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Average rating:
4.5 out of 5
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I've had my MC for 4 years; it kicks ass! Timing is good, facilities great, etc. I can't understand why anyone would want to use a computer for something which is supposed to be fun. Only problem is limited number of tracks, but if you keep one track clear, you can extract midi channels from tracks for detailed editing, and if you keep individual drum parts on seperate tracks, it's no problem.
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I have a Roland JV-1000. Its a dam good keyboard however the MC-50 Sequencer sucks big time. Its okay for learning to sequence,but for a record,i would not trust the sequencer,mainly because it seems to have problems locking good time. I always notice slight delays in the drum timing coming back on the one with the Bass. Iam quantizing properly,although it does not feature 16TH TRIPLETS so needed in certain types of songs. HELLLLLLLLLPPPP.
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I bought my MC 500 new in 1988. mainly for virtual tracking with my multitrack. Used it a a few times at gigs. I even "retired" it in '97 for Cakewalk on a PC but ended up going back to the MC because it's always been easy to use and damn near bulletproof. I still use it to this day synced to an 8-track. I never could get used to the software style sequencers. It probably was and is one of the best pieces of equipment Roland ever built. I've seen a few post concerning the original boot disk. The first thing I did is make a copy of the oem boot disk and then put it away. The copy disk still reads fine even after 13 years. If you have the original disk and it still works ok, make a copy with the MC and stash it! In fact make several copies. The only thing that disappointed me was that Roland never upgraded the MC to SMPTE, although I'm so used to the FSK sync it really doesn't matter.
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i oftenly used a mc500 between 87-88,its my friend's gear we gigged together at that time,in 89, i bought my first mc,its mc500mk2,it's a great machine,100000 notes capacity is a monster on hardware sequencing at that time.i paid $1300 for it and it worthed.tight timing,64 tracks(16 midich x 4 tracks),fast cpu,solid built,good touching buttons(like the qy700's for today).i replced it by the mc50/50mk2 later for midi file compatibility.
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I bought my MC-500 in 1986. It toured across the west of Canada for the next three years and endured some incredibly rough treatment without a single complaint or onstage problem. In 1990, I had it upgraded to a Mark-II rather than buy a MK-II second hand (it probably cost more this way but I liked the idea of rewarding my faithful old MC with a power-up rather than retirement). I've used this sequencer ever since (for live performing) and have to agree with others who've left a review that it's damn near indestructible and can handle simply horrible power conditions without a complaint. Now by today's standards it is definitely an under powered unit: Barely enough memory to load 10 decent sized sequences at a time and crippled by a puny 720k floppy drive that is only good for 20 or so songs at a time. The bootup time is painfully long (very inconvenient when a crowd is yelling for a request and the disk is churning away), but these things are only a consequence of the era the machine was designed. I give it 4/5 for live sequencer.
I only wish that Roland would release an MC-2001 complete with internal hard drive, ethernet port and enough ram to store at least 50 songs at a time - Only then would my faithful pal be allowed to retire to a well deserved rest in my garage!
Just out of interest, does anyone have access to the software or hardware specs for this fine machine? I'd love to at lease upgrade the disk drive to a high density floppy and multiplex the data bus of the ram to accomodate for a larger memory. I imagine Roland will keep that stuff under wraps until doomsday, unfortunately, but if anyone out there is a disgruntled ex-Rolandite with this information available please drop me an email!
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