Roland VS-2480

Portable, rackmountable, or desktop hard-disk DAW with everything you need in one package. This is a computer with its own proprietary operating system.

With VGA monitor connected, one can view all levels in the form of LED-like meters for input, output, aux send/return, monitor and master outs, and much more. There is also an optional hardware LED meter bridge available.

There are clip meters for all the input channels, as well as a "peak hold" function, which allows you see all overs easily while tracking or playing back audio. Can be monitored pre or post fader.

There is built-in effects processing with good-quality Roland/boss algorithems, with extra processors available and a growing library of third-party plug-ins, any of which can be assigned to the master bus, or anywhere else one might desire - too many routing options, and all pretty easy to manipulate. (Through the digital patch-bay)

The unit is built pretty solid, but should be handled with some care - after all, this is a computer, and does have an operating 80G hard drive in it.

The control surface is a joy to use, and has motorized faders and rotary trim knobs. Almost all mixer functions can be automated for mixing sessions, and most are knob-tweakable, once one learns how to get to them - the learning curve is substantial.

Every channel has both dynamics and Parametric EQ available, for both the input and track mixers. With optional FX cards, one can have up to 8 on-board stereo effects running simultaneously, while also utilizing 8 direct outs to external FX processors, if needed.

Inputs/outputs include XLR, 1/4" TRS, Midi, S/PDIF, Optical, Co-axial, DB25, and Roland R-Bus. R-Bus can be made to interface with ADAT machines as well, with an avalible adaptor from Roland. No Firewire interface on my version. (2003)

General Comment: The learning curve is quite substantial. This machine does almost anything you can think of for a DAW, but it is neither easy to use, nor quick at any of those functions.

I've listed the Input/Outputs above. In general, this unit is "old-school," and to my knowledge Roland has not bothered to update it to all the standard computing platform connections, like Firewire, and USB.

If you stay within the Roland family of products, or utilize some of the available adaptors, this unit can be linked with other various machines for more I/O's, or other uses.

The pre-amp quality has been hotly debated by critics, and there are an equal amount of fans, too. The 8 available XLR connections provide Phantom Power for condenser mics(48v), and all 16 phyical inputs have rotary gain trim pots.

This is my first "professional" recording interface. Migrated up from the VS-880ex. I cannot fairly compare Rolands pre-amps to other pre-amps out there, as I haven't experienced a lot of them. To my ears, the sound is both good and accurate. I have had some limited experience working with a Presonus FirePod, and didn't notice an extreme difference in recording quality. The VS2480 can record up to 8 tracks of 96KHz audio simultaneously at 24-bit resolution - Same as the FirePod.

The mixer section does have a dedicated Hi-z guitar/bass/instrument connection, which basically acts like a built-in direct box.

As mentioned above, there are digital I/O's available, but somewhat limited selection, by today's standards. There is both a Midi in, and Out/Thru available for linking other machines. The VS2480 can sync as master or slave, recognizes and transmits MMC/MTC, and has a clock input as well.

The routing flexibility is unbelievable. Regarding the TRS connections available, every hole on the back of the machine is re-configurable. By default, they serve as a Master out, aux 1 stereo send, aux 2 stereo send, and monitor out.

Those same direct outs can be used to send signal to seperate monitors for surround mixing. The VS2480 supports three different formats of Surround mixing, including 5.1 surround.

There are two dedicated Headphone outs (Which can be reassigned as aux sends or direct outs too). The 8 direct outs can be used as headphone jacks, as well - thus enabling the VS2480 to serve as a headphone distribution amp, of sorts, for up to 10 sets of cans, if needed. Each headphone mix can have it's own volume control and FX treatment, as well.

Disclaimer:
Everything I've stated here is indeed possible, but as mentioned above, the learning curve is quite substantial. These are advanced features, and not intuitive at all. I would give this category a 10 for the routing flexibility alone, but I'm sure there will be detractors who will complain about the pre-amp quality.

While I'm not a grammy award winning engineer myself, I'm also not a complete novice, and to my ears, this machine produces totally pro sound. Like all tools, you must learn how to optimize it's strengths, and minimize any weaknesses. That said, I do use a tube pre-amp for all vocals... I have used the on-board pre-amps for drum mics and acoustic guitars, and have gotten great sounds. Mic placement and selection will always make a big difference in the quality of any recording.

The power supply is built in, and connected to wall by cord. I would recommend running a power conditioner before this unit, both for protection, and cleanest sound.

There is no battery-powered option for this recorder.

As mentioned above, the unit will provide phantom power through the XLR connectors, and though I have not placed a multimeter on the leads, I have no reason to suspect that it is not giving a fully regulated 48v. Roland has a decent reputation for build quality.

The VS2480 has 24-bit internal proccessing, and will support several recording modes. See their website for full details: www.rolandus.com

Basically - 44.1Khz, 48Khz, and up to eight tracks simultaneously of 96Khz are supported.

My machine came with one FX processer card installed, an 80G hard drive, and a built-in CD drive.

The newer version has a DVD/CD drive. These drives are used for backing up your projects, inputing audio files, as a player, and also as a burner for your final master. With the "Mastering Toolkit," by Roland, and avialble 3rd-party plug-ins (with VS8F-3 FX card option), like T-Racks, one can feasibly Master one's own CD's on the VS2480.

The unit came with a drum loop CD, and other software offers. It also has a built in frequency analyzer, White/Pink/Sine-wave noise generator, metronome, and some preloaded Boss-catalog drum sounds to use with the metronome as a type of poor-mans' drum machine.

In addition, the VS2480 can be used as a digital mixer only, as well as a sampler with dedicated pad/triggers. IIRC, one can even use the VS2480 as a midi-based control surface for other DAW's.

There is a grounding post on the back of the machine, but I do not recall if the inputs have ground switches or not...I think not. Again, I recommend running a power conditioner before this, and any device that one would use for "Pro" audio.

One can connect a VGA monitor, a mouse, and an ASCII keyboard to the VS2480 to serve many funtions. IMHO, the mouse and Monitor are a must to realize the full potential of this machine. Additionally, the keyboard (with an extension cord) allows one to trigger playback from a tracking room - say to record drums, for instance. Nice feature, for a do-it-all-yourself kind of guy, like me.

Bottom Line:
As stated above, this is my first "professional" recording machine. When I got it, there just weren't as many "comparable" alternatives available out there. After several years of ownership, I still don't think there is anything that compares to this machine - especially for the price! To build a comparable studio system would cost over $10K, IMHO.

I'm a tactile person, and have no desire to do all my mixing and editing with a mouse only - my carpal-tunnel is bad enough! (Likely, from typing long reviews, like this!) So to build a comparable system I would need a recording-optimized/designated computer, back-up storage capabilities for my session files, I/O devices that equal to 16 I/O - like the VS2480 has, a motorized control surface with at least 16 faders and automation programability, DAW software, Plug-ins, etc...you can see the $$$ adding up, can't you?

I'm in the midst of recording a 24-track album on this machine. I am playing all the instruments, engineering, and producing it myself. This is a daunting task, to say the least. But every step of the way, the Roland VS2480 has answered the call with so many options and features, that I'm consistently (and pleasantly) surprised and delighted - this is actually possible with this machine. It really can do it all.

If it was destroyed or stolen, I would certainly replace it, but then again, I'm commited, as I've been tracking my entire album on this thing, as wouldn't be able to utilize those tracks without it. (Unless I convert them to .Wav files and take them to a computer-based DAW...which I can do, BTW - the VS2480 allows me to export my audio as .Wav files.)

If I was starting from scratch, I might be tempted to go to an all computer based system, but would need to spend significant money to even come close to all the capability the VS2480 gives me now.

The Only Bad News:
The only negative things I have to say about this unit is that it has an excrutiating learning-curve, and is really quite slow.

Modern DAW's running on dual-proccesser computers will blow the VS2480 out of the water on speed of proccessing. It takes nearly forever-and-a-day to do some pretty basic things, which can really be quite frustrating, at times. Additionally, the graphics of the DAW software (when viewed on a VGA monitor) are quite servicable, but not very attractive. One can view waveforms at differing levels of magnification - down to the individual sample levels even - but not while running playback. It seems as though the graphics card of the computer part of the recorder was a total after-thought.

That said though, the bang for your buck is amazing, and I would certainly recommend this unit to experienced recording engineers, but not to the novice. Though learning on this system should prepare one to operate any other DAW out there with relative ease!