How to Make Your First Song on the Roland MC-101 (beginner tutorial)

Welcome to Roland MC-101 101. A tutorial for beginners where I show you how to make your first song from scratch with Roland's tiny groovebox, including the workflow, loading sounds, recording, editing, clips, effects, features added by firmware updates up to 1.60, and more.
Teabreakbeats makes a lot of really good Roland MC-101 videos: / @teabreakbeats
Roland's tutorials are decent as well: • Roland MC-101: Creatin...
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[@xnoheartx]

Shift and project to delete the note, or adjust the note value with the C1 knob

[@jaydeepalmer]

Thanks!!

[@blkrbbt]

THIS. THIS QUESTION RIGHT HERE. You use the sound encoder in the step sequencer, and it disappears from the note function. It's hilarious its right at the top with no context.

[@huntrrams]

Thanks❤❤

[@OttosTheName]

I hadn't used my 101 in about a month (mostly been playing my MonoLogue) and when I picked it up again my first thought was 'Oh shit, Gabe is right, it ís pretty clunky!' but luckily after making a few patterns it started coming back to me. Love the little thing, but sometimes wish they made it bigger so there would be more room for buttons. It's light and portable, but too small to sit comfortable on your lap anyways.

[@tylon2999]

MC-707

[@martinthompson2584]

Deluge. It's covered in buttons. Just wish it had the 101 synth engine.

[@jaxager]

@@martinthompson2584 I just got mine in the mail yesterday and I'm totally blown away by the synth engine! And I have only scratched the surface of what it can do. I was worried that the drums would not sound as good as my TR-8S. I was worrying over nothing. They sound amazing!

[@Colors.in.Static]

Hey Gabe, ~9:51 regarding the clunky editing note by note... there is nothing I could program in a 32 step seq that would make me feel like the agony of what you do in the video is worthwhile. Shift + Project and then press SEQ blows all notes away and gives you a fresh start. I do that every time I make a mistake. I hope this helps! Great video, btw, as you are walking through some of the more frustrating things I don’t yet fully understand a few weeks in with that awful manual and reference guide that may as well not even exist 😂 The sequence erase was a stroke of luck guess for me that worked!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

That's awesome. Also check the pinned comment for a quicker way make edits that I hadn't known about.

[@jaydeepalmer]

Man that's awesome! Now THAT's a quick way to edit melodies!

[@fredericksirucka1071]

Thanx mr miller 😮you 👍 fred(e)rick...

[@djghettofunk2530]

how do I get track 2 to be a drum setting?

[@DjSuess]

This thing is a nightmare to get started on. I thought the p.o's were hard to get used to. I'm sure it's just my ADD , I'm just not keeping up. Those hi hat rolls it dosent seem to do or separate my scatter. I REALLY WANNA GET USED TO THIS THING. Do I need to update it? Watch in slow motion? Is the manual worth a ish..sorry & thanks!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

You might need to update the firmware, it added the hi hat rolls as well as a lot of other quality of life improvements. Also, I did a video on tips, tricks, and hacks to speed up your workflow and make it easier, that might be helpful

[@DjSuess]

@@GabeMillerMusic thankyou..I'll do that

[@martinocruzcruz4483]

you don't make music but nice tutorial

[@compartmentofdirections]

I'm going to be a master of it before it even gets here in the mail!! I love you, Gabe!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@dakotasillyman5495]

Perfect timing, I literally just got my MC101 in the mail!

[@GullySyde28]

Any updates or thoughts ?

[@dakotasillyman5495]

@@GullySyde28 I liked it a lot for a bit, I ended up selling it because I need the cash at the time. Slightly regretting it now.

[@sinewaymusic]

Gabe, personal question: the more I've watched reviews and tutorials about the MC-101, the more confused I am about your attraction to it. Coming from FL Studio then moving into grooveboxes, I'd assume that you'd really value a streamlined workflow that let's you focus on the creativity, not wrangling a complex interface. This looks about as fun as writing a program on a Texas Instruments calculator. At that point, why not just work in a DAW? Note, I'm asking this question to you specifically because you've gone through an amazing journey of learnings and part of me wonders if you're just on a trajectory towards a full DAW environment, in which case this seems like a distraction on the way towards that. I assume you'll briefly explore even more complex grooveboxes like the MPC One etc too. And then you're basically in a full blown (but way less powerful) DAW again, with a hands on controller. I was with you all the way up to the Circuit Tracks and I can see the attraction to samples, but at the cost of this insanely cumbersome workflow? I just don't get it. 🤔😂

[@Александр-й7б9и]

Texas Instruments calculator sounds as right punchline finish 😁 There is something in the idea of portable device for music production. I believe it's more about portability as music production with one box, less eye gazing to a computer screen. And meaningful drawbacks are a trade-offs

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Александр-й7б9и I guess you're right, the main attraction is portability and another attraction is the hands on nature of the machine.

[@blkrbbt]

I think I from watching some of his vids, that he like finger drumming and exploring synth engines, and also came from the circuit tracks or something, and that he doesn't avoid the DAW at all... but rather finishes his track in the DAW. PLus, once you get around the learning curve, you realize how powerful the MC101 is... I think Gabe made a video called "Learning to love the MC101)... Plus they just upgraded the firmware! Waiting on a video from Gabe on a rundown!

[@eohgee-1269]

If you pair this with a sampler it solves all your problems

[@Geekraver]

When I select a track, the LCD display shows the track number, but the four-track buttons all stay equally lit, whereas in your case only the selected track button is lit. Wondering if this is due to a firmware change since you recorded this or if its just my unit. Also, just after the 4 minute mark, its not clear how you went from editing the hi hat sequence to adding the other drums. There's clearly some modal shiift out of the sequence editor for the single instrument back to the whole drum kit, but its not clear what it is. You can see the switch on the display just before you say "So this is also going to function as my metronome".. What am I missing? (I figured it out I think; you have to press the Note button).

[@ndguardian]

After seeing your "How to make a song" video for the circuit (despite not owning one), I was hoping you would make one for the MC101. And now you have. Awesome! I really dig it!

[@joggy261989]

Thank you very much :) the 101 is the first thing i've ever done making music (besides horrible stuff in FL studio) and you helped me quite a lot :)

[@franciscoramoncleriguesrov7187]

Gracias por compartir experiencia, no hablo inglés y es un problema para entender todas las funciones del mc 101.. Es un excelente dispositivo con un gran sonido…pero Roland debería tener en su web un manual en español… gracias que está traducido el vídeo…🤙🏼

[@congokjt4025]

If you have more than one measure editing would be much easier if you could get one measure to temporarily loop while you change the notes. Is this possible?

[@dave_clarke]

Worth watching just for the 'welcome to mc-101 101' gag.

[@isaachorgan]

What's the difference between a clip and a scene? As far as I understand, a clip is for one track and a scene is all 4 tracks. Is this correct?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

That's pretty close. A clip is for one track, and a scene contains clips from all 4 tracks.

[@isaachorgan]

@@GabeMillerMusic Ah okay. Thanks :)

[@josuearesav]

"MC-101 101" lol that was funny. Awesome videos man. If you're on the market for a new synth I highly recommend the hydrasynth. I have a feeling you'll love it.

[@jeanfredericmartin8954]

Awesome video again! And no there isn't a faster way to edit and it's a common complaint in the MC community, we have been asking Roland for an undo button shortcut for a while. We hope the next update will address that.

[@colourcascade7600]

Just bought one and shocked how shit the work flow is on this this it's such a shame

[@briannhinton]

Undo is now available!

[@jonnyspeed8974]

Perfect. No buying that. I'll stick with a T8S

[@DM43685]

Hi, just to let you know I love your vids man.... been making music since the Amiga 500 Days, and have both MC-101 - 707, MV VerseLabs and a Korg Wave state, so pretty much mature on music creation, but equally really enjoy your vids as I keep learning the little things on your vids, Keep them rolling!!!

[@nedscheebly731]

how do i delete/redo the kick drum if i messed it up when pressing the record button?

[@sinewaymusic]

A thing that just shows how this was built by engineers and not UX experts is the fact that by default, Step Length is adjusted in 1 steps when 99.9% of the time, users are going to want to switch between 16/32/64 steps. It's like they haven't actually tried to use it themselves. So easy to improve with a firmware update though - let's hope they're paying attention!

[@Gin-toki]

And what about the cases where you want to have something that is not a multiple of 16? There are plenty of usecases where incrementing the step lengt one step at a time is favorable. Also it really does not take that long to scroll up or down those steps.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Gin-toki My point wasn't that it's not useful to increment in steps of 1, but simply that in 99% of the cases, you want to increment in 16th multiples. So for the other 1% use case, that could have been the Shift operation rather than the other way around.

[@Gin-toki]

@@sinewaymusic I really don't share that opinion. I personally more often chose steplengths that are not a multiple of 16 steps and the same applies to what I observe. Also take a look at almost every step sequencer in existence, it is common that they increase/decrease steps 1 step at a time because that is what is expected. I would argue that if it were more convoluted to change one step than it currently is, it would have been a bad design. The engineers did a good job in this case and definetly knows what they were dooing.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Gin-toki That's interesting, but I'd guess that you represent a minority if you more often than not choose non-16-multiples. The 4/4 time signature is by far the most commonly used. Don't get me wrong, I totally get why someone would want to use other time signatures for things like polyrhythm etc, I just don't believe that it's a more common use case than sticking with 4/4. When it comes to UX, defaults matter quite a bit. And this is why Gabe Miller reacted to it in this review. With that said, I'm glad Roland's chosen default works well for you. :)

[@Gin-toki]

@@sinewaymusic Non 16th integer steplengths are rather common within many genres of electronic music, so it is rather normal. I however think a nice addition would be when in step length editing mode, that pressing "Measure" up or down, would increase/decrease the step length by 16 steps at a time and then leave the value knob as it is now. That way you would get a quick way to change it in increments of 16 steps :)

[@sullycliftona]

Has anybody bought his latest album 💿

[@samdelossantos2864]

Dope, I have one of these but did not know all these little tricks.

[@sullycliftona]

I got one few weeks ago. Also but it’s a pain. What vids on KZbin did u watch. To get u going. Please

[@seantaylor5736]

excellent video, thank you

[@Talentocubano]

If i connect the mc-101 to my iphone would i will be able to output the audio by bluetooth?

[@ianhenefield6491]

Do you need software/a computer to use this? Or can you just opening it up and run through some speakers to make beats on the spot?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

It's the second thing, it can work completely by itself. The only time you'd need a computer is to record songs or load in sounds.

[@ianhenefield6491]

@@GabeMillerMusic ok thx much

[@corridor444]

Is the mc 101 your fav at this point in the game?

[@michaelmcglinchey5579]

Thanks for this. Bought an MC101 today and this is a great starter tutorial.

[@theFXNshow]

I'm glad you're starting to like the 101 now. I love mine, and your tips will really improve my workflow. Thanks for the video, great stuff as always.

[@DD-te6oj]

Great vid man!

[@JayaLove]

Hey Gabe, thanks for this! Question: can it sequence external gear via midi polyphonically? Ie: set a tone track of my external synth and sequence me playing chords?

[@jaydeepalmer]

Guess you have found out by now but yes, you can definitely do that!

[@lavender.b0y926]

Hey, do you still recommend the circuit more ? Or should I get this ?

[@dontspamkoth]

Your videos have really helped me so much with my music, Gabe. I have picked up an MC-101 and a Novation Circuit Tracks based on your videos, and I honestly love them both. Even though we make very different music, your videos have helped me immensely. Keep up the great work!

[@Turtles8179]

Which do you prefer? Just curious!

[@dontspamkoth]

@@Turtles8179 Probably the Circuit Tracks. It feels more intuitive to me. But I also haven't spent as much time with the MC-101.

[@RaidersOfTheLostHeart]

really helpfull 👍👏👏

[@blkrbbt]

Does anybody know how to sustain a note past the end of a clip? Im trying to sequence in a long note, and as the clip changes, the note falls off. Even if I sequence in the note with more steps than the end of the clip, it still quits at the end before switching to the next clip.... thatnx!

[@sr7bbird]

Just picked up the mc 101 today.......DAMN THIS THING IS FUN!!!!!!!!!

[@garyusinger]

I have ordered a MC-101 and planning to use it with the Roland DJ 707M controller. Is there anything I should do on the MC-101 to accept the tempo signal coming out of the MIDI connection from the 707M? I would want it to be global as opposed to per midi channel, and I will most likely run it through my Akai MPK249 so that I can use the keys and pads on the Akai to control the MC-101. I realize there is a lot going on in this example. I have seen a couple of different ways to connect the Akai to the MC-101, but want to make sure that the tempo for both and for that matter my MPC Live is set from the 707M DJ controller. Hope you can advise. You seem quite accomplished on the MC-101. Thanks in advance.

[@ywenp]

How does midi learn work on the 101? I don't think it has a USB MIDI host port, but if you play a note/chord on a keyboard plugged via MIDI, does it allow you to then assign that note to various steps in SEQ mode? (that's how other hardware sequencers I know work when paired with an external midi keyboard, eg. the Circuit or the Squarp Pyramid)

[@joshuabrown2924]

going way to fast! and I have good hearing and seeing. sllllllooooowwww down on the teaching.youve discouraged me

[@juliancarr5545]

guys i wanna make some high octane berlin techno - do i go for mc 101 or Novation circuits?

[@boogiebong]

Hey Gabe, I have one question about the mc101. Can you resample external gear to a empty track through the usb? Would be nice to know, thanks

[@kitetastic]

from the start after new project, mine says untitled instead of init kit ,any ideas anyone

[@RickRijuanaPro]

This video just showed me why I don't need this. Damn

[@NickHowesAstro]

Excellent summary, opened up my MC-101 heaps watching you... thank you

[@trevormalcolm4328]

I did have the MC-707 for a while but I got rid! The 101 seems more my speed.

[@franciscoramoncleriguesrov7187]

Gracias por compartir experiencia y tu tiempo, excelente. Necesito más vídeos para poder entender el dispositivo,pues no hablo inglés y solo esta en inglés… Gracias

[@MrJanHjohnson]

perfect timing! just swapped my MC707 for a MC101. Despite the fact I'm pretty familiar with the workflow, it's nice to see how thing get done on the little brother.

[@GamedevFred]

Any specific reason you swapped the 707 for the 101?

[@MrJanHjohnson]

@@GamedevFred Size. And the feeling you can get 95% of the features for 1/4 of deskspace.

[@jojojiles]

@@MrJanHjohnson Isn't there way less ability to alter the presets on the 101 tho? I'm just curious cause I was thinking about springing for the 101, but the inability to customize the sounds much is making me second guess it. Any thoughts on that?

[@djjuno106]

Many thanks gabe for this video my mc101 just arrived today

[@mandatorial]

How do you dublicate a seq to easier reuse and modify an existing pattern?

[@GeorgeHzMusic]

Excellent video Gabe. I just feel the MC 101 is as messy as pretty

[@OscarMeza_asiapac]

Your videos inspired me to take the jump and I bought a B-Stock MC-101. Unfortunately, the wav files that come in the SAMPLE folder of the SD card that came with the unit is empty, and because of this I don’t have any files to select from Wave File. Do you where I can find those files, the ones that come with the original SD, to add them in the SAMPLE folder? Thanks in advanced for your help.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

By default, there's nothing in the Wave File folder. If you want to load the built in drum samples, go to preset instead (after you hit shift + whatever pad you want to change the sample on), then you'll be able to choose the different folders of sounds (kick, snare, etc).

[@lukestevens4374]

Thanks Gabe- just got my 101 and i think im oriented!

[@joebrewer4529]

You kind of look like Dana carvey you should do one of these as the church lady. Every time you get to a function you like you would say isn't that special.

[@Stevaside]

Lol no he does not & do you seriously think he's even remotely old enough to get that reference? 🤣😂

[@blkrbbt]

Haha. MC101 - 101

[@blkrbbt]

For real tho... thanks for the step by step.

[@Soundsauca]

Thanks a bunch for this. Great overview to save me scratching my head for hours. Just got my 101. The only thing I’m finding is the pads are not that responsive at their edges. Just wondered if this was typical for the device. Thanks 😊

[@OttosTheName]

I've seen several people mention it on the 707/101 facebook group, one returned several of them because of pretty unresponsive pads. At least 1 other person says his works fine as long as he hits the pads in the middle. I just tested all 16 pads on mine, mine work well on the edges. So based on that one post and how mine works I'd say it's probably sorta common, but not how it should be. I would return it over that. (Don't forget to back up your projects.)

[@Soundsauca]

@@OttosTheName Thanks for that! Yes some people seem to have it, others not. I'm sending mine back and then I'll have a think about whether I pony up to a 707 or something.

[@faustinoibanezjr9465]

hi, im just new here, just asking if the sounds is default to roland mc-101 or needed to patch the sounds after you buy it? thanks in advance.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

The MC-101 has a ton of sounds built in, and you can load in your own too.

[@miijjk]

Do I have to use a computer with this

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Nope, only to transfer sounds onto it or record stuff from the MC-101 over USB. Other than that, it works entirely by itself.

[@miijjk]

@@GabeMillerMusic okay because I've never used one so I'm learning as I'm going and there's so many out there so I don't know if this will be a good room for a beginner

[@SlunkieB]

Hi! I've now done my research on this things, and I think I'm gonna give it a go. Two questions though: can I clock this thing via midi (just a check-up - I would be pairing it with other synths), and also question about the chord function, can you play around with different chords within the same track?

[@huntrrams]

Hi, you can clock this thing with midi and you can play around with different chords

[@EmilioNorrmann]

jut got mine today ! lots of useful info here ! thx

[@corican]

Alright already, I'll buy one! Stop twisting my arm!

[@corican]

Wait, no I won't. There's not a single unit in any shop in my country (Thailand).

[@mojodrum3215]

You can create folders and subfolders for your samples like drums, fx, etc...

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yeah I learned that super recently. I still try to put them in alphabetical order for ease of finding stuff

[@amishjim]

Lol "good music"

[@YoursTrulyChris]

The first shall be 101

[@motorhead9356]

fantastic device

[@RayRayJams]

Is this a standalone groovebox like the circuit?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yep!

[@JRosevelt]

Awesome vid as always. Forgive me if you've covered this question, but can you play individual drum instruments chromatically? For Example, 808s. I know you can enter them in the sequence and re-tune individual steps within a sequence, but are you able to chromatically play them on the pads or with midi controller?

[@jthorpe4droid]

Good afternoon back at you.

[@TheOriginalEUrban]

5:46 horn e Lulz

[@kettlecup]

Do you still prefer Circuit?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

For its workflow, sound design, and jamming, I'd say yes, but lately I've been having a ton of fun with the 101 and how it handles samples. So now I'd say what I recommend depends on what features you want.

[@80iesDude45]

I combine both MC-101 and Circuit, perfect match

[@ViktorVas-rs2jk]

For non english speaking natives your tutorials are just a desaster! Sorry!

[@philipschiffman9070]

This is the best tutorial on KZbin for MC101. Gabe you always deliver!!! Thanks. 🔥⚡️🔊🔥⚡️🎹🔥⚡️🎧⚡️🔥

[@DNYLNY]

Thank you so much for this video. Great demo and song.

[@levigonzalez7399]

Can the synth engine be edited and is there a song mode yet? Not sure if they updated those features yet...

[@GabeMillerMusic]

The synth engine can be edited with Zencore software, although there's no song mode.

[@wandcamilo3989]

gay

[@dogsnuts722]

I can't believe that I'm actually having to ask this, but how do I change the octave of a single note in a sequence?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I just did a video today that answers that, funnily enough