VA-76 Owner’s ManualMore about the VariPhrase part

Mode

1.Press the [FUNCTION MENU] button.

2.Press the [VariPhrase] field.

3.On the page that appears now, press the [Global] field.

4.Press the [Mode] field in the left column.

Loop

If you want the Phrase to play back as a loop (i.e. to be repeated over and over), turn this ON. In the case of a stepped phrase (see page 81), this means that the cur- rent step will be looped for as long as you hold down the key(s) you pressed. If you then press another key after releasing the previous one(s), the next step will be played in a loop.

You could also use this parameter for overriding the automatic activation of the Loop function whenever the Mode [STEP/SYNC] button in the VariPhrase pad on the front panel is switched off. This selects the Time Sync mode (see page 81) – and that, in turn, switches on this Loop function, which may not always be to your liking.

Note: If Trigger is set to [Drum] (see page 47), the LOOP setting is ignored.

Note: The VA-76’s VariPhrases are always looped between the Edit Start and End positions. If the rhythm of a User phrase is odd, modify the Edit Start and/or Edit End posi- tion(s) until it is just right. See page 72. Bear in mind, though, that your phrase has to be encoded (EXECUTE) again before these new positions become meaningful. Also, do not forget to save your User phrase to disk after changing its Edit Start and End positions (see page 76).

T. Quantize

This parameter allows you to ensure that the Vari- Phrases can only be started at rhythmically meaning- ful positions so that they always make musical sense. Press the [OFF] field to make it read [ON] if you wish to take advantage of the quantization.

Robot

Imagine you are using a phrase with lyrics that are just right for a new song, while the melody isn’t. As you know by now the melody of a sampled phrase can change even though you press only one key (which is about the same as the chords of the Intro or Ending

pattern of a Music Style). The phrases in ROM contain no such pitch shifts, which is why they sound just right in any key and at any pitch.

Your User phrases, however, may contain entire verses of a song. What do you do then? Of course, you could sample the vocal line yourself at the correct melody, but maybe that wouldn’t provide quite the same “feel”. You could also switch on the Robot function. This will “equalize” all melodic shifts of the phrase, so that all syllables are played back at the same pitch. When com- bined with the Step parameter (see page 81), this “equalized” phrase allows you to “build” an entirely new vocal line based on the syllables of the phrase.

Original audio phrase

Phrase after activating

(with pitch changes)

the Robot function

Note that this is meant as a “special effect” similar to that obtained with a Vocoder (an effect that gives the impression that a synthesizer, guitar, etc. can talk).

Note: Even slight changes in pitch (grace notes, etc.) will be equalized so that the result may sound slightly more mechanical. But then again, that’s what a robot is all about…

Note: For optimum results, be sure to play only notes close to the Original Key note (see page 74).

5.5Controller functions for the VariPhrase part

As shown on page 49, you can change the pitch, for- mant and tempo of the currently selected VariPhrase using the three on-screen sliders on the Controllers/ VariPhrase page. We also mentioned the possibility to use the remaining performance functions, some of which are built-in, while others are optional.

The following functions would already be worth the purchase of an optional DP-2, DP-6, or BOSS FS-5U footswitch, because they allow you to do something truly amazing. There are also some convenient Hold functions you may want to use at times (see page 192), while you can also use the built-in controllers (Pitch Bend/Modulation, Ribbon, etc.).

Legto Lock

By assigning this function to the optional footswitch, you can cause a phrase to go on running even when you play no note at all. Play a note, press the foot- switch and then release the key, only to press it again a little later. You will notice that the phrase now sounds from its “logical position” (i.e. the one it would have reached if you had held the key down). This technique is an intelligent “audible/muted” switch for the

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Roland VA-76 owner manual Controller functions for the VariPhrase part, Mode