I just a used one off Reverb last week. I already made 3 complete songs. This unit is a beast. I wasn't looking for a DAW in a box, just a good groovebox.
I've been using mine for the past year and I LOVE it! It's surprisingly fun to use for Hip-Hop. Sample chopping could definitely be better, but it's still flexible enough to let me do what I want (except the timestretch, that's kinda shitty lol) What I do for chops is select a sound, select EDIT before assigning it, trim it, then hit ENTER to assign it. The screen stays on the edit mode so I can chop the next part of the same sample immediately and put that on another pad. Rinse, repeat, and get weird
I loved it before I got it an dloved it more when I got it and love it even more today! I don't understand why the sampler gets so much hassle, once you setup properly and understand it i gotta say I find it really easy to use and love sampling on it, perhaps because I've never sampled on a MPC and MPC user are sample-spoiled? By the way, you forgot to mention (to me really important) the fact that you can have four mono external gear inputs and use it as an fx processor as well which makes the deal even sweeter for a dawless construction... The only flaws to me might the sample time and the looper time (I never use loopers) whiich are well known.. They've been updating the firmware more times than I can count and has been a christmas gift each time and still expecting further updates :) Love you vids, Gabe!
Great review. One of the huge features of the MC707 however is that it plays well with others. It has robust MIDI capabilities and can work as the brain for hardware setups. For instance, you can sequence externally off of any of the eight tracks, but you can also bring four channels of analog audio back into the box and assigning the audio to separate tracks, using the MFX and mastering chain. Or you can do two mono channels and a stereo channel for poly synths. Or you can bring audio in by USB from a computer or iPad/iPhone. The way it handles external gear is the selling point for me.
Robust midi? Are You kidding me ? The sequencer can't record with an external keyboard any modwheel, pitchbend, after touch, arpeggio, chord What's the point to have a powerfull synth ?
Robust midi is one thing the MC-707 does NOT have. Sorry but I must disagree. Mc 707 Can’t even send CCs for it’s faders… a complete joke. I actually bought it thinking it would be precisely what you describe - the brains to my operation. To be honest, I love it, but it NEVER even came close to actually fulfilling that original spot I had in mind for it. Don’t get me wrong - I love my Roland gear but there’s also a reason why I have OTHER brands - their support (Roland’s) for “other devices” as part of your chain of production is practically non-existent. If there is ANYTHING I would say Roland is terrible at, it definitely is MIDI. Anyways, mc-707 still has many nice things - and particularly, building songs quickly certainly isn’t a problem for it. Just maybe not made to act as the ideal brains to an operation.
CHOPPING is way way easier now. Just record it in to the newish recorder mode and has auto slice and easy save to pads. ( note; there are three different recorder modes that record to temporary making it easy to add to each pad; to project pool , and to tone . You still have to use export if you just want to use the sample in a different project unless you load the whole clip)
Sampling all of my analog synth sounds used on a song and using those sampled notes to create my own synths (up to 8 on a single song!) has been a life saver for performing live. I just need this an a controller and I have the sound of every single synth I want cued up.
@@80iesDude45 yeah, but anyway 707/101 are rather underpowered / too basic when it somes to sampler capabilities - unlike really really deep synth engine.
@@CallxMexLos same here - that's why i got 707 and 101. but there were discussions on various gear forums, and i remember that those who are more into sampling found 707/101 underpowered.
The class compliant usb is my favorite thing about the 707. Pairing with the iPad and having 8 different iOS plugins to sample/sequence/loop on top of the 8 internal synths and drum engines, makes for some incredibly crazy and fun stuff.
I'm sight impaired and I can confirm that I suffer from those tiny screens, thank you for mentioning it because I would really love to save for a 707, I think I should get a magnifying glass first 😅
I'm a guitar player first and I dabble in synths. I have Logic X but I really like the hands on feel of an external piece of equipment. The MC-707 does so many things in the moment that I've grown to require. I use the MC-707, Maschine MK3, and a Roland TR-8S to create rhythm and backing tracks, then record them into Logic. The hybrid workflow works best for me and the MC-707 is an integral part of that process. I'd love a bigger screen but I find it's adequate for most things I do.
For me, I have an MC101 exactly because of it's portability. It's limitations can be difficult for full track production but I didn't get it to make big complex tracks on it's own necessarily. The ONE thing I really hate is the lack of deep sound editing on the MC101 itself. Once my Zenology is up that's it, I can't make new sounds. It sucks having a device with such a powerful sound engine built in. It's good I got a year free with my MC101 but really I feel like it should be free for good, you are basically buying the Zenology engine in a physical format.
Wait, so you pay a thousand dollars for an instrument and then you need to pay for a subscription to use all of your thousand-dollar instrument's features? I definitely don't like that. I had an MC-505 back in the day and creating your own patches was something you could do right on the device. What gives?
@@azamarro On the 707 you can do some deep editing but not on the 101. To be able to edit and swap patches in the 101 you need the Zenology Pro VST ($249 i believe).
Nice video! I have bought the 707 2nd hand about a year ago and there is really a lot to like about it. Some 'bugs' or 'missed features' that can get annoying when you use / need them often, but 97% of the time it is a pure pleasure to play. (and you work around the missed features) Make sure you get to know its shortcuts well, since a lot of menu diving (at least for the frequent tasks) can be replaced via a shift + button combo or another button. I seldom need the screen for anything apart from project housekeeping and sound design. Saving time and keeping you in the flow. All in all it is still the 'almost perfect' box for me and I can't think of any other box that can do what it does so well: Jamming with 'yourself' and have a ton of fun while doing just that. (and I have been investigating all of them a lot) And the best thing for me is that it can sequence my other synths quite nicely, routing audio through the 707 so I don't need a separate mixer. Perfect for a 'beginner - novice' setup I would say. If you want more video's on the 707 : check my 707 playlist ua-cam.com/play/PLKuurBOwTJthqnGi998QJRvgaf_l5tK1p.html
Excellent review! I’m obviously interested in one and I already have an Integra 7 and a Korg Kronos, and of course other items, but I have a feeling I’ll be able to get a really great work flow going in this direction! Thank you so much!
Thinking about selling my MC 101 to get a 707 just because of how much faster the work flow could be especially with sound design. Having to menu dive for each and every single parameter when manipulating synth design is soooo tedious. Nice vid dude, keep it going, would love to see you do something with the Elektron products!
5:51 = You can just record into an empty pattern now and to increase or decrease the steps you can press func and measure to half or double the current clip length
So there’s a used one of these on Amazon I wanna pick up do you think if it’s used it would make a difference like would somebody have deleted any of the presets or anything like that?
Can you export MIDI tracks with this as in a song mode of another sequencer? I'd like to build song MIDI ideas and send them to the PC for finishing. I am between the MPC Live 2 and this. I like these sounds more, but I wish this had Roland FA-06's sequencer's microscope view. It was so easy to use ans practical in song mode.
This maschime is amazing, but mainly for professional. Or talented people like you. Sounds is very good. And especially for professionals, it is a very cheap and very high quality device. It has a high end sound through the preamp of the studio amplifier.
I have owned most of the Roland grooveboxes over the years and really loved my Mc 505 ...got a hold of my Mc 707 about 3 months ago and love it ...just got a tr8s about a month ago and the 2 together are solid 👌they’ve made me want to jam again
I really want an MC-909, but I'm hesitant because of the issue with how difficult it is to repair them. Right now, I have a Korg Electribe 2 which I bought as my first piece of music production hardware and it's certainly cool (and it's remarkably well built for the price) but there are certain things I dislike regarding the sound engine and the UI, and it just seems dramatically unsuited for producing trance music, which is my great love and what I want to focus on. The Roland MC-101, 707, and 909 all seem to have synth engines that are perfectly designed for the clean, beautiful sounds that trance and pre-2010 tend to use. The Electribe doesn't even have a true supersaw for example, and I also don't the ability to sidechain nor to create trance gate patterns. The 909 in particular was released when trance was the most popular genre of electronic music and was intended to allow you to produce, arrange, and master a full track from beginning to end. That's a pretty appealing proposition even with how large it is!
Great review after buying the MPC one as my home DAW in a box which I chose over getting one of these and tr-8s . I decided to add a tr-6s to pair with my mc-101 as a fun little jam setup haha Have you ever thought of pairing a tr-6s or tr-8s to your mc-707 or 101 Or do you just prefer doing it all in one box for exporting ?
I just got rid of my TR6S which I loved ...but got the tr8s to go with my Mc 707 👍👍👍the 2 of them together are solid though I am still getting to grips with them ...they’ve gave me a good break from the laptop and ableton
I can't understand why these devices don't have an hdmi output so you can connect ANY modern LED screen to it, so menu diving gets asier? tiny OLED screens are just a copout. Every music machine should have ports for monitor, mouse and alphanumerical keys.
Hiyo Gabe. Loving my 707 but missing a song mode. Do you have a recommendation for entry level daw to control this? All sounds will be from the 707, zero pc sounds.
Cal Poly FTW! My Dad used to teach there. I'm trying to decided between a 707 or an Elektron Analogue 4 MKII. The "Song mode" update makes it a bit more appealing in my eyes since I don't have any experience with Elektron boxes.
Hi Gabe! Thank you for a great video 😊 I have a question regarding the drum engine, are the 808 & 909 sample based or emulations like the tr-8s? Thank you 🌼
I don't understand the menu-diving complaint; it's the only way to offer options for power-users & appease the plug & players...I have an mpc live 2 & I feel like I'm always looking for new menus/screens (then selecting tabs) to perform anything deeper than playing the pads once a sounds is loaded. Additionally, the 707 was meant to be a loop-sequencing live performance machine. I speculate, but I don't think many of the features Roland has added in the firmware updates were originally projected. Users are asking for features beyond the intended use & Roland is doing what they can to implement them. JAT
Thank you for your compact very good review. I just don't know if I should buy a MPC-One or a MC 707. I have actually already decided in favor of the MC 707, but since you presented the sampling capabilities very poorly compared to the MPC-One, I became insecure.What are the big points, that doesn't work in terms of sampling with the MC 707 in comparism to the MPC-One?
Damn bro, you're in SLO? Im in Ventura. I purchased the circuit tracks after watching tons of your videos. It is super fun, but quite limiting. It would have been perfect if they hooked it up with two more synth tracks. Nevertheless, the unit served its purpose in affirming that I want to get a little away from the daw and into a groovebox. I play piano and guitar, and theres nothing like sitting with your instrument and jamming. I feel like the laptop adds unwanted friction to the composing process. Maybe ill give the mc707 or the akai force a look.
Great video, and I feel you on this, was trying to chop samples on MC-101 and that was...an event. Quick unrelated question, how do you feel about the "leaked" SP-404mkii? Again excellent video man, keep it up!
I haven't heard of that, I'll have to look into it! I don't put too much stock into leaks until something is confirmed but it's always good to know what *might* be coming down the pipeline.
How will I feel with this coming from an old school mc-808 or MC-909 to this modern version. Is it loaded with patterns like the old ones or is everything build from scratch. I am not an ableton person and scenes have never been my thing and i hear this is like making scenes.
I still like it, but I don't use it super often, mostly because I've found other stuff that fits the way I like to work a bit better (combination Novation Circuit setup for live performance, MPC One for production, and I use the MC-101 a lot). It's a great device though! I need to dig back into it to make something substantial again.
Hi Can you send midi out from the faders? I want to control the opacity of video clips at the same time but if faders have no midi it makes it pretty dificult! Thanks🙏
Having got an MPC One I find I still need a groovebox. I keep hoping that the 101 would suffice but its limitations keep cropping up. Also the 707 seems to have mojo which is very important.
@@evedotcom As much as I love it, I find the MPC One isn't very conducive to jamming. Beyond playing the pads all the tweakable stuff needs menu dives and I don't have the dexterity to do those accurately. I'm buying one of those Korg controllers to use with the One but I don't have high expectations that it will give the flexibility I'm looking for.
@@unclemick-synths got The MPC one too and I like it alot it's my baby but ur right as groovebox 707 is better and workflow much faster , I'm wanting it badly too but I still want to keep the MPC one.
Crazy question, the 707 has 3600ish presets so does the Fantom 08 I essentially will be using either as a Sound Module. Spence is also at a premium should I just go 707? Yes I know the Fantom has 16 part MultiTimbral ability vs the 707’s 8 and the Fantom has 256 note Poly vs 128 on the 707. Thanks oh and I already own a nice Komplete S49 controller with lovely semi weighted keys.
Nice review of the great brother of the cute and still capable 101. I never liked the MPCs with their strong screen and samples focus, Synth power all the way! Decent screen, 8 tracks, dedicated step sequencer and Ableton-friendly workflow (clips, export, recording...) are the big plus points for me. Very happy with it, got it for €600 on ebay 👍
Fair enough! I like the MC-707 and MPC for different reasons that I mentioned in the review and that you summed up really well. Sometimes I want a DAW in a box with crazy sampling capabilities, sometimes I want a synthy device with clips and more structure.
Lol, I see your Roland bias but the mpc live 2, or any of the modern mpcs are way more than sample focused. I'll have to tell you, they ALL exceed the 707 in capabilities.
Can l use this as a looper to play a keyboard part while l play the drums and record everything in Pro Tools? I've looked at midi loopers but wanted something l could also manipulate in real time.
Excellent review. When a machine is capable of that much detailed editing, it really needs a display to match. Has someone created a box where you can buy an optional bigger display that plugs in, so you can do all your creating on, and then unplug it when you go and jam??
You can get next level sounds out of the MC 707 there's a learning curve though you can do live performance recordings and pair it with a DAW. Roland does like its little screens is putting it mildly...
You mentioned a chord mode. That makes it sound like it's feature to work around a monophonic voice. The MC707 is polyphonic too though, right? Like I should be able to play a two-handed part from a MIDI keyboard into it?
Hey get off the fence Gabe. Pretty good at this, pretty good at that etc. This is a damn good box, great sound engine, plenty of ins and outs for external gear, good midi implementation, sampling right there if you need it, time stretch on ‘looper’ tracks, not too big and nicely laid out. Accurate Beats gave it a proper thumbs up as did Red Means Audio. Yes it’s a bit pricey but it’s a lot better than ‘pretty good’. Really.
I'm not on the fence, just acknowledging that it might not be right for everyone. If you're familiar with the background of my channel, me calling it "the Circuit Pro of my dreams" is pretty high praise!
@@GabeMillerMusic Hey Gabe I’m well aware of the background of your channel and I noticed when you said the MC707 was the Circuit pro of your dreams. That’s why I was surprised when you went on to use the ‘pretty’ word numerous times, as in pretty good etc etc. You’ve just done it again….‘Pretty high praise’ Lol. PS. Obviously it’s not for everyone, no piece of gear is. I’ve got no skin in this game but I do have a MC 707 and it’s a lot better than pretty good. I rest my case!
just a pinch of my observations. I think now is at least 9 months since I got it: 1. MIDI keyboard - without it you can't fully appreciate sound engine - get one. 2. Roland's sound designers for drum kits - the laziest bunch of lazy b... 3/4 of kits using the same hihats and drum sounds. It's not like those sounds can't be modified, or replaced with the samples, but out of box - it's just boring after 10 minutes. 3. If you are into sampling - get a sampler (ideally MPC) - 707 is quite limited. I've seen comments / posts on social media where people expected from this machine to be a full hip-hop machine. Nope. Forget about it.
1. I'm more of a pads guy myself but I can definitely see that being the case. 2. That's fair, but since they're just wav files that are easily replaceable (as you mentioned), that doesn't bother me, I just load up the SD card with my own samples and go from there. 3. That's definitely fair, and I touched on it in the video... If I want to do some hardcore sampling, I'm almost certainly reaching for the MPC One.
Hey man, I have an MPD218 and Koala on iPad for sampling, do you think I could use it with an Audiobox USB96 mixer to intergrate the MC 707 into my Keystep, SQ-1 step sequencer, and Pocket Operators, could I give all the instruments tracks? Maybe I wouldn't even need the mixer if it has the stereo inputs, etc. thx
Would this be the one machine to buy secondhand ( 500 euro range ) if I would like to fiddle around and make some techno inspired fun ( Just me as an audicience). I do have daw experience, but that leaves me lost searching for plugins, making no music at all. I fantasized over buyingthe mc505 back in the days!
But is there a synth (software or hardware) with RANDOM generator of sounds/patches/pads that randomly creates a synth sound of various complexity, so I don’t have to create it from scratch. And if I like that randomly generated sound/patch I can further edit/modify it and save it for future use. I guess it would be some kind of FM synth etc. Right? Any suggestions?? Much appreciated , bro ❤
Can I send a click and the master mix to a drummer using the assignable outs? and does that mean sacrificing one or two tracks? Also, can you chop samples and assign to pads like you would with an mpc?
Concerning the click track, you can send the metronome to one of the outputs (for the drummer). Check out this document static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MC-707_update_eng07_W.pdf (page 13: "Metronome Sound Output Destination Selection Function Added")
There's no sidechain option, unfortunately. The closest thing (if I recall correctly, I don't have the device in front of me at the moment) is an effect that can just pump the volume up and down, but that only works for four on the floor stuff.
It almost a grand today (lowest i find was 888 new), and it's def not worth it. ZenCore is basically a VST in the box with horrible user interface. Roland SH-4D (the same Zencore but better sound design option) and Korg Drumlogue will have the same price combined and give you so much more creative freedom.
great review thankyou! i have an akai force and a mc-101 and will switch to this because i love the hybrid intuitive workflow and i will definitly sell the force. i never got decend jams out of the force rather than the mc-101. what you said is absolutely true! if you wish to have a full dawless all in one studio groovebox and your skills might not be the best then go for the akai force or mpc as it offers a lot of out of the box music making workflow where only little knowledge is needed. its the perfect device for beginners but if you like me and would like to have something to jam with, come up with ideas and further work with your daw on your pc then go for this one! => im running an analog synth to just jam around and when im feeling it i quickly jam a beat and a baseline into my 101 but i wish it would be able to record audio this is why im upgrading to this.
Strange take on things. I've owned them all and Force is way more advanced than the 707 in almost every area, exception being Roland sounds. As I have several original Roland's, so that's no issue, as I fire them from CV/Midi on the Force. Could I use my Roland CV gear with this Roland device? Screen, let's not discuss. And for sounds export, simply connect any mixer (I have an X32) to the Force, route your numerous (not 8) channels to your SD or PC DAW real time. You can't do that either on this. I like Roland gear, I have new Jupiter & Juno X and several others, but this isn't comparable to an Akai I'm sorry.
2 requests: "automated random ghost notes" for the drums and at least 1 track with "unlimited" measures, so one improvise/record for a few minutes. that would be so helpful!
How many patterns can you have in each song? Are they called clips, because the manual says on 16 clips per track. Older Roland boxed had 100-200 patterns. Doesn't seem like you can compose a real song on it?
Keep in mind that clips are on a track by track basis, and that you can combine clips into scenes. So you can have a lot of stuff switching in and out, which is usually enough for a full song.
I just think it's crazy how whenever Roland takes one step forward in one area, they step back twice in others and then the average person thinks it's a good thing. From what I can see I'm not going to have as much fun with this as with passed boxes even though you can do a few things new as a trade-off. And the new gear all look like baby toys compared to others. It's just going to put me to sleep already. Should I play with it after a nice warm bath, or what?
If you plan on travelling with the device, I'd say it would be nice to use the MC-101 by itself. If not, I'd always prefer more all in one stuff when possible.
@@GabeMillerMusic thanks for the answer! I can’t say i travel a lot these days, but i do occasional outdoor jams and free lectures about synthesis with other synth heads in the city. Unleashed devices dominate in spontaneous jam category. Model duo by Elektron, Novation Circuit squad, Teenage Engineering calculation tools, Volca tribe, Roland Aira green fairies, they all deliver tons of fun. Yep, 707is more for studio or venues, but what’s really interesting besides the portability is how comfortable one feels while jamming on 707 or on 101 + tr-6s [tear success] . I know one dude who also prefers all-in one solution, but he always looks for the second synth to add. As for me - i generally prefer 2 devices, but in case of Rolands - I think I’ll find the answer after i jam with both options. Hopefully others will share their preferences too!
I did a whole one hour live set on the 101 s: Tr-6S combo last weekend… it’s on the RetroSynth records YT channel…. Suffice to say I love that combo. I don’t own a 707 though, but don’t intend to either.
@@wickeddubz glad you enjoyed it! I have to say that Beki’s epic vocals really made this one belt out … ua-cam.com/users/shortsh3AhqXUspNU?feature=share
I had one for a while. It felt like a toy. I know its very capable but between the plastic feel and the awful screen I just didn't find it an enjoyable device to use. Not doubting its functionality but if I don't enjoy using a device its just going to sit there gathering dust.
@@milk_bath Octatrack, Force, MPC-X, MPC Live, Maschine Plus, Digitakt, Analog Rythm mk2, Deluge, Tracker... take your pick. I have them all and use them all often, just really disliked the 707, and pretty much every other Roland product I've tried in recent years. Before anyone chimes in the obvious "the 707 does (whatever) that the (other product) doesn't do. I don't care. My laptop + DAW does more than all of them combined, it's not just about functionality. Personally I like using hardware that feels enjoyable to use. To me the 707 was not enjoyable to use. If others enjoy it then I'm happy for them.
It took some time to grow on me, and it's totally not for everyone, but I will say that it feels pretty solid for being plastic. The faders have pretty nice resistance, etc. But yeah it all comes down to the workflow you prefer and the functions you prioritize.
@@GabeMillerMusic thats surprising as I know you love the 101. I figured it would much the same, just more. I guess you're trading the portability which is probably a big part of the 101's appeal. The modern Roland stuff just doesn't do it for me. Not because its trendy to bash them or because I'm an "analog snob". I just think they make throwaway junk these days. Give it 2 - 3 years and they'll have a newer version of these with some slight change in functionality and you wont be able to give the 101 or 707 away.
May I ask the detailest of detailest question? I really wonder at the nuances setting the keyboard to 2 octaves of 7 pitches: if you enter an E on a sequencer step. Then change the keyboard to be 2 rows of C minor, is the E then changed to an Eb so that you can still see it and edit it? Or is it still playing as E but can you just not see it on the 2 octave keyboard? And if it changes the pitch, does it also change pitches globally in all clips, or only in 1 clip?
@@matthewstein1110 I would be interested in knowing the actual working, not in a guess. it is not described in the document that Roland provides (they added the key setting in a firmware update). I guess since it was an update “invisible notes” is the most probable answer, but the Deluge (for example) does transpose everything. Which is a minor drawback for me as it fits badly in my workflow, although I can see why some people might want to pick transpose over “invisible notes”, the transpose feature is quite interesting for people who use their groovebox mainly for live jamming.
Every 6 months or so I consider one of these. Then I hit the same brick wall every time: that screen is horrible. That it should be so, so small (yet detailed) for such a big device is just a shame. Would hate to have to squint at that thing.
my only problem with the mc707 is the sample looper. fucking 60 seconds in the whole project is a joke. i wish they had made it at least like elektron with there 64 MB of sample ram. so the whole machine is useless for me (becaus i work with a lot of long samples and loops :( ) thats why i sent it back to the retailer.
Since getting a Digitakt, Circuit Tracks, and a soon to be delivered Circuit Rhythm, I find myself only using the 707 as a sound source, not the full groove box it is. My main use of it is to record midi on the first four midi tracks on my Digitakt to run the sounds on my 707, then I use the outs of the Digitakt into the 707 and use it as a mixer.
I want the capabilities of the NC Tracks and Rhythm so bad, but the summing to mono is a no-go... Hoping for a future combined Pro version to remedy that...
That deep control of synth parameers using display doesn't look that bad, actually it looks like it is designed in pretty straightforward way ... my only problem with 707 is that i literally NEVER heard single one for my ears interesting sound in any YT demos ... can't help myself but it sounds to me like cheap plugin.. i even installed Zen Beats on iPad, with Zen Core plugin, but same experience - literally all sounds were sterile, boring, or how to defined it .. on other side, even through on paper Circuit sound engine is not that advanced, i found it sounding lot more interesting ..
I had very much the same opinion as you until I found this UA-cam channel. ua-cam.com/video/fas5cvn98zA/v-deo.html , I don’t know if he creates own presets or combines existing presets but this user is able to get amazing sounds in his mc707 pieces.
I just a used one off Reverb last week. I already made 3 complete songs. This unit is a beast. I wasn't looking for a DAW in a box, just a good groovebox.
Got mine fpor 600€ on ebay, just a few months old. I love this unit!
Do you something on bandcamp?
I've been using mine for the past year and I LOVE it! It's surprisingly fun to use for Hip-Hop. Sample chopping could definitely be better, but it's still flexible enough to let me do what I want (except the timestretch, that's kinda shitty lol)
What I do for chops is select a sound, select EDIT before assigning it, trim it, then hit ENTER to assign it. The screen stays on the edit mode so I can chop the next part of the same sample immediately and put that on another pad. Rinse, repeat, and get weird
Screen shotted this thanks brother
I loved it before I got it an dloved it more when I got it and love it even more today! I don't understand why the sampler gets so much hassle, once you setup properly and understand it i gotta say I find it really easy to use and love sampling on it, perhaps because I've never sampled on a MPC and MPC user are sample-spoiled? By the way, you forgot to mention (to me really important) the fact that you can have four mono external gear inputs and use it as an fx processor as well which makes the deal even sweeter for a dawless construction... The only flaws to me might the sample time and the looper time (I never use loopers) whiich are well known.. They've been updating the firmware more times than I can count and has been a christmas gift each time and still expecting further updates :) Love you vids, Gabe!
Great review. One of the huge features of the MC707 however is that it plays well with others. It has robust MIDI capabilities and can work as the brain for hardware setups. For instance, you can sequence externally off of any of the eight tracks, but you can also bring four channels of analog audio back into the box and assigning the audio to separate tracks, using the MFX and mastering chain. Or you can do two mono channels and a stereo channel for poly synths. Or you can bring audio in by USB from a computer or iPad/iPhone. The way it handles external gear is the selling point for me.
Robust midi? Are You kidding me ? The sequencer can't record with an external keyboard any modwheel, pitchbend, after touch, arpeggio, chord
What's the point to have a powerfull synth ?
Robust midi is one thing the MC-707 does NOT have. Sorry but I must disagree.
Mc 707 Can’t even send CCs for it’s faders… a complete joke. I actually bought it thinking it would be precisely what you describe - the brains to my operation. To be honest, I love it, but it NEVER even came close to actually fulfilling that original spot I had in mind for it.
Don’t get me wrong - I love my Roland gear but there’s also a reason why I have OTHER brands - their support (Roland’s) for “other devices” as part of your chain of production is practically non-existent.
If there is ANYTHING I would say Roland is terrible at, it definitely is MIDI.
Anyways, mc-707 still has many nice things - and particularly, building songs quickly certainly isn’t a problem for it. Just maybe not made to act as the ideal brains to an operation.
CHOPPING is way way easier now. Just record it in to the newish recorder mode and has auto slice and easy save to pads. ( note; there are three different recorder modes that record to temporary making it easy to add to each pad; to project pool , and to tone . You still have to use export if you just want to use the sample in a different project unless you load the whole clip)
Sampling all of my analog synth sounds used on a song and using those sampled notes to create my own synths (up to 8 on a single song!) has been a life saver for performing live. I just need this an a controller and I have the sound of every single synth I want cued up.
Can you make multisamples? Or do you have one sample per sound?
@@VTOLKits One sample per sound. Middle C. But then I change the release and sustain as well as onboard effects to make it sound natural.
Your honest reviews and opinions are helpful and refreshing, thanks Gabe!
i love 707. definitely worth it, at least for those who are more into synthesis than into sampling.
Using samples isn't that bad with the MC-707.
@@80iesDude45 yeah, but anyway 707/101 are rather underpowered / too basic when it somes to sampler capabilities - unlike really really deep synth engine.
I don’t know much about sampling (more of a synth guy) what would you say it’s missing?
@@CallxMexLos the limitations, you only get 60 seconds sample time on the MC101. not sure about the 707 though.
@@CallxMexLos same here - that's why i got 707 and 101. but there were discussions on various gear forums, and i remember that those who are more into sampling found 707/101 underpowered.
The class compliant usb is my favorite thing about the 707. Pairing with the iPad and having 8 different iOS plugins to sample/sequence/loop on top of the 8 internal synths and drum engines, makes for some incredibly crazy and fun stuff.
Great point ! (iOS)
It can do that woww
Nice Summary. Cool Jam! Btw - creating a clip without the display : hit REC and than select the clip via the Pads in the clip mode.
I'm sight impaired and I can confirm that I suffer from those tiny screens, thank you for mentioning it because I would really love to save for a 707, I think I should get a magnifying glass first 😅
I'm a guitar player first and I dabble in synths. I have Logic X but I really like the hands on feel of an external piece of equipment. The MC-707 does so many things in the moment that I've grown to require. I use the MC-707, Maschine MK3, and a Roland TR-8S to create rhythm and backing tracks, then record them into Logic. The hybrid workflow works best for me and the MC-707 is an integral part of that process. I'd love a bigger screen but I find it's adequate for most things I do.
Good video, another thing to mention would be the great firmware maintenance Roland keeps providing, adding new functions actually requested by users.
For me, I have an MC101 exactly because of it's portability. It's limitations can be difficult for full track production but I didn't get it to make big complex tracks on it's own necessarily. The ONE thing I really hate is the lack of deep sound editing on the MC101 itself. Once my Zenology is up that's it, I can't make new sounds. It sucks having a device with such a powerful sound engine built in. It's good I got a year free with my MC101 but really I feel like it should be free for good, you are basically buying the Zenology engine in a physical format.
Wait, so you pay a thousand dollars for an instrument and then you need to pay for a subscription to use all of your thousand-dollar instrument's features? I definitely don't like that. I had an MC-505 back in the day and creating your own patches was something you could do right on the device. What gives?
@@azamarro On the 707 you can do some deep editing but not on the 101. To be able to edit and swap patches in the 101 you need the Zenology Pro VST ($249 i believe).
Nice video!
I have bought the 707 2nd hand about a year ago and there is really a lot to like about it.
Some 'bugs' or 'missed features' that can get annoying when you use / need them often, but 97% of the time it is a pure pleasure to play. (and you work around the missed features)
Make sure you get to know its shortcuts well, since a lot of menu diving (at least for the frequent tasks) can be replaced via a shift + button combo or another button.
I seldom need the screen for anything apart from project housekeeping and sound design.
Saving time and keeping you in the flow.
All in all it is still the 'almost perfect' box for me and I can't think of any other box that can do what it does so well:
Jamming with 'yourself' and have a ton of fun while doing just that.
(and I have been investigating all of them a lot)
And the best thing for me is that it can sequence my other synths quite nicely, routing audio through the 707 so I don't need a separate mixer.
Perfect for a 'beginner - novice' setup I would say.
If you want more video's on the 707 : check my 707 playlist
ua-cam.com/play/PLKuurBOwTJthqnGi998QJRvgaf_l5tK1p.html
Excellent review! I’m obviously interested in one and I already have an Integra 7 and a Korg Kronos, and of course other items, but I have a feeling I’ll be able to get a really great work flow going in this direction! Thank you so much!
Thinking about selling my MC 101 to get a 707 just because of how much faster the work flow could be especially with sound design. Having to menu dive for each and every single parameter when manipulating synth design is soooo tedious. Nice vid dude, keep it going, would love to see you do something with the Elektron products!
I love your videos Gab! Super useful and the music you create with these machines is 🔥 :))))
5:51 = You can just record into an empty pattern now and to increase or decrease the steps you can press func and measure to half or double the current clip length
Very pragmatic review, thank you Gabe ☺️
The first good souding music I ever heard on 707. Good Job! Wow!
Sampling is also possible. Step lenght can easily be adjusted by holding shift and the measure arrows.
Great review Gabe. Fair points and I agree
So there’s a used one of these on Amazon I wanna pick up do you think if it’s used it would make a difference like would somebody have deleted any of the presets or anything like that?
Can you export MIDI tracks with this as in a song mode of another sequencer? I'd like to build song MIDI ideas and send them to the PC for finishing. I am between the MPC Live 2 and this. I like these sounds more, but I wish this had Roland FA-06's sequencer's microscope view. It was so easy to use ans practical in song mode.
This maschime is amazing, but mainly for professional. Or talented people like you. Sounds is very good.
And especially for professionals, it is a very cheap and very high quality device. It has a high end sound through the preamp of the studio amplifier.
I have owned most of the Roland grooveboxes over the years and really loved my Mc 505 ...got a hold of my Mc 707 about 3 months ago and love it ...just got a tr8s about a month ago and the 2 together are solid 👌they’ve made me want to jam again
I really want an MC-909, but I'm hesitant because of the issue with how difficult it is to repair them. Right now, I have a Korg Electribe 2 which I bought as my first piece of music production hardware and it's certainly cool (and it's remarkably well built for the price) but there are certain things I dislike regarding the sound engine and the UI, and it just seems dramatically unsuited for producing trance music, which is my great love and what I want to focus on. The Roland MC-101, 707, and 909 all seem to have synth engines that are perfectly designed for the clean, beautiful sounds that trance and pre-2010 tend to use. The Electribe doesn't even have a true supersaw for example, and I also don't the ability to sidechain nor to create trance gate patterns. The 909 in particular was released when trance was the most popular genre of electronic music and was intended to allow you to produce, arrange, and master a full track from beginning to end. That's a pretty appealing proposition even with how large it is!
Great review after buying the MPC one as my home DAW in a box which I chose over getting one of these and tr-8s . I decided to add a tr-6s to pair with my mc-101 as a fun little jam setup haha
Have you ever thought of pairing a tr-6s or tr-8s to your mc-707 or 101
Or do you just prefer doing it all in one box for exporting ?
I just got rid of my TR6S which I loved ...but got the tr8s to go with my Mc 707 👍👍👍the 2 of them together are solid though I am still getting to grips with them ...they’ve gave me a good break from the laptop and ableton
I can't understand why these devices don't have an hdmi output so you can connect ANY modern LED screen to it, so menu diving gets asier?
tiny OLED screens are just a copout. Every music machine should have ports for monitor, mouse and alphanumerical keys.
pair this with a decent sampler and you can definitely have a badass dawless setup that does so much without a computer.
ua-cam.com/video/WLJcGjkbBig/v-deo.html & you'll be doing some real damage...
Hiyo Gabe.
Loving my 707 but missing a song mode. Do you have a recommendation for entry level daw to control this? All sounds will be from the 707, zero pc sounds.
Cal Poly FTW! My Dad used to teach there. I'm trying to decided between a 707 or an Elektron Analogue 4 MKII. The "Song mode" update makes it a bit more appealing in my eyes since I don't have any experience with Elektron boxes.
Hi Gabe! Thank you for a great video 😊 I have a question regarding the drum engine, are the 808 & 909 sample based or emulations like the tr-8s? Thank you 🌼
It is sample based.
@@ClaudePN thank you
I don't understand the menu-diving complaint; it's the only way to offer options for power-users & appease the plug & players...I have an mpc live 2 & I feel like I'm always looking for new menus/screens (then selecting tabs) to perform anything deeper than playing the pads once a sounds is loaded. Additionally, the 707 was meant to be a loop-sequencing live performance machine. I speculate, but I don't think many of the features Roland has added in the firmware updates were originally projected. Users are asking for features beyond the intended use & Roland is doing what they can to implement them. JAT
How soon do you think Roland may release another Super Drum Machine like this one.
Gabe: I know that there is other stuff out there that I didn't ...
Everyone: DELUGE!
Haha that's what I figured a lot of people would be thinking. I'm hoping to get to it before the end of the year
@@GabeMillerMusic no worries, we will wait :)
Nice one Gabe! Could you share your pad sensitivity settings? Just curious :)
Best groove box, in my opinion....
Thank you for your compact very good review. I just don't know if I should buy a MPC-One or a MC 707. I have actually already decided in favor of the MC 707, but since you presented the sampling capabilities very poorly compared to the MPC-One, I became insecure.What are the big points, that doesn't work in terms of sampling with the MC 707 in comparism to the MPC-One?
The MPC One has built in sample layering and chopping, those are the biggest differences.
Dirk, for me it's not either/or - they have some overlap but having bought the MPC One there are features I still need that the 707 has.
Damn bro, you're in SLO? Im in Ventura. I purchased the circuit tracks after watching tons of your videos. It is super fun, but quite limiting. It would have been perfect if they hooked it up with two more synth tracks. Nevertheless, the unit served its purpose in affirming that I want to get a little away from the daw and into a groovebox. I play piano and guitar, and theres nothing like sitting with your instrument and jamming. I feel like the laptop adds unwanted friction to the composing process. Maybe ill give the mc707 or the akai force a look.
Great video, and I feel you on this, was trying to chop samples on MC-101 and that was...an event. Quick unrelated question, how do you feel about the "leaked" SP-404mkii? Again excellent video man, keep it up!
I haven't heard of that, I'll have to look into it! I don't put too much stock into leaks until something is confirmed but it's always good to know what *might* be coming down the pipeline.
@@GabeMillerMusic hey Gabe they're going to announce it tomorrow Roland officially confirmed it
How will I feel with this coming from an old school mc-808 or MC-909 to this modern version. Is it loaded with patterns like the old ones or is everything build from scratch. I am not an ableton person and scenes have never been my thing and i hear this is like making scenes.
There's a ton of shortcuts with this thing too, which helps avoid some menu diving.
I'm seriously thinking of buying an MC707 (spending my kids inheritance). Do you still like it these years later (that is, has it held up in time)?
I still like it, but I don't use it super often, mostly because I've found other stuff that fits the way I like to work a bit better (combination Novation Circuit setup for live performance, MPC One for production, and I use the MC-101 a lot). It's a great device though! I need to dig back into it to make something substantial again.
@@GabeMillerMusic Thanks for the reply.
Hi
Can you send midi out from the faders?
I want to control the opacity of video clips at the same time but if faders have no midi it makes it pretty dificult!
Thanks🙏
Having got an MPC One I find I still need a groovebox. I keep hoping that the 101 would suffice but its limitations keep cropping up. Also the 707 seems to have mojo which is very important.
Why do you still need a groovebox?
@@evedotcom As much as I love it, I find the MPC One isn't very conducive to jamming. Beyond playing the pads all the tweakable stuff needs menu dives and I don't have the dexterity to do those accurately. I'm buying one of those Korg controllers to use with the One but I don't have high expectations that it will give the flexibility I'm looking for.
@@unclemick-synths got The MPC one too and I like it alot it's my baby but ur right as groovebox 707 is better and workflow much faster , I'm wanting it badly too but I still want to keep the MPC one.
@@sammydreamz9788 yes, it's a "both and" situation! Maybe one day I'll have cash for a 707.
Crazy question, the 707 has 3600ish presets so does the Fantom 08 I essentially will be using either as a Sound Module. Spence is also at a premium should I just go 707? Yes I know the Fantom has 16 part MultiTimbral ability vs the 707’s 8 and the Fantom has 256 note Poly vs 128 on the 707. Thanks oh and I already own a nice Komplete S49 controller with lovely semi weighted keys.
Super tempted to get this. Theres one used near me for cheap. But i also have a circuit tracks coming lol
Nice review of the great brother of the cute and still capable 101. I never liked the MPCs with their strong screen and samples focus, Synth power all the way! Decent screen, 8 tracks, dedicated step sequencer and Ableton-friendly workflow (clips, export, recording...) are the big plus points for me. Very happy with it, got it for €600 on ebay 👍
I couldn't agree more!
Fair enough! I like the MC-707 and MPC for different reasons that I mentioned in the review and that you summed up really well. Sometimes I want a DAW in a box with crazy sampling capabilities, sometimes I want a synthy device with clips and more structure.
Lol, I see your Roland bias but the mpc live 2, or any of the modern mpcs are way more than sample focused. I'll have to tell you, they ALL exceed the 707 in capabilities.
Can I hook my DJ mixer to this and use it like a live looper to record my scratching and build up layers ?
Can l use this as a looper to play a keyboard part while l play the drums and record everything in Pro Tools? I've looked at midi loopers but wanted something l could also manipulate in real time.
Excellent review. When a machine is capable of that much detailed editing, it really needs a display to match. Has someone created a box where you can buy an optional bigger display that plugs in, so you can do all your creating on, and then unplug it when you go and jam??
there is or will be an editor app like patchbase for rolands
You can get next level sounds out of the MC 707 there's a learning curve though you can do live performance recordings and pair it with a DAW.
Roland does like its little screens is putting it mildly...
What do you think about fingerdrumming on the 707? I was hoping for a long time you gonna review this :D
You mentioned a chord mode. That makes it sound like it's feature to work around a monophonic voice. The MC707 is polyphonic too though, right? Like I should be able to play a two-handed part from a MIDI keyboard into it?
Yeah it's polyphonic. The chord mode is just nice for dealing with a limited number of pads.
I have the mv1 and the mc101… and I want a TR….So I am wondering if the 707 would replace them all?
I need something like the NC Tracks combined with Rhythm, polyphonic, and in stereo instead of summed mono... What hardware will do that???
I'm not sure about the sidechaining, but the Deluge might be worth looking into.
Hey get off the fence Gabe. Pretty good at this, pretty good at that etc. This is a damn good box, great sound engine, plenty of ins and outs for external gear, good midi implementation, sampling right there if you need it, time stretch on ‘looper’ tracks, not too big and nicely laid out. Accurate Beats gave it a proper thumbs up as did Red Means Audio. Yes it’s a bit pricey but it’s a lot better than ‘pretty good’. Really.
I'm not on the fence, just acknowledging that it might not be right for everyone. If you're familiar with the background of my channel, me calling it "the Circuit Pro of my dreams" is pretty high praise!
@@GabeMillerMusic Hey Gabe I’m well aware of the background of your channel and I noticed when you said the MC707 was the Circuit pro of your dreams. That’s why I was surprised when you went on to use the ‘pretty’ word numerous times, as in pretty good etc etc. You’ve just done it again….‘Pretty high praise’ Lol.
PS. Obviously it’s not for everyone, no piece of gear is. I’ve got no skin in this game but I do have a MC 707 and it’s a lot better than pretty good. I rest my case!
Leave Gabey alone! 😄
@@dictabeat 😂
just a pinch of my observations. I think now is at least 9 months since I got it:
1. MIDI keyboard - without it you can't fully appreciate sound engine - get one.
2. Roland's sound designers for drum kits - the laziest bunch of lazy b... 3/4 of kits using the same hihats and drum sounds. It's not like those sounds can't be modified, or replaced with the samples, but out of box - it's just boring after 10 minutes.
3. If you are into sampling - get a sampler (ideally MPC) - 707 is quite limited. I've seen comments / posts on social media where people expected from this machine to be a full hip-hop machine. Nope. Forget about it.
1. I'm more of a pads guy myself but I can definitely see that being the case.
2. That's fair, but since they're just wav files that are easily replaceable (as you mentioned), that doesn't bother me, I just load up the SD card with my own samples and go from there.
3. That's definitely fair, and I touched on it in the video... If I want to do some hardcore sampling, I'm almost certainly reaching for the MPC One.
Hey man, I have an MPD218 and Koala on iPad for sampling, do you think I could use it with an Audiobox USB96 mixer to intergrate the MC 707 into my Keystep, SQ-1 step sequencer, and Pocket Operators, could I give all the instruments tracks? Maybe I wouldn't even need the mixer if it has the stereo inputs, etc. thx
@@ghost_in_the_robot It has 4 total external audio inputs - 4 mono, 2 mono and 1 stereo pair, or 2 stereo pairs.
Would this be the one machine to buy secondhand ( 500 euro range ) if I would like to fiddle around and make some techno inspired fun ( Just me as an audicience). I do have daw experience, but that leaves me lost searching for plugins, making no music at all. I fantasized over buyingthe mc505 back in the days!
Thx 4 the upload 😉 greatings
Are you saying that you can download entire songs in to it then remix them?
But is there a synth (software or hardware) with RANDOM generator of sounds/patches/pads that randomly creates a synth sound of various complexity, so I don’t have to create it from scratch. And if I like that randomly generated sound/patch I can further edit/modify it and save it for future use. I guess it would be some kind of FM synth etc. Right? Any suggestions??
Much appreciated , bro ❤
Just close your eyes and twiddle all the knobs, see what comes out!
👍
I just bought the tr-8s last Christmas now I kind of regret it. Maybe it was better just the buy the mc 707 so I don’t have to buy a separate synth?
Can I send a click and the master mix to a drummer using the assignable outs? and does that mean sacrificing one or two tracks? Also, can you chop samples and assign to pads like you would with an mpc?
Concerning the click track, you can send the metronome to one of the outputs (for the drummer). Check out this document static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/MC-707_update_eng07_W.pdf (page 13: "Metronome Sound Output Destination Selection Function
Added")
Greetings from Russia, fair review. Did you discover the side chain option on 707?
There's no sidechain option, unfortunately. The closest thing (if I recall correctly, I don't have the device in front of me at the moment) is an effect that can just pump the volume up and down, but that only works for four on the floor stuff.
@Gabe Miller Music that sounds easier than recording motion for a volume parameter for any track..
It almost a grand today (lowest i find was 888 new), and it's def not worth it. ZenCore is basically a VST in the box with horrible user interface. Roland SH-4D (the same Zencore but better sound design option) and Korg Drumlogue will have the same price combined and give you so much more creative freedom.
Does MC-707 have pattern scene switching and mute memory toggle like RM1x?
I'm not sure about mute memory (I don't think so) but yes, it does have pattern scene switching.
Just got the 707 to add to the 101 woohoo
great review thankyou! i have an akai force and a mc-101 and will switch to this because i love the hybrid intuitive workflow and i will definitly sell the force. i never got decend jams out of the force rather than the mc-101. what you said is absolutely true! if you wish to have a full dawless all in one studio groovebox and your skills might not be the best then go for the akai force or mpc as it offers a lot of out of the box music making workflow where only little knowledge is needed. its the perfect device for beginners but if you like me and would like to have something to jam with, come up with ideas and further work with your daw on your pc then go for this one!
=> im running an analog synth to just jam around and when im feeling it i quickly jam a beat and a baseline into my 101 but i wish it would be able to record audio this is why im upgrading to this.
Strange take on things. I've owned them all and Force is way more advanced than the 707 in almost every area, exception being Roland sounds. As I have several original Roland's, so that's no issue, as I fire them from CV/Midi on the Force. Could I use my Roland CV gear with this Roland device? Screen, let's not discuss. And for sounds export, simply connect any mixer (I have an X32) to the Force, route your numerous (not 8) channels to your SD or PC DAW real time. You can't do that either on this.
I like Roland gear, I have new Jupiter & Juno X and several others, but this isn't comparable to an Akai I'm sorry.
I've been putting off the 707 simply because I am holding on to the belief that Novation will be coming out with a Circuit Pro.
Same here... I need the NC Tracks and Rhythm combined, have poliphony, and to be in stereo instead of summed mono...
by far the best groovebox. Not even close
@@MusicWizard85
Machine is junk. A plastic box with a few plugins. Sold it. Get hardware the difference is massive.
Can you upload samples into the MC707 and you them firing like a drum machine ?
Yep!
Thanks
Gabe Miller Music, Erica Synths- Perkons, FTW
2 requests: "automated random ghost notes" for the drums and at least 1 track with "unlimited" measures, so one improvise/record for a few minutes. that would be so helpful!
What is the maximum pattern length?
How many patterns can you have in each song? Are they called clips, because the manual says on 16 clips per track. Older Roland boxed had 100-200 patterns. Doesn't seem like you can compose a real song on it?
Keep in mind that clips are on a track by track basis, and that you can combine clips into scenes. So you can have a lot of stuff switching in and out, which is usually enough for a full song.
I just think it's crazy how whenever Roland takes one step forward in one area, they step back twice in others and then the average person thinks it's a good thing. From what I can see I'm not going to have as much fun with this as with passed boxes even though you can do a few things new as a trade-off. And the new gear all look like baby toys compared to others. It's just going to put me to sleep already. Should I play with it after a nice warm bath, or what?
Folks, tricky question! Gabe, please consider participating ;) .
Single MC-707 or TR-6s + MC-101? What would you pick and why?
If you plan on travelling with the device, I'd say it would be nice to use the MC-101 by itself. If not, I'd always prefer more all in one stuff when possible.
@@GabeMillerMusic thanks for the answer! I can’t say i travel a lot these days, but i do occasional outdoor jams and free lectures about synthesis with other synth heads in the city. Unleashed devices dominate in spontaneous jam category. Model duo by Elektron, Novation Circuit squad, Teenage Engineering calculation tools, Volca tribe, Roland Aira green fairies, they all deliver tons of fun.
Yep, 707is more for studio or venues, but what’s really interesting besides the portability is how comfortable one feels while jamming on 707 or on 101 + tr-6s [tear success] . I know one dude who also prefers all-in one solution, but he always looks for the second synth to add.
As for me - i generally prefer 2 devices, but in case of Rolands - I think I’ll find the answer after i jam with both options. Hopefully others will share their preferences too!
I did a whole one hour live set on the 101 s: Tr-6S combo last weekend… it’s on the RetroSynth records YT channel…. Suffice to say I love that combo.
I don’t own a 707 though, but don’t intend to either.
@@AUW-music thanks for sharing. Good vibes in record store! I really appreciate smaller live events, they have special cozyness :)
@@wickeddubz glad you enjoyed it!
I have to say that Beki’s epic vocals really made this one belt out …
ua-cam.com/users/shortsh3AhqXUspNU?feature=share
Does Roland often send you gear with no strings attached 🤯
Does it actually have full synth engines in it or is it just a ROMpler?
Full synth engine, will full access to all of its parameters.
I had one for a while. It felt like a toy. I know its very capable but between the plastic feel and the awful screen I just didn't find it an enjoyable device to use. Not doubting its functionality but if I don't enjoy using a device its just going to sit there gathering dust.
Any sampler + sequencer you like more?
@@milk_bath Octatrack, Force, MPC-X, MPC Live, Maschine Plus, Digitakt, Analog Rythm mk2, Deluge, Tracker... take your pick. I have them all and use them all often, just really disliked the 707, and pretty much every other Roland product I've tried in recent years. Before anyone chimes in the obvious "the 707 does (whatever) that the (other product) doesn't do. I don't care. My laptop + DAW does more than all of them combined, it's not just about functionality. Personally I like using hardware that feels enjoyable to use. To me the 707 was not enjoyable to use. If others enjoy it then I'm happy for them.
It took some time to grow on me, and it's totally not for everyone, but I will say that it feels pretty solid for being plastic. The faders have pretty nice resistance, etc. But yeah it all comes down to the workflow you prefer and the functions you prioritize.
@@GabeMillerMusic thats surprising as I know you love the 101. I figured it would much the same, just more. I guess you're trading the portability which is probably a big part of the 101's appeal. The modern Roland stuff just doesn't do it for me. Not because its trendy to bash them or because I'm an "analog snob". I just think they make throwaway junk these days. Give it 2 - 3 years and they'll have a newer version of these with some slight change in functionality and you wont be able to give the 101 or 707 away.
100% agree that it feels cheap
Flow state sounds immense
Nice video and yes it sounds really good. i also have one and i love it.
This is my favorite
Is there not a control app for the iPad to get around the small screen?
There isn't one for the MC-707, although there is one for the Verselab MV-1
@@GabeMillerMusic ahhh that’s a shame I guess, thanks.
So this or the MPC?
May I ask the detailest of detailest question? I really wonder at the nuances setting the keyboard to 2 octaves of 7 pitches: if you enter an E on a sequencer step. Then change the keyboard to be 2 rows of C minor, is the E then changed to an Eb so that you can still see it and edit it? Or is it still playing as E but can you just not see it on the 2 octave keyboard? And if it changes the pitch, does it also change pitches globally in all clips, or only in 1 clip?
I’m gonna guess you just couldnt see it
@@matthewstein1110 I would be interested in knowing the actual working, not in a guess. it is not described in the document that Roland provides (they added the key setting in a firmware update). I guess since it was an update “invisible notes” is the most probable answer, but the Deluge (for example) does transpose everything. Which is a minor drawback for me as it fits badly in my workflow, although I can see why some people might want to pick transpose over “invisible notes”, the transpose feature is quite interesting for people who use their groovebox mainly for live jamming.
Every 6 months or so I consider one of these. Then I hit the same brick wall every time: that screen is horrible. That it should be so, so small (yet detailed) for such a big device is just a shame. Would hate to have to squint at that thing.
I think it looks epic.
Nice that you considered the sight impaired 👊🏼
my only problem with the mc707 is the sample looper. fucking 60 seconds in the whole project is a joke. i wish they had made it at least like elektron with there 64 MB of sample ram. so the whole machine is useless for me (becaus i work with a lot of long samples and loops :( ) thats why i sent it back to the retailer.
Roland needs to have a chat with Elektron regarding workflow and UI.
This is begging for an iOS app to at least browse presets and ideally also edit synth parameters.
Since getting a Digitakt, Circuit Tracks, and a soon to be delivered Circuit Rhythm, I find myself only using the 707 as a sound source, not the full groove box it is. My main use of it is to record midi on the first four midi tracks on my Digitakt to run the sounds on my 707, then I use the outs of the Digitakt into the 707 and use it as a mixer.
I have a minilogue xd and tr8s, what would complete the setup?
I want the capabilities of the NC Tracks and Rhythm so bad, but the summing to mono is a no-go... Hoping for a future combined Pro version to remedy that...
How do you make mpj files mc-707
Ha! I love your synthwave grooves Gabe! Man, if I was rolling in money-I would actually buy this-Roland machines have always been tight. :-)
Thanks! It was fun to channel my inner John Carpenter for this one
That deep control of synth parameers using display doesn't look that bad, actually it looks like it is designed in pretty straightforward way ... my only problem with 707 is that i literally NEVER heard single one for my ears interesting sound in any YT demos ... can't help myself but it sounds to me like cheap plugin.. i even installed Zen Beats on iPad, with Zen Core plugin, but same experience - literally all sounds were sterile, boring, or how to defined it .. on other side, even through on paper Circuit sound engine is not that advanced, i found it sounding lot more interesting ..
I had very much the same opinion as you until I found this UA-cam channel. ua-cam.com/video/fas5cvn98zA/v-deo.html , I don’t know if he creates own presets or combines existing presets but this user is able to get amazing sounds in his mc707 pieces.
@@jantuitman thanks will check it because, to be honest, i WANT to love 707 sound, it would be perfect addition to my setup ...
@@jantuitman Yes he definitely does. Thanks for the link.
would you upgrade the mc 101 to a 707?
For the functionality, yes, but if you want extreme portability, the 101 is the goto
The primitive user interface/screen on this device doesn't match the $1,000 price tag at all.
Around 11:15 you articulate your voice, but you dont do that throughout. Id like them hard hitting words. But who am i