The MC-707 from Roland is a well-equipped groovebox with a new sequencer, versatile sound and sample player function. More than ten years after the last Roland Groovebox, the manufacturer surprises with the latest Zen Core technology, official live functions and sophisticated DAW connectivity.
The eight-track instrument has a clip sequencer that stores 16 patterns per track. This gives you the freedom to exchange and combine tracks independently. The old concept that all tracks are in one pattern is now a thing of the past. Each clip in the MC-707 can be up to four bars (64 steps) long. Whether it's an extensive drum track per track, playing polyphonic chords, pads and other sounds, firing sample player loops or OneShots, or sending MIDI sequences to external synthesizers, this groovebox makes it possible in no time. Of course, the MC-707 has the Scatter implemented: Expressive, to the point variations and astonishing playback effects provide for a varied performance.
Thanks to the eight Scene memories, you are not limited to the 16 patterns per track within a Live Set. Each scene stores an additional 16 patterns and their associated settings, including sounds. For example, you can organize your performance thematically by starting with breakbeats and funky basslines in Scene 1, making the transition in Scene 2, and then moving on to the house/dance part in Scenes 3-4.
Thanks to 128-voice polyphony, the more than 3000 sounds and over 80 drum kits have plenty of room to play. Cult sounds from the Roland classics TR-909, TR-808, Juno 106 and SH-101 and more are of course also on board! As a sample player for one-shots and loops including timestretching, the MC-707 is also a reliable partner in the studio and in live situations. Over 90 effects including delay, reverb, bitcrusher, flanger and more can be used individually per part. The master compressor & equalizer adds the final touch to the sum signal at the stereo output.
Via a USB cable, the complete live session with the instrument can be recorded in a DAW, and of course also modified. It's easy to exchange, extend, repeat or simply finish composing parts. If you need the cool drum loop you tinkered with last night for the jam session with your friends in the afternoon or the complex chord sound needs to be redesigned in the sequencer with the scatter; simply load the desired sounds and loops onto an SD card and assign them to a part in the MC-707!
Sounds: they are very good sounds and totally usable for any style. I personally use it for hip-hop/trap and dance.
If it's used as an external module, it is definitely cool as it would be the equivalent of 8 VSTs with dedicated effects. Connect it to live and start dreaming!
So why 1 star?
On the first firmware release, the sequencer did not even have a metronome. The sampler could not even slice a sample... There is no recording pre-count and the quantization is totally useless.
In the second firmware update, they added the sample slicing, metronome but there is still a problem with recording pre-count and quantization which makes this machine a no no for professional stand alone use.
In other words, Roland released an official version of the MC-707 which is actually a beta version. Think about that how could they release a groovebox that has no metronome or proper quantization! It's like releasing a car with no headlights!
The MC-707 is not cheap; when I buy such machines, I expect basic functions to work correctly and some features to be added on next firmware releases.
In this scenario, Roland is treating customers as beta testers, or as they like to call them now "community", but the price tag has nothing to do with beta or community. It's like buying a car today to keep in your garage and maybe, if you are lucky enough, you will be able to take it out in 1 year. I am returning it.
I've only had a couple of hours on this machine so far, and to say that I'm amazed is an understatement!! I owned a few groove boxes before this purchase, but the 707 blows them away.
A definite must have for any serious musicians