage. Also, handle the unit carefully; do not drop it. * If you handle batteries improperly, you risk explosion and fluid leakage. Make sure that you carefully observe all of the items related to batteries that are listed in the leaflet "USING THE UNIT SAFELY."

Battery replacement indicator (PEAK indicator)

When the batteries run low, the PEAK indicator blinks rapidly. When this occurs, install new batteries.

Main Specifications

Roland VT-4: Voice Transformer

* This document explains the specifications of the product at the time that the document was issued. For the latest information, refer to the Roland website.