it's not there ROLAND MC-4

ROLAND MC-4





A cheap hardware 80's sequencer
Sorry people... could find zilch about this item.... one of the excellent Roalnd MC range from mid 1980.... all the other models I do know of were great, so maybe this one is too...?...It looks by the styling a bit lolder than the MC500/300 series.... so I'd expect the facilities to be less... for a start, there doesnt appear to be a disk-drive fitted from the image, unless it's on the front or side edge....... comments please...







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Products » Studio equipment » Hardware Sequencer »

Added: 22 December 1998
New price:
S/H price: 100 - 150 ish
Company:  ROLAND UK

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roland mc-4

Comments

Jimmy

14-Oct-99

i dont know too much bout these either..except that Vince Clarke of Erasure uses these to sequence in his studio..and on live tours as well..kinda like the current MC sequencer series, cept this is recorded by CV GATE/Din Sync i think? i was offered the chance to buy back when i had all my old analogue gear, which i have since sold off for VA and digital stuff...a rarity indeed..


jupiter

21-Nov-99

The MC4 came out pre-midi (early 80's), is designed to sequence CV based synths. It saves loads sequences via tapes.


Andrew Breckill

01-Dec-01

No Disk drive I'm afraid, No battery backup either, tape dump before you turn off!, you can store it on your pc instead though, as audio. Not much memory, (16k I think, yeah, really), the 4B has more.


Robotica

23-Jan-02

Weblink: link

Memory capacity: MC-4a apx 3900 notes (16k byte version), the MC-4b apx 12000 notes (48k byte version). Optional OM-4 memory board with interface for MTR-100 (digital tape backup) can be installed on an MC-4a to upgrade. Roland OP-8 will also convert up to 8 cv/gate channels into DCB for the Jupiter 8 or Juno 60, which can also be controlled by the MC-4. It aslo has a DIN sync jack on the back for syncing to a TR-606 or TR-808. 4 channels of output, each with CV1, CV2, Gate and MPX. CV1 and 2 are 0 - 10.42 V, 125 steps, 83.3mV/step, Gate and MPX are "off" on 0-volts, "on" on 12-volts. External input includes one CV and one Gate input. Calibration knobs are also supplied for the input signal. There is a Tempo CV Input, and External Sync input and output which can be used to sync to such devices as drum machines, etc. There is a CMT/Tape sync input/output, a swith on the DIN sync for In/out...you can also sync another MC-4 to it for two, making it comparible to the super rare MC-8. There is an external control for start/stop functions. Total tune knob is +/- 100 cents, Tempo knob range is -50% to +100%, a cycle switch which loops a certain section of your sequence, a sync selector swith to choose between DIN internal, DIN external, and TAPE if you choose to sync the MC-4 to a multi-track recorder for endless amount of analog channels (providing you can only record 4 at a time). There is a mode swith that lets you choose between CMT, Edit, or Play. CMT is for saving to tape, etc. Editing and play are self explanetory. Dimensions 471x248x124mm, 6.1kg, 30w power. The MC-4 has very extensive editing modes with real-time recording, step recording, insert, copy, delete, insert-copy, transpose, transfer, repeat, divide/combine, live entry, etc. Most analog sequencers can only record a mono track per channel, but the MC-4 can actually control another voice through the second CV output (CV2) and the MPX output (acting as a second gate). CV2 can also be used to control VCA or VCF if your synth has external control inputs. No crappy stair stepping filter sweeps like you get with MIDI, simply smooth in CV. The MPX alone can be used to trigger other functions on a synth, such as voice switching. Some synths like the prophet 5 have a patch switching input, here the MC-4 can actually change your patch. If you prefer to still write in MIDI, you can still use the MC-4 to record with. You can use a MIDI to CV converter such as the Kenton Pro series and record directly into the MC-4 input, either one channel, or all four with the limitation of recording one at a time, then recording your sequence. If you have an MC-4a, you can still get the memory upgraded to an MC-4b. Contact me and I will hook you up with the synth tech that can do it. The MC-4 listed for $3395 in 1981. Every now and then they pop up on Ebay and usually go for $400-500. The only groups i know that definitely used it were early The Human League, Devo, and Vince Clarke of Erasure and early Depeche Mode.


Robotica

25-Jan-02

Weblink: link

Here is a link to a closeup pic of the MC-4b. www.geocities.com/ analogbot/rolandmc4g.jpg (no spaces) It is also possible to add a midi input on the MC-4 for about $99 from synhouse.com, that way you could hook a midi keyboard right up for entering note info, without having to go through a converter. If anyone out there has any information on the programming used in the MC-4 for transferring information through it's digital interface...let me know. I want to write a program that would take 4 tracks of a general midi file, filter in only the information the MC-4 would understand and dump all 4 tracks at once in it's digital input. Who knows what computer language was being used in 1979-80...or maybe a device that would filter a midi dump to MC-4 information format. Here is a pic that shows the rear interface... www.geocities.com/ analogbot/ rolandmc4b.jpg (nospaces) strangely enough it's a standard IDE cable fits perfectly in it. How convenient for me.


Tony Catchpole

20-Oct-02

I used the MC4 for years and still do for cv audio gating etc. If anybody requires more info please contact me.


Alien

17-Jan-03

Yeah Tony?

How should I contact you.....by telepathy hehe


Simon

24-Oct-03

Weblink: link

I own an MC4 - I ve had it for about 3 years and it will only work with cv/gate keyboards drum machines - it came out about 1981 - and sold for £2500ish - I use it with my Linn Drum and Prophet5 - there were 2 version- mc4 and mc4b - mc4 can handle 1500 events - mc4b about 4500- Very popular in the early 80's - depeche mode, ultravox ect


Francois BUAT

27-Oct-03

Bonjour, I am looking to upgrade my MC4s. Is there some persons here having installed the synhouse kit? Or more general persons being big MC4 user?

Thanks,

Francois


jupiter

29-Feb-04

hi,if someone wants to sell,please contact me.
thx


Beeper

24-Feb-07

I offered my MC-4 to Vince Clark and he said "no thanks, I've already got twelve".

The MC-4 is the ultimate volt-octave step-time sequencer. It generates 4 channels of CV and Gate, with each channel given a second CV and an additional trigger output as well. The result is effectively 4 independant duophonic channels of CV and Gate. Storage is by cassette - but you really want to get that killer sequence down on tape before you switch the unit off....

Data is input either by the scary looking numeric keypad (actually this becomes quite intuitive to use) and a CV and Gate input from an external keyboard.

With sync input and output the MC-4 can be used to stripe tape and follow its own sync, or can be slaved to MIDI or SMPTE easily.

The MC-4 is so tight that my old System 100 would phase when the same sequence was recorded on adjacent tracks on a half inch tape recorder - in fact, I used it to give me an idea of wow, flutter and head alignment as I could hear these better than I could see them on a scope!


schorsch

18-Apr-07

it has little to do with the mc-500, since it's a 4 channel cv/gate sequencer- no midi here, only din-sync (24ppq)... same goes for floppy disks: for data storage they provided an extra tape recorder (mtr-100)...


aniki age

09-Sep-08

Roland MC-4 Microcomposer
A programable multi channel sequencer...
This is pretty different to the other mc-500 type sequencers
It is in fact pre midi, relying on only sync data for timing
the main purpose of the machine is for C/V and Gate control used with older analogue gear.
It has the ability to control 4 devices (or more if patched correctly)
Timing is perfect and the interface pretty straight forward
A beautiful piece of equiptment worth it's weight (6.1Kg) in gold!





Last added comment


mark moffatt

13-Jan-09

Weblink: link

I worked with Roland on these and later machines and was the first in the world to use the MC4 and TR 808 on a commercial recording. Amazing sequencer.


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