Sequencing External Gear with Roland MC-707: Live Looping Setup Tutorial

Some tips and tricks to get you set up looping synths with MIDI using the Roland MC-707.
All sounds from Jupiter-X and Korg Wavestate (No internal sounds from the 707).
Uncut, unscripted, unfocused.

[@MRTUNA]

Did NOT realize I had ads interrupting this video. I hate those. I am turning them off now. Sorry for those that have suffered already

[@andrewwilson5721]

Can you explain how to midi sync the 707 with korg wavestate via midi including cable connection.thx

[@MRTUNA]

will do but ill have to wait until im back at the studio! i cant remember without it in front of me. In short, midi out on the mc-707 to midi in on the korg wavestate. the wavestate will automatically adjust to the bpm of the 707 unless you changed that in the wavestate. You. might also have to go into track settings of the 707 and make sure it is sending MIDI clock to the midi out (1 or 2, which ever one you plugged into)

[@benendres9462]

Wait so how were you able to sequence the jupiter into the MC707 directly like that? I'm still trying to figure out how to use the MIDI thru on my hydrasynth. Hoping to be able to make that happen. Thanks for the vid!

[@SingularityMedia]

The issue I have with my MC707 is that if you use external midi, you have to sacrifice a MC707 channel, you can`t run 8 MC707 channels AND additional external midi. Strange, I kinda wish external midi channels were their own thing.

[@jolleychris123]

Can i record a loop straight to one of fhe 16 pads on this? Like if i play a quick guitar lick or riff, can i then trigger that lick from a pad?

[@floridahiker1503]

Your setup sounds like magic. The perfect pairing of instruments.

[@MRTUNA]

Later in the vid, The MC-707 is not looping the audio of the Wavestate because I have the external input turned all the way down, and Track 1 has the external input routed to it as an audio insert. When the master external input knob is turned all the way down the audio does not pass into the looper unless I were to designate it to record Track 1 instead. Also this never would have worked because it would have been recording all the sound coming from the Jupiter X as well, doubling all the sounds. That being said, you could effectively route the JPX into the Auxiliary Effects Return L/R ports and then *only* route the synth you wanted to loop (Wavestate) into the external in and do it that way. Maybe you can loop from the Aux Effects... I'm going to look into that

[@VJFranzK]

So, each of the 2-4 inputs can only be going into one track at a time? Also, will audio still pass through the channel after the loop is recorded? or does that prevent it

[@floyd3068]

Hi...great video, i have the same problem and can not get it working properly 😕. I have been reading the text over and over...and still not getting it! Can you make a video about it? Thanks in advance 👍🏾

[@djandreezer]

MR TUNA Music or you can route the actual audio from the synth into a mixer? Just like how you would use a regular sequencer?

[@MRTUNA]

I’ll try to look into this but it won’t be until the weekend!

[@djandreezer]

MR TUNA Music Got it! Sequenced my SE-02 thru the 707. Followed your instructions and it worked like a charm. Running Midi out 1 on the 707 into a Midi Solutions Quadra Thru connected to the SE-02 (among other things). Running the audio out of the SE-02 into a channel on the MX-1. Works like a charm! Now I can sell my Pyramid Squarp. LOL!

[@MusicWizard85]

Can you please explain how you have the Korg Wavestate hooked up to 707 in this video? I see a Midi cable coming from Wavestate but no Midi cables in to 707. I see audio cables in to 707 though on Return L&R and EXT IN L&R. What settings do you have to change/setup on 707 & what settings do you change/setup on Wavestate to do what you're doing in this video (recording Wavestate audio but playing on 707 pads)??

[@ahol967]

Thank you for SHIFT+SEL Tx MIDI Out tip. I was breaking my head, why 707 won't send notes to MODX.

[@SkywalkFPV]

Awesome tune! I wonder if the Pyramid would be overkill for this small setup? I cannot seem to choose the best live jam centerpiece for small Dawless studio and trying to avoid the MPC..

[@robdot0]

im having the same issue as you at the end of the video. I actually once recorded straight into a tone track, but my settings were something crazy and i cant recreate. now when trying to record any of my external synths, everything says to record into a looper track. but when i do i get the exact same result as you at the end of the video. I record, everything seems legit, i hear my crave or microfreak on the track im trying to record to, all midi channels are correct, but i record and i have no sound, or the only sound is from the actual ext synth, if i turn the volume down on the ext synth i dont hear anything from the mc707. how can i record an ext synth in just like you did in the first 5 minutes of this video, but it actually record into a track and save their. wtf am i doing wrong

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

This is GREAT, I have my MC-707 coming in days and certainly want to connect it to several synths. Very helpful, thanks for sharing, much appreciated.

[@3-6-9-6-3]

Loving my MC707. Roland is really backing up this hardware.

[@jhewitt79]

Can you play the Korg and the Roland from their own keybeds and capture them in the 707 on their own tracks? I noticed you played the Korg from the 707 pads. I'd love to see an updated video from you on this if you've worked with it more.

[@MRTUNA]

hey checking out some old videos and seeing some long ago comments but you can definitely do that with a lot more gear, it just requires a midi merger because the mc707 has 2 midi outs, but only 1 midi in

[@bryanwaller3168]

Like @Gavin Peters, I've been unsure about how useful the MC707 would be for me, but this has confirmed that it would do what I think I need it for. Thanks for the video and look forward to more from your cut-down set-up. Stay safe and well.

[@thattrumanguy]

Bryan Waller glad i coud share some experience. It seems to work very well for sequencing!

[@robomoboto]

Hi can you please explain the routing ina nd out of the roland. I don’t understand how you are “switching tracks” on it in order have loops of more than one sound coming from the Jupiter simultaneously.

[@MRTUNA]

the jupiter-x has midi in and out connected to midi 1 out and midi in of the MC-707, then each instrument track is set to match the corresponding midi track on the MC-707. I am just changing layers on the JP-X and playing a new line. so 4 layers = 4 tracks of midi that i can record into the mc-707....... maybe that makes sense?

[@hobbymastersynthsscopesboa3372]

Quick question for you: If I buy a Matrix Brute, can I then midi out from the 707 to the MB. Then, send the audio out from the MB to one of those audio insert connections on the 707. Then, essentially like you have pyramid set up, i will be able to play the MB directly and sequence that into the 707??? I also have a Vermona DRM mk.3 being sequenced by a BeatStep Pro. Is the 707 OK now at being a master as I would need to run that into the Beatstep and have the beatstep set up as slave. Thanks for any help.

[@Chemicaldiver]

Mr Tuna: Can you use MC-707 to do analog trigger of an old external analog synth? The Tr-8s can do that. Does the 707 have that too? Is it via the assignable outputs?

[@m10538]

Great demo, MR Tuna! I think you stayed focused. It's all so complicated (at least to me), one little thing was bound to go wrong. Stay safe there in the Tuna Lair!

[@THEREALTWISTEDINSANE]

How do I get my beat once I make it in the 707 into my protools ? Can I just export them to the sd card and load them into my computer ?

[@TheInterGalacticFederation]

Masters of The Tunaverse !

[@MRTUNA]

Might have to change the name of this series to that!

[@gavinpeters9531]

Thanks for doing this.. despite not coming out right haha! I've been on the fence about the MC707, but think you sold me on it.

[@andrewwilson5721]

Sorry new to midi..

[@live_actv]

Mr Tuna is the best 🔥🔥🔥

[@darumabeats]

dope man this is really interesting!

[@nsjx]

i appreciate the demonstration

[@thedigitallost]

Really helpful video. Probably the most helpful I have found on external sequencing with the MC707. Thanks!

[@yogitones7547]

Great video! Do you know if you can send out specific midi notes from a drum track, so each pad can have a it’s own specific midi note?

[@MRTUNA]

yes I am 99.9% sure you can

[@3xAudio]

Thanks for this video. I got it the TR-707 workings with the new launchpad pro mk3 sequencer and korg microkorg. Hopefully can get my skills up to something like this setup eventually. You cant beat hardware!. Hoping to get it into live sets but I'm not if I can get it work with the styles of music I make. Definitely looks the business though.

[@bryanwaller3168]

Apologies if this is too dumb, but can I use the Zen sound section of the MC707 with a midi keyboard, as a synth in its own right? I can't see why not, but I've not seen any videos where its being used in this way.... It will help with $$££ justification if I can call it a synth module :).. Thanks all

[@zootedninja1392]

How would i go about connecting my roland gaia sh01 and minibrute 2s to the mc707. Im still having difficulty. Does this need the latest patch update?

[@piotr803]

5:50 can MC-707 record in anything else but the basic midi note information (gate, pitch)? like filter cut-off movement? If not can you motion sequence it on MC-707 and send it via MIDI out?

[@StevenScharnow]

hey Mr. Tuna ....shirt is very cool 🙌🕺

[@thattrumanguy]

Steven Scharnow thanks a lot my buddy @petewonder made it for me!

[@gauthiercanart7690]

This is super interesting, thanks!!! - would you recommend this vs. a squarp for (basic) midi looping ? I tried the MPC but never got into it... this might be the one I've been looking for... Wdyt ?

[@ZbychG]

omg :( i have hydrasynth and mc 707 and i cant send notes from mc to hydra :( why ? could u help me ?

[@lucio788]

hello , do you have any idea why I get input external audio(guitar) on a looper track but when I hit record it wont record the loop? it will show that recorded actually , but it looks blank with no audio, thank you

[@MrLewisb11]

How do you record the mc707?? I have tr8s and record straight into logic with usb? Recording into individual audio channels? Got the mc707 on order and trying to find as much information out before I receive it, better to be ready😬 what would you recomend for recording a live set of them both??

[@leftcloud9]

Love this man!!! I have a similar, much more low tech set up using the MC-307 as the midi "brain" of my setup, controlling a couple of samplers and a Microkorg. Was good to pick up some application ideas from you!

[@infinita3673]

hello. what is the max polyphony of the step sequencer to sequence midi? can i do nineth chords with 5 notes?

[@ЖеняТаранюк-р5ж]

Super awesome tutorial and guy is super chill

[@peteblues72]

at 3:34, you're adjusting the JupiterX volume via the track 5 fader. My mc707 doesn't seem to send midi cc from the faders. How did you accomplish this?

[@MRTUNA]

It is not adjusting the jupiterx volume so much as it is adjusting the input volume of the mc-707 for the effects loop which i am using as an extra input

[@markchristopher2signal2]

Pyramid or MC707 to produce music. I was able to make full tracks on a Yamaha RS7000 sequencer. I do want a hardware sequencer. Poly End Tracker and Deluge looks very shagadelik.

[@MRTUNA]

MARK CHRISTOPHER I’m never ever going to sell my pyramid unless some miracle machine comes out but the mc707 works great for more basic duties

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

Loopers are interesting because you can change the loop length to an odd number like 7 or 9 but the clip to something standard like 16 or 32 steps. This allows a one bar loop to become something far more complex but the clip resets it after a set cycle so it doesn't sound too random... then you can mess with the automation and apply fx as well. Too bad the MC doesn't have a lot of RAM memory for too many loops but for a song you can get enough out of it.

[@LucidMusicIncRecordings]

nice jam also!

[@robarkskillie960]

That cellphone balancing on the box is messing with me

[@VJFranzK]

Sounds good! and thanks for demonstration

[@robbiep742]

Is there no midi cc to toggle record on off?

[@artamuslongfellow9920]

Are you on the Bridge of the MCC-1707- Jupiter Class Starship? You need to face off with the Green Gorn System-8! Fun looking rig, is something going on with your regular studio?

[@MRTUNA]

I half explain at the end of the video but my regular studio is on my parents property and they are high risk so I am staying away to be precautious. Things have been getting out of hand already in Site-B though.

[@MRTUNA]

There is really not enough space for this setup in my room but I dont mind crashing into it all in the middle of the night.

[@artamuslongfellow9920]

@@MRTUNA I hear ya - Glad you're being considerate during this situation and still bringing us all good content! Be Well Everyone and Create Something! Cheers!

[@Individual_two]

Cool demo! This gives me some ideas. Thanks!

[@thattrumanguy]

Individual Two exactly why I made this vid!

[@cgonneville6677]

Lead at 7 min is 🤙🏼

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Very interesting. The sequencer on the 707 seems powerful. Is it a viable alternative to the MPC One in that sense? Does it have as many MIDI channels? Maybe you need a MIDI splitter to sequence the Korg Wavestate alongside the Jupiter-X with the 707? I'm not really great with sorting out MIDI set ups but I think that's what I need to sequence my synths with my MPC as I've already hooked up one and it works great. With a MIDI splitter I think I can put the synths on different channels and play them into the MPC (or in your case the 707) sequencer. Well that is my theory. Like you my studio is based at my parents house and I'm quarantining away from there so I will have to try it all out when things get back to normal.

[@MRTUNA]

MIDI splitter would definitely solve it. I dont need to spend anymore cash on gear right now, especially for the bedroom side of things but I actually figured out a way to make it work with the USB Memory port on the Jupiter-X of all things this morning

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

@@MRTUNA intriguing. How did you do it?

[@garydvisualz]

@@MRTUNA I have a Mio10 MIDI router and am looking to use the MC707 as master clock and sequencer very much like this. Being able to play the slave devices (in my case a System8, JDXi and Sub37) on their own keyboard(s) as opposed to the pads on the MC707 would be important. You show that in the video but I'm curious if the audio outputs (not MIDI... audio) of the slave devices cant just go to a "regular" mixer and bypass the back of the MC707. Thanks so very much for this. Great videos on your channel! Stay safe.

[@JustinEdwords]

@@garydvisualz you can send audio out wherever. . he was just using the 707 as a workflow/convenience/for its internal effects