Roland MC-707 GROOVEBOX Video Manual Part One: The Basics

The Roland MC-707 GROOVEBOX has everything electronic music producers need to create a song or perform a live set without a computer. The MC-707 is armed with an eight-track sequencer optimized for fluid production, our latest deep synthesis engine, a powerful sampler, massive effects palette and 16 ultra-sensitive pads for playing or sequencing drum parts, melodic basslines, or polyphonic chord progressions.

The MC-707 Video Manual series looks to dive deep into this powerful GROOVEBOX and takes you through the MC-707 in a sequence as if you turned the instrument on for the first time. We highly recommend viewing the Parts in order but we have also provided chapter links below for you to jump straight to what you need to know.

In this MC-707 Video Manual (Part One), the chapters are:
00:22 Look and Feel
01:38 Projects, Tracks, and Clips
07:02 Tone Tracks
29:11 Tone Editing
46:42 Drum Tracks

About the Roland MC-707...

The MC-707’s eight-track sequencer is made for today's electronic-focused music styles and ever-evolving subgenres. The TR-REC step sequencer is just like those found on classic Roland drum machines, perfect for building rhythm parts quickly. There are also 16 ultra-sensitive pads for playing or sequencing drum parts, melodic basslines, or polyphonic chord progressions.

The MC-707 features our latest sound engine, which fuses virtual analog and modern PCM. It’s flexible, powerful, and lets you dig deep into its sonic capabilities. It has the sounds of legendary Roland rhythm machines and synthesizers that are the foundation of electronic music—including the TR-808, TR-909, TB-303, JUNO-106, and SH-101. But the MC-707 also looks forward, with modern digital and hybrid sounds perfect for creating future classics—today.

In addition to its deep synthesis engine, the MC-707 has a powerful sampler with on-the-fly recording that synchronizes to your project's tempo and works as an expandable platform that never gets stale. Keep things fresh with new loops, one-shots, phrases, and synth sounds—all available online.

For more details on the MC-707:

Watch the complete MC-707 Video Manual here:

Watch the MC-707 Overview videos if you are getting started:

The Roland GROOVEBOX Series also features the compact Roland MC-101:

#roland #rolandaira #groovebox #mc707

[originalsynth]

TIMESTAMPS HERE 🔽
Ok so after a confusing first week with an MC-707 I decided to timestamp (with mentioned shortcuts) these videos, which should be a considerable help for other folk as there's no definitive handbook for this beast. Will do parts 2 and 3 if it helps 🙂And sorry for any mistakes:
10:47 SEQUENCING
10:56 STEP SEQUENCING
12:40 CLEAR STEP (CLEAR + STEP!)
13:06 CLEAR PATTERN (CLEAR + SELECT)
13:16 REALTIME SEQUENCING
13:41 METRONOME (SHIFT + TEMPO)
14:35 QUANTIZE
15:20 QUANTIZE post-recording (SHIFT + QUANTIZE > CLIP)
16:02 STEP RECORDING (REC + STEP 1)
17:36 MEASURE SETTINGS (SHIFT + MEASURE < or >)
18:02 STEP LENGTH (for e.g. polymeter)
18:26 SCALE (change beat length of clip)
19:17 MODE (step play order - fwd/backward etc)
19:41 SHUFFLE - per clip
20:11 STEP SETTINGS (SHIFT + ANY STEP)
21:07 MOVE STEPS (FUNC)
22:08 MOVE NOTES
22:41 SCALES & CHORDS
22:53 SCALES (SHIFT + NOTE)
24:01 CHORDS MODE
24:28 CHORD EDIT (SHIFT + CHORDS)
25:59 CHORD STEP EDIT (SHIFT + ANY LIT STEP)
26:32 CHORD DESIGNER (ENTER)
29:10 TONE EDITING
30:08 TONE SETTINGS (SHIFT + SOUND)
36:26 LEVEL/PAN/DELAY/REVERB SHORTCUT (HOLD SEL - KNOBS C1-C4)
38:07 DEEPER EDITING PARTIAL MODE
41:11 MOD MATRIX
42:51 LFOS
43:38 STEP LFO
46:41 DRUM TRACKS
48:31 Individual pad sounds (SHIFT + SOUND)
49:16 PAD SELECT silently (NOTE + PAD)
49:32 PAD SOUND EDIT (ENTER)
50:40 DRUM SEQUENCING
50:51 TR-STYLE
52:00 REALTIME (REC)
52:27 CLEAR SEQUENCE (CLEAR + PAD)
52:57 QUANTIZE CLIP % AFTER REC (SHIFT + QUANTIZE > CLIP)
53:47 ADVANCED
54:29 STEP EDIT (SHIFT+STEP or HOLD STEP) > VEL/START/MUTE/SUB-STEP
57:40 NOTE REPEAT MODE (CHORD BUTTON)
57:55 NOTE REPEAT (HOLD PAD + LIT STEPS TO CHANGE SPEED)
58:41 EXTRA FUNCTIONS (SHIFT + ANY STEP > FUNC)
59:06 QUANTIZE 100% AFTER REC & ALL STEP SHIFTER

[VimyScout]

With Firmware 1.30 now this machine just got a whole lot better👌 Thank you, Roland 🙏

[silverxgt]

Does this thing have aftertouch in the pads. Roland is always leaving something out, even in the new fantom.

[soda]

The metronome option wasn't there like its missing any ideas on why or how to get it

[elnicoborja]

I don't have the same menus, nor metronome or the scale alteration. Is it bc I haven't recieved my MC 707 with the latest firmware??

[wyromusic]

the amount of data that you can load up as loops is limited on this one, don't consider this device for your live performances. It just let me load 5 loops, most of them were 2 bars long and a couple of them were 8 and then it couldn't load anything else. hello 2023

[markhall]

00:35 SYSTEM SETTING (knobs, velocity, LCD screen, LED brightness, demo mode)
01:18 Project specific settings (pad and slider colour scheme)
01:40 "PROJECTS, TRACKS, AND CLIPS" (track-specific settings inc. slider colours, tracks/clips/groups, new/save project, tempo, new/delete track, tone vs drum tacks)
07:02 "TONE TRACKS" (initial tone, preset sounds, sample from SD card, edit sample,
10:48 Sequencing (using 16 x step-sequencer buttons, multiple notes per step, clear step, settings and notes per step, clear entire "pattern", real-time sequencing, metronome, quantise, step-recording)
17:37 Measure edit (step length, scale, mode, shuffle)
20:08 Step settings (note, velocity, start, length, shift overall sequence timing and pitch)
22:35 Scales
24:00 Programming chords
26:15 Chord designer (key, scale, root, spread)
29:11 Editing tomes (oscillators, filters, modulation, effects)
38:08 Deeper editing of sounds inc. matrix controls
46:42 DRUM TRACKS (new track, kits, settings per pad level/coarse/release/reverb, muting the pads while editing, editing the kit's set of drums)
50:38 Drum track sequencing (step-sequencing, real-time sequencing, clearing one instrument's track, quantise)
53:46 Advanced drum sequencing (velocity/start/mute/sub step, note repeat using "CHORD" button)
58:43 Drum track measure edit (shift overall sequence timing, quantise)

[csharp]

This is how a video manual should be done. I would understand so much other gear if they had presentations like this. Great job Roland!!!

[roker]

These video manuals are absolutely excellent. Roland should do this (with this host) across all new releases. So simple, coherent and easy to follow. Love it.

[remy]

Maybe a stupid question but i cant find how to use the tie function.. And no where how to record a simple pitchbend from an external keyboard. Guess in the motion seq bit cant get it to work.. And even in this update no count in pre count in midi mode. Cant believe that something simple like a pre-count is missing. Everybody is so happy with the arp in 1.60.. but so much simple stuff is missing. Im almost at the point of selling the 707. Hope a new update is comming soon.

[just_pierre]

Roland, please add a 'Undo' function in the next firmware update.

[kzk]

hello
here my little list...

bugs:

-SEL + push C3&C4 knob triggers extra action
if in main menu
i press&hold SEL button to use with C knobs to change LEV, PAN, DEL, REV
and if i press C4 knob in order to get X10 values for REVERB, it will engage CLIP menu
and
if i press C3 knob in order to get X10 values for DELAY, it will change CLIP LINE according to current track nearest CLIP,
i think C3 and C4 knobs they should not do that when SEL button is held.

-when holding MASTER DELAY button and switching parameter with FX PRM or FX DEPTH from Delay Note to Delay Msec, it does not switch automaticaly Delay Sync SW to give control
over to selected parameter

-Master Delay Sync SW
empty project
1.SHIFT + DELAY button
2.FX PRM controls Delay Note
3.set Delay Sync SW to Off
4.FX PRM knob still controls Delay Note
5.change to T-CTRL Delay and back to Delay
6.now FX PRM knob controls Delay Msec

i think that should be switch immidiately after changing Sync Sw right?

maybe this and previous points are related.


-CLIP copy without MSB and LSB

-DRUM TRACK SEQUENCE PADS DO NOT BLINK ALWAYS AND ALSO NOT IMIIDIATELY BUT WITH STRANGE LAG

requests:

-sample purge of unused samples!PLEASE....!

-Track Auto Select mode, when moving pot or fader automaticaly switch to coresponding track

-exit Demo mode when midi start/stop is received

- MOTION OFF to recall current state of [FILTER] knob, [MOD] knob, [FX] knob

-SHIFT + MOTION ON(ERASE) without prompting. please, just like CLEAR + SEL, make it simple to keep the flow.please

-LOOPER track, ability to re record the LOOPER CLIP, no prompts, just press REC and it is re recording the loop, so settings of Pitch/Stretch, Stretch Window, Reverse, and all KNOB ASSING to remain,
this could give nice touch to this feature, you could just re record loop and play with pre configured LOOPER parameters
please this is also important since it does not give free flow of reacting with machine when you have to do it all over again every new loop clip

thanks, bests

[just_pierre]

Congrats, Roland. I'm very happy with your support and great updates. A request : longer sample looping recording, please.

[trevormalcolm]

Hey Roland. How about developing a iOS/Mac/pc sample editor! Would make cutting up fiddly samples easier.

[FunkTree]

Roland this machine has great sounds but please in 1.4
1. Editing multiple pressed steps, velocity mute etc
2. Implement value acceleration on knobs, holding the shift key is not sufficient for some frequency parameters, and it occupies whole left hand
3. If you like "winxp" style dialog boxes to prevent accidental delete or overwriting clips etc... at least assign "cancel", "yes" "no" function to c1/c2/c3 or c4 knob push function

[johnnyutah]

Roland, please make an export of a project in Ableton format to a card. Even korg electribe has it and it makes a huge difference in workflow. This way you can generate ideas on mc-707 and then finish them in Ableton - makes sense

[djtyson]

Will there be a count-in record function by the next update @rolandcloudacademy? I see this is a very common question amongst everyone. Thanks

[davidgoodwin]

Dustin Good always Illustrate the Roland products very nicely. He’s very clear and informative makes you want to buy the product and use it

[josecastillosolis]

The presenter is awesome. Many complicated features explained easily. Thanks!

[palindromial]

And in case you're wondering why with Firmware 1.81 your external MIDI gear doesn't do bank changes properly: When you're in the clip's MIDI settings tab and set MSB and LSB, then press ENTER on the program change number, everything works fine. The trouble is that when the clip is played, it sends the MSB as the LSB and the LSB as the MSB so it doesn't work. You can decide: Either it works in the MIDI tab, OR it works when you play back the clip. Yes, you need to enter whatever the MSB is in the LSB field and whatever the LSB is in the MSB field and THEN it'll work, you get a bank change when the clip starts playing. Dear Roland, it's just a tad bit embarrassing, but please figure this one out. Sadly there's no backwards-compatible fix for a SNAFU like that, but it should still be fixed even if those of us who figured it out then have to change our projects again. 😞