VS-840 SUPPORT FILES
FLASH ROM UPDATES
VS840UP.PDF Instructions for updating the VS-840, VS-840S, VS-840EX and VS-840GX with Standard MIDI Files (SMF) and the SMFPLAYR.ZIP Standard MIDI File Player for Windows.
SMFPLAYR.ZIP Standard MIDI File Player for Windows; used to queue up and transfer the MIDI file based ROM updates between a PC and VS-840.
VS840v105.zip Standard MIDI File (SMF) system update files, version 1.05, for the VS-840 and VS-840S. Use these SMF files together with the SMFPLAYR.ZIP Standard MIDI File Player for Windows.
VS840EXv205.zip Standard MIDI File (SMF) system update files, version 2.05, for the VS-840EX. Use these SMF files together with the SMFPLAYR.ZIP Standard MIDI File Player for Windows.
VS840GXv2.52.zip Standard MIDI File (SMF) system update files, version 2.52, for the VS-840GX. Use these SMF files together with the SMFPLAYR.ZIP Standard MIDI File Player for Windows.
840Z102.ZIP ZIP disk based system update file, to version 1.02. Format a ZIP 100 disk in your VS-840. Move the ZIP 100 disk to your PC with ZIP drive, open the ZIP archive and copy the file $SYSPRO2.VS1 to the ZIP 100 disk, to make a system update disk. Detailed instructions are included in the TXT file included in the ZIP archive. This file is included, because some VS-840 users have reported it was successful in restoring their VS-840 from a "BAD FLASH" / "Can't Version Up" / "Don't Match CPU" error.
VS840v105ZipPC.zip ZIP disk based system update file, to version 1.05. Format a ZIP 100 disk in your VS-840. Move the ZIP 100 disk to your PC with ZIP drive, open the ZIP archive and copy the file $SYSPRO2.VS1 to the ZIP 100 disk, to make a system update disk. Detailed instructions are included in the ZipPC.txt file included in the ZIP archive.
vs840v205z.zip ZIP disk based system update file, to version 2.05. Format a ZIP 100 disk in your VS-840. Move the ZIP 100 disk to your PC with ZIP drive, open the ZIP archive and copy the file $SYSPRO2.VS1 to the ZIP 100 disk, to make a system update disk. DO NOT USE A ZIP 250 DISK. YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR VS-840 WITH A "BAD FLASH" ERROR. Detailed instructions are included in the ZipPC.txt file included in the ZIP archive.
USER MANUALS
VS-840_840S_OM.pdf VS-840 and VS-840S (SCSI Port Equipped) User's Manual in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
VS-840EX_OM.pdf VS-840EX User's Manual in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
VS-840GX_OM.pdf VS-840GX User's Manual in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
SUPPLEMENTAL USER INSTRUCTIONS
VS840BASREC.PDF Basic recording instructions for the VS-840 in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
VS840_Sync.pdf Instructions for setting up the VS-840 to synchronize playback and record operations with other MIDI equipped devices, in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
vs4s1_use_840ex.PDF How to use the VS4S-1 SCSI adapter in a VS-840. In Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
RolandSystemVersionGuide.pdf Instructions for determining the OS version loaded on your VS-840 machine. In Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
MODIFICATIONS
VSCompGuide.pdf The VS Compatible Media Guide list, in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. This guide identifies laptop hard drives compatible with the EX firmware. Some VS-840EX users opted to install a 2.5" laptop hard drive in their recorders, which gives them 1Gb of drive space, and 539 recording minutes in MT2. More recently, VS-840EX users are opting for a Flash Media drive, using either Compact Flash or Secure Digital flash media cards as a better alternative to the laptop hard drive modification. See vs840cf_install_revH.pdf.
vs840cf_install_revJ.pdf Instructions for replacing the ZIP 100 and 250 drive in a VS-840 with an IDE-controlled flash media adapter. Lists sources for IDE-based Compact Flash and Secure Digital adapters, known compatible flash media cards, and detailed instructions. Proceed at your own risk.
IDE_To_CF_Adapter_Users_Manual.pdf User manual for the ACS Controls Compact Flash IDE adapter, featured in Compact Flash Adapter Installation instructions, below.
vs4s1_install_840ex.PDF How to install the VS4S-1 SCSI adapter in a VS-840. In Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
IDE_SD_Vid.mp4 (19Mb) Les Hillis produced this Quicktime video of installing an IDE SD flash media adapter from still photos using Adobe's Premier Pro CS3. Cool background music - of particular interest is how Les mounted the SD adapter to the U shaped drive shroud inside the VS-840.
MISC.
840DEMO.zip ZIP archive of the original Song Demo disk included with the VS-840. You should be able to format a ZIP 100 disk in your VS-840, put the ZIP disk in a ZIP drive attached to your PC and copy the contents of this ZIP archive to the ZIP 100 disk. If prompted, allow the files in the ZIP archive to overwrite the files on the ZIP disk.
BR8_to_WAV_Converter.exe Version 1.04 of the BR-8 to WAV converter program. With it, 840 and 840EX users can convert songs on ZIP 100 disks or flash media cards to WAV and back on their Windows based PC.
dMC-r10.exe dBPowerAmp Music Converter; rips CDs to WAV/MP3 and converts files from WAV to MP3 and back. This version is the last release that included the free LAME (MP3) engine. Versions after this went to a shareware/nagware LAME engine. If you use the BR8_to_WAV_Converter.exe to convert your VS-840 tracks to WAV, dBPowerAmp Music Converter will convert them to MP3 for free. A useful tool for online collaboration, too.
RECORDING AND MIXING HELPS
bandwidthchart.pdf Handy mixing chart for identifying equalization filter Q and bandwidth in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
eqprimer.pdf Handy mixing chart for equalization by instrument type, e.g., guitar, piano, bass, drums, etc. Recommended settings to achieve a great sounding mix. In Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
eqterms.pdf Another helpful equalization chart that describes sound characteristics by frequency. For example, a "muddy" sound suggests too much signal in the 200-800 hz range. In Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
note_freqs.pdf A chart to identify the frequency of notes. Useful for notch filtering. That "D" string on an acoustic guitar ringing too loudly? Look up the freqency of D (146.83 hz) and notch it out.
songws.pdf A basic song worksheet designed around the VS-840, to record track information and mixdown settings.
songws2.pdf A more detailed song worksheet designed around the VS-840, to record track information and mixdown settings. Includes AUX settings.
songws3.pdf A basic song worksheet designed around the VS-840, to record track information and mixdown settings. Includes AUX settings and more.
vom840p1.mp4 (70Mb) Part 1 of 4 of the VS-840 Video Owners Manual in MPEG 4 video file format. This will play in the Apple Quicktime Movie Player, which is free from Apple.com. If it will not play on your PC, you may need to download and install the Windows Essential Media Codec Pack from MediaCodec.org. Please download the smaller (17Mb) part 4 file and make sure it will play on your PC before downloading parts 1-3 which are 70Mb each.
vom840p2.mp4 (70Mb) Part 2 of 4 of the VS-840 Video Owners Manual in MPEG 4 video file format. This will play in the Apple Quicktime Movie Player, which is free from Apple.com. If it will not play on your PC, you may need to download and install the Windows Essential Media Codec Pack from MediaCodec.org. Please download the smaller (17Mb) part 4 file and make sure it will play on your PC before downloading parts 1-3 which are 70Mb each.
vom840p3.mp4 (70Mb) Part 3 of 4 of the VS-840 Video Owners Manual in MPEG 4 video file format. This will play in the Apple Quicktime Movie Player, which is free from Apple.com. If it will not play on your PC, you may need to download and install the Windows Essential Media Codec Pack from MediaCodec.org. Please download the smaller (17Mb) part 4 file and make sure it will play on your PC before downloading parts 1-3 which are 70Mb each.
vom840p4.mp4 (17Mb) Part 4 of 4 of the VS-840 Video Owners Manual in MPEG 4 video file format. This will play in the Apple Quicktime Movie Player, which is free from Apple.com. If it will not play on your PC, you may need to download and install the Windows Essential Media Codec Pack from MediaCodec.org. Please download the smaller (17Mb) part 4 file and make sure it will play on your PC before downloading parts 1-3 which are 70Mb each.
FILES FROM RANDY'S VS840 DOCUMENT COLLECTION WEB SITE
Hard_Disk_Recording.pdf (1Mb) A PDF document covering the basics of hard disk recording.
VS840_Block_Diagram.pdf (31K) A PDF document created by Randy Hill. Much more detailed than the block diagram in the manual.
IntrotoDigitalMixing.pdf (385K) A PDF document covering digital mixing.
VS840_Notes.zip (141K) zipped Microsoft Accss application I created for documenting your VS840 settings.
MIDI_Basics.pdf (600K) pdf document covering MIDI basics.
VS840RecordingTips.zip (8K) zipped Word document. This was posted by Tony K. on VS-Planet. It gives some great tips on recording. Thanks Tony!
VS_guide.zip (728K) Zipped Word document. This is a 432 page word document with tons on info on recording with VS recorders. The author only refers to himself as JW. Thanks JW!
VS840misc.pdf (462K) PDF document. A collection of documents downloaded from Roland. Includes: VS-840, VS-840EX, and VS-840GX brochures, VS-840EX Turbo Start, VS-840 sychronization, Updating the VS-840 with SMF's, and a couple of Custom Effects Settings.
TheEX_Files.pdf (622K) PDF document containing 13 pages from the VS840EX manual that are specific to the "EX". Useful for those of us who have upgraded our VS840 to a VS840EX. Thanks Jim Y!