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dealinbeatz
Guest
I Just got a Roland MC505.. Its pretty tight but I'm still trying to master the thing.... What are your thoughts on the MC505?
THM
New member
[moved to 'Synthesizers' forum]
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Styrerra
New member
Too digital. Not enough warmth to it.
I use it for drums
I use it for drums
MusickMan
Secret of the lost Beat
I have mixed thoughts, you can make it sound good but the presets are horrible, midi timing is not so tight, I sampled the drums i like to avoid midi slop
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djvartan
Guest
i used to have a 505. i have to say it is total junk. when they made it they made the sample rates are so low making it sound sh+ty. i fell in love with it when it came out. so i got it. had it for 3 years. then dumped the damn thing on ebay.
i say EVERY roland product made in the past 5-6 years it TOTAL JUNK! and the ok stuff is way over priced..
i say EVERY roland product made in the past 5-6 years it TOTAL JUNK! and the ok stuff is way over priced..
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labyrinth
Guest
As with any synth, it's all in how you use it. And if you're just starting out, the 505 should be a great tool. I got the jx-305 ( basically a keyboard version of the 505) a few years ago when I started out and I still use it today. I agree the construction of it is not top quality (the red flashing buttons cause a slight feedback noise pulsing at the tempo the buttons are flashing), but it has some nice percussion sounds and electronic sounds if you tweak em. And think twice before you go selling it to upgrade equipment. I had a 303 before that and sold it to help pay for a triton, huge mistake. I miss that thing, it was my fiirst piece of production equipment, should have just waited another month or so to save up the money.
Peace
Peace
L
lasher
New member
MC 505
agree totally with laborynth.
the 505 is a powerfull sonic weapon in the right hands.
synthesis is clear and very easy (!!!!RTFM!!!!), the presets are totally crap, but with the synth-engine it´s possible to create amazing sounds/ soundscapes.
there are very good drums IMHO if you create ur own drumsets and route the rhythm section to a direct output; besides it´s a very nice thing for live use.
if you´re a beginner learn the MC inside out and you may choose any other workstation/groovebox for future use.
NEVER ever sell it!!
i like the possibility to change the velo and the gate in recording mod by hitting those mute buttons (the red and the green ones), so you can quickly create increasing/decreasing volume stuff or dubby gated pads, the reclock function is really cool if you dig how to use it and i like the way the waves can be mangled to your own gusto.
never understood why they added the bloody d-beam, a sampling machine would have been better by far.
if i may recommend:
when you´re lacking creativity for composing, grab the 505 and start preparing user-patches for future use, so you don´t need to browse the crappy presets when you´re hot.
get yourself a card for backup!!
editing is also nice, entering micromode and blowing in cc´s and pc´s is not difficult at all- you may even do the pan-vol-filter sweeping with the sliders...
sequencer is a little slow while recording and i had many crashes caused by entering the microscope edit too fast--
you have to hit rec three* times to get there.
save your stuff constantly, especially when you´re adding new tracks; side effect is, the MC won´t take sooo much time to process the saving operation.
but again, i like the way the synthesis works and if you´re really keen on making some good textures you won´t be dissapointed.
there almost no limits for genres, hip hop can be done as well as hard techno or soft ambient stuff, even electronica isn´t as hard to achieve.
true said, when i added a compressor it sounded far better than
dry, keep in mind using the xtra outs for a fatter output.
if there´s more questions feel free to ask...
best, lasher
*(actually it´s twice-- sorry)
agree totally with laborynth.
the 505 is a powerfull sonic weapon in the right hands.
synthesis is clear and very easy (!!!!RTFM!!!!), the presets are totally crap, but with the synth-engine it´s possible to create amazing sounds/ soundscapes.
there are very good drums IMHO if you create ur own drumsets and route the rhythm section to a direct output; besides it´s a very nice thing for live use.
if you´re a beginner learn the MC inside out and you may choose any other workstation/groovebox for future use.
NEVER ever sell it!!
i like the possibility to change the velo and the gate in recording mod by hitting those mute buttons (the red and the green ones), so you can quickly create increasing/decreasing volume stuff or dubby gated pads, the reclock function is really cool if you dig how to use it and i like the way the waves can be mangled to your own gusto.
never understood why they added the bloody d-beam, a sampling machine would have been better by far.
if i may recommend:
when you´re lacking creativity for composing, grab the 505 and start preparing user-patches for future use, so you don´t need to browse the crappy presets when you´re hot.
get yourself a card for backup!!
editing is also nice, entering micromode and blowing in cc´s and pc´s is not difficult at all- you may even do the pan-vol-filter sweeping with the sliders...
sequencer is a little slow while recording and i had many crashes caused by entering the microscope edit too fast--
you have to hit rec three* times to get there.
save your stuff constantly, especially when you´re adding new tracks; side effect is, the MC won´t take sooo much time to process the saving operation.
but again, i like the way the synthesis works and if you´re really keen on making some good textures you won´t be dissapointed.
there almost no limits for genres, hip hop can be done as well as hard techno or soft ambient stuff, even electronica isn´t as hard to achieve.
true said, when i added a compressor it sounded far better than
dry, keep in mind using the xtra outs for a fatter output.
if there´s more questions feel free to ask...
best, lasher
*(actually it´s twice-- sorry)
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Pose
Guest
Hm..
Does this work decent for Hiphop/Dance/R&B?
I am buying a Motif 8 in a couple of weeks, and was thinking about also getting a groovebox/drum machine type of deal. I went to guitar center and played with one, but i couldnt figure ANYTHING out on it.
How much do these go for? and what about second hand?
Thanks.
Does this work decent for Hiphop/Dance/R&B?
I am buying a Motif 8 in a couple of weeks, and was thinking about also getting a groovebox/drum machine type of deal. I went to guitar center and played with one, but i couldnt figure ANYTHING out on it.
How much do these go for? and what about second hand?
Thanks.
P
Pose
Guest
Sorry,
I managed to ignore Lasher's reply, so scratch the genre question/remark i made.
I managed to ignore Lasher's reply, so scratch the genre question/remark i made.
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lasher
New member
505/Motif
you have far better capabilities than on the MC505;
basically the sequencer is more powerfull, it has a sampler and a nice TG.
both machines have a steep learning curve if you´re a complete newbie and even if you have some experience, it lasts a time till
you´ll be able to max them out-- always the same story.
you can´t lay your head on the manual at night and expect beeing an expert the very next day.
what i´m trying to say is:
it´s the mind behind controlling the machines.
best, lasher
p.s.
since there are more powerfull workstations/grooveboxes on the market today and many people underestimate the abilities of the 505, you can get it for a steal me thinks.
well if you have the choice i´d advise Motif or RS7000.
you have far better capabilities than on the MC505;
basically the sequencer is more powerfull, it has a sampler and a nice TG.
both machines have a steep learning curve if you´re a complete newbie and even if you have some experience, it lasts a time till
you´ll be able to max them out-- always the same story.
you can´t lay your head on the manual at night and expect beeing an expert the very next day.
what i´m trying to say is:
it´s the mind behind controlling the machines.
best, lasher
p.s.
since there are more powerfull workstations/grooveboxes on the market today and many people underestimate the abilities of the 505, you can get it for a steal me thinks.
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skeuv
New member
somtime i hate it, but i love it!
i think that mc505 is a great machine, but you can't see it when you discover it because of the bloody presets sounds...
after a few day abd some courage, a great machine is born! but you have to do your awn sounds, and your own drums
presets. (never stop saving). I like to use it with my mpc2000xl and an old roland drums machine R70; theese 3machines together are really great . On the 505, you can record real time parameters like cut off, resonance, envellopes, pan mute, volumes.... Finally, it's faster to work with this kind of machine than computer.
with theese machine (i've tooo a walforff xtk and a juno106 and sh101(with midi) i can have a sound that i don't find with virtual instruments.
with the 505, you can have a midi output of each tracks, so you can play with two sounds each tracks ( so great)
if you want a machine ready to use with great sound, forget the mc505
if you like to spend your time on machine, you're gonna love it
that's my conclusion
i think that mc505 is a great machine, but you can't see it when you discover it because of the bloody presets sounds...
after a few day abd some courage, a great machine is born! but you have to do your awn sounds, and your own drums
presets. (never stop saving). I like to use it with my mpc2000xl and an old roland drums machine R70; theese 3machines together are really great . On the 505, you can record real time parameters like cut off, resonance, envellopes, pan mute, volumes.... Finally, it's faster to work with this kind of machine than computer.
with theese machine (i've tooo a walforff xtk and a juno106 and sh101(with midi) i can have a sound that i don't find with virtual instruments.
with the 505, you can have a midi output of each tracks, so you can play with two sounds each tracks ( so great)
if you want a machine ready to use with great sound, forget the mc505
if you like to spend your time on machine, you're gonna love it
that's my conclusion
S
Styrerra
New member
Ok so I admit it does have some redeeming qualities but my point of view is that there is so much better now out there. I would rarther save up for a Virus, Phantom, JP8000 (roldand
, Or save up from some new Analog or Virtual Analoge stuff. But Digital on Digital for me is only good for drums on some occasions. When you tweak it, you get digital instead of warm fuzzy analog or virtual analog.
Still way too digitial especially if you had your hand in virtual analog stuff and love the analog sound. But if you can get it for a great price go for it.
, Or save up from some new Analog or Virtual Analoge stuff. But Digital on Digital for me is only good for drums on some occasions. When you tweak it, you get digital instead of warm fuzzy analog or virtual analog. Still way too digitial especially if you had your hand in virtual analog stuff and love the analog sound. But if you can get it for a great price go for it.
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dealinbeatz
Guest
Thanx
Thanx for the great feed back everyone.
It makes me think.. People can dis on the grovebox but god damn. I have found that I can pull some super phat beatz out of a little box.. Its almost like magic....Maybe my lack of experience contributes to that but think if you could take that box about 25 years back in time.. It probley would have been the size of our fridge with only 25 of the sounds availble. All sounding like a tin can being spanked with a spoon.. O yess.!!!
pEaCe
Dylan
Thanx for the great feed back everyone.
It makes me think.. People can dis on the grovebox but god damn. I have found that I can pull some super phat beatz out of a little box.. Its almost like magic....Maybe my lack of experience contributes to that but think if you could take that box about 25 years back in time.. It probley would have been the size of our fridge with only 25 of the sounds availble. All sounding like a tin can being spanked with a spoon.. O yess.!!!
pEaCe
Dylan