Roland MC-101 Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

I show a bunch of workflow hacks and obscure tips for using the MC-101 to be more efficient and make it even more powerful.
Check out the playlist: • Roland MC-101 Hacks
0:00 Intro
0:39 Changing Parameters Faster
1:18 Chords
1:39 Octaves
2:13 Editing and Deleting Notes Faster
3:23 Maximizing Available Tracks
4:23 Clip Chains
6:09 Sample Folders
6:47 Tone Settings
8:10 Scatter
9:14 Split and Scale
10:08 More Tips and Hacks
Get my $5 sample pack: gumroad.com/l/gabeoneshots
Edited by Coastland Creative: www.coastlandcreative.com
My current favorite music production gear:
Novation Circuit: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Korg Electribe 2: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Roland MC-101: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Model:Cycles: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
Arturia MicroFreak: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
ATH M40 headphones: www.zzounds.com/a--3972602/it...
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Note that the above links are affiliate links, which give me a commission (at NO extra cost to you!) if you use them to buy something.
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[@GabeMillerMusic]

1:02 Quick note about holding down shift... By default, the value it jumps by is different for different parameters. For instance, if I hadn't messed with the pattern length first, it would have jumped by 16 every time, which is super convenient (16 steps to 32 bars, jumps quickly to 64 steps, etc).

[@GabeMillerMusic]

You can do exactly that, there's an option for it right after the vibrato rate and depth settings.

[@robinr22]

I have a really annoying issue that I haven't been able to find an answer to anywhere - on the screen you go to @3:05, the option to extend the step length appears to be capped at 4.99. This makes no sense because steps obviously can be way longer than this but it's not possible to set them any longer using this knob. It would be so useful if if this could be used to extend the length of a step (as with every other sequencer I've ever used...) because I like to try different lengths but it seems impossible to do so. In fact, there seems to be no easy way at all to adjust the length of a step beyond 4.99. Am I missing something here? Or is that actually how it's supposed to work??

[@robinr22]

I've been trying to work this out for hours but, of course, immediately found the answer as soon as I'd asked. 😂 In case it's useful for anyone else, just hold the FX button in note edit mode and then the value knob will extend the step length to anything.

[@muppetpaster]

It jumps progressively...Same as Microfreak Shift + knob turn...The faster you turn, the bigger steps.

[@teabreakbeats]

Great sounds coming out of that MC-101 - and thanks for shouting me out a second time around! Really appreciate it

[@livinproof718]

I finally gave in and bought one today ... so now imma binge watch all the mc101 vids on your Channel

[@NOGASAYAN]

Scatter makes bassline go BRRRRRRR so good! 😀

[@EmilioNorrmann]

great ! also, in chord mode you can assign any chord you like to any pad, just enter chord mode, then press shift filter to enter the chord designer menu, it has lots of options and the last is "write to pad N"

[@livinproof718]

This is on the 101 ... I’m hoping

[@EmilioNorrmann]

@@livinproof718 yes

[@livinproof718]

@@EmilioNorrmann can’t wait till mine gets here I’m so angry it took me this long to get one ...

[@nibbisbeats8399]

Cool, thanks a lot for featuring my tipp on your list! :-) Glad to hear it helps! You can also safe settings like Chord-Mode, Arpeggiator, Scale, Default Sounds/Track-Type, Mute Groups etc. etc. in your default project - safes a lot of time for me :-)

[@rockhead11]

Thank you for this informative video as well as all of your other MC101 videos. I’m just learning mine and I really find your videos very helpful. I especially enjoy the fact that you are not a fanboy and let the world know the shortcomings of the MC as well as what you love about it. Great stuff!

[@martajastrzab228]

3:11 - if you want to be more accurate with switching to preferred note then (during edit note mode) press sound button and turn value knob (at the same time) - it'll give you more control over picking right note. :)

[@user-fl7nx2cn4j]

Thank you, friend, for your help in mastering this machine.Without these tutorials, I would have spent a year figuring it out.Greetings from Russia!

[@TheChessGiant]

I know nothing about music but what I do know is that this thumbnail is legendary

[@valley_robot]

Greedily devouring all these mc101 videos as mine arrived yesterday, already made some pretty cool sounding clips

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Glad the videos are helping!

[@realNormanSmith]

I just ordered one today. I’m excited to create!

[@ademozarslan]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@jonkaplan1394]

My man! I have been loving your videos! Thanks for putting all of this stuff together and for sharing it with all of us. You should consider also doing like Zoom consults with people 1 on 1 as a revenue stream. You are a great instructor!

[@MikeH_PR]

Hey Gabe, you tea break beats & Ben Coe are top of my MC-101 KZbin love list. Thanks in particular for making me revisit Scatter.

[@simonmcg23]

Super nice!

[@mh22xv]

Av very good and useful tutorial Gabe ❤

[@corican]

I got my MC-101 delivered today. Time to rewatch your videos and actually try to learn.

[@bose5160]

Great video Gabe. Planning to snag one of these tomorrow at Guitar Center. I am selling my Deluge. It's an awesome device, but I want something more immediate but with more capabilities than the Circuit. Keep up the good work, man.

[@0bsolet]

Daaaaamn the JAM!!

[@amphora8321]

very good video

[@Ridersoftubes]

Thanks!

[@jojostyle1235]

Top vidéo thanks

[@tommytrooper634]

Thumbs up just for the thumbnail - LOL!

[@GeorgeL909]

Such a good video. The mc101 is by far my favorite groovebox, probably cause of it's portability and note resolution, but I really haven't even touches samples as tone tracks! That might be my solution to squeezing out sounds and character that the zencore if missing, like heavy fm or wavetable sounds.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I've got a video on that exact topic coming in a couple of days, so stay tuned!

[@vertigev]

This is a really good video, do you have one like that for the Circuit Rhythm?

[@EmilioNorrmann]

another one is, when you are playing a pattern, press track number + > to toggle temporary random mode .. or press track number + < to toggle temporary reverse mode . that's all I have

[@natechevalier9828]

Hey Gabe - how do I get the arpeggiator to automatically sync with the internal tempo/clock? If I hit it even just a bit off tempo, the whole thing sounds terrible. Great video as always!

[@justinbeck4197]

How about using it as a midi sequencer with the sounds coming from elsewhere? I'd like to know if it can handle being the captain of a DAW-less setup.

[@muppetpaster]

8:39 Not to forget you can edit and make your own scatter effects.

[@rodequis6014]

Hey man, can i change sounds via Bank Change and Program Change midi commands? I mean, this machine has a lot of sounds. I am interested in buying one but for use it only as a 4 parts midi sound module . Nice vid!

[@HoraceAndTheSpider]

Your videos helped me take the plunge to get this device and I’m really enjoying it, so thank you for that :) Sometimes it’s nice just having a hardware synth that can be connected to Ableton rather than relying on software; my Access Virus is my usually go-to but I must confess the sounds on this are pretty nice... this is a massively basic way of using the MC101 but still fun. I’m enjoying seeing these tips and tricks to get more out of it on its own though - definitely interested in hearing different sounds on separate clips! My only disappointment is that the gfx here had me thinking you were going to demo some RetroWave!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yeah I love it for standalone use, it's nice to get away from the screen once in a while. I do have a video on retrowave on the way eventually, so stay tuned!

[@HoraceAndTheSpider]

@@GabeMillerMusic

[@HoraceAndTheSpider]

@@GabeMillerMusic i'd also challenge you to do the chillwave end of things without using the lovely 'Mirio Key' preset with the filter set to about 35% !

[@raykan5287]

Love that bass stab, is it in your sample pack?

[@DMW5533]

Can the MC 101 change keys on the fly similar to the JDXI. So you can have one clip and copy and change the key or key change via external keyboard

[@marcelcontrole2948]

Hi, do you know if the MC 101 has a cue mode like the 707?

[@Planewalker]

This is great, but in the next video playlist you reference I cannot find where you show how to change the clip sound default from TRACK to CLIP. Can you link to the video where you show how to do this?

[@WestawayProjects]

Plus one- I'd like to know this too!

[@KitCatStudio]

Tried to rec the mc lately. It seems there’s a lot of hissy hum noise - in all sounds! It appears when pressing any buttons and disappearing when I let go. Can’t be a cable thing as I tried several, with or without out batteries, appearing both in phones and main output. Didn’t notice this before, anyone notice this?

[@aethervagrant244]

LOOPER tracks: Sound useful,but when try to use them as described to have "infinite" tracks by bouncing audio to the looper track,I get the Out of Memory error message while only having few short loop clips. its a great idea but in practice even bouncing a handful of drum tone tracks uses up all the working memory . the looper clips are not loner than 60seconds, and im not loadig long-ass stems or backing tracks...what gives?

[@appclusiveplus]

Hi Gabe and thanks for the informative video. Maybe you canhelp out on these two questions: on the MC-707 I can duplicate the measure count on clip by pressing [Func] + >. Is this also possible with the MC-101? And if yes, how? Second question: you mentioned pressing the [Note] twice to enter [Chord] mode. On the MC-707 the chord mode for drums gives you "rolls" or "flares" on the drums. Is this also possible on the. MC-101? Thanks again for your videos. And maybe you can help with my questions. Regards, Ronald

[@omarozuna6512]

how I can copy 1 bar of (melody, drum,etc) to other bar with the measure.???

[@soupy1312]

How can I sample from Ipad? Please dumb it down for me.

[@corican]

Thanks for this video. It's really helpful. Side note: your headphones mesmerized me, sticking out like that. What do you use?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

They're just a cheap pair of Panasonic earbuds. I do proper mixing on a pair of Audio Technicas, but I know these earbuds really well and use them for on the go stuff all the time

[@corican]

@@GabeMillerMusic Which Audio Technicas do you have? I bought myself a pair of Meze 99 Classics for Christmas and have been loving them.

[@SkelaKing]

I’d love to see something like this but for the Model: Cycles!!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

I'd definitely like to do that at some point once I've spent more time with it!

[@jeromelaw7]

can you modify each drum kit sound? i mean, can you modify the kick of the 909 kit, or the snare, for example?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

You can! You can swap out the samples, change pitch, EQ, amp envelopes, etc.

[@geocache66today]

This is Just another fantastic video Gabe and so revealing. I am looking forward to applying your tutorial. Do me a favour friend, tell me if you are familiar with the Synthstrom Deluge? Would love to see you discuss this. Thanks buddy.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Thanks! The Deluge is on my list of stuff to try, hopefully I'll get to it eventually

[@djgalawak]

hello, nice ;) you find a way to play live 1h , 16 clips is little short, it cut sound when changing projet.. roland done good bie

[@seemore3434]

how do i change the key the scale is in. Like if i have it set to minor scale its always playing in key of c but im trying to get key of a. Cant figure it out....

[@valley_robot]

Yeah ,I can’t work that out either

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

I petition big famous youTube personality, to to put pressure on Roland for them to deliver a VST or UI for mac/windows like TR8S has. Something like Over-bridge for the 101 would be AMAZING!!! Please to roast Roland? LoL

[@Robert13b]

I sometimes use my MC-101 in combination with my TR6s (or other drum machine like a RD9). Drums from the TR6s and synths (or midi trigger) from my MC-101. Is there a way to make channel 1 a Tone track and not a drum track?

[@Robert13b]

Found it. Delete track one (Shift+Project+1) and create a new one. You will get the question for Tone or Drums

[@stephennapolitano]

What are your thoughts on the Polyend Tracker? Seems like something you’d be into.

[@GabeMillerMusic]

It's next on my list of gear to try!

[@sinewaymusic]

Can Scatter effects be recorded on some sort of song or pattern mode?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Not as far as I know, unfortunately. I looked into it but couldn't find a way, let me know if it turns out to be possible.

[@dopelogik]

Crazy how much a used mc101 goes for!

[@jaydeepalmer]

Hi! I finally got to get a 101 for a steal, and may get rid of my model:samples (which got usb audio out btw ;) But I wonder, is there any way to retrigger a note or play tuplets? Thanks!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Probably not tuplets, but there is a pretty good note repeat in there. I've showed that in a couple of hip hop production videos, if I recall correctly.

[@jaydeepalmer]

@@GabeMillerMusic thanks! I'll check it out

[@buckbumble]

Does MC-101 have adjustable swing?

[@GabeMillerMusic]

Yep!

[@YoursTrulyChris]

Remember when Chris was first? Good times.

[@jazzali4364]

Can your sample folders have subfolders as well?

[@valley_robot]

Yes they can

[@nickolas8574]

It's so cool you can record live into your DAW but are all the drums on one single track? I don't know much about mixing but that can't be ideal. That's the only thing holding me back from purchasing this unit immediately!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

You can have multiple drum tracks, but yeah you can't separate stuff on a drum track. The MC-101 does give you pretty good mixing of the individual drums on the device itself (volume, panning, EQ, etc)

[@GabeMillerMusic]

No, sadly :(

[@HoraceAndTheSpider]

The device pairs up very nicely with the TR6S though which allows for 6 seperate drum outputs.... I would say “it also frees up a drum track” until I saw the tip about using samples on the drum track on this video!

[@couchcamperTM]

I didn't dig the 101 much but you are slightly chagning that^^

[@frontttttt]

Are these on board sounds or uploaded packs? Let us know! I’m interested! Thanks Gabe, great stuff!

[@valley_robot]

All these sounds are built in , you can use samples to create your own keyboard sounds , you are not limited to the built in sounds ,or the 4 track limit

[@RosssRoyce]

I don’t get it how could have they made so many scales and all are just the C scale, no other notes???

[@blackflytr]

hold the note button for ...

[@tomblaze2]

THis machine hurts my brain -

[@GabeMillerMusic]

It's not too bad once you get used to it and learn the shortcuts. I'd recommend keeping a list of the most useful shortcuts if you can't remember them, that's exactly what I do and it really helps