Roland FR-3b

Information

The international Finals of the Roland V-Accordion Festival was held on 16 October, 2010 in Rome.
Check out the winners!

Compact V-Accordions Now with Buttons!

With the FR-3s/3 Roland introduced the first compact V-Accordion. With the FR-3b Roland launches the first compact 92-button type Accordion. The FR-3b/3sb (“b” stands for button) offer both the same flexibility and portability of the compact FR-3/3s models and the amazing expressiveness of the Roland button type V-Accordions.
Now thanks to the new Version 2.0 operating system, the FR-3b comes with 10 programmable user programs that can be backed up on your PC together with 16 Musette micro tuning presets programmable for each Set.

Experience it! Product Interactive Tour is here.
* Check the successor "FR-3xb"

- 92-button keyboard with the ability to change the layout of the Treble button keyboard
- 10 User Programs
- 7 new orchestral chord/orchestral free bass registers with new sounds
- Onboard MIDI socket
- The FR-3b has a compartment for optional AA-type rechargeable batteries
- Bellows Resistant Regulator
- The FR-3b doesn’t have speakers and is therefore the lightest member of the V-Accordion line up.
>> FR-3sb

A 92-button type Accordion

The FR-3b features a 92-button keyboard with 6 preset Treble button modes (C-Griff Europe, C-Griff 2, B-Griff Bajan, B-Griff Fin, D-Griff 1, D-Griff 2).
You can easily change the note assignments to the button keys and select the preset that best suits your playing style (you can even unscrew the buttons and install the buttons in the right places so as to make the button layout correspond to the notes being played)

Educational Features

The FR-3b is the smallest accordion in the world to provide a Free Bass mode — perfect for students.
It also contains a metronome that helps you to develop your sense of rhythm and timing. Thanks to the instrument’s MIDI functionality, students can even record their performance on their computer. Practising has never been easier or more efficient!

Accordion Simulations and Orchestral Sounds

The FR-3b boasts a 64 voices polyphonic sound engine that can simulate up to 10 different accordions, each with 12 Treble registers, 7 Bass/Chord registers, and 7 Free Bass registers (Free Bass and Bass/Chord are mutually exclusive).
Moreover this V-Accordion includes 10 different orchestral sounds (including Trombone, Trumpet, Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, etc.) that can be used together with the traditional accordion sounds.

LED Display and Multicolor Roland Logo

The FR-3b features with a 3x7-segment LED for monitoring the current sound selections and for setting a host of parameters. The illuminated Roland logo is interactive: you can change the colour depending on the accordion set and section (accordion or orchestra) you select. Choose your favorite color from among 26 options!

INS/OUTS

The FR-3b can be connected to various external devices (sequencer, arranger keyboards, etc.) using the onboard MIDI socket.
Combined with a wireless system the FR-3b can be used on big stages as well in pubs, restaurant or even outdoor festivals while granting its player absolute freedom of movement. Moreover the FR-3b provides a headphone jack.

User Programs

Now thanks to the new Version 2.0 operating system the FR-3b contains 10 memories where you can store your settings. Working with those memories has the advantage that you can recall frequently used settings at the press of a button.

Musette Detune

The FR-3b comes with 16 Musette micro tuning presets programmable for each Set.

Keyboard & Bellows

Right hand: 92-button right-hand keyboard
Left hand: 120 bass buttons with velocity,
Modes: Standard, Free Bass mode, Orch. Bass, Orch. Chord, Orch. Free Bass
Bellows: Real pneumatic detection of bellows pressure, high-resolution pressure sensor
Bellows Resistance Regulator: Wheel with 4 positions

Sound Source

Sound Generator: Max polyphony: 64 voices
Tones: 10 Accordion Sets, each one including:
12 Treble registers, 7 Bass registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Chord registers, 10 Orchestral sounds
Treble reed footages: 4
Bass reed footages: 5
Chord reed footages: 3
Free Bass footages: 2
Orchestral sounds: Trombone, Trumpet, T Sax, A Sax, Clarinet, Harmonica, Violin, Flute, Jazz Org, Blues Org
Orchestral Bass sounds: Acoustic, Bowed, Fingered, Fretless, Picked, Tuba, Tuba Mix
Orchestral Free Bass sounds: Trombone, Clarinet, Oboe, Flute, Perc Organ, Ac Guitar, Ac Piano
Orchestral Chord sounds: St. Strings, Chorus Organ, Steel Guitar, St. Orch Brass, Choir, Harps+Strings, Guitar+Organ

PBM (Physical Behaviour Modelling)

Noises: Stopping-reed growl, Closing valve noise, Left button noise
Individual reed simulation: Hysteresis threshold, Expression curve, Pressure variant filter, Pressure variant pitch deviation
Switching reed sound wave: by bellows acceleration,
by note repetition speed

Musette Tuning

Micro tuning presets: 16: Off, Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish
Programmable Musette tuning for each set.

Effects

Reverb: 8 types
Chorus: 8 types
“Cassotto” and “Sordina” simulation: Yes

Panel Controls

Knob controls: Volume, Treble / Bass balance, Reverb, Chorus

Panel Switches

Treble registers: 10 + Orchestra + Set + User Program
Bass registers: 7
Metronome: On, Off
Other switches: Sordina Mellow/Bright, Power

Operation Modes

Orchestra mode: Solo, Dual, High, Low
Bass & Chord Modes: 2 Bs Rows, 3 Bs Rows A-7th, 3Bs Rows A-5dim, 3Bs Rows B-7th, 3Bs Rows B-5dim, 3Bs Rows Bx
Free Bass Modes: Minor 3rd, Bajan, Fifth, North Europe, Finnish
Treble Modes: C Griff Europe, C Griff 2, B Griff bajan, B Griff Fin, D Griff 1, D Griff 2
User Program: 10 programmable User Programs
Octave: Down, 0, Up for Treble and Orchestra

Others

Onboard connectors: Headphones Jack (Stereo), Output Jack: L/Mono(Treble), R/Mono(Bass), MIDI connector: OUT/IN (adjustable via MIDI parameter)
Power supply: External AC adapter (100V~240V universal) Battery (optional): AA type rechargeable battery
Supplied accessories: External AC adapter, Owner’s manual, Accordion cloth, Straps, Reference caps fro Treble and Bass buttons, Battery holder (pre-installed in compartment)
Optional accessories: Gigbag (BAG-FR-3)