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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

What are the main features of the Roland MC-909 Groovebox?

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.

Is the Roland MC-909 suitable for live performances?

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.

Can the Roland MC-909 integrate with other MIDI devices?

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.

Does the Roland MC-909 support sound expansion?

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.

What type of music production is the Roland MC-909 best suited for?

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.

Rik Marston Official

Rik Marston Official

Roland MC-909 Groovebox 2014 FACTORY PRESET DEMO Sampler Synthesizer TR-909

Video thumbnail for Roland MC-909 Groovebox 2014 FACTORY PRESET DEMO Sampler Synthesizer TR-909 by Rik Marston Official

Roland MC-909 Groovebox 2014 FACTORY PRESET DEMO Sampler Synthesizer TR-909

Rik Marston Official

Rik Marston Official

Video thumbnail for Roland MC909 Overview - The Ultimate Groovebox? by Tubedigga

Roland MC909 Overview - The Ultimate Groovebox?

Tubedigga

Tubedigga

Video thumbnail for Roland MC-909 Groovebox: Indie-Pop Dream or Outdated? (featuring Moon of Vega) by Made on Tape

Roland MC-909 Groovebox: Indie-Pop Dream or Outdated? (featuring Moon of Vega)

Made on Tape

Made on Tape

Video thumbnail for Roland MC-909 groovebox Synth engine! Part 1. Introductions by BMR Studio

Roland MC-909 groovebox Synth engine! Part 1. Introductions

BMR Studio

BMR Studio

Video thumbnail for THE Roland MC 909 WORKFLOW for Beginners Guide. by SampleKings

THE Roland MC 909 WORKFLOW for Beginners Guide.

SampleKings

SampleKings

Video thumbnail for Roland MC - 909 Groovebox (House Music Edition) by Berlin House Music

Roland MC - 909 Groovebox (House Music Edition)

Berlin House Music

Berlin House Music

Video thumbnail for Roland MC-909 : Rhythm Sample Edit : Chop : Import Custom Drums by Eric Lesniewski

Roland MC-909 : Rhythm Sample Edit : Chop : Import Custom Drums

Eric Lesniewski

Eric Lesniewski

Video thumbnail for Groovebox MC-909 House Jam by Berlin House Music

Groovebox MC-909 House Jam

Berlin House Music

Berlin House Music

Reviews

PROS

  • Multitimbral 16 channel virtual analog synth with 64 voice polyphony

  • Real knobs and sliders for tactile control

  • Multiple outputs and effects comparable to contemporary synths

  • Classic Roland 4-part sound with chorus mimicking a Juno

  • Capability to import your own waveforms and samples

  • Supports various recording modes including TR-Rec and real-time recording

  • Versatile with a sequencer, sampler, sound designer, and turntable emulation

  • D-beam sensors for unique performance control

CONS

  • Large size may be cumbersome for some setups

  • No modern software support or updates

  • Critical parts like the main board are not replaceable

  • Sound engine described as somewhat metallic by some users

  • Small amount of menu diving required for loading samples

  • 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

  • Cleaning and DeOx are essential for maintaining button functionality; past owners report pet hair and liquid spills inside, indicating prior neglect or heavy use.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • 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.

    Source
  • The MC-909 struggles with live sequencing; it's cumbersome to arm/disarm the record button without stopping playback, affecting live performance flexibility.

    Source
  • Users appreciate the MC-909's capability to add custom samples, allowing for personalization of beats beyond the built-in sounds.

    Source
  • The MC-909 includes a TR-REC mode for step recording, offering a traditional drum machine workflow similar to the iconic TR-909.

    Source
  • The device has a 480 ticks per quarter note timing resolution, providing precise sequencing capabilities for complex rhythms.

    Source
  • 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.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • 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.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • 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.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners often upgrade the RAM and replace worn pad buttons, with replacement parts like buttons available from vendors such as Syntaur for around $50.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners describe a steep learning curve due to the depth in sequencing, sampling, and effects routing, requiring significant practice to master.

    Source
  • Users mention the MC-909's large size as a potential drawback for desktop setups, requiring substantial space to accommodate its footprint.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Some users compare the MC-909's depth and sequencer flexibility favorably to early versions of Ableton Live, highlighting its standalone capabilities.

    Source
  • Some owners express interest in comparing the MC-909 to Roland's newer MV-1, indicating curiosity about advancements in similar products.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • It's noted that the MC-909 excels in driving synths within a live hardware setup, appealing to those who prefer playing live with slightly obsolete equipment.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Roland MC909

soundonsound.com

The Roland MC-909 is a powerful and versatile groovebox, boasting a robust synthesis engine, a 16-track sequencer, and real-time control options. Its standout feature is the large, high-quality LCD, which enhances usability. Sampling integration and USB connectivity further bolster its appeal. However, it falls short with some convoluted operations, lacks an Undo function for sample editing, and has no effects memories. The absence of a tempo track in Song mode is also a notable drawback. Despite its high price, the MC-909 remains an attractive choice for those who prefer hardware over software solutions.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
quetzycotel

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.

koestliche_intelligenz

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.

siriusc

Awesome groovebox

Synth engine, sampler, sequencer and FX processor in one box

Artist usage

Add artist
See how RZA uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

RZA

Rapper, Music Producer

Wu-Tang Clan

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video RZA mentions owing the Roland MC-909, right at 1:24

See how James Murphy uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

James Murphy

Singer, DJ

LCD Soundsystem

...
Verified via Emusician

This Electronic Musician article states that Murphy owns a Roland MC-909.

See how Giuseppe Ottaviani uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

Giuseppe Ottaviani

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via Photo

"#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.

See how Jerome Fontamillas uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

Jerome Fontamillas

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Switchfoot

...
Verified via Youtube

Jerome Fontamillas uses the Roland MC-909 Groovebox as a production tool, as shown in a YouTube video.

See how Eric Persing uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

Eric Persing

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Spectrasonics

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.

See how MIDERA uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

MIDERA

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

MIDERA is playing an MC-909 and a Korg ER-1 in this video.

See how Government Alpha uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

Government Alpha

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post by m_vierikko Government Alpha's setup is shown to include the Roland MC-909 Groovebox.

See how DJ TECHNORCH uses Roland MC-909 Groovebox

DJ TECHNORCH

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via Photo

DJ TECHNORCH can be seen using the Roland MC-909 Groovebox during his performance at WARP SHINJUKU, as documented on Bandsintown.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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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Community setups

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primecandidate

primecandidate

Gear IQ 147

burntsystems

burntsystems

Gear IQ 124

primecandidate

primecandidate

Gear IQ 147

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