I've done some seaches and found nothing one the MC 303 Groovebox. Anyway this will be a pretty easy topic to cover as its only purpose is confirmation. I've followed producing information very little but its deffinatly something I've wanted to get into ever since I fell in love with dance music. Even though I'm young I thought I've been kind of lazy so far and its about time I start. I'm still getting all the terms down and a lot of it is new to me but I know it all comes with time and effort. I'll get to the point, I'm going to start with Buzz simply because its free and I hear great things about it and even if its limited I think it will be great for me as a beginner as I am completely confident in my creativity and imagination. BUT I've been very interested in roland hardware to help me with my production and give me that substance to work on. I've been mainly interested in the MC 303 for its simplicity and price, I don't think I'll need anything else. I was just wondering how it worked in detail, MIDI functionallity, what else would I need to jam with it alone, any info would be appreciated.

Sorry if I sound like a noob, any advice would be really helpful. Thanks in advance, guys.

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Last edited by wotyzoid on Aug-26-2007 at 03:46

quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid Sorry if I sond like a noob, any advice would be really helpful. Thanks in advance, guys.

Use "Enter" key, okthxbi.

quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid BUT I've been very interested in roland hardware to help me with my production and give me that substance to work on.

Why? Why interested in Roland gear specifically?

a) I personally hate the MC-303, If someone offered me one, I'd use it as a doorstop. Also have a look at:

-> Korg Electribes
-> Yamaha RM1x

Maybe a ES-1 (The sampler) for sampling gives you a pretty much expandable palette of sounds, as you build your own kits etc. And a EA-1 or EM-1 for synths...

quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid I've been mainly interested in the MC 303 for its simplicity and price, I don't think I'll need anything else.

Been a while since I used one; so can't remember how difficult it was; but I didn't like it.

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Originally posted by wotyzoid I was just wondering how it worked in detail,

As in? Download the manual, or better the quick start guide from Roland US and have a read of that to get a brief idea.

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Originally posted by wotyzoid MIDI functionallity,

1x Midi In/Out

Lot of NRPN's if I recall correctly? So can be a pain.

quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid what else would I need to jam with it alone,

1x MC-303
1x Power supply
1x Listening device (Headphones or mixer/amp)
1x bona fide unadulterated subsisting extant hominid consumer. (You)

In other words, nothing. Plug it in, add headphones.outputs and away you go.

quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid any info would be appreciated. Sorry if I sond like a noob, any advice would be really helpful.

As above, maybe also consider the Yamaha RM1x and the Korg Electribes as alternatives to a MC-303.

Last edited by Rusty O'Hara on Aug-26-2007 at 03:55

I came across this a while ago browsing Hyperreal's gear list:

http://machines.hyperreal.org/manuf...-303.review.txt

You may find it informative.

Thanks for all the info, Rusty. As for the Yamaha can I reproduce those neat acid roland sounds or does it have its unique sound?

quote:

I came across this a while ago browsing Hyperreal's gear list:

Thank you

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quote:

Originally posted by wotyzoid Thanks for all the info, Rusty.

No problems; cynical bastard that I am

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Originally posted by wotyzoid As for the Yamaha can I reproduce those neat acid roland sounds or does it have its unique sound?

Unique sound, like all bits of kit. tbh, I haven't really used a RM1x much; but I do play live using it's big brother the Yamaha RS7000...

Also; bear in mind that the MC-303 does not utilise anywhere near the same sound engine as a TB-303 (obviously); so if it's that you are really after... well... The MC-303 uses samples as it's sound source. If memory serves correctly; some of the sounds are total crap.

Depending on your budget (and location et al) and what else you want it to do etc...

As above; I would maybe look into either of these three options:

1) Yamaha RM1x Again, check some reviews, read some stuff etc; similar concept to the MC-303; but a different (Yamaha's) take on it.)

2) Korg Electribe EM-1 (Which will give you both drums and synth parts; but I have no real direct experience with one.)

3) Korg Electribe EA-1 plus Korg Electribe ES-1

The Korg Electribe EA-1 Analogue Modelling Synthesizer, which has two monophonic synth parts.

The Korg Electribe ES-1 Sampler, which is like a sampling drum machine; so with a computer and smartmedia card you could make your own kits by importing samples in to suit your tastes.

I've owned an MC303 and I never could get used to how it works. If you want to stick to roland MC's at least go for MC505 or MC307 (I own the latter), which both provide vast improvements to the MC303 in terms of editability, control, and midi. All these are a bit dated now I guess. Like someone else mentioned, also have a look at korg's electribe series.

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All rhythm evolves around a kick...

well since the yamaha is about the same price as a tb 303, what do you guys think of that?

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I own an MC-303, don't use it much now though, I use to when my rig was all hardware, never had a problem with it.

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Without music life is a journey through the desert.

Wow, thank you so much for the reply, ********! Yeh, my budget is not much as I am not working at the moment, only 16 so I can't be spending all this money on gear especially 'cuz I'm saving for krk's. That was one of the reasons I was looking into the 303, I've always dreamed of starting to produce and get my stuff released and to do that I think the 303 would give me that extra edge. I've also though of fl as I've used the demo before and even though I didn't understand much of it, playing around was really fun and it was the easiest sequencer to use out of all that I've tried. Alond with fl I would get an axiom 25 which I think would do me great, but that would mean more time saving and more time learning. Now with the 303 and buzz I would spend less and have that acid sound to back me up, plus I think it would be a perfect set up for a newb like me who knows nothing about music theory (which I also have to start reading on, and buying some books) , notes, and very little about music contruction from my limited dj experience. I've always thopught of saving up for dj equipment which is my true lifetime dream but I'm also very interested in production and I will go nowhere with out that. I guess I'll have to think about it more, I've already started to mess around with buzz but have no clue how to use it


Thanks once again, guys.

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mc303 wont give u acid sound.. ur thinking of tb303.

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https://soundcloud.com/ghostea stuff

quote:

Originally posted by mysticalninja mc303 wont give u acid sound.. ur thinking of tb303.

You can, but Roland just ripped the sound from the 303 and stored it as multi-samples.

Yeh, I thought you could at least recreate some. Anyway I'm still thinking, but thanks for all the help guys.

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