Roland Boutique VP-03 Vocoder

The original VP-330 is a vintage classic! Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman examines its modern day successor in Boutique format

- Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman

The VP-330 Vocoder Plus (Roland’s original vocoder keyboard from 1979) became popular with many major artists back in the day including Vangelis and 10cc. Today it’s very sought-after but hard to find secondhand. Wisely, Roland have now modelled the VP-330’s sound and features using their acclaimed ACB technology (Analog Circuit Behaviour), adding it to their Boutique range. Let’s see how it fairs!

The VP-03 comes in the same solid case as the other models in the Boutique range and is priced at £329. The case is all metal and the dials and sliders are the same type as found on the other Boutique models; once again there’s a reassuring feeling of quality to all the faders and switch gear. Like the other models, the fader tops are lit so you always have a nice visual reference of your levels at a glance. The controls don’t feel as cramped as on the other Boutique models due to the more limited range of controls available and subsequent extra panel room. Power can come over USB via your computer or you can use batteries or a third-party USB power supply to power the unit. I’d have preferred an included power socket/adaptor but this is in line with the other Boutique models.