Roland Sampling Sequencers

To see videos of the unit go to http://www.phillyheat.com/Mv-8000.html I try to keep em updated...U also see me live workin with it. Its nice to be able to create tracks in a linear mode and pattern...It has an option for Vga and Mouse...Has an option for additional 6 outs if u need it!....upgradable to 512mb of ram but Ive seen people put a gig of Ram in there...This slaughters the sample times of other hardware sequencers....40 gig Hd for storage(I had mine since Feb 04 and only used 10 gig I have seen people upgrade to 120 gig hard drives they are standare Ide)....It has usb option for easy transfer from the computer...DRum grid is excellent for people who have used Fruityloops and like to program there sounds in . It also has a piano roll. Easy too sync loops when importing your own or from a sound cd . Unit has cdrom and Floppy....It has a built in Preamp to connect a turntable directly in. Mixer in unit is good along with the effects Roland should add anothe mfx processor or 2(but the medy fo this is the nice resampling feature + A moving locator in the sample edit screen....I wont be surprised if roland adds this in a new os update.. Price paid $2100 but that was in Feb '04 UTILIZATION Its easy as hell to use providing previous Akai users get deprogrammed from the MPC's language(I have attempted to get into akai products but there are too many sub screens to do the simple things they make good products though) ...lol...You have to speak roland now...its too easy really...Once u learn how to load patches eand save everything then falls into place...I tell people to peep my videos and chechk out the #1 forum for the machine www.mvnation.com over there u got a resource of Mv vets that can help u easily get into this machine. I have never had to get it repaired...Never has locked up ....Beats the hell out of a Pc or Mac....lol...I do know a few peeps that have pressed buttons not pads to hard and they sunk in but I was like wtf thats abuse....lol SOUNDS Roland hasnt slipped up here has decent factory patches to start with....Has a great mastering section to give u that knock! OVERALL OPINION My girl is Jealous of the machine because Im always on it....I wake up 4 in the morn to get on it....I feen for this machine like a crackhead to crack..like Jayz to Rap....It actually gets tempting to call out of work....ha ha Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: DaMADMAN ( 9-, 2005)

For which specific applications or uses have I chosen this product? Used for sampling, creating melodies, and experimentation( R&B, Hip-Hop, Lo-fi and Soul) In what context do I currently use this product? I use the machine as a standalone unit connected to my lexicon to Cubase through KRKs 8", mainly as a sound design platform, and to work on indie tapes (beats) Have you tested other comparable or competing products before purchasing this one? I had the MPC 500, and I really didn't like it, I felt ripped off that in the modern era we still need to basically use a machine from the 90s. Roland has updated faster than Akai in this regard(adding auto chop in the update was great!). My MPC would sit for months unused because it was frustrating to have to chop samples manually I would just use fruity or Magix(cringe). I've also used Reason,Cubase, Fruity and Ableton extensively(geeking). What are the pros and cons of this product? The Pros!: The machine is extremely versatile, allowing you to tweak your sound quite well. I've read people saying that the D-Beam is useless? No, you can filter on the fly and record that as a take, I mean come on! Also I really enjoy the fact that it's just a bit simpler than the MPC and allows you to do the same things quicker. I love the sounds, and after the firmware update the sounds are a little crisper, I've read people whining about the sound quality( I love the sound for the lo-fi effect, and I'm, buying a lot of cheap equipment for new tapes and lo-fi will always be cool. You can also really tweak sounds. The sounds: I love sine waves and other tweakable parameters and sound wise the 808 is a smorgasbord. The Cons: Minimal tutorials, you literally have to scour the internet looking for ways to load samples, chop, update ram, use the unit, etc. The unit is complicated and does have a learning curve, but with an understanding of mixing, recording and music theory, one can totally explore unlimited possibilities. I think instead of looking at it as just a groovebox, think of it as 40 years of advancement in one unit, you can create sounds from the disco era(JMJ), EDM, and sample for Hip-Hop(JMT) or dance. What more could one ask for? You have to Learn to work with sound to enjoy this unit fully. Lastly. I've been making beats and music for about 12 years now and only in the past 4 years can say I have professional grade music. This piece of gear has really tweaked my sound in the way that I want, through allowing me to take the sounds I want and mix them how I want. I'm using mostly sampled drums and synths, so the multi-sampling function is a real dream, having said that I must say that the 808 is not for everyone, if you have a passion for old synths, and sound mashing and molding this is for you. Clap Trap creators should stick to Fruity or Logic for quick fixes. Having this unit is a real dream come true for me, I can finally make those dark atmospheric beats. I mean Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind(Jedi Mind Tricks) used a four track recorder, and I can't remember the sampler he used, but he had a lot less than 200Mb of Ram. Challenge yourself. StonElbows

The Roland MV 800 allows the project to create a song mode and up to 96 patterns. From there, when is in pattern, you can switch the play pattern, which can trigger the reading of the patterns created through the pads (a function "wait" to specify the machine to read the pattern through a pad at the end of reading the current pattern, and function "immediate" because the pattern is read from the activation of the pad), and reading all the sentences of the audio track audio. Each pattern can maintain its own tempo and align with a global tempo set or editable during playback. Pattern Play mode, the sliders are functional, but can not change their assignment during playback. UTILIZATION In song mode, you have a past pattern function, which allows you to play a series of pattern live as we please, or make a song clean mode with all the pattern created. We also have a function with the quantize grid modes, shuffle, and template (to give a little groove in the sequences). To respond to some opinions, I want to point out some errors, there are shortcuts! I would say all that are needed are present note "erase event" and "delete" on the front, as well as for the locator, markers, loop and a host of other super practical. SOUNDS No complaints, the pads are great and fully programmable on all parameters midi. You can even assign up to five sounds per pad, so it was not over the fingers to wear them. If he adds a master keyboard was all it takes. OVERALL OPINION Overall, Good sampling machine, but you love the MPC’s then stick with them. This will allow you to do more, but it does not have the feel of the MPC that we all love. There are a lot of menus and sub menus that will confuse you. If you haven't used the MPC at all then go with this sample because its an all in one machine.

For such a small and obscure unit, it is literaly /packed/ with features. For 200 euros I got a synth with a step sequencer, a programmable, syncable fx-processor and a 4-track sampler. Damn! And it can even cough up a few drum sounds. None of it's features is great in itself. None of it will, IMHO, justify it's purchase. Still, it offers quite a few options for customization. Some parameters of the fx-processor are programmable, which can offer some nice results. A minor setback is the lack of user memory-space. I inserted a memory-card, but I/O literally takes ages. Also, sampled loops will shift in pitch if you adjust the tempo. This greatly limits it's use, but what can you expect for that price? In the end it comes down to how you view this box. It is NOT a groovebox, it was never made to do something incredibly well, it was made to do a decent job on a lot of things, and that it does. Price paid € 199 UTILIZATION The interface of the MC-09 looks simple and straightforward, but Roland has hidden away a lot of options in obscure places. You'll spend quite some time pressing buttons before you get a grasp on what this unit can do. The manual is a "Roland Vintage", meaning it is difficult to get through at best. Still, if you know what you are looking for, you can find it. Programming the step-sequencer is a tricky job, but that also is nothing new. The MC-09 has a bit of a shabby look. It's made out of plastic, the turning knobs and faders are a bit flimsy, and the audio-connectors are of CD-player type (OK Roland, you can put the crackpipe down now...). Still, I have yet to have a Roland (or Boss) product break down on me, so I have faith. SOUNDS The synth in this unit has a very decent sound, but it is limited. If you are looking for harsh, aggressive sounds, the MC-09 delivers. Otherwise, it won't be much use to you. The sound it generates is good, but I'd like to have seen a little more 'bass' in the bass. (But OTOH, it being a Roland, there might be controls I haven't been able to unearth yet ). It will hold it's own in a live setting. When you use it in a studio environment, you might want to use a little chorus and/or eq to fatten it up a bit. The fx-processor is decent. The filter and the slicer are OK, the phaser isn't that great, the isolator is a 3-band eq. The drum sounds it packs are horrible. Roland could have done a little better there. I've seen people comment on the lack of sound quality in the sampler. This might be true, but then again, the MC-09 will never, ever do as your main workhorse. I like the ability to record a few loops here and there, but I'd never rely on it. OVERALL OPINION Do I love it? Hell yeah! If you're on a limited budget such as I, it offers great value for money. Don't view it as a standalone groovebox, view it as a synth, a sampler and an fx-processor in 1 box. Despite it's obvious limitations, it's a very, very versatile box. You can spend hours exploring it's possibilities. I've had tons of fun with it, and it's been a great source of inspiration. It still is. Originally posted on FutureProducers.com Posted by: Unknown ( 2-, 2005)