The Roland MC-101 is Actually Awesome (long term review)

My updated review of the Roland MC-101, an increasingly capable groovebox, sampler, and synth in a compact device. The more Roland has updated it, the more I went from being iffy about it to falling in love with it.

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[GeorgeL]

Ooo I can actually help with one of the gripes: If you want more grit, add the "saturation" multi effect with the drive cranked up and boost the low end gain. I like it more than the distortion. Also you could run your patch through one of the emulated guitar amps or distortion+chorus combo with sightly less wet mix. There are also some built in 808 style bass drums that when you add a little fuzz, they just explode. I've even made odd black metal inspired industrial stuff using just the built in stuff with tweaks; blastbeats and all, because I'm weird. But it works...

[totaji]

I'd love to see a sample tutorial. How to make and import and implement a variety of samples.

[michaeltrenier]

GABE! Just bought my MC101 after many MANY views of your comparison. Me and the Roland rep talked about your vids my man you’re blowing up 😎 Keep doing your thing man!

[DJ_TideWave]

I just bought the Roland MC-101 second hand and just started scratching the surface. This is going to be an awesome journey learning this groovebox. 😊

[sammadden]

Kinda wish roland would make a MC101 meets sp404 style box

[joshw]

My MC-101 comes tomorrow! I am super stoked and loving all your video tutorials on it!

[Nik.leonard]

There's one thing I'm not happy about the MC-101 and is it's way to handle external MIDI. My gripes are the following (for now, as in 1.6 fw):
- In a drum track, the pads are not in order if played with a keyboard but they are grouped in a weird spaced 4 key groups across 3 octaves (that's bad when you are using a 2 octave keyboard like the microlab or the akai mpk mini)
- The arpeggiator only works with the pads, not with a external keyboard
- General lack of MIDI implemented functions (it's improving)
The MC-101 is a good device, but that little things annoy me. Let's hope that Roland continue improving it (and release a sound editor that doesn't depend on Zenology pro).

[theFXNshow]

I'm glad you've finally fallen in love with the 101. It is my first and only Groovebox and I absolutely love it! Great video, as always, and some sick tunes scattered across it, I loved that bassy trap beat used in one of your segues.

[pastorlance]

I agree with you about MC101 is a great piece of machinery. It is really useful as a device to use as an electronic notebook to put down some ideas for future songs

[jmoffitt]

I had a lot of buyers remorse for the 1st few hours. Now that I'm driving into it more I do see it's appeal. The 101 does have a toyish feel and for the price it should have audio in and sync in/out. The pads could be better for sure. The more I use the 101 the more I like it. Especially once I got it hooked up to my PC and Keylab pro setup for the midi channels. The USB audio in/out was a huge boost and so far flawless

[jcchaconjr]

Maaan, I'm so tempted to get this as a little Xmas present for myself, especially since I've also been messing around with Roland Cloud during the free trial. Seems like a great little device to drop some ideas on, then follow up on a DAW if desired.

[morten]

To start up the mc-101:
Press shift + note + scene + dial the jog 3 steps with your foot + hum the starwars theme 😂

[gelatinous]

Why I like this thing is the polish. To quote Bo, "this thing has got the Roland sound." The circuit and electribe are by no means shoddy devices, but their engines are a lot more "niche" (the Circuit sounds very very clean and the Electribe almost sounds lofi in a way.) The 101 is a lot more balanced sound-wise IMO. It's workflow also feels the best for live sets out of the three. The Circuit requires a lot of pre-memorization and what not, the Electribe is not very streamlined, and I feel like the 101 just works the best for incorporating with DJ sets or what not.

[FRST]

Thanks for your videos on this. It is a very powerful product for something so small. Learning the shortcuts is key and won’t be for everyone. The included sounds are excellent and it’s portability with a 10000mah powerbank should give 20hrs of use. My only real concern is that for a bit more the Roland MV-1 Verselab is better value, will also run from a power bank, although granted it is bigger and not as portable. The MC-101 would be great when travelling.

[tcfween]

Another great video, cheers. I just bought my first groovebox, a Zoom ARQ AR-96 that I got for a good price secondhand and I'm really enjoying coming to terms with it. And I look forward to seeing if I can get it to do what the MC-101 and others do or at least how close I can get.

[mixedatmidnight]

damn straight! It's been the best musical investment, especially during lockdown. It's not perfect but it has improved heaps to the point that I now love it to bits.

[tylon]

The main reason I may purchase the MC101 is the fact it's the cheapest way to get90% of Roland's current patches, which is why I don't understand your comment it doesn't have grit unless your saying Roland's digital gear doesn't have grit(whatever that means)I'm fairly sure if you ran it through some Moog pedals or a Sherman filter bank you'll get all the dirt one could ever want. That's why most of my money goes into efx processors .Like your channel, keep up the good work.

[dmares]

You put me on one and I have loved it since day one making beats on it so much fun

[superben]

I'd say that the mc101 is so much better than the circuit. The circuit is more for like a mess around jam and the mc101 more of a professional instrument and can make actual full songs. I speak from experience having owned both.

[elsantoproductora]

I'm thinking of buying an mc101 and use it as a sound module for the Keystep Pro. The KSP is pretty much knob per function and has a very straight foward workflow with no menu diving at all.
Have you tried something like that?
Thanks for the video!