Jeez, I’ve own this thing for 3 years and didn’t realise how powerful the internal sounds are until I plugged in an Arturia Minilab 3 and started using the 12 Minilab knobs and sliders to control the MC101 filters and envelopes. Awesome. Worth learning.
Yes, I like sequencing it with the Digitone for drums and samples. It's a nice little pair since for some reason Roland left out extremely basic but also extremely useful synth features. I had the 707 for a bit and it can do most of the zenology editing in it, but I don't think all of that is necessary.... just allow the 101 to assign the 3 oscillator waveforms/wave shapes, filter type and filter envelope and boom, you got TONS of possibilities for new sounds and their stupid PC software would still be necessary to do all the crazy modulation matrix stuff and panning, velocity tweaks, etc. so they can continue to sell it with their absolutely terrible SAS subscription model for the folks designing sound packs.
I totally agree. I found that it's not been that useful as a standalone device because the melodic sequencing is just horrifically bad. However, I have a Novation SL Mk3 that been spare since I stopped using Ableton. This sits nicely on top of that - sequence in some drums on the decent drum sequencer on the 101 and then use it for practicing piano or whatever. Or sequence in some chords and a bass line on the Mk3 on top of the drums and then jam out with a lead synth patch. Keep thinking it's a bit ridiculous to have nearly a grands worth of gear for such a basic use - but it would be tough to find anything else that does all this, with decent sound quality, in that kind of compact package.
@@robinr22 Hardware has different philosophy. For all-in-one, consider getting a workstation in the future. Or get an older workstation, since even ones from even 10 years ago can do everything and costs about a grand for some of them. It's worth looking into if you're not keen on having separate specialized boxes.
@@robinr22 It may seem pricey for such a basic use, but that's not because the gear is expensive... it's mostly just that wages are only a fraction of what they should be. Prices have increased in a pretty normal manner, but for the past few decades, median income hasn't.
Polyphony with samples is HUGE. I didn't know this until watching your video. That automatically puts this at the top of my list (piano samples, pads, long tails). I thought I'd be staying on iOS until now. Thank you!
I really want the 707, but man I could get a used 101 for about £200... that 2-line screen looks like a nightmare though, the 707 screen looks much more usable
I've had an MC-101 for a while, and got a cheap 707, expecting it to replace the 101, and my looper. It doesn't, because the 707 may have more controls and tracks, but it's no quicker to use than the 101. In fact sometimes it's slower. That's because the 707 often has several ways to do things - the arrow keys, the value knob, the encoders, all doing the same thing in different ways. I find that confusing, whereas the 101 just has one workflow, and once you know it, and the shortcuts, it's really quick to use. There's so little that I think is missing. I'd like to be able to select multiple steps at once (eg. by holding down the first and selecting others) then being able to cut-and-paste them as a block, and I'd like to be able to chain scenes in any order, not just 1-2-3 etc., which could also be done by holding down the first one, then selecting others in the order you want them played (press one more than once to repeat it). Clip chain could perhaps be done in the same way, as it's a little clunky doing this through the menus at the moment.
I've had my mc-101 for a year and I can totally echo what you said in this video. Some of the menu diving and button combos are clunky but it's a fair trade off for a unit of the size and price and keeping in mind that many of the features were added as firmware updates so the clever guys at Roland had to shoe-horn them in somewhere. I love my mc101 regardless and it's a fantastic machine for noodling about on during lunch or on the sofa but powerful enough for putting together whole songs.
I recently paired my MC-101 with an Arturia Keystep MIDI controller and found that it unlocks a new level of usability. Having access to multiple octaves makes live recording much easier. I (think) it may also solve the problem you mentioned of not being able to see the notes tied to each step from the sequence page. With a controller you can select a step, and then assign it a note from the keyboard.
You can see the notes from the sequence page, turn the big knob to cycle through the notes on the step along with their individual parameters (N1/N2/N3 etc.)
Exactly this and if you get like one of those USB C battery packs that are high-capacity you can power the keystep and the mc-101, so it's just an amazing portable workflow
Any luck getting the keystep to trigger the Arp on the 101? I love the work flow with the keystep but when I have the arp turned on it won't work with the keystep only the pads.
I am really curious whether the Arturia Beatstep Pro & 101 are a match, I suppose so. The BSPro is a killer 3-track sequencer/controller, add the 101 synth/sampler and extra track and it could be a great combination
its also worth mentioning, Roland has some KILLER sound packs for sale (as most groove boxes do)... but their sound packs are only $2 a pack and pretty killer
Had an mc707 and missed it, but couldn't really justify replacing as I have an MPC now that covers most bases.. Got an MC101 and love it so much! It really feels like an instrument - the kind of thing you can master and work hard. The portability makes it the perfect travel companion. Itd be nice if they opened up some more synth programming via midi CCs, as the zen core sounds are fantastic like you mention. (The synth engine was the main reason I missed the 707 so much). I use mine with an oxygen mini pro, which is perfect for added keys, extra arp, + midi controls. One of my favourite features is the sound per clip setting. Really let's you do some awesome varied/dynamic programming
To delete all the notes quickly, push Shift+Project + Seq. It clears all the midi NOTE data (motion data remains). Far easier than how you quickly demonstrated it. Not sure if you knew about it.
That's a great one, I mentioned it in a previous video on workflow if I recall correctly. There are a few slightly unitive but super quick shortcuts like that.
You hit the nail on the head. Great, FAST (yes, fast), audio engineer-centric Groovebox. The sequencer dance is pretty bad, and the sample chopping could be fixed easily in an update (via copy/paste @Roland). However, the routing is very impressive and the sound engine is super clean. After using for a while you grow to understand that the shift features align very closely with audio signal path (ex: Clip gain is on the channel level, early in the path, and accessed via shift+channel. Whereas Master FX are late and you access via shift+Master.). #Dawless #Roland #MC101 #Groovebox
Thanks for this Gabe! I love the MC101 (I think I may have found a better way to chop samples solely on the mc101 in theory, but I'll have to test) with the export looper audio feature, it now makes sense to export all synth parts played with midi to audio, and separate each synth track into a drum track, allowing you to potentially mix a full track entirely in that box. Insanity
Was about to but the MC-101...saw the SH-4D released....watched the videos... saw it had no Zencore... bought the 101.... absolutely no regrets so far...
You should check out the Dirtywave M8 tracker if you havent already. Like a Polyend but Gameboy-sized and way more features, better sampling, and battery powered
I don’t know if I’m tripping but the 101 sounds better than the 707 no matter how many videos I see them on. The 707 sounds like my zenology pro. The 101 sounds like my integra 7.
Great video. I had a 101 when they first came out and just couldn't gel with it. Partially because it felt so small but I honestly don't think I gave it enough time. Watching this makes me wonder if it's worth going back, grabbing one used and seeing if different the second time around....
I'm not a professional music maker, it's just a hobby for me, and I think MC-101 is a perfect groovebox in that case: - It's really capable, as a non-pro I don't see any features that MC-101 lacks; - It's reasonably priced; - I don't have much space in my apartment, so the small size of a gear is essential, and MC-101 is really shines at this; I also want to reduce my screentime and unlink my hobby from a computer, so a physical approach to control the device is a great thing too (I mean that you need to use physical buttons, knobs and fader to use it, not a big screen with DAW-like interface*). *I'm totally ok with DAW-like interface (and any other type of grooveboxes, the more choices we have the better), it's just doesn't fit to my purposes for having a groovebox.
@@phatplates I had the Deluge which is ok and was fun, but I sold it to get an MC-101, a Circuit Tracks and a Reface CS for the price of a Deluge and I am happy like that now.
The op-1 does sample polyphony I believe. Which after hearing what you are saying, is a cool addition to something I already own. As for Roland, I really want a 707 after Jeremy's video (red means recording)
Great video. You seem to be the main guy out there who is fully utilizing both the MC-101 and the VerseLab MV-1. I watched your video about which one is right for which person, but I am still stuck. I like the line-in and XLR mic input, the extra tracks and buttons/pads on the MV-1, but with no battery and how large it is, that is a turn off. Then I think about how ZenBeats works with it as a screen for it and I see how some have added USB batteries to it to make it portable and I think again. I mainly want to carry something small with the Zen Core engine and then use a very good MIDI controller with it for when I travel. Ideally, I'd like a great little 37 mini-key synth that has the Zen Core Engine, but the only one I know of is the Jupiter-Xm and that is $1600 and out of the budget.And even at that price I don't think it has a sequencer. Wow. So, any other thoughts you might have would be appreciated. Right now, I am leaning toward getting the MC-101 and an Arturia KeyStep 37 or maybe go crazy and get an ASM HydraSynth Explorer so I can still have my small battery-powered synth and also get an MC-101 so I can utilize it for the parts the HydraSynth doesn't have like Zen Core sounds, higher polyphony, a sequencer, sampling, pads for drums, etc. Then I could use the HydraSynth Explorer as a MIDI controller for the MC-101. But that would be a lot of money too.
something that he nor bo beats ever mentions (or don't care about) is it has midi thru and can sequence external synths with the pads or with an external keyboard!!
I had this 2 years ago and sold it. Get a 1010 Music Blackbox instead - has tons more versatility - can sample live input signals like a sampler is SUPPOSED TO DO, has a chromatic keyboard mode, 16-stereo note polyphony, auto and manual slice/chop/granular mode, expandable micro SD memory, multiple modulation destinations, multiple sequence playback (yes simultaneous!) free downloadable firmware that makes the interface into a full-blown wavetable synthesizer and it literally fits into your pocket. $550 used and $640 new - runs on an external USB battery. Load up a 30-minute-long track and trim the whole damn thing down to a hihat cymbal if you want. This is a no fucking brainer.
I have a Blackbox and an MC 707 and find it fun to sequence the 707 using the Blackbox with MIDI sequences. It leaves the 16 pads on the Blackbox free for samples or loops. The 2 devices compliment each other well.
One essential feature I'd add to a wishlist is bluetooth audio. Being a portable unit, plugging and unplugging to the mixer is a PITA. The menu diving is also a hassle.
I absolutely love seeing you use the MC 101. I don’t want to get it because I already have the Circuit Tracks. But if I didn’t have it , the MC 101 would be my first option. It’s just cool. Thanks for the vid.
@@80iesDude45 Yeah I feel you. But reasoning is, with that money I will rather get a MicroFreak or a minilogue. Because the MC 101 and the Circuit Tracks are quite similar, although they do have beneficial differences.
I picked one up and a TR-6S for a quite a lot less before Christmas and love them! They fit really well into my set up and I'm just starting to use them in a hybrid fashion as aggregate devices with my Apollo. Bitwig unfortunately doesn't play well in this manner so I've gone back to Ableton and it's opened up so much more possibilities! One question as I have yet rtfm properly: Can you have multiple multi-fx per tone/kit? I've played around wit it but I'm not too sure. Anyway keep up the great content Gabe! Take it steady!
Mang! Around 9min to11min, the resampling and building function is nice. MC-101 might be the most comprehensive groovebox out. The fader function looked small, thus worthless, until then. Nice review.
For a Groovebox I prefer the battery to be rechargeable in my opinion. I’m sure that the battery life will be good either way. I just don’t understand the decision of replacing batteries in a product in expensive items. That’s just me though To be clear, this one thing I mentioned is not a dealbreaker and I would still highly look deeper into this tool.
This really seems like a good first unit for a noob, to learn on, and as you get more advanced, its still very powerful and useable for even the most advanced user. A noob can use it WYSIWYG an advanced user can menu dive and customize and tweak to hearts desire.
You mean midi editor or synth editor? There's multiple 3rd party midi data editors for the 101 that are free and for the synth, roland has their zenology subscription soft. According to people in the know, if you're looking for a synth editor, it's not going to happen since 85% of the synth engine in the 101 is not even accessible through sysex.
Yes, I wish they did! I don't understand how Roland created it for TR8/6S like you say, but not for the MC Grooveboxes. Even just a librarian would be super handy to organise kits and patches ahead of using it standalone.
It’s cute an versatile and all but with the Synthstrom Elyge being developed by a New Zealander, and me living in New Zealand... the 101 Is currently retailing at 909 NZ, but the deluge is only 1575, not all too much more of a price to pay for a seemingly infinitely more powerful device?
I know this is an old video but I’m looking into this machine, can you craft entire hip hop beats from start to finish with the mc 101 with just sounds from inside this machine?
Hi Gabe. Thank you for all that you do! I’m seriously thinking about the MC-101 as my first groovebox. Have you ever connected it to an amp? If so, can it be connected to a regular guitar amp, or would you recommend something else?
You can connect it to a guitar amp without a problem, but the sound won’t be ideal. Guitar amps are designed to make guitars sound good, but don’t have the full frequency range. You won’t get a lot of bass out of them. You’d be better off with an FRFR speaker, or some studio monitors. Or even just some decent consumer speakers or headphones.
The Mc101 é a amazing machine limited but cool to spark new musical ideias and grooves !!! But just remind here I bought one Electribe2 s for 250 bucks new !! And I loved it !!! If you are in market for a groove box on the go with you can write drums , bass chords and melodys , samples and synth under 500$ you have the options - Novation circuit tracks , Elektron model Samples , Electribe 2s , Roland mc101 . Gabe love your channel I know you have covered all this boxes and will be really cool if you make a video the best groove box under 500$ . Telling about which one you think is better and why !!! Keep the good work bro . Cheers from Japan .
I think Roland should release a version of MC101 with mini keyboard and speaker, like their Jupiter Xm but cheaper. With an interface more like Circuit or OPZ. Sometimes we just like to play and record melody with a keyboard instead of programming them note by note.
Don't know why, but this wasn't on my radar until now. I really think that it's the one machine that might be able to get me away from my beloved but super old and falling apart Korg ESX sampler. Now to watch the video you were talking about on the sample edit frustrations.
@@rorz999whaaaat 😂😂. No way. OPZ absolutely smokes this thing in terms of features. It terms of physical design then yes, 101 beats the opz handily. But it terms of song potential, features, sequencer, # of tracks, sampling via line in usb or mic in, # of steps per pattern, polyrhythms, conditional trigs, inputs being able to go thru the opz mixer and fx live, etc… the OPZ absolutely smokes the 101 imo. If only the opz was built better…. 😢
mc-101 is great but I wonder if there's a quick way to undo a recording. it seems hard to have to press seq, then shift-project-seq to clear a sequence, and then press note to go back to recording a synth part.
well i largely prefer my MC505...you can shape filters with ADSR, The ADSR is Amp, Envellope and Filter one, that make really cool sounds, and instead of these track scenes, you can mix all your recorded user and demo rythmics and sequences, which feet generally very well and i find really much more creative because you can for exemple, weirdly transform yours tracks evolmnents, compositions, make very nice and original transitions and mix versions..for me Mc707 and 101 is total regretion on these particular points..because these were the fun of these machines...
great vid as always GMM. I love my MC101 to bits. so inspiring and capable with awesome sounds. 42 music vids and counting. the fact that it's an ASIO PC sound card was a total surprise when i first plugged it in.😉😊
I have both. mc-101 is better for live performance but it's also easier to create quick songs on mc-101. op-1 has tape-mode to create songs but it's not easy because it's all about laying out things in audio whereas mc-101 is more pattern based. op-1 has so many features though, and is really a unique work of art/design/engineering, it's UI is very "cute" and distinctive, it has a much better screen and its keyboard is better than mc-101. sound-wise they're about on par. op-1 sounds a bit tinny, but mc-101 sounds cleaner but a bit too fake/plasticky. esp when you compare it to elektron/moog their sounds destroy both mc-101 and op-1. if i had a choice though between op-1 and mc-101, i'd probably give it to mc-101. much easier to work with and much less expensive.
It is weird that the 4 track resampling is billed as a feature here when it seems to be the biggest thing that most people critique about being necessary on the OP-1.
The big difference for me is that when resampling or overdubbing onto one track on the OP-1, everything is baked into the one audio file with no undo. So if you resample a hi hat part over a drum part, you can't turn the hi hat down later, for instance. Resampling on a device like this leaves everything separate and intact. Although to be fair, while I didn't use the OP-1's resampling much when I had one, I didn't really mind it.
Gracias por compartir experiencia, lo siento no hablo inglés. Y necesito ayuda para descubrir todo el potencial i poder del mc 101.. gracias por los subtítulos en español. Saludos desde españa 🤙… También tengo un mpc one y el mismo problema con el manual en inglés y nada en español ( un gran error de las marcas, pues llegaría a más gente) error no tener manual en español
I can't figure out if I should go for the MC-101 or the TR-6S. I want drums, but also to compose stuff. Bass, synths, chords. I can do both on both so... hmmm help
Hey did you ever make the 'What should be Industry Standard' vid?? I have some opinions that most likely run parallel to yours! [FOR instance: All samplers should include analog line-input jacks and not force us to use our DAW/computer (for instance.. I have many more but I will wait for you to go first;)].
I did! It's more along the lines of my personal preference for what I'd love to see in my ideal groovebox, but hopefully still interesting: czcams.com/video/hjhTcc8vEQE/video.html
There seems to be very little said in any reviews I've seen that address the midi implimentation of MC 101. I realize it could be used as a mulrimbral sound module via midi, but what I really want to know is, can a tracks individual clips be triggered by external midi. So for example could the Akai MPC one trigger those clips from a midi sequence track. Anyone know?
Perhaps many of todays groovebox youngsters think "midi is for boomers" and they simply dont get it or work that way with the 101 :( I would like more midi info about it too.
Yeah it can do that no problem. I have a custom launchpad layout that gives me each of the 64 clips (4 tracks by 16 clips). There’s a caveat that the 101 needs to be playing and it will switch quantized to a step, but for ableton-style clip launching it works great.
Say I'm not really interested in portability; and I'm willing to spend up to $600. It's this still the best groovebox? Any recommendations? (I really love what I've heard coming out of the OP-Z). Thanks
For maximum power, you miiiiiight be able to get a used MPC One, which is definitely a good bet. I haven't used the OP-Z myself. It's hard to say without knowing your use case though.
The price, and lack of sound design, and lousy screen put me off, but it is nice. The MPC One dwarfs this in capability for $150 more, and the Digitakt, while mono, destroys this in the sequencing department, and you can find used Digitakts for around the same price.
Hey. Maybe this is impossible, but I can’t figure out how to assign different tempos between clips and scenes. Trying to do something like a breakdown at some point in a sequence, but seems like everything has to be locked into one tempo. Is that also your understanding?
I'm still looking for the perfect "groovebox" for me, to come out, or discover. The mc101 along with a couple others have got me so close to purchase, but then I find out a thing or two that I dont like or that is missing.... roland has like 3 smaller groveboxes that I feel they need to just combine into 1 powerful device!
I use it a lot as “brains” for my iPhone (more than iPad where size isn’t such a problem) because it makes composing with the AUv3s on the iPhone quite more enjoyable. It’s great for that. I only wish the whole 4 channel audio interface didn’t require a driver, as because of it on iOS you can only access the whole 4 tracks mixed into one. If they made the audio interface protocol to be usb compliant it would be MASSIVE…. Being able to use it as brains while simultaneously using it as a soundbox that I can further process (channel per channel) with my phone itself, would be the most portable “hardware/computer” combo ever. PS: getting a Bluetooth widibud to send midi through Bluetooth through a machine like this makes it IMO even more useful (ie no need to plug cables in between mc-101 and iPhone to essentially use the iPhone as the sound module for the MC).
if you use the setting in a 707-made project (and restrict yourself to 4 tracks), it should work when loading the same project in a 101 Roland wants you to get a 707 or the Zenology Pro VST if you want full Tone editing controls, unfortunately. Definitely a dick move.
Jeez, I’ve own this thing for 3 years and didn’t realise how powerful the internal sounds are until I plugged in an Arturia Minilab 3 and started using the 12 Minilab knobs and sliders to control the MC101 filters and envelopes. Awesome. Worth learning.
the MC101 functions really well as just a sound module, it's worth the price just to have a zen core synth engine in the studio.
Yes, I like sequencing it with the Digitone for drums and samples. It's a nice little pair since for some reason Roland left out extremely basic but also extremely useful synth features. I had the 707 for a bit and it can do most of the zenology editing in it, but I don't think all of that is necessary.... just allow the 101 to assign the 3 oscillator waveforms/wave shapes, filter type and filter envelope and boom, you got TONS of possibilities for new sounds and their stupid PC software would still be necessary to do all the crazy modulation matrix stuff and panning, velocity tweaks, etc. so they can continue to sell it with their absolutely terrible SAS subscription model for the folks designing sound packs.
I totally agree. I found that it's not been that useful as a standalone device because the melodic sequencing is just horrifically bad. However, I have a Novation SL Mk3 that been spare since I stopped using Ableton. This sits nicely on top of that - sequence in some drums on the decent drum sequencer on the 101 and then use it for practicing piano or whatever. Or sequence in some chords and a bass line on the Mk3 on top of the drums and then jam out with a lead synth patch.
Keep thinking it's a bit ridiculous to have nearly a grands worth of gear for such a basic use - but it would be tough to find anything else that does all this, with decent sound quality, in that kind of compact package.
@@robinr22 Hardware has different philosophy. For all-in-one, consider getting a workstation in the future. Or get an older workstation, since even ones from even 10 years ago can do everything and costs about a grand for some of them. It's worth looking into if you're not keen on having separate specialized boxes.
@@robinr22 It may seem pricey for such a basic use, but that's not because the gear is expensive... it's mostly just that wages are only a fraction of what they should be. Prices have increased in a pretty normal manner, but for the past few decades, median income hasn't.
Absolutely, I mainly use it as a sound module.
Polyphony with samples is HUGE. I didn't know this until watching your video. That automatically puts this at the top of my list (piano samples, pads, long tails). I thought I'd be staying on iOS until now. Thank you!
I bought a used MC 707 a couple weeks ago for 500 pounds UK. Absolute steal highly recommend getting a used 707 instead of a new 101
Go all the way and get an MPC over a 707 or a 101
@@Leo9ine That’s not “going all the way”. The MPC One and MC-707 both have their pros and cons depending on what the individual is looking for.
I really want the 707, but man I could get a used 101 for about £200... that 2-line screen looks like a nightmare though, the 707 screen looks much more usable
@@rorz999 save up and get the 707 if you can, unless you really need the portability for the 101
I've had an MC-101 for a while, and got a cheap 707, expecting it to replace the 101, and my looper. It doesn't, because the 707 may have more controls and tracks, but it's no quicker to use than the 101. In fact sometimes it's slower. That's because the 707 often has several ways to do things - the arrow keys, the value knob, the encoders, all doing the same thing in different ways. I find that confusing, whereas the 101 just has one workflow, and once you know it, and the shortcuts, it's really quick to use. There's so little that I think is missing. I'd like to be able to select multiple steps at once (eg. by holding down the first and selecting others) then being able to cut-and-paste them as a block, and I'd like to be able to chain scenes in any order, not just 1-2-3 etc., which could also be done by holding down the first one, then selecting others in the order you want them played (press one more than once to repeat it). Clip chain could perhaps be done in the same way, as it's a little clunky doing this through the menus at the moment.
I got a used MC101 and learning the ropes. Many of your videos were very helpful in that decision. Thank you.
I've had my mc-101 for a year and I can totally echo what you said in this video. Some of the menu diving and button combos are clunky but it's a fair trade off for a unit of the size and price and keeping in mind that many of the features were added as firmware updates so the clever guys at Roland had to shoe-horn them in somewhere. I love my mc101 regardless and it's a fantastic machine for noodling about on during lunch or on the sofa but powerful enough for putting together whole songs.
i love the 101!! i finally figured out the drum midi map for my keystep pro and now the world is good.
I recently paired my MC-101 with an Arturia Keystep MIDI controller and found that it unlocks a new level of usability. Having access to multiple octaves makes live recording much easier. I (think) it may also solve the problem you mentioned of not being able to see the notes tied to each step from the sequence page. With a controller you can select a step, and then assign it a note from the keyboard.
You can see the notes from the sequence page, turn the big knob to cycle through the notes on the step along with their individual parameters (N1/N2/N3 etc.)
Exactly this and if you get like one of those USB C battery packs that are high-capacity you can power the keystep and the mc-101, so it's just an amazing portable workflow
Any luck getting the keystep to trigger the Arp on the 101? I love the work flow with the keystep but when I have the arp turned on it won't work with the keystep only the pads.
I am really curious whether the Arturia Beatstep Pro & 101 are a match, I suppose so. The BSPro is a killer 3-track sequencer/controller, add the 101 synth/sampler and extra track and it could be a great combination
its also worth mentioning, Roland has some KILLER sound packs for sale (as most groove boxes do)... but their sound packs are only $2 a pack and pretty killer
Had an mc707 and missed it, but couldn't really justify replacing as I have an MPC now that covers most bases.. Got an MC101 and love it so much! It really feels like an instrument - the kind of thing you can master and work hard. The portability makes it the perfect travel companion. Itd be nice if they opened up some more synth programming via midi CCs, as the zen core sounds are fantastic like you mention. (The synth engine was the main reason I missed the 707 so much). I use mine with an oxygen mini pro, which is perfect for added keys, extra arp, + midi controls.
One of my favourite features is the sound per clip setting. Really let's you do some awesome varied/dynamic programming
To delete all the notes quickly, push Shift+Project + Seq. It clears all the midi NOTE data (motion data remains). Far easier than how you quickly demonstrated it. Not sure if you knew about it.
That's a great one, I mentioned it in a previous video on workflow if I recall correctly. There are a few slightly unitive but super quick shortcuts like that.
@@GabeMillerMusic Aye, no worries! Thought I'd drop the comment down just in case someone else didn't know it. :)
You hit the nail on the head. Great, FAST (yes, fast), audio engineer-centric Groovebox. The sequencer dance is pretty bad, and the sample chopping could be fixed easily in an update (via copy/paste @Roland). However, the routing is very impressive and the sound engine is super clean. After using for a while you grow to understand that the shift features align very closely with audio signal path (ex: Clip gain is on the channel level, early in the path, and accessed via shift+channel. Whereas Master FX are late and you access via shift+Master.). #Dawless #Roland #MC101 #Groovebox
Thanks for this Gabe! I love the MC101 (I think I may have found a better way to chop samples solely on the mc101 in theory, but I'll have to test) with the export looper audio feature, it now makes sense to export all synth parts played with midi to audio, and separate each synth track into a drum track, allowing you to potentially mix a full track entirely in that box. Insanity
Yay!! A new mc101 video 😁
Great overview of the features.
I’m looking hard at getting one of these, and your video helps me decide.
Best wishes for your continued success
Love mine .. i use for ideas whren my misses is watching crap tv
I love the delays and verbs
Was about to but the MC-101...saw the SH-4D released....watched the videos... saw it had no Zencore... bought the 101.... absolutely no regrets so far...
Thanks Gabe, I use the big brother, MC-707 simply great functionality and sounds.
13:21 it started playing from here after the ad and it was the funniest shit ever 😂
I was lost in the comments and reading in silence. I was curious what you were referring to so I clicked. Didn't expect that LOL
You should check out the Dirtywave M8 tracker if you havent already. Like a Polyend but Gameboy-sized and way more features, better sampling, and battery powered
Yes yes yes yes
Or turn an actual Gameboy into a tracker if you want 8 bit stuff! You can get custom flashed cartridges for it and use the original sound chip
It's on my list, I'll get there eventually!
@@GabeMillerMusic build yourself a Headless version its pretty simple and very cheap way to have a go
I don’t know if I’m tripping but the 101 sounds better than the 707 no matter how many videos I see them on. The 707 sounds like my zenology pro. The 101 sounds like my integra 7.
Accidentally bricked one and brought it back immediately. Wouldn’t mind getting another one though now that I know what “not to do”
Great video. I had a 101 when they first came out and just couldn't gel with it. Partially because it felt so small but I honestly don't think I gave it enough time. Watching this makes me wonder if it's worth going back, grabbing one used and seeing if different the second time around....
I'm not a professional music maker, it's just a hobby for me, and I think MC-101 is a perfect groovebox in that case:
- It's really capable, as a non-pro I don't see any features that MC-101 lacks;
- It's reasonably priced;
- I don't have much space in my apartment, so the small size of a gear is essential, and MC-101 is really shines at this;
I also want to reduce my screentime and unlink my hobby from a computer, so a physical approach to control the device is a great thing too (I mean that you need to use physical buttons, knobs and fader to use it, not a big screen with DAW-like interface*).
*I'm totally ok with DAW-like interface (and any other type of grooveboxes, the more choices we have the better), it's just doesn't fit to my purposes for having a groovebox.
Thanks Gabe - I need to dive more into my MC-101.
Have you looked into the AKAI force?
Love my MC-101. Sold a Synthstrom Deluge for it. ZEN Core is amazing.
You did what? 😆
@@phatplates I had the Deluge which is ok and was fun, but I sold it to get an MC-101, a Circuit Tracks and a Reface CS for the price of a Deluge and I am happy like that now.
@@80iesDude45 oh ok, that's somewhat understandable.
The op-1 does sample polyphony I believe. Which after hearing what you are saying, is a cool addition to something I already own.
As for Roland, I really want a 707 after Jeremy's video (red means recording)
Just ordered one finally. Had to hit EBAY due to them being on back order everywhere else. Can’t wait to link this with my 404sx and 303. Roland Gang
Great video. You seem to be the main guy out there who is fully utilizing both the MC-101 and the VerseLab MV-1. I watched your video about which one is right for which person, but I am still stuck. I like the line-in and XLR mic input, the extra tracks and buttons/pads on the MV-1, but with no battery and how large it is, that is a turn off. Then I think about how ZenBeats works with it as a screen for it and I see how some have added USB batteries to it to make it portable and I think again. I mainly want to carry something small with the Zen Core engine and then use a very good MIDI controller with it for when I travel. Ideally, I'd like a great little 37 mini-key synth that has the Zen Core Engine, but the only one I know of is the Jupiter-Xm and that is $1600 and out of the budget.And even at that price I don't think it has a sequencer. Wow. So, any other thoughts you might have would be appreciated. Right now, I am leaning toward getting the MC-101 and an Arturia KeyStep 37 or maybe go crazy and get an ASM HydraSynth Explorer so I can still have my small battery-powered synth and also get an MC-101 so I can utilize it for the parts the HydraSynth doesn't have like Zen Core sounds, higher polyphony, a sequencer, sampling, pads for drums, etc. Then I could use the HydraSynth Explorer as a MIDI controller for the MC-101. But that would be a lot of money too.
something that he nor bo beats ever mentions (or don't care about) is it has midi thru and can sequence external synths with the pads or with an external keyboard!!
Your videos got me going off on mine
I had this 2 years ago and sold it. Get a 1010 Music Blackbox instead - has tons more versatility - can sample live input signals like a sampler is SUPPOSED TO DO, has a chromatic keyboard mode, 16-stereo note polyphony, auto and manual slice/chop/granular mode, expandable micro SD memory, multiple modulation destinations, multiple sequence playback (yes simultaneous!) free downloadable firmware that makes the interface into a full-blown wavetable synthesizer and it literally fits into your pocket. $550 used and $640 new - runs on an external USB battery. Load up a 30-minute-long track and trim the whole damn thing down to a hihat cymbal if you want. This is a no fucking brainer.
Idk. Some people dont like playing around with touch screens. The blackbox has limited buttons and knobs compared to almost any other piece of gear. 🤷
I have a Blackbox and an MC 707 and find it fun to sequence the 707 using the Blackbox with MIDI sequences. It leaves the 16 pads on the Blackbox free for samples or loops. The 2 devices compliment each other well.
One essential feature I'd add to a wishlist is bluetooth audio. Being a portable unit, plugging and unplugging to the mixer is a PITA. The menu diving is also a hassle.
that would lag
I absolutely love seeing you use the MC 101. I don’t want to get it because I already have the Circuit Tracks. But if I didn’t have it , the MC 101 would be my first option. It’s just cool. Thanks for the vid.
You need both, MC-101 and Novation Tracks. Believe me.
@@80iesDude45 Yeah I feel you. But reasoning is, with that money I will rather get a MicroFreak or a minilogue. Because the MC 101 and the Circuit Tracks are quite similar, although they do have beneficial differences.
The best thing is that you can actually buy one🙂
I picked one up and a TR-6S for a quite a lot less before Christmas and love them! They fit really well into my set up and I'm just starting to use them in a hybrid fashion as aggregate devices with my Apollo. Bitwig unfortunately doesn't play well in this manner so I've gone back to Ableton and it's opened up so much more possibilities! One question as I have yet rtfm properly: Can you have multiple multi-fx per tone/kit? I've played around wit it but I'm not too sure. Anyway keep up the great content Gabe! Take it steady!
You seem like a nice guy‼️I like and appreciate your content
Mang! Around 9min to11min, the resampling and building function is nice. MC-101 might be the most comprehensive groovebox out. The fader function looked small, thus worthless, until then. Nice review.
The audio from usb is a game changer!
MC-101 is the best!
For a Groovebox I prefer the battery to be rechargeable in my opinion. I’m sure that the battery life will be good either way. I just don’t understand the decision of replacing batteries in a product in expensive items. That’s just me though
To be clear, this one thing I mentioned is not a dealbreaker and I would still highly look deeper into this tool.
This really seems like a good first unit for a noob, to learn on, and as you get more advanced, its still very powerful and useable for even the most advanced user. A noob can use it WYSIWYG an advanced user can menu dive and customize and tweak to hearts desire.
i hope Roland will make a mc101/707 editor just like the editors for the jupiter Xm and tr8/6s.
You mean midi editor or synth editor? There's multiple 3rd party midi data editors for the 101 that are free and for the synth, roland has their zenology subscription soft. According to people in the know, if you're looking for a synth editor, it's not going to happen since 85% of the synth engine in the 101 is not even accessible through sysex.
Yes, I wish they did! I don't understand how Roland created it for TR8/6S like you say, but not for the MC Grooveboxes. Even just a librarian would be super handy to organise kits and patches ahead of using it standalone.
Can you record your own voice sounds and loop them?
Would LOOOVE to see a video on what you want to be Industry Standart. Thanks for your Vidz!
That's coming very soon!
@@GabeMillerMusic 🤩😍
This Should Go Well With My Behringer Neutron, And Novation Mk3 49 Controller.
Mc-101 is brilliant and I'm glad to have one
Same!
Seriously, debating between this and the Digitakt, but this MC101 is looking better and better the more I see of it.
I got a used mc-101…and I like it…but I think I wanna get a new mc-707 sometime down the road and have both and midi them together
It’s cute an versatile and all but with the Synthstrom Elyge being developed by a New Zealander, and me living in New Zealand... the 101 Is currently retailing at 909 NZ, but the deluge is only 1575, not all too much more of a price to pay for a seemingly infinitely more powerful device?
I know this is an old video but I’m looking into this machine, can you craft entire hip hop beats from start to finish with the mc 101 with just sounds from inside this machine?
Hi Gabe. Thank you for all that you do! I’m seriously thinking about the MC-101 as my first groovebox. Have you ever connected it to an amp? If so, can it be connected to a regular guitar amp, or would you recommend something else?
You can connect it to a guitar amp without a problem, but the sound won’t be ideal. Guitar amps are designed to make guitars sound good, but don’t have the full frequency range. You won’t get a lot of bass out of them. You’d be better off with an FRFR speaker, or some studio monitors. Or even just some decent consumer speakers or headphones.
Thanks!
Hi. Are you going to give the Hacktribe mod a try or the risk of bricking the E2 is too big?
which synth editor are you refering to ? please Zenology?
The Mc101 é a amazing machine limited but cool to spark new musical ideias and grooves !!! But just remind here I bought one Electribe2 s for 250 bucks new !! And I loved it !!! If you are in market for a groove box on the go with you can write drums , bass chords and melodys , samples and synth under 500$ you have the options - Novation circuit tracks , Elektron model Samples , Electribe 2s , Roland mc101 . Gabe love your channel I know you have covered all this boxes and will be really cool if you make a video the best groove box under 500$ . Telling about which one you think is better and why !!! Keep the good work bro . Cheers from Japan .
he has made a comparison video in the past
I think Roland should release a version of MC101 with mini keyboard and speaker, like their Jupiter Xm but cheaper. With an interface more like Circuit or OPZ. Sometimes we just like to play and record melody with a keyboard instead of programming them note by note.
Is there sny possibility to plug a mic in?
Can I play the instruments in real time with my controller ?
Don't know why, but this wasn't on my radar until now. I really think that it's the one machine that might be able to get me away from my beloved but super old and falling apart Korg ESX sampler. Now to watch the video you were talking about on the sample edit frustrations.
I'm hoping Roland implement some sort of auto-sample, at least with the 707 Like AKAI did with the MPC, that function is AMAZING!
as we all know, pitch that sample too much and it can sound not great...
I’m so torn!! Your videos make me want one but then I tell myself to dig deeper with my OP-Z
If you're enjoying it and it does what you want, definitely keep doing what you're doing!
I've owned both and the MC-101 is just so much better IMO
@@rorz999whaaaat 😂😂. No way. OPZ absolutely smokes this thing in terms of features.
It terms of physical design then yes, 101 beats the opz handily.
But it terms of song potential, features, sequencer, # of tracks, sampling via line in usb or mic in, # of steps per pattern, polyrhythms, conditional trigs, inputs being able to go thru the opz mixer and fx live, etc… the OPZ absolutely smokes the 101 imo.
If only the opz was built better…. 😢
mc-101 is great but I wonder if there's a quick way to undo a recording. it seems hard to have to press seq, then shift-project-seq to clear a sequence, and then press note to go back to recording a synth part.
well i largely prefer my MC505...you can shape filters with ADSR, The ADSR is Amp, Envellope and Filter one, that make really cool sounds, and instead of these track scenes, you can mix all your recorded user and demo rythmics and sequences, which feet generally very well and i find really much more creative because you can for exemple, weirdly transform yours tracks evolmnents, compositions, make very nice and original transitions and mix versions..for me Mc707 and 101 is total regretion on these particular points..because these were the fun of these machines...
great vid as always GMM. I love my MC101 to bits. so inspiring and capable with awesome sounds. 42 music vids and counting. the fact that it's an ASIO PC sound card was a total surprise when i first plugged it in.😉😊
kind of lo-fi-ish as far as soundcards go, not quite as good as my JD-Xi and other gear at that
Very good presentation, i own an op-z and the price of OP-1 is too high… is mc 101 a good in-between or not?
its awesome i have a mpc live and op-1 i use the mc101 more than either units!
I have both. mc-101 is better for live performance but it's also easier to create quick songs on mc-101. op-1 has tape-mode to create songs but it's not easy because it's all about laying out things in audio whereas mc-101 is more pattern based. op-1 has so many features though, and is really a unique work of art/design/engineering, it's UI is very "cute" and distinctive, it has a much better screen and its keyboard is better than mc-101. sound-wise they're about on par. op-1 sounds a bit tinny, but mc-101 sounds cleaner but a bit too fake/plasticky. esp when you compare it to elektron/moog their sounds destroy both mc-101 and op-1. if i had a choice though between op-1 and mc-101, i'd probably give it to mc-101. much easier to work with and much less expensive.
The opz is powerful as hell. You are not using it to its full potential if you think the 101 has more options….
Learn your opz better. ✌️
electribe 2 sampler does stereo samples and paraphonic playback of samples.
It is weird that the 4 track resampling is billed as a feature here when it seems to be the biggest thing that most people critique about being necessary on the OP-1.
The big difference for me is that when resampling or overdubbing onto one track on the OP-1, everything is baked into the one audio file with no undo. So if you resample a hi hat part over a drum part, you can't turn the hi hat down later, for instance.
Resampling on a device like this leaves everything separate and intact.
Although to be fair, while I didn't use the OP-1's resampling much when I had one, I didn't really mind it.
Hey Gabe love the video, but where can we get that wav file from 11:33. Cheers and have a good day
A Chord mode would be nice!
It already has one!
@GabeMillerMusic What! I want one now!
But how do you export the files??
Gracias por compartir experiencia, lo siento no hablo inglés. Y necesito ayuda para descubrir todo el potencial i poder del mc 101.. gracias por los subtítulos en español. Saludos desde españa 🤙…
También tengo un mpc one y el mismo problema con el manual en inglés y nada en español ( un gran error de las marcas, pues llegaría a más gente) error no tener manual en español
Love that they just dropped a new firmware 1.8 :)
Same! Working on covering it asap
@@GabeMillerMusic excellent watching your Force is amazing for Jamming Video at moment. 101 is a nice addition to Force shhhhhhh
stereo sample? great stuff that is
Hello! so we are obviously waiting for a video after the 1.8 update
Already working on it!
Does it stream right off the SD card or do you have to resample then load onto the machine?
I just figured out who your voice reminds me of. Getting a bit of a CGP Grey vibe from you…
having issues with scenes i can go all the way up to 1-8 but 2-1 i cant access any idea how to do that? want to make songs longer
I can't figure out if I should go for the MC-101 or the TR-6S.
I want drums, but also to compose stuff. Bass, synths, chords.
I can do both on both so... hmmm help
Has one earlier and it felt like the first track had to be a drumtrack, is it so? Or could you have 4 synth/tone-tracks?
@gabemiller is it possible to load the JD08 (JD800) zencore version and use it in the MC101? thank you. F.
Can I use this together with my Tr-8s? Or should I sell my tr-8s and buy a Mc-707?
Would love an iOS app to edit parameters on this.
Can you plug a midi keyboard tp play the synth engine?
Im about to sell my korg e2s cause i want to upgrade and im hesitating between this and an octatrack
Hey did you ever make the 'What should be Industry Standard' vid?? I have some opinions that most likely run parallel to yours! [FOR instance: All samplers should include analog line-input jacks and not force us to use our DAW/computer (for instance.. I have many more but I will wait for you to go first;)].
I did! It's more along the lines of my personal preference for what I'd love to see in my ideal groovebox, but hopefully still interesting: czcams.com/video/hjhTcc8vEQE/video.html
There seems to be very little said in any reviews I've seen that address the midi implimentation of MC 101. I realize it could be used as a mulrimbral sound module via midi, but what I really want to know is, can a tracks individual clips be triggered by external midi. So for example could the Akai MPC one trigger those clips from a midi sequence track. Anyone know?
Nice if someone could answer my question above. Midi seems to be a dirty word when it comes to questions about it.
Perhaps many of todays groovebox youngsters think "midi is for boomers" and they simply dont get it or work that way with the 101 :( I would like more midi info about it too.
Yeah it can do that no problem. I have a custom launchpad layout that gives me each of the 64 clips (4 tracks by 16 clips). There’s a caveat that the 101 needs to be playing and it will switch quantized to a step, but for ableton-style clip launching it works great.
@@FredF78 no, no one even slightly thinks of MIDI as "being for boomers", we all depend on it one way or another
There's sure a workaround but still no msb, lsb and program change directly addressing the presets. Look it up in the midi implementation chart
hey how do you like that mic? i've been wanting to order that one to not spend 400+ on the brother
I like it! It's a bit dark in tone but it I've learned to get it to work well with my voice.
Say I'm not really interested in portability; and I'm willing to spend up to $600. It's this still the best groovebox? Any recommendations? (I really love what I've heard coming out of the OP-Z). Thanks
For maximum power, you miiiiiight be able to get a used MPC One, which is definitely a good bet. I haven't used the OP-Z myself. It's hard to say without knowing your use case though.
The price, and lack of sound design, and lousy screen put me off, but it is nice. The MPC One dwarfs this in capability for $150 more, and the Digitakt, while mono, destroys this in the sequencing department, and you can find used Digitakts for around the same price.
All of your points are true, but none of them come close to the MC-101 when it comes to portability.
@@sinewaymusic True!
2:51 That’s why you get an Octatrakt
Why is samples management so easy from the SD card on the MC101 while on the TR6S is really a misery ....
Hey. Maybe this is impossible, but I can’t figure out how to assign different tempos between clips and scenes. Trying to do something like a breakdown at some point in a sequence, but seems like everything has to be locked into one tempo. Is that also your understanding?
it's a missing feature, we'll be lucky if they add it
I'm still looking for the perfect "groovebox" for me, to come out, or discover. The mc101 along with a couple others have got me so close to purchase, but then I find out a thing or two that I dont like or that is missing.... roland has like 3 smaller groveboxes that I feel they need to just combine into 1 powerful device!
Which "smaller grooveboxes"?
What about groove synths like JD-Xi and Juno-DS?
I use it a lot as “brains” for my iPhone (more than iPad where size isn’t such a problem) because it makes composing with the AUv3s on the iPhone quite more enjoyable. It’s great for that.
I only wish the whole 4 channel audio interface didn’t require a driver, as because of it on iOS you can only access the whole 4 tracks mixed into one.
If they made the audio interface protocol to be usb compliant it would be MASSIVE…. Being able to use it as brains while simultaneously using it as a soundbox that I can further process (channel per channel) with my phone itself, would be the most portable “hardware/computer” combo ever.
PS: getting a Bluetooth widibud to send midi through Bluetooth through a machine like this makes it IMO even more useful (ie no need to plug cables in between mc-101 and iPhone to essentially use the iPhone as the sound module for the MC).
MC-101 for $500 or the SP-404 Mk2 for same???!!! What say you?
will it read velocity from a midi controller?
it does from my keystep pro
Yes, it does. I'm not sure about aftertouch.
After touch works as well.
Is it true that there's a random pitch setting for each pad of a drum track on the MC-707, that just doesn't exist on the MC-101? What a shame...
if you use the setting in a 707-made project (and restrict yourself to 4 tracks), it should work when loading the same project in a 101
Roland wants you to get a 707 or the Zenology Pro VST if you want full Tone editing controls, unfortunately. Definitely a dick move.
Does the Verselab have a scatter function?
No.