- Roland MC-505
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MC-505 
Manufactured by Roland Dates 1998–2002 Price £782 UK, $1299 US Technical specifications Polyphony 64-note Timbrality 16-part Oscillator Yes LFO Yes Synthesis type Sample-based synthesis (rompler) Filter Yes Memory 512 preset sounds, 26 drum kits Effects reverb/delay, chorus/flanger Input/output Keyboard No External control MIDI in/out The Roland MC-505 is a combination of MIDI sequencer/arranger, synthesizer, and drum machine with built-in real-time Arpeggiator, LFO, VCF and Envelope Knobs for tweaking. It has no Sampler feature built-in.
Released in 1998, it is the successor to the Roland MC-303 and is a compact version of the Roland JX-305 Groovesynth without the full set of 61 keys. It has a small LCD screen, and two big red LED displays.
It is a predecessor to the Roland D2, Roland MC-307, Roland MC-909 and the new Roland MC-808.
Contents
Features
The key features of the MC-505 are:
- Sound generator with 64 note - voice polyphony
- 8-track MIDI sequencer + Mute Ctrl Track
- 714 onboard dance music patterns, 200 user patterns, 50 songs
- 512 built-in sounds and 26 rhythm sets (includes the Roland CR-78, TR-606, TR-808 & TR-909)
- Digital subtractive synthesis engine for creating original sounds (similar to the Roland JD-800)
- D-Beam Controller
- MEGAMix - function for intuitive realtime mixing of beats and patterns
- 5 volt Smartmedia card slot for expanding user patch and pattern memory
Criticisms
The Roland MC-505 has no Sampler. The size of the LCD screen makes it difficult to read each feature setting, and over time the LCD screen would lose pixels (which in some cases renders the screen unreadable). This issue is due to the heat on the LCD screen-PCB board, the lamination between the crystal and the PCB is opening/splitting up from the little heat inside the Roland MC-505 from prolonged use. Roland has fixed this by updating the LCD screen component.
Unsolved bugs
It has been reported that the Roland MC-505 will lock up during recording operations if the transport (Stop, Play, Rec, Fwd, Rev) buttons are pressed quickly in succession during a recording process. Upgrading to OS v1.07 fixes this to some extent, as will slowing down button presses when changing Recording Modes.
System Version Procedures: While holding TEMPO/MIXER, PTN/SONG, and PATCH, press keyboard pads 12, 14, and 16 in order. Repeatedly press pad 16 to access SYS version, CPU version, and DAT version. The latest OS is ver. 1.07 to this date, no further updates have been reported, or any plans to make another OS update.
The current unsolved problems at the present moment are:
- If the Roland MC-505 does lock up, there is no solution but to turn it off and start over. For this reason, it makes sense to back up regularly while recording.
External links
MC-505 PDF Manual Links:
Other Links:
- Roland US Corporation, MC-505 site and files.
- Roland MC-505's discussion Group Forum, at Yahoo! Groups
- Various Usage Tips
- Roland MC-505 FAQ v.1.041
- Sound on Sound review
- "Roland MC505 - next up from the mc303 comes the 505 - same thing, more power". - (Dancetech.com "A London, UK Independent Product Reviews site". - Date: March 16, 2000)
- At Home With the Groovebox - Compilation of artists using only the MC-505 featuring Beck, Air, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Jean Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley, Cibo Matto, Sean Lennon and others. Released in 2000 by Grand Royal.
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