Roland MC-307 Groovebox
(click to enlarge)
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.
20 VISITOR COMMENTS
- Demos & Media
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Audio Clip 1 - Here are some cool techno and trance song and pattern demos.
Manual - Roland has made manuals for most of their products available as free PDF downloads.
- Specifications
- Polyphony - 64 voices
- Oscillators - 16MB sounds comprising 800 dance-oriented synth and drum instruments
- Sequencer - Sequencer:
8-parts; 240 preset patterns, 470 RPS, 200 user; 50 songs; 40,000 notes memory
Arpeggiator:
43 preset, 10 user patterns - Drums - 40 Rhythm sets plus 20 user
- Effects - 33 types; 3 independent, synchronizable effects processors
- Memory - 800 presets plus 256 user
- Keyboard - 16 pads
- Control - MIDI
- Date Produced - 2000
- Websites of Interest
- Resources & Credits
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Images from Perfect Circuit Audio.
Errors or Corrections? Send them here.
"I have a chord that goes from the MIDI plugs into my computer USB port, and I want to record it. How do I do this?"
MIDI can't receive audio. You will not be able to record sound via your MIDI connection. MIDI is a language that will communicate commands like, "play, stop, note on, note off",not the sound itself.
To record the audio into your PC you will need to take a "line out" of the MC307 into a the "line in" of a sound card/audio interface (this will convert the audio into a digital format), then you will be able to capture the audio in your software.
I notice that my GB is showing CPU Version 1.00, Prog 1.03 and a big 1.03 (22/5/2000) version on the firmware view. Does this mean I have the 1.03? Or do I need to update it to bring the CPU version up?
Cheers
M.
It's really important to upgrade your instrument to the last version OS (its 1.03) which fixes some annoying bug and freshes your pattern and patch data (adds a new E part of patch library). I defined me as a hobbyst sound designer, and as I can diving in the parameters, I suprised again and again what the sound engine can do. These capabilities are hidden from the factory patches, because it's really poor and common (toy-feel) soundings. If you start creating your own sounds, you are able to create from big phases and floating breath pads to hard cutted and popping basses, even FXes.