The VS880 will read the drive capacity. Keep in mind that the max that the 880 will "see" is 4Gigs. The max size of any partition is 1 Gig. I think the VS880 can create four partitions, depending on the size of the hd you have. So a 4Gig hard drive would have a max of four 1Gig partitions.
Each partition is treated as a seperate "drive" in the firmware of the VS880.
HI there. This is pretty cool--as the original HD on my VS-880 sems to have crashed, this looks like a great and affordable solution. One question: other than the convenience of being able to quickly swap out SD card, is there any reason you couldn't (or shouldn't) simply tuck the card and adapter inside the caddy so it's not dangling on the outside?
Not a problem. I used the ribbon cable because my VS880 is installed inside a console. For my application, mounting the adapter outside the 880 gives easy access to the SD card. In this installation, it is relatively safe since it is all inside of the console.
Actually, mounting the adapter inside the 880 as you describe would be the preferred way.
Sorry, I'm not familiar with the BR-8. My best guess is that as long as it has an IDE connector, you should be able to get an adapter to work in there.
Oooh ouch. I wish I could help you with that. I don't think they make the HDP-88 anymore.
The only thing that comes to mind right now is to go over to the VS Planet Forums and see if any of those guys can help find one. They are a great bunch over there and very helpful.
@peoplebones .......I also am having problems with the IDE ribbon cable it will not even extent he HD . I found a cable called a true 44 IDE extend cable you can see the pin are swaped
@peoplebones .......I also am having problems with the IDE ribbon cable it will not even extent he HD . I found a cable called a true 44 IDE extend cable you can see the pin are swaped
I heard from someone with exactly the same problem as you describe. Turns out that he installed the adapter upside down in his VS880. Once he got it properly oriented, it started right up for him.
I also had to bend the10th pin on the adapter I bought. I made sure it was the right one by comparing it with an existing hard drive. Make sure you have the right pin bent out, otherwise it won't work.
I recently bought one of these incredible recorders for 100 $ (I think it's a remarkable price) and I've noticed the noise coming out form the hard drive, also I have one question about the replacement to use it with a SD Card, does it improve the speed of playback on stage? I mean, I'll use it for sequences in live performances and i've noticed that it's not so instant as I wanted but I don't know if the HDD is the problem.
Mechanical hard drives make some noise just because of the moving parts in them, it's normal. But when I started using condenser mic's it really bacame noticable. Since the unit is in the same room as the mic's, I needed to find a way to make it quiet. The SD card was the answer.
As far as speed, I really haven't noticed any performance increase with the adapter. But it is much more convenient for archiving...and it is silent.:)
Thank you it worked for me. Es una muy buena idea porque si algo me molestaba de este equipo era el ruido del disco duro (ademas del display) y gracias a este video he instalado una tarjeta SD.
Can you take the information on the sd card and transfer the data to your computer? I have an sd slot on my computer to do this. My question is are these wav files or some embedded roland file. I have checked into such programs as reaper and others to recognize these files.
I've never actually tried to transfer any of the VS files to a PC. I understand that Roland uses their own file type which is not recognized by Winsows. However, I believe there are programs out there that can read and convert these files.
A great source of information in to visit the VS Planet Forums. Those guys really know their stuff over there.
hi. can u directly plug any guitar into these? i heard they have low impedence input jacks & therefore have to put something inbtween the guitar & it.
You can connect a guitar directly to the inputs on the VS880. I did it a few times before I got my preamps and it worked fine. I even used a hi-impedence mic on it once like that. Yes, there is a bit of an impedance mis-match there, but a little gain can usually overcome it without too much noise.
Obviously, a preamp or a matching transformer is the best way. But if you don't have one, you can safely plug in direct.
@rickbell7 thanx 4 your reply. i'm considering btwn one of these & a yamaha aw16g. can this upgrade b done on a yamaha aw16g? r u familiar w/the yamahas & if so, which do u prefer? yamaha is 24 bit. is the vs880 24 bit. sorry 4 all the questions. thanx.
I'm not familiar with the Yamaha unit, so can't advise on the drive system.
One of the most appealing things about the VS880, in my opinion, is how much it sounds like analog. Yet it is fully digital. Of course my opinion is based on my experience, but I do prefer the old VS880 over some of the newer equipment I have tried...including PC based DAW programs.
Don't worry about asking questions. It's how we learn.
Thanks for the compliment, and thank you again for posting this brilliant information. I'll try it out ASAP, and post you the results, which I am sure will be great!
I will order the adaptor ASAP, through an American vendor, and thank you, once again for the advise on the 80 GB Hard Drive, I will now try the SD Card solution, absolutely brilliant!
Oops, I just noticed that you are not in America. Try to order the adapter from a vendor in your region or country if you aren't in America. I sometimes forget that YT is broadcast worldwide. Sorry for any confusion.
One more thing: When looking for an SD card, stay away from any SanDisk cards. SanDisk are fine cards. I use them all the time in cameras, etc. But they won't work in the VS880. Almost any other brand card will work.
This is amazing, a great solution for keeping the venerable VS-880, etc, up and running.
My question is What IDE Hard Drive to DS Card type of adaptor are you using? Is it a particular brand, and where can you buy from? Are they expensive and rare, or fairly common?
Also if I bought an 80 GB Hard Drive, and I know the VS unit only can use 4 GB, would this be worth using anyway, or would it be unstable?
The adapter is available on E-Bay. Do a search on IDE to SD/SDHC adapter and it should come up. You should be able to find one for about 12-15 USDollars. Be sure you buy from an American vendor to avoid having to pay a duty fee. Plus it arrives MUCH faster!:)
.
Excellent question about the 80GB HD. I would advise against using a larger hard drive. I understand that the VS880 can become unstable with too large of a HD in it. 4-6GB should keep it "happy".
i just added the effects board,and it seems to work fine,i do have a question tho,can i play my guitar thru the 880 with effects without it recording,in other words i want to write a song and use some of the effects,but i want to play them with my guitar before i record,so i know what it sounds like first.thanks for your help
The cable is a standard 44 Pin IDE notebook type ribbon cable. Male on one end and female on the other.
The ribbon cable isn't really necessary for this installation unless you want to keep the adapter outside of the VS880. The SD adapter can be directly connected to the HDP-88 adapter board inside the VS880. Then simply secure it to the original HD caddy.
That's really cool. Can you suggest specific models (SD card, etc) so that someone with 10 thumbs and half a brain could do this with little room for error? Thanks.
I ordered the adapter unit on E-bay. Search "IDE to SD Converter" and you should get a lot of results.
As for the SD card, you can pick up the Cards at any store like WalMart or BestBuy, etc. I'd advise getting at least a class4 Card. Lexar and PNY work well for me.
One brand that does NOT work is SanDisk. They are good cards, Just not for the VS880.
LOL @ 10 thumbs. Yeah, I'm a natural klutz. So if I can do this, then you should have no problem with it.
@rickbell7 Thanks much for the reply. I've received my ribbon cable in the mail and eagerly await the converter. Do you know if a class10 SD will perform better or will it be the same as a class4 as you suggest. I'm not really worried about the cost difference if it will perform better. Thanks again (I found the links to ebey on the Planet forum).
A Class 10 card will always outperform a Class 4 or 6 card. When you start getting a lot of tracks, speed can become an issue. So far I've had no problem using the Class 4 cards in mine. But if I could find a Class 6, 8, 0r 10 in 4Gig, I'd most likely use one.
Remember the VS880 is limited to 4Gig's. It's in the firmware of the machine and can't be changed. But you can do a lot with 4Gig on a VS880.:)
@rickbell7 thank you one more thing i want to burn direct from the recordig Roland with out using the pc what kind of unit can i buy ? sorry alot of my questions may not make any sense. but i just helping my husband to get inf the he needs thanks he is trying to make a demo. and what cd disks should be use ?
Hi Sorry for the delay in response. No prob with the questions, it's how we learn.:)
Getting the audio signal from the VS880 is no problem at all. Any recording device with line in capability will work.
On the back of the VS880, you will find a pair of jacks labeled 'MONITOR OUT L-R'. This is your stereo mix. Connect these to your recording device. Voila! Direct recording from the VS880 to your device - without a PC.
You're welcome. Yes, it is getting more and more difficult to find these small capacity IDE hard drives. And you are right, the prices are going up. An added feature of using SD cards is the virtually silent operation of the unit....no more HD noise.
Sorry I can't help with the internal metronome. I have never actually used the one in my VS880.
.
Thanks for the compliment. No prizes necessary. Just glad I could be of some help.:)
since this is a SD-card you could just use it to back up your projects to a PC, unless of course the VS880 records in some weird format. What is the difference between the VS880 and the VS880EX model?
The VS880 uses its own language and the audioi files are not compatible with a PC. I understand there are programs available that will convert these files to WAV files. But I haven't tried any of them yet.
The VS880EX is an upgraded version of the VS880. The EX units have a few more features like a lighted display and some upgrades to the OS and more signal routing options. The EX also has an optical digital output.
The maximum that the VS880 will recognize is 4gig. You can use higher capacity card/drive, but the VS880 will only use 4gig's. It iswritten into the machine's operating system and can't be changed.
hi i loved your tutorial,i just bought an vs-880 on ebay for ?60.00 in great condition.im new at digital recording,and want to learn all i can,so please be patient with me when i ask this question.What does the upgrade do?and anymore tutorials on how to use this thing would be greatly appriciated,so far you seem like the best chioce on asking questions too.thank you
Wow, you got a great deal on a good piece of equipment. Just be aware that there is a learning curve to this unit. Having said that, if you have done any analog multitracking, this will not be too different.
The upgrade here is simply a replacement for the internal HD of the 880.
By the way, I am currently working on a basic tutorial series for the VS880. Should be posting some vid's soon.
Don't be afraid to ask questions - it's how we learn.
I plan to do this with mine ,, 2 questions .. mine was manualy upgraded to v-expanded and some other upgrade (I forget..."S1" or something like that) ..how do I retain this upgrade ? also what is meant by "antler?"..is it some type of special cable ?
These upgrades are in the firmware in the VS880. No part of the operating system is stored on the drive. It is strictly for user data. This means that changing out the drive will not affect the actual OS at all.
Sorry about the "antler" thing, just something I sometimes say.LOL. The cable is just a std 44pin ribon type. It isn't necessary, but I wanted to locate the drive outside the 880 for better access.
@rickbell7 Well I finally received the device from China. And it WORKED! I ordered the SD card version, and plugged it directly into the VS880EX. It took me a few tries. (I installed it upside down, then I didn't get it plugged in all the way) I used a 4 Gig PNY Optima SD card. But it did work. I tested it a bit, and there were no problems (once I got it installed correctly). It is nice how quiet the unit is now. Thank you so much for sharing this information! Confirmed: VS880EX conversion works
Sweet! Yeah, it is easy to make the mistake of putting it in upside-down. Gotta really watch the pins since these type of drives are not keyed. Little scary at first I bet. Glad it all worked out for you.
I concur about the PNY Optima cards. I've successfully tested several other brands as well. Just note that 4Gig is the max . It is in the firmware and can't be changed. But you can still do a lot with 4Gig's on the VS units.
It's ackshully a 40 pin connector, but I won't mention that...
Solid state is on its way in, baby. I've seen the EIDE adapters, but haven't had reason to mess with one yet. 4 gig cards are totally dirt cheap now, and the next cute trick is to mount the card slot in the front panel. It's doable. Very doable...
I'd stay away from using SanDisk brand SD cards. There is nothing wrong with them, but for some reason, the VS880 does not get along with SanDisk cards.
I have had success using LEXAR and PNY cards with my unit. I am going to try other brands as well.
@rickbell7 thank you...this is what was needed in the blurb in the vidoe detail. I don't get why the exact brand and specs of the device aren't listed at the top. I have had to do similar conversions with yamaha units and I explained the specifics. Thanks,
Could you tell us the cheapest place to buy the parts needed to do this upgrade { ebay?} and what are the parts called. also, what is the recording time this upgrade gives ? Thanks.
the problem with solid state is the limited number of read/write cycles. far less than that of a mechanicla hard drive due to the quantum physics way solid state deletes files. less fragmentation though.
Hmmm, never heard about that before. I've never experienced any problems with regard to the read/write cycles on solid state memory devices. I have had numerous mechanical hard drive failures over the years though.
Interestingly, I have noticed that the computer industry seems to be making a transition toward solid state "hard drive" devices in PC's, etc. We'll have to keep watch on the reliability factor...see how it all plays out in the end.
Hey buddy I just had a thought, yes I know that might seem strange, but stop laughing and listen..... you should do upgrades and repairs from home for the local community!! Oh and hey that sound of My Girl, that was crisp as - well done :o)
Bahahahaha! - Oh, hi TK. I just read a good joke, LOL.
Seriously, I would really enjoy doing something like that. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time. Barely have the time for my own stuff, LOL.
I just kind of tossed that track together in a hurry, LOL. I was surprised at the sound, even using just the camera mic. Best of all, no more hard drive noise!
@rickbell7 well you know what you can do when you retire then, lol. Yeah that sound was really great, and I bet it is way better without that incessant whir from the HD :o)
Honestly, I wasn't really sure if this would work or not. I was pleasantly surprised when it worked straight off; as you saw in the video. It is basically plug and play. Very impressive, considering how old the VS880 is.:)
I can store a LOT of SD cards in the space that the five hard drives take up. Ironically, ten years from now we might think of SD cards as big and "clunky", LOL.
Nice video!
camago64 1 month ago
great video
ezcapeeee 1 month ago
For anyone who is looking for the ide to sd adapter, here's one place where you can find it...DHGate item number 1181.
Good luck with your upgrade.
HendrikMusic 1 month ago
Great Vid! I hope I don't end up breaking mine.
LegionFlorez 7 months ago
I have two of these machines. What about the IDE partitions?...or does it just read the storage capacity?
SuperAxmaker 8 months ago
@SuperAxmaker
The VS880 will read the drive capacity. Keep in mind that the max that the 880 will "see" is 4Gigs. The max size of any partition is 1 Gig. I think the VS880 can create four partitions, depending on the size of the hd you have. So a 4Gig hard drive would have a max of four 1Gig partitions.
Each partition is treated as a seperate "drive" in the firmware of the VS880.
rickbell7 8 months ago
@SuperAxmaker ,your a genius!!!!,great job,listen will this work with the vs880-ex the same way?..Much appreciated..
djcheechoz 7 months ago
@djcheechoz
Yes, this conversion will work exactly the same in the VS880EX. They use the same drive system and firmware.
rickbell7 7 months ago
HI there. This is pretty cool--as the original HD on my VS-880 sems to have crashed, this looks like a great and affordable solution. One question: other than the convenience of being able to quickly swap out SD card, is there any reason you couldn't (or shouldn't) simply tuck the card and adapter inside the caddy so it's not dangling on the outside?
Chuck
chuckmccollum 9 months ago
@chuckmccollum Oops--I should have read your earlier comments! Thanks for everything. :-)
chuckmccollum 9 months ago 2
@chuckmccollum
Not a problem. I used the ribbon cable because my VS880 is installed inside a console. For my application, mounting the adapter outside the 880 gives easy access to the SD card. In this installation, it is relatively safe since it is all inside of the console.
Actually, mounting the adapter inside the 880 as you describe would be the preferred way.
.
PS: Thanks for subscribing.:)
Cheers!
rickbell7 9 months ago
do you think this will work with the zip drive version of the roland the BR-8
ticoticotic 9 months ago
@ticoticotic
Sorry, I'm not familiar with the BR-8. My best guess is that as long as it has an IDE connector, you should be able to get an adapter to work in there.
rickbell7 9 months ago
Damnnnnnn.....I lost my HDP-88 adapter......What can I do
Need help
Nanese4life 9 months ago
@Nanese4life
Oooh ouch. I wish I could help you with that. I don't think they make the HDP-88 anymore.
The only thing that comes to mind right now is to go over to the VS Planet Forums and see if any of those guys can help find one. They are a great bunch over there and very helpful.
rickbell7 9 months ago
@rickbell7
THX
Nanese4life 9 months ago
@peoplebones .......I also am having problems with the IDE ribbon cable it will not even extent he HD . I found a cable called a true 44 IDE extend cable you can see the pin are swaped
Oheyjim 9 months ago
@peoplebones .......I also am having problems with the IDE ribbon cable it will not even extent he HD . I found a cable called a true 44 IDE extend cable you can see the pin are swaped
Oheyjim 9 months ago
@peoplebones
Hi Ron. Sorry for the delay in replying.
I heard from someone with exactly the same problem as you describe. Turns out that he installed the adapter upside down in his VS880. Once he got it properly oriented, it started right up for him.
I also had to bend the10th pin on the adapter I bought. I made sure it was the right one by comparing it with an existing hard drive. Make sure you have the right pin bent out, otherwise it won't work.
rickbell7 10 months ago
I recently bought one of these incredible recorders for 100 $ (I think it's a remarkable price) and I've noticed the noise coming out form the hard drive, also I have one question about the replacement to use it with a SD Card, does it improve the speed of playback on stage? I mean, I'll use it for sequences in live performances and i've noticed that it's not so instant as I wanted but I don't know if the HDD is the problem.
NoiRMonD 10 months ago
@NoiRMonD
Mechanical hard drives make some noise just because of the moving parts in them, it's normal. But when I started using condenser mic's it really bacame noticable. Since the unit is in the same room as the mic's, I needed to find a way to make it quiet. The SD card was the answer.
As far as speed, I really haven't noticed any performance increase with the adapter. But it is much more convenient for archiving...and it is silent.:)
rickbell7 10 months ago
Thank you it worked for me. Es una muy buena idea porque si algo me molestaba de este equipo era el ruido del disco duro (ademas del display) y gracias a este video he instalado una tarjeta SD.
Yeproducciones 10 months ago
@Yeproducciones
Muy bein! Bueno Trabajo.
(Hope I said that right, LOL)
Cheers!
rickbell7 10 months ago
Can you take the information on the sd card and transfer the data to your computer? I have an sd slot on my computer to do this. My question is are these wav files or some embedded roland file. I have checked into such programs as reaper and others to recognize these files.
madhatterbp 10 months ago
@madhatterbp
I've never actually tried to transfer any of the VS files to a PC. I understand that Roland uses their own file type which is not recognized by Winsows. However, I believe there are programs out there that can read and convert these files.
A great source of information in to visit the VS Planet Forums. Those guys really know their stuff over there.
rickbell7 10 months ago
Nice job my friend,Where did you get the sd card adaptor or how do you call that thanks.
Noebaco 10 months ago 3
@Noebaco
Thanks for looking in.
You can find the SD card adapters on Ebay. Should be around 10-15 USDollars.
Cheers:)
rickbell7 10 months ago
@peoplebones
Sorry for all the confusion you went through with the adapters and cables and stuff.
I just found the comments here tonight. Glad you found the answers you needed.
I did neglect to mention that there is a difference between the 'standard' IDE connector and the 'standard Notebook' IDE connector. Sorry for that.
Hopefully the new adapter will arrive soon and get you up and running again.
Take care.
Rick
rickbell7 11 months ago
hi. can u directly plug any guitar into these? i heard they have low impedence input jacks & therefore have to put something inbtween the guitar & it.
mjt11860 11 months ago
@mjt11860
You can connect a guitar directly to the inputs on the VS880. I did it a few times before I got my preamps and it worked fine. I even used a hi-impedence mic on it once like that. Yes, there is a bit of an impedance mis-match there, but a little gain can usually overcome it without too much noise.
Obviously, a preamp or a matching transformer is the best way. But if you don't have one, you can safely plug in direct.
rickbell7 11 months ago
@rickbell7 thanx 4 your reply. i'm considering btwn one of these & a yamaha aw16g. can this upgrade b done on a yamaha aw16g? r u familiar w/the yamahas & if so, which do u prefer? yamaha is 24 bit. is the vs880 24 bit. sorry 4 all the questions. thanx.
mjt11860 11 months ago
@mjt11860
I'm not familiar with the Yamaha unit, so can't advise on the drive system.
One of the most appealing things about the VS880, in my opinion, is how much it sounds like analog. Yet it is fully digital. Of course my opinion is based on my experience, but I do prefer the old VS880 over some of the newer equipment I have tried...including PC based DAW programs.
Don't worry about asking questions. It's how we learn.
Cheers!
rickbell7 11 months ago
Thanks for the compliment, and thank you again for posting this brilliant information. I'll try it out ASAP, and post you the results, which I am sure will be great!
Cheers!
fretboardyoda 11 months ago
Thank You Again,
I will order the adaptor ASAP, through an American vendor, and thank you, once again for the advise on the 80 GB Hard Drive, I will now try the SD Card solution, absolutely brilliant!
fretboardyoda 1 year ago
@fretboardyoda
Oops, I just noticed that you are not in America. Try to order the adapter from a vendor in your region or country if you aren't in America. I sometimes forget that YT is broadcast worldwide. Sorry for any confusion.
One more thing: When looking for an SD card, stay away from any SanDisk cards. SanDisk are fine cards. I use them all the time in cameras, etc. But they won't work in the VS880. Almost any other brand card will work.
.
Cheers!
rickbell7 1 year ago
@fretboardyoda
PS: awesome username: "fretboardyoda". Very creative. :)
rickbell7 1 year ago
This is amazing, a great solution for keeping the venerable VS-880, etc, up and running.
My question is What IDE Hard Drive to DS Card type of adaptor are you using? Is it a particular brand, and where can you buy from? Are they expensive and rare, or fairly common?
Also if I bought an 80 GB Hard Drive, and I know the VS unit only can use 4 GB, would this be worth using anyway, or would it be unstable?
Thank You!
fretboardyoda 1 year ago 3
@fretboardyoda
Thanks!
The adapter is available on E-Bay. Do a search on IDE to SD/SDHC adapter and it should come up. You should be able to find one for about 12-15 USDollars. Be sure you buy from an American vendor to avoid having to pay a duty fee. Plus it arrives MUCH faster!:)
.
Excellent question about the 80GB HD. I would advise against using a larger hard drive. I understand that the VS880 can become unstable with too large of a HD in it. 4-6GB should keep it "happy".
rickbell7 1 year ago
i just added the effects board,and it seems to work fine,i do have a question tho,can i play my guitar thru the 880 with effects without it recording,in other words i want to write a song and use some of the effects,but i want to play them with my guitar before i record,so i know what it sounds like first.thanks for your help
billycat1965 1 year ago
@billycat1965
Excellent question.
Yes, you can use the VS880 as a stand-alone mixer, complete with the built-in F/X card.
- Keep the channel LED in "yellow" (Source) mode.
- Apply the effect(s) that you want on the selected channel.
Then you can monitor the sound either by the headphones or by connecting the main outputs to a stereo power amp.
rickbell7 1 year ago
What cable are you using to connect the adapter. I see that it is a ribbon cable, but what do I need to buy?
MrZero5555 1 year ago
@MrZero5555
The cable is a standard 44 Pin IDE notebook type ribbon cable. Male on one end and female on the other.
The ribbon cable isn't really necessary for this installation unless you want to keep the adapter outside of the VS880. The SD adapter can be directly connected to the HDP-88 adapter board inside the VS880. Then simply secure it to the original HD caddy.
rickbell7 1 year ago
That's really cool. Can you suggest specific models (SD card, etc) so that someone with 10 thumbs and half a brain could do this with little room for error? Thanks.
dsherer33 1 year ago
@dsherer33
I ordered the adapter unit on E-bay. Search "IDE to SD Converter" and you should get a lot of results.
As for the SD card, you can pick up the Cards at any store like WalMart or BestBuy, etc. I'd advise getting at least a class4 Card. Lexar and PNY work well for me.
One brand that does NOT work is SanDisk. They are good cards, Just not for the VS880.
LOL @ 10 thumbs. Yeah, I'm a natural klutz. So if I can do this, then you should have no problem with it.
rickbell7 1 year ago
@rickbell7 Thanks much for the reply. I've received my ribbon cable in the mail and eagerly await the converter. Do you know if a class10 SD will perform better or will it be the same as a class4 as you suggest. I'm not really worried about the cost difference if it will perform better. Thanks again (I found the links to ebey on the Planet forum).
dsherer33 1 year ago
@dsherer33
A Class 10 card will always outperform a Class 4 or 6 card. When you start getting a lot of tracks, speed can become an issue. So far I've had no problem using the Class 4 cards in mine. But if I could find a Class 6, 8, 0r 10 in 4Gig, I'd most likely use one.
Remember the VS880 is limited to 4Gig's. It's in the firmware of the machine and can't be changed. But you can do a lot with 4Gig on a VS880.:)
.
PS: The VS Planet Forum rocks!
rickbell7 1 year ago
hi I need some inf. on how to dalate all the songs the are already in the memory of a roland 880 Vs thanks
Luzero99 1 year ago
@Luzero99
If you want to completely erase everything on the hard drive:
- Go to the DRIVE MENU.
- Scroll to INITIALIZE DRIVE. Hit YES.
- The machine will ask you several times if you want to do this. Hit Yes each time.
- The hard drive will be completely erased..
- A bunch of stuff will flash across the screen while it is formatting, and then, voila; ready for new recordings.
rickbell7 1 year ago
@rickbell7 thank you one more thing i want to burn direct from the recordig Roland with out using the pc what kind of unit can i buy ? sorry alot of my questions may not make any sense. but i just helping my husband to get inf the he needs thanks he is trying to make a demo. and what cd disks should be use ?
Luzero99 1 year ago
@Luzero99
Hi Sorry for the delay in response. No prob with the questions, it's how we learn.:)
Getting the audio signal from the VS880 is no problem at all. Any recording device with line in capability will work.
On the back of the VS880, you will find a pair of jacks labeled 'MONITOR OUT L-R'. This is your stereo mix. Connect these to your recording device. Voila! Direct recording from the VS880 to your device - without a PC.
Hope this helps.
Rick
rickbell7 1 year ago
is thier anyway i can transfer the audio from the vs-880 to my computer using the compact flash mod you made on it
SkeletinProductions 1 year ago
@SkeletinProductions
Yes, there is software out there for doing that. I've never tried it though and I don't remember the name of it.
You might want to look on the VS Planet Forum. Those guys have a lot of info for that software.
rickbell7 1 year ago
Very gratifying, even from way down here, to see that baby light up and go to work for ya! Way to go my good friendf, Rick!!
CastleOfThoughts 1 year ago
@CastleOfThoughts
Thanks Joe! This is an upgrade that I should have done a long time ago. It is working flawlessly. ...Now if I only had some talent, LOLOL.
Cheers!
rickbell7 1 year ago
Thank you so much for that video.
This means no more buying overpriced antique harddiscs on ebay for me!!! :-)
Maybe you know how to change the internal Metronome sound if it's possible.
Coudn't find that in my german manual.
I'd suggest you for the Nobel Price!!!!!!!
ptalch 1 year ago 2
@ptalch
You're welcome. Yes, it is getting more and more difficult to find these small capacity IDE hard drives. And you are right, the prices are going up. An added feature of using SD cards is the virtually silent operation of the unit....no more HD noise.
Sorry I can't help with the internal metronome. I have never actually used the one in my VS880.
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Thanks for the compliment. No prizes necessary. Just glad I could be of some help.:)
Cheers!
rickbell7 1 year ago
since this is a SD-card you could just use it to back up your projects to a PC, unless of course the VS880 records in some weird format. What is the difference between the VS880 and the VS880EX model?
bergweg 1 year ago
@bergweg
The VS880 uses its own language and the audioi files are not compatible with a PC. I understand there are programs available that will convert these files to WAV files. But I haven't tried any of them yet.
The VS880EX is an upgraded version of the VS880. The EX units have a few more features like a lighted display and some upgrades to the OS and more signal routing options. The EX also has an optical digital output.
rickbell7 1 year ago
what's the maximum SD-Card capacity one can use with this recorder and adapter?
bergweg 1 year ago
@bergweg
The maximum that the VS880 will recognize is 4gig. You can use higher capacity card/drive, but the VS880 will only use 4gig's. It iswritten into the machine's operating system and can't be changed.
rickbell7 1 year ago
hi i loved your tutorial,i just bought an vs-880 on ebay for ?60.00 in great condition.im new at digital recording,and want to learn all i can,so please be patient with me when i ask this question.What does the upgrade do?and anymore tutorials on how to use this thing would be greatly appriciated,so far you seem like the best chioce on asking questions too.thank you
billycat1965 1 year ago 2
@billycat1965
Thanks!
Wow, you got a great deal on a good piece of equipment. Just be aware that there is a learning curve to this unit. Having said that, if you have done any analog multitracking, this will not be too different.
The upgrade here is simply a replacement for the internal HD of the 880.
By the way, I am currently working on a basic tutorial series for the VS880. Should be posting some vid's soon.
Don't be afraid to ask questions - it's how we learn.
rickbell7 1 year ago
I plan to do this with mine ,, 2 questions .. mine was manualy upgraded to v-expanded and some other upgrade (I forget..."S1" or something like that) ..how do I retain this upgrade ? also what is meant by "antler?"..is it some type of special cable ?
stymye 1 year ago
@stymye
These upgrades are in the firmware in the VS880. No part of the operating system is stored on the drive. It is strictly for user data. This means that changing out the drive will not affect the actual OS at all.
Sorry about the "antler" thing, just something I sometimes say.LOL. The cable is just a std 44pin ribon type. It isn't necessary, but I wanted to locate the drive outside the 880 for better access.
Best of luck.
rickbell7 1 year ago
Does this also work for the 880ex? Also I was wondering if you or anyone else you know might have used the 880/ex as a midi control surface?
Ginkfist 1 year ago
@Ginkfist
I'm sure this will work with the EX units as well. The drive configuration is the same for all of the VS880 units.
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Sorry, can't help you with the MIDI question. I haven't really done much at all with MIDI.
rickbell7 1 year ago
You have no idea how amazing this is! (to me!) WOW! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! I just ordered one of these things, we will see how it goes.. Awesome!
ParisandSound 1 year ago 8
@ParisandSound
You are most welcome! I'm glad this has helped. Thanks for an amazing comment.
Best of luck when you get the adapter. You'll have to check back in and let us know how it goes.
Cheers!
Rick
rickbell7 1 year ago
@rickbell7 Well I finally received the device from China. And it WORKED! I ordered the SD card version, and plugged it directly into the VS880EX. It took me a few tries. (I installed it upside down, then I didn't get it plugged in all the way) I used a 4 Gig PNY Optima SD card. But it did work. I tested it a bit, and there were no problems (once I got it installed correctly). It is nice how quiet the unit is now. Thank you so much for sharing this information! Confirmed: VS880EX conversion works
ParisandSound 1 year ago
@ParisandSound
Sweet! Yeah, it is easy to make the mistake of putting it in upside-down. Gotta really watch the pins since these type of drives are not keyed. Little scary at first I bet. Glad it all worked out for you.
I concur about the PNY Optima cards. I've successfully tested several other brands as well. Just note that 4Gig is the max . It is in the firmware and can't be changed. But you can still do a lot with 4Gig's on the VS units.
Cheers!
rickbell7 1 year ago
It's ackshully a 40 pin connector, but I won't mention that...
Solid state is on its way in, baby. I've seen the EIDE adapters, but haven't had reason to mess with one yet. 4 gig cards are totally dirt cheap now, and the next cute trick is to mount the card slot in the front panel. It's doable. Very doable...
anmoose 1 year ago
@anmoose
I believe you are thinking of a 3½" IDE drive. Those do have 40 pins, and a 4 pin external power connector.
The 2½" IDE notebook type drives are 44 pins. I'm guessing that the "extra" 4 pins are for the power connection.
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Indeed, solid state IS the way to go. Still not up to the capacity needed for a computer, but getting there.
Well, one day I might get brave enough to try cutting a card slot into my precious VS880. ... Not today though.:)
rickbell7 1 year ago
The adapter is available on E-Bay for about 11$ Type this into the search box: "SD SDHC MMC TO 2.5'' 44 PIN IDE MALE ADAPTER CONVERTER".
The SD cards are available just about everywhere, and aren't very expensive.
Depending on what size SD card you get, it could give you from 500 to 2000+ total track minutes. 4Gig is the max.
rickbell7 1 year ago
@rickbell7
Is there a certain brand SD card we need to buy..or will the least expensive one work ?
enolaniaga 1 year ago
@enolaniaga
I'd stay away from using SanDisk brand SD cards. There is nothing wrong with them, but for some reason, the VS880 does not get along with SanDisk cards.
I have had success using LEXAR and PNY cards with my unit. I am going to try other brands as well.
rickbell7 1 year ago
@rickbell7 thank you...this is what was needed in the blurb in the vidoe detail. I don't get why the exact brand and specs of the device aren't listed at the top. I have had to do similar conversions with yamaha units and I explained the specifics. Thanks,
IanCanefire 4 months ago
Could you tell us the cheapest place to buy the parts needed to do this upgrade { ebay?} and what are the parts called. also, what is the recording time this upgrade gives ? Thanks.
enolaniaga 1 year ago 2
sweet solution
dpcomm1 1 year ago
@dpcomm1
Thanks!
rickbell7 1 year ago
the problem with solid state is the limited number of read/write cycles. far less than that of a mechanicla hard drive due to the quantum physics way solid state deletes files. less fragmentation though.
MikeyTSH 1 year ago
@MikeyTSH
Hmmm, never heard about that before. I've never experienced any problems with regard to the read/write cycles on solid state memory devices. I have had numerous mechanical hard drive failures over the years though.
Interestingly, I have noticed that the computer industry seems to be making a transition toward solid state "hard drive" devices in PC's, etc. We'll have to keep watch on the reliability factor...see how it all plays out in the end.
Thanks.
Rick
rickbell7 1 year ago
Hey buddy I just had a thought, yes I know that might seem strange, but stop laughing and listen..... you should do upgrades and repairs from home for the local community!! Oh and hey that sound of My Girl, that was crisp as - well done :o)
trulykiwi 1 year ago 3
@trulykiwi
Bahahahaha! - Oh, hi TK. I just read a good joke, LOL.
Seriously, I would really enjoy doing something like that. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time. Barely have the time for my own stuff, LOL.
I just kind of tossed that track together in a hurry, LOL. I was surprised at the sound, even using just the camera mic. Best of all, no more hard drive noise!
Thanks!
Rick
rickbell7 1 year ago
@rickbell7 well you know what you can do when you retire then, lol. Yeah that sound was really great, and I bet it is way better without that incessant whir from the HD :o)
trulykiwi 1 year ago
@trulykiwi
Retire??? Hmmmm, I need to "retire" the Taurus - taking it to the garage this weekend for "re-Tiring" LOLOL!
The sound from the HD wasn't so bad...until I started using condenser mic's in there. Those things "hear" EVERYTHING!!
This beats what I was doing before - covering the 880 with pillows and blankets. That was only marginally successful, LOL.
Now I have to look twice to be sure the unit is switched on.
rickbell7 1 year ago
wow, that is something, seeing an older device being able to be upgraded to newer technology
its amazing how small these stroage units are becoming
dustyboy4792 1 year ago 3
@dustyboy4792
Honestly, I wasn't really sure if this would work or not. I was pleasantly surprised when it worked straight off; as you saw in the video. It is basically plug and play. Very impressive, considering how old the VS880 is.:)
I can store a LOT of SD cards in the space that the five hard drives take up. Ironically, ten years from now we might think of SD cards as big and "clunky", LOL.
Thanks for stopping by.
rickbell7 1 year ago