ROLAND FR5B BUTTON ACCORDION  FR-5b: V-Accordion®

Roland’s Revolutionary V-Accordion Family Grows With New Button-Type Models

Features

Equipped with 92-button right-handed keyboards, these new V-Accordions offer all of the original V-Accordion’s benefits, with several important additions. The Roland FR-7b/5b are the first instruments of their kind to integrate powerful digital technology into a traditional chromatic accordion design, offering performance features and sounds that appeal to a wide range of musicians.

• The perfect combination of the familiar sounds and nuances of a traditional accordion, combined with the advantages of a versatile digital instrument
• Ultra-realistic accordion simulations, with 40 programmable set memories; the factory settings already cater to several popular accordion traditions
• PBM (“Physical Behavior Modeling”) sound-generation technology
• Orchestral sounds
• Expanded MIDI functionality for truly flexible performance options
• Portable instrument with onboard digital amplification (only on the FR-7b)

Roland’s Revolutionary V-Accordion Family Grows With New Button-Type Models

More Info

Sound
The FR-7b/5b features a 128-voice polyphonic sound engine, 428 tones in 40 accordion sets (each including 14 Treble registers, 7 Bass registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Chord registers, 7 Orchestra Free Bass registers and 22 Orchestral Sounds).

PBM (Physical Behavior Modeling)
At the heart of the FR-7b/5b is Roland’s proprietary PBM technology for breathtaking sounds and amazing modeling possibilities. Physical Behavior Modeling uses complex algorithms for accurate recreations of every detail of a wide variety of acoustic accordions. All physical behavior aspects and expressive nuances of an acoustic instrument are faithfully reproduced.

Simulations
The FR-7b/5b is capable of simulating up to 40 different accordions (or to create as many virtual instruments) based on samples of popular traditional acoustic accordions, each with its own “idiosyncratic” tuning. It is possible to switch from an Italian jazz accordion to German folk, French Musette, or a historic Bandoneon sound — without physical modifications to the instrument itself. On top of that, each sound can be played using the same familiar accordion techniques.

Orchestral sounds
The FR-7b/5b incorporates Roland’s acclaimed orchestral sounds. 22 orchestral sounds are provided for the treble keyboard, while each bass section (bass, chord, free bass) can trigger its own orchestral sounds.

Flexibility
The V-Accordion faithfully reproduces the familiar sounds and nuances of a traditional accordion, while granting the versatility, flexibility and advantages of a digital musical instrument. You can select and switch between a wide range of sounds and/or accordion types, or create your own unique timbres. Furthermore, both keyboards can be transposed to play within a wide range of keys and octaves.

Unique All-In-One Design
The FR-7b contains a digital amplification system powered by a rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack, and is thus a self-contained instrument. The battery pack powers a pair of neodymium woofers and tweeters for a consistent, full range low-end to high-end output. The high-resolution bellows pressure sensor provides amazing expressive power not available on conventional digital keyboard instruments. The FR-5b contains the same features and sounds of the flagship model of the V-Accordion line but without the speakers and amplification system. The rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack is optional, providing a lightweight model for stage performance. The FR-5b is available in red or dark grey.

Expand your performance capabilities
The V-Accordion introduces revolutionary expressiveness for a digital musical instrument. The right- and left-hand keyboards are both velocity-sensitive, while a master bar adds even more creative options (including aftertouch control). The high-resolution bellows pressure sensor provides amazing expressive power, not available on conventional digital keyboard instruments. Utilizing the high/low modes (notes above/below the first key you press play a different sound), you can control up to 4 parts simultaneously in real-time. Also the FR-7b/5b’s bass section has been expanded to include control of additional orchestral sounds via the orchestra chord and orchestra free bass sections. Moreover, the FR-7b/5b is MIDI-compatible and can be used to control external modules.

Roland’s Revolutionary V-Accordion Family Grows With New Button-Type Models

Specs

Keyboard & Bellows

Right Hand

92 buttons with velocity sensitivity. Master Bar with Aftertouch

Left Hand

120 Bass buttons with velocity

Keyboard Mode

Right Hand: Solo, Dual, High/Low (for Orchestral Sounds)
Left Hand: Standard, Free Bass, Orchestral Bass, Orchestral Chord, Orchestral Free Bass

Bellows

Real pneumatic detection by a high resolution pressure sensor

Sound

Tones: Accordion Set

40 User Programmable Accordion sets
* Each Accordion Sets including: 14 Treble registers, 7 Bass registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Chord registers, 7 Orchestral Free Bass registers, 22 Orchestral Sounds

Treble Reed Footages

7

Bass Reed Footages

5

Chord Reed Footages

3

Free Bass Footages

2

Orchestral Sounds

22 sounds: Trumpet, Trombone, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Oboe, Harmonica, Muted Harmonica, Violin, Pizzicato, Flute, Pan Flute, Highland, Zampogna, Jazz organ, Perc. Organ, Rotary Organ, Term. Organ, Scat Voice, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Piano

Orchestral Bass Sounds

7: Acoustic Bass, Bowed Bass, Fingered Bass, Picked Bass, Fretless Bass, Tuba, Tuba Mix

Orchestral Free Bass Sounds

Trombone, Clarinet, Oboe, Flute, Perc Organ, Ac Guitar, Ac Piano

Orchestral Chord

Trombone, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Trem Organ, Voice, Ac Guitar, Ac Piano

PBM (Physical Behaviour Modelling)

Noises

Stopping-reed growl
Closing valve noise
Left button noise

Individual Reed Simulation

Hysteresis threshold
Expression curve
Pressure variant filter
Pressure variant pitch deviation

Switching Reed Sound Wave

By bellows acceleration
By note repetition speed

Musette Tuning

Musette-Micro-Tuning Presets

16: Off (Standard), Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish

Effects

Reverb

8 Types

Chorus

8 Types

Delay

8 Types

Rotary for Orchestral Organ Sound

Slow/Fast

"Cassotto" and "Sordina" Simulations

Yes

Panel Controls

Knob Controls

Volume, Treble/Bass balance, Reverb, Chorus, Delay

Encoder

Data Entry with selection/confirmation switch

Panel Switches

Treble Registers

14 + Master + Orchestra

Bass Registers

7

Navigation Switches

Up, Down, Menu/Write, Exit/Jump

Other Switches

Set Up/Down, Sordina On/Off, Power

Others

Display

48 x 84 dots graphic backlit LCD

Onboard Connectors

Headphone jack (Stereo), Output jack (L/Mono (Treble), R/Mono (Bass)), Multi Connector (to FBC-7)

Color Variation

Dark Grey
Red

Supplied Accessories

FBC-7 (Power supply/Battery Charger):
5 programmable foot switches:
-Set Up/Down
-Register Up/Down
-Sustain
Multi connector(towards Accordion)
Expression Pedal Jack
MIDI In/Out/Thru connectors
Output Jacks (L/Mono,R)
AC Inlet

Owner's Manual, Straps, Accordion cloth, Treble reference caps, Bass reference caps, Power cable, 19 Pin multicore cable

Options

Rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack 24V-4500mAh
V-Accordion Gigbag
FBC-7 Gigbag

Size and Weight

Width

506 mm

19-15/16 inches

Depth

270 mm

10-11/16 inches

Height

405 mm

16 inches

Weight

9.5 kg

21 lbs.

The weight without the straps and the optional battery