MC-101GROOVEBOX

MC-101
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Small size. Massive groove.

Produce and perform music anywhere, anytime—without clutter or complications. The MC-101 GROOVEBOX has all the high-quality sounds, sequencing, and effects of the expansive MC-707 in a compact four-track version that’s go-everywhere portable. Get started with an inspiring collection of ready-to-go sounds and patterns, or easily create your own. Craft a unique style by importing custom sounds, loops, and clips that sync to tempo. And you can perform with the MC-101, triggering clips and shaping your sounds with direct, hands-on control.

MC-101 Video
Pocket production studio.

Pocket production studio.

The MC-101 is a professional production tool, sharing the sounds and many of the capabilities of its bigger sibling, the MC-707. And there are advantages to being small. The MC-101 is solid-yet-light and runs for about five hours on four AA batteries, so you can design sounds, create drum patterns, and compose musical phrases just about anywhere. And it’s not just a scratch pad for simple ideas. You can produce fully fledged professional tracks or create backing tracks and accompaniment for live performance.

Turn a creative spark into fire.

Turn a creative spark into fire.

The MC-101 has a four-track sequencer optimized for creating today’s electronic and dance-focused music. You can use the 16 RGB pads to create drum, bass, and synthesizer patterns and produce your own original music. Explore a musical playground where you can freely combine loops and one-shots with melodic phrases, including your own MIDI sequences and imported audio recordings. Compose and chain scenes or clips, rearrange, re-sample, record automation, and more. Or share clips with other MC-101, MC-707, and VERSELAB MV-1 users for remote collaboration.

A portable studio full of vintage gear.

A portable studio full of vintage gear.

The MC-101 uses the ZEN-Core Synthesis System—the most advanced synth engine we’ve ever made. ZEN-Core delivers the Roland sounds that have defined electronic and dance genres for over forty years. Legendary instruments like the TR-808, TR-909, JUNO-106, and SH-101 are all here, ready to replicate classic sounds or be combined, tweaked, and processed into entirely new sounds.
More About ZEN-Core

Expandable sounds, patterns, and phrases.

Expandable sounds, patterns, and phrases.

Compose from a curated collection of projects with built-in beats, phrases, and sounds, all expertly crafted by renowned artists and sound designers—with even more available to download.
Explore Projects

The MC-101 is also compatible with ZEN-Core Sound Packs. So when you’re ready for more sounds, or want to explore new genres and styles, it’s easy to change things up.
Explore Sounds

Play your own custom audio in perfect sync.

Play your own custom audio in perfect sync.

Each track contains a powerful sample player so you can import your own custom sounds. Use your own voice or the sound of a favorite instrument from your computer. Imported audio can sync with the MC-101’s tempo or be processed with the arsenal of built-in effects and hands-on controls.

Produce tracks ready to stream or perform.

Produce tracks ready to stream or perform.

With the MC-101’s wide range of pro effects, your music sounds polished and fully produced. Each track has independent effects processors with a huge number of variations. Lush chorus brings depth to pads and other synth sounds. Delays and reverbs create evocative spaces and add movement to delicate sequences. Overdrive, distortion, and amp simulation inject grit and intensity into synths, guitars, drums, and more. You can also run your entire mix through master effects like filters, bit-crushers, and a master bus compressor that glues it all together with punch and clarity.

Produce and share with the world. With a single cable.

Produce and share with the world. With a single cable.

When you’re ready to develop tracks further or share your creations with friends and fans, simply connect the MC-101 to your computer with a single USB cable. It has advanced USB audio interface capabilities and can record an entire mix or all four parts to individual tracks in your DAW. Or sample sounds from your DAW to capture backing tracks, stems, or the sound of a favorite software synth for your next live show.

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Specifications
Sound Generator
ZEN-Core (Tone, Drum Kit)
Track Type
Tone, Drum Kit, Looper (Audio Loop)
Maximum Polyphony
ZEN-Core: 128 voices (varies according to the sound generator load)
LOOPER: 4 (varies according to the available number of Looper track)
Tracks
4 tracks
Clips
64 clips (16 clips per track)

* Clip Type: Tone, Drum Kit, Looper (Audio Loop), it varies according to the track type.
Tones
Preset Tone: 3,000 or greater
Preset Drum Kit: 80 or greater
User Sample (as a Tone or Drum Kit): available by importing form SD CARD
Looper Sample (as a clip of Looper track): available by importing from SD CARD

* Available total time for User Sample: 12 minutes in mono, 6 minutes in stereo (44.1 kHz)
* Available format of User Sample: WAV 32–96 kHz/16 bits, 24 bits (mono, stereo)

* Available total time for Looper Sample: Approx. 60 sec (44.1 kHz)
* Available format of Looper Sample: WAV 44.1 kHz/16 bits, 24 bits, 32 bits, 32 bits float (mono, stereo)
Effects
Track Multi-Effects: 90 types
Track EQ
Chorus/Delay: 9 types
Reverb: 7 types
Master Effects: 90 types
Master Compressor
Master EQ
Step Sequencer
Maximum Step: 128 steps

* Available on a Tone or Drum Kit Track
Looper
Time Stretch, Pitch Shift

* Available on a Looper Track
Display
16 characters, 2 lines LCD (with backlit)
External Storage
SD Card (SDHC supported) for saving Project Data and Audio Data
Connectors
PHONES jack: Stereo miniature phone type
OUT(L/MONO, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
MIDI (IN, OUT) connectors
USB port: USB B type (Audio, MIDI)
Power Supply
Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4
Ni-MH battery (AA, HR6) x 4
Obtained via USB port (USB bus power)
Current Draw
500 mA
Expected battery life under continuous use
Alkaline battery (AA, LR6): Approx. 3 hours
Ni-MH battery (AA, HR6): Approx. 4.5 hours

* This can vary depending on the specifications of the batteries, capacity of the batteries, and the conditions of use.
Accessories
Owner's manual
Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4
SD Card (installed in the product when shipped from the factory)
SD Card Protector (installed in the product when shipped from the factory)
Size and Weight
Width
224 mm
8-13/16 inches
Depth
132 mm
5-3/16 inches
Height
61 mm
2-7/16 inches
Weight (including batteries)
716 g
1 lb 9 oz

Video Library

A Few Minutes with Xiu Xiu

A Few Minutes with Xiu Xiu

Jamie Stewart, the confessional frontperson of experimental rock band Xiu Xiu, explains their love for Roland drum machines.Read more…

A Few Minutes with Strand of Oaks

A Few Minutes with Strand of Oaks

Strand of Oaks mastermind Timothy Showalter explains how painting and meditation fueled his shift from folk rock to synth sounds.Read more…

DAWless Mastery: Using Scene Chains

DAWless Mastery: Using Scene Chains

The GROOVEBOX series continues to evolve, and one of the latest tools for advanced performance is Scene Chain. Learn to maximize the feature.Read more…

MC-101 Video Manual

MC-101 Video ManualStep-By-Step Instructions

This video manual contains step-by-step instructions that will quickly introduce you to the MC-101’s top features.Read more…

ZEN-Core

ZEN-CoreChange Your Relationship with Sound

Roland’s ZEN-Core Synthesis System works across hardware and software, delivering decades of genre-defining sounds with the power to shape them in new and exciting ways.Read more…

ZEN-Core Sounds

ZEN-Core SoundsAn Always-expanding Sound Library to Keep you Inspired

The power and flexibility of the ZEN-Core Synthesis System delivers an incredible array of sounds, from analog modelling synths to crystal-clear pianos.Read more…

Support

If you have questions about operating your Roland product, please check our Knowledge Base for answers to the most common questions.
You can also contact the Roland Product Support team directly via Roland Backstage.
In addition, we have a library of Owner’s Manuals and Support Documents that you can download and reference.

Owner’s Manuals

Support Documents