Roland VG-99 GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer

Roland VG-99 GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer


Introduction to the VG-99:

This page is dedicated to the Roland VG-99, and the excellent GR-300 emulation found inside the Roland VG-99. Below you will find links to video demos of the Roland VG-99 in action, emulating the GR-300 and more. Also, at the bottom of the page are essential links and programming tips.

VG-99 Roland GR-300 Emulation and Vintage GR-300 Compared:

Check out the November issue of Premier Guitar magazine! Wayne Scott Joness does an extensive side-by-side comparison of the virtual Roland GR-300 emulation in the Roland VG-99 with a vintage Roland GR-300.

The article includes the results of timing tests and oscilloscope screen capture photos of a real and emulated GR-300. This is the most extensive comparison of this legendary vintage analog synthesizer ever published!
Premier Guitar Magazine Comparison of the Roland GR-300 and VG-99 GR-300 Emulation

VB-99 Roland GR-33B Emulation and Vintage GR-33B Compared:

Check out the online September issue of Premier Guitar magazine! Wayne Scott Joness does an extensive side-by-side comparison of the virtual Roland GR-300 emulation in the Roland VB-99 with a vintage Roland GR-33B.

The article includes cool video clips of bassist Mark Harris playing a GR-33B and VB-99 at the same time!
Premier Guitar Magazine Comparison of the Roland GR-33B and VB-99 GR-300 Emulation

New CV-13 Video Demos with IMG2010 and VG-99:

    Below are a series of videos demonstrating the IMG2010 guitar synthesizer controller with the Roland VG-99, using the CV-13 and the 24-to-13 pin bus converter, and control voltage interface..

    Filter, resonance, vibrato depth, virtual whammy bar low and mode are all active on the Ibanez IMG2010. CTL 1 on the FC-300 changes the virtual Mashall stack input from low to hight gain, and CTL 1 on the FC-300 turns reverb on and off.

    CTL 1 on the VG-99 front panel engages an octave leaps in "duet" mode, and CTL 2 on the VG-99 front panel engages filter modulation.

    Introduction to the CV-13 and the Roland VG-99, Guitar Controls and Layering, "Dual Guitars"
    This video demonstrates using the Ibanez IMG2010 guitar synth controller with the Roland VG-99/FC-300 combination. You can add up to four external control voltages sources with the FC-300. In this clip, a CV-13 is used to translate the vintage 24-pin signals to 13-pin format, and outputs control voltages for the FC-300.
    Roland VG-99 Guitar Synthesizer Programming Tutorial - Acoustic Guitar
    This clip demonstrates using the Roland VG-99 Editor to program a virtual acoustic guitar with the Roland VG-99. A Ibanez IMG2010 is used with the CV-13 Bus Converter and the FC-300. Tips include detuning, polycompression and reverb ambience.
    Roland VG-99 Guitar Synthesizer Programming Tutorial - Electric Les Paul Guitar
    This clip demonstrates using the Roland VG-99 Editor to program a virtual Les Paul guitar with the Roland VG-99. A Ibanez IMG2010 is used with the CV-13 Bus Converter and the FC-300. Tips include multiple control sources channel delay.
    Roland VG-99 FC-300 Footswitch Ibanez IMG2010 Vintage Analog Guitar Controller and CV-13
    Using the Roland FC-300 with the Roland VG-99 and a CV-13. The CV-13 is used as an interface between the vintage Ibanez IMG2010 and the Roland FC-300. Various control voltages from the Ibanez IMG2010 are used to control the VG-99.
    Download "Dual Guitars" for the VG-99 Editor
    Click on the image on the left to download the VG-99 patch used in the above demo videos. This is the cabling setup: custom CV-13 6’ TRS cable from CV-13 Filter output to VG-99 EXP Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Resonance output to FC-300 EXP 3 Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Mod output to FC-300 EXP 4 Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from Control Lo output to FC-300 EXP 5 Pedal input. The Balance/Control Up output is not used.
    Roland VG-99 and Virtual Analog GR-300 Synthesizer Analog Control Voltage Sources G-707 Guitar, "Super GR-300"
    A Roland G-707 vintage analog guitar synth controller is used with the Roland VG-99. A CV-13 interfaces the IMG2010 to the Roland VG-99 and FC-300. The G-707 works just like it would with a real Roland GR-300.
    Roland VG-99 and Virtual Analog GR-300 Synthesizer Programming Tutorial
    A short tutorial showing the Roland VG-99 modeling two Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizers. Various front panel switches and control knobs are used for real time GR-300 control. A CV-13 interfaces the IMG2010 to the Roland VG-99 and FC-300. The G-707 works just like it would with a real Roland GR-300.
    Download "Dual Synths" for the VG-99 Editor
    Click on the image on the left to download the VG-99 patch used in the above demo videos. This is the cabling setup: custom CV-13 6’ TRS cable from CV-13 Filter output to VG-99 EXP Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Resonance output to FC-300 EXP 3 Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Mod output to FC-300 EXP 4 Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from Control Lo output to FC-300 EXP 5 Pedal input. The Balance/Control Up output is not used.


VG-99 and CV-13 Classic "Pat Metheny" Guitar Rig - Roland GR-300 with Gibson ES-175:

    This setup is designed to recreate some of the most popular sounds of jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. COSM Guitar A of the VG-99 recreates the sound of Pat’s GR-300 lead. COSM Guitar B of the VG-99 creates a virtual Gibson ES-175. Check out the video clips below, and you can get an idea of the amazing versatility that is the unique combination of a vintage Roland GR controller with the VG-99.

    Filter, resonance, vibrato depth, balance and mode are all active on the Ibanez IMG2010 just as they would be with a real GR-300. CTL 2 on the FC-300 engages Pat’s signature octave leaps, and CTL 1 on the FC-300 engages a GR-300 duet of 5ths, calling to mind King Crimson. There has never, ever, been a guitar rig as compact, versatile and as flexible as this in the history of guitar synthesis. CTL 1 on the VG-99 engages the reverb on the ES-175, and CTL 2 on the VG-99 engages the internal GR-300 compressor. I add the compressor at the end of the first demo for extra sustain while string bending a classic "braying" GR-300 tone.

    Classic "Pat Metheny" Guitar Rig - Roland GR-300 with Gibson ES-175
    Since the VG-99/FC-300 combination has four control inputs, I am using the four controllers found on a typical Roland G-202/303/505/707/808: filter cutoff frequency, resonance, vibrato rate, and the balance control knob. But the VG-99 has dual COSM guitar paths, so COSM guitar B is designed to emulate a Gibson ES-175. I play the guitar dry at first, for that in-you-face jazz tone, then add reverb, since it helps to cover my mistakes! The balance controls then blends the output to pure GR-300. With a vintage Roland controller and the CV-13 you can pretty much recreate the GR-300 experience!
    Virtual GR-300 Performance Demo
    Accomplished jazz guitarist Brad Rabuchin does his turn with the IMG-2010, CV-13 and VG-99. The virtual GR-300 becomes a reality! Brad shows how the filter, resonance, LFO and mode switch are mapped to the VG-99. In every respect, this rig plays and sounds like a GR-300 with a vintage 24-pin controller. In this demo, the octave jump switch is mapped to the front panel of the VG-99 instead of the FC-300 foot controller.
    Vintage Hex Fuzz Tones!
    The Hex Fuzz sound was one of the highlights of early Roland guitar synthesis. This feature was discontinued with the Roland G-707 and later guitars, but the VG-99 recreates the hex fuzz circuit. This demo first shows the polyphonic distortion of hex fuzz, then I switch to a blend of the hex fuzz and the VCO synthesizer output, then back to the virtual hollowbody jazz guitar. Roland actually made several different hex fuzz circuits, and the circuit in the VG-99 reminds me more of the G-202 design which had more clarity and less saturation.
    Download "Pat’s Rig" for the VG-99 Editor
    Click on the image on the left to download the patch I used to create these video demos. This is the cabling setup: custom CV-13 12’ TRS cable from CV-13 Filter output to VG-99 EXP Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Resonance output to FC-300 EXP 3 Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Mod output to FC-300 EXP 4 Pedal input. Custom CV-13 3’ TRS cable from CV-13 Balance output to FC-300 EXP 5 Pedal input. The Balance/Control Up switch is in the down position (off). The Control Down output is not used.


Rain Song - Guitar Modeling and Alternate Tuning:

    This clip features more vintage tones from the VG-99. A Les Paul is layered with Martin 000-28, with each guitar panned hard left and hard right. I used the GK switch to turn each guitar on and off. And both guitars are set to an alternate tuning: D G C G C D (low to high).

    VG-99 Acoustic and Alternate Tuning Guitars
    This guitar is a perfect match for the Roland VG-99. The precise, even ebony fret board perfectly translates your playing into any virtual guitar. This demo features a virtual Acoustic and Les Paul guitar, in an alternate tuning. The GK S1/S2 toggle switch is used to turn each virtual guitar on and off. With the Warmoth Strat, notice how flawlessly the VG-99 generates the alternate tunings without a glitch. And you can instantly switch guitar tunings!
    Download "Rain Song" in Standard MIDI File format
    Following the format set up by the VG-99 Programmers Group, I have saved this file as a Standard MIDI File. Control+Click (MAC) or Right Click (PC) on the image at the right to save the file. You can play the programming data back on any sequencer. The patch was saved as program 200. Connect MIDI out from your sequencer to MIDI in on the VG-99. After playing the file, check for patch number 200.


Video Demo VG-99 and VG-88 Together:

    This demo features the VG-99 and a VG-88 used together! I used a US-20 clone so the CV-13 can be used to drive both a VG-99 and a VG-88. The VG-99 is connected to the Synth A output, and the VG-88 is connected to the Synth B output. The FC-300 is not used in this demo, instead, CV-13 Filter CV#1 is connected to the VG-99 EXP Pedal input, and CV-13 Resonance CV#2 is connected to the VG-88 EXP Pedal input. This provides independent control over two different parameters on two different synthesizers.

    VG-99 and VG-88 Together
    The VG-99 is connected to the Synth A output, and the VG-88 is connected to the Synth B ouput. VG-99 is panned to the left, playing a hard distortion patch, and the VG-88 is panned hard right, playing a processed clean Strat patch. Filter is used to bend the pitch of the distortion guitar down one octave, and Resonance is used to control the Chorus level on the clean Strat. You can also see the footswitches in action, turning the pitch bend and chorus on and off.


Video Demo MIDI Control with VG-99:

    This demo features the VG-99 with a Roland XV-5080 module. I have the Roland SRX-07 Ultimate Keys card installed, with all the original waveforms from the SR-JV80-04 Vintage Synth card, and I am playing the patch "Pats GR-300." on the high E string. In MIDI Mono mode, you can assign different sounds to different strings, so I am also using acoustic guitar and electric and acoustic pianos on other strings. You can hear the blend of the XV-5080 GR-300 patch with the GR-300 emulation in the VG-99. Also, in the middle of the demo I am using the touch pads to trigger the LFO in the VG-99. As of Version 1.04 software, the MIDI capability of the VG-99 is not as good as the GI-20 or other Roland guitar synthesizers, but it works pretty well.

    MIDI Control with the VG-99
    The VG-99 MIDI OUT is patched to the MIDI IN on a Roland XV-5080. The Filter Cutoff knob on the guitar is assigned to control MIDI volume, so Filter Cutoff controls the volume of the XV-5080, and the Master Volume on the guitar controls the volume of the VG-99. The guitar is a Fender Stratocaster with vintage Roland STK-1 electronics installed, the same electronics package found in a Roland G-707 guitar.


V9SF-001 Input Jack Board for VG-99: Improves GR-300 Emulation with Piezo Pickups

Introduction to the V9SF-001 Input Jack Board
Comparing Piezo and Magnetic Pickups
Installing the Input Jack Board
Final test, listening to the GR-300 emulation with the V9SF-001


    Many early VG-99 users noted that some problems using guitars with piezo pickups. Almost immediately, Roland issued a new software update that improved the unit. However, some problems continued. In particular, there was a strange, low frequency ambient noise when using the GR-300 emulation.

    It appeared that when building the VG-99, Roland opted to not include the high-pass filters that were a part of the VG-88. These filters, found on the VG-88, cut out very low frequency noise and rumble. Piezo pickups, mechanically driven by string vibration and sensitive to body noise, produce this low frequency energy. RMC Pickups stepped up by offering an input jack board replacement kit for the VG-99. This is a very clever solution, basically a plug-and-play replacement part for the original jack board. The four video clips above give a before-and-after view of the installation, with tips on installing the board, and tests.
Software Update Note:

    I strongly recommend using version 1.04 software with your VG-99. Earlier versions of the VG-99 operating system would have all the continuous controllers intermittently lock-up. The VG-99 still played, but none of the continuous control knobs, D Beam controller, etc. would respond. And this means the CV-13 would stop working as well. You can download the version 1.04 software here.


Links, Users Groups, Documentation, More:

Online VG-99 Review

Marty Cutler Electronic Musician VG-99 Review

Programming GK S1 and S2 for GR-300 emulation PDF File

Programming the Virtual Whammy with the VG-99 PDF File

Back BC-13 BC-13 DC-13 G-303 GR-100 GR-300 GR-700 GR-33 GM-70 IMG2010 Korg Z3 MC1 RC-13 24/24/13 Converter SIP-300 SIP-301 SPV-355 US-2 XJ-S How the GR-300 Works GR-300 Filter Pedal GR-300 Footswitch Filter Switch Control Product Product 1982 GR Brochure 1984 GR Brochure 1985 IMG-2010 Brochure IMG-2010 Product Korg Z3 Brochure Magazine Ads Cables Demos Guitars Guitar Electronics Pickup Setup GK-1 Mod GK-1 Kit LPK and STK Kit Manuals MIDI Speed Tests Pin Out Repairs Schematics Virtual Whammy Bar 13-Pin Panel Mount 24-to-13 Sound Page Abercrombie Fripp Metheny Morse Summers Get Info Links Email