MC707: Part 2 - Drums and Rhythm

This time I’m taking a look at some of the drum programming options as I add some variety to some of the drum patterns in my new live set. I take a closer look at how much depth there is in the drum kits you can create, and show some of the more performance oriented aspects of the sequencer.
Corrections:
- There is actually a folder for samples on the SD card that you need to use, not the root directory.
- Being able to access more than 16 drum sounds in a kit via external MIDI seems to only apply to the GM kits that come with the 808.
Sorry if I sound a bit stuffy this week too, fall allergies and a couple hoppy beers didn't mix well. Who knew? :)

[@jonnyrainbow6226]

I got a 707 a few days ago and to say I was intimidated is an understatement, with so much infinite possibilities, I thought this was gonna be an uphill learning curve.... but this thing is amazing, and I found I had a club ready groove in 20 mins... watching your vids and others has helped me more than you’ll ever know... you have really helped me dial in my thoughts and be less scattered in workflow and actually start a project, not just four on the floor fun... so thanks so so so much for your videos and keep posting because I’m eating them up!!!!

[@trevormalcolm4328]

As I’m getting to grips with my MC-707, I’m constantly referring to your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@Roger-vb2dt]

thank you. very helpful. Is there a part 1 video?

[@danielsommariva]

Thanks again mate, learnt something new.

[@cmwcmw264]

Brilliant as ever - all we need Roland to implement on an update is direct sampling of one shot samples to drum kits and tone sets as well as sample trimming rather than just adjustments to start and end points

[@ElectronisoundsAudio]

Nice one! THANKS! 😀 👊

[@AppAxis]

Fun Fact: folders are now included with one of the firmwares. Now you can organize samples, songs, and midi.

[@philliprose174]

Really awesome. I think you need to turn on the SW "On" for the eq to work though. I really glad you addressed the mute/choke group!

[@bisonabisonadiaspora614]

I just discovered your videos on MC 707. Thank you for the good work. I still don't understand how you can have 8 songs on one session as I see on this videos. I want to be able to jam live for an hour, but I don't know how to switch between songs without stopping to load the next song. Any advice?

[@Bradonomous]

okay I know the drums are sample based not ACB, but the synth sounds are so rich - in a way I feel like this is a little synth hidden in a groove box

[@neptunesgold1216]

The ABC is still digital so it's not the holy Grail it's not that much better than the samples I had the tr6s and am getting the 707 if the drums don't sound good enough I will try samples if that's not satisfying I will midi up a couple behringers Rd 8 909 626. Acb no big deal real analog is where it's at.

[@Kaje05]

Isn’t it a pretty extensive synth blatantly included within a groove box?

[@calvinswinnen2909]

Hi, nice vid, is it possible to add effects to a drum pad? like say delay reverb

[@necronomicron5367]

characteristic Tarekith - creeps around the darkness every corner of your room and blows gently on the back of your ear.. then gone... Thnx for tip on where you are in 8 measures

[@tarekith]

frumious bandersnatch I literally don’t know how to reply to that. 🤔

[@zombza]

Question I have a Mx Yamaha Synthesizer can or how do I plug my synth to the 707. I have keyboard cable, midi cable , but no computer. Just got the 707 no other gear.

[@janhenckell4178]

Within an eight bar clip would it be possible to select lets all notes in bar 4 and change all their pitch and velocity at the same time or can we only edit one note at a time?

[@tarekith]

As far as I can tell it's one note at a time.

[@allanroney]

Good video. Quick q; is the only way to save a new kit (made up of own samples) as part of a project? Or is there another way to save & recall custom kits?

[@tarekith]

Kits are saved as part of Clips, which are saved in the current project. However, you CAN browse and load clips from other projects on the SD card. So while there is no dedicated user library per se, there's an easy enough workaround.

[@janediaztempiam8442]

Forgot to turn ON the EQ

[@rumpstdisco4794]

Thanks for the video! Really helpful. One thing I couldn’t figure out on the mute probability: is this based on percentages only, or could you programme it to play ‘every fourth loop’. As per Digitakt? Thanks!

[@tarekith]

It's percentage based, but 25% would be the same to every 4th loop for instance.

[@rumpstdisco4794]

Thank you! Sounds like it can be used for fills indeed 👌🏻

[@mariogarza5443]

Hi I love your work, actually, after watching your videos I bought an MC707 and I'm really happy with it, how do you do to change the sounds for the next song or row using the same track I can only seem to use the same sound for all the clips.

[@toddc612]

Change the sound source of the track: 1.) SHIFT + SEL (track you want to change) 2.) On the screen you'll see Sound Source as the first option of the General tab, 3.) Use C4 dial to change value from TRACK to CLIP. Viola!

[@FunkyBarberFilms]

Do you think maybe when you duplicate the measure and then don't change anything it goes back to a default length of one measure, but when you duplicate and then change something in one of the measures then it keeps the change?

[@tarekith]

That was my first thought, but it doesn't seem to be the case when I tried that. It definitely seems to happen to some clips more than others though, which is also odd.

[@FunkyBarberFilms]

@@tarekith Odd!

[@FunkTree]

Great vids, I've been watching your 707'vids over and over...there is a lot more depth from you as an artist compared to most of gear hoarders such as lopoop, or bobeats ... I have a multiple angle question for you ; there are clearly some pitfalls with workflow of this machine, you demonstrated a few ; cannot change parameters on multiple steps, long scrolling knob times, too many confirmations messages (almost like winxp) ...and there are a lot more ... I assume you've sent some to Roland , ....would they respond to you? It's so sad that these 19 century workflow paradigms are put into 21 century, crazy capable machine ..am I too spoiled by elektron workflow? To do a sound design on four partials is extremely tedious, and the granuality of easy editing messes with partials ....I also have tr8s with a lots of great features ... so I know Roland mentality...v1.3 firmware crammed more bloated functions but they did not bother to look as the workflow pitfalls...I bet if they did ...there would be a lot of elektron people looking for alternatives with tons of great sounds

[@quinapio]

great video! do you know if you can select diferents grooves like in the electribe 2?

[@tarekith]

No, no grooves, but there is unquantized recording.

[@quinapio]

@@tarekith ahh thats too bad :( tnkz a lot for the answer

[@thearx1]

Can anyone shed light on whether the 707 can do an MPC style swing? I know it has shuffle but it’s not the same as swing

[@krakapoww]

Shuffle is roland speak for swing, it does the same thing

[@darc_harmoni4828]

Suggestions on a low cut filter eq solution to tighten up mix?

[@tarekith]

There's a built in master EQ that I plan to use once I get the set a bit more dialed in.

[@darc_harmoni4828]

I wasn't referring to your work, I was inquiring about how I can low cut per channel so mine aren't so muddy.

[@darc_harmoni4828]

I guess it's in a format I'm not used to. I will have to experiment with the eq tab. I was hoping for something more specific to chop low end off without using a filter.

[@tarekith]

@@darc_harmoni4828 I use DMG's Equilibrium for all my EQing.

[@tarekith]

@@darc_harmoni4828 The mid band EQ on the 707 is parameteric, so you can fine tune it more than the high and low bands.

[@leesimz_]

Is there a way to edit length of a drum sample per step?

[@tarekith]

Not that I can think of, but I could be missing something too.

[@kaitsu9608]

From edit menu go to tva env, its basically adsr labeled 1234. I dont know if you can automate it

[@jona_KardCiv1]

Do you think this is an alternative to the TR-8S for drums? Or do you think it is best to use both, and keep the drums focused on the TR-8S?

[@tarekith]

I'm pretty sure I will eventually sell the TR-8s myself. It's a great drum machine, but at this point I've found the MC707 to be more intuitive, even if it lacks cool features like the TR-8s's Fills function. They both sound great, slightly different, but excellent each. If you just wanted a Roland 808, 909, 707 clone, then maybe the TR-8s would make more sense.

[@thedrumunkey8582]

You wouldn’t miss the level faders for the drums?

[@jona_KardCiv1]

@@tarekith I have the Push 2, plus this machine.

[@jona_KardCiv1]

@@thedrumunkey8582 Would you rather have the Push 2 or the MC 707?

[@thedrumunkey8582]

@@jona_KardCiv1 I don't use Ableton, sooooo... Easy choice. :) To me, it seems the ultimate pairing for a live setup would be 707 & TR8S. Run the 707 into the TR8S so that you can take advantage of the sidechain functionality on the TR8S. Then run TR8S master out to mixer. Seems like a best of all worlds to me. Faders and more "top-level" fine control of drum tracks on TR8S, deep Roland synth engine on the 707... I suppose I'd use one track on 707 as "drums" but load it with "weird" samples like FX, vocals, etc. Like one channel on the 707 could almost be like a mini Circuit...