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Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:18 am
by drewzle
i grabbed a D2 recently and have been doing all my sequencing into it; i tap rhythms and melodies from my padKontrol and record them in real time into the D2's 8 part MIDI sequencer. it can also do step programming, but i haven't been getting down like that recently.
for the drums i send the MIDI Out to my SP-404, where each D2 MIDI note triggers the SP's samples. I have placed my samples in line with how the D2 groups drum sounds, to enable the D2's drum mutes to still function despite the sounds being outboard.
the bassline i send out to my MC-09, where with a few tweaks it can go from rumbling bass to pure acid and back again.
so, the D2 has the MC-505 engine in it;
but not the ability to access all those parameters via its own interface
all main LFO and Envelope stuff is of course doable, similar to MC-09 patch writing but a bit more involved and more options
check these jpgs, they have a layout of all the parameters you can access via MIDI, using the editor to craft a patch of the more detailed stuff


what i've been doing is writing patches in the machine, then later on when i'm through jamming, accessing the patch i saved and doing a bit more fine work on it, choosing key following settings, messing the velocity of the Res (can make things bounce very acid-like to have the res oscillating in sync with how hard you hit the note) and doing some EQ work to sit the tone right
the D2 looks like a toy, but inside it hides an amazingly capable beast!
here is a quick idea of how the D2 sounds...all synths = D2 except Bassline = MC-09 and drums = SP-404
http://soundcloud.com/drewzle/drewzle-u55-jivethis is a recording of a live jam, and is pretty raw...but it gives you an idea of the sort of tones you can get from the D2. they do get a bit Res'y in places as i mess with the X/Y

Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:04 pm
by ellaguru
Drewzle wrote:the D2 looks like a toy, but inside it hides an amazingly capable beast!
here is a quick idea of how the D2 sounds...all synths = D2 except Bassline = MC-09 and drums = SP-404
http://soundcloud.com/drewzle/drewzle-u55-jivethis is a recording of a live jam, and is pretty raw...but it gives you an idea of the sort of tones you can get from the D2. they do get a bit Res'y in places as i mess with the X/Y

thanx for sharing this! i downloaded this editor some months ago, but didnt take the time to use it.
it's exactly how you say it: the D2 at first seems like a toy but inside you find really good sounds and some nice parameters to modify them, but many sounds are yet good without manipulate them (some Juno/mc505 and other roland synhts engine...and the tb303, the real tb303 sounds!...).
i listened to your example. really not bad for being a jam. and good eq levels too.
the second part of my second track on my myspace (
Soul Deep, after 40 seconds) is all made with roland d2 (drums+the main piano loop is from akai remix16 driven with yamaha qy70).
cheers!!
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:33 pm
by SteveC
Sounds a bit like a Monomachine
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:38 pm
by PHeMoX
That software looks interesting, can I download that somewhere? I do have an MC-505, but don't have any software.
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:54 pm
by drewzle
ellaguru wrote:i listened to your example. really not bad for being a jam. and good eq levels too.
thanks ella! The EQ and mixing is all done on the spot through my mixer, so I'm glad it sounds right

I'll upload some crisper, less rough jams soon as I get more used to the D2
definitely keen to check your D2 track, but I am at work now…will listen tonight
hey Phemox – I DLed that MC-505 Editor from the Yahoo group, I think the link is on an earlier page. Ella G also found some alternative links to it, you should definitely check it out, the patches you can design are amazing!
Steve C - I haven't heard a Monomachine properly, but i'm interested now
thanks for listening dudes
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:29 pm
by ellaguru
Drewzle wrote:thanks ella! The EQ and mixing is all done on the spot through my mixer, so I'm glad it sounds right

I'll upload some crisper, less rough jams soon as I get more used to the D2
definitely keen to check your D2 track, but I am at work now…will listen tonight
Drewzle you're welcome man!
what kind of mixer do you use? i would like to know because i'm looking for a good one with many (up to 6) ins.
let me know what you think about the myspace track
peace
Drewzle wrote:hey Phemox – I DLed that MC-505 Editor from the Yahoo group, I think the link is on an earlier page. Ella G also found some alternative links to it, you should definitely check it out, the patches you can design are amazing!
Phemox, try with this:
http://www.norsez.com/main/norsez___Freeware_for_PC.html , this is where i downloaded it, never try still. tell us if it works.
cheers
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:11 am
by crumbsucker
[quote="Drewzle"]
the D2 looks like a toy, but inside it hides an amazingly capable beast![quote]
SHHH!
don't spread the word... everyone will want one.
once i've read somewhere :quote: if you can't make a record with this thing, your music probably suck.
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:22 am
by PHeMoX
Unfortunately I can't download directly from that page.
I did search Yahoo groups, but all I found was a page that said " Norsez was here. ".
I'll do a Google search.
edit: Okey, found it here:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Software ... ditor.htmlI'm having another issue though, it doesn't seem to like windows Vista a lot. hmmm.

Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:44 pm
by formal
PHeMoX wrote:I'm having another issue though, it doesn't seem to like windows Vista a lot. hmmm.

Does anybody like Windows Vista?

Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:18 pm
by drewzle
PHeMoX wrote:I'm having another issue though, it doesn't seem to like windows Vista a lot. hmmm.

i think right-clicked and chose an option to run it in Windows 98 Mode or something similar

Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:09 am
by drewzle
ellaguru wrote:Drewzle you're welcome man!
what kind of mixer do you use? i would like to know because i'm looking for a good one with many (up to 6) ins.
let me know what you think about the myspace track
peace
dude your track is real nice, i like the reverse flips of the drums and all the little noises come together nicely, tinkles, plucks and synthy womps!
i use a no-name mixer, with 2 stereo ins and 4 monos. it has one aux send (mono out stereo in). it is noisy and shite, but i tend to spend $ on instruments instead of a new mixer :p
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:06 am
by ellaguru
thanx for listening drewzle!
the reverse is made by the remix16. all the tinkles, plucks and synthy womps came from the D2.
let's keep this machine alive!
peace
Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:20 pm
by PHeMoX
Drewzle wrote:PHeMoX wrote:I'm having another issue though, it doesn't seem to like windows Vista a lot. hmmm.

i think right-clicked and chose an option to run it in Windows 98 Mode or something similar

It might be a midi issue, because that's what I was trying too.

Thanks though.

Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:18 pm
by UserAlexey
Hello.
I have a question to people using MC-505 Editor as the editor for Roland D2.
On the PC I edit patern in D2 after that I try to save all options (sound) in groovebox in user bank, but at me it turns out nothing. Play sounds what I have written down earlier in sequencer.
Who be knows as to save options from Editor in D2?
Excuse for my English. My language Russian

Re: Roland groovebox d2
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:40 pm
by ellaguru
hi and wellcome!
i think that drewzle and phemox could answer to your question...
peace