The Roland MC-505 is a groovebox conceived in 1998 as a combination of a MIDI controller, a music sequencer, a drum machine, and a desktop synthesizer with many synthesis features: arpeggiator, oscillators, and voltage-controlled filter, control of attack, decay, sustain and release, different envelopes and 2 Lfo. It was released as 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 is also the predecessor to the Roland D2, Roland MC-307, Roland MC-909 and the Roland MC-808.
Features
The key features of the MC-505 are:
64 voice polyphonic digital subtractive synthesis engine (derived from the Roland JV-1080) with 251 different oscillator, acoustic and drum sample waveforms 512 built-in preset sounds, 256 user sounds & 26 rhythm sets (includes the Roland CR-78, TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, TR-707 and R-8) 8-track MIDI sequencer + Mute Ctrl Track Recording length of up to 32 bars per pattern 714 preset sequencer patterns, 200 user patterns, 50 user songs 3 multi-effect units: Reverb, Delay and 24 different EFXs Infrared D-Beam controller for hands-free sound modulation MEGAMix function for intuitive realtime mixing of beats and patterns 5 volt Smartmedia card slot for doubling user patch and pattern memory
Notable artists
Beck
Chicks on Speed
Cibo Matto
Duo 505
Eric Prydz
Freddy Fresh
Gustavo Cerati
James McNally (Afro Celts) Kirlian Camera Lasgo The Legendary Pink Dots M.I.A. New Order Peaches Radiohead Rambo Amadeus Skinny Puppy Sean Lennon Grace Ives Juan Atkins I-F The Prodigy
References
External links
MC-505 PDF Manual Links: Online Roland MC-505 PDF Owners Manual Location Roland MC-505 Service Notes Manual Schematics
Other Links: Roland US Corporation, MC-505 site and files. Roland MC-505's discussion Group Forum, at Yahoo! Groups 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.