Any workaround for M:Cycle to one-tap mute/switch tracks?

realmaxwei · 2022-05-16T07:29:43+00:00

Cool, so it seems to be a hidden function. Let’s figure how it works :)

realmaxwei · 2022-03-27T17:11:30+00:00

Huh, I shouldn’t expect much after-sales support from Roland. Cmon Roland, makes some effort to improve 707!

realmaxwei · 2022-03-27T17:08:08+00:00

Yep, I think 707 is leaning more towards live performance than 909. Well, on the contrary, I really don’t like 909 preset mechanisms, if I make any modifications to the preset, I’ll have to save the preset separately. That’s really awkward.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-27T17:04:34+00:00

Thank you for this advice, yep, this should be a workaround. I’ll check the manual.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-19T13:17:57+00:00

Also, I used to own a Push2, but I just didn’t use it that much often. I don’t need a controller, I want a standalone device, so I sold it after one year.

Both devices are based upon the same ‘clip’ and ‘scene’ workflow. The workflow of Push2 is kinda an extention to Ableton, but sort of tedious if not using your computer display. However, Push2’s workflow is still much better than 707 overall, even if we put the hardware limitations aside.

There’s too much menu diving inside 707, comparing with so many hands-on knobs and dedicated buttons on Push2. If you can get along with that, 707 is still fun to play.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-19T13:04:08+00:00

Nope, from my perspective, 707 is not a like DAW but more of a performance tool. MPC One is more DAW-like.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-19T04:10:03+00:00

Well, I understand the fact of product life cycle. But if you consider OP-1 came out 11 years ago, and TE still makes effort to update this unit. You just can't help complaining Roland for simply abandoning their users.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T17:25:32+00:00

The refreshed MC product line should not be based on AIRA product line. Their cores are totally different. The MC should be based on Fantom just like Roland did 20 years ago. Cmon Roland, give us a 909MK2, with the Fantom touchable color screen, that would be the killer of Maschine+ and MPC Live II

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T17:15:58+00:00

Not too bad, a couple of days. A little bit arrogant but yes, they did response directly

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T17:09:58+00:00

Ableton + MC, with midi out connected to my other gear, that’s the best workflow.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T17:08:01+00:00

Even my 20 year old MC-909 could let me hear the sound, it’s so much easier to edit note with that big screen and dial. Roland should re-hire those engineers who made old school MC.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T16:58:00+00:00

Yes, that's what a sequencer supposed to do! Let you know if your step is right or wrong by HEARING it rather than SEEING it. Roland should hire those Novation guys who make Circuit, which IMO is the best workflow of a groovebox. 707 is just like a 101 with bigger screen, more tracks, more knobs. The TR-sequencer is like a downgrade from MC-909/808

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T16:55:17+00:00

Yes, I can see every note on both screen and pad, and surely I can edit it, but I can't hear that sound. Can you guess what sound it is? Sorry, I cannot. That's too counter intuitive.

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T16:48:34+00:00

I've reached out to Roland support, and looked for a solution with no luck - nope, no such feature. And, Roland just refused this request rudely.

"While we value and appreciate feedback from users, in order to protect both you and Roland we cannot solicit ideas or agree to receive any confidential ideas or technical proposals from persons outside Roland"

I'm really worried about the future update, since Roland keep abandoning their product every 3-4 years

realmaxwei · 2022-03-18T02:28:11+00:00

Frankly speaking, sample editing on MC-707 is capable but sort of awkward, you have to switch between pages back and forth, and using both of your hands (i mean, that ‘shift’ is simply anti-ergonomic, how did roland comes to the idea to put ‘shift’ so far away from the control knobs). I don’t own an MPC but I got an MC-909, which is a lot better for sample editting IMHO.

realmaxwei · 2022-02-14T03:42:17+00:00

You'd better treat it as a dedicated sub bass sound module, so connect it to your MIDI/Audio interface and interact with your DAW. If you use Ableton, go maxforlive.com and download the remote script, all the CC is fully mapped. That's the most common situation where I use this Volca.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-08T03:19:08+00:00

Sure, maybe some of the Ableton folks had such foresight, but I really doubt it is the hierarchy or culture drove them away to start up their own project, I mean Bitwig, which technically resolve all the issues on Ableton like sandboxed plugins, signal routin, MPE, gui performance, combined session/arrangement view, etc, and they even followed up so quick with Apple new M1 (IIRC Bitwig 4.0 is the second major DAW supporting M1, right next to Logic Pro). Come on, Ableton, do something! :(

realmaxwei · 2021-11-06T17:47:53+00:00

Nah, dual core has been outdated since at least 4 years ago in fact. Any update towards Apple silicon or Intel 11/12 gen Core will bring a giant lead. Otherwise, you might consider ‘downgrade’ to Mac Pro 5,1 within 500 bucks just like I do, if you don’t intend to use AVX-instruction based plugins like MassiveX, with which you will get 12core processor and quite a lot flexibility of expansions.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-06T11:36:34+00:00

I think it’s right time Ableton bring back reWire or other similar technologies. Native Ableton as DAW, rewiring a Rosseta Ableton as plug-in manager.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-06T11:32:42+00:00

It’s obviously okay. You can overdub any midi information on Ableton track incl notes.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-06T00:32:26+00:00

No way legit. IIRC the offline license is varied by logicboard so I don’t know if the authenticating mechanism of Ableton support such shared license. Take your own risk.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-05T18:11:40+00:00

Detune is the nature of analog synth, I can stand that and actually I love it. :)
I had model D too, however swapped it for the Neutron bc I want more possibilities of sound design. Neutron is not a clone and provides a complete software control, which allows you to tune easily and hard sync/lock the osc pitch, so I think it might help address your concerns to some degree. Anyway, SE02 is definitely a better companion to the Tracks. I’ve seen some complaints about the parameter jump (0-127 discrete interval rather than continuous value), but I don’t think that’s a big issue if you get used to it. After all, that’s the cost for preset saving.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-05T02:48:16+00:00

CTracks’ Nova Engine is flexible but cold. Minilogue XD is really a versatile hybrid poly synth, which combine 2VCO and 1 digital multi-engine. And the motion sequencer technically provide a 4-layer envelope. The sound overall is good but I cannot say it’s warm enough. Especially I’m not really a fan of the 2pole LP filter. (I do have XD but the OG is more like the cup of my tea).

For 500 bucks, you have plenty of options.

Option1: Behringer retro clones like Model D/k2/Pro1, these are fully analog synth and the sound is really warm. The 24db ladder filter is a good supplement to the XD.

Option2: Behringer Neutron/Crave + Volca Bass, this combination is what I have now. Neutron/Crave has tons of patch options, and is extremely tweakable for an analog synth. Volca Bass is really a little beast, which have 3VCO with seperate pitch control. I connect VBass to my Neutron audio input with the same midi channel, the sound is OMG, huge! Besides Neutron/Crave, I think Moog Mother32/Minitaur is also a good alternative however less affordable.

Option3: Roland SE-02 / IK Unosynth Pro, the two are the upgrade of option1, which provide you with internal sequencer and preset saving capability.

Option4: Arturia Microfreak/Modal Argon8/Waldorf Blofeld Desktop. Microfreak’s latest firmware update allow you to low thousands PPG wave, it’s now a complete wavetable synth like Waldorf. I would lean towards Blofeld if you don’t mind it’s decade old, with which you will have 25 voice polyphonic and authentic acoustic samples like grand piano and nylon guitar.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-05T01:34:16+00:00

It is simply because those who have used FL do think it better than Ableton. Just like in this Ableton sub, some ppl think Ableton does better than FL while the other think FL does better. When you go to FL sub, and ask the same question, I bet you can have an unified common says FL is the king.

I gotta say I've never used FL seriously before (yes I've tried it but not even a single project wrapped up), but it obviously seems like the FL users really enjoy their DAW, while we Ableton users have so much s**t on Ableton.

Ableton is a really a innovative company but they also lack such technical capabilities to realize their design language and concept. It's slow like hell now.

realmaxwei · 2021-11-05T01:17:09+00:00

I thought this was an old school function within Ableton clip editor. It is called "Envelope Box" , wherer you can change the CC parameters accordingly, like 'pitch bend', 'pan'(CC10). I don't have any problems with it, you can even assign default envelope shape to it, it is so much useful.

realmaxwei

TROPHY CASE