Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • MC-307 Groovebox

The new MC-307 is the Groovebox aimed at DJs. Like the other MC's, it is a robust pattern-based sequencer/sound module with 800 patches, 40 rhythm sets and 33 effects. However there's a new "Turntable Emulation" mode which affects the pattern tempo and pitch in much the same way as a turntable's speed fader. There are even Hold and Push buttons which let you emulate the slowing, speeding, stopping or flicking of a record by hand. This lets you control and 'beat-mix' your Groovebox just as if it were a vinyl record!

The MC-307 has all the familiar sounds of a Roland Groove product, plus many new sounds, patterns and effects. There is also a new Grab switch with multi-effects (including Isolator) for creating interesting rhythmic effects. It does not, however, have the D-beam controller as the MC-505. But it does have a nice big backlit LCD display unlike any previous Groovebox.

The sequencer comprises of 7 instrument parts plus one rhythm track. Each is mute-able for dropping sounds in and out of loops on the fly! Perfect for DJs working the energy on the dance floor! The Real-time Phrase Sequencer (RPS) offers 470 instant patterns in all sorts of dance music styles!

For DJs, the MC-307 gets 5-stars. It's the ultimate performance tool for any dance music DJ! However, as a for the rest of the synth-community the MC-307 is nothing we haven't already heard before and will be of little use, especially when compared to the MC-505. The MC-307 has already been used by BT.

VISITOR COMMENTS (6)

Comments page 2 of 2

Click here to add a comment

Your Name:

Email Address:

Image verification:

Message:

Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Sam

Posted 3 days ago

Roland just can't get it right with this whole "groovebox" thing. The MC-307, just like the MC-303, is packed with features, but suffers from a horrible user interface. Don't get me wrong, I've made some cool beats on both machines, but I find myself looking elsewhere for inspiration (if only the Korg EMX wasn't monophonic X 5). The MC-307's "synth" is a bit more programmable than the 303's, but all you can get from it is dirty FM-type sounds. The effects are decent (as opposed to some of those horrible Electribe ones). The arpeggiator is cool (you can program some of your own patterns). All in all, you can get quite a bit out of this box, as long as you're willing to dig and dig and dig...

Louxy

Posted 185 days ago

the most intriguing (and hidden) feature of MC307 is its internal sinth: if you are able to program it, you can create amazing ambient sounds ....

DoDD

Posted 407 days ago

I bought one once, it got stolen so I bought it again.

I love it. At first it seems impossible to overcome the complexity of programming it but once you get used to ie (and read 10x that goddamn thick manual) you can get some freakin awesome tunes out of it.

House, Techno, Electroclash, EBM and even ambient. You can get make it all.

ray

Posted 454 days ago

the 307 has the same powerful synth engine that resides in the jv-2080 series. lots of great waveforms to choose from and great drum kits for a variety of styles. would still own the 307 if it just wasn't so under powered. in my experience when using the 307's sequencer the patches modulation could not keep there timing at all. resulting in synth lines with sync'd lfo modulation that kept slipping out of time with the tempo. frustrating. good synth with a sloppy underpowered processing.

martin trujillo

Posted 488 days ago

alguien tiene el manual castellano de la mc307 castellano, spanish

<21>