Roland VP-330
The Roland VP-330 is a paraphonic ten-band combined digital/analog vocoder and string machine manufactured by Roland Corporation from 1979 to 1980. While there are several string machines and vocoders, a single device combining the two is rare, despite the advantage of paraphonic vocoding, and the VP-330's synthetic choir sounds are unique. Despite the VP-330's electronic string and choir sounds being less realistic than those of the tape-based Mellotron, touring musicians used it as a lighter and more robust alternative.
Roland VP-330
ghostdad · originally posted to Flickr as alex studio · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Field
- string synthesizer
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The Roland VP-330 is a paraphonic ten-band combined digital/analog vocoder and string machine manufactured by Roland Corporation from 1979 to 1980. While there are several string machines and vocoders, a single device combining the two is rare, despite the advantage of paraphonic vocoding, and the VP-330's synthetic choir sounds are unique. Despite the VP-330's electronic string and choir sounds being less realistic than those of the tape-based Mellotron, touring musicians used it as a lighter and more robust alternative.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Roland VP-330. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
In this article
Overview
Overview
The Roland SVC-350 is a similar vocoder in rack-mount form designed to accept external inputs.
Key facts
Key facts
• Synth Name — VP-330 • Synth Manufacturer — Roland Corporation • Dates — 1979-1980 • Price — US$2,695 • Polyphony — Paraphonic • Oscillator — Single master VCO divided into full note range • Lfo — Sine wave • Synthesis Type — Analog subtractive • Filter — 7 band-pass for human voice tones; 10 band-pass for vocoder • Attenuator — Single attack and release shared by all voices • Aftertouch — No • Velocity — No • Fx — 2 parallel BBDs per channel (4 BBDs total) for stereo ensemble effect • Keyboard — 49 keys • Left Control — Pitch bend • Ext Control — Vocoder hold via foot switch
Architecture
Architecture
In addition to vocoding and generating string sounds, the VP-330 can also play four different choir sounds, each of which uses four bandpass filters, shared from the same pool of seven total. Like Roland's other string machines of the era, such as the RS-202, it features a BBD-based ensemble effect that thickens the strings, and optionally the choirs and vocoder.
Notable users
Notable users
• 10cc • Laurie Anderson (on O Superman) • BT • Michael Boddicker (on Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)) • A Certain Ratio • Vince Clarke • Phil Collins • Stevie Wonder • John Foxx • Greg Hawkes (of The Cars) • Tony Mansfield • Mike Oldfield • Queen • Isao Tomita • Underworld • Vangelis (including on the Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtracks) • Yellow Magic Orchestra • Minoru Mukaiya from Casiopea • Koz (on Levitating)
Legacy
In 2016, Roland made a digital recreation of the VP-330, named the VP-03, as part of their Boutique range. In 2019, Behringer released their own VP-330 clone, the VC340.
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Roland SVC-350 Vocoder.
- 2.Forrest, Peter. The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers, Part Two: N-Z, Revised and Expanded. Susurreal. 144. March 2003. 0-952437-73-2.
- 3.VP-330 service notes. 7. 1979-09-21.
- 4.Greg Hawkes, The Cars Vocoder Plus Synthesizer. LiveAuctioneers. Nov 2020.
- 5.Magnus, Nick. Vocal Codes From The Underground. Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. 6. 3. 54–58. Feb 1992. 0957-6606.
- 6.Berge, Svein. Röyksopp's vocoder playlist: Transvolta, Laurie Anderson, Kraftwerk and more. The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. 2016-11-21.
- 7.Buskin, Richard. Emotional Experience. Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. December 2001.
- 8.Beecher, Mike. Isao Tomita. Electronics & Music Maker. Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. 50–52. Feb 1983.
- 9.Tingen, Paul. Underworld: The Making of "Everything, Everything". Sound On Sound. Dec 2000.
- 10.Clewes, Richard. Vangelis: Recording at Nemo Studios. Sound On Sound. Nov 1997.
- 11.Tanaka, Yuji. Yellow Magic Orchestra: The Pre-MIDI Technology Behind Their Anthems. Red Bull Music Academy. November 11, 2014.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Roland TR-707Terminology
- Roland TR-808Terminology
- Roland TR-909Terminology
- Roland V-SynthTerminology
- RolandoWork
- Rolland-PilainOrganisation
- RollcageWork
- Rollcage Stage IIWork
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Roland VP-330?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.