seen alot of questions here regarding the 1680, I was a ninja at it in 1997. Here is my 2cents. 1. Can it be used with your current DAW? Yes, with midi sync you can lock the 2, then dump tracks via outputs or spdif back into your daw in perfect sync. 2. 1680 hard drive is small, can it be upgraded? - Yes, you can upgrade to 100gig drive, but you have to create partitions of 2gigs, so 100 divided by 2 is 50, the machine will show you have 50 drives of 2gigs each. 3. Zip drives? - Yes but not reccommended, much wiser to buy a cd drive or update hard drive. Also there is a piece of software out there that converts 1680 into wave files...use google. this is how I use dump sessions to my daw. If you guys have any other questions please feel free to ask me. I started out on 1680 back in 1997 and it set me on a wonderful path. Today I am fluent in all things recording and all daws, My current setup is around 45k in hardware =0 and has won me me many awards and accolades =)
you midi machine control., you will need a midi interface. you will need the the 1680 manual, there is a page that details the setting for the 1680 so that it can be slaved to midi clock....there will also be a page in protools online manual on how to slave to midi clock. basically lil changes have to be made to PT, and 1680 has to be put in external slave mode....good luck!
Hi King. I own a vs1680 since 1999. I lost the demosong "seems so right" and never succeded to recover it .I got a cd-rom given by Roland to recover it by scsi(with a scsi cd driver). i think i must join 12 midifiles two to succeed , but nothing goes clear. When i load the cd-rom, vs1680 asks me the next file . Is it possible to be a second cd-rom? Do you know how to do?
A difficult machine and manual to learn but one would be hard-pressed to find anything ,including a pro-sound studio ,that sounds as good. I love my old Roland vs-1680.!
It was a lot of fun back in the 1990's playing with this, before Pro Tools, etc were stable and easy options. Have you ever had to edit an audio file on the VS? That was a bit tricky, but do-able. Thanks for the comment.
No, I haven't had to edit an audio file yet....I know it's a difficult system in many ways, but the sound, especially with the 24-bit Effect Expansion Board that my friend added is awesome.I suppose in the future I will eventually upgrade to something better and easier and I'm sure the sound will be just as good if not better.But for now, I'll do whatever I can with this workstation.Thanks for the videos..they're really helpful....Sincerely ,MMB
I bought one of these back in about '99. I also bought some new monitors and a discrete amp, lots of mics and cables. Lots of fun, then some losers stole it all.
Do I have to an oldshool receiver, double cassette tape deck & wire speaker monitors plugged into the roland digital multi recorder & a music esoniq work station to record instrumentals to practice to, instead of burning out the device on repeat play?
Hi, I recently got this unit as a classic mixer. Works perfect but have only one FX card. Can I insert multiple effects to channels? Lets say a reverb to vocal channel and Chorus to guitar channel from one card?
I tried this too Griffin. Because the unit originally came with computer software, that seemed to integrate somehow. It was a recording software title that fizzled out. I tried using the MIDI Ports for recording MIDI data, and to use the 1608 as a control surface but it didn't seem to work. The only functionality that I found for MIDI on the 1608 was the Midi Machine Control. Which helped me in one instance. MMC allows for transport control between devices (play, record, etc.).
Thanks so much for the reply, I've been looking at the zips, found a few on ebay. So does having these allow you to place songs you're working on an external zip, and continue working on them? Or do you have to move them back to the VS? Do you know how much extra space the Zip 100's usually give you? Sorry about bombing you with questions, I've become the primary sound guy for FOUR bands and I'm running out of space constantly aerhg
I'm not sure I'm following the question. You want the vocals to be sent out a different audio output? Such as the Aux outputs? You can use a pre-fader send, then turn down the output fader of the vocal. A pre-fader send will send sound out, even if the main fader for that channel is pulled down. That's how live engineers keep separate mixes for headphones for people on stage, and the main speakers, etc.
Webros, For the limited memory you used to be able to get an external scssi drive. But these days that would be hard to find. I had mine custom made. But it would be easy to get an extenal ZIP drive. The 1608 will only work with the Zip 100 unit, not the 250, if I remember correctly. And a JAZ drive will not work. I saw a ZIP 100 at a thrift store the other day. Try Amazon, I see some used ones there.
My god I wished I new about that typing thing ages ago haha thanks for that! My main two problems with this unit is: 1: Exporting from the workstation: In the past I've used a piece of hardware called an M-Audio device and I'd place it onto cheap editing programs onto my vista, but I'm wondering if there are better ways of doing it? 2: Space! This thing only has 2Gb of memory, is there anyway of increasing the maximum memory limit? If you could help me out in anyway I would be really thankful!
I am fairly certain that you are limited to 16 tracks at the same time. Thus the model number 1608. Of course you can bounce tracks down to a stereo track and free up more tracks, Beatles style.
First of all, thank you for the typing tip! That made things so much easier. I have a question, probably a dumb one, but I can't figure it out. When I record a song, it plays back just how I record it, but when I go to transfer to CD or my computer, I lose the effects. The only thing I can find about this is the comment that the effects are not transferred, and to hear the song without effects, do this and that, etc.. This makes no sense, because why would someone want to record a song, and spend time getting things just right, then lose every effect setting when they move to CD? How do you save the song as it sounds, with effects, so that when you transfer or record it to CD, it sounds the same? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Chris Siegle Chris, I'm afraid what you're describing is all new territory for me. I never had a CD burner for the VS. In my studio I would transfer the tracks to the computer, and mix them in the computer (adding reverb in the computer, and other effects). Sorry. There's nothing in the manual about this??
+Chris Siegle when you dump the 16 tracks to the virtual 17 18 you have to also icluse the fx busses. hope this helps. I started off on a 1680 and was a NINJA at it, man o man how time flies and where it took me to...nostalgia
The only exporting is via audio. You can output the audio to any recorder (including computer software). This Roland had an external CD burner that attached via SCSSI. I'm pretty sure those files were audio wav or something like that. I'm not sure why you would want to do this ... and not just record into fruity loops to begin with?
I just bought one of these and I'm anxious to start using it. Aside from cables and obvious things like mics and instruments, what should I buy to make sure I'm fully set up to start using this fine machine?
+Anon Zero i recommend a large hard drive. the 1680 only reads 2g partitions but you can create many partitions out of a 100g drive. also i recommend having both fx cards installed and update to latest OS
Actually, you can only have 8 partitions on the 1680 (0 through 7), 2.1 Gb each. I have a 20 Gig Toshiba drive in mine. Any more than that just does not get used.
+Chris Anderson as an interface no. these were built in a time before anyone thought like that. you could still use it in a setup with logic by using midi sync, and then dumping tracks afterwards, but it is not an efficient work flow. hope this helps
I would love to talk with you on more info about this unit, I got one and really am lost in what I need to do in make a back ground vocal track with a cd accompaniment track. I have down loaded the manual and it daunting .
From what you describe, it might be easier to go the software route. If the accompaniment track contains drum loops and virtual instruments, I would consider Logic (Mac OS), FL Studio (Windows), Ableton Live. If the backing tracks are only acoustic sound sources I'd consider Reaper (free/cheap), or Pro Tools (you can rent it for about ten dollars a month, but you need an iLok). There are lots of videos and online courses for all of the above.
The store bought tracks I buy have all the music that's needed . Only the voices are missing. There a karaoke trax but with much much better studio musician. I just fill in the four part harmony . I stack the vocals on four other traxs to sing with the the music trax that stored in a trax and the other men in the quartet will sing over the 5 traxs that have been saved and burned . It sounds fuller when preforming in church . This is where I need help in putting vocals on traxs with the music that's already bought and lade down. Its some many buttons on the Roland.
I see, I have done similar things for backing tracks in church. The VS 1680 does not have a CD burner, and it's not easy to transfer songs to computer. maybe even pay a local engineer for a few private lessons using the software. What you want to do in the software is fairly simple, just record, mix, pan the vocals, maybe a little reverb.
Morrisman. I don't remember specifically how, but there has to be a way to do that. I'm getting ready for work now, can't research. But please follow up with a post here if you find/discover the answer.
@@PeteBuchwald Do I have to an oldshool receiver, double cassette tape deck & wire speaker monitors plugged into the roland digital multi recorder & a music esoniq work station to record instrumentals to practice to, instead of burning out the device on repeat play?
ok this may be a stupid question and i know it can do it, it wouldnt have the midi ports on back if it couldnt. HOW DO YOU USE THIS BOARD WITH A DAW like pro tools or fruity loops through midi as a midi controller for the mixing board within the software. and use it as your primary recording. if it really cant do this, what are the midi ports for?
Thanks bro.But you didn't.Actually show us ...How to Record,a simple track.Ie,how to set up say a guitar.Then what to hit to record that track and save.
That's fair. I personally found the patching/routing to be the more challenging part of using the VS 1680, and I assumed that would be the same case for others. I should have been a little more thorough and sensitive to other issues that would be relative to others. Thanks for watching, and the comment.
seen alot of questions here regarding the 1680, I was a ninja at it in 1997. Here is my 2cents. 1. Can it be used with your current DAW? Yes, with midi sync you can lock the 2, then dump tracks via outputs or spdif back into your daw in perfect sync. 2. 1680 hard drive is small, can it be upgraded? - Yes, you can upgrade to 100gig drive, but you have to create partitions of 2gigs, so 100 divided by 2 is 50, the machine will show you have 50 drives of 2gigs each. 3. Zip drives? - Yes but not reccommended, much wiser to buy a cd drive or update hard drive. Also there is a piece of software out there that converts 1680 into wave files...use google. this is how I use dump sessions to my daw. If you guys have any other questions please feel free to ask me. I started out on 1680 back in 1997 and it set me on a wonderful path. Today I am fluent in all things recording and all daws, My current setup is around 45k in hardware =0 and has won me me many awards and accolades =)
how do i midi syc this to pro tools on a mac?
you midi machine control., you will need a midi interface. you will need the the 1680 manual, there is a page that details the setting for the 1680 so that it can be slaved to midi clock....there will also be a page in protools online manual on how to slave to midi clock. basically lil changes have to be made to PT, and 1680 has to be put in external slave mode....good luck!
sorry i mis typed, in protools, it will be midi master, not slave
OkTHanks
Hi King. I own a vs1680 since 1999. I lost the demosong "seems so right" and never succeded to recover it .I got a cd-rom given by Roland to recover it by scsi(with a scsi cd driver). i think i must join 12 midifiles two to succeed , but nothing goes clear. When i load the cd-rom, vs1680 asks me the next file . Is it possible to be a second cd-rom? Do you know how to do?
Thank you very much. I just got a chance to use one of these. I think I got myself a good head start with your help.
A difficult machine and manual to learn but one would be hard-pressed to find anything ,including a pro-sound studio ,that sounds as good. I love my old Roland vs-1680.!
It was a lot of fun back in the 1990's playing with this, before Pro Tools, etc were stable and easy options. Have you ever had to edit an audio file on the VS? That was a bit tricky, but do-able. Thanks for the comment.
No, I haven't had to edit an audio file yet....I know it's a difficult system in many ways, but the sound, especially with the 24-bit Effect Expansion Board that my friend added is awesome.I suppose in the future I will eventually upgrade to something better and easier and I'm sure the sound will be just as good if not better.But for now, I'll do whatever I can with this workstation.Thanks for the videos..they're really helpful....Sincerely ,MMB
I bought one of these back in about '99. I also bought some new monitors and a discrete amp, lots of mics and cables. Lots of fun, then some losers stole it all.
Do I have to an oldshool receiver, double cassette tape deck & wire speaker monitors plugged into the roland digital multi recorder & a music esoniq work station to record instrumentals to practice to, instead of burning out the device on repeat play?
Hi, I recently got this unit as a classic mixer. Works perfect but have only one FX card. Can I insert multiple effects to channels? Lets say a reverb to vocal channel and Chorus to guitar channel from one card?
Very helpful thank you
I tried this too Griffin. Because the unit originally came with computer software, that seemed to integrate somehow. It was a recording software title that fizzled out. I tried using the MIDI Ports for recording MIDI data, and to use the 1608 as a control surface but it didn't seem to work. The only functionality that I found for MIDI on the 1608 was the Midi Machine Control. Which helped me in one instance. MMC allows for transport control between devices (play, record, etc.).
Thanks so much for the reply, I've been looking at the zips, found a few on ebay. So does having these allow you to place songs you're working on an external zip, and continue working on them? Or do you have to move them back to the VS? Do you know how much extra space the Zip 100's usually give you? Sorry about bombing you with questions, I've become the primary sound guy for FOUR bands and I'm running out of space constantly aerhg
I'm not sure I'm following the question. You want the vocals to be sent out a different audio output? Such as the Aux outputs? You can use a pre-fader send, then turn down the output fader of the vocal. A pre-fader send will send sound out, even if the main fader for that channel is pulled down. That's how live engineers keep separate mixes for headphones for people on stage, and the main speakers, etc.
Webros, For the limited memory you used to be able to get an external scssi drive. But these days that would be hard to find. I had mine custom made. But it would be easy to get an extenal ZIP drive. The 1608 will only work with the Zip 100 unit, not the 250, if I remember correctly. And a JAZ drive will not work. I saw a ZIP 100 at a thrift store the other day. Try Amazon, I see some used ones there.
My god I wished I new about that typing thing ages ago haha thanks for that! My main two problems with this unit is:
1: Exporting from the workstation: In the past I've used a piece of hardware called an M-Audio device and I'd place it onto cheap editing programs onto my vista, but I'm wondering if there are better ways of doing it?
2: Space! This thing only has 2Gb of memory, is there anyway of increasing the maximum memory limit?
If you could help me out in anyway I would be really thankful!
I can't manage to enable channles 9-16 on my vs1680. The status buttons are always off. Any ideas?
I am fairly certain that you are limited to 16 tracks at the same time. Thus the model number 1608. Of course you can bounce tracks down to a stereo track and free up more tracks, Beatles style.
First of all, thank you for the typing tip! That made things so much easier. I have a question, probably a dumb one, but I can't figure it out. When I record a song, it plays back just how I record it, but when I go to transfer to CD or my computer, I lose the effects. The only thing I can find about this is the comment that the effects are not transferred, and to hear the song without effects, do this and that, etc.. This makes no sense, because why would someone want to record a song, and spend time getting things just right, then lose every effect setting when they move to CD? How do you save the song as it sounds, with effects, so that when you transfer or record it to CD, it sounds the same? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Chris Siegle Chris, I'm afraid what you're describing is all new territory for me. I never had a CD burner for the VS. In my studio I would transfer the tracks to the computer, and mix them in the computer (adding reverb in the computer, and other effects). Sorry. There's nothing in the manual about this??
+Chris Siegle when you dump the 16 tracks to the virtual 17 18 you have to also icluse the fx busses. hope this helps. I started off on a 1680 and was a NINJA at it, man o man how time flies and where it took me to...nostalgia
can you export the files to computer?? Like I have FL Studio ( fruity loops) could I export the files and alter the tracks??
hello sir, do you know if how many tracks you can paly on that simultaneously?
The only exporting is via audio. You can output the audio to any recorder (including computer software). This Roland had an external CD burner that attached via SCSSI. I'm pretty sure those files were audio wav or something like that. I'm not sure why you would want to do this ... and not just record into fruity loops to begin with?
I just bought one of these and I'm anxious to start using it. Aside from cables and obvious things like mics and instruments, what should I buy to make sure I'm fully set up to start using this fine machine?
+Anon Zero i recommend a large hard drive. the 1680 only reads 2g partitions but you can create many partitions out of a 100g drive. also i recommend having both fx cards installed and update to latest OS
Actually, you can only have 8 partitions on the 1680 (0 through 7), 2.1 Gb each. I have a 20 Gig Toshiba drive in mine. Any more than that just does not get used.
Damn didnt know that...its been so long for me
I just pulled my back out and plan to use it predominately. Feel like I'm home again. Lots of support with this at VSPlanet.com to BTW.
does anyone know how to separate my vocals so that i can send them out so they wont be coming out of the main outs? thx
does anyone know if you can use this as a multitrack interface with logic or can it only be used as a standalone unit?
+Chris Anderson as an interface no. these were built in a time before anyone thought like that. you could still use it in a setup with logic by using midi sync, and then dumping tracks afterwards, but it is not an efficient work flow.
hope this helps
I would love to talk with you on more info about this unit, I got one and really am lost in what I need to do in make a back ground vocal track with a cd accompaniment track. I have down loaded the manual and it daunting .
From what you describe, it might be easier to go the software route. If the accompaniment track contains drum loops and virtual instruments, I would consider Logic (Mac OS), FL Studio (Windows), Ableton Live. If the backing tracks are only acoustic sound sources I'd consider Reaper (free/cheap), or Pro Tools (you can rent it for about ten dollars a month, but you need an iLok). There are lots of videos and online courses for all of the above.
The store bought tracks I buy have all the music that's needed . Only the voices are missing. There a karaoke trax but with much much better studio musician. I just fill in the four part harmony . I stack the vocals on four other traxs to sing with the the music trax that stored in a trax and the other men in the quartet will sing over the 5 traxs that have been saved and burned . It sounds fuller when preforming in church . This is where I need help in putting vocals on traxs with the music that's already bought and lade down. Its some many buttons on the Roland.
I see, I have done similar things for backing tracks in church. The VS 1680 does not have a CD burner, and it's not easy to transfer songs to computer. maybe even pay a local engineer for a few private lessons using the software. What you want to do in the software is fairly simple, just record, mix, pan the vocals, maybe a little reverb.
How do I erase or clear my VS1680 full disk indicator?
+Michel Leon you would have to create backups first using an external hard drive or CDR's , then go to utilities and clear out all songs
PLEASE someone tell me how to erase a song off this unit thanks no mention in the manual.
Morrisman. I don't remember specifically how, but there has to be a way to do that. I'm getting ready for work now, can't research. But please follow up with a post here if you find/discover the answer.
@@PeteBuchwald Do I have to an oldshool receiver, double cassette tape deck & wire speaker monitors plugged into the roland digital multi recorder & a music esoniq work station to record instrumentals to practice to, instead of burning out the device on repeat play?
It’s 90 pound on reverb. I wander how much it was then 12 year ago
Good question. When I bought mine (shortly after they were first made) I think it was about $2000 (US), with the effects cards upgrade included.
how do I save a project ?
+Dominic Row go to disk, save song =)
ok this may be a stupid question and i know it can do it, it wouldnt have the midi ports on back if it couldnt. HOW DO YOU USE THIS BOARD WITH A DAW like pro tools or fruity loops through midi as a midi controller for the mixing board within the software. and use it as your primary recording. if it really cant do this, what are the midi ports for?
Thanks bro.But you didn't.Actually show us ...How to Record,a simple track.Ie,how to set up say a guitar.Then what to hit to record that track and save.
That's fair. I personally found the patching/routing to be the more challenging part of using the VS 1680, and I assumed that would be the same case for others. I should have been a little more thorough and sensitive to other issues that would be relative to others. Thanks for watching, and the comment.
@@PeteBuchwald yes sir..Before patching etc...The base tracks have to be recorded.But good video.Thanks