Roland VP-330

VP-330
A Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus
ManufacturerRoland Corporation
Dates1979-1980[1]
PriceUS$2,695[1] equivalent to $11,314 in 2023
Technical specifications
PolyphonyParaphonic
OscillatorSingle master VCO divided into full note range[2]
LFOSine wave[2]
Synthesis typeAnalog subtractive
Filter7 band-pass for human voice tones; 10 band-pass for vocoder[2]
AttenuatorSingle attack and release shared by all voices
Aftertouch expressionNo
Velocity expressionNo
Effects2 parallel BBDs per channel (4 BBDs total) for stereo ensemble effect[2]
Input/output
Keyboard49 keys[2]
Left-hand controlPitch bend
External controlVocoder hold via foot switch

The Roland VP-330 is a paraphonic ten-band[2] vocoder and string machine manufactured by Roland Corporation from 1979 to 1980.[1] While there are several string machines and vocoders, a single device combining the two is rare, despite the advantage of paraphonic vocoding, and the VP-330's synthetic choir sounds are unique. Despite the VP-330's electronic string and choir sounds being less realistic than those of the tape-based Mellotron, touring musicians used it as a lighter and more robust alternative.[3]

The Roland SVC-350 is a similar vocoder in rack-mount form designed to accept external inputs.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference analogue-synthesisers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference service-notes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Music Technology Feb 1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Roland SVC-350 Vocoder". Retrieved 2021-07-14.