Roland DEP-5 Digital Effects Processor

Roland proudly introduced a new standard in signal processors the Roland DEP-5 Digital Effects Processor. The Roland DEP-5 incorporates Roland's most advanced digital technology for great sound and easy programming.

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Roland digital effects devices are the choice of musicians and engineers the world over. Onstage and in studios, the remarkable SRV series digital reverb units and SDE series digital delays play a vital role in today's music.

A complete assortment of today’s most popular effects – digital delay, reverb, chorus, stereo panning, and EQ – is there at your command. And not only does the Roland DEP-5 allow you to select a single effect but you can use them simultaneously to create totally new sounds.

Details

With the Roland DEP-5 your music will sound better than ever.

Digital Reverbs include four types sf effects: Room, Hall, Plate and Special: altogether 22 different reverberation effects. And more, Gate
Reverb can be obtained in the Non-linear mode.
The Digital Chorus creates more natural chorus effect than the analog chorus.
The maximum delay time of the Roland DEP-5 is 2000ms.
Up to 99 different effect settings can be written into memory.
Three Band Digital Equalizer is built in.
Featuring MIDI Connectors, the Roland DEP-5 can be set up with other MIDI device. The Program Change message sent from the external device can select the effect setting on the Roland DEP-5.
The DEP-5 adopts the 16 bit A/D/A conversion system and 28 bit internal arithmetic digital signal processor, allowing dynamic range of 80db and total harmonic distortion of under 0.03%.

Sophisticated Digital Circuitry
The Roland DEP-5 a converter for analog/digital signal conversion, and a newly developed high speed 28 bit signal processor – the heart of the DEP-5 – for reverb simulation. The results are astounding: a signal to noise ratio of 80 dB, frequency response form 30 Hz to 12 kHz, 90 dB dynamic range, and 0.03% THD. The DEP-5 offers sound quality equal or superior to more expensive digital effects devices.

Algorithms

Chorus
Reverb
Reverb with modulation
Reverb with Chorus in series
Reverb with Chorus in parallel
Reverb with Chorus in parallel with Chorus stronger then in 5
Non-Linear Reverb
Non-Linear Reverb with modulation
Non-Linear Reverb with Chorus in parallel
Chorus and Delay in parallel
Low Density Non-Linear Reverb with modulation

99 MIDI Compatible Control Settings
The Roland DEP-5 can store up to 99 front panel control settings – all controls except the input attenuator and effect/direct balance. All 99 stored settings can be instantly recalled with the front panel controls or a footswitch connected to the Preset Shift Jack. The Roland DEP-5 is MIDI compatible too. All 99 settings can be recalled with MIDI program change messages transmitted from another MIDI device. When a MIDI synthesizer is used with the Roland DEP-5m each of the DEP-5’s effects can be edited to compliment a specific synth patch. Simply select both the synth patch and the DEP-5 effect setting from the Synth. It is also possible to control the DEP-5’s programmable parameters using MIDI system exclusive messages from an external MIDI device.

Ease of Operation
Generally speaking, the more functions an effects device has, the more complicated its operation becomes. But the Roland DEP-5 is different. Unlike ordinary digital effects devices with their confusing arrows and data value keys, the DEP-5’s 16-bit microprocessor lets you adjust programmable parameters with easy-to-set knobs, switches and buttons. At the slightest touch of a knob, the corresponding value is indicated on the display for quick and easy editing.

The Roland DEP-5 stores 29 different sample effect settings, so you can easily learn how to program the DEP-5’s effects by referring to the sample settings. The DEP-5 is also one of the few MIDI effects devices with system exclusive compatibility for future system expansion. Two input jacks and two output jacks are provided for connection to any musical instrument or sound reinforcement system. The DEP-5 features footswitchable simulated stereo for added realism with either a monaural or stereo source.

The Roland DEP-5 offers a range of delay and reverberation effects unmatched for clarity and dynamic response.And thanks to sophisticated fully digital circuitry, you can combine effects in totally new ways without losing the original character and beauty of your instrument. If great sound is important to you, the Roland DEP-5 Digital Effects Processor will help you explore new musical territory.

The Effects

Digital Reverb – The Heart of the DEP-5
A sound reverberated in a typical acoustic environment consists of three parts: Direct sound, early reflection, and reverberation. The listener in the environment first hears the direct sound as it travels form the sound source to the listener. Nest, the early reflection resounds once or several times from walls, ceiling and floor. Finally, the listener hears the reverberation sound that reflects many times before it reaches the listener in random phases from all directions.

Early reflection and reverberation characteristics differ in every acoustic environment, because every environment is different in size, shape, and construction material. The Roland DEP-5 offers the SRV series digital reverberation system, complete with programmable parameters to simulate nearly any acoustic environment, from a small chamber to an arena. Each program is designed to satisfy the requirements of today’s most demanding musicians.

Selectable Reverberation
The following 22 basic reverb settings are available: eleven Rooms, seven Halls, two Plates, and two special settings. Once a basic reverb setting is selected, the Roland DEP-5 automatically sets corresponding early reflection characteristics. The setting can be modified by the following three programmable parameters.

Pre-Delay: Sets the time between the direct sound and reverberation to simulate various room sizes. The longer the pre-delay time, the more spacious the sound. The pre-delay time can be set between 0 and 500ms.
Reverb Time: Sets the reverberation decay time (between 0.1 and 99 seconds). This simulates the absorption characteristics of the acoustic environment.
High Frequency Damping: Sets the ratio between the decay of high-frequency reverberation and the entire reverberation(assign the value between 0.05 and 1.00). This simulates the equalization characteristics of an acoustic environment.

Gated Reverb
In Non-Linear mode, the Roland DEP-5 produces a non-linear, or gated reverb effect that abruptly cuts the reverb sound when the set gate time has elapsed. This effect is ideal for all percussion instruments. Three programmable parameters are provided that allow you to tailor the effect characteristics.

Pre-Delay: Sets the time between the direct sound and the beginning of reverberation from 0 to 500ms.
Reverb Time: Sets the reverberation time between -0.9 and 99 seconds. At a negative setting, the reverb effect gradually increases in level before fading along with the direct signal.
Gate Time: Once the pre-delay time has elapsed, gate time sets the time between reverberation and its cutoff point (adjustable from 10 to 999ms).

3-Band Equalizer
The Roland DEP-5 features a programmable digital equalizer for increased sound processing versatility. The equalizer has three frequency bands: low, middle and high, each with a boost/cut level of 12 dB. The middle band is parametric, featuring variable center frequency and Q, while the other two bands are shelving type. The center frequency can be set at any of 128 stages between 300Hz and 12kHz, and the Q value is adjustable from 0.2 to 9.0.

Digital Chorus
The Roland DEP-5 is the first Roland effects device to offer digital chorus. With all digital signal processing circuitry, the Roland DEP-5 produces chorus effects more beautiful and realistic than any analog chorus can. Chorus can also be combined with reverb and delay to create other sounds like flanging, doubling and pitch shift for subtle detuning effects. The digital chorus can be tailored with three programmable parameters – Feedback level (0 to 100%), Modulation rate (0.3 to 10Hz) and Modulation Depth (0 to 50 cents).

Digital Delay
The Roland DEP-5 digital delay function is a variation of the reverb effect. Reverb offers a choice of normal, non-linear and delay types. The digital delay effect offers the same superb sound quality found in Roland’s popular SDE series digital delays. Delay time can be set between 0 and 2000ms as well as in or out of phase for spectacular panning delay effects. Digital delay can be combined with digital chorus for more spacious feel.

Specifications

Released: 1986

Quantization: 16 Bit
Sampling Frequency: 32kHz
Frequency Response: 30Hz-12kHz
Dynamic Range: 90dB
THD: Below 0.03%
Dimensions: 482mm x 47mm x 289mm
Weight: 5kg

Pre-Delay Time
0 to 500ms in Reverb Mode
0 to 500ms in Non-Linear Mode

Reverb Time
0.1s to 99s in Reverb mode
-0.9s to 99s in Non-Linear Mode

HF Damp Control
x0.05 to x1.0

Gate Time
10 to 999ms

Reverb Selection
ROOM: 0.3 to 76 (11 Levels)
HALL: 14 to 76 (7 Levels)
PLATE: 1 and 2
SPECIAL: 1 and 2

Equalizer
LOW: 100Hz +/-12 dB
HIGH: 10kHz +/-12 dB
PARAMETRIC:
300Hz to 12kHz +/-12 dB, Q 0.2 to 9.0

Chorus
Feedback: 0 to 100%
Rate: 0.3 to 10Hz
Depth: 0.to 50 cent

Delay Time
0 to 2000ms