MC-707 Tutorial - Downloading and Importing Soundpacks

In this video, I take you through the steps needed to download Soundpacks from Roland Cloud ( www.rolandcloud.com), transfer them to your MC-707 (or MC-101), and load them to a Tone track. I start by showing you how to format an SD Card on the MC-707, and what to do if you have already formatted prior to Update 1.50. Then take you through the purchasing and downloading process. Finally, we load it onto our MC-707 and have a listen to a few patches.
If you want to explore the MC-707/101 on a deeper level, be sure to sign up for the free Cloud Academy classes! Check it out here...
www.roland.com/us/roland_clou...
Thank you very much for watching!! I truly appreciate your support.

[@johnnygoodyear270]

I don't know how to tag Roland in these notes, because they should be paying you, but this is a FANTASTIC and thoroughly clear explanation of something I would NEVER have figured out on my own. Thank you so very much. Truly appreciated.

[@UnitE808]

Thank you so much for the kind words and support! Stay tuned for lots more!

[@DamianoPistoia]

Great tutorial as ever. Thanks

[@KyleWalz]

I find myself going back to your videos time and time again. Thanks for these. Going to be using my 707 for live work which will be a change from live looping with a guitar. Edit: I forgot to add that prices are $4.99 USD for most packs I've seen now including the pangea.

[@ikrat9456]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa ljv.zqpuazy

[@mikehotelbravo13]

Awesome video! 🙏🏼

[@MusicWizard85]

Thank you for this! Very helpful.

[@aaron8298]

Excellent tutorial videos I’m looking to add the 707 to my work flow 👍

[@andrevanderschueren4826]

Hey unit-E well done thanks for learn from you very good tutorial i try it out ;-)

[@trevormalcolm4328]

Nicely done! You sir are so much better than Roland at spreading the (MC-707) knowledge 👍🏽🇬🇧

[@UnitE808]

Thank you, sir! I'll keep making them if you keep watching them!

[@s-CRY-ed]

Thank you for this!

[@fernando-bondedstripes2773]

thanks so much, answered many questions I was already getting stressed from. slowly enough haha

[@damelos4039]

Extremely helpful.. Thank you.

[@yokelectronic]

Perfect thanks dude.

[@iamsick678]

Much luv bro

[@robertbowes7111]

Very helpful.

[@tomnaustin1]

thank you! good job!

[@davidvochocjr1005]

Great tutorial!!! thx

[@sleeperawake9818]

Thanks again! I didn't even know about the app or that the firmware was past 1.3.

[@UnitE808]

Oh yeah! 1.5 is awesome!

[@davepaulsaunders]

Great tutorials! Figuring it all out as the manual & Ronald website of utterly no help whatsoever haha. I've successfully synced it to other equipment & various other sequencers. Works well, although it was slightly different process on my update or SD card for some reason but got all the patches going. Quite a powerful little sequencer for any music genre. Still can't figure out why it's not talking to the MC 303 but I can get my JV 1010 hooked up to another sequencer I have hooked up to this device perfectly well - Dave from Adelaide in South Australia.

[@peterpeirs9919]

Thanks !

[@subtorq]

Thanks 👍😎🇦🇺

[@tomisdyforce7979]

Thank you sir for detailed explanation, i buy Roland pack but on screen When wanna install writing license error.... Now understand the problem why, again thanks for detailed information 👍

[@mostsophisticatedtrash9221]

I was wondering if I could do this with wav files or if I have to record them in to sample one at a time

[@thriveimagedesign]

Have you had any issues with applying the internal reverb and delay to the sound pack sounds. I’m having no luck.

[@crazyFrankyy]

Hello! Do it work reverse(Can i export Sound which one i doo on MC-707 to Zeonology on computer, thanks!?)

[@JamesRamboPearce]

I spent ages trying to find this out via Roland! Thanks very much! Just a quick question, once you've imported them, will they show up with your other sounds, or do you need to leave them in the SOUND folder?

[@UnitE808]

Leave them in the sound folder. They are easily loaded.

[@JamesRamboPearce]

@@UnitE808 Ah thanks! I know what I'm doing tonight 😃

[@UnitE808]

@@JamesRamboPearce I use quite a few of the soundpack tones.

[@JamesRamboPearce]

@@UnitE808 Just got myself a handful to play with before my holiday next week ;)

[@yqsl7726]

Format sd card will delete all projects?

[@sonarfreq]

I have found that having selected a sound from a soundpack on a TONE track/channel (as you did here), that I have to save/write the PROJECT to SD CARD before I move to any other track/channel and start loading sounds there, otherwise the loaded sound is lost on that first/previous track/channel... which frankly is far from ideal. I would also like to be able to audition the sounds in the soundpack (when choosing one for a track/channel) without having to import each single sound first before being able to hear it. It would be more appropriate (and a lot faster) to be able to simply scroll through the sounds in the list (as you can do with the onboard sounds) and just be able to hit the pads and audition the sounds immediately.

[@UnitE808]

Have you performed a factory reset after the update? I don't have to save the project to change tracks. I dont think auditioning is possible because they are not samples or sounds at all, they are data files. It has to load the parameters to the synth engine.

[@namrekcanad]

I really want to buy some sound packs but do I have to pay for the subscription to Roland cloud to do so? I have no other use for it other than to buy and load packs onto mc707?????

[@UnitE808]

No. There is a free option

[@bbolex1780]

Great tutorial again. Do these samples then stay in the MC707's sound-memory to use, or do you read them from the SD CARD for every single project you do ?

[@UnitE808]

The files are not samples, but data files. They are telling the synth engine to set certain parameters. Everything in these soundpacks were created with the internal zen-core synth engine. I believe that once you import the patch and save it to the project, it will be available to load from project into another project, but there is no soundpack folder in the preset menu. It acts like pulling a sample when choosing wave file in the sound menu.

[@surf_machine]

@@UnitE808 does that mean i could create all the Soundpacks from zenology pro with my stock MC 707 or is it also adding a "deeper" synth engine?

[@UnitE808]

@@surf_machine zenology pro and the 707 have the same synth engine. Its just easier to navigate the vst version than using the 707. So, yes, you can recreate the soundpacks from scratch. I have reverse engineered a few of them to see how they were made.

[@surf_machine]

@@UnitE808 thanks for answering, so zenology pro basically adds just more presets to the 707? Would u call them necessary or more like w/e. I am asking because i couldn't register my used 707 to that 1 year free promotion they had until end of january and nearly selled it because of that.. :d

[@UnitE808]

@@surf_machine zenology pro is just a vst. The soundpacks are created with zenology pro, but it is not necessary to use it to make those sounds. The vst just opens up a more navigateable interface, it doesn't offer any more sounds. Everything in the zenology pro vst is in the 707. I can try to make a video on how to re-create one of the patches. Give me a week or so.

[@hosedog99]

Great video! I am relatively new to the 707 and your videos have been very helpful. I am having issues importing soundpacks to my 707. I recently downloaded the Future Pop soundpack from Roland Cloud. I followed the instructions very carefully, yet I cannot get the 707 to see the .sdz file. I have updated to firmware 1.8. re-formatted the SD card and performed a factory rest.The 707 sees the SOUND folder, but it doesn't recognize any .sdz files. I've tried both methods of copying the full soundpack folder to the SOUND directory and just the .sdz file. I've ensured that the SOUND directory is in the correct folder. Still nothing. Any ideas?

[@UnitE808]

Try loading a clip instead of a tone. Those packs do not have individual tone presets.

[@hosedog99]

@@UnitE808 I see. Do you know what folder I should save the file to on the SD card in that case?

[@justjoeblow420]

This was oddly helpful because either Roland doesn't mention it or I missed it as I kept wondering why their app wanted to install Zenology when I went to download expansions for my MC-707.

[@pjmc1357]

Hmm.. what if I find a sound that's a good basis for something, and then want to save what I end up with (a variant of some sort - different FX chaining for instance, or LFO) Can I save that too?

[@UnitE808]

Sure.

[@eldritchmolder]

I got an email after I purchased my 707 with a link to download NOIIZ packs, but they seem to be .wav files. I know you can't put .wav samples on it like you would an Electribe, so how do I get these sounds onto my machine? I don't see them anywhere on the Cloud Manager. :/

[@UnitE808]

Let me look into the pack. Wav files can be used on looper tracks, Drum Pads, and as a synth tone. Soundpacks are just data files usually named sdz.

[@eldritchmolder]

@@UnitE808 thx much appreciated!

[@garydvisualz]

I already pay for the full Cloud annual subsription and know I have access to all of these, but when I hit "Install" I dont get a downloader. I havent done the purchase for lifetime key for any yet.

[@garydvisualz]

[EDIT] I found them in >> C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Roland Cloud\ZENOLOGY ...However Im getting an error when I try to import my first SDZ file ("Install License? Are you sure [OK]... "Abort! File Format Error.].

[@UnitE808]

You have to buy the lifetime key for these sound packs. Because they are loaded on to external hardware, they are an additional purchase. Your subscription get you access to all the VSTs and instruments to use in your DAWs. The instructions I give in the video must be followed or it will not load correctly.

[@garydvisualz]

Gotcha. Well at least I can "try before I buy" in Cubase. Thanks, again!

[@najtirreg]

Not for ipad / ios ?

[@stefanobianchi1346]

I bought some packages in the past and they work ... I bought new ones and it gives me license error ... I don't understand

[@UnitE808]

Did you buy them all under the same account on Roland Cloud? The new ones do require the machine to be updated to the latest firmware and a factory reset performed.

[@jepcy21]

Help ! I imported a sound pack succesfully but when I downloaded the second pack the first pack is not in the sound file menu ?

[@UnitE808]

Did you purchase both soundpacks with the same account?

[@jepcy21]

Yes I did and both packs are on the 707s sd card

[@jepcy21]

Ok it was a menu issue I watched your video again and realised I have to press the left arrow to go back to the main menu with all the imported sound packs

[@WizardOfTheKremlin]

Hey Unit E, did they make it so that you can import drum kits? Also is it possible to export your entire custom user bank instead of exporting one sound at a time? and second, Can I export the banks as SDZ files? The only come out as single files in a different format, svz. They work just fine but like, I have 20 custom patches saved in a the default user bank I want to export that entire. Thanks for all the tips you vids are great on this machine! Its such a laborious, boring & tedious slow task :( I have the pro version but honestly, this method is so slow I really don't see myself going through the entire process much longer.

[@UnitE808]

Drum kit import isn't here yet, but I can guess that it will be coming with an update that features integration with zenbeats and a more robust midi implementation. I would love to have better patch organization and management with the 707. Using Zenology Pro for sound design is easier, though the rabbit hole of parameters is deep still and can be cumbersome. You should be able to export the entire folder. Let me look into that and get back to you.

[@WizardOfTheKremlin]

@@UnitE808 Thank you very much. I have Zenology Pro myself and its fantastic I agree. I think I was making the mistake of adding sounds from say the JP8 sound-banks into my custom one and thinking they would work on the 707. But I guess that is not the case. I assumed it was so because I heard somewhere that as long as the device was Z-Core compatible it would work.

[@UnitE808]

@Bee Zee there is some compatibility, just not the expansion packs. The dedicated soundpacks for the 707/101 and tones created in Zenology Pro, Jupiter X, or Fantom will import into the 707.

[@davepaulsaunders]

@@UnitE808 I have the Fantom FA07 so that should work as well? Although I treat that more like a piano these days & it's just not practical for live EDM. Great videos mate!

[@UnitE808]

@@davepaulsaunders yes, that should work.

[@thesesmallboxes]

Excellent tutorial! If I understand correctly, it’s only the SDZ file in the soundpack’s folder that the MC needs? It’s much easier to just drag the whole folder over, however… When you drag the whole folder over, you’re including a PDF, PNG and text file, potentially eating up SD card space needlessly. It’s not a LOT of space, but over many soundpacks, it may begin to add up, especially on the small SD card that comes with the MC.

[@UnitE808]

I have never tried just putting all the sdz files in a folder, i can give it a go tomorrow. The sdz files are just data files, so they are quite small. I would recommend upgrading your SD card to a 32 gb sdhc card and format it on the 707. I do like the folder structure of it. It let's me know what kind of sounds the patches are.

[@chriscopeman8820]

Where in the process do I find out what my key is?

[@UnitE808]

You have to set the key and scale of your project in the project settings. This is something you decide when creating your song.

[@chriscopeman8820]

@@UnitE808 I meant the Roland SoundCloud key used with my sound downloads.

[@UnitE808]

@@chriscopeman8820 Ah, I gotcha now. Only after loading the clip will you be able to tell. Shift and Clip will get you to clip edit. One of the tabs is Key.

[@DominicJacksonFilm]

hey thank man the manual is so bad for the mc 707 ha much easier to listen to you

[@UnitE808]

Thank you for the kind words. The owners manual is rough, but the reference manual has quite a bit of info. Over 70 pages!

[@housebrigade]

I just bought the mc 707 the other day and i have to say that im not impressed with the samples and drum kits. They sound very basic and boring. I haven't had much time yet to properly suss this machine out but ideally, im hoping i can delete all the factory sounds and replace them with the crazy samples and kits i have in my daw and battery 4. Is this going to be possible?

[@UnitE808]

If that is your plan, this machine is not for you. It is designed for in the box creation with the addition of external instruments. It is not made to be a sampler or play too many sampled loops. There are over 3000 tones in the machine plus an extensive synth that allows deep creation parameters. I would give it some time and attention to what you can do with whats in it before trying to replace it all. If you want those Battery and DAW samples, run the PC into the 707 and sync them up. I hope this helps.

[@housebrigade]

@@UnitE808 when i bought it, What i had in mind was to just to fill it with all my crazy n weird samples, get away from my pc and make music on a stand alone machine pushing and Turning buttons without looking at a pc monitor and just having fun. Due to work and family life i still haven't dived deep into it. Im not into your typical presety sounds of classic drum machines and clasdic synths. Watching videos on KZbin, all i here is the usual same old sounds from 20 years ago and nothing sounds like it has evolved. What i like to do us spend hours on mangling sounds and using them making nasty beats and hypnotic melodies. Will all this be possible on the mc 707?

[@UnitE808]

@@housebrigade that is absolutely possible, and encouraged! With over 3000 preset, I'm positive there is something you haven't heard before.

[@pjmc1357]

@@housebrigade ZenCORE is pretty much fully exposed here - that's more synthesis than just about anyone can handle. And it's all made possible with a good level of direct hardware access. There's -some- menu-diving.. but surprisingly little given the depth of the system. The muscle-memory element is good. ZenCORE stops short of chasing ghosts (they do that with elsewhere withPLUG-OUTs for the purists who want classic synths) - unburdened by that this just enables enormous practical flexibility. So it's pretty modern in its scope. Invest the time and see what you think.. it's not just for importing sounds.. you can build the craziest stuff with very few limits. Soundwise, this is the closest you'll find to a DAW replacement (perhaps with some caveats on the sequencer - although it's strong and intuitive, it's perhaps no Pyramid). PS. I'm sure someone at Roland has an extensive list of exactly what it can NOT do.. and I fully expect that is one very short list.

[@myceliumtechno]

Check out Alex Fain. He does live sets with the MC707 that sound amazing kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3apan2eprNnodU

[@davemackinder6518]

lifetime key is $4.99?

[@UnitE808]

Yes. Soundpacks are just a 1 time purchase of 4.99 ea and then downloaded to your computer.

[@partyeffectsdotbiz]

great tutorial, but pretty surprised how unstreamlined this is. at least the packs are 99 cents

[@UnitE808]

Its faster when getting multiple packs at once. One purchase and done.

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

how large of an sd card can it handle?

[@UnitE808]

It performs best with 8 or 16GB cards. Going 32 or higher causes slower load/save times and is not recommended by Roland.

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

@@UnitE808 Thank you sir! Looking forward to your video about the scenes in 1.5.

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

Going into settings you can set the scenes mode to type 2 which means you get the 8 banks of 16 scenes rather than the 16 banks of 8 scenes. Type 2 is far more intuitive. Definitely check it out!

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

With the new scene mode it could be possible for Roland to make some kind of scene automation aka song mode. It looks like a real possibility.

[@UnitE808]

@@LucidMusicIncRecordings yup! Mode 2 is the one I use! You can see a play option when pressing shift+clip mode button. I think that is going to be a chaining feature in a future update. So, you could be onto something with the song mode idea.