SOS review the MC-808.pdf - Roland UK

on testsamplingworkstationRoland MC808Sampling GrooveboxNicholas RowlandRoland take their MC concept further with new features,flying faders and computer integration. Let’s explore...The semi-official definition of the wordGroovebox, at least according towhoever wrote the Wikipedia entry, is“a self-contained instrument for theproduction of live, loop-based electronicmusic, with a high degree of user controlfacilitating improvisation”. Credit goes toRoland for inventing the word asa description for the first-ever instrument ofthis type, the MC303, which they launchedback in 1993. Since then ‘groovebox’ hasgone on to become almost a generic term,used to describe various groovesomeinstruments which fulfil the above criteria.But it’s really Roland that have remained atthe forefront of refining and developing theconcept. A few years back they seemed tohave surpassed even themselves with the28www.soundonsound.com • may 2007

magnificently specified — and indeedmagnificently priced — MC909 (reviewed inSound on Sound in March 2003) which forthe first time added sampling to the potentGroovebox mix.One After 909Photos: Mark EwingThe MC808 is the latest model in theGroovebox dynasty and as both its price tagand the numerical component of its namemight indicate, it represents a scaling backof the MC909’s grand designs. But onlyslightly so, as it still offers a similararmoury of sampling, 16-part multitimbralsynth, 16-track sequencer, oodles of effectsand plenty of hands-on controls to, er, layyour hands on. In fact, the progress oftechnology, coupled with lower productioncosts, means that although it ships at muchless than half the price of its older brother,the new arrival still manages to trump it ina number of areas.Firstly, at 128 notes itssynthesis/sampling engine offers doublethe amount of polyphony of the MC909.Secondly, it can take double the amount ofsample RAM: a maximum of 516MB if youcount the onboard memory. And thirdly,although it has fewer hardware knobs andswitches overall, the eight faders whichcomprise its principal real-time controls aremotorised. Not only is this good for the‘bling’ factor, it means that the positions ofthe faders always reflect the actual valuesof the parameters that they happen to becontrolling at the time: essential whenyou’re manipulating an instrument like thisduring a live performance. And for thesemore sophisticated performances, there’salso the ability to hook the MC808 intoa V-Link system (Roland’s proprietary videocontrol format), to allow the manipulationof images via the MC808’s front panel.Other features intended to augment the liveexperience include a D-Beam controller,Roland’s modern take on the Theremin,whereby the wave of a hand can be used tovariously control the pitch of a monosynthsound, the tempo of a pattern, or the valuesof synth parameters such as filter cutoffand resonance.Getting PhysicalHoused in a plastic chassis with analuminium front panel, the MC808 is lightenough to be easily transportable, butappears robust enough to survive more thana night or two on the tiles. The lion’s shareof the surface area is taken up with themotorised faders, with sequencer controlsto the right and the 16 buttons forindividually triggering and programmingbeats and sounds below. The fadersthemselves, which, apart from a value dialand the rotary input and output volumeknobs, are the only significant twiddleablebits on the front panel, operate in variousmodes. For example, they give you controlrespectively of the volume and pan of thedifferent parts within a pattern or they canbe switched to control the synth parametersof individual parts. And it’s as you switchbetween these modes that you begin toappreciate the value of having the fadersautomatically jump to the correct position.What’s slightly scary is that they seem torattle quite noisily while doing it, though ifyou’re worried about their long-termrobustness you can always switch themotors off.Other aspects of the MC808’s designvery much reflect the fact that theGroovebox concept is all about liveperformance, often in less than idealconditions. For example, all buttons arebacklit and a brightly illuminated blue panelshows exactly which matrix of parametersthe faders are controlling. Along with theLCD screen (which gives you the detailedinformation on patch names, parametersand functions), there are three large LEDdisplays which separately show crucialperformance data such as tempo and thenumbers of the current and next patterns.Round the back you’ll find the mainstereo outputs plus two extra direct outs.Audio input duties are handled by a coupleof quarter-inch jack sockets. These arenominally line level, though the left/monoinput can be switched to handle an inputfrom a dynamic mic. Some traditionalistsmight like to see a dedicated turntableconnection, though this is a slightly mootcause for griping these days, given thegrowing popularity of CD decks and iPodsfor DJ’ing. Other connections include MIDIIn/Out, headphone socket and a USB port, ofwhich more later.Box Of GrooveConceptually, the operation of the MC808 isvery easy to get your head around, withdedicated buttons enabling you to switchbetween its principal operating modes:Song, Pattern, Patch/Sample and System.Some vital statistics to be aware of at thisstage include the fact that patterns canconsist of one to 999 measures, with up to16 parts per pattern. A total of 256 patternsRoland MC808 £849pros• Motorised faders.• Brilliant contemporary sounds.• Editing via software is a real bonus.• Sampler is easy to use, yet well specified.• Deep editing of all parameters is possible.• Great effects.cons• Certain functions involve multiple buttoncombinations and can be fiddly to program.• Manual could be better.summaryIf you’re looking for a combination ofspontaneous loop-based music-making andserious tweakability, the MC808 strikes a goodbalance. Initially its main strength is its excellentsound-set, but its sampling capabilities mean thatin the right hands, the sky should be the limit.▲may 2007 • www.soundonsound.com 29

on testsamplingworkstationROLAND MC808▲and 50 songs can be saved in memory, withthe option to use a Compact Flash card(maximum size 1GB) if you need moreonboard storage. Like the MC909, soundgeneration comes courtesy of a highlyprogrammable sample and synthesissystem. There are two sound-set types:rhythm sets which comprise up to 16 drumor percussion sounds, and melodic patches.Melodic patches are made up of up to four‘tones’ which in turn can each be made up oftwo waveforms. The MC808 gives you 896patches and 128 drum sets, all made upfrom a set of 622 waveforms that weredevised specifically for the instrument.As you might expect from an instrumentwith the word ‘Groovebox’ stamped acrossranging, with filters, modulation and choruseffects, lo-fi settings, loads of delays, andalso distortion and amp simulation. Like theMC909, the MC808 also offers two separatecompressors (one at the beginning of theeffects chain and a mastering multi-bandcompressor at the end) and a separatereverb. Along with the programmability ofthe effects themselves, there is considerablecontrol over the mix of the effects withthe parts.Pattern PlayOf course, no one just sticks with presets(do they?), so time to move on to DIYprogramming. The sequencer offers fourdifferent programming modes: Real-time,Sampling The SamplingIn its bare-bones state, the MC808 hasa rather measly 4MB of onboard samplingmemory, enough for 45 seconds of monosampling (22.5 seconds in stereo). You canexpand this up to a maximum of 516MB bymaking use of the single internal memoryslot, which takes RAM in either PC100 orPC133 flavours. A fully loaded MC808 offersa very respectable 97 minutes of samplingtime in mono. Sampling frequency is fixed at44.1kHz, so you can’t, for example, adoptthe old-school approach of squeezing morefrom your RAM by opting for lowerfrequencies. Sample format is strictly 16-bittoo, with the MC808 able to read and writethe top, this translates into a set of presetsdesigned very much for contemporary musicmaking. This means that techno, trance,R&B, drum & bass, ambient dub and indeedemerging underground genres whichprobably haven’t even been given a nameyet, are very well catered for. The soundsand patterns have been commissioned froman eclectic bunch of US, European andJapanese young-blood DJs, whosecutting-edge status is probably bestindicated by the fact that I’ve never heard ofany of them! (Their biographies are includedin the accompanying Sound & Parameter listbooklet if you’re interested.) Acidic basses,searing leads and waspish pads andthundering drums: the MC808 is not thereto take any MOR prisoners, which issomething you begin to really appreciatewhen you run the machine through an ampof decent wattage.Probably one of the main reasons whythe MC808 does sound so in-your-face isa healthy complement of onboard effects.There are two excellent multi-effectsprocessors for insert effects, each offering47 effects types. The algorithms are wideStep, Tempo and something called TR.Tempo allows you to record tempo changesand mutes/unmutes on a separate track. TRmode is akin to programming a drummachine where you press one of the 16 keysto allocate the current sound to thecorresponding step in the pattern — like theTR drum machines of old. Fader movementscan also be recorded as part of a pattern,which allows you to build in volumechanges, filter sweeps and the like. By usingall four modes you can achieve some veryprecise programming indeed, particularly asyou can zoom in and edit individual soundsand their respective parameters ata microscopic level.The creative potential of both patternrecording and playback is further widenedby an excellent arpeggiator (which offers128 programmable styles) and a chordfunction which allows you to trigger entirechords just by pressing a single pad. Thereare buttons to allow you to also triggera separate set of patterns or phrases (knownin Roland-speak as RPS) alongside thesounds that make up the pattern proper inplayback mode.in both WAV and AIFF formats. Theaforementioned USB connection can be usedto load and save samples to and from yourPC or Mac. The USB connection also acts asa MIDI interface and, in addition, bundlededitor/librarian software allows you toprogram the MC808 from the comfort ofyour computer chair. For more on that, seethe box on the next page.In addition to the standard ‘externalinput’ sampling, there are five differentsampling modes, including plenty ofresampling options: the ability to samplesignal from the internal sound generators,with or without internal effects, forexample. Editing features include the usualtruncate and loop, plus more sophisticatedeffects such as time-stretch and chop, thelatter designed to slice rhythm loops intotheir component beats. Anything yousample can be instantly assigned to thecurrent pattern, which means that you canbuild up your own signature loops veryquickly. The only proviso is that somewherealong the line you save everything to theCompact Flash card, as any samples in RAMare lost as soon as the unit is switched off.▲30www.soundonsound.com • may 2007

on testROLAND MC808samplingworkstationSoftware EditingAs seems to be rapidly becoming standard practiceon all hi-tech instruments, a USB port provides themeans to hook the MC808 up to a computer forboth file transfer and the visual editing ofparameters. Bundled with the unit is a CD-ROMcontaining the necessary USB-MIDI drivers andediting software for both Mac and Windows.The editing software basically providesa user-friendly way to edit the MC808’s parameters,in the form of a graphic user interface. Unlike somesoftware editors for hardware equipment which giveyou access to additional ‘hidden’ functions, theMC808’s editor simply serves as an alternativeinterface, meaning that you won’t lose out if you’renot able to use it with a computer. However, anyonewho can should take advantage of this facility, asit’s much simpler to perform certain actions —editing sample waveforms, for example — on thecomputer screen than it is to work within theconfines of the MC808’s LCD screen.The editor also makes it much easier to performdetailed editing of the synth sounds, as everything islaid out before you and you don’t have to scrollthrough pages and pages of parameters. The downside is that the software-hardware experience is notquite as integrated as it is with some otherprograms of this nature. It would be great, forinstance, to be able to operate the editor asa plug-in within your sequencer, rather than havingto deal with it exclusively as a stand-alone program.The software editor offers an alternative means of programming the MC808. The Sample Edit screen here, for example, makes it considerably easier to edit waveform data.▲Return Of The Groove JuryThe Groovebox concept is all about buildingup tracks by flying loops in and out of themix while simultaneously manipulatingindividual sounds and rhythms. The MC808remains true to its origins simply by beinggreat fun to play with. However, like theMC909, this new machine has plenty offeatures that suit it to much more detailedpattern and sound creation. Indeed, adda MIDI controller keyboard to it and forcertain types of music you wouldn’t reallyneed much more to create some reallystonking live and studio sets.The motorised faders are far froma gimmick either; they really do add to theexperience of ‘playing’ this instrument live.It’s just a shame that the MC808 couldn’thave been equipped with a large, hi-res LCDdisplay, similar to that found on the MC909.In practice I found that the MC808 suffers toa certain extent from multifunctionitis: thathi-tech disease of which the main symptomis that far too many combinations of buttonpushes seem to be required for anything butthe most basic of operations. Getting to gripswith its finer points didn’t prove easy, andthings are not helped by the fact that themanual is rather sketchy in certain areas.The antidote comes in the form of thatUSB port and the bundled editor program.I would guess that many users are going totake advantage of the MC808’s computerconnectivity to do all the tweaky stuff backat base, and then use the unit itself asa playback device.To sum up, with its brilliant sounds andimpressive facilities the MC808 representsa great addition to the Groovebox lineage,particularly as it gives you the sophisticationof the MC909 at a considerably lower price.As loop-based composition continues toextend its influence over all styles of music,the Groovebox concept remains alive andcertainly kicking.information£TFW www.roland.co.ukW www.roland.co.jp£849 including VAT.Roland UK +44 (0)1792 702701.+44 (0)1792 799644.32www.soundonsound.com • may 2007

The World’s Best Music Recording MagazineThis article was originally published in Sound On Sound magazine, May 2007 edition.Sound On Sound, Media House, Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB3 8SQ, United KingdomEmail: subscribe@soundonsound.comTel: +44 (0) 1954 789888 Fax: +44 (0) 1954 789895Subscribe & Save Money!Visit our subscriptions page at www.soundonsound.com/subsAll contents copyright © SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2006. All rights reserved.The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without theprior written consent of the Publishers. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers canbe held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers.