Hamamatsu, Japan, September 10, 2016 Roland announces the FR-4x (piano type) and FR-4xb (button type) V-Accordions, the latest additions to the acclaimed V-Accordion lineup. Each of these compact and lightweight instruments feature a sound engine derived from the flagship FR-8x, which provides a wide range of traditional accordion sounds, orchestral voices, organs, and onboard drum sounds. The FR-4x and FR-4xb also include many other noted V-Accordion features, including authentic playability with pressure-sensing bellows, sound expansion capability, built-in speakers, battery operation, USB song playback, and much more. With tradition in mind, the FR-4x and FR-4xb are manufactured in Castelfidardo, Italy, a town noted as the international capital of accordion builders. The FR-4x is equipped with 37 right-hand keys, while the FR-4x has 92 right-hand buttons. Both models are also equipped with 120 left-hand buttons. The bellows pressure-sensing circuitry ensures fast response and high sensitivity, and an adjustable resistance regulator allows the user to adjust the inertia to their preference. The FR-4x and FR-4xb include a full selection of traditional accordion sounds from around the globe. Also on hand are 162 orchestra sounds and 3 drum sets, plus 32 world-class organs. Four expansion slots allow users to load additional tone libraries, and Balkan and Dallape accordion expansions come pre-installed. Both models also include built-in chorus, reverb, and rotary effects to enhance sounds. Both the FR-4x and FR-4xb feature a powerful onboard audio system with two speakers and a tweeter, which supplies big, full-range sound for intimate performances and strolling gigs. And by plugging in headphones, users can practice quietly without disturbing family members and neighbors. The instruments can be powered via an included AC adapter, or with 10 AA batteries for on-the-go convenience. Both models offer line out jacks for a direct connection to a PA or recorder, eliminating the hassles associated with using microphones on a traditional acoustic accordion. The instruments also include MIDI for connecting to external devices like the Roland BK-7m Backing Module and FC-300 MIDI Foot Controller. The FR-4x and FR-4xb feature USB connectivity as well. By inserting a USB stick preloaded with favorite songs or practice material, users can jam along with the music as it plays back. There s a handy onboard recorder for capturing performances, which can then be transferred to a USB stick for sharing with others. USB also enables users to archive favorite settings and connect with the free FR-4x Editor software on a computer. To learn more about the FR-4x and FR-4xb V-Accordions, visit Roland.com. [Keyboard, Bass and Bellows] - Right hand 37 keys (with velocity sensitivity) - Left hand 120 bass buttons (with velocity sensitivity) - Bass and Chord Mode (Left-Hand Keyboard Note Layout) 2 Bass Rows, 3 Bass Rows A-7th, 3 Bass Rows A-5dim, 3 Bass Rows B-7th, 3 Bass Rows B-5dim, 3 Bass Rows Bx-7th, 3 Bass Rows Belgium - Free Bass Mode (Left-Hand Keyboard Note Layout) Minor 3rd, Bajan, Fifth, North Europe, Finnish - Bellows High-resolution pressure sensor for the detection of bellows pressure Bellows resistance regulator: wheel with fine adjustment - Bellows curve Fixed Low, Fixed Med, Fixed High, X-Light, Light, Standard, Heavy, X-Heavy, Close, Open, Tango, Traditional, Jazz, Classic, Dynamic1, Dynamic2 [Sound source] - Max polyphony 128 voices - Tones (Accordion Set) 100 Accordion Sets Each Accordion Set includes (number of sounds that can be assigned to the register buttons): Right Hand Registers : 14 Accordion registers, 14 Orchestra registers, 14 Organ registers Left Hand Registers : 7 Bass and Chord registers, 7 Free Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Bass registers, 7 Orchestra Chord registers, 7 Orchestra Free Bass registers - Reed Footages 7 Treble, 5 Bass, 3 Chord, 2 Free Bass - Orchestral sounds 162 * Orchestral sounds can also be used with orchestral bass sounds, orchestral chord sounds, and orchestral free bass sounds. - Organ sounds (Virtual Tone Wheel) 32 presets for Treble, Orchestra Chord and Orchestra Free Bass sections, 16 presets for Orchestra Bass section - Drum Sets 3 - User Programs 98: 7 User Program Bank x 14 registers [PBM (Physical Behavior Modeling)] - 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 - Bellows opening/closing sound change By bellows opening/closing detection [Musette Tuning] - Micro-Tuning Presets 16 Types: Off, Dry, Classic, F-Folk, American L/H, North Europe, German L/H, D-Folk L/H, Alpine, Italian L/H, French, Scottish - Fine Tuning reed footages 8- / 8 -100 to 0 to 100 [Effects] - Reverb 8 types * Includes delay type. - Chorus 8 types * Includes delay type. - Rotary for Organ sound Slow/Fast -Cassottoh simulation Yes - 4 Band EQ for Internal Speakers Yes [Panel Controls] - Knob controls and Registers Volume, Balance, Reverb, Chorus, Right hand register buttons 7 x 2 * Use the A/B button to switch between sounds assigned to the register buttons. Left hand register buttons 7 - Navigation switches Menu/Write, Exit/No, Enter/Yes, Cursor , Value -/ (Set Down/Up) - Other switches Right Hand Parts switches (Accordion, Orchestra, Organ) Left Hand Parts switches (Drums, Orch Bass, Orch Chrd/F.Bass, F.Bass, BassandChrd) User Program, Song List, Play/Pause, Rec, Power - Additional switches 6 user assignable function switches on last row of bass buttons [Operation mode] - Right Hand Keyboard Mode Layer(Zone), High, Low - Octave Shift -3, 0, 3 for Orchestra This setting can be saved individually for each set. -1, 0, 1 for Treble, Orchestra, Organ (Right hand) This setting can be saved individually for each user program. - Orchestra Chord Guitar Mode Gtr Table1, Gtr Table2, Gtr Table3 - Sound Edit Yes * The dedicated editor allows full editing. - Bass to Treble Yes - Part Mute Accordion, Orchestra, Organ, BassandChord, Free Bass, Orch Bass, Orch Chord, Orch Free Bass - Bass and Chord with drum/percussion sounds Programmable drum/percussion sounds for Bass/Orch Bass rows, Chord/Orchestra Chord rows. - Audio Player and Audio REC MP3/WAV file playback from a USB flash drive, WAV file recording to a USB flash drive - Speakers On/Off Yes - Left-hand Button Keyboard Layer Yes [Other] - Display Custom LCD (8 characters 16 segments x 4) - Rated Power Output 2 x 11 W - Speakers 2 x 10 cm 1 x Tweeter - Wave Expansion 4 internal areas (8 MB each) to load new sounds * When shipped from the factory, sounds are pre-installed in two areas. - Power supply AC adaptor Batteries (AA-type rechargeable Ni-MH x 10) * Expected battery life under continuous use: 5 hours speaker ON mode, 9 hours speaker OFF mode - Current Draw 2000 mA - Onboard connectors OUTPUT jacks L/Mono (Treble), R/Mono (Bass): 1/4h phone type PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4h phone type INPUT jack: Stereo miniature phone type MIDI (IN or OUT) connectors USB MEMORY port USB COMPUTER port (USB Hi-Speed MIDI support) (Use a USB cable and a USB port on your computer that supports Hi-Speed USB.) DC IN jack -Dimensions 481 (W) x 270 (D) x 430 (H) mm 18-15/16 (W) x 10-11/16 (D) x 16-15/16 (H) inches - Weight 8.9 kg 19 lbs 10 oz (without straps and batteries) - Accessories AC Adaptor Power cord (for connecting the AC adaptor) Ownerfs Manual Reference caps for the bass buttons Straps Accordion cover Attachment strip - Option (sold separately) USB Flash memory Soft case for accordion (BAG-FR-3) Headphones MIDI foot controller (FC-300).