Roland Virtual Accordion

The Roland Virtual Accordion is the world's first electronic instrument to use Physical Behaviour Modelling (PBM) to simulate a wide range of acoustic instruments, including many musettes, bandoneon, concertina, and other ethnic accordions and melodeons. It also features a range of Orchestral instruments, all of which respond to the bellows movements, etc.
Manufactured by the Roland Corporation, the V-Accordion, which was released in 2004, comes in two models- The FR-5 and the FR-7. The FR-7 features built-in battery-powered amplifiers and speakers, making it independent of mains power. The FR-5 is identical, except it lacks the internal speakers. The operating system within the instruments is upgradeable through the extensive MIDI features.
The V-Accordion is the result of some 7 years development by a Roland Europe team based in Italy.
Since the introduction of the first models - the FR-5 and FR-7 - there have been several additions to the range:
FR-5b and FR-7b are 5 Row Chromatic Button versions of the originals, with several additions.
Due to the success of these four models, a further four "cut-down" models have been introduced as follows:
The FR-3 and FR-3s models are simplified V-Accordions with very few programming facilities, but still with extensive MIDI features and a number of converter bass systems. These feature a 37 note piano keyboard (G - G) plus 120 bass.
There are also 5 Row Chromatic Button versions: the FR-3b and FR-3sb. In all cases with the FR-3 models the "s" denotes built-in speakers. All the FR-3 family run from ordinary AA NiMh cells.
Continuing the development of the V-Accordion range, Roland have recently added the FR-2 Model. Available in both piano and button versions, the FR-2 has some innovations compared with the previous models, notably the addition of Drum Pads to the left-hand controls. There are no internal speakers in the FR-2 which has 34 right-hand keys (or 82 buttons) and 96 bass buttons.
The latest addition to the range is the tiny FR-1. Aimed at children the FR-1 comes in two versions - a piano treble keyboard of 26 keys and a 5 row button treble with 37 notes. Both versions have 72 bass buttons. The FR-1 has a limited range of Drum Pads. This model is featured in a new educational programme planned by Roland Europe, with instructional material in printed form, backed by DVD demonstrations, all by Sergio Scappini.
Roland has recently put together a team of demonstrators in an attempt to bring the accordion to renewed popularity. The team includes players such as Ludvic Beier, Eddie Monteiro, Cory Pesaturo, Paul Stanga, and Don McMahon.

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