Features
| Features
6
r
FR-7b/FR-5b
V-Accordion
Stand-alone electronic instrument
Though the FR-7b/FR-5b is a fully electronic instru-
ment, you do not need to connect the FR-7b to an
amplifier in order to produce sounds. Its onboard
amplification system is powerful enough for small
venues, restaurants, etc. (The FR-5b has no internal
amplification.)
Furthermore, the FR-7b comes with a rechargeable
battery (Ni-Mh) so that you do not need to connect it
to a wall outlet. The battery should last ±8 hours.
(The battery is available as an optional item for the
FR-5b.)
Sophisticated MIDI control
The FR-7b/FR-5b is the most versatile and “musical”
MIDI controller to date, going far beyond the control
possibilities of a MIDI keyboard with optional perfor-
mance functions or of MIDIfied wind instruments.
PBM (Physical Behavior Modeling)
The FR-7b/FR-5b V-Accordion is based on Roland’s
latest sound generation technology called “PBM”
(Physical Behavior Modeling) whose sonic result is
very close to the sound of traditional accordions.
Super realistic accordion simulations
The FR-7b/FR-5b provides 40 memories called “Sets”,
with 14 treble registers, 7 bass & chord registers and
7 free bass registers each. All sounds it produces were
obtained by sampling the most popular traditional
acoustic accordions. Different tuning systems are
also available.
This V-Accordion allows you to switch from an Italian
jazz accordion to German folk, French musette or a
historic bandoneon sound – without changing your
technique.
Orchestral sounds
22 orchestral sounds can be used in combination
with traditional accordion sounds – complete with
full bellows articulation and unique keyboard modes
(Solo, Dual, High and Low, as well as “M” variants of
these modes).
In addition, the FR-7b/FR-5b provides 7 orchestral
bass sounds for the Bass section, 7 orchestral sounds
for the chord buttons, and 7 orchestral sounds for
the Free Bass section that can be added to the Bass
accordion sound.
The digital advantage
The V-Accordion includes all functions and sounds of
a traditional accordion, thus conveying a really natu-
ral feel and sound. Yet it also provides the advan-
tages only an electronic musical instrument can give
you:
• reduced overall weight;
• possibility to choose among a wide variety of sounds;
• you can create and customize the accordion timbres
(program your own sounds);
• you can choose among various bass button operation
modes (Minor 3rd Free Bass, 5th, Bayan, North
Europe, Finnish);
• tuning stability over time and wear resistance of all
mechanical parts;
• you can sound in a different key than the one you are
playing in (transpose function);
• you can play with headphones, i.e. without disturbing
your neighbors or family.
Superb performance flexibility
The V-Accordion allows you to control external MIDI-
compatible instruments. The Treble and chord/bass
buttons are velocity-sensitive, while the bellows con-
troller provides more articulation possibilities than
any other MIDI keyboard, MIDI wind instrument, etc.,
you may know.
In High or Low mode (see p. 26), you can control up
to 4 parts simultaneously (two sounds in the right
hand/two sounds in the left).
• All product names mentioned in this document are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.