Would a Roland MC-505 for $400 be a smart buy??

DjViral · Post by **DjViral** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:33 am

Hye i really wanna get all those classic drum machines and synth, like the 606, 707, 303, and i found this advertised in my area.
A Classic Hard Thumping Beatbox Dance Music Weapon with a Rom Library of Comprising Core Elements of Almost Every Major Drum, Synth & Effect Module Roland or Boss Ever Created: CR-78, TR-505, TR-606, TR-707, TR-808, TR-909, R-70, R-8, MC-202, MC-303, VT-1, RSS, Space-D, Tetra Chorus, Space Echo, SH-1000, Juno, Jupiter, MKS, TB-303 & Many Many More Devices Are Faithfully Represented with Full Modern Midi & Sequencing Capabilities ! The D-Beam Controller, Synchronizable Arpeggiators, RPS -Real Time Phrase Sequencing, Onboard Song Templates, 3 Programmable Effects Processors & the Famous Exclusive MC-505 Megamix Functions Make Music Exploration & Composition Very Easy & Enjoyable. The MC-505 is a Great All In One Electronic Music Production Toolbox.

Just wondering if this is a good investment, or should i be getting the actual units if i want the classic sound.

heres the link. http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified- ... =pro-audio

thanks

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:52 am

Its hardly worth it.
Most of the MC-grooveboxes just use samples. So I you're going for the sounds, you're actually better of with emulations, samples or the real thing.
I got the mc-909 and it is a fun sequencer. But compared to almost any real synth, it sounds like crap.
Also, the 505 is a pain in the arse to program. Almost every button on it has like 10 functions.

popslut · Post by **popslut** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:53 am

The MC-505 is an absolute piece of shit and is to be avoided like you'd avoid your best friend's syphilitic prostitute mother.

It bears absolutely no relation whatsoever to the 303, 202, 606, 909 Roland classics except in [extremely opportunistic] naming convention.

andydes · Post by **andydes** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:05 pm

Don't do it.

The sounds on the MC-505 are nothing like the old 808, 909, 303's etc.
They're more like a cheap home keyboard quality sound with added knobs and dials.

I'd rather spend $150 on a second hand Korg ER-1. OK, it's not exactly a classic, but it sounds a hell of a lot better than the MC505.

Rogue Scrunt · Post by **Rogue Scrunt** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:03 pm

don't pay more than $200US

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:46 pm

The mc505 was the piece of gear that really got me into electronic music, I still moderate the 505 yahoo group even. I think it's a really nice groovebox, especially for it's sequencer and things like megamix. But yes, it's not at all a replacement for any of those sounds you mention, on that front it's definitely lacking.

Rogue Scrunt · Post by **Rogue Scrunt** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:01 pm

I have heard some really great tracks made with the 505.

all of those types of samples can be had cheaply or free

gibbygib · Post by **gibbygib** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:58 pm

mc 505 also got me into making music again after a 15 year break. I use it as a drum machine, midi controller and for general arseing about. Wouldn't be parted from it.

thelike5 · Post by **thelike5** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:13 pm

Don't spend that kind of money on an MC-505... just don't.

For around $200, you can get a MC-307 which in my honest opinion, is a better groovebox... but really, that's like saying she's the least ugly girl in the math club...

If you really want a nice self contained unit check out the Yamaha RS-7000 which can be had for roughly $400-$500 depending on RAM added. This unit fetaures a sampler, too so if you ever get sick of the stock sounds you can add your own.

Rogue Scrunt · Post by **Rogue Scrunt** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:17 pm

or pony up fffor an mc 909

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:24 pm

Rogue Scrunt wrote:or pony up fffor an mc 909

Any offers?

Its still pretty much in the same shape as it was in the days it cost me 2000€.
The pads aren't white anymore, but thats about it. They feel better and don't hang anymore like they did when new.

I guess I'll never really get rid of it. It cost too much to sell for 500$ and it is too redundant to sell for a 1000€.

At least roland updated it twice before they built the mc-808.

pip · Post by **pip** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:48 pm

The 505 is a fun little box, I loved playing with it, but you're going to outgrow it fast. Buying a 505 for its samples it like buying Craker Jacks for the toy inside. Yes, it comes with a "toy", but it's not an appealing toy, especially for the price.

The appeal of a groovebox is that it's a stand-alone unit that is less apt to crashing and long boot times than a PC. (In theory.) You can hit the power switch and start making beats instantly. The d-beam is also a real hoot to play with, and $400 is probably the cheapest way you'll ever get your mitts on a Roland with a d-beam.

Buying memory cards for it is going to be difficult and expensive -- smart media cards are no longer manufactured and you NEED to get cards of specific voltage and capacity. Hooking it up to Ableton is going to take lots of setup time and MIDI wizardry. The samples are fun and numerous, but can get bland very quickly and are NOT the primary appeal of the groovebox.

Suggested alternative: Software.
There's a million VST plugins and software packages that offer you much better sound and flexibility for much lower price.

Try something like Propellerhead Rebirth, which is FREE and rewires into Ableton without any headaches.

Or, I highly suggest checking out Nostalgia for 200 bucks. http://www.zero-g.co.uk/index.cfm?Articleid=916
That's some cool shiz -- check out that list of synths. There's even a damn speak-and-spell in there!

Take that $200 you have left over from buying nostalgia and get yourself a MIDI controller. And some Cracker Jacks.

--PiP

electropoet · Post by **electropoet** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:17 am

popslut wrote:The MC-505 is an absolute piece of shit and is to be avoided like you'd avoid your best friend's syphilitic prostitute mother.

It bears absolutely no relation whatsoever to the 303, 202, 606, 909 Roland classics except in [extremely opportunistic] naming convention.

Not a very smart comment in my opinion. Yes...400 bucks is too much...plus...make sure the LED isn't bad...a lot of them are...this will be a vintage piece of gear some day...I've had 4 in the past 10 years...now I just have one for some day down the road. Its quirky like a lot of things...the effects aren't some good...but I've made some insane shit by recording it and then treating the loops with a SPL vitalizer and some outboard fx...some of the sounds are great. A lot of them suck...and most of the drums are old classics. Once you figure out how to program it...is pretty cool. I'd say of you can find one in good shape for 250...buy it. If you want instant trance or whatever...get reason and rewire in with live. You should look at the 505 like you look at any vintage piece of gear...buy it for the 5 or 6 things it does that nothing else can...i know of several things it can do that nothing else can...those are my little secrets. I will not share with popslut.

dodeca · Post by **dodeca** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:45 pm

First off, $400 is too much.

However, it was my first piece of gear, and I do have a nostalgic softspot towards it.

In hindsight, the synth engine is surprisingly deep. You can get some really wild sounds out of it. The downside is that it's a bitch to program. One of the most convoluted, and least intuitive machines I've come across.

I'd also rank it above the MC307, mainly due to all the extra controls on the panel of the 505, more knobs and sliders, less LCD-menu diving.

So, if you can find one for cheap, and can spend hours and days and weeks delving into the manual and under the hood, then *maybe* consider it.