Roland VS-2480CD - Manual (Page 5)

Roland VS-2480 Control Surface Mode Guide www.RolandUS.com 5
1—Introducing Control Surface Mode
What Is Control Surface Mode?
Since the initial release of the VS-2480, the VS-2480, VS-2480HD and VS-2480CD have
always had the capability of controlling external MIDI devices using V.FADER mode,
described on Page 300 of the
VS-2480 Owner’s Manual .
Starting with Operating System (“OS”) Version 2.011, however, this capability has been
greatly expanded. The VS-2480CD OS now includes pre-configured templates that map
the VS-2480 buttons, knobs and faders, to key parameters in popular computer-based
sequencing/recording software programs. There are templates for:
• Emagic Logic 5.X sequencing/recording software for Mac or PC
• Steinberg Cubase sequencing/recording software for Mac or PC
• programs that can be controlled by Mackie’s HUI control surfaces hardware, such
as Digidesign ProTools and Mark of the Unicorn Performer.
You can also design your own re-usable user templates for other programs.
This means that you can control supported programs directly from the VS-2480 without
having to use your computer’s mouse for most major operations. The VS-2480CD
makes an excellent control surface with its wealth of buttons, knobs and faders.
Control and Synchronization
While you can control the parameters in external sequencing/recording software using
Control Surface mode, you can also synchronize the software’s transport functions with
the VS-2480CD’s using the standard synchronization techniques described starting on
Page 307 in the
VS-2480CD Owner’s Manual . If the external software supports it, you can
control the software’s transport using the VS-2480CD’s transport buttons using MMC
(MIDI Machine Control) messages.
The Difference Between V.Fader Mode and Control Surface Mode
In a sense, Control Surface mode is actually a form of V.Fader mode, since it’s activated
the same way. It simply overrides and replaces normal V.Fader functionality with
enhanced control surface features. Whenever Control Surface mode is armed, standard
V.Fader mode becomes unavailable.
For the sake of simplicity from here on in, we’ll refer to the VS-2480, VS-2480HD and
VS-2480CD as simply the “VS-2480CD.” All three V-Studios share identical software as
well as control surface functionality.