The Roland MC-303 : Think Outside The Box
Written: Jun 17 '02 (Updated Jun 20 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Packed with sounds, onboard effects, user friendly and durable design.
Cons: No expandability, abbreviated display, keys are not touch sensitive, sounds are not customizable.
The Bottom Line: The Roland MC-303 Groove Box would be a great addition to any musician's arsenal.
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| winterchylde's Full Review: Roland Mc303 - Groove Box |
Music has been a focus in my life for the better part of ten years. Like the music of many musicians, my music does not always fall into the same genre. One common denominator has always been the influence of electronic music created by keyboards, samplers, sequencers, etc. When a new piece of gear is released into the market, I want to get my hands on it immediately and find out what it can do. Thus, when Roland launched their Groove advertising campaign in 1996, the leader of the pack had to be the MC-303 Groove Box. Since it’s release, many similar and powerful versions of it have been created by various companies, but the Groove Box remains a favorite of mine.
Construction: I find the tough metal chassis of the MC-303 very appealing. It’s solid design holds up to impact and the small size of the unit makes it extremely portable. I recommend a carrying case for all instruments, but if you’re on a strict budget, I found the Groove Box can take quite a bit of punishment and remain dependable in the studio or when playing live.
Design: The arrangement of features is simplistic and practical when it comes to the MC-303. The knob controllers are lined up across the top portion of the unit. Each one is clearly labeled and allows you to control various elements of a sound, sequence, or an entire pattern. Below the controllers is the sequencer, featuring a dedicated rhythm track and seven miscellaneous tracks. The three buttons to the left of the sequencer allow you to select an individual track, mute one or more tracks, and mute the rhythm track. To the right of the sequencer you will find it’s parameters: tempo, pattern set, pattern/song, RPS set, and tone. These are clearly labeled and allow you to quickly make desired changes to any pattern/sequence. Further to the right you will find the recording section of the MC-303. This part of the unit is rather simple and bares a resemblance to many recording interfaces of cassette decks and CD players. Below the recording section you will find two buttons labeled pattern and part. The pattern button, when lit, will give you access to any factory preset patterns as well as any user patterns. The part button, when lit, will give you access to all the sounds of the MC-303. To the left of the large dial, and in the center of the unit, is the display. The display is divided into two halves. The left half is for the current pattern being played and the right half is for the next pattern that will start, once the current pattern is finished. To the left of the display you will find the play mode, transpose, octave, RPS set, and pattern set buttons. The sixteen keys at the bottom of the MC-303 are used to play the sounds, trigger patterns, or program sequences with step recording.
Sounds: The Groove Box is packed with a multitude of sounds. The MC-303 contains many popular sounds and drum kits to help launch your music into hyperdrive. I couldn’t have asked for more applicable sounds to have in the MC-303. After playing with several sounds, using effects and controller knobs, I wanted to create a custom/user sound. I was disappointed to find that the MC-303 does not allow you to program in this way. The only user banks are for patterns, created using factory preset sounds. Though the sounds within are fantastic, I like to create my own.
Effects: The Groove Box has onboard effects for you to use while recording or playing live. These include delay, chorus, flanger, and reverb. You can use the controllers to mix how much of the effect you want into the sound or pattern.
Inputs & Outputs: The MC-303 sports a 1/4” stereo headphone jack, two 1/4” outputs for the left and right signals, a 1/4” foot pedal jack, MIDI In and MIDI Out. The MC-303 receives it’s power from a wallwart power supply and I found it could be replaced by a universal adapter if the original is misplaced/lost, though the manufacturer suggests consumers only order replacement parts specifically designed for the MC-303. It would have been a nice bonus for Roland to allow the MC-303 to use a battery supply as well, in my opinion.
Expansion: The MC-303 does not support expansion.
All things considered, I was very happy with the Groove Box. By itself, the MC-303 can create dance oriented music, but when combined with another keyboard the MC-303 gets to really shine. It makes a great drum machine, remix unit or just another addition to your current equipment. I definitely suggest you get your hands on one if you’re a beginner or a veteran of the industry.
Damon
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
winterchylde
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Member: Damon Delp
Location: Naples, Florida, United States
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
I aspire to be a successful recording engineer & musician in the industry.
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