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Description
Unleash your creative potential with the Roland MC-909 Groovebox, a powerhouse of production capabilities that bridges the gap between audio and MIDI integration. Designed for serious music producers, this versatile instrument is not just a Groovebox; it's a complete music production system. With its 4-Tone synthesis engine and up to 64-voice polyphony, the MC-909 offers rich, dynamic soundscapes that are ready to fuel your next track.
Easily combine and sequence sampled phrases and MIDI tracks, as the MC-909 synchronizes your loops with precision. Whether you're importing .WAV/AIFF files from your computer via USB or capturing audio through its stereo analog and digital S/PDIF inputs, this unit offers seamless integration. It even allows for expansion with an optional SRX-Series Wave Expansion Board to keep your sound library fresh and inspiring.
The MC-909 is equipped with a dance-focused ROM featuring 800 new patches, 72 rhythm sets, and 693 waveforms, all crafted for cutting-edge production. Its intuitive interface, complete with velocity-sensitive pads and dual D Beams, puts creative control at your fingertips. With studio-quality effects like 24-bit reverb and multi-effects processors, your mixes will shine with professional polish.
SmartMedia storage ensures that your samples, patches, and user data are safely stowed, offering convenience and portability. Expand your horizons with the new V-LINK function for integrating audio and video, making your performances as visually captivating as they are sonically stunning.
Key Features:
- 16MB sample memory, expandable up to 272MB with optional DIMMs
- 4-Tone synthesis engine with stereo waveforms per Tone
- USB port for sample/Standard MIDI File transfer and data backup
- S/PDIF digital I/O, six analog outputs, and stereo analog inputs
- Dual D Beams and velocity-sensitive pads for dynamic control
- Studio-quality effects including 24-bit reverb and multi-effects processors
- New V-LINK function for audio and video integration
- SmartMedia slot for easy data storage and portability
Product specs
| Brand | Roland |
| Model | MC-909 Groovebox |
| Finish | Silver |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Grooveboxes |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, USB MIDI |
| Polyphony | 64 Voices |
FAQs
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What are the main features of the Roland MC-909 Groovebox?
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The Roland MC-909 Groovebox features 64-voice polyphony, SRX card expandability, and a comprehensive sequencer. It also includes MIDI I/O and USB MIDI for connectivity, making it versatile for both studio and live performance settings.
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Is the Roland MC-909 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Roland MC-909 is designed for live performances with its robust sequencer, real-time control features, and intuitive interface, allowing musicians to create and manipulate sounds on the fly.
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Can the Roland MC-909 integrate with other MIDI devices?
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The Roland MC-909 offers MIDI Input and Output, as well as USB MIDI, allowing it to easily integrate with other MIDI devices and software for expanded musical capabilities.
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Does the Roland MC-909 support sound expansion?
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Yes, the Roland MC-909 supports sound expansion through SRX cards, allowing users to enhance their sound library with additional high-quality samples and patches.
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What type of music production is the Roland MC-909 best suited for?
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The Roland MC-909 is versatile and well-suited for electronic music production, including genres like techno, house, and hip-hop, thanks to its comprehensive sound engine and sequencing capabilities.
Videos
Rik Marston Official
Roland MC-909 Groovebox 2014 FACTORY PRESET DEMO Sampler Synthesizer TR-909
Reviews
PROS
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Multitimbral 16 channel virtual analog synth with 64 voice polyphony
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Real knobs and sliders for tactile control
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Multiple outputs and effects comparable to contemporary synths
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Classic Roland 4-part sound with chorus mimicking a Juno
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Capability to import your own waveforms and samples
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Supports various recording modes including TR-Rec and real-time recording
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Versatile with a sequencer, sampler, sound designer, and turntable emulation
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D-beam sensors for unique performance control
CONS
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Large size may be cumbersome for some setups
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No modern software support or updates
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Critical parts like the main board are not replaceable
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Sound engine described as somewhat metallic by some users
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Small amount of menu diving required for loading samples
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Cannot edit patterns during playback, limiting live performance flexibility
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland MC-909 Groovebox.
Setup and maintenance
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Cleaning and DeOx are essential for maintaining button functionality; past owners report pet hair and liquid spills inside, indicating prior neglect or heavy use.
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Features and functionality
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The MC-909 has limited acoustic drum kits compared to the XV5080, particularly when using the SRX-01 Dynamic Drums card, reducing kits from 24 to 7.
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The MC-909 struggles with live sequencing; it's cumbersome to arm/disarm the record button without stopping playback, affecting live performance flexibility.
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Users appreciate the MC-909's capability to add custom samples, allowing for personalization of beats beyond the built-in sounds.
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The MC-909 includes a TR-REC mode for step recording, offering a traditional drum machine workflow similar to the iconic TR-909.
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The device has a 480 ticks per quarter note timing resolution, providing precise sequencing capabilities for complex rhythms.
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The MC-909 is praised for its retro appeal, particularly among users who appreciate the 90s aesthetic and sound, complementing older synths like the Korg Trinity and AN1x.
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Software and compatibility
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Editing software for the MC-909 is found on the Japanese Roland site and only runs on PPC Macs or Windows, necessitating older setups for compatibility.
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Value and pricing
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SmartMedia cards, necessary for the MC-909, have increased significantly in price, now costing over $100 despite originally being around $20 in the early 2000s.
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Mods and upgrades
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Owners often upgrade the RAM and replace worn pad buttons, with replacement parts like buttons available from vendors such as Syntaur for around $50.
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User experience
Comparisons
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Some users compare the MC-909's depth and sequencer flexibility favorably to early versions of Ableton Live, highlighting its standalone capabilities.
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Some owners express interest in comparing the MC-909 to Roland's newer MV-1, indicating curiosity about advancements in similar products.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 14 Ratings
75
Powerful sequencer, good rhythm samples, mediocre sounds
A pretty good all in one solution for working on music. It supports a variety of recording modes for sequencing, but my favorite would be it's TR-Rec mode which is a slightly more limited version of a piano roll sequencer you might find in a modern DAW. It also has real time recording. Plenty of knobs for editing the patches. There is a small amount of menu diving involved for loading samples from a computer. The sound engine is okay, although it sounds somewhat metallic. Its best use may be for writing rhythms and sequencing external gear.
It is capable of producing some great sounding music on its own though.
It would be good if it would be good
This is my favorite gear in my junkyard. It is much more then just a groovebox. It has a pretty decent sequencer with a tracker like editor, a sampler, sound designer with 4 layers, turntable emulation, d-beam sensors, etc. So it's a decent toy, but it has a big problem: you can not edit patterns during playback.
Artist usage
Add artist
"#TBT to what i used to travel with and how, apparently, i used to sleep in 2004 :)"
We can see on the table a Roland MC-909.
Jerome Fontamillas uses the Roland MC-909 Groovebox as a production tool, as shown in a YouTube video.
Persing is the founder of Spectrasonics, a company specializing in developing World Class software 'virtual instruments' since 1994. He has produced dozens of the sampling industry's top selling titles and gone on to create the award-winning Omnisphere, Keyscape, Stylus RMX, Trilian, Atmosphere and Trilogy software virtual instruments. Eric's ground-breaking instruments and sound libraries are the best selling and most widely used in the world. Spectrasonics products are in constant use on thousands of major film, television, music, game and multimedia productions.
In addition to being the Creative Director of Spectrasonics, Eric was a longtime consultant and the Chief Sound Designer for Roland Corporation Japan from 1984-2005, creating the key sounds for many popular Roland synthesizers, samplers, CD-ROMs, expansion boards, processors and groove devices - from the vintage Jupiter and JX series, to the legendary D-50, D-70, JD-800/990, R8, S-series samplers, JV-880/1080/2080, the Sound Canvas, JP-8000/8080, MC-505/909, The V-Drums, XV-5080, Fantom series, the V-Synth and many more.
Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland MC-909 Groovebox, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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