Roland MC-505 VS Roland MC-307. There can only be one. Or both. Whatever :)

Hello friends, despite being hard to use, these Roland MC units are a lot of sonic fun. Today we look at the two middle siblings and compare the differences.

[@markymark627]

ive kept both and the jx synth and the sp808 sampler, thats a great set up for what i need, love the old roland retro sounds, great vid

[@gctechs]

I've watched numerous videos about these grooveboxes, and this video made me realize how most people do not delve properly into the sound design capabilites.

[@gearfacts]

I hope that means you liked it :) :)

[@patrickhayden7206]

No where enough videos on the 307 on YT. Thank you! A treat to see a comparison.

[@gearfacts]

I’m really glad you enjoyed the video :)

I think they're both equally sweet , prefer these old roland products to today's models well since around 2010 actually for me lol

[@Mad4400]

These come from an era when the manual was a tome and almost essential reading to get any decent results from the units. But once you have a handle on the functions and menu diving they capable machines. The tank like chassis of the 505 is the clear winner for me.

[@gearfacts]

Yep, essential.

[@monsirto]

Great video, almost convinced me not to sell my 505 😉. TBH, it's those sliders and the outputs that really put the 505 ahead, at least with regards to practical studio use.

[@gearfacts]

Actually yes, I forgot to mention the 505's sliders. They do give it an edge :)

[@alsara2k]

I had both, the MC505 sounds fatter, feels more 90s and is the better device for a more permanent setup with its multiple outs, but the MC307 does it for me since It's more convenient to handle and also the step sequencer is easy to edit with the larger screen. Lets you conveniently edit and name patches and FX as well. Biggest issue with the MC307 is it seems like its CPU gets overloaded and can start lagging playing complex sequences. Love them both nonetheless, they're little macrocosms of sound.

[@gearfacts]

Agree with all those comments. The 307 was my choice too, I simply found it to be slightly funner;)

[@denlehmann]

MC307 can be updated with its latest firmware via SYSEX (MidiOx) , there's a video for it on YT. I hope @gearfacts will do one at some point

[@mack_solo]

I'm a sucker for the more sci-fi sounds of 307, but on this island they are quite rare - one came up a few months ago, that's once in about 3 years - and I missed out. I got a damaged 505 though, and it looks like I'll be able to fix it (apart from the usual LCD screen ribbon detachment, there are some smashed up pots, but they broke off cleanly enough so they can be replaced and damage to the motherboard is minimal and can be reconnected with a bit of copper). And I just wanted to say Thank You for being my go-to channel for the gear I am often wanting to buy. Cheers! 👍

[@gearfacts]

Cheers Mack, appreciate your comment and love the 307 :)

[@davidm3569]

Firstly let me say........nice clear recording, you can really hear the highs and lows. 👍 I never got one 😥 Nearest to them? My. EG101 ? Still not sure what to make of it 🤔 By the way the D-Beam controller is also on my GW8 ( preset at the moment Inc a nice drum roll and ending with a crash cymbal .....taa dah ) 😂 As ever nice upload 👍

[@gearfacts]

Cheers man. Oh that EG101, it’s …something else right!

[@MrGrahawk]

Nearest to them is the JX305 which is a repackaged MC505.

[@kingjellybeans7823]

The EG 101 is a killer Machine when it's opened up to its full capacity. It's great in advanced mode where the choice of tones become different for each preset. A Tank of a Machine. I had it rested on my knees during one Jam and nearly dislocated my knee ha ha. I have the 505 and the 307 and the 808 and I rarely used the 307 but might take it out again after watching this video. The 808 MC is absolutely amazing in my opinion. The sound Quality from its engine is unreal. I also have three Electribes, The Em 1, Emx 1 and the second edition red Sampler one which I find that the sound engine is absolutely phenomenal. The Emx 1 is one of the Backbones of my productions. I've been producing for nearly thirty five years now and have some experience with these machines but funnily enough I rarely rarely use the MC 307. I don't know if its the presets that are putting me off making my own patterns but I'll take it out again and have another look. Yeah that EG 101 is something else. I could just sit and look at it unplugged for hours as the aesthetics of it really gets me. Thanks for the video! P. S I have a few drum machines but I have to say that the Dr 670 is one beast of a drum machine for its size. I compared it with a friends 909 and personally? I'll keep that Dr 670 Beauty in my set up for always. It's a remarkable drum machine I find personally

[@ET2carbon]

FYI - the 5V SmartMedia (2MB/4MB) card can be used either in JX-305 GrooveSynth or MC-505 GrooveBox and is readable/editable between themselves

[@ET2carbon]

@ do you mean SYSEX recording?

[@eugenecanady5452]

they way pricing on these older grooveboxes keep dropping, its cool to see new videos on them.

[@gearfacts]

Thanks EC :)

[@davidguest1158]

Looking forward to this

[@LousyFacelift]

The MC-505 is the much sturdier build with two additional stereo outs and I consider the mixer and the ADSR sliders a huge advantage. Much more hands on, fun workflow. I didn't get along with the user interface on the 307.

[@gearfacts]

Yep I can relate to that.

[@foundatlantis]

mc505 gang for more direct control over each part and sound rather than buried in menu like 307

[@gearfacts]

Fair point, for sure.

[@luceroastral5226]

Exprimí mi MC 505 asta el hartazgo tenia una banda y armaba las pistas y componía con esta grandiosa maquina hacíamos pop rock new wave dark electrónics., es una maquina todo terreno por suerte decidí no venderla así que ahí esta en un lugar especial de mi estudio la amo...

[@gearfacts]

Awesome comment, thank you:)

[@lucid484]

I just recently bought a beat up old 505. I had an original one back when they first game out and regretted selling it all these years. Love the machine but god the preset sounds/patterns are AWEFUL!!! Luckily it has a deep JV synth engine and making real good sounds is possible.

[@gearfacts]

Yes the presets were definitely not 'timeless' :/ Delete all!

[@doordedeur]

I prefer the 505; it's a step above the 307. Otherwise the 307 would be called 507...

[@kingjellybeans7823]

I agree

[@nickvandijck640]

101 is better than 303 though

[@westerncivilization]

The industrial design of the 307 was disappointing. And the latest generation of MC is just not as... classy.

[@pianokeyjoe]

MC505 is more geared towards hiphop and RnB as well as some Dance and techno as well as some variations of other musical genres and is very robustly built. The MC307 is geared towards Electronic music and thus has more sounds, and effects and a nicer LCD screen. The choice is difficult if I could only choose one, I would go with the MC505, but only because I can program my own electronic music into it. The MC307 would be a nice back up or second track unit to have though. I like the sounds and LCD of the MC307 more than the MC505.. Oh choices choices!

[@gearfacts]

So true, I chose the 307 in the end but I still have a lot to learn

[@Lofilegacybeats]

Actually the 307 has the same sounds of the 505 but with more added sounds but the 505 303 sound the fattest out of the old ones

[@ET2carbon]

the sound engines both come from jv-1080. the biggest difference to me is the BASS KNOB!

[@wighttoan]

I have a D2, which is the same synth engine. I like to select a drum beat and play the synth sounds with a midi keyboard.

[@gearfacts]

Ah the D2, I really want to review that one. They seem to be really rare now.

[@RonCavagnaro]

I have both d2 and mc307 and they sound wildly different to me, surprised they use same engine???

[@wighttoan]

@@RonCavagnaro damnit! now I want to buy an mc307!

[@evryordnryprsn]

What made you choose the 307 over the 505?

[@gearfacts]

More informative display and a few extra sounds that I liked.

[@DrDroogkloot]

I have a 307 but cant get it to work on midi. Any tips?

[@gearfacts]

menu dive, menu dive, menu dive.... :/

[@reviewerman9786]

Like getting rid of children. Which did you keep?

[@gearfacts]

Indeed :( I'm working on a demo of the MC909 at the moment, it goes another step further with its sampling system. Stay tuned :)

[@reviewerman9786]

@ looking forward to it, had that one a long time.

[@fabiangarciakh]

Sonido y edición de sonidos 505, modo de trabajo y visualización de lo que uno elabora 307... 😉

[@lbarnett748]

It’s a shame the 505 doesn’t have the knobs bolted down like the 307 but the 307s down side is it’s bad quality casing and the buttons fail quite easily. I’d choose the 505 but again if only the knobs were bolted and not hooked on. Grr.

[@gearfacts]

You do see a lot of second hand ones with damage, and it’s always the knobs :/

[@dawnr8511]

Whichever one, the talent comes in when you could make a song out of all that noise. Some people just like to make noise from what I have viewed on KZbin.

[@gearfacts]

True, and further to that point: When someone’s making coherent music they are then faced with the question “is this original or am I just sounding like what’s already out there?” It’s easy to fall into the imitation trap with these kinds of workstations.

[@kingjellybeans7823]

@@gearfacts here's some advice a well known Dance Electronic Producer once told me when he was listening to my stuff. I asked him what did he think of it and he said 'Imagine yourself going into a record shop and your Track was playing ( pretending that you didn't make that Track) then ask yourself' would I buy that Track' Good advice as I always took it onboard when making a new Track. I step away and play it pretending it wasn't me who made it and I ask myself if heard it in a shop would I buy it. Great advice I got given as it gave me an outsider sort of perspective into my Track and if it wasn't me who made it but someone else would I buy it?

[@gearfacts]

@@kingjellybeans7823 Great advice, for sure. Sadly I think a lot of people make tracks that are very lacking in anything fresh, original or even melodious. I know it's a lot of work to make music, and its even more work to get it listened to. But if it doesn't have some genuine personality in it then really it's just backing tracks.

[@tomislavvision]

Two identical machines read it a manuals

[@gearfacts]

No, the specs are definitely different.