Roland MC-909 Quick Start Manual
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Roland MC-909 Quick Start Manual

Roland MC-909 Quick Start Manual

Roland mc-909 sampling groovebox: quick start
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Download this manual See also: Owner's Manual
Thank you, and congratulations
on your choice of the Roland
MC-909 Sampling Groovebox.
The MC-909 comes with two
manuals: "Quick Start" and
"Owner's Manual." This "Quick
Start" manual will help you to
quickly learn basic operation of
the MC-909.
Before using this unit,
carefully read the sections
entitled: "IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS" (Owner's
Manual p. 2), "USING THE
UNIT SAFELY" (Owner's
Manual pp. 3-4), and
"IMPORTANT NOTES"
(Owner's Manual p. 5). These
sections provide important
information concerning the
proper operation of the unit.
Additionally, in order to feel
assured that you have gained
a good grasp of every feature
provided by your new unit,
Quick Start and Owner's
Manual should be read in its
entirety. The manual should be
saved and kept on hand as a
convenient reference.
Completing an original song with the MC-909
Creating an original song (pattern).......................... 2
Select a sound ................................................................................................ 4
Selecting an internal sound.............................................................. 4
Using a sound you sampled ............................................................ 6
Loading data from your computer ............................................... 14
Editing the sound ............................................................................ 14
Recording into the sequencer.................................................................... 14
Creating a performance for the drum part .................................. 14
Creating a performance for the bass part..................................... 19
Recording an arpeggio performance ............................................ 22
Copying a part from an existing pattern...................................... 26
Editing a pattern ......................................................................................... 26
Adjusting the balance of each part........................................................... 27
Applying effects .......................................................................................... 27
Saving a pattern you create.................................... 28
Mastering.................................................................. 30
Recording to MD......................................................................................... 31
Producing a CD on your computer.......................................................... 31
Profiles of the pattern creators .............................. 32
■ Convention Used in This Manual
• Words enclosed in square brackets indicate buttons or a dial or a knob or a slider on
the panel.
• (p. **) indicates a reference page.
985
* The explanations in this manual include illustrations that depict what should typically be shown
by the display. Note, however, that your unit may incorporate a newer, enhanced version of the
system (e.g., includes newer sounds), so what you actually see in the display may not always
match what appears in the manual.
202
Copyright © 2002 ROLAND CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the
written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

Quick Start

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  • Page 1: Table Of Contents

    The manual should be saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference. Quick Start Completing an original song with the MC-909 Creating an original song (pattern)... 2 Select a sound ... 4 Selecting an internal sound... 4 Using a sound you sampled ... 6 Loading data from your computer ...

  • Page 2: Creating An Original Song (Pattern)

    Creating an original song (pattern) This section is a step-by-step explanation of how to use the MC-909 to create an original pattern. Select a pattern Let's create an original pattern in user pattern 001. fig.01 Press [PATTERN] to enter Pattern mode.
  • Page 3 Press [F2 (User)]. Turn [VALUE] to select pattern “U:001.” fig.Q1-02 Press [F6 (Select Pattern)]. User pattern 001 is now selected. fig.Q1-03 Creating an original song (pattern)

  • Page 4: Select A Sound

    Creating an original song (pattern) Select a sound ■ Selecting an internal sound Here’s how to select a preset patch / rhythm set as the patch / rhythm set used by each part. Selecting a rhythm set (drums) for part 10 fig.02 Press [PATCH/SAMPLE] to enter Patch mode.
  • Page 5 Turn [VALUE] to select a rhythm set. For this example, let’s select “PR-A: 001 909 TR-909 1.” fig.Q1-05 Press [F6 (Select)]. “PR-A: 001 909 TR-909 1” is now selected for part 10. → "Creating a performance for the drum part" (p. 14) Selecting a bass sound for part 2 Next, we’ll select a bass sound.

  • Page 6: Using A Sound You Sampled

    In this example we will use a CD player connected to the INPUT L/R jacks, and sample a phrase from the included sample data CD. Connect your CD player to the MC-909 before you continue. Selecting a phrase sampled from CD for part 16 Let’s sample an approximately four-second phrase from the beginning of track 24 on...
  • Page 7 Turn [VALUE] to set the value to “0 ms.” On your CD player, play back track 24 and adjust the input level. While you watch the on-screen level meter, use the [INPUT] knob in the VOLUME section to adjust the volume appropriately. Stop the CD playback, and then press [F2 (Auto Trig)] to display a “✔”...
  • Page 8 Creating an original song (pattern) Specify the original key and BPM of the sample Press [F2 (Sample Param)]. fig.Q1-10 Press [CURSOR (down)] to move the cursor to “Original Key.” Use [VALUE] or [INC/DEC] to set the value to “60 (C4).” With this setting, the sample will play at its original pitch when you press velocity pad [2] (C4).
  • Page 9 Press [F4 (Truncate)]. Press [F6 (Execute)]. A message will ask you whether it is OK to delete the unwanted portions of the waveform. Press [F6 (Execute)] once again. The unwanted portions of the sample will be deleted. → Truncate (Owner’s Manual; p. 117) Next, we will maximize the volume.
  • Page 10 Creating an original song (pattern) Saving a sample In the Sample Edit screen, press [WRITE]. The Write Menu screen will appear. Make sure that “Sample” is highlighted. fig.Q1-13 Press [F6 (Sample)] or [ENTER]. The sample name entry screen will appear. fig.Q1-14 Assign a name to the sample you created.
  • Page 11 When you have finished entering the name, press [F6 (Write)]. A screen in which you can select the write destination will appear. fig.Q1-15 Use [CURSOR (left/right)] to select whether you will save the sample in the user area or on a memory card. For this example, select the user area (User).
  • Page 12 Creating an original song (pattern) Creating a patch from a sample Press [F5 (Create Patch)]. A screen in which you can enter a name for the patch will appear. For this example, we will save the patch with a name of “Gtr & Pf.” For details on entering a name, refer to p.
  • Page 13 Press [F6 (Write)]. A message will ask you to confirm that it is OK to write the data. fig.Q1-19 Press [F6 (Execute)]. Now the sample can be used as user patch “U:001.” The screen will ask you whether you want the newly created user patch 001 to be assigned to the currently selected part (part 16).

  • Page 14: Loading Data From Your Computer

    Creating an original song (pattern) ■ Loading data from your computer WAV or AIFF format wave files from your computer can be loaded into the MC-909 as samples, and used in a patch or rhythm set. → (Owner’s Manual p. 132) ■...
  • Page 15 Press [F2 (TR-Rec)]. The TR-REC standby screen will appear. Here you can specify the time signature and length of the pattern. fig.Q2-02 Press [CURSOR (down)] to move the cursor to “Rec Measure Length.” Use [VALUE] or [INC/DEC] to select “1.” Leave the settings at their default values, with a Rec Beat (pattern time signature) of “4/4”...
  • Page 16 Creating an original song (pattern) Inputting the kick drum Press [F3 (Note Number)]. Now you can select the note number of the rhythm tone you want to input. Use [VALUE] or [INC/DEC] to select “60 (C4).” Now you can input the kick drum. fig.Q2-03 Press the velocity pads so that the pads marked by the arrows in the diagram are lit.
  • Page 17 Inputting the hi-hat Press [F3 (Note Number)], and use [VALUE] or [INC/DEC] to select “70 (A#4)” (the note number for the closed hi-hat). fig.Q2-05 Press the velocity pads so that the pads marked by the arrows in the diagram are lit. fig.TRrec2 fig.Q2-06 Creating an original song (pattern)
  • Page 18 Creating an original song (pattern) As you did in step 4, select “72 (C5)” (the note number for the open hi-hat). Press the velocity pads so that the pads marked by the arrows in the diagram are lit. fig.TRrec3 fig.Q2-07 Press [STOP] to stop recording.

  • Page 19: Creating A Performance For The Bass Part

    ■ Creating a performance for the bass part Next, we will create a phrase for the bass part. Here we will use a recording method called “step recording,” in which you will input notes one by one. Let’s input the bass phrase shown below. fig.StepRec0 We will shift the range of the velocity pads down to the bass range.
  • Page 20 Creating an original song (pattern) Press [F4 (Note Type)]. Turn [VALUE] to select “1/8 ( ).” fig.Q2-10 Press velocity pad [11]. An eighth note will be input at A1. fig.StepRec1 The screen will show the following. fig.Q2-11 Press [CURSOR (right)] twice. The note input position will advance by two eighth notes.
  • Page 21 Next, successively press velocity pad [11], [CURSOR (right)], and velocity pad [11] to input two more notes. fig.StepRec3.e [11] [CURSOR (right)] 10. Turn [VALUE] to select “1/16 ( )” as the Note Type. 11. Press [CURSOR (right)]. The note input position will advance by one sixteenth note. This means that you have input a sixteenth-note rest.

  • Page 22: Recording An Arpeggio Performance

    Creating an original song (pattern) ■ Recording an arpeggio performance Let’s use the arpeggiator and chord memory to realtime-record arpeggios on part 3. Realtime recording is the method in which your performance is recorded exactly as you play it. Selecting a sound to use for part 3 In this example let’s select “PR-A: 003 JP OctAttack.”...
  • Page 23 Recording Press [PATTERN] to enter Pattern mode. Press [REC]. Press [F1 (Realtime)]. The realtime recording standby screen will appear. For details on the settings, refer to p. 37 in the Owner’s Manual. fig.Q2-14 Press [PLAY] to begin recording. The pattern will play back repeatedly. Press velocity pad [4] at the beginning of the pattern, and continue holding it down until the pattern ends.

  • Page 24: Making A One-Measure Pattern Into A Four-Measure Pattern

    Creating an original song (pattern) ■ Making a one-measure pattern into a four-measure pattern Let’s create a four-measure pattern by copying the one-measure pattern you just recorded. Make sure that pattern “U:001” is selected in Pattern mode. Press [F2 (Edit)]. The Pattern Edit Menu screen will appear.
  • Page 25 Here you can specify the destination for the copy. Press [CURSOR (down)] several times to move the cursor to “Dest Meas.” Turn [VALUE] to select “2.” 10. Press [CURSOR (down)] several times to move the cursor to “Copy Times.” 11. Turn [VALUE] to select “3.” The pattern will be copied three times.

  • Page 26: Synchronizing The Playback Of The Sampled Phrase

    Creating an original song (pattern) ■ Synchronizing the playback of the sampled phrase Here’s how the phrase you sampled in "Selecting a phrase sampled from CD for part 16" (p. 6) can be synchronized to the sequencer pattern. Press part button [16] so it’s lit. Press [AUTO SYNC] so its indicator is lit.

  • Page 27: Adjusting The Balance Of Each Part

    Adjusting the balance of each part Use the part mixer (the eight sliders in the center of the panel) to adjust the volume balance and pan of each part. Press [F3 (Mixer)] or [MIXER ASSIGN]. The Mixer screen will appear. fig.Mixer Press [PART ASSIGN] to select the parts that you want to adjust.

  • Page 28: Saving A Pattern You Create

    Saving a pattern you create Pattern data you create will be lost if you re-select the pattern or turn off the power. Here’s how to save your data if you want to keep it. Press [PATTERN] to enter Pattern mode. Press [WRITE].
  • Page 29 When you are finished entering the name, press [F6 (Write)]. A screen in which you can select the write-destination pattern will appear. fig.Q3-03 Use [CURSOR (left/right)] to select whether you will save the pattern in the user area or on a memory card. For this example, select user area (User).

  • Page 30: Mastering

    Mastering The MC-909 provides a compressor (mastering effect) that splits the sound into high, mid, and low-frequency bands and makes the volume of each band more consistent. When mixing down to MD or DAT, or when using a CD-R disc to produce your own original audio CD, this lets you master at an optimized level.

  • Page 31: Recording To Md

    Recording to MD Analog recording Connect your MD recorder to the MIX OUTPUT jack, and perform the mixdown. Digital recording Connect your MD recorder to the digital out connector, and perform the mixdown. Producing a CD on your computer The original song you created can be resampled into a stereo sound file (WAV/ AIFF).

  • Page 32: Profiles Of The Pattern Creators

    ‘90s, with numerous releases and a solo album. Operates a music production company named Kent in his own studio, and has produced demo songs and patterns for Roland sound modules and groove boxes. Possesses a wide-ranging musicality, and is admired for the distinctive sonic world he systematically constructs from harmonies and grooves.

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