Plug-In Power: The Roland Classic Series FX Bundle
By Dave Crane

This month's article takes a look at the Roland Classic Series Effects Bundle and some cool ways that you can use plug-ins to complement each other. This bundle transports you back about 20 years to a time when having these three pieces of gear meant you had a happening studio! Having a UAD-1 card with these three Roland plug-ins still means you have a happening studio, but now you have a few of each unit.

If you don't already own a UAD Roland plug-in, you can get all three for $399 in the Roland Classic Series FX Bundle. Since we love our customers, anyone who has bought a Dimension D, CE-1, or both can end up with all three and still pay only $399 total.

The first movie illustrates how you can use the Dimension D to give the RE-201 some stereo width. Since the RE-201 is a mono device, it can sound a little . . . well, mono. I have a piano track bused to an aux track with the RE-201. Inserting a Dimension D after it does a great job of spreading out the mono signal. On setting 1, the chorus effect is barely noticeable, but when you bypass the Dimension D, you can hear the difference as the stereo image collapses. The stereo effect is more pronounced on settings 2, 3 and 4.

In the second movie, I use the CE-1 in a very similar fashion on a guitar track. The chorus effect is more noticeable, and switching from Dual to Mono mode offers two nice options for opening up the mono signal.

In the third example, I am using the RE-201 to create tape-flanging effects. I have placed two RE-201s on two effects tracks in Nuendo, and the dry track is sent to each RE-201. One RE-201 is set up as saturated, with the input gain up high enough to hit the virtual tape fairly hard and cause some distortion. The other RE-201 is set up for getting the cleanest signal to tape. Both have the Delay level up to full, the Rate at the fastest setting, and the Intensity at is lowest setting. The wow and flutter that that is imparted by the RE-201's virtual tape is clearly audible when played against the dry track. In the movie, I play each RE-201 individually along with the dry track, and then all three tracks together. Sure, it uses a lot of DSP, but you won't get that tape flange sound anywhere else!

Chorus Effect: Piano
Chorus Effect: Guitar
Tape Flange