Roland VM3100 and VM3100PRO.
- simonthompsonmusic
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 8
Versatile, compact digital mixers for live sound and AV?
Compact analog mixing FX consoles are perfect for clients requiring smaller channel inputs counts with on board effects.
Solo/duo artists, small bands, freelance AV techs, rehearsal and smaller event spaces.
But could digital mixers offer a solution for these applications?
In their early days, digital mixing consoles were largely rejected for 'live' applications for not being 'immediate' enough for fast-changing live sound applications and presentations.
But now that it's digital mixers rather than analog types that are now the 'norm' in live sound environments, and users are much more used to digital surfaces and control, we think it's worth re-evaluating some earlier digital mixing consoles.
One such product range would be Roland's VM3100/Pro Series mixers. Compact digital mixers with great sounding digital effects, powerful parametric channel EQ, 4 auxes, and assignable compressors. All with the advantages of scene memories and recall.
Analog mixers have a full set of controls available for every channel. With the exception of the channel faders and gain controls, digital mixers have one set of channel controls along with 'channel select' buttons which assign the controls to a particular channel. So to change the mid frequency cut or boost for channel 4, for example, you would push the 'channel 4 select button' then use the mid range cut/boost knob to make your alteration.
With a large number of channels to look after, say 24+ this might prove problematic, but with only 8 or 12 we don't think this is a major issue. Most parameters are set during sound check and only minor adjustments to the level of each channel may be required during the performance. In fact, we've seen many smaller solos, duos and bands adjusting their own mix using a mixer set up at the side of the stage area.
Although the VM3100/Pro has only 2 XLR inputs, the remaining 6 mono input channels are all equipped with mic pre-amps, so you DO have 8 mic channels although only 2 have phantom power for condenser microphones.
Channel EQ is a powerful 3 band fully parametric type with frequency control for each band. Far more powerful than anything a compact analog mixer would have.
2 channel aux outputs are available which are switchable pre/post fade so for live applications you can have 2 stage monitor mixes.
On-board effects processing is available via a Roland SRV Series effects chip, and to these ears, they sound a million dollars. I would suggest they are a step up from the effects available on most compact analogue consoles, although the 'Lexicon' effects found some Soundcraft compact mixers sound great.
Power supply is on-board, so there's no external black box to misplace at a gig. Just plug in 3 pin Euro lead and you're ready to go.
VM3100PRO
The 'PRO' version of the VM3100 offers an additional effects processor for even more effects processing possibilities, 2 additional on-board compressors and an interface allowing connection to Tascam or ADAT type multitrack recorders.
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