Roland Corporation MC-307 Quick Start

Thank you, and congratulations on your choice of the Roland MC-307 Groove Box. The MC307 is a further evolution of earlier groove boxes, making it even more usable than ever, providing enhanced realtime operability, and boasting new functionality optimized for DJ play. Unlimited possibilities can be achieved even by simply editing the preset patterns, making the MC-307 the ideal piece of groove gear for creating dance music.

The MC-307 comes with two manuals: "Quick Start" and "Owner’s Manual." This "Quick Start" manual will help you to quickly learn basic operation of the MC-307.

QUICK START

Contents

Making the Connections ....................................................................... 2

Turning the Power On and Off.............................................................. 3

Using the MC-307................................................................................... 4

Listening to Various Patterns............................................................... 6

Playing Back Patterns Continuously..............................................6

Adding Variations to Pattern Playback................................................ 8

Using Mute Function......................................................................8

Changing to Another Patch.......................................................... 10

Functions for DJ Performance ........................................................... 12

Adding Variations to Sound Using Knobs....................................12

Cutting Sound of a Specified Band (Isolator)............................... 14

Delay (Echo) and Reverb Effects ................................................ 16

Combining a Turntable and BPM................................................. 17

Phrase Adding Function ..................................................................... 18

Using a Single Keyboard Pad to Sound Phrases

(Real-time Phrase Sequencing).............. 18

Using the Arpeggiator.................................................................. 19

Making Original Patterns..................................................................... 20

Creating Drum Part Play..............................................................20

Creating Bass Part Play............................................................... 26

Saving Created Patterns ..................................................................... 30

Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: “USING THE UNIT SAFELY” and “IMPORTANT NOTES” (REFERRENCE MANUAL p. 2; p. 8). These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit. Additionally, in order to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided by your new unit, REFERRENCE MANUALshould be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference.

permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

Making the Connections

The following describes how to get connected up for a typical setup. If you intend to connect other external instruments, refer to the Owner’s

Manual (P.133).

* To prevent malfunction and/or damage to speakers or other devices, always turn down the

volume, and turn off the power on all devices before making any connections.

* Be sure to use the supplied AC adapter. Otherwise, malfunction may result.

Wind the cable around the hook to prevent accidental disconnection.

Audio Cable Pin Jack (For connecting to audio equipment)

Phone Jack (For connecting to keyboard Amp.) Included AC adapter (to the AC outlet)

Keyboard amp, Audio set

* To prevent the inadvertent disruption of power to your unit (should the plug be

pulled out accidentally), and to avoid applying undue stress to the AC adaptor jack, anchor the power cord using the cord hook, as shown in the illustration.

Stereo headphones

Turning the Power On and Off

Turning the Power On

Once the connections have been completed (p. 2), turn on power to your various devices in the order specified. By turning on devices in the wrong order, you risk causing malfunction and/or damage to speakers and other devices.

* This unit is equipped with a protection circuit. A brief interval (a few seconds) after

power up is required before the unit will operate normally.

3 4 5

Make sure that the volume control Knob of the MC-307 and of your amp system are turned to the minimum position.

Press the power switch on the MC-307’s rear panel to turn it on.

Turn on the power of the amp that the MC-307 is connected to.

Put your amp’s volume at an appropriate level.

Press whatever keyboard pads you like, so you hear sound, while you adjust the volume using the volume control knob on the MC-307.

Turning the power off

Be sure to turn the power off in the proper order.

Turn down the volume control Knob on the MC-307, your amp, and any other equipment so they are all at the minimum position.

Turn off the power on the amp to which the MC-307 is connected.

Then, turn off the power of the MC-307.

Using

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the MC-307

The MC-307 is a player-oriented version of the groovebox. It features functions that support real-time operation, and DJ-play. This manual explains the major functions of the MC-307.

See the appropriate pages for how to operate.

Wide range of preset patterns

240 patterns are pre-installed, covering almost all kinds of dance music. Also, 200 original patterns can be additionally stored.

Variety of patches

In addition to the 512 patches used in the MC-505, 288 new dedicated patches have been added to the MC-307. Patches for any kind of situation are available.

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Various knobs capable of real-time operation

These enable real-time tone changing for use as one type of musical expression.

Dedicated "BPM display" and "TURNTABLE EMULATION"

A display for indicating solely the tempo is provided. This enables easy operation, similar to manually finding the start of a track using a turntable.

Two types of

"Part mute button" for adding variation to pattern play

Starting with the piano solo, and then adding bass and rhythm, musical compositions can be handled in real time.

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recording functions

Offers both "Real-time recording," which records play on the keyboard pad as is, and "Tr-Rec" which Records Using Simple Button Operations.

"RPS" and "Arpeggiator" for stronger sounds

Attractive live performance is possible by adding phrases in real time.

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Listening to Various Patterns

A pattern consists of 1 to 32 measures of play that include patches and rhythm sets of up to 8 parts.

The MC-307 is provided with 240 preset patterns. In addition to these, an area for up to 200 user-created patterns is also available.

The procedure for playing back a preset pattern is explained here.

Playing Back Patterns Continuously

The procedure for playing back various patterns while maintaining the tempo of the first pattern is explained here.

This method is useful for live performances.

For the procedure for creating a user pattern, see 20page.

Procedure

Press the [PTN] button.

The screen for playing back patterns appears.

Press the [PLAY] button.

The pattern is played.

Listening to Various Patterns

Using the [VALUE] dial or the [INC]/[DEC] buttons, select the pattern to be played back.

Current Pattern Number

Next Pattern Number

After a while, playback is switched to the selected pattern.

In this way, various patterns can be played back successively without stopping.

Playback-related operations are performed using the buttons shown in the figure below.

Return to the previous measure.

The preset patterns are classified as follows:

P: 001 - 090 Techno P: 091 - 142 House P: 143 - 179 Hip Hop P: 180 - 203 Drum’n’Bass P: 204 - 210 BreakBeats P: 211 - 220 Jazz,Lounge P: 221 - 225 Reggae P: 226 - 240 Latin

During playback, you can press the [CURSOR (left, right)] buttons to successively select the first number of each genre.

Returns to the beginning of the pattern.

Starts playback.

Pressing the [PTN] button that appears in the screen in Step 3 allows you to switch to the screen that also shows the name of the selected Pattern.

Proceeds to the next measure.

Used in recording. (P.20)Stops playback.

Next Pattern Name

You can also have it so Patterns play back at the tempo set for each of them every time there is a switch to playback of a succeeding Pattern.

- Stopping playback, selecting a pattern, then starting playback again

- Pressing the CURSOR uttons (right or left)

during playback

Adding Variations to Pattern Playback

The MC-307 is capable of adding variations to a pattern while playing it back. While general sequencers are designed to play back pre-created music only, the MC-307 is capable of adding variations to music in real time. This is especially useful for dance music.

Using Mute Function

Use the mute function to add variations to sound play. Mute is one of the most basic functions. It is also one of the essential techniques needed to master the MC-307. Try playing a pattern in intro style.

3,5, 6,7, 8

Procedure

Press the [PTN] button.

The pattern playback screen appears.

Using the [VALUE] dial or the [INC]/[DEC] buttons, select

pattern P: 003.

Set the part buttons [R] and [1] to [7] as shown in the figure on the following page.

Press the [PART MUTE] button, then press the part buttons [R] and [1] to [7] to set as follows.

Adding Variations to Pattern Playback

Press it, and its indicator will start blinking

lit

Press the [RHYTHM MUTE] button, then press the part buttons [R] and [1]

to [7] (BD, SD.... OTHER) to set as follows.

Blinking

lit

Each part is equivalent to a single player in a band or orchestra. Parts 1 to 7 are for playing chromatic instruments such as piano and bass, while part R is for percussion instruments such as drum.

The part buttons indicate the following:

Press it, and its indicator will start blinking

Perform actual play.

Press the [PLAY] button.

The pattern is played back in intro style.

Press the [PART MUTE] button.

Then part muting can be operated.

After playback of several measures, press Part Button [2].

Bass starts to sound.

Press the [RHYTHM MUTE] button.

Now, rhythm muting can be operated.

After playback of several more measures, press [BD] button (Part Button [R]).

Bass drum is added for more dynamism.

The above is a simple example. More complicated muting techniques, using a variety of timings, could be used to create an entire song. Try muting at various timings using other patterns.

Lit: Playback data exists, Blinking:Muted, Extinguished: No playback data exists

The status, whether it is lit or blinking, can be switched by pressing the part button.

With rhythm set muting, the individual percussion instruments making up part R can be muted. Mute

uttons are classified as

follows:

BD: Bass Drum SD: Snare Drum HH: Hi-Hat CLP: Hand Clap CYM: Cymbal TOM/PERC: TomTom/ Percussion

HIT: HIT/One Shot Sound OTHERS: Others

Adding Variations to Pattern Playback

Changing to Another Patch

By changing the patch (or rhythm set) used in the pattern, a completely different pattern sound can be made. First, see how the pattern sound changes by changing to various patches.

For example, try changing the rhythm set here. By changing the patch while playing the pattern, the difference in sound between patches can be clearly heard.

1 2

4 5

Procedure

Press the [PTN] button.

Using the [VALUE] dial or the [INC]/[DEC] buttons, select

2,7

pattern P: 003.

Press the [PLAY] button.

Pattern playback starts.

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