Roland VK-8 Combo Organ

But it doesn’t stop there: The Roland VK-8 also sports rotary speaker modelling based on COSM technology, new other tones and a D-Beam controller—making it the new leader in combo organs. The VK-8 uses the same enhanced Virtual ToneWheel technology of its big brother, the dual-manual VK-77—giving it that warm, rich sound characteristic of yesterday’s classic organs. Choose from three different tone wheel types: Vintage 1, Vintage 2 and Clean. Then dial in your sound with the VK-8’s nine harmonic bars, conveniently located to the left of the keyboard.

The VK-8 takes rotary speaker modelling to a whole new extreme, using proprietary COSM technology to “model” not only the unique sound of a rotary speaker, but the construction of tube amp circuits, actual speaker cabinet characteristics and its natural ambience. Such attention to detail is what gives the VK-8 its superior sound. (A killer overdrive effect doesn’t hurt either.)

While classic organ sounds are the foundation of the VK-8, players will also appreciate having high-quality instrument sounds including electric/acoustic pianos, strings, brass and choir—even jazz scat voices and synths. There’s also a futuristic D-Beam controller, which lets you create effects from tonewheel motor stops to the shock sound of spring reverb using an infrared beam of light.

With two MIDI inputs, you can connect an external MIDI keyboard or an optional PK-7 pedalboard, which allows you to “kick” bass while playing chords and leads.

Organ aficionados will feel right at home with the VK-8’s panel layout as well. The familiar Vibrato/Chorus knob is located just as it was on the original. There’s even a dedicated Percussion button! In fact, the entire panel of the VK-8 is modelled after traditional combo organs, making it easy to navigate during performance or change tones using the nine harmonic bars, conveniently placed to the left of the keyboard.

At the heart of the VK-8 is a sound generator with Virtual ToneWheel Technology identical to the popular VK-77. This gives the VK-8 rich, warm tones with a choice of three tone wheel types—Vintage 1, Vintage 2 and Clean—which can be further adjusted using nine harmonic bars. Best of all, each of the VK-8’s three parts (Upper, Lower and Pedal) are fully polyphonic.

New to the VK-8 is Roland’s Active Expression feature, for creating two types of crescendos using an optional expression pedal. For example, when playing organ sounds, Active Expression creates a swell starting with the higher harmonic bars and moving towards the lower bars. Alternatively, Active Expression can be used to slowly fade in an instrument tone while using an organ tone—creating a full, rich sound, hands-free.

Roland VK8 main features include:

• 61-note single manual combo organ with enhanced Virtual ToneWheel technology
• Cool waterfall keyboard with velocity-sensitive keys plays like classic organs—great for glissandos
• Sophisticated rotary speaker modelling with overdrive effect
• Traditional panel layout: 9 harmonic bars, new Vibrato/Chorus knob and Percussion button
• D-Beam controller with Preset templates for more expressive performance
• New other tones for a wider sonic palette (e.g. piano, strings, choir, etc.)
• Onboard reverb and chorus effects
• 2 MIDI inputs for connecting a MIDI keyboard or optional PK-7 pedalboard—enjoy full polyphony while playing pedals and keys!
• Authentic solid wood cabinet and vintage keys