VP-550

Vocal & Ensemble Keyboard

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Q.Can I use the VP-550 to replicate the distinctive sounds heard in the song "TOKIO" by Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO)?

A.Yes. By making the following settings in the VP-550's Vocal Designer, you can replicate the type of sound heard in YMO's song "TOKIO."

  1. Select the Vocal Designer sound VOCODER 2.


    "VOCODER 2" is the sound of a vintage vocoder. It can be used in a broad range of styles, including the pop music of the 1980s. It's also suitable for chordal playing, as well as rapid single-note passages.

  2. Select PITCH in the D BEAM section.


  3. Hold down notes in the lower range of the keyboard. Then, while vocalizing "TOKIO" into a mic connected to the VP-550, move your hand toward the D Beam sensor at the appropriate timing.

Note:
The distinctive vocal-based sounds heard in YMO's "TOKIO" were created using the VP-330, a new type of vocoder that Roland produced in 1979. The VP-330 was a musical instrument that opened up new possibilities for creating distinctive vocal sounds, and was widely used in the pop and electronic music styles of that era.

(2006/03/15)

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