tip, tricks and FAQ

adapted from posts on the mc-505 mailing list at www.groovesource.net. read on below or go straight to frequently asked questions

check your groovebox's OS version! turn it on and HOLD DOWN :
PTN/Song, RPS/Set, Patch, Keypads 12, 14, 16.
press them one after another and you should see your OS' version on the screen. to update your OS you can download the OS update file from the download page.

the easiest way to copy a whole pattern into TMP (temporary pattern) is to go to the patterns you want to copy from, press REC and press STOP again. the whole patterns will be moved into the TMP pattern. one easy way to create more colour to your songs is by applying the keyshift function to your drumkit. increasing its value will make the drumkits 'reverse' itself, and it will stay reversed until it plays the next bar of the current (or next) pattern so you don't have to worry about not being in the correct pitch at the next bar... if you're using an external sequencer remember that the rhythm section of the 505 only receives/sends on midi channel 10. a stupid overlook that roland made, i wish it's just set at midi channels 1-8. i don't see any way of re-assigning the midi channels that roland has set on the 505. also if you're using an external sequencer you can still set its midi receive mode to INT. if you set it to SLAVE you won't be able to control the sliders/knobs or mute tracks, which can be limiting especially to your live setup. i also found out that the 505 tends to hang your PC if you're using it as a midi controller and as a sound module at the same time. if you're not recording (on your external sequencer) and wish to twiddle what you want to record next, make sure the midi out of the 505 is unplugged or you'll end up hanging everything on your setup. i noticed that this happens a lot when you play the keyboard pads on the 505. also be careful if you set the 505 to send patch data, because sometimes when you play around with it (when you're not recording) it tends to trouble things up on your external sequencer i.e. it sends unwanted midi data into the midi loop.

you don't have to buy those expensive roland smartmedia cards. buy one from your local camera store! make sure they're of the 4 megabyte 5 volt variety or else it won't work. and remember to format them before you stick them into your 505. a cheaper way to work with your groovebox!

nice way to do a house type snare drum-fill: ( nice when all drum parts are muted ). Just get a snare drum ( pad #4 usually ) , and put arpeggiator on and in the 1/8 arpeggio. Keep the arpeggio select button on with your left hand's middle finger, and keep your thumb at the #4 pad. Then, when the right time comes, quickly change the arpeggio style to 1/16 with the value bar. And when the right time comes, turn the value and change it to 1/32 style and after that unmute the drum parts QUICKLY. Easy to learn , sounds good live. (The snare sounds even if snare drum part is muted)
- tip from dsc

(and to add to that..)
Record everything explained above into a pattern. Save that as a RPS part, and skip having to tie up all those fingers doing the same thing. Now you have extra fingers to apply cutoff (or whatever) to the RPS. It helps to have the tempo somewhere neutral (around 135). For a snare fill like this, it won't sound bad if it's not the same tempo as the pattern you have playing.
- tip from rEalm

the fuji floppy disk adapter FD-A1 (at http://www.fujifilm.com/home/sbu/electimg/ei_c_fd.htm can be used to read smartmedia cards straight on your computer! all datas are in the "roland" directory, just copy the whole directory into your hard drive.
- tip from nina from zone 505

frequently asked questions

for more FAQs, please go to the MC-505 Faq page. if your answer is not there go to the forum and i will try my best to answer them.

i'm good at djing, but i'm not good with musical instruments or sequencers. will i be able to use the mc-505 easily?
- at its most basic, the mc-505 can be used to simply cut and paste patterns, joining them like how DJs join records. the available patterns are of professional quality, and it's pretty cool just toying around with these patterns by joining patterns together. no musical knowledge required. alternatively you can check out the more DJ inclined MC-307 Groovebox which has a record player-style tempo controller, designed for live sets.

i want to release a cd using patterns from the mc505. are there any copyright problems involved?
- Roland says it's ok to record songs with the patterns, but usage of unedited patterns to create sampling cds, sampling data etc. are prohibited. the demo songs meanwhile are for personal use only and not for other use. Roland holds the rights for all the preset patterns, and there is no need to get permission/release to use these patterns for your own compositions/releases. full list of patterns in here.

what kind patches are available?
- there are 512 available patches. everything from tr-909, 808 sounds for dance music, tb-303 and sh-101 for techno, juno and jupiter vintage analog synth sounds to industrial and noise pads. full list of patches in here.

are there any difference between mc303 and mc505 rhythm sets?
- though some of them are the same, the mc505's rhythm sets sound better with the improved quality of its sound generator. the Hardcore, Ambient, Funk, Drum'n'Bass, Electro, Disco, Ragga, Rock, Industrial, Ethnic, Reverse sets are new to mc505. full list of rhythm sets in here.

will i be able to create my own patterns?
- yes, using step or real-time recording, and you can even add/record your own arpeggios and effects. you can save 200 user patterns in the mc505's internal memory.

can i use it as a midi sound module?
- yes. the midi input can read midi data, meaning you can record for example cutoff info on an external sequencer thru midi. you can also control and external midi sound generator, sampler etc from the mc505. by using a midi interface you can connect the mc505 to your computer as well.

comments? : mc505@audiophile.com