As soon as this data becomes available I'll then be able to set about writing a Linux native program to interface with the MC If they do you heard it here first! A few years back they seemed to have surpassed even themselves with the magnificently specified — and indeed magnificently priced — MC reviewed in Sound on Sound in March which for the first time added sampling to the potent Groovebox mix.
The MC is the latest model in the Groovebox dynasty and as both its price tag and the numerical component of its name might indicate, it represents a scaling back of the MC's grand designs. But only slightly so, as it still offers a similar armoury of sampling, part multitimbral synth, track sequencer, oodles of effects and plenty of hands-on controls to, er, lay your hands on. In fact, the progress of technology, coupled with lower production costs, means that although it ships at much less than half the price of its older brother, the new arrival still manages to trump it in a number of areas.
Secondly, it can take double the amount of sample RAM: a maximum of MB if you count the onboard memory. And thirdly, although it has fewer hardware knobs and switches overall, the eight faders which comprise its principal real-time controls are motorised.
Not only is this good for the 'bling' factor, it means that the positions of the faders always reflect the actual values of the parameters that they happen to be controlling at the time: essential when you're manipulating an instrument like this during a live performance.
And for these more sophisticated performances, there's also the ability to hook the MC into a V-Link system Roland's proprietary video control format , to allow the manipulation of images via the MC's front panel. Other features intended to augment the live experience include a D-Beam controller, Roland's modern take on the Theremin, whereby the wave of a hand can be used to variously control the pitch of a monosynth sound, the tempo of a pattern, or the values of synth parameters such as filter cutoff and resonance.
Housed in a plastic chassis with an aluminium front panel, the MC is light enough to be easily transportable, but appears robust enough to survive more than a night or two on the tiles. The lion's share of the surface area is taken up with the motorised faders, with sequencer controls to the right and the 16 buttons for individually triggering and programming beats and sounds below.
The faders themselves, which, apart from a value dial and the rotary input and output volume knobs, are the only significant twiddleable bits on the front panel, operate in various modes. For example, they give you control respectively of the volume and pan of the different parts within a pattern or they can be switched to control the synth parameters of individual parts.
And it's as you switch between these modes that you begin to appreciate the value of having the faders automatically jump to the correct position. What's slightly scary is that they seem to rattle quite noisily while doing it, though if you're worried about their long-term robustness you can always switch the motors off. Other aspects of the MC's design very much reflect the fact that the Groovebox concept is all about live performance, often in less than ideal conditions. For example, all buttons are backlit and a brightly illuminated blue panel shows exactly which matrix of parameters the faders are controlling.
Along with the LCD screen which gives you the detailed information on patch names, parameters and functions , there are three large LED displays which separately show crucial performance data such as tempo and the numbers of the current and next patterns.
Round the back you'll find the main stereo outputs plus two extra direct outs. Audio input duties are handled by a couple of quarter-inch jack sockets. Some traditionalists might like to see a dedicated turntable connection, though this is a slightly moot cause for griping these days, given the growing popularity of CD decks and iPods for DJ'ing.
Some vital statistics to be aware of at this stage include the fact that patterns can consist of one to measures, with up to 16 parts per pattern. A total of patterns and 50 songs can be saved in memory, with the option to use a Compact Flash card maximum size 1GB if you need more onboard storage.
Roland Officila Fan Page. Iscrivetevi alla newsletter mensile di Roland Italy e rimanete informati sugli ultimi prodotti, gli artisti, e molto altro. Protect your investment. Register your product and stay up-to-date with the latest warranty information. Performers are in for an extra treat with the MC, however, as it has a remarkable feature that no other groovebox has Motorized faders on an affordable groovebox?!
Sure, the motorized faders look cool, but they also provide serious power for live performers. No matter what pattern you call up, the faders will snap to the proper position. As a result, the parameter values and position of the faders always correspond, allowing you to see the values instantly and make changes directly.
No more unexpected jumps in values when you grab a fader in mid-performance. Plus, from the fader movements you can see automations such as filter, pan, and part levels changes.
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