Synthchaser
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
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I couldn't pass up the opportunity to repair this rare and interesting early sequencer made by Roland. Very few of them were made and even fewer still exist today. But there's no service manual or schematics!
So we have a look around inside and see what makes it tick, and I show you an approach I use for tracking down problems I don't know I'm looking for. And after it's fixed we take a peek at it in action. It's hugely different from other sequencers of its time.
Parts, service and synthesizers available on my website.
Jesus, dude... don't know you do it. Amazing work... I know I speak for everyone when I say keep these coming!
Hear the repaired MC8 in action here: ua-cam.com/video/sISFNkBZovU/v-deo.html
Pretty difficult to diagnose without any schematics. You got lucky with that chip socket. And wow, hand wired buttons ! Almost looks like a prototype. And of course this thing predates MIDI, so it uses all analog CV and trigger/gate out ? Thanks for sharing !
BTW, the Roland MC8 was the favorite tool of Giorgio Moroder in 1979 for his revolutionary album E=mc2, the first recorded live-to-digital.
Here's a photo of him in front of the MC8 (and other synths used on that album):
images.equipboard.com/uploads/source/image/34868/big_4100973808_9b164a9496_z.jpg?v=1473809518
I think a dump of the eproms should have been made
I wrote my first movie soundtrack using an MC-8 (a prototype model) a Jupiter 8 , a Roland 700 systems and one of the first DX9's in Canada. We had these things because the studio had a direct line to Ralph Dyke who built the first MC8 and the Roland R+D department. I basically was a beta tester. A lot of that studio has disappeared, but I still have access to the 700 and the Jupiter.
The MC8 is indeed a beast that can do a bunch of stuff, but it had it's draw backs...like volatile memory..... 10 hours into an opus composition and someone blows a breaker in the building....fun ....NOT
Schematics and service notes are available. Try the Vintage Synth Repair And Mods. group on Facebook.
Thanks, I just started on Facebook, I'll check out that group!
great video! Do you have any info about the DIN clock upgrade Roland offered?
My bet is that the best place to look for schematics would be the University of British Columbia library system, where Ralph was doing his Phd during the time he built the first sequencers.
Excellent video. I have an MC4b which has developed a dead screen. It turned on OK as usual but after 5 mins I noticed the display was blank. Any comments welcomed.
Amazing piece of Roland history...glad you could rescue it!
I really enjoy to watch those instructive videos. To work AND to record, is time consuming. Thank you to share your knowledge with us !
Amaeing video thanks to keep alive this beautifull MC-8 sequencer.
My goodness the PCBs and all are gorgeous... looks fantastic inside! I appreciate the whole SMD thing but there is nothing like old school electronics.
i have one. never used it. been sitting in a box. doesnt have the 60 pin cable. can you help?
are you sell it?
I recognised the "Odd Rhythms" demo tracks you performed and decided to see if that was the same MC-8 as UA-cam user "peahix", and it is! This repair video is even linked peahix's blog page.
Great repair vid!
You can change the yellowing buttons back to white with that retro-brite process. I successfully did that to an Akai MPC 60 that had the same problem.
A hand-wired switch matrix.
Wouldnt know where to start with this
Man, that’s an old one. Late 1970s maybe?
yes, late 70s.
WOW fantastic Work
Great Video!