FR-5b

V-Accordion

FR-5b
Discontinued

Roland’s Revolutionary V-Accordion Family Grows With New Button-Type Models

Equipped with 92-button right-handed keyboards, these new V-Accordions offer all of the original V-Accordion’s benefits, with several important additions. The Roland FR-7b/5b are the first instruments of their kind to integrate powerful digital technology into a traditional chromatic accordion design, offering performance features and sounds that appeal to a wide range of musicians.

Sound

The FR-7b/5b features a 128-voice polyphonic sound engine, 428 tones in 40 accordion sets (each including 14 Treble registers, 7 Bass registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Chord registers, 7 Orchestra Free Bass registers and 22 Orchestral Sounds).

PBM (Physical Behavior Modeling)

At the heart of the FR-7b/5b is Roland’s proprietary PBM technology for breathtaking sounds and amazing modeling possibilities. Physical Behavior Modeling uses complex algorithms for accurate recreations of every detail of a wide variety of acoustic accordions. All physical behavior aspects and expressive nuances of an acoustic instrument are faithfully reproduced.

Simulations

The FR-7b/5b is capable of simulating up to 40 different accordions (or to create as many virtual instruments) based on samples of popular traditional acoustic accordions, each with its own “idiosyncratic” tuning. It is possible to switch from an Italian jazz accordion to German folk, French Musette, or a historic Bandoneon sound — without physical modifications to the instrument itself. On top of that, each sound can be played using the same familiar accordion techniques.

Orchestral sounds

The FR-7b/5b incorporates Roland’s acclaimed orchestral sounds. 22 orchestral sounds are provided for the treble keyboard, while each bass section (bass, chord, free bass) can trigger its own orchestral sounds.

Flexibility

The V-Accordion faithfully reproduces the familiar sounds and nuances of a traditional accordion, while granting the versatility, flexibility and advantages of a digital musical instrument. You can select and switch between a wide range of sounds and/or accordion types, or create your own unique timbres. Furthermore, both keyboards can be transposed to play within a wide range of keys and octaves.

Unique All-In-One Design

The FR-7b contains a digital amplification system powered by a rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack, and is thus a self-contained instrument. The battery pack powers a pair of neodymium woofers and tweeters for a consistent, full range low-end to high-end output. The high-resolution bellows pressure sensor provides amazing expressive power not available on conventional digital keyboard instruments. The FR-5b contains the same features and sounds of the flagship model of the V-Accordion line but without the speakers and amplification system. The rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack is optional, providing a lightweight model for stage performance. The FR-5b is available in red or dark grey.

Expand your performance capabilities

The V-Accordion introduces revolutionary expressiveness for a digital musical instrument. The right- and left-hand keyboards are both velocity-sensitive, while a master bar adds even more creative options (including aftertouch control). The high-resolution bellows pressure sensor provides amazing expressive power, not available on conventional digital keyboard instruments. Utilizing the high/low modes (notes above/below the first key you press play a different sound), you can control up to 4 parts simultaneously in real-time. Also the FR-7b/5b’s bass section has been expanded to include control of additional orchestral sounds via the orchestra chord and orchestra free bass sections. Moreover, the FR-7b/5b is MIDI-compatible and can be used to control external modules.

Keyboard & Bellows
Right Hand
92 buttons with velocity sensitivity. Master Bar with Aftertouch
Left Hand
120 Bass buttons with velocity
Keyboard Mode
Right Hand: Solo, Dual, High/Low (for Orchestral Sounds)
Left Hand: Standard, Free Bass, Orchestral Bass, Orchestral Chord, Orchestral Free Bass
Bellows
Real pneumatic detection by a high resolution pressure sensor
Sound
Tones: Accordion Set
40 User Programmable Accordion sets
* Each Accordion Sets including: 14 Treble registers, 7 Bass registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Bass registers, 7 Orchestral Chord registers, 7 Orchestral Free Bass registers, 22 Orchestral Sounds
Treble Reed Footages
7
Bass Reed Footages
5
Chord Reed Footages
3
Free Bass Footages
2
Orchestral Sounds
22 sounds: Trumpet, Trombone, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Oboe, Harmonica, Muted Harmonica, Violin, Pizzicato, Flute, Pan Flute, Highland, Zampogna, Jazz organ, Perc. Organ, Rotary Organ, Term. Organ, Scat Voice, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Acoustic Piano
Orchestral Bass Sounds
7: Acoustic Bass, Bowed Bass, Fingered Bass, Picked Bass, Fretless Bass, Tuba, Tuba Mix
Orchestral Free Bass Sounds
Trombone, Clarinet, Oboe, Flute, Perc Organ, Ac Guitar, Ac Piano
Orchestral Chord
Trombone, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Trem Organ, Voice, Ac Guitar, Ac Piano
PBM (Physical Behaviour Modelling)
Noises
Stopping-reed growl
Closing valve noise
Left button noise
Individual Reed Simulation
Hysteresis threshold
Expression curve
Pressure variant filter
Pressure variant pitch deviation
Switching Reed Sound Wave
By bellows acceleration
By note repetition speed
Musette Tuning
Musette-Micro-Tuning Presets
16: Off (Standard), Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish
Effects
Reverb
8 Types
Chorus
8 Types
Delay
8 Types
Rotary for Orchestral Organ Sound
Slow/Fast
"Cassotto" and "Sordina" Simulations
Yes
Panel Controls
Knob Controls
Volume, Treble/Bass balance, Reverb, Chorus, Delay
Encoder
Data Entry with selection/confirmation switch
Panel Switches
Treble Registers
14 + Master + Orchestra
Bass Registers
7
Navigation Switches
Up, Down, Menu/Write, Exit/Jump
Other Switches
Set Up/Down, Sordina On/Off, Power
Others
Display
48 x 84 dots graphic backlit LCD
Onboard Connectors
Headphone jack (Stereo), Output jack (L/Mono (Treble), R/Mono (Bass)), Multi Connector (to FBC-7)
Color Variation
Dark Grey
Red
Supplied Accessories
FBC-7 (Power supply/Battery Charger):
5 programmable foot switches:
-Set Up/Down
-Register Up/Down
-Sustain
Multi connector(towards Accordion)
Expression Pedal Jack
MIDI In/Out/Thru connectors
Output Jacks (L/Mono,R)
AC Inlet

Owner's Manual, Straps, Accordion cloth, Treble reference caps, Bass reference caps, Power cable, 19 Pin multicore cable
Options
Rechargeable Ni-MH battery pack 24V-4500mAh
V-Accordion Gigbag
FBC-7 Gigbag
Size and Weight
Width
506 mm
19-15/16 inches
Depth
270 mm
10-11/16 inches
Height
405 mm
16 inches
Weight
9.5 kg
21 lbs.
The weight without the straps and the optional battery
*The specifications are subject to change without notice.

Support

If you have questions about operating your Roland product, please check our Knowledge Base for answers to the most common questions.
You can also contact our Product Support through Roland Backstage.
In addition, we have a library of Owner’s Manuals and Support Documents that you can download and reference.

Owner’s Manuals

Support Documents