Roland MC-101

26

Portable Groovebox

  • ZEN-Core sound generator with up to 128 voices
  • 4 Parts
  • 4-Track sequencer with up to 128 steps
  • 16 Clips per sequencer track
  • Up to 4 looper tracks with time stretch and pitch shift
  • 3000 Preset sounds and 80 drum kits
  • Import of user samples and loops via SD card
  • Available memory space for user samples: 12 Minutes in mono, 6 minutes in stereo (@ 44.1 kHz)
  • Supported formats for user samples: WAV File (mono/stereo), 16/24-bit, 32-96 kHz
  • Effects: EQ and multi-effects per part (90 different effects types)
  • Master effects: Compressor, EQ, Reverb, Delay, Chorus
  • Comfortable programming via the 16 backlit pads
  • 4 Backlit faders and 4 rotary knobs
  • Mix up tracks, patterns and loops in your DAW via USB connection
  • Integrated USB audio/MIDI interface
  • Battery operation for up to 5 hours (4 x AA batteries)
  • Dimensions (W x D x H): 224 x 132 x 61 mm
  • Weight: 716g
  • Includes 4 x AA batteries and SD card
  • Suitable optional bag: Art.493542 or suitable case: Art.489627 (not included)

Connectors:

  • Stereo output: 6.3 mm Jack
  • Stereo headphone output: 3.5 mm Jack
  • MIDI In/Out
  • USB B type port
Available since September 2019
Item number 473345
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Display Yes
Pads 16
Fader(s) 4
Effects Yes
Sampling Function No
Storage Medium SD Card
MIDI interface 1x In, 1x Out
USB Yes
Headphone Output Yes
Extras Looper
B-Stock from $377 available
$437
The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.
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26 Customer ratings

4.3 / 5

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20 Reviews

t
Criminally underrated
tksst 18.05.2023
I am in synths and grooveboxes for the past year starting from 4 Volcas and a SQ64 and NTS-1 and then moving to an Elektron Syntakt and an Elektron Octatrack. I am in my late 40s and I admit that I do have some money to spend for a hobby like this.
Nevertheless, I have been still searching for a truly portable option. Well this device is just perfect for this and in many ways its beats the two time more expensive Elektron Syntakt while overall leaving too much to be desired from Elektron's workflow. No comparison with Volcas in terms of workflow, even though Volcas sound is unique.
So my comparison and reference is these devices - please don't feel offended for your favorite brand if I am doing too many comparisons!

The bad first: I understand that there are a lot of Quality Control issues with devices breaking. Also, this looks and feels like a toy - but not in a good way. Where Volcas look and feel fabulous and Elektrons are built like a shiny tank this feels like a cheap toy. Design-wise I don't know what Ronald designers are thinking or what is their target group. Maybe "DJs"? The device looks like a patchwork of leds over a high contract b/w background.
But all these are mainly cosmetic. The fantastic news now: ultra-light, lighter than a Volca. Fantastic sequencer with motion sequencing and a Clip-based approach that makes the famed Elektron sequencer and workflow really feeling limited. Versatility? Only 4 tracks but one of them is a Drum track. This again means that you are having potentially as many or more tracks to work than a Syntakt. Maybe the Syntakt or the Octatrack can deliver a more polished sound -but for a beginner and a portable device does it matter?
Effects? On track on output or even on the Scatter pads reminding the Octatrack slider. Effect quality and configuration much more straightforward and meaningful compared to my other devices.

The things that I don't like so much: there is lots of menu diving but at least what you can configure a lot right from the encoders without menu diving with preselect options that make sense musically. If you go deep into sound design there are too many options (and also too many presents) and not the best experience from a sound design perspective.
Handling? The most insane shortcuts - probably not documented - really the only device that you need to have besides you a manual or built extensive muscle memory. As mentioned I have an Octatrack and the octa shortcuts do make sense in comparison to this.

Overall this device is criminally underrated, it can replace a bunch of volcas and an external sequencer (maybe not in terms of sound but in terms of music making) and it's very competitive with Syntakt that costs almost double than that and its much less portable. Syntakt might have an edge on some sounds (synths definitely not drum ones) but for a prototyping and fun to use device does this mattter?

Again I can not understand what Roland design team was thinking - this simply looks mediocre at best ugly at worst. But what a great device.
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k
konceptual 17.10.2019
No MIDI program change.
No feasible methods to change 'song' or in this case 'project' seamlessly during performance.

Maybe I did not do my homework well, researching product for my own requirements prior purchase. I returned it!
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R
Kleiner Zauberkasten
René71 22.11.2020
Ich bin 49 und habe erst vor ca. 8 Monaten mit einem EPiano musizieren angefangen und wollte nun mehr. Um meine Möglichkeiten hinsichtlich Instrumente und Aufnahmen zu erweitern habe ich lange nach einem passenden Gerät gesucht, war mir aber sehr unsicher. Der Markt ist groß. Sounddesign interessiert mich dabei weniger.
Vor einigen Tagen ist meine Entscheidung auf die Roland MC101 Groovebox gefallen. Hier habe ich ca. 3000 Instrumente und ca. 80 Drumsets wählbar, die ich noch weiter sehr individuell anpassen kann. Das Ding ist echt klein und wiegt nix. Die Verarbeitung und Haptik der Knöpfe ist sehr hochwertig.
Es gibt erschöpfend viele, wundervoll natürlich klingende Instrumente und SoundFX aus allen Sparten aber auch viele Synth-Sounds und verzerrte Rock-Instrumente in allen Variationen.
Die Einarbeitung für einfache Arrangements geht erstaunlich schnell: Eigentlich nur wenige Minuten! Es gibt viele, gut gemachte Youtube-Tutorials. Für aufwendigere Produktionen mit Ausreizung vieler tiefergehender Features bedarf es aber Einarbeitungszeit, Übung und Geduld. Aber auch hier wird von Youtube fast alles abgedeckt.
Zum Abschluss meine Tipps:
- Immer die neuesten Updates einspielen! Es kommen immer ein Haufen neuer Möglichkeiten dazu.
- Audio-USB klappt auch problemlos mit Linux-PCs! Kein extra Audiointerface notwendig.
- Das Ding läuft sehr energiearm man kann mit einer einfachen USB-Powerbank tagelang komponieren.
- Youtube-Videos gucken!!
Ich bin überglücklich mit der Roland MC 101 Zauberbox. Bei all den Möglichkeiten ist das Ding mit Sicherheit nicht zu teuer.Gut gemacht Roland!
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T
Ahora si !!
Toniolg 27.07.2020
Tengo varias groovebox , Electribe2 ,es1 ,Arq96 , arq48 , akai mpc one , mc-707. Y La verdad que cada una tiene sus virtudes y desventajas . Pero la Mc-101 con las ultimas actualizaciones se ha convertido en la que mas estoy usando primero por su portabilidad y su gran librería de sonidos clásicos Roland , Aunque parezca que solo tiene 4 pistas en la pista de tambores podemos cargar 16 samples al estilo de la electribe y encadenar con 128 escenas que de 128 pasos , tiene unos efectos impresionantes , looper y tambien podemos cargar archivos en formato Midi de percusión y tono así como archivos SVZ ya sean comprados por 0,99 en Roland Cloud o creados con otros instrumentos que soporte Zenology , también me gusta que al guardar el proyecto te crea un archivo que contiene todos los samples midi etc.. y secuencias que hemos usado sin tener que mantenerlos en la tarjeta SD . Lo negativo de esta maquina es la construcción todo plástico pero robusta después de dos años sigue aguantando bien ahora tenemos también arpegios y el esperado modo canción convirtiéndose en una máquina muy completa .
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