Q&A

A collection of popular articles from the MC-808 knowledge base
How Do I Assign Patches or Rhythms to Parts?.. 2 How Do I Create a New Pattern with the Realtime Record Feature?.. 3 How Do I Import a.WAV and AIFF File from a Computer?.. 4 How Do I Slave the MC-808 to External MIDI Clock?... 5 How Do I Turn Off the Motorized Faders?.. 6 How Do I Find MC-808 Articles in the RolandUS.com Knowledge Base?. 7
2009 Roland Corporation US
MC-808 How Do I Assign Patches or Rhythms to Parts?
Press the PATCH/SAMPLE button. Select the part you wish to use for the patch or rhythm by pressing one of the sixteen numbered part buttons. Cursor all the way to the left. Turn the VALUE dial to select PATCH or RHYTHM as desired. Cursor once to the right. Turn the VALUE dial to select the desired patch or rhythm category. Cursor once to the right. Turn the VALUE dial to select the desired patch or rhythm kit.
Tip: To move through the patches faster, hold the SHIFT button while turning the VALUE dial. 9 To assign a patch to a different part, select the part you want and repeat Steps 3-5.
How Do I Assign Patches or Rhythms to Parts?
MC-808 How Do I Create a New Pattern with the Realtime Record Feature?
In the MODE section, press the PATTERN button. Turn the VALUE dial to select an empty pattern locationempty patterns start at Number 684.
Note: Holding SHIFT while turning the VALUE dial moves through available values more quickly. 9 Press ENTER. Press PATCH/SAMPLE. Press PART SELECT 10 and turn the VALUE dial to select the desired drum kit. Press RECthe display reads Realtime Rec. Press ENTER. Cursor right to select the Rec Measure Len: parameter. Turn the VALUE dial to select the length of your pattern in measures (bars).
10 Cursor right until you see the Qtz Reso parameter. 11 Turn the VALUE dial to select the quantize resolutionif youre not sure, select 1/16. 12 Press PLAYafter a two measure count-in, begin playing your pattern on the MC-808s velocity pads. Tip: As you record, the pattern plays over and over, allowing you to build up the pattern bit-by-bit each time the pattern comes back around. 13 When youre finished recording, press STOP.
How Do I Create a New Pattern with the Realtime Record Feature?
MC-808 How Do I Import a.WAV and AIFF File from a Computer?
9 Connect the MC-808 to your computer via USB and press the SYSTEM button. While holding down SHIFT, press Pad 8 (USB). Set USB Mode to Storage. Cursor right twice to select USB Storage, and then press the ENTER button. Select whether you want the MC-808s Internal or Card storage to appear on your computer, and then press ENTERthe screen reads SYSTEM:USB:STORAGE Connected. On your computer, if any windows pop open, close them. On Macs, MC808 USER or MC808 CARD appears as a drive on your desktop. On PCs, MC808 USER or MC808 CARD appears in your My Computer folder. Double-click the MC808 driveinside are two folders named ROLAND and TMP. Double-click the TMP folderinside are two folders named AUDIO_IMPORT and SMF. Drag any 16-bit, 44.1kHz.WAV or AIFF file you want to import into the AUDIO_IMPORT folder.
10 Eject the MC-808 drive from your computer. On Macs, drag the drive to the trash. On PCs, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. 11 On the MC-808, press EXIT twice. 12 Press the appropriate USER or CARD Group buttondepending on the storage type you selected in Step 6 and then press PATCH/SAMPLE. 13 While holding down SHIFT, press Pad 13 (IMPORT) to display a list of the samples ready for importing. (If the screen says (EMPTY), repeat Steps 1-12. 14 Select each sample you wish to import and press ENTER twicethe sample appears in the USAM bank of patches. Repeat Steps 13 and 14 to import additional samples.
How Do I Import.WAV and AIFF Files from a Computer? 4
MC-808 How Do I Slave the MC-808 to External MIDI Clock?
Connect the MIDI OUT of your external device to the MIDI IN jack of the MC-808. Make sure your external device is set to transmit MIDI clock. On the MC-808, press the SYSTEM button. While holding down SHIFT, press Pad 2 (SEQUENCER)the screen reads SYSTEM: SEQUENCER Sync Mode: MASTER. Use the VALUE dial to select SLAVEthe BPM indicator displays - - -.-. Press the WRITE button to save your settings. Press Play on your external devicethe MC-808 automatically starts, and then plays at the external devices tempo.

How Do I Slave the MC-808 to External MIDI Clock?
MC-808 How Do I Turn Off the Motorized Faders?
5 Press the SYSTEM button. While holding down SHIFT, press Pad 1 (PANEL). Cursor right until you see SYSTEM:PANEL Fader Motor Sw: ON. Turn the VALUE dial to select OFF. Press the WRITE button to save your settings.
How Do I Turn Off the Motorized Faders?
MC-808 How Do I Find MC-808 Articles in the RolandUS.com Knowledge Base?
3 Point your browser to the MC-808 Support area on RolandUS.com. Click Knowledge Base. If youre not already logged into Roland Backstage, the Roland Backstage login appears. If youre: a Roland Backstage memberenter your email address and password, and then click the Login button. not yet a Roland Backstage memberclick Create New Profile to create a free new user account. As a Roland Backstage member, you become part of the online Roland US.com community and gain access to helpful tools and services. 6 Once youre logged in, click the large Knowledge Base button. On the Knowledge Base screen, enter MC-808 in the Product field. Click the Find button in the middle of the screen to browse the available MC-808 Knowledge Base articles.
How Do I Find MC-808 Articles in the Knowledge Base?

MC-808

Sampling Groovebox
New-Generation Groovebox with Motorized Faders
From the company that made groovebox a household name comes a remarkable addition to the famous Roland groovebox family: the MC-808. Optimized for realtime performance,The sleek, silver powerstation features eight motorized faders on its surface a groovebox first! With Rolands most sophisticated processor at its core, the MC-808 has top-of-the-line sampling, sequencing, and synthesizer functions, yet it comes in at a new, low price point. For beat-makers, producers, remixers, live performers, and DJs, no sampling groovebox offers more bang for the buck than the MC-808.
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Flagship Features

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The MC-808 shares two key attributes with its elder sibling, the flagship MC-909: The same top-of-the-line sampling and sequencing features that made the MC-909 so famous are built into the MC-808, making it a serious tool for sampling, editing, track building, and mixing. Performers are in for an extra treat with the MC-808, however, as it has a remarkable feature that no other groovebox has. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Sounds & Patterns
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MC-808's internal sounds and patterns have been created fresh by artists around the world. Make no mistake these slammin new dance and hip-hop grooves are instantly ready for primetime. A few "must have" sounds from the MC-909 are also included. But playing and manipulating the internal patterns is only half the fun. The MC-808 allows you to sample any sounds you like, edit them, and add them to your productions. You can even import WAV and AIFF files from your computer into the MC-808 via USB. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motorized Faders

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Motorized faders on an affordable groovebox?! Youre not dreaming. The MC-808 is the worlds first groovebox with this feature! Sure, the motorized faders look cool, but they also provide serious power for live performers. No matter what pattern you call up, the faders will snap to the proper position. As a result, the parameter values and position of the faders always correspond, allowing you to see the values instantly and make changes directly. No more unexpected jumps in values when you grab a fader in mid-performance. Its always in the right position. Plus, from the fader movements you can see automations such as filter, pan, and part levels changes. If you want to cancel and control the faders manually, simply move the touch-sensitive faders.

Editing Software

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Live performance with the MC-808, and fine edits on your computer. The MC-808 ships with an editor software (Mac OS X, Win XP/2000) that lets you perform serious sample editing tasks on the luxury of your large computer monitor. Use the patch editor to tweek sounds and work on the part editor for part mixing to finish up your patterns.

* Actual product appearance may be subject to change.
q 128-voice polyphony synthesizer engine q 8 motorized faders a groovebox first! q Brand new sounds and patterns q Powerful sampling & sequencing features
q Editor software included (PC/Mac) for editing samples, patches, and parts q CompactFlash slot for memory backup q USB for MIDI and storage to import and export AIF/WAV file q 16-step pad bank, D Beam controller

MC-808 Specifications

[Sound Generator Section] s Maximum Polyphony 128 voices (shared with the sampling section) s Sampling Frequency 44.1 kHz s Parts 16 (Main) + 16 (RPS) s Waves 622 s Patches User: 1,024 (pre-load: TBA), Card: 256 s Rhythm Set User: 128 (pre-load: TBA), Card: 128 [Sampling Section] s Data Format 16-bit linear (File Type WAV/AIFF) s Maximum Polyphony shared with the sound generator section s Sampling Frequency 44.1 kHz (fixed) s Maximum Sampling Time Internal Memory (4 MB) only: mono: 45 sec. approx. (stereo 22.5 sec. approx.), Fully expanded with DIMM (516 MB): mono: 97 min. approx. (stereo 48 min. approx.) s Samples User: 2,000, Card: 7,000 [Sequencer Section] s Parts 16 + Tempo/Mute Control s Resolution 480 ticks per quarter note s Tempo s Maximum Note Storage approx. 1,300,000 notes s Patterns User: 800, Card: 800 s Recording Mode Realtime, TR-REC, Step s Songs 50 s Arpeggio Style 128 s Chord Memory 128 s RPS Set 50 s Pattern Set 50 [Effects Section] s Reverb 1 (4 types) s Compressor 1 (1 type) s Pitch Shifter (for external input) 1 (1 type) [Mastering Section] s 3-bands Compressor 1 (1 type) [Expansion Slot] s Sampling Memory Expansion DIMM 1 slot, Number of pins: 168-pin, Speed: 100 MHz (PC100 CL=2), 133 MHz (PC133 CL=3), Voltage: 3.3 V, Capacity: 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, Board height: 38 mm or less s External Memory Save Pattern/Patch/Sample, CompactFlash card: 1 slot, Compatible up to 1 GB (3.3 V) [Controllers, Display] s Display Pattern Number Display: 7 segment 3 character (LED) x 2, BPM Display: 7 segment 4 character (LED) x 1, 20 x 2 character type LCD (with backlit) s Control Knob OUTPUT Volume: 1, INPUT Volume: 1 s Control Slider Motorized Fader x 8 (touch sensitive) s Other Controller D Beam Controller s Connectors 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 s Power Supply AC 117 V, AC 230 V, AC 240 V s Power Consumption Approx. 40 W s Accessories Owners Manual/Quick Start, Contents List, AC Adaptor (PSB-3U, AC Cord), Card Protector * The specifications are subject to change without notice.