Pt 4, Acoustic vs Roland V-Accordion

[@edmundkolankowski8432]

Thanks! I watched all four parts of your presentation today! Well worth the time!

[@SurreyAlan]

A big thank you from the UK, well worth watching all four parts, they were a lot more useful than watching a pro demonstrator whizzing around as let's face it they can make anything sound fantastic. My heavy Chinese accordion went into the loft when my back went, now that's better I have a wife who isn't very keen on it coming down again but headphone sockets get round that problem and the really light weight and range of tones really appeal. Thanks again.

[@briananthony9788]

An excellent series of 4 videos that are extremely helpful although I do wonder whether or not one might as well buy a digital keyboard. Thank you for this insight into the digital Roland. Incidentally I am also grateful for your Palmer Hughes series of accordion videos. Keep up the good work!

[@RoxysMusicStore]

The choice between either an electronic keyboard or an electronic accordion should be based which instrument you wish to play. You are correct in recognizing that the two can produce equivalent sounds. But so too can an electric guitar using a guitar synthesizer, like the Roland GR-55 for example. If all these instruments were played behind a curtain, you’d have a hard time telling the difference. But the playing experience is certainly different. If you are passionate about playing accordion, then choose a V-Accordion. If you are passionate about playing piano, then choose a keyboard. One last issue. Because a V-Accordion is primarily an accordion, its range and variety of accordion sounds is much more extensive than what you typically find on even the highest model keyboard synthesizers. Plus the bellows action of a V-Accordion allows for dynamic expression that is not possible on any piano or electronic keyboard. In short, pick whatever instrument you are most passionate about playing. I hope this helps you make your choice.

[@terset9912]

really enjoyed your series on the B & C system chromatics....here tho, I think the bias is towards the V-Accordion. When you did the comparisons at the end... I preferred the sound of the natural reed instruments. Would like to have a FR4x for the headphone jack only, so I can practice in my apartment building, even so it only weighs 4 lbs less than my German Hohner. Anyone other than Roland that makes a digital accordion ?

[@manjuvajra]

Many Thanks - your series was very useful - and enjoyable

[@RonRonnard]

That were really excellent presentations. I play a Hohner Morino and it has a beautiful sound, but I will buy also a Roland, because it will be fun, to use a large variety of different instrument sounds.

[@techgautam422]

I've gone through all parts of your presentation. You've cleared almost all doubt except one. I've a big curiosity to know, what is the effective requirement of the bellow in Roland model? It has no effect on sound as you told. But I've learnt from acoustic accordion players that they make their instrument "talking" and express better modulating sound level up & down through bellow speed & pressure. But how that effect is done in Roland if the bellow is dummy & false? Is it done only through touch sensitive keys? Then this is certainly a drawback of digital accordion though having some advantages over acoustic. Pl tell me the utility of bellow in Roland.

[@dvamateur]

I have never plyed accordion in my life. When I was a littie kid, I remember having a little Russian toy accordion and a Weltmeister melodika, but at that time I was dreaming of an instrument which I don't have to blow into or squeeze to make sounds. Yes, I was dreaming of a synthesizer, but my parents didn't have money. Eventually, I got a Bontepi organ, and now I've been playing keyboards and piano for 25 years. Now, I want V-Accordion. Is the FR-1x a good entry lever choice?

[@psrmacguy]

Very good presentation to show the differences and reasons for those differences between an acoustic and electronic accordion. Since i just happened to come upon Pt 4 i have to assume that in Pt1 you show the "sound" source you are using for playing your midi accordion. I am in the market for a midi accordion and so now will consider a Roland.

[@RoxysMusicStore]

Sorry for not noticing your comment earlier. In these videos I am not using an external “sound” source. I am using the internal sound of the V-Accordion itself. The Roland V-Accordion is a complete instrument. It can produce its own very high quality sounds, as a typical electronic keyboard can. Plus it produces MIDI messages for accessing external “sound” modules, again as a typical electronic keyboard can.

[@milkyboy111]

Hi! What’s your opinion on the built-in speakers of the FR1x? And, do you ever feel restricted by the low number of keys and bass buttons? Great comparison videos!

[@RoxysMusicStore]

Internal speakers on all electronic instruments (accordions or pianos) are inferior. It's just a fact of life. The speakers on the FR-1x are amazingly good for their physical size. However, they cannot compete in sound quality against a real external audio amplifier/speaker system. Internal speakers on all electronic instruments are only convenient monitors and should never be used to play to audiences.

[@samil26]

Hi, I have played an acoustic accordeon for more than 5 years and the thing I like most in an acoustic instrument that it reacts naturally. For example bellow sensation is very important for me, because I give all the feeling and soul of music with the bellows. On the other hand I like to play ethnic songs from Caucasia mostly requires bellow shakes. Last but not least, I would like to feel my instrument and I am not sure if a digital instrument can make me feel it. What do you think about these issues?

[@RoxysMusicStore]

+samil26 These are questions that you must answer yourself. As I explained in the video series, since the physical feel of the digital accordion remains constant for all reed combinations and number of notes pressed, its physical feel does not change. The physical feel of an acoustic varies all over the place. This makes the acoustic instrument a lot more challenging to master. Similar things can be said about the differences between acoustic and digital pianos. Worse, on an acoustic accordion each note is produced using a different physical reed. This requires that all reeds be individually tuned, as well as matched in dynamic and tonal quality. I have never played an acoustic that was perfect in this respect. There are always a few notes that are either off in pitch, or poorly matched dynamically compared with other notes, as well as compared to the same note played in different bellows direction. On an acoustic I must constantly adjust for these limitations. On a V-Accordion each note is pitch and dynamically perfect. I never have to think about adjusting the bellows pressure whenever a certain note is played because it is not perfectly matched. All my notes are perfectly matched. Anyway, if you enjoy all of these complications and challenges of acoustic instruments, then obviously an acoustic is for you. Myself, since I believe in making life easier. I prefer the “feel” of a digital instrument because it is more constant. I also prefer getting the most for my money. My lowly $2,000 FR-1x contains 16 accordion simulations, 16 studio quality orchestral sounds, organ sounds, and percussion. With it I can play a wider variety of genres with different orchestration possibilities, giving audiences more variety. Years of experience demonstrate that audiences prefer more orchestration variety. That’s the whole idea of a band or orchestra having a variety of instruments. No acoustic accordion of any price can fill this need as well as a modern, electronic accordion.

[@gislainemoore8683]

What is a digital accordion ? What is a V accordion

[@daisyduke7473]

Virtual is what he is referring to

[@daisyduke7473]

Virtual