I Bought Red Means Recording’s MC-707

It’s true! In a wild series of events I ended up buying Jeremy Blake aka Red Means Recording’s Roland MC-707 Groovebox on Reverb right before the wildfire smoke hit Portland. I’ve been getting my bearings with it and am really enjoying it so far! This is the story of how that happened and some jams I’ve made since I got it.
Music starts at the 6:40 mark if you don’t wanna hear the story, enjoy!
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[@DylanParisMusic]

Check out my new album "There's Something Better" on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/6HCemxzxzH49z9vXIOjgug?si=UVLvHMdUSXaCWTJ3UIiriQ

[@RedMeansRecording]

thank god the smoke is gonnnneeeeeee

[@RedMeansRecording]

also, tight track!

[@DylanParisMusic]

Thank you and thanks for watching!! Im excited to see how far I can push the machine as I learn it more! And agreeeeed, the smoke was hell!

[@Arperture]

Good stuff man. I started out on iPad as well with Gadget and had a hard time finding a hardware "groovebox/sequencer" solution that compared to that workflow. I went through Electribes, the Circuit, MPC Live, and Ableton with Push 2 but nothing checked the boxes until I got my MC707. I use it for both it's internal engine and for sequencing and processing audio from my other gear. The effects are top notch.

[@JamesBermingham]

3:04 GAS face right there. Ive just ordered an MC 707 because of that look 👀🤩🎹

[@Sepelman]

Thank you for sharing this performance Dylan, I really liked it, Im considering to replace my MPC one with MC707, wondering how much I can control the external gears specifically when it comes to sequencing and effects. Do I need to keep the track volume down even with new the new firmware? Are there any other ways?

[@GeorgeL909]

I only have the sister machine, the 101, but I absolutely adore it. It changed the way I make music, coming from pc and ipad stuff, it added a fun factor that I gel with, making it feel like I'm playing a video game or something more than making music. It's probably all psychological, but I really enjoy making weird music with it. It's more limited than the 707, but the engine sounds so meaty, and the effects are the star of the show for me. Glad you feel the 707, and I agree these machines are much more than techno boxes. For me they're industrial alien boxes that also do great saxophone sounds.

[@DylanParisMusic]

“Industrial alien boxes that do great saxophone sounds!!” Hell yeah! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the 101 :)

[@fromacruz]

So true that it can come off as a techno box based on KZbin videos (which are cool just not always my cup of tea). I mostly make electronica and hip hop so while there's things on the 707 missing that I wish it had (I'm looking at you sidechain), the sounds are quality and versatile. Rachel K Collier and Jeremy's vids are what sold me on the unit. Hope you enjoy man. :)

[@DylanParisMusic]

Rachel's videos are so good too! Definitely was a big factor for me I forgot to touch on outside of titles in the vid.

[@indieinternationalsongwrit3023]

Ha - you actually bought his 707 - that's awesome! Just watched his videos with 707 the other day. Then I started shopping for the 707. : )

[@indieinternationalsongwrit3023]

How do you like the workflow compared to Maschine? I've been mainly using an MK3 and Komplete Kontrol keyboard, with maschine and logic pro.

[@DylanParisMusic]

I actually ended up trading it for a Korg Wavestate a few weeks ago. It was a really cool device but the drum selection process, preset browsing, polyphony limits and other stuff made me turn to the Push 2 as my main hub

[@sherzadjabbary]

mine will be here soon. looking forward to see more videos. by the way from PDX too.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Awesome! I’ll definitely be doing more videos :) I’m sure you’ll have a blast with yours

[@jaxager]

How does it work with buying a used MC-707 that has the previous owner's sound packs on it? I thought that those sound packs are attached to the user that bought them via the Roland Cloud Manager. The reason I ask is because I just bought one and it's supposed to be showing up tomorrow. The listing said that it comes with a bunch of sound packs. I know that those sound packs get activated within the MC-707 itself. Would there be a problem when I try loading my sound packs I've purchased for my MC-101 onto the unit and it sees that the previously loaded sound packs have a different user? Does this make sense? And am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? I'm any case, I guess I will find out in the next day or two.

[@DylanParisMusic]

I'm honestly not sure, I don't believe I ever tried to add new ones to the MC 707 when I had it.

[@jaxager]

@@DylanParisMusic I got mine yesterday and it came with a few sound packs I didn't already have. I was able to load them and use them. Then I put the sound packs that I purchased under my Roland account. It did a license check and wouldn't let me use them. It gave me an error and said something to the effect of invalid license. So... No. You can't use sound packs that were not purchased under your Roland account, in case anyone has been keeping a close eye on this riveting story. 😁

[@DylanParisMusic]

Bummer!! That’s a shame

[@billyhoffman6013]

Love this..

[@DylanParisMusic]

thank you!

[@tricks-and-tips]

Super cool dnb song! The first part reminds me of the old days in public transport with a discman (later MD player) to school before we had smartphones for amusement and you just look away and let your thoughts flow on the river. I'd love to layer some good bass below it :) Did you use loops / samples to get that beat going, or did you use the stock kits? You clearly already are able to make some various styles with it. Love to see more of what you do with it and it really is tempting NOT to pull the trigger right now. :)

[@DylanParisMusic]

That’s an awesome call back! Everything is triggered midi and synths, but Jeremy left some samples and loops on the sd, so I took one of the break beats and sliced it to make the main drum kit, then mapped the vocal samples to another drum track. I think the machine really shines when you add more sounds via samples but the synth engines are amazing from the start too.

[@tricks-and-tips]

@@DylanParisMusic So it seems indeed :) I have sort of the same internal 'struggle' you talk about weather or not to only use my DAW for making stuff or try out a hardware 'instrument' like the 707. leaning towards the 707 a lot after watching a lot of content about it. Cool story btw!

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

In the review red means recording mentioned that he had to send it back to Roland. I guess that wasn’t the case anymore. Maybe as a thank you from Roland for making the excellent review 😀

[@leesimz_]

i like the flavour on these tracks...You should explain techniques.. Well done and good stuff ..

[@DylanParisMusic]

Thank you! I’m defs gonna make deeper dives into these tracks and break em down soon :) just filmed a beat from scratch vid I need to edit first

[@leesimz_]

@@DylanParisMusic Very good , keep em coming ...

[@Fruitbat-tb3lg]

Thinking of going back to hardware myself, after a few years of being an iPad music dabbler. I have spent a fortune on iPad music apps, but I do find that sometimes the process (and trying to make it work), has become more than the music making. The 707 seems to tick many of the workflow boxes I believe I use often

[@DylanParisMusic]

I felt very similarly! Definitely not leaving behind the iPad but that process vs production thing is very relatable

[@skunksmisery]

#hashtagswork. nice to discover your channel ;)

[@dnch]

good for you, but its sad news as RMR wont make more videos with 707:/

[@DylanParisMusic]

Yeah, he had a few made before he sold, but that is true. He was gonna sell either way though, so glad I got it to make more videos :)

[@gebhardmeilinger8578]

I came from LOOPOP to this video. Loopop is as great as all the gearheads named by you. Thanks to all the pioneers and explorer.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Loopop is wonderful! Definitely deserves a shout-out

[@elsantoproductora]

I love GAS rationalizations. The 707 is awesome but I've seen the future and you'll end up selling in ;D

[@DylanParisMusic]

Everyone boo this person!! Jk but also booooo

[@DylanParisMusic]

..welp, when you’re right you’re right haha

[@elsantoproductora]

@@DylanParisMusic Two of my biggest passions are learning and making music. That's why I love trying out different workflows. I learn to master the new tools and make lots of music in the meantime. When things start to get repetitive and predictable I move on and try a new approach.

[@DylanParisMusic]

Big Mood!