Roland MC-303
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Not to be confused with the MC series of MicroComposers by Roland, the MC-303 is the first of a series of synthesizer/drum machine/Sequencer combo instruments by Roland. The MC-303 opened up the "Groovebox" line of inexpensive products in 1996, specifically targeting dance club and house DJ's as well as amateur home musicians.
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[edit] Synthesizer/Sound Module
The synthesizer unit of the MC-303 is essentially a sample sound module which contains sounds largely drawn from classic Roland synths and drum machines like the TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909 along with the Juno series General-MIDI-Instruments and electronic drumkits. The sampled sounds can be manipulated with a virtual analogue filter, various modulation capabilities and some simple DSP effects.
[edit] Sequencer
The most important part of the MC-303 is the built-in pattern-based 8-Track-Sequencer. It can record and send MIDI data via the MIDI-jacks on the rear panel. It is also possible to program the patterns using the step sequencing capabilities of the machine. With the micro-keyboard on the panel that also can be used as a drum sequencer, the MC-303 imitates the handling as well as the look&feel of other famous Roland synthesizers and Drum machines like the TB-303, the TR-808 and the TR-909.
[edit] Supply problems
Roland apparently underestimated the demand for the new module with the result that many did not receive the modules until months after its launch.
[edit] Criticisms
One criticism made of the machine in various reviews, including the Summer 1996 Sound on Sound magazine, was that the options for creating new sounds were limited and therefore it 'set in stone' the sounds needed to make dance music, discouraging innovation in the process. From a technical perspective a major concern was that any knob tweaks made during real time recording were not transmitted via MIDI. Roland responded in part to these criticisms in its later sound modules by solving the MIDI problem, increasing the synthesis capabilities and adding a sampler section.
