Bad Gear - Roland MC-101

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland MC-101 Groovebox. Is this youngest member of the Roland Groovebox family and little sibling of the Roland MC-707 on par with competitors like the Teenage Engineering OP-1, Elektron Digitakt or Korg Electribe?
Thanks to Klangfarbe for lending me one of their floor models:
www.klangfarbe.com/
/ klangfarbewien
Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:04 Overview Roland MC101
01:45 Engines (Drums, Drums+Comp, Tone, Looper)
02:03 Sounds, Presets, Patches
02:35 UI, Filter, Partial Editor, Unison
03:27 Clip Matrix, Sequencer, Workflow,
03:52 Polymeters, Substeps, Probability, Motion Recording
04:13 Effects Section (Reverb, Delay, Multi FX), Scatter
04:43 Sample Management, Time Stretch
05:05 Sampling (or lack thereof)
05:18 What else??? Pricing, Thanks!!!
05:53 Hate
06:16 Jam 1 (Tech House)
07:12 Jam 2 (Boom Bap)
08:10 Finale (80s on Steroids)
08:42 Verdict

[@AudioPilz]

Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel* Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/audio.pilz/

[@brunswicksquaremusic5905]

It’s not Friday until a strange Austrian man yells about Roland

[@kierenmoore3236]

He’s not strange … He’s like that crazy Uncle you love, now …

[@min-yishen9324]

No that’s Moby

[@AudioPilz]

Servus!!!

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@min-yishen9324 You’ve driven him away, now … Why’d you have to make his heart, feel so bad ? 💔

[@divisiona3974]

Hahaha... you got that right 🤗

[@kalebk0422]

The 80s cheese demo at the end is undoubtedly one of the most tasty bits of cheese we’ve heard in a while. Good job!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@TheRyanKirk]

This is what made me decide to buy this.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

YOU TAKE THAT RIGHT BACK! But seriously, I love this thing, but acknowledge that maybe that means I'm slightly insane. You made it sound great, as always!

[@AudioPilz]

Really enjoyed your vids on it!!!

[@jboulderct]

I knew Gabe would be here to defend his baby! lol

[@annother3350]

Insane? I just bought a kawai k5000 -- have you tried programming one?!

[@TheInternetIsDeadToMe]

Thanks for getting me into this awesome little box Gabe.

[@JGlassy]

Ha! I was hoping Gabe would get in here.. and help defend this joyful insanity we MC-101 head’s share! 🎼😊

[@miamha]

I love that Florian has the ability to consistently make a piece of gear sound like it's barely redeemable trash but also that it can produce amazing sounds

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@russellwoodstechno]

the MC is a barely redeemable piece of trash, he didn't have to try.

[@xisotopex]

I think that is part of the point of the show...

[@fakshen1973]

Bad is subjective... true. But I suspect that Florian is choosing sounds based on what eorks best the qualities of the machine. I take the jams with a grain of salt. But the intro music always seems give a better clue as to the usability of the sounds in general.

[@Jason75913]

@@fakshen1973 nah, his jams are better at that than the intro, in my experience owning some of the gear that he has covered 🤣 but like mentioned in the Roast of Bad Gear video, he _has_ started covering good gear as well since some time back, so it is inevitable that he'll eventually cover everything that I own

[@alexgrunde6682]

“I think Roland are going the way of Gibson” brutal, but also completely accurate

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, it almost hurts...

[@uubrmanx]

​@@AudioPilzOn another note, Cakewalk has been owned by _both_ of them at some point!

[@voltijuice8576]

@@uubrmanx - Gibson at points killed off both Oberheim (PerfX, anyone?) and Opcode Systems

[@nomad1517]

The dumb and dumber gif when you launched the growl bass was 11/10.

[@LastV8Interceptors]

Still really enjoying your reviews a year later. Thanks Pilz - I hope these are half as much fun to make as they are to watch! MC-101 looks fun!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@nodataavailable]

Yes! Very happy to see this finally here. I genuinely love this little guy. It's been a core part of my live set for years. The effects are definitely the strong point. The Guitar Amp simulation is great for grunging up any sound.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!!

[@DJ_TideWave]

I love my Roland MC-101! Made so many tracks with it! 😊 Awesome episode as usual!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Nice!!!

[@lorenmorgan1931]

That 80s video alone was worth the price of admission!

[@AudioPilz]

It won't get any more 80s than this;)

[@Yuzuki1337]

Oh my god how long have I waited for this! Bad Gear Bingo complete! ❤️ Fun fact: I literally have mine sitting right next to me at this moment, just bounced some tracks to Ableton. :)

[@AudioPilz]

Congratulations, Bad Gear bingo FTW!!!

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

Me too 😍😍😍 Me too!!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@SisterRose]

I could have sworn you already did the MC101, lmao. One step closer to roasting all the gear I own.

[@AudioPilz]

I think you mean the TR-6s;)

[@theorize999]

I’ve decided, yours is hands down the best gear channel out there and the ONLY one I’ve found that gives proper demos, well there’s one other but the content is more the nostalgic kind… I really appreciate the effort to go beyond noodling

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@dietervoser4425]

Köstlich ! Darauf habe ich lange gewartet :-) Merci für die Ausführungen !

[@AudioPilz]

Vielen Dank!!!

[@slipknotboy555]

Great as always! The MC-101 actually seems like kinda a useful little machine. Fantastic finale, as usual!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@JGlassy]

Florian, this video sets a new *high bar* for totally capturing the groovebox & 80’s vibe! The KZbinr “I’m Cyborg But that’s ok” should use this as a ‘movie’ with a MC-101 sound track!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@cresshead]

the amount of effort you put into all those memes is amazing

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@kerzwhile]

This is just so typically well done! That damn little box sounds great!! Proper programming too! 😉

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

Zen Core... and four timbers with 128 voices in total and with dozens of great effects. And it is battery powered! You can beat that! ;)

[@jboulderct]

Why is it that seeing a silly little thing like a new Bad Gear video puts this stupid smile on my face? No idea, but we are. Thanks Florian. You are the king!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@Maochan81]

Very nice jams that showcase the Roland sound. I love the 707. I was skeptical at 1st (due the mc808 PTSD), but the sounds, workflow, pads, all the options make it my favorite groovebox.

[@AudioPilz]

MC808 PTSD is real!!!

[@SkyWolfZero]

It was only a matter of time before my favorite groovebox showed up here🎉✌️🎶🎵🎶

[@AudioPilz]

Nothing personal;)

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

Yes... MC-101 is definitely a groovebox of my conscious decision and rethinked choice (because of many factors). I could not be more happy with my decision. 😍

[@SkyWolfZero]

@@SmallWorldBigThings The 101 is definitely a beast and my go to when starting to write a song. I’ve never had trouble with the menu diving or learning the key combos to do what I need…or with the display for that matter. It just works with my old brain lol

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

@@SkyWolfZero Exactly the same with me. Actually I never had a feeling that I can't do something I want to do. Everything is very logical and in a place it should be. To be honest last time I use mostly feature of multitembrality of this small box (I pair it with my Deluge which has much faster workflow for me) but whenever I want to take some "music device" with me then my choice is usually MC-101 or Lemondrop.

[@sherifdemars]

Thanks ! I bougth Roland MC-101 one month ago, i'm really Happy with it everyday

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@mixedatmidnight]

Yes! The MC101. My favourite sound module. Well done on the vid as always. I wasn't sure which genre you were going to end up with but you nailed it

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@pleasure1689]

I'm looking forward to the Roland Cloud video. I know it's coming eventually. It's almost guaranteed. Good video!

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, I really need to take a deep dive into digital Roland hell!!!

[@DarkTapes]

That retrowave/synthwave jam sounded fantastic!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@maciekjankowskitomkow4107]

I've been waiting fot this

[@AudioPilz]

It was about time!!!

[@DJVasC]

Excellent video Florian. It sounds really usable in my ears. You really made me laugh with the Picture in Picture at 2:30. It is genius 🤣🤣🤣

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@TokeStorm420]

Excellent analysis of the MC-101! Not sure if I’d ever sell mine despite its limitations and menu diving. It serves as a great sound module no matter which way it is used. Awesome stuff as always, Mr. Gear!🤙

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@docteurgreene]

I have the MC707 and I don't like the screen, the menu diving, and the fact we can't save our customised sounds. But the whole Roland sound library in one box is what I wanted and I am happy with that.

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, still much cheaper than an Integra!!!

[@madzpanda]

100 percent with you. I totally hate using this thing but every sound on it is good so I do lol.

[@ionianechoes]

You can save sounds now since you can export and import clips.

[@TrentRoseboro-vx7yf]

THANK YOU! I've been waiting for your thoughts on this.

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@FordPickUPRed]

You are one of the best You tubers period. Underrated channel IMO.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@peterjessop1878]

Love mine. I’ve used it as you mentioned. On the go music making and to add additional synths and textures to a live guitar band. Still a bloody pain in the arse to program though. Great job Florian!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@TheSemtexCow]

You’ve really got my interest with this 🔥🔥🔥👍 Roland put the whole 80s in a box ❤ Automan and Streethawk in one jam, you spoil us 😁.

[@AudioPilz]

80s in a box hits the nail on the head!!!

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Roland preset machines are fine if you want to make the same already-tired music as everyone else, genre music without personality that doesn’t stand out and will be completely forgotten 3 weeks after release. You can make great music on anything with enough dedication, but given the attention span of people making music now, will anyone make great music on this box? You’ll be more likely to shine if you choose something else. Save up a little extra and buy an Elektron, they’re real creative instruments. Or if you don’t have the budget for that, save money and buy Volcas. Or use your phone or computer. Roland sells the illusion of being a musician, while subtly preventing you from becoming one, with their poor-quality UI design which makes people want to ignore the important skills that will allow them to make truly unique music.

[@thepauloapo]

@@sub-jec-tiv the partial editor did push it out of preset machine territory, to be fair, even if it takes a certain type of user to endure the menu diving involved.

[@sashosfhc]

Your love-hate relationship with Roland is definitely one of the factors that make this the best youtube channel out there!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@BigMuff520]

I been waiting for you to do the MC-707. This will suffice for now!

[@AudioPilz]

I think I need a few weeks off Roland MCs;)

[@pleasure1689]

As always, your jams are off the chain!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Yuzuki1337]

I agree! A little bit sad we didn't get a gritty acid jam though, the more dirty presets on this thing are by far my favorites.

[@quebecclassicrock8812]

Nice !! Off course this mini fax machine had to be featured on the show ! My fav beat was the F Dilla, I wish we’ll get to have a list of your inspirations as well as a massive compilation of your music

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! It's about time for some serious faxing!!!

[@mikeklubnika]

3:52 has no business sounding that good. loved the video and jams as always

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@beatz04]

As often, this "bad gear" review makes me actually wanting to buy this thing. Great (and pretty funny) editing btw !

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@markorichardson5009]

Even the Roland rep at my local music store had nothing good to say about the 101, but yet you mange to make it sound awesome, well done again 👏👍

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

It is crazy... only because of the menu diving? Ask them to attach some MIDI controller and they will change their minds very fast. Underneath there is one of the best products of Roland - Zen Core.... and the sounds it can produce are really in the master league. Beside that it is 4-tember synth... so basically 4 Zen Core synths are working for your happiness ;)

[@DennisdeWeerd]

Oh, c'mon. Fire that rep. There is so much power stuffed in this little box! Luckily there are Roland rep's on YT that DO understand this box. It's amazing.

[@markorichardson5009]

@DennisdeWeerd ahhh what do you expect most music stores aren't interested unless you are buying a big ticket item, same goes for budget guitars which are of an unbelievable quality these days! The 101 looks good though defo a lot going on in that little box

[@apoclypse]

nNot sure why. The MC101 is a great little device. The menu diving is a little much but it sounds great. It would have been a brilliant piece of kit if it had at least one built in input.

[@SynGirl32]

200k subscribers idea: A jam including every Roland Aira hardware together playing a Post-2020 Irony Silver KZbin Button Stereotypical Germanic Techno cover of "It's Not Easy Being Green."

[@AudioPilz]

Great idea, thanks!!!

[@Yuzuki1337]

I'm willing to pitch my 101 in for a few weeks if you're willing to send it back heinously stickerbombed and/or autographed ;)

[@tsevetgestoorde]

wow that sounded amazing. Thanks for you video.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@johnnieswastedagain]

Thanks for making a Bad Gear for this one! I always want to sell this groovebox cuz i always dread working on it, but as soon as i start playing with it, the sound quality always saves it 😅

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for watching!!! Great sounds indeed!

[@MyReasonToPlay]

Why does the meme disappear when I press the pause button?

[@AudioPilz]

It's magic...

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

MC-101 is a small monster! Of course it extremally complicated in usage (menu diving + crazy combinations of buttons) but once you master it then it can be a perfect companion in your trips. Definitely 10-minutes long video can't be treated as a tutorial (this box has many many more features than it was mentioned here) but in general I think you cached the essence of this small digital multitembral synth/groovebox. Good job Mr Florian! Good Job! 👍👍👍

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@80iesDude45]

Not complicated if you get used to ;-)

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

@@80iesDude45 Of course! I love mine (it is my groovebox of a choice) but the learning curve is quite steep. ;)

[@Create-n-fix-with-Nick]

Another gold episode. Roland should have you on their booth at NAMM - I hope they embrace you as much as you embrace them!! Top content - I love to sit down on a Sunday morning to tea, toast and marmalade and Bad Gear. It’s the Top Gear of MI content on the youtubes!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!! Roland, we need to talk

[@hicknopunk]

Woohoo for the Phrase Lab pic! I was literally thinking about while watching this.

[@AudioPilz]

Classic!!!

[@klassisch3039]

Love your videos!! They are so well put together! Btw I would love to see a video like this but about the Korg Volca Sample 2.

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@paulbmorgan]

My beloved MC-909 dodges another Bad Gear bullet and hangs on for another week. The Roland MC-303, 307, 101, Phrase Lab (?), D2 (??), etc. have all been roasted... simply a matter of time. Nice episode, the 101 looks fiddly, but does pack some punch. Cheers :-)

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Just missed a Phrase Lab😔😔😔

[@MatusFinchus]

Oh my!! My heart LEAPT when I saw this. Sitting in front of my MC707 right now and for a split second, I thought... :D

[@AudioPilz]

Close... Close;)

[@PierGen]

Nice video!, i like very much your videos, enjoy and learn about synths, always getting the best sounds of each tested gear. I have a MC-707 and i like it a lot. Best regards from Mallorca.

[@PierGen]

@audiopilz who is this?

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@infezioneintestinale]

I really love your work, your script writing is top, and your 'jam' are great and inspiring. Yours is the best synth show ever

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@emesisrecordings8318]

I had one and only sold it because I got the MC-707. The thing I miss about it the size for live occations. Versatile but frustrating. I do appreciate the sound very much.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@russellyoung6498]

I like Roland! Thanks Florian, you just reminded me why!!

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️

[@k-g-p]

Finally my favorite piece of hated gear and my loved angry austrian guy in one shot! ❤❤🎉🎉🎉 Love it.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@ZiegWarheit]

It is truly a Boutique version of MC-707

[@AudioPilz]

Lol, that sums it up nicely!!!

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

Battery powered. You can take it everywhere with you in a relatively small backpack. ;)

[@universalvibe72]

Chalk one up for team green! I think it’s safe to say the glowing green ‘a R I a’ series from Roland is almost taking on the role of being a quintessential classic already. More 80s cheese pate, please ❤ See you next time

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@strelokknoize]

Finally! I've been waiting so bad for this lil fella. I swear I'm gonna read all the comments as well since I'm still not sure if I want this.

[@AudioPilz]

Depends on what you expect from it;)

[@SmallWorldBigThings]

Go for it! There is really not so many multi tembral synth on the market with such a good brand on it. Zen Core is one of the best products from Roland. And if you pair MC-101 with some nice MIDI keyboard with aftertouch and modwheel - you will be in heaven ;)

[@ari_shark]

Fantastic review.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@GrzegorzGaezowski]

I'm not sure there is anything with similar price, sound quality and size tradeoff. It sounds great and fits on my desk tray next to a Mininova and a TB-03. Btw, the sound design (partial editor) is not bad at all IMO, I love how they made the most out of the tiny screen by allowing to adjust four parameters without scrolling. Also, I think they made great choice to not make the partial editor menu divey - to alter most of the parameters, I just need to scroll right and either use the four knobs or button + big knob to alter the value of a specific parameter. The learning curve is definitely there, though.

[@AudioPilz]

I'd probably go with a 90s JV rompler

[@sailingstar8176]

I agree, it's amazing that Roland created a useable partial editor with such basic hardware. That's what I love this thing for: it does such a lot for what it is.

[@kaarefestvog6540]

MV-1 - it's gotta be just around the corner.

[@AudioPilz]

Just missed one in my area😔😔😔

[@kenfusion]

Thanks for the vinyl Sim boombap. Made my day 😊

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@supremacydestructor]

Roland's still getting the bad gear treatment. Hooray! (great vid as always man ❤)

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️Thanks!!!

[@DerekPower]

Jam 3 is definitely going to be my nightcall. Yeah, I like my Roland sounds ... amongst other ones =D

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@neonpop80]

Dang I wanna know how you achieved that 80s sound so effortlessly! You nailed it

[@AudioPilz]

I just used a bunch of presets;)

[@neonpop80]

@@AudioPilz I bought so many synths just to get these sounds and theyre all in one small box??!! I still cant get these sounds

[@Jason75913]

​@@neonpop80 Roland gear, especially the rompler keyboards and grooveboxes, are brimming with '80s sounds. They can do modern sounds, too, but the end user has to take the machines there on their own.

[@neonpop80]

@@Jason75913 would I be able to get this with sample machine like Digitakt? I have many audio synths too. Reface DX for FM sound and Roland JX08 to name a few. But the sounds on this video are so on point!

[@Jason75913]

@@neonpop80 MC-101 and MC-707 are what you want, and the 707 has a far better interface and more audio inputs, outputs, and two MIDI outputs (aside from one MIDI input).

[@bigkik]

Finally 🎉 This is my favourite gear in my setup because it sounds so good. I managed to compose complete tracks with it altough i'm still learning how it works. Due to the satanistic menu-diving i take more pleasure turning the knob of my compacts though 😊 Great episode ! Knowing that machine i am really impressed by your speed at learning that U.I. !

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@MrVincent97133]

it's a very very very good groove box for 2023 , thank you very much

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@chaocrator]

well, 101 as a groovebox is somewhat controversial. but 101 as an ultra-portable sound module with built-in sequencer functionality just rocks, i love it and will certainly will buy spare one … or two ))

[@AudioPilz]

That sums it up nicely!!!

[@Toolsquatch]

I was torn between this one and the Electribe 2 a couple of years ago; ultimately went with the Korg, no regrets.

[@AudioPilz]

The Electribe 2 has quite a few nice features!

[@budgetkeyboardist]

I think it's a lovely sounding little box!

[@AudioPilz]

👍

[@apoclypse]

It's finally here! I knew the MC101 would make it on here one day.

[@AudioPilz]

It was about time!!!

[@sammadden5540]

Really, having access to so many roland sounds in such a small box is kinda brilliant. Shame they didn't have the 707's better screen on this one, might of made a difference to the UI

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, I'm getting sick of these small displays

[@aneveningwithebola2727]

Roland, I find, is really good at making instruments, whether they mean to or not. The MC-101 is not a good groovebox, compared to everything else on the market, but it's got a huge (and expandable) library of Roland sounds on it, and a MIDI input. Ditto for the SP series - of course there's way better samplers out there for writing music, but you can do a full live set with just one SP-404. Then there's the Fantom - in this day and age I don't expect anybody's actually using it as the "Workstation" its intended to be, but if you're a keyboardist, and you want a single device that'll hold all the sounds you expect to play, you can do a lot worse.

[@AudioPilz]

I think that's what happens when the bottom line dictates the products;)

[@josuearesav]

You can do a lot worse got me dying 😂 but yea, this gem is full of sounds. Just a little midi keyboard and you're good to go ham on the jams.

[@TylerInTraining]

One of these days I want a Fantom for precisely the reason you mentioned: It's a single device with all the sounds I'd ever expect to play, and hundreds more I likely wouldn't. I'm a keys player first and foremost (which is why it'll be awhile before Florian reviews my FA-08 lol) and for years I loved having access to basically any sound at the ready to perform on, and I've even recorded using just the onboard sequencer - and of course I've filled the sample pad full of memes. The latest Fantom seems to do all that on hyperdrive, and it has CV to interact with my growing collection of analog synths. Just have to wait a couple more years for it to go down in price. haha

[@aneveningwithebola2727]

@@TylerInTraining I'm between a Fantom, a MODX or a PC4 for my "soon as I can afford it" purchase. Fantom for all the Roland sounds, the other two for the FM engines.

[@Decoy303]

Best intro to date. 😊

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@ashfaq1999]

Definitely not bad gear !! A great little roland starting unit with a great sound.

[@dykodesigns]

Lucy Dawless! 🤣I must say the MC-101 has a great sound engine but the UI seems awfully complicated to operate. Just the amount memorization required makes me stay with Korg Gadget (which I use in conjunction with a TR-6S and some Volca's). The MC-101 could really benefit from a friendly, easy to use touch screen UI. The MC-101 is a beast that's trapped in a small box. I'd say connect it to a midi keyboard and enjoy a great sounding workstation synth for a bargain price. 😁 (Ooops. I might give Roland marketing some clever ideas).

[@AudioPilz]

Don't tell them;)

[@Nik.leonard]

Roland should revive the "Groovekeyboard" brand and release a EG-101 MK2 with the MC-101 or the MV-1 engine, more knobs, minikeys, audio in (with vocoder) and a better (touch maybe?) screen. That should really tick all the boxes.

[@henrys3138]

"For the goth kids." Man, being one of the goth kids, I could see Xymox trying to use some of these sounds during the 80s. Suitable for 80s flavored darkwave over delayed and chorusy guitars, weird samples, and a lot of muddy reverberated vocals. At the same time it's pretty much any old synth genre up to this point, though I'd never stomach such a UI. My Ensoniq SQ-1+ already has its share of difficulty. Thanks for the fun video, Florian!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@alexwestconsulting]

The UI isn't that bad. And you can get ur hands on zenology pretty easy, and then import presets straight in. Mostly it's a bread and butter groovebox, emphasis 80's classics, and it does that well. And the tradeoff with it being so small works out well for it.

[@henrys3138]

@@alexwestconsulting I think it's a bit relative, I usually play bass or guitar and my synthesis skills are meh. Menu diving ensures I'll be stuck on presets for years to come. Lack of keyboard skills also hamper things so it's not for me but I like BadGear videos.

[@alexwestconsulting]

@@henrys3138 yeah I personally think that’s it’s benefit somehow. A super small outboard sound module with lots of useable but generic sounds with SOME immediate sound scraping control, menu diving if you need it, zenology for proper programming for the diehards. It’s like the one synth I have that I don’t mind using presets.

[@Doxkyn]

Just bought one that comes in a bright canary yellow Pelican case. Watched Florian love/deride it. Now I'm pumped to start making music with it.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice color!!!

[@TooMuchMiddle]

12 year old me would have killed for that Roland BMX. Another banger episode !!

[@AudioPilz]

I would have loved one too

[@MostlyHuman]

You are correct about USB ground-loop whine affecting Roland audio outputs, however Yamaha MOXF6 and MODX6 are even worse from my experience. Also the slot machine zombies searching for the perfect kick made me LOL all over the place.

[@hicknopunk]

I occasionally use the input noise as a mono synth or the self oscillating nature of delay peddles. Music doesn't have to sound pleasant.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for the heads up!!!

[@TheLexikitty]

OP-1 for goth kids…I have been accurately called out. Still love mine though haha

[@AudioPilz]

Lol, nice!!!

[@petri..]

Great video as always Mr.Austria! It amazes me from a creative perspective that these big companies just don't create a new brand, an alternative to their massive worldwide known brands and get lost in creativity, they have tons of know-how and most likely both intelligent and creative people working for them. Get crazy and create some new kind of instruments that compete seriously with brands like Elektron.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Doesn't Korg do that with their offices in Berlin?

[@petri..]

@@AudioPilz Ahh, that's where that weird new space instrument came from! Acoustic synthesis_space 5

[@Jason75913]

​@@petri.. it doesn't matter how many creative and brainy people they've got if the ones up at the very top are soulless, money-grubbing zombies Competition from other brands forces them to try being more creative than they would otherwise be. Yet there is still much room for improvement. We have to depend on Yamaha and Korg to step up their game to force Roland to do it as well, maybe even outdo them. Where Roland shines best is their digital pianos and rompler stage keyboards. Yamaha is a tremendous opponent in those spaces followed by Casio, Kurzweil, Kawaii, and Korg, so Roland has to step it up.

[@petri..]

@@Jason75913 Well..if I was the dictator then things would be done with or without me but with intelligence, creativity and freedom. YOLO as the youngsters say. 😄

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

"It gives me D-110 PTSD." You foreshadowed that nicely... As you were describing the menu diving, I thought of the D-110 as well... and then your comment was icing on the cake... hahaha

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@sinewaymusic]

Sounds great, horrible to use. Sold mine. You are truly the king of synthfluencers. ❤️

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@voltijuice8576]

I confess to watching under the synthfluence

[@dankeplace]

he is not King of synths, he is King of *sinner* synths!!!

[@thesequencer4971]

OMG spent so many time with MC-101 during the lock down, so its my lock down SynthGroovebox.....even after 3 years using this... I press some wrong button 😅.... In my opinion the drums/even sampled sounds are a little thin... Compare to other Roland Gear (MC707)... Maybe i am wrong.... Saludos from Bariloche, Argentina 🇦🇷

[@AudioPilz]

¡¡¡Muchisimas gracias!!!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

At the end when you identify the 101 as a Swiss Army knife of sound possibilities, it made me think of what has been my percussion resource for the last five years, the Yamaha DTX Multi 12. At least one reviewer of that particular device referred to it as a MIDI Swiss Army knife.

[@AudioPilz]

I really have to give that one a try!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

You’ll dig it,@@AudioPilz, I’m sure.

[@Synthematix]

Excellent, the more i watch your videos the more i realize switching to FL Studio was the best thing i ever did.

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@djshire1984]

What's a fax machine? (Feel old now?)

[@AudioPilz]

Lol

[@marcin7400]

Haha.. I bought it just for cabin luggage only flights. Sounds great, I don't understand people hating it, while this pocket size battery powered baby is a complete workstation you can pull out even sitting on a tree. Love 💛💙 your shows!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@tbornottb303]

It has always been a tempting box and if the ability to load sounds is your thing, then this may be the groovebox answer. The workflow indeed did not seem straightforward to me, too, so I have steered clear, being more of a dawless composer than a perpetual sound explorer. Thanks for another great show!

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!!!

[@studentsmusic]

Absolutely genius gear showdown - the art of 21st century tech review at its best. Competent, humorous, virtuous - what to say - with the exception of „is it a must buy“? However a deep insight for decision making if I should follow my GAS. Will give the 101 a try also by wrenching such epic 80s tracks out of it. Roland: hire this guy!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@annother3350]

Roland design of this era just turns me off before even listening edit: the 80s jam was amazing though

[@AudioPilz]

Nice for a halloween party;)

[@gelatinous6915]

These roland boxes sound great and have tons of depth, but they just CANNOT figure out how to make UIs for some reason.

[@AudioPilz]

I think they are just beyond caring

[@marvinjones4415]

@@AudioPilz 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂

[@SolidtraxNL]

Hahaha 01:43 - EP!C PWM Bro! Another great video with cool demos. It punches way above its weight! ;-)

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@fauno-holoperma8261]

Its hard to explain the rare pleasure of seeing one of the toys you own featured on Bad Gear

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@napotronix]

Like the TR-6S, the amount of sounds and features per square inch and per euro (especially on 2nd hand market) are insane. It doesn't seem much fun to work with though.

[@AudioPilz]

True that!

[@mattspazmatic]

Me: *owns 707* "God damn it, better pause the memes on this one..." Edit: *gives up by polymeters, substeps and probability*

[@AudioPilz]

Maybe give it another try?;)

[@mattspazmatic]

@@AudioPilz Lolol, sometimes I watch your videos twice to pause memes. I did just realize I can change the speed!

[@AlexIsASeraphim]

Awesome as always Florian. This truly is bad gear. I bought one. Tried to ascend the steep learning curve. Watched countless tutorials. Put it back in its box and bought a Novation Circuit Tracks which remains the centre piece of my budget, dawless set up of past Bad Gear favourites ilike the Skuplt. The MC 101 is not noob friendly. Go well.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Novation is so much more approachable!

[@0e0]

that spreadsheet travolta cut away was fuggin hilarious

[@AudioPilz]

Lol, thanks!!!😂😂😂