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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

Image
Image




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-jive

this 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 :oops:

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-jive
this 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 :oops:


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 :wink:

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.html

I'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. :D

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