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.

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SynthCinnati Kidd

Posted 68 days ago

I purchased my MC-307 on Ebay about a year ago (207.50 after shipping) and for the money I think it is a steal. Great sounds and pretty easy to make music without a lot of digging through a manual. More of a dance machine than a hip hop machine (I use it for hip hop), but the drums alone something every hip hop producer should have in his arsenal. My biggest problem with the MC 307 is the adjusting a beats swing percentage, like a lot of the functions I have to dig through menus to make adjustments. It doesn't let you record you own samples (later versions of Roland's MC ### Groovebox machines do), and so as a hip hop beatmaker I found this limiting. Oh well, combined with a SP 202 (for samples) this could be a really affordable live/studio setup for a hip hop beatmaker.

asbotech

Posted 73 days ago

i had one of these and very regrettably sold it. i found so easy to pick up and lay ideas down, half hour and got my bass, beats and a couple of accomp tracks and it recorded filter sweeps in realtime too. may go for the 505 next though

exkeyboardplaya

Posted 108 days ago

I'm a firm believer it's all what you make of it...or the quote the GREAT Dr. Dre "It's not the equipment....it's the muthaf@#%r running it" For this piece to be 10 y/o, it still carries some pretty relevant sounds by todays standards. I'm truly impressed by the leads. And there I was thinking that I'd have to save up to get a NORD. WRONG ANSWER! There are some pretty lush rhodes sounds too, perfect for doing Lounge or Progressive and Nu Classic Soul if you're into that obviously. Ofcourse everyone here has excercised their right to their opinion. And I have now officially left you with mine. A+

Sam

Posted 178 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 360 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 ....

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