Bill Ruppert's VG-99 Tips

Started by admin, January 24, 2010, 06:57:37 PM

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fuzzfactory

#25
ah ha i see what i was doing wrong...ch. A is the one you set to 100% mag and ch. B is the cosm.....most excellent trick now time to start exploring!

it works with my fuzzfactory in line...a bit noisy but hell what ever i can now use my all time fav fuzz inline with the vg fx again thank you so much!

Bill Ruppert

You are more than welcome!
Have fun and blow minds.
The VG-99 is open ended.
NO LIMITS!

Bill

ktat

Yeah, the VG-99 is just so damn good...

The possibilities continue to be endless.  Without even going to the sound designing extremes, I'm getting lost in the amount of variations available just putting different OD's in front of the plexi model.  Or just that one amp model alone.  Crazy!
Quote from: Bill Ruppert on September 28, 2011, 06:43:28 PM
Guys
I have been working with a POD HD and  the Zoom G3.
EVERYTHING I come up with I can translate to the VG-99 in minutes.
The level of EQ and amp/OD/Dist pedals makes almost anything possible.
Please believe me this may be the greatest amp simulator ever made.

Difficult?
Yes extremely as there are thousands and thousands and thousands of possible combinations of amps, EQs, od-dist pedals.
Its endless...BUT its all in this box if you are crafty enough to find the combinations.
Its an open ended amp simulator that YOU have to program.

Its a paint box with all the colors included.....
All you have to do is start painting!




aliensporebomb

No limits indeed.  I keep discovering stuff and thinking "I don't think the designers had any idea you could do this...."
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

fokof

Same here with my VB99 , after 2 years , I still discover new stuff and create new tones.
Incredible machine.
The 16 assignable controllers with the Input level/Wave pedal/Internal pedal are source of endless experimentation.



I wonder why Roland doesn't put much effort in promoting the VB99  ???

aliensporebomb

#30
I was continuing my work on the soundtrack project I was commissioned to do and last night purely by accident I stumbled across a close to spot-on Rhodes piano sound.  (See attached excerpt with VG-99 strings, VG-99 rhodes, VG-99 bass plus a triggered MIDI acoustic piano in there too).

More as it develops.  Part of what made it sound that way was as much as how I was playing and *where* I was playing it as much as the sound itself.  I also found out a way of creating a sound that is similar to a factory patch on a Roland D50 synthesizer.  How strange. 

And yeah, they should have a VG-99/VB-99 dual ad or something.  People HAVE to know this thing is out there.  Best kept secret in the music industry.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

fuzzfactory

i have no idea why roland has it's head up it's ass when it comes to promoting the VG and using talent like bill, alien or myself to showcase what this little box is capable of  ;D
it is hands down the best thing i have ever bought next to my strat and i have had LOTS of "toys"

Elantric

#32
http://launch.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/vg-8/message/29023
Bill Ruppert wrote
QuoteAs far as amp sims, I have been able to copy everything I have liked in other gear with the VG-99.
Its not a instant skill but once you have spent the time and studied, the VG-99 is very fast at letting you find any sound you hear.
I edit via the 99 and not the editor program.
I find the architecture of the VG-99 is so amazingly well thought out it has become second nature to me.
The front panel is just faster for me and that is how I use it on my job.

The VG-99 has a marvelous EQ capability.
In fact there are 8 mono EQs and 3 Stereo EQ in the the Mix and
Globals pages.
Thats not including the EQ tone sections in the two amps!
Talk about control.

To me if the dynamics of an amp model are to your liking or in other
words the amp "Feels" good to how you pick, you are almost home.
The rest is EQ.

One of the great features about the EQ,s in the FX section (this
includes in the Sub EQ Mod1 and Mod2) is the final page.
This is the low and high cut.

The real world guitar speaker itself has a terrible high end response.
That flaw as it turns out, made the distorted guitar sound one of our
greatest gifts.
A real speaker will filter much of the brittle nasty high end caused
by a clipped or distorted amp.
The High cut control lets you put a shelf at the nasty ranges.
11kHz, 8.0kHz, 6khz and 4kHz.
It goes further but I find its to dark for most application below 4khs.
You can create different cuts buy using two eq,s and say cut one at
11kHz and another at 8khz.

Same goes for the low end.
Soloed your track can sound huge and big but in a mix it just eats up
space need by an other instrument to be heard.
(Like the Bass guitar or kick drum
Here you can roll off the fake woofy bottom end.

Lastly the Amp model itself has 4 controls in the speaker section that reduce and change high end response.
If you go to the custom speaker there are even more controls for both high and low end.
An interesting experiment is to use the original speaker and dial a very small amount of the direct level.
Its the knob next to the speaker type.
When you add a value of 1 or 2 you cause some phase cancellation in the signal which can wipe out the fizzy high end.
It must be in tiny amounts.
Its a fun experiment and it works.   


Good luck
Bill Ruppert


Quote
Here is something fun for you to try with your VG-99,
It may be obvious to many, but for for some it may a great new way to
learn what each amp control and EQ parameter does to your sound.
Its also a cool way to set up effect as well.

Normally when adjusting the amps and EQ,s we play-listen, stop playing
and make adjustments.
Adjusting take a hand of the guitar.
This delay technique uses the delay module as a sampler, allowing you
to record a short riff, loop the riff and adjusts the amps or FX with
your hand free.

Move the delay module to the very front of the effects chain.
This is done in the "Chain" page by selecting the delay(Dly)and moving
it to the first effect position with in the chain.
This is done with the "move" buttons.
Now the delay will hear and record only your raw COSM guitar signal.

To set the delay up to act as a short looper, proceed to the "FX"
delay page and select the delay type as "Hold".
On the next page set the high cut to flat, effect level to 100, and
the direct level to 100.
This will set the loop to be at the same level as your raw guitar signal.
Make sure the delay is set to "On" in the FX page

Next the Record and Stop functions for the hold delay must be assigned.

I assign them to CTL 1 and CTL 2 on my FC-300.
You could assign these to other outboard pedals or even the two
"Control" buttons on the front of the VG-99.
(Your feet on switches work better than using fingers on the front
panel control buttons but in a pinch it will work).

To assign, hit the "Control Assign" button and use the page button to
find the controllers you wish to assign for the "record" and "stop".
Find the target parameter for the hold delay in the chain (A or B) you
are working with and set them for Record or Stop.

If set up properly you should be able to hit the record switch, play a
short one bar riff, hit the switch again and the riff will loop,
The loop is only just over 2 seconds at max but its enough time for a
short passage.
To stop the loop, simply hit the controller assigned to "Stop".

With the riff looping you can now take your hands and mind off the
guitar and adjust the sound to your hearts content.
This "hold" loop is after the COSM Guitar page and allows you to
adjust everything after the Guitar.
Its a great way to free you up to listen to what each parameter in the
amp page does as you adjust it.
Scroll back and forth between each Mic type, mic distance, speaker
type and make note in your mind what each one does to the final sound.

The EQ-FX sections are something you must experiment with as its the
secret to getting the VG-99 to sounding great.
This is also helpful for learning and setting up effects as well.

Have fun.
Bill Ruppert






----
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=762.0
Quote
Here is some stuff about my Hammond B-3 sound that I posted today on another sight.
I LOVE this sound and its so easy to make.
I timed it and I set it up from scratch in 3 minutes!
If it takes 12 min who cares it still gives you time to play.
To take it to the next level read up on how a Hammond really works. There is tons of stuff on the web.
To take it even further down load some gospel music as B-3 is at its core and will let you how it is played and what voicings they use.
You can fine tune till the cows come home.
I was very lucky as when I was MUCH younger I did countless RB and Gospel sessions.
I got to sit next to some of the best B-3 and gospel keyboard players in the world that actually made my legs shake they were so good!
I soaked it in like red wine on a new carpet!!!!!
Any way here is the post, any questions just please ask, I am here.
Bill
Here is the post:

The B-3 is a snap!
Start with Organ COSM.
The control's labeled Feet are the draw bars like on a real organ
If you leave then all at 12oclock it will sound fine to start with.
The same with the control labeled sustain start at 12oclock.

From there set up the Rotary effect in the FX section.
There is one in the MOD1 and in MOD2. They are the same so just use
one of them.
Set the Rate-Slow speed at about 25 and the Rate-Fast above 70.

Go to the control assign section and assign a expression pedal to the
Rotary speed.Target parameters should read F4 (A or B) FX---- F5 (Mod1
or Mod2) Rotary----F6 speed.
Make sure the SW is turned on.
This now lets you slow or speed up the Leslie speaker with the
expression pedal and gives it the "real" sound. I rock the pedal as I
play to high light certain sections or chords.

From there I go to a clean amp in the COSM amp section. Any of the
first 6 amps sound great to me.
Thats it.
If you want add reverb. For live you might not want it.
If you want it brighter adjust the amp or add a section of EQ and
bring up what sounds good in your situation.
Good luck and have fun!
The COSM Organ is one of my favorite.

papabuss

#33
I posted a similar topic concerning the VG99 looper possibities with a patch here some time ago:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3001.msg18520#msg18520
FENDER STRATOCASTER (1974); BRIAN MAY RED SPECIAL; VG 99; GR 55; Yamaha DX 7

Music was my first love and it will be my last (JOHN MILES)

Elantric

#34
Bill R's "secret" is the VG-99 multiple COSM Guitar modeling and COSM Amp streams - and why he is so vocal about the lack of multiple COSM streams in the GR-55, GP-10.

Bill tells me he always runs the two VG-99 COSM Modeling streams (CHAN A, CHAN B)  in parallel - if only one COSM Audio path is "solo"ed the sound tends to be " close but no cigar - i.e. typical Roland Amp Modeling" - but then adding that 2nd COSM modeling stream  with a different dynamic, EQ, etc - nails it.

Go to the very top of this thread a re-read all of Bill Rupperts VG-99 tips and Tricks
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=2239.msg12817#msg12817


Bill says:

QuoteIf everything went away and I was left with the VG-99 I would be perfectly happy for the rest of my life.
It actually would be easier just to STOP, and compose and play.
   

aliensporebomb

Another recommendation: 

You want to understand the VG-99 and its potential? 
Go to the old yahoo VG group and read EVERY post Bill ever made there. 
I'm totally serious. 

At my day gig I fill little notebooks with new info I want to retain (pretty much all day long) and use them to organize and collate info.
I cut and pasted everything he posted there into a textfile and used that information to take extensive notes.

This is a man who not only understood a huge as the ocean product in terms of feature set but had the imagination and playing skill to take advantage of it to boot.

I didn't do this until maybe three years into my ownership (if I was smart I would have done it immediately - I just completely underestimated what the VG-99 was capable of based on the original presets) but found that I'd arrived at some of what he stated independently - quite a bit in fact but there were quite a few things he discovered that I had either overlooked, glossed over, misunderstood or hadn't grokked it at all.

Bill claimed he never gave out his patches but he did put a few out there. 

For the ones he didn't provide he had posted quite a lot of information about the patches that enabled the informed adventurer the ability to get in the neighborhood quite handily.

The only downside is references made to demo sounds that are no longer available.  Some I've heard, a lot I hadn't.
He pulled all of those to reinforce and not endanger his then new partnership with Electro-Harmonix.

Maybe someday he'll release those again down the road.  Some of those were just great as pure music.
Calling them "gear demos" does his musicality a disservice - "Distance", "Rui de Pluie" and "The 12th" should be on on record somewhere.
Beautiful stuff and fantastic playing.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

Elantric

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=9021.msg65762#msg65762


Bill Ruppert wrote>
You want the amp trick???
Here it is.
And I say this as the box is ending its production.


Clean use the cln twin with a advanced comp and two eq's.
For a med gain its a clean twin amp model with the natural od in front.
Use the custom speaker option in the amp. Use eq to taste...dont be afraid to use several eq's as it adds phase notching like a speaker
Marshall amp...use the MS1959(1) with the boost overdrive in front.
Here USE two eq's.
Metal sound...what do you think?
Hint its what you think.

The rest of the amps...eh


Aliensporebomb wrote>

Yep - Two EQs!

I had a chain like this: Les Paul with humbuckers with compression (set to limit), the amp model, then the eq, then another eq, then three options that could go on or off depending on mood: a tiny bit of pitch shift (I didn't use that too much), delay and reverb (all of the last three were switchable on or off).   

The first EQ took care of shaping the contour on the high end and the other one took care of taming the mids.  This gave a nice mid push without being overbearing and the high notes sang nicely.  With just one EQ you would not achieve the same aural effect.

I also did an experiment where I took "good favorite" settings before and randomly switched to amp models I hadn't played with much to see what it would do to the sound.

I found that the metal lead amp model that I'd never really used much before (or found a use for) had an unexpectedly nice sweet singing sound set to medium gain settings using the first third or so of the knob travel (so, gain switch to medium and all knobs set to in the 30-40% area except presence and level - presence set to around 11 (any higher and it was too trebly/shrieky) and level set as needed). 

Speaker was set to "original" with mic type set to CND87 and mic was set to on mic about 5mm with level and 100 and direct level was accidentally set to 0 but it worked.  That was just one sound.

Elantric

Another "Trick" uses the VG-99 standalone, with a bunch of cables.

Run the VG-99 Right Output into the VG-99's Guitar INPUT, and create self oscillation, cascading feedback, flanging, etc. - Bill Ruppert taught me that trick!

admin

RE EQ

Bill wrote>
The Boss/Roland EQ sections are insanely powerful.
They can take a ho-hum sound and turn it into the sound you have been searching for.
Please take the time to twist each knob and take a mental note to what happens to your sound.
Doing this will give you the ability to dial in sound fixes you need for a sound you are chasing.
Sometimes cutting/lowering rather than boosting a band will get you where you want to be.
When you cut one eq section, the other sections of the sound bands are now louder.
So its not just boost!
One tip, to remove "Fizz" or what all guitar players hate when using distortion, go to the last page of the EQ and turn down the high cut to 6.0kHz.
This is normally rolled off with a 12 inch guitar speaker and why people hate going direct.
Bill

Elantric


admin

#40
VG-99 - Hear what its capable of ( Bill Ruppert)
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=24869.msg180334#msg180334






ALL SOUNDS FROM VG-99

Bill Ruppert wrote>
Redoing my room I unearthed an old mp3 player from 2008.
On it was a collection of some of the sounds I was working on for Roland at the time to show the versatility of the VG-99.
I had planed to do a tutorial for the sounds to show how they were created and played.
It was a huge undertaking and a lot of hours went into the project but sadly Roland blew it off.
The project was shelved and I went on to other things.
At this point I do not know where the presets are and I threw away all the tutorial notes years ago.
STILL it is interesting listen to how much sonic ground the discontinued VG-99 is capable of.


Bill Ruppert's VG-99 tips & tricks
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=2239.0