Starsky, the Verselab does in fact output midi notes. The midi out settings are in the 'track settings' (shift+track). You have options to transmit notes, program change, and CC from the parameter control knobs through either USB or 5-pin DIN...per track.
**Thanks and pinned!** Aaargh that’s really annoying I couldn’t find it anywhere. Even Roland support didn’t realise it could! I contacted them and asked!!’ It does show, however, how difficult it can be to navigate through the menus. I edited out a bit about that, as I thought I’d found everything eventually! I couldn’t find anything re MIDI out in the manual either, but on a positive note at least if Roland read this they can tell their support it already exists :)
Just tried it and it works. I’m now very happy 😃 but annoyed I couldn’t find it! I’ll probably do something demoing it with my eurorack now especially as I reconfigured a nice little portable system it just for this 👍
Same setting method as on MC-101 and 707. The MV-1 is basically a beefed-up MC.101 with more tracks, song mode and a vocal section. Unfortunately it does not have the voice reserve mode of the MCs.
Great review, I've had my MV-1 for about a month now and I'm not disappointed, it really is a powerful, versatile and truly inspirational machine. Whenever I switch on my Verselab, I usually end up with a finished track. It kind of forces you to finish tracks, you find yourself wanting to move through the different stages of the workflow.
There are different MV series made in the past 25 years or so. I was told to get the MV-8000 and got it for much cheaper than the MV-1. Check out the MV-8000 or 8800. Since they are older, the display and mouse port don't come standard on it. Luckily the one I bought has that. There's another add-on that gives you optical out and 6 individual outputs. I don't have that but I doubt I'll need it. They have CD for importing samples and even a 3.5" floppy! There's some great upgrades that can be done for pretty cheap.
This is the first video I’ve watched on the MV that’s explained stuff in a way that I can understand! Great walkthrough. It’s not for me (got myself an MC-101 for dawless work) however I can see it’ll be great for others who need the features.
For me it’s the vocal processor that Roland is also famous for and the massive sound library as standard, I was considering the mc 707 and a separate vocal processor but then that throws up the cost massively and creates work flow issues, great review thanks, you have actually sold it to me 😊
@@CarlitoM77 I sent it back the, all the drum sounds are repeated across most kits so although it seems there are lots of sounds on paper they are repeated. The work flow is awful too, poor build quality nope I didn’t like it.
@@thelibrarian3734 I appreciate you telling me this. I canceled mine twice cause of no side chain compression and not that great work flow. I guess I'm looking for something more fun, immediate and spark creativity not thwart it! 🙄
@@CarlitoM77 I am actually playing around with koala sampler and Korg Module on the iPad using Gadget Stuido for sequencing, it’s fun portable and easy😊
I think mv-1 was misunderstood. It is not a performance instrument. It's a complete music production studio... I don't know anything else like it on the market. Now at a great price in some stores...
To add to this, you can use the mic to record samples on any of the tracks, not just the vocal track. Press the "sampling" button (shift + record button) and you can replace any sound on the 7 tracks with an audio sample recorded with the mic.
Great review thanks. I just received mine and this is very knowledgeable welcome tutorial . I regularly watch loopop coolout and others mentioned, but so glad I found yours. Kudos respect Old Soul Dimi Sydney Australia
Thanks for making this! It is one of the better Verselab feature videos available today. I like my Verselab but some of the limitations don’t work well with my workflow, like the 16 measure/127 step limit of each section. This led me to buy an MPC Live 2, BUT, the available sounds and the vocal effects are excellent enough to keep me from selling the Verselab.
Where are you at a year later ? I’m about a year in to making music. I bought a live 2 first. Considering the verselab today for the sounds and the step sequencer and the arrangement options. Which will prolly go back into my mpc live for any more production
I know hoe you feel. Lots of things had me scratching my head... but it could do everything I was looking for. Just a case of becoming familiar with navigating the firmware.
Thanks for the explanations. I love the fact it can switch tones per clip. This feature is a selling point to me on top of the random tone generator. Time to save some money and buy one.
Thank you. It is the best video about verselab. Please show us how you can load every single track of a song from the Verselab into the DAW in order to edit them individually. Thank you Best regards Wolfgang
Thanks... I might not have time for a video demo but the steps are: 1. Install Roland driver on your computer 2. Set the verselab to vendor driver. 3 reboot 4. Set up a song in your daw with 9 stereo tracks each in rising a different USB input pair. 5. Arm the tracks and Press record on the DAW 6. Press play in the verse lab. It’s really simple. The hardest part is setting up the USB driver ... and remembering to set the verse lab to USB mode - the last setting in the system menu.
@@wolfgangwollschlager7643 input to DAW or Verselab? have you changed input on the VERSELAB using the input button. If its the DAW check the audio configuration is set to the correct USB hardware
It's pretty cool. A bit of a mission to get used to. I was trying to change the level of sounds put in manually in the step sequencer but couldn't work out how. Sometimes i delete something that didn't come out in the correct place and when i put it in manually on the step sequencer it comes out in full volume or 100% perhaps. It usually doesn't match the level of what was played on the pads but i couldn't work out how to set the levels on the sounds put in on the sequencer buttons. Another thing that was annoying was that if you turn off a sound recorded on the step sequencer after it being in the wrong place it will also erase the sustain or release of the sample before it. So, if you have a long synth or pad sound but then delete a misplaced note that came after it it will then cut short. I guess you can only overlay so much. Shame it doesn't have a built in rechargeable battery and perhaps bluetooth headphone output. It''s a great laptop device for the couch, the bed, on the train or plane. etc. Basically it's an amazing toy you could take anywhere so those features would have been nice.
I just do not understand why this unit doesn't get more focus? It makes it all much easier to be creative and get ideas to reality and if they do a mv2 of this with more knobs and controls available instead of menu diving it would be super. I love knobs rather than a screen. so a big console with a lot of knobs for home and the MV1 battery powered for travel would be so good.
Starsky, sorry for my corrections, but it seems you missed a bit about the workflow. You were bouncing between 'seq' and 'section' modes. The 'section' button is to only to prepare for arranging in the song mode: determine the length of a song part (verse, chorus, etc) and set the color of the section pad. It comes AFTER you're done sequencing. That's why you can't move different clips around at that point. You should have stayed in 'SEQ' and switched the pad mode to 'section select'. That's where you can edit, copy, and swap clips around between different sections.
Thanks, I didn’t want to get into all that as it’s so simple and intuitive. I’d recorded over 2 hours of footage ... and edit quite a bit out to try to get a nice flow. The cut, paste, seq length etc are all so simple I didn’t think I needed to explain here and they're in other videos. I was trying not to be to prescriptive at every stage ... more feeding back in comments and issues I’d picked up on. But for anyone familiar with Ableton I was pointing out that it doesn't work in exactly the same way.
Seen a few videos on this now and this was probably the best one but none of them have answered the question of why this product needs to exist. I just don't understand what it does better than something else.
Thanks... It’s the vocal track... it records over the top of the song structure. With anything else you’d have to chop the vocal into sections to fit into scenes/clips etc. With this you create a song structure and could have one long take over the top.
@@WyattLite-n-inn of course... but its not a standalone instrument. this has built in MIDI and audio interface etc. the idea being that its getting away from a laptop and something you could gig with. less stuff to plug in and carry about - less to go wrong. etc. Same for any groove box, any synth, any drum machine, and FX unit- unless you're an analog purist you can create whole tracks in a DAW.
I like that the MV-1 is a capable Dawless Music Studio in a very portable size box. Just grab your headphones, a mic, a small monitor speaker, and your iPad mini or Pro etc and go on vacation, or travel, and you can still make a complete track in a hotel room, at the cabin, at the beach, on a cruise ship, or in the mountains etc. Very inspiring and travel friendly. Bring a laptop if you want but going dawless on demand and having Zenbeats, Zenology Synths, Plugins, samples, ultimate Roland Cloud access to further shape and produce your song if needed makes it so versatile, portable, and travel friendly! Add in a small midi keyboard or Circuit Tracks or Rhythm and you got a potent combo!
I just love your channel. So simple, so clear, even with my not always good English. 😭😊 Here is my question. The Zen Core engine, in theory, for all grooveboxes, like mv-1, mc101, mc 707, should be the same. Does this mean that all the presets in the boxes are the same or not? Have you asked similar questions?
This device, and especially the vocal track, can actually be very intersting for instrumental stuff. You create your song and just record, let's say, rhythm guitars parts while the song is playing. And if I understand, there are 16 possible parts on the vocal track, that can play all together, you basically have a 16 track potential of live instruments to record? (I'm not really sure of that) What I've understood is that the record input is line, no Hi-z for guitar type instrument? So you need some kind of DI device if you want to record guitar or bass parts. Anyway very interesting "thing machine". A bit convulated with it's small screen, but I don't mind, I hate IPad screens anyway. Thanks for the great demo
Just remember the 720 second recording limit. Thats 12 minutes mono or 6 minutes stereo. It should be enough for most things, but not quite a full 16 track recorder.
I received the Verselab a few days ago. I'm really liking it so far. I find it not to complicated to handle. My first impressions is that it is quite a powerful device. I haven't tried sampling my guitar at this point, but I wonder how I can have the correct input to do it, since there is no Hi-z option. What kind of device would you recommend? I looked for some kind of DI device for guitar, but not really sure what to choose.. Any clue?
hello again. let me apologize for those comments. you are right, I could have just asked. I guess I got a little to frustrated. again, I really apologize about that and thank you for your video.
What do you think about this vs the old MV-8000 and 8800? I was told the older ones have more midi and vocal tracks. I havent used the MV-8000 i got a little while back yet.
SONG MODE no video has shown this but you have more than 16 slots to put in sections the manual says 99 so don't go thinking you only have the 16 buttons for different song parts.. you can scroll to 17-32 with the measure etc up to 99
nice review as always SC, think the MV-1 would work as a nice MIDI sound module w/Octatrak or Digitakt? Can the line level audio inputs on the MV-1 work as a mini mixer for a synth? guess we're only limited by our imagination,
Starsky, you are so good in explaining. Thanx man! ☺ Anyway, after watching your video I am not quite sure if this machine can be helpful for Glitch drum tracks.
It really depends on how you intend to record it and what your workflow is. if you're looking at creating glitchy drum samples on it, I'd say there are more sample focussed things out there.
I am waiting for the second version of MV-1. Maybe an MV-2? With touch screen and without the record function. I can do that in my DAW with my Mic and Interface.
@@magnuseriksson8081 I think most of home recording producers have a option to record vocals. So yes you are maybe right. It's an idea of a DAW less Workstation. But I would prefer without. Just my opinion.
Did Roland make some kind of deal/agreement/endorsement with Apple? Why won't they also support Android devices? I noticed on a lot of their gear lately, the external software editors they made for them are only released for IOS and not for Android mobile devices. Just like the Verselab, Integra also has an IPad editor but no Android editor. Well, at least Roland did release a PC VST editor for the Integra as well, although it's only 64 bit (no 32 bit version) and there is no Protools AAX version.
If i have a composition melody exeeding the 8 bars limit can i for instance, use two sections to compose a 16 bar melody where section two follows section one to create a 16 bar or an 8+ bar base composition?
Mmm. So that vocal/external instrument track can do several voices, so it's not a track in the sense that it has a single volume pan, effects, filter etc. I'm assuming you can then go back and change the volume of each superimposed take on the vocal track. It could get tedious compared to standard multitrack or DAW operation. Guess you'd have to get used to it.
So can it record live instruments or not? Like, is it easy to record a loop from an external synth and add it to the track? Also, can it sample, resample, and store said samples into kits?
With all due respect, I don’t see many eurorack/modular synth users being attracted to this kind of product or workflow. Maybe it could stretch to singer/songwriter types, but the natural fit seems to be beatmaker/producer and vocalist/rapper. In fact they market it to that effect. Why try to shoehorn a large non portable setup (euro rack rig with cords sticking out everywhere), with a battery powered unit, with built in sounds and SONG TEMPLATES
People had asked about sequencers for eurorack following my video on them - and in particular non eurorack options. So as I had this and it can do it why not? It also brings the addition of being able to sequence a song and add samples etc. Not everyone’s cup of tea I admit, but for some it’ll be useful and for me it was a bit of fun. I enjoyed making it and playing with them together.
I would have agreed with you before seeing the demo. A song it could be made up entirely of Modular programmed percussion, looper tracks could be used for layering and triggering smaller loops, bleeps, fx etc with the added benefit of using the "vocal track" as an over-dubbed performance track. Considering there is midi out I see no reason why you couldn't overdub external synth / drum or vocal parts into that track as well. Sample editing is going to need to be done elsewhere but a lot of Eurorack samplers don't edit in depth either so its probably not the biggest issue. You could work on a track this way and be able to try out a myriad of song / arrangement variations or integrate what you have using the above methods with some mic'd and well recorded acoustic instrumentation.
Nobody could answer me so far if sequences and songs can be exchanged between any machines from roland? Could I start a song on the MV1 and continue on the Phantom Or the other way round?
Not currently, but project import from other Zen-Core units has been a suggested feature. The workaround I've found to share projects between Zen-Core devices is to just load the same preset in both, sync the midi clocks, and record from one sequencer to the other. Doesn't take much extra time to do.
There isnt even a project sharing between Fantom and the MCs yet, which is a shame. MV-1 can only exchange projects with Zenbeats, which none of the MCs nor the Fantom can do.
@@microbug3487 Currently Zenbeats integration is just a remote editor for the Verselab to have functions on a bigger screen. All the audio stays on the hardware. Project transfer hasn’t been implemented yet.
My speakers don’t fit on back of Verslab does anyone know what size extension should I buy so I can have some sound output and not just only headphones please help
It depends on what your speakers input is. If it’s a stereo 3.5mm jack then you need a 3,5mm stereo to 6.5mm mono. With a single small plug on one end and 2 large in the other for the L+R outputs. There are loads on Amazon it’s a common cable.
A difficult decision. The main USP here is the ability to record vocals/guitars etc over the top of your beats.. spanning a whole song if you want. With the Akai you're restricted to individual beats. so you'd have to record the vocal in different takes and cut across clips etc.
They may have a found a pile of this 80s Lcds in a forgotten hangar😂 even a small oled display like the one you can find on the Korg minilogue would have been wayyy better...
@@StarskyCarr Thanks! I hate that about Roland. Even the Fantom and the MC-101 I have can't support tempo changes in songs. They need to tighten up with that.
Yes, for the money the MPC One is a much better option. The Verselab and MC-101 are riddled with too many limitations. It seems Roland handcuffs users as far as the potential of these devices. The MPC One excels at recording songs compared to this device. The mini screen is a deal killer as well.
Who makes the best similar device compatable with. Modular... Ive never owned a device like this.... (First purchase) need the most versitile patchability !!!!!
Can not transpose first three (Kick, Snare and HiHat) into higher octaves. Only -5 to 0 available. On the other four tracks (Kit, Bass, Inst1 and Inst2) can transpose from -5 to +5 octave. And if I choose a synth sound on any of first three tracks there's no way to get higher notes with pads. But I can play this notes with connected MIDI-keyboard. There's no info about this issue in the Manual or Parameter Guide. Is this a bug or feature?
It may be a bug. I noticed when selecting tracks the style function changed according to the previous track selected. So the kick could play an arpeggio rather than ratcheting if I’d just been playing the bass for example. I didn’t want this to become a bug list... they pay people to do that ;)
The workflow is fine.. it's the menus that had me confused. What I can access from where. It makes sense once you can find it... but finding it can take some time!
@@djRoyalTee sorry, from your comment it seemed like you were under the impression it was supposed to be a ‘magic mastering’ function. The labelling is a bit simplistic when compared to its flexibility and functionality.
@@djRoyalTee It's suite of mastering tools: multi-band compressor, brickwall limiter, etc. You'll still need to learn how to use those standard tools. The mixer button won't balance and mix for you either LOL.
in my mc808 from waaaaay back they had a mastering optoion - i would need get it from the attic but iirc it was an eq and comp setting and was also per genre......so yeah, techno was diff to other lesser genres hehehe
Returning mines. Editing sample start and end points of long samples is like pulling teeth. Even holding shift. It takes forever. This thing should not have the MV. Name attached to it . Because my mv 8000. Is way faster , same with my Roland 404. Or S-330 rackmount sampler . They are way faster editing samples . I’m sending the MV. Back
I found shifting samples on the vocal track took far too long as well - until I found a work around. But yeah, there should be a way of speeding up the the scrolling.
completely confusing !!!! why don't you start from zero and show the workflow ? It feels like you are going from one concept to something completely different, I could not understand how to work with the machine
Because this isn’t a talking manual. There’s the manual for that. This is showing what it can do rather than being an instructional step-by-step walkthrough. There are others who have already done that, so no pint in repeating what’s already out there. But sorry it didn’t meet your precise needs. If perhaps you’d have requested your specific requirements last year I could’ve included them in this 🤷♂️ .. or perhaps you’re practising some of your recently acquired troll moves in which case I wish you well, but suggest a little more practise is required to hone the ridiculous comments into something less obvious.
Since when is a demo a commercial? Since when is answering questions a commercial. Since when is a review a commercial? I’m guessing it’s not for you... and neither are commercials?? Good luck with literally everything else you have to watch/read/listen to on the internet 😂😂 I’m not going to apologise for trying to be helpful, and kinda chuffed you think it’s good enough to be a commercial for Roland. Thanks 🙏
hummm. again(like the others) did not really explain if you could record midi from external keyboard to an external synth. you talked about clips but did not explain what the difference in clips and patterns. a lot of stuff loop pop DID explain, and just to much "talking head" stuff going on and "messing about". sorry, didn't get much out of this.
Sorry for not demoing exactly what you are looking for. I never knew you wanted to know this when I recorded it. But can I record midi from an external synth to an external synth? Your question doesn’t describe why you’d want the MV-1 in the middle but if you watch some of my other videos you’ll get the answer. Hmmm . Sorry for not including it all in this single upload Watch this czcams.com/video/5iDceWP6A_Y/video.html
FYI a clip is a pattern…. Roland’s terminology not the reviewers but you’re welcome. I don’t get paid for giving you this info btw but Roland support do 🤷♂️🤷♂️
And maybe before you criticise next time… think about what you’re asking. You want an answer to a particular circumstance that someone would have to set up and test before reporting back. They would have to envisage that this would be a common use of the software (it’s not really - it’s meant to be a stand alone studio in a box). Expecting someone to pre-empt every set of circumstances or particular usage case and then complain they haven’t spent the time to set up and test your individual requirements is a bit… @&£&@ I’ll let you fill the blanks. Weird.
You could’ve just asked… 🤦♂️ rather than complaining … ‘hey Starsky thanks for the video, I’ve not found anything about sequencing external kit - do you know if this is possible? Thanks again’ … for future interactions 😀
Starsky, the Verselab does in fact output midi notes. The midi out settings are in the 'track settings' (shift+track). You have options to transmit notes, program change, and CC from the parameter control knobs through either USB or 5-pin DIN...per track.
thanks! I was wondering about that
**Thanks and pinned!** Aaargh that’s really annoying I couldn’t find it anywhere. Even Roland support didn’t realise it could! I contacted them and asked!!’ It does show, however, how difficult it can be to navigate through the menus. I edited out a bit about that, as I thought I’d found everything eventually! I couldn’t find anything re MIDI out in the manual either, but on a positive note at least if Roland read this they can tell their support it already exists :)
Just tried it and it works. I’m now very happy 😃 but annoyed I couldn’t find it! I’ll probably do something demoing it with my eurorack now especially as I reconfigured a nice little portable system it just for this 👍
@@StarskyCarr excellent news on the midi out
Same setting method as on MC-101 and 707. The MV-1 is basically a beefed-up MC.101 with more tracks, song mode and a vocal section. Unfortunately it does not have the voice reserve mode of the MCs.
Great review, I've had my MV-1 for about a month now and I'm not disappointed, it really is a powerful, versatile and truly inspirational machine. Whenever I switch on my Verselab, I usually end up with a finished track.
It kind of forces you to finish tracks, you find yourself wanting to move through the different stages of the workflow.
I hope a bunch of people buy this!! Really want Roland to invest into the MV1 and hopefully a bigger version!
I want a version with a keyboard instead of drum pads!! Pretty please!! ❤
There are different MV series made in the past 25 years or so. I was told to get the MV-8000 and got it for much cheaper than the MV-1. Check out the MV-8000 or 8800. Since they are older, the display and mouse port don't come standard on it. Luckily the one I bought has that. There's another add-on that gives you optical out and 6 individual outputs. I don't have that but I doubt I'll need it. They have CD for importing samples and even a 3.5" floppy! There's some great upgrades that can be done for pretty cheap.
This is the first video I’ve watched on the MV that’s explained stuff in a way that I can understand! Great walkthrough. It’s not for me (got myself an MC-101 for dawless work) however I can see it’ll be great for others who need the features.
Ohhh... I got the 101 and MV1, MV1 is much more like a studio in a box and very easy to use
For me it’s the vocal processor that Roland is also famous for and the massive sound library as standard, I was considering the mc 707 and a separate vocal processor but then that throws up the cost massively and creates work flow issues, great review thanks, you have actually sold it to me 😊
Did you get it? I just sent an MPC 1 back due to not getting along with the workflow. 🤷🏽♂️
@@CarlitoM77 I sent it back the, all the drum sounds are repeated across most kits so although it seems there are lots of sounds on paper they are repeated.
The work flow is awful too, poor build quality nope I didn’t like it.
@@thelibrarian3734 I appreciate you telling me this. I canceled mine twice cause of no side chain compression and not that great work flow. I guess I'm looking for something more fun, immediate and spark creativity not thwart it! 🙄
@@thelibrarian3734 What did you get instead? I'm looking at the Synthstrom Deluge and Roland MC707.
@@CarlitoM77 I am actually playing around with koala sampler and Korg Module on the iPad using Gadget Stuido for sequencing, it’s fun portable and easy😊
I think mv-1 was misunderstood. It is not a performance instrument. It's a complete music production studio... I don't know anything else like it on the market. Now at a great price in some stores...
To add to this, you can use the mic to record samples on any of the tracks, not just the vocal track. Press the "sampling" button (shift + record button) and you can replace any sound on the 7 tracks with an audio sample recorded with the mic.
Great review thanks. I just received mine and this is very knowledgeable welcome tutorial . I regularly watch loopop coolout and others mentioned, but so glad I found yours. Kudos respect Old Soul Dimi Sydney Australia
very very good! You have explained all necessary for start to use this wonderful device of Roland. Thanks
This is the best breakdown of this machine. Well done, man! 🤙
Excellent walkthrough, definitely gave me a good perspective on it. Think I want one.
I like your "user" approach to making your overview/review/tutorials. Sort of like a "feature detective" if you will. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for making this! It is one of the better Verselab feature videos available today. I like my Verselab but some of the limitations don’t work well with my workflow, like the 16 measure/127 step limit of each section. This led me to buy an MPC Live 2, BUT, the available sounds and the vocal effects are excellent enough to keep me from selling the Verselab.
Where are you at a year later ? I’m about a year in to making music. I bought a live 2 first.
Considering the verselab today for the sounds and the step sequencer and the arrangement options. Which will prolly go back into my mpc live for any more production
Thanks for this practical deep review. Makes me hot to get one.
9:38 if you’re using IOS there’s proper DAWs for sample editing.
GarageBand
Cubasis
Beatmaker 3
Auria
Plus comprehensive sample editing
Virsyn AudioLayer
Lexis Audio Editor
Ummm🤔😊
Thank you for this awesome video I just got my verselab and I am a bit confused and this helps a lot thank you
I know hoe you feel. Lots of things had me scratching my head... but it could do everything I was looking for. Just a case of becoming familiar with navigating the firmware.
Thanks for the explanations.
I love the fact it can switch tones per clip.
This feature is a selling point to me on top of the random tone generator.
Time to save some money and buy one.
Excellent video 👏👏
Thank you. It is the best video about verselab.
Please show us how you can load every single track of a song from the Verselab into the DAW in order to edit them individually.
Thank you
Best regards
Wolfgang
Thanks... I might not have time for a video demo but the steps are: 1. Install Roland driver on your computer 2. Set the verselab to vendor driver. 3 reboot 4. Set up a song in your daw with 9 stereo tracks each in rising a different USB input pair. 5. Arm the tracks and Press record on the DAW 6. Press play in the verse lab.
It’s really simple. The hardest part is setting up the USB driver ... and remembering to set the verse lab to USB mode - the last setting in the system menu.
@@StarskyCarr Wonderful, thank you so much. I'll try it right away in the morning.
Best regards and and a big thank you again.
Wolfgang
@@StarskyCarr haven't got it done yet.
Point 3 do you mean restarting verselab or the computer?
I don't have an input level
@@wolfgangwollschlager7643 input to DAW or Verselab? have you changed input on the VERSELAB using the input button. If its the DAW check the audio configuration is set to the correct USB hardware
Excellent review. I purchased one a couple of weeks ago. Still scratching my head but I’m getting there. 👍🏼
I keep in finding bits... like MIDI note out 😂
Where did you purchase friend?
@@williammcdonough7727 hi there. I found one on eBay. Brand new. £599.
They’re in all the main outlets in the UK
@@StarskyCarr Got it, I was kinda waiting for it to come to the states. This is why the UK is always ahead of the States
I love mine even though there is room for improvement as always
Yes it does work on Android
It's pretty cool. A bit of a mission to get used to. I was trying to change the level of sounds put in manually in the step sequencer but couldn't work out how. Sometimes i delete something that didn't come out in the correct place and when i put it in manually on the step sequencer it comes out in full volume or 100% perhaps. It usually doesn't match the level of what was played on the pads but i couldn't work out how to set the levels on the sounds put in on the sequencer buttons.
Another thing that was annoying was that if you turn off a sound recorded on the step sequencer after it being in the wrong place it will also erase the sustain or release of the sample before it. So, if you have a long synth or pad sound but then delete a misplaced note that came after it it will then cut short. I guess you can only overlay so much. Shame it doesn't have a built in rechargeable battery and perhaps bluetooth headphone output. It''s a great laptop device for the couch, the bed, on the train or plane. etc. Basically it's an amazing toy you could take anywhere so those features would have been nice.
I just do not understand why this unit doesn't get more focus? It makes it all much easier to be creative and get ideas to reality and if they do a mv2 of this with more knobs and controls available instead of menu diving it would be super. I love knobs rather than a screen. so a big console with a lot of knobs for home and the MV1 battery powered for travel would be so good.
Any updates from Roland since you released this one? Great go through. Thanks for that
Got mine coming Monday Hopefully .... Great Vid
excellent video, thank you.
Excellent video as always mate but I surely cannot be the only one put off by those demo tracks...
Haha..
Starsky, sorry for my corrections, but it seems you missed a bit about the workflow. You were bouncing between 'seq' and 'section' modes. The 'section' button is to only to prepare for arranging in the song mode: determine the length of a song part (verse, chorus, etc) and set the color of the section pad. It comes AFTER you're done sequencing. That's why you can't move different clips around at that point. You should have stayed in 'SEQ' and switched the pad mode to 'section select'. That's where you can edit, copy, and swap clips around between different sections.
Thanks, I didn’t want to get into all that as it’s so simple and intuitive. I’d recorded over 2 hours of footage ... and edit quite a bit out to try to get a nice flow. The cut, paste, seq length etc are all so simple I didn’t think I needed to explain here and they're in other videos. I was trying not to be to prescriptive at every stage ... more feeding back in comments and issues I’d picked up on. But for anyone familiar with Ableton I was pointing out that it doesn't work in exactly the same way.
Thank You very informative Im trying to learn this before i get mine its on B.O.
Seen a few videos on this now and this was probably the best one but none of them have answered the question of why this product needs to exist. I just don't understand what it does better than something else.
Thanks... It’s the vocal track... it records over the top of the song structure. With anything else you’d have to chop the vocal into sections to fit into scenes/clips etc. With this you create a song structure and could have one long take over the top.
@@StarskyCarr Couldn’t I just do that on Amy DAW though?
@@WyattLite-n-inn of course... but its not a standalone instrument. this has built in MIDI and audio interface etc. the idea being that its getting away from a laptop and something you could gig with. less stuff to plug in and carry about - less to go wrong. etc.
Same for any groove box, any synth, any drum machine, and FX unit- unless you're an analog purist you can create whole tracks in a DAW.
@@StarskyCarr Damn Starsky, that was a good response!!👍🏼
I like that the MV-1 is a capable Dawless Music Studio in a very portable size box. Just grab your headphones, a mic, a small monitor speaker, and your iPad mini or Pro etc and go on vacation, or travel, and you can still make a complete track in a hotel room, at the cabin, at the beach, on a cruise ship, or in the mountains etc.
Very inspiring and travel friendly.
Bring a laptop if you want but going dawless on demand and having Zenbeats, Zenology Synths, Plugins, samples, ultimate Roland Cloud access to further shape and produce your song if needed makes it so versatile, portable, and travel friendly!
Add in a small midi keyboard or Circuit Tracks or Rhythm and you got a potent combo!
I just love your channel. So simple, so clear, even with my not always good English. 😭😊
Here is my question. The Zen Core engine, in theory, for all grooveboxes, like mv-1, mc101, mc 707, should be the same. Does this mean that all the presets in the boxes are the same or not? Have you asked similar questions?
just picked one up. thanks
This device, and especially the vocal track, can actually be very intersting for instrumental stuff. You create your song and just record, let's say, rhythm guitars parts while the song is playing.
And if I understand, there are 16 possible parts on the vocal track, that can play all together, you basically have a 16 track potential of live instruments to record? (I'm not really sure of that)
What I've understood is that the record input is line, no Hi-z for guitar type instrument?
So you need some kind of DI device if you want to record guitar or bass parts.
Anyway very interesting "thing machine". A bit convulated with it's small screen, but I don't mind, I hate IPad screens anyway.
Thanks for the great demo
Just remember the 720 second recording limit. Thats 12 minutes mono or 6 minutes stereo. It should be enough for most things, but not quite a full 16 track recorder.
I received the Verselab a few days ago. I'm really liking it so far.
I find it not to complicated to handle.
My first impressions is that it is quite a powerful device.
I haven't tried sampling my guitar at this point, but I wonder how I can have the correct input to do it, since there is no Hi-z option.
What kind of device would you recommend? I looked for some kind of DI device for guitar, but not really sure what to choose.. Any clue?
@@StarskyCarris that 720 minutes per project or total device memory?
Roland should put the Fantom touch screen interface on all their boxes...even if it makes them larger... The small screen menu diving needs to go...
Fantastic video.
Thank you very much!
hello again. let me apologize for those comments. you are right, I could have just asked. I guess I got a little to frustrated. again, I really apologize about that and thank you for your video.
Great video tutorial thank uou
What do you think about this vs the old MV-8000 and 8800? I was told the older ones have more midi and vocal tracks. I havent used the MV-8000 i got a little while back yet.
SONG MODE no video has shown this but you have more than 16 slots to put in sections the manual says 99 so don't go thinking you only have the 16 buttons for different song parts.. you can scroll to 17-32 with the measure etc up to 99
Yeah, I think I mentioned this but didn't demo it. Its hard to know when to stop :)
nice review as always SC, think the MV-1 would work as a nice MIDI sound module w/Octatrak or Digitakt? Can the line level audio inputs on the MV-1 work as a mini mixer for a synth? guess we're only limited by our imagination,
@starsky carr there is solo for mixer. You need to press shift+mixer+channel
Aaarggh.... another one!! Haha cheers. Couldn’t find that in the manual either.
@@StarskyCarr i found this one by mistake :P
Crazy good video
Starsky, you are so good in explaining. Thanx man! ☺ Anyway, after watching your video I am not quite sure if this machine can be helpful for Glitch drum tracks.
It really depends on how you intend to record it and what your workflow is. if you're looking at creating glitchy drum samples on it, I'd say there are more sample focussed things out there.
The section part is the most complex and confusing part of this machine that's were Roland dropped the ball and the small screen
I think im the only person roland made this box for. 🎉😊
I just wish it had a keyboard instead of the drum pads
I am waiting for the second version of MV-1. Maybe an MV-2? With touch screen and without the record function. I can do that in my DAW with my Mic and Interface.
Why would you not like to have a record function? The whole idea is that you should not need a DAW?
@@magnuseriksson8081 I think most of home recording producers have a option to record vocals. So yes you are maybe right. It's an idea of a DAW less Workstation. But I would prefer without. Just my opinion.
Can you add chopped samples to the card if being able to use a chopped vocal sample with the rachet...
I don’t see why not. You can add any sample to the card. You would then put the sample into a drum kit and use the ratchets.
Did Roland make some kind of deal/agreement/endorsement with Apple? Why won't they also support Android devices?
I noticed on a lot of their gear lately, the external software editors they made for them are only released for IOS and not for Android mobile devices. Just like the Verselab, Integra also has an IPad editor but no Android editor. Well, at least Roland did release a PC VST editor for the Integra as well, although it's only 64 bit (no 32 bit version) and there is no Protools AAX version.
If i have a composition melody exeeding the 8 bars limit can i for instance, use two sections to compose a 16 bar melody where section two follows section one to create a 16 bar or an 8+ bar base composition?
You would have it as 2 sections.. so when you program the song you can always program section 2 following section 1
@@StarskyCarr Much thanks. Great demonstration video
Hello sir .. is it possible to controll a tonetrack via anorher midicontroller ? Play notes and sequence it via for example an mpc X ,?
Do you think I could just avoid using my daw or integrate with my daw? For example recording my guitar, bringing in Native Instruments drums in, etc..
Mmm. So that vocal/external instrument track can do several voices, so it's not a track in the sense that it has a single volume pan, effects, filter etc. I'm assuming you can then go back and change the volume of each superimposed take on the vocal track. It could get tedious compared to standard multitrack or DAW operation. Guess you'd have to get used to it.
So can it record live instruments or not? Like, is it easy to record a loop from an external synth and add it to the track?
Also, can it sample, resample, and store said samples into kits?
Yes, yes, yes and yes.. not tried to store it as a kit though.
So Zenbeats doesn't support Android??? OUCH
It works. I use a smartphone lg v20 to power and control mv1 with zenbeats.
With all due respect, I don’t see many eurorack/modular synth users being attracted to this kind of product or workflow. Maybe it could stretch to singer/songwriter types, but the natural fit seems to be beatmaker/producer and vocalist/rapper. In fact they market it to that effect. Why try to shoehorn a large non portable setup (euro rack rig with cords sticking out everywhere), with a battery powered unit, with built in sounds and SONG TEMPLATES
People had asked about sequencers for eurorack following my video on them - and in particular non eurorack options. So as I had this and it can do it why not? It also brings the addition of being able to sequence a song and add samples etc. Not everyone’s cup of tea I admit, but for some it’ll be useful and for me it was a bit of fun. I enjoyed making it and playing with them together.
I would have agreed with you before seeing the demo. A song it could be made up entirely of Modular programmed percussion, looper tracks could be used for layering and triggering smaller loops, bleeps, fx etc with the added benefit of using the "vocal track" as an over-dubbed performance track. Considering there is midi out I see no reason why you couldn't overdub external synth / drum or vocal parts into that track as well. Sample editing is going to need to be done elsewhere but a lot of Eurorack samplers don't edit in depth either so its probably not the biggest issue. You could work on a track this way and be able to try out a myriad of song / arrangement variations or integrate what you have using the above methods with some mic'd and well recorded acoustic instrumentation.
Nobody could answer me so far if sequences and songs can be exchanged between any machines from roland? Could I start a song on the MV1 and continue on the Phantom Or the other way round?
I don't know for sure, but don't think so. I think the only interchangeable parts are the ZEN-Core tones
Not currently, but project import from other Zen-Core units has been a suggested feature. The workaround I've found to share projects between Zen-Core devices is to just load the same preset in both, sync the midi clocks, and record from one sequencer to the other. Doesn't take much extra time to do.
There isnt even a project sharing between Fantom and the MCs yet, which is a shame. MV-1 can only exchange projects with Zenbeats, which none of the MCs nor the Fantom can do.
@@microbug3487 Currently Zenbeats integration is just a remote editor for the Verselab to have functions on a bigger screen. All the audio stays on the hardware. Project transfer hasn’t been implemented yet.
@@microbug3487 oh what a shame - Roland is missing a trick here - I would by them all if I could exchange projects
That screen is smaller than a MC 101
No cv? Pitch? Gate? Trigger? Patchability. ? Error
What is the best device like this to mate up with modular???
Akai MPC One has 8 CV outs.
Can you change the time signature?
My speakers don’t fit on back of Verslab does anyone know what size extension should I buy so I can have some sound output and not just only headphones please help
It depends on what your speakers input is. If it’s a stereo 3.5mm jack then you need a 3,5mm stereo to 6.5mm mono. With a single small plug on one end and 2 large in the other for the L+R outputs. There are loads on Amazon it’s a common cable.
So you can bounce to DAW over usb for external mixing?
Yeah its super simple. Each channel is a USB audio track.
Can you load stems into it to? Then cue live as a backing track?
No, there’s only enough memory for 12 minutes mono, 6 minutes stereo in the vocal track in total.
@@StarskyCarr Thank you so much for your reply mate, I really appreciate it.
Where have you been purchasing this??
In the U.K. ... there’s loads of stock in all the main stores.
This or the MPC One? I’m torn between the two.
A difficult decision. The main USP here is the ability to record vocals/guitars etc over the top of your beats.. spanning a whole song if you want. With the Akai you're restricted to individual beats. so you'd have to record the vocal in different takes and cut across clips etc.
That small screen is insulting...overpriced groove box
They may have a found a pile of this 80s Lcds in a forgotten hangar😂 even a small oled display like the one you can find on the Korg minilogue would have been wayyy better...
Can the song sections have different tempos?
I don't think so.. I can't see a way to do it - although that's no guarentee!
@@StarskyCarr Thanks! I hate that about Roland. Even the Fantom and the MC-101 I have can't support tempo changes in songs. They need to tighten up with that.
I'll stick with my MPC one.
Yes, for the money the MPC One is a much better option. The Verselab and MC-101 are riddled with too many limitations. It seems Roland handcuffs users as far as the potential of these devices. The MPC One excels at recording songs compared to this device. The mini screen is a deal killer as well.
Who makes the best similar device compatable with. Modular...
Ive never owned a device like this....
(First purchase) need the most versitile patchability !!!!!
Mpc one with zen core. 3000+ sounds. That would be amazing.
Properly an OK box for some things, but all the deep menu diving and complex button pressing and setup makes this a pass for me
Are these out now ?
Yes. In the U.K. you can get them pretty much anywhere.
@@StarskyCarr not in the U.S. they have been showing videos since January ...and they are not out over here
Can not transpose first three (Kick, Snare and HiHat) into higher octaves. Only -5 to 0 available. On the other four tracks (Kit, Bass, Inst1 and Inst2) can transpose from -5 to +5 octave. And if I choose a synth sound on any of first three tracks there's no way to get higher notes with pads. But I can play this notes with connected MIDI-keyboard.
There's no info about this issue in the Manual or Parameter Guide.
Is this a bug or feature?
It may be a bug. I noticed when selecting tracks the style function changed according to the previous track selected. So the kick could play an arpeggio rather than ratcheting if I’d just been playing the bass for example. I didn’t want this to become a bug list... they pay people to do that ;)
Good explanation, this is a power machine but I really don’t like Roland’s workflow !
The workflow is fine.. it's the menus that had me confused. What I can access from where. It makes sense once you can find it... but finding it can take some time!
Did they actually put a "Mastering" button? 🤦🏽♂️
you can save it raw or add you own EQ and compression.. but it's not an 'auto master' button in that sense, no.
@@StarskyCarr that's why I said it. They should have called it something else honestly.
@@djRoyalTee sorry, from your comment it seemed like you were under the impression it was supposed to be a ‘magic mastering’ function. The labelling is a bit simplistic when compared to its flexibility and functionality.
@@djRoyalTee It's suite of mastering tools: multi-band compressor, brickwall limiter, etc. You'll still need to learn how to use those standard tools. The mixer button won't balance and mix for you either LOL.
in my mc808 from waaaaay back they had a mastering optoion - i would need get it from the attic but iirc it was an eq and comp setting and was also per genre......so yeah, techno was diff to other lesser genres hehehe
It's all plastic but so are the mpc
Returning mines. Editing sample start and end points of long samples is like pulling teeth. Even holding shift. It takes forever.
This thing should not have the MV. Name attached to it . Because my mv 8000. Is way faster , same with my Roland 404. Or S-330 rackmount sampler . They are way faster editing samples .
I’m sending the MV. Back
I found shifting samples on the vocal track took far too long as well - until I found a work around. But yeah, there should be a way of speeding up the the scrolling.
completely confusing !!!! why don't you start from zero and show the workflow ? It feels like you are going from one concept to something completely different, I could not understand how to work with the machine
Because this isn’t a talking manual. There’s the manual for that. This is showing what it can do rather than being an instructional step-by-step walkthrough. There are others who have already done that, so no pint in repeating what’s already out there. But sorry it didn’t meet your precise needs. If perhaps you’d have requested your specific requirements last year I could’ve included them in this 🤷♂️ .. or perhaps you’re practising some of your recently acquired troll moves in which case I wish you well, but suggest a little more practise is required to hone the ridiculous comments into something less obvious.
Another €600,00 😵
Def not worth 699. This is more 499.
This video is basically a commercial that forces me to watch other commercials.
Imma gunna say no to even looking further into this ‘thing’.
Since when is a demo a commercial? Since when is answering questions a commercial. Since when is a review a commercial? I’m guessing it’s not for you... and neither are commercials?? Good luck with literally everything else you have to watch/read/listen to on the internet 😂😂 I’m not going to apologise for trying to be helpful, and kinda chuffed you think it’s good enough to be a commercial for Roland. Thanks 🙏
You do great reviews, very informative and helpful. Don't listen to this rude idiot
The idea of this is cool ...but the execution is terrible imo. Roland should be looking to hire better engineers lol
hummm. again(like the others) did not really explain if you could record midi from external keyboard to an external synth. you talked about clips but did not explain what the difference in clips and patterns. a lot of stuff loop pop DID explain, and just to much "talking head" stuff going on and "messing about". sorry, didn't get much out of this.
Sorry for not demoing exactly what you are looking for. I never knew you wanted to know this when I recorded it. But can I record midi from an external synth to an external synth? Your question doesn’t describe why you’d want the MV-1 in the middle but if you watch some of my other videos you’ll get the answer. Hmmm . Sorry for not including it all in this single upload Watch this czcams.com/video/5iDceWP6A_Y/video.html
FYI a clip is a pattern…. Roland’s terminology not the reviewers but you’re welcome. I don’t get paid for giving you this info btw but Roland support do 🤷♂️🤷♂️
And maybe before you criticise next time… think about what you’re asking. You want an answer to a particular circumstance that someone would have to set up and test before reporting back. They would have to envisage that this would be a common use of the software (it’s not really - it’s meant to be a stand alone studio in a box). Expecting someone to pre-empt every set of circumstances or particular usage case and then complain they haven’t spent the time to set up and test your individual requirements is a bit… @&£&@ I’ll let you fill the blanks. Weird.
You could’ve just asked… 🤦♂️ rather than complaining … ‘hey Starsky thanks for the video, I’ve not found anything about sequencing external kit - do you know if this is possible? Thanks again’ … for future interactions 😀