Roland MC-808
Open-knowledge reference entry
The MC-808 is a groovebox introduced by Roland in 2006. It is the successor to the late Roland MC-303, Roland MC-307, Roland MC-505 and Roland MC-909.
Background
Roland first announced the MC-808 at the NAMM Show in January 2006. While less expensive than the Roland MC-909, the MC-808 has a number of features the MC-909 does not, including double the polyphony (128-voice) and motorized faders. It lacks the MC-909's SRX card expandability and turntable emulation. It supports more flash memory (1GB CompactFlash,) and more RAM (up to 512MB,) than did the Roland MC-909. It has a 2-line segment built-in LCD that is less flexible - similar to the late Roland MC-505, and much smaller than the Roland MC-909 large LCD screen. It also has a large LED display, similar to the Roland MC-303. The Roland MC-808 requires a USB connection to a computer for full patch editing, unlike the Roland MC-909. (However, the OS v1.03 update available on the Roland website allows for some patch editing without a computer, most notably sample chopping, including auto-chop.)
Features
The key features of the MC-808 are:
MIX OUTPUT Jack (L (MONO), R), DIRECT 1 OUTPUT Jack (L (MONO), R), INPUT Jack (L (MONO), R), Headphones Jack, MIDI Connectors (IN/OUT), USB Connector (USB MIDI, Mass Storage Class), DC IN
Sound generator with 128 note - voice polyphony
16-track sequencer+Tempo/Mute Ctrl Track
D-Beam controller
Wave based synthesizer with fully programmable patches (including rhythm kits)
683 preset patterns
Stores up to 800 patterns (each with 16-tracks called parts) in user memory, and up to 700 more on a Compact Flash card
Three record modes (real time, step and TR mode)
Song mode, which allows sequences of patterns to be recorded
Sampler (Standard sample memory is limited, but sample memory can be expanded with a PC-100 or PC-133 DIMM up to 512MB)
7 banks of 128 user editable patches
RPS sets, which can be used to trigger individual parts of patterns in real time
Arpeggiator with 128 presets
16MB of user memory for storing patterns, songs, patches, RPS sets, pattern sets and samples
4MB of sample memory (to hold newly recorded samples, or samples for playback)
RAM expansion slot (up to 1GB PC-100 or PC-133 DIMM)
CompactFlash slot (up to 1 GB) (for storing patterns, songs, patches, RPS sets, pattern sets and samples)
The factory box comes with the following accessories: owner’s manual, sound and parameter list, AC adaptor, CD-ROM (with editor and USB MIDI driver), ferrite core, a band for fastening the core, and a leaflet ("Attaching the Ferrite Core").
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