If you have two VS-2480s, you can sync them together using an R-BUS cable. MIDI Machine Control messages are used to control the transport functions; MIDI TIME CODE is used for a positional timing reference; and a stereo signal is passed from one VS-2480 to another. These MIDI and audio signals call all be passed via an R-BUS cable.
This means that any processing (e.g. effects, panning, eq, compression, Mastering Room effects) will be passed as a stereo signal from the SLAVE VS-2480 into the MASTER VS-2480's Input 23/24 channel. In other words, the MASTER VS-2480 will simply "see" the SLAVE VS-2480 as an external stereo device on Input channels 23/24.
Notes:
- R-Bus cables have been out of production for years and we no longer have resources to purchase these. The best place to still find one would be online (For example: Searching on Google for "R-Bus cable", "Roland R-Bus cable", "Roland RBC-5", etc). Note that the R-BUS cable was a proprietary design and a SCSI cable/connector is not compatible.
- The 1st VS-2480 will be referred to as the MASTER VS-2480 and it is the one that you should connect your speakers or headphones to. The 2nd VS-2480 will be referred to as the SLAVE VS-2480 and will be controlled by the MASTER VS-2480. A stereo audio signal (left and right) from the SLAVE VS-2480 will be sent to the MASTER VS-2480.
- Connect an R-BUS cable from the R-BUS 1 port of the MASTER VS-2480 to the R-BUS 1 port of the SLAVE VS-2480.
MASTER VS-2480 Settings :
- Press PROJECT.
- If NEW is not visible above [F2], press PAGE until it is. Press F2 (NEW).
- Select the desired sample rate and recording mode.
- Press F5 (OK). The VS-2480 displays: "Create New Project, Sure?"
- Press ENTER/YES twice.
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Press [UTILITY].
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Press [PAGE] to display MIDI over the [F5] button. Press [F5].
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Set "SysEx. Tx Sw" to select "ON".
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Set "MMC" to "MASTER".
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Press F6 [EXIT].
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Press F6 again for [SYNC].
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Set "SYNC MODE" to "INT".
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Set “R-BUS1 Sync Gen.” to MTC
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Set "Frame Rate" to "30".
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Press [F6] to EXIT.
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Press [PAGE] to display PROJ over F3. Press F3 [PROJ].
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Under the Master Clock area of the Project Parameter page, select R-BUS 1. "DIGITAL IN LOCK!" will be displayed briefly.
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Press [DISPLAY/HOME].
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Press [EZ-ROUTING/PATCH BAY].
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Press [F1] VIEW and use your [ARROW/CURSOR] buttons and [TIME/VALUE DIAL] to route the R-BUS 1 box’s 7 and 8 to INPUT MIXER 23 and 24 respectively.
NOTE: Unless you have previously changed the R-BUS patching, this should already be patched by default.
This will route the left and right Master outputs of the SLAVE VS-2480 to INPUT MIXER 23 (left) and 24 (right) of the MASTER VS-2480--after the Slave VS-2480 is setup below. This is how you will monitor the tracks on the SLAVE VS-2480. The Master VS-2480’s INPUTS 23/24 will receive the SLAVE VS-2480’s Master left and right output. -
Press [IN 17-24] next to the MASTER FADER and raise faders 23 and 24.
Slave VS-2480 Settings:
- Press PROJECT.
- If NEW is not visible above [F2], press PAGE until it is. Press F2 (NEW).
- Select the desired recording mode and set the same sample rate as the MASTER VS-2480.
- Press F5 (OK). The VS-2480 displays: "Create New Project, Sure?"
- Press ENTER/YES twice.
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Press the [UTILITY] button.
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Press [PAGE] to display MIDI over the [F5] button. Press [F5].
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At the bottom of the MIDI PRM page, set the MMC Mode to SLAVE.
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Set the MMC Source to R-BUS 1.
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Cursor up to the SysEx. Rx.SW and select ON.
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Press the [UTILITY] button and use the [TIME/VALUE DIAL] to select SYNC Prm. Press [ENTER/YES].
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On the SYNC Prm page, set SYNC MODE as “EXT”.
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Set the FRAME RATE to 30.
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Press [DISPLAY/HOME].
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Press [EZ-ROUTING/PATCH BAY].
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Press [F3] OUTPUT and use your [ARROW/CURSOR] buttons and [TIME/VALUE DIAL] to route “- BUS - MSTL/R” on the left of the screen to “OUTPUT R-BUS 1” 7 and 8 on the top of the screen. This will route the Master left and right output of the SLAVE VS-2480 out to R-BUS 1’s 7 and 8.
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You may now press PLAY (or REC and PLAY) on the MASTER VS-2480 and it will start the SLAVE VS-2480. Both the MASTER VS-2480 and SLAVE VS-2480 will be synced together. All audio from the SLAVE VS-2480 will also be sent through the R-BUS 1 cable as a stereo audio signal (left and right) to the MASTER VS-2480’s Input channels 23 and 24.
NOTE: When mixing down in the Mastering Room, all audio that you hear out of the MASTER VS-2480--including any audio from the SLAVE VS-2480--will be recorded in the Mastering Room.