ROLAND VG-99

TRAINING GUIDE

Contents

1. FEATURES

2. QUICK DEMO

3. FIVE FEATURES TO KNOW and SHOW

4. ACCESSORIES

5. VG-99 GUITAR, AMPS, EFFECTS

 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

1. FEATURES

 The ultimate modeling guitar processor

 Two discrete COSM guitar signal paths: each models

guitars, basses, synth waves, amps, effects, and mixers

 Either or both signal paths can be used at the same time

 Switching can be by onboard controllers, footswitches,

picking dynamics, or all of these

 Ten polyphonic pitch shifters: five for each signal path

 Two GT-Pro equivalent effects processors

 Converts guitar to MIDI and USB audio

 D-Beam and ribbon controller plus dynamic input sensing for

unique performance capabilities

 Unequalled real time control: up to 18 parameters can be

controlled by any one of up to 20 VG controllers at one time

 Stereo 1/4” outs, plus stereo XLR sub outs w/ ground lift,
USB, SP/DIF, and MIDI I/O

 Table top, Rack mountable, or stand mountable

 Bundled with Mac/PC Editor /Librarian software

 Works with FC-300 MIDI Foot Controller

 MAP $1,499, MSRP $1,699

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

2. QUICK DEMO

The Roland Quick Demo is a way to get a customer interested in a product in

less than 60 seconds.

Before You Start

STEP ONE-Connect the VG-99

If you have a PA or studio playback system

1. Connect the Left and Right MAIN or SUB OUTPUTS of the VG-99 to two
channels of the PA.
2. Set the PA’s EQ controls for a flat response.
3. Press GLOBAL.
4. Press the F4 button or turn the F4 knob to select LINE/PHONES.
5. Press EXIT.

If you only have a guitar amp:

1. Connect the MONO MAIN OUTPUT of the VG-99 to a clean channel of

the amp.
2. Set the EQ of the amp to a flat response.
3. Press GLOBAL.
4. Press the F4 button or turn the F4 knob to select COMBO AMP.
5. Press EXIT.

If you are using headphones:

1. Press GLOBAL.
2. Press the F4 button or turn the F4 knob to select LINE/PHONES.
3. Press EXIT.

STEP TWO: Set the Sensitivity

This is the most important procedure of the VG-99. Setting sensitivity adjusts
how the VG-99 responds to how you play; it’s much like getting a level when
recording.

1. Connect a divided pickup equipped guitar (Fender Roland Ready Strat,

Brian Moore i-guitar, Godin with Synth Access, or other) to the VG-99 via
the included 13-pin cable.

2. Press SYSTEM.

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

3. Press F3.
4. Press PAGE RIGHT once.

5. Press F1 or turn the F1 knob to select the type of divided pickup you are
using: GK-3, piezo, etc.

6. Press F2 or turn the F2 knob to select ST if you are using a Strat or LP if

you are using a guitar with a Gibson scale.

7. Press PAGE RIGHT to select PAGE 4: SYSTEM GK SETTING.

You will see this screen:

8. Set the Input Sensitivity:

a. Play an open string hard. You will see a row of LEDs light up in the
display.

b. Use the corresponding Function knob to adjust the sensitivity of the

string so that all the LCD’s light only on the very hardest note.

c. Repeat for the other five strings.

d. When you are finished, Press EXIT.

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

QUICK DEMO ONE

1. Rotate the PATCH/VALUE dial to select P 202 Fat LP.

2. Play some heavy chords, then while holding a chord, wave the neck of the
guitar or your hand over the D-Beam.

3. Press the Ribbon Controller PITCH button.

4. Play some more chords, then hold a chord and slide your finger up the Ribbon
Controller.

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

QUICK DEMO TWO

1. Turn the PATCH/VALUE Dial to select P240: Dyna AG.

2. Play the sound softly.

3. Play the sound hard to blend in the higher sound by dynamics.

QUICK DEMO THREE

1. Turn the PATCH /VALUE Dial to select P207: DADGAD 12-String

2. Play this sound with open strings to show the multiple polyphonic pitch
shifters

NOTES

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

3. FIVE FEATURES TO KNOW AND SHOW

1. Most powerful guitar processor in history

2. Dual COSM complete signal paths

3. Multiple polyphonic pitch shifters allow unique alternate tunings

4. Converts guitar to MIDI and to USB audio: control synth modules, soft
synths, and record direct to computer audio all at the same time

5. D-Beam and ribbon controllers onboard for unique performance

capabilities

4. ACCESSORIES

1. Roland GK-3 Divided Pickup

2. Roland FC-300 Foot Controller

3. Roland RAD-99 Rack Adapter

4. Roland PDS-10 Stand

5. Roland CB-VG9 Carrying Bag

6. Roland EV-5 Expression pedal

7. 2 x BOSS FS-5U Foot Controllers

8. Roland PCS-31L insert cable

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

5. COSM GUITARS, AMPS, EFFECTS

ELECTRIC GUITARS ORIGINAL

CLA-ST vintage Fender Stratocaster
MOD-ST modern Fender Strat w/ active PU
TE vintage Fender Telecaster
LP vintage sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard
P-90 vintage gold Gibson Les Paul Special w/ P-90 PU
LIPS vintage Danelectro w/ 3 lipstick PU
Rick modern Rickenbacker 360
335 vintage red Gibson ES-335
L4 vintage sunburst Gibson L4
VARI user designable virtual guitar

ACOUSTIC GUITARS ORIGINAL

MA28 Martin D-28
TRP-0 Martin 00028
GB45 Gibson J-45
GB SML Gibson B-25
GLD40 Guild D-40

COSM AMPS ORIGINAL

JC-CLEAN
JC-120 Roland JC-120
WARM CLEAN Roland original clean amp with tube warmth
JAZZ COMBO Polytone
FULL RANGE Roland AC-100
BRIGHT CLEAN Roland original clean amp w/strong highs

TW CLEAN
TW CLEAN Fender Twin Reverb
PRO CRUNCH Fender Pro Reverb
TWEED Fender Bassman 410
WARM CRUNCH Original crunch amp w/ tube warmth

CRUNCH
CRUNCH Fender Twin Reverb mod’ed w/ master volume
BLUES Modified Marshall Bluesbreaker
WILD CRUNCH Original Crunch amp w/ very wide EQ range
STACK CRUNCH Original amp stack w/ tube warmth

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

COMBO
VO DRIVE Vox AC-30TB
VO LEAD Vox AC-30 TB w/ top boost on
VO CLEAN Vox AC-30TB clean sound
MATCH DRIVE Matchless DC/30 left input
FAT MATCH Matchless DC/30 w/ mid boost
MATCH LEAD Matchless CD/30 right input

BG LEAD
BG LEAD Mesa Boogie Studio Lead lead channel
BG DRIVE Boogie Studio Lead OD sound
BG RHYTHM Boogie Studio Lead clean channel
SMOOTH DRIVE Original amp w/ smooth mids and tube warmth
MILD DRIVE Original amp w/ light overdrive

MS STACK
MS 1959 (I) Marshall 1959 Plexi channel 1
MS 1959 (II) Marshall Plexi channel 2
MS 1959 (I+II) Plexi w/ channels connected in parallel
MS HI-GAIN Modified Plexi w/ extra gain stage
POWER STACK Original amp w/ tube stack sound

R-FIER
CLEAN Boogie Dual Rectifier channel 1 CLEAN mode
RAW Dual Rectifier channel 2 RAW mode
VINTAGE 1 Dual Rectifier channel 2 VINTAGE mode
MODERN 1 Dual Rectifier channel 2 MODERN mode
VINTAGE 2 Dual Rectifier channel 3 VINTAGE mode
MODERN 2 Dual Rectifier channel 3 MODERN mode

T-AMP
CLEAN Hughes + Kettner Tri-amp channel 1
CRUNCH Tri-amp channel 2
LEAD Tri-amp channel 3
EDGE LEAD Original full stack amp w/ strong highs

HI-GAIN
SLDN Soldano SLO 100
DRIVE STACK Original hi-gain stack amp drive channel
LEAD STACK Original hi-gain stack amp lead channel
HEAVY LEAD Original lead amp w/ extreme distortion

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

METAL
5150 DRIVE Peavey 5150 drive channel
METAL STACK Original heavy metal amp drive channel
METAL LEAD Original heavy metal amp lead channel
CUSTOM User designable amp mods

BASS AMP
VINTAGE Ampeg B-15 Portaflex
MODERN SWR SM-400

COSM SPEAKER CABINETS-GUITAR AMPS

Original The cabinet that comes with the amp
1 x 8” Compact open back cabinet w/ 1 x 8” speaker
1 x 10” Compact open back cabinet w/ 1 x 10” speaker
1 x 12” Compact open back cabinet w/ 1 x 12” speaker
2 x 12” Standard open back cabinet w/ 2 x 12” speaker
4 x 10” Closed back 4 x 10” cabinet
4 x 12” Standard 4 x 12” cabinet for 1/2 stack sound
8 x 12” Two 4 x 12” cabs for full stack sound

COSM SPEAKER CABINETS-BASS AMPS

Original The cabinet that comes with the amp
1 x 15” Trace Elliot 1518
1 x 18” SWR Big Ben
2 x 15” Vintage Acoustic 402
4 x 10” SWR Goliath
8 x 10” Ampeg 810E

COSM SPEAKER CABINET MICS

DYN57 Shure SM-57
DYN421 Sennheiser MD-421
CND451 AKG C451B
CND87 Nuemann U87
FLAT speaker cab sound uncolored by a mic

EFFECTS
COMPRESSOR

COSM OD/DS ORIGINAL

BOOST Original level boost pedal
Blues OD BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver
CRUNCH Combines overdrive w/ amp distortion
NATURAL OD Original realistic natural OD
TURBO OD BOSS OD-2 w/ Turbo on
FAT OD Original mellow OD w/ distinct mids
OD-1 BOSS OD-1 Overdrive

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

T SCREAM Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamer

WARM OD Original OD w/ accented mids
DIST BOSS DS-1 Distortion
MILD DS Original light DS
DRIVE DS Strong DS good for rhythm
RAT Proco RAT
GUV DS Marshall Guvnor
DST + MXR Distortion Plus
SOLID DS Original DS w/ edgy tone
MID DS Original DS w/ mid boost
STACK Original fat DS combined with amp distortion
MODERN DS Original DS w/ tube stack characteristics
POWER DS Original DS effect: DS pedal in a stack amp sound
R-MAN Scholz Rockman X-100
METAL ZONE BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone
HEAVY METAL BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal
LEAD Original DS w/ smooth attack and strong distortion
LOUD Original DS w/ boosted lows
SHARP Original DS w/ boosted highs
MECHANICAL Original DS w/ boosted lows and highs
‘60S FUZZ Fuzzface
OCT FUZZ Acetone Fuzz
MUFF FUZZ Electro Harmonix Big Muff pi
CUSTOM User designable OD/DS mods

WAH
CRY WAH Dunlop Crybaby
VO WAH vintage Vox 846
FAT WAH Morley Bad Horsie
LIGHT WAH Original wah with smooth tone
7STR WAH Original Wah tuned for 7stg range
RESO WAH Original wah with accentuated harmonics
CUSTOM User designable wah mods

EQ
4 band w/ 2 parametric mids

DELAY
SINGLE
PAN (ping-pong or tap delay)
STEREO (dry left, wet right)
DUAL-S (two different delays in series)
DUAL-P (two different delays in parallel)
DUAL L/R (two separate delays; delay 1 on left channel, delay 2 on right)
REVRSE (Reverse delay)

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

ANALOG BOSS DM3

TAPE Roland RE-201
WARP (simulates analog delay in self-oscillation)
MOD (delay w/ modulation)
HOLD (sound on sound)

CHORUS
MONO
ST1 (chorus at both outputs)
ST2 (dry left, wet right: CE-1 effect)

REVERB
AMB (room mic ambience)
ROOM
HALL 1
HALL 2
PLATE
SPRING
MOD (reverb w/ modulation)

MOD 1/ MOD 2
PHASER
4-STG MXR Phase 90
8-STG MXR Phase 100
12-STG BOSS PH-3
BI-PH Mutron Bi-Phase

FLANGR (Flanger)
TREML (Tremolo)
PAN
T.WAH (Touch wah)
AUTO WAH
OCTAVE
PITCH SHIFT
HARMONIST (scale intelligent pitch shifter)
PEDAL BEND
2 x 2 CHORUS
ROTARY Leslie 147
Uni-V Univox Univibe
VIB BOSS VB-2
SLICER
HUMANIZER
SLOW GEAR
DEFRET
FEEDBACKER (modeled feedback)

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 Roland VG-99 Training Guide

RING MOD
ANTI-FB (Anti-feedback)

ADV. COMP
BOSS COMP BOSS CS-3
HI-BAND Original compressor w/ boosted highs
LIGHT Original compressor w/ gentle effect
D-COMP MXR Dyna Comp
ORANGE Vintage Orange Squeezer
FAT Original compressor w/ boosted mids based on gain
MILD Original compressor w/ high cut based on gain
STEREO COMP Original stereo compressor

LIMITR (Limiter)
BOSS LIMITR Original stereo limiter
RACK 160D dbx 160X
VINTAGE RACK U Urei 1178

SUB EQ (4-band w/ 2 parametric mids)

SUB DELAY

NOISE SUPPRESSOR
FOOT VOLUME

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