DILEMMA

[xtreme sounds]

Used akai force seems promising.

[Trancer]

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Yes indeed, trance often only uses samples and tr8s style machines and others used mainly for live performances, also in the studio of course.

But very often, for the home studio, samples and vst.

For the rhythm part, I prefer hardware.

The Mc 707 is a great machine, the problem is a screen not at all suitable for visualizing what we are doing and Roland's menus and logic for programming is clearly anti-productive.

The Roland workflow is a disaster.

The tr8s, which is a great machine, is already boring compared to that and is easier to use.

Besides, I never understood why there was never an HDMI port on this type of machine, it would be much more visual and above all simpler to use.

The Akai is great as a machine, a concentrate of Ableton, but as I don't do live, just home studio, I use live on a computer, simpler and more complete.

The Akai mpc x se, a hell of a machine and a screen worthy of the name, but takes up too much space.

If Akai put the same screen on an mpc live or one, I would buy without hesitation, a large screen that is really comfortable to use.

At one point I even thought about getting a Vermona DRM1 MK4 and a BeatStep Pro, but that's a whole different way of making music.

As said at the beginning, even if a classic screen, the djs 1000 seems to be interesting, because it really comes close to the concept that I am looking for, even if this module is very clearly a dj machine.

If the SP16 was still on sale, I would have taken this machine, unfortunately only available second-hand.

It's a shame that Pioneer hasn't produced a new machine of this type, it's really very complete and really great for using samples.

There is the Elektron Digitakt 2, but I'm not sure it will give me what I'm looking for.

If I put aside the use of samples, there remains Analog rythm mk2 and Syntakt in a certain way.

[Trancer]

Many thanks for your responses and opinions.

After testing, I took the DJS 1000.

This one really meets what I expect in relation to my use.

The workflow and the way of producing music totally suits me.

Really a special machine, but really adapted to my needs.

[RonCavagnaro]

MC-707 is nice, although I have 2 major complaints that stop me from really ever using mine:
- Editing any sounds is a huge pain—I don't mind starting from presets, but I always want to tweak them, and that tiny little screen + 4 knobs makes it such a chore to do anything with sounds. It's a shame, too. It's a really deep synth and a totally decent sampling engine.
- Totally subjective, but I really don't like the modern digital Roland sound. It just sounds very "plasticky" and very digital (in a bad way) to me, and everything in this box has that sound.

But, the clip-based sequencer and hands-on controls for every track are super nice. I think it's overpriced for what it is, though. I agree it's worth looking at if OP hasn't yet.

Interesting, my experience has been completely opposite, I have found mc707 easy to program sounds. I think it sounds great!

[sockofgold]

Interesting, my experience has been completely opposite, I have found mc707 easy to program sounds. I think it sounds great!

There's an ongoing thread at Gearspace about "controversial synth opinions," and I was just mentioning there how I really just can't get into modern Roland gear no matter how many times I try. I know it's all generally well-regarded, but I just cannot get into it. (Although I did break out the MC-707 again last night, and I'm going to give it another shot as purely a sound module.)

I'm curious, though, "easy to program sounds"—you mean like, editing synth patches on that tiny little screen with 4 knobs and arrow buttons? If so, mad respect to you, because for my taste, that is one of the absolute worst synth programming experiences I could imagine (ok, I know there are MUCH worse out there, but you know what I mean). I find it aggravating to even do something simple like tweaking the release in an EG.

I'm not averse to screen/knob editing either—I love all of my Elektron boxes, and they all rely on contextual screens + knobs, but the difference for me is: A) it's really fast to get to any editing screen—almost always just one or two presses of a single button, and B) they have 8 or 10 knobs, so each screen has a LOT more editing depth.

But no hate for Roland stuff. It's not for me, but if you're into it, it's obviously a great value ratio with stuff like the 707 or SH-4D. (And I do love my TR8S for all its faults)

[RonCavagnaro]

Interesting, my experience has been completely opposite, I have found mc707 easy to program sounds. I think it sounds great!

I'm curious, though, "easy to program sounds"—you mean like, editing synth patches on that tiny little screen with 4 knobs and arrow buttons?

Yes, that edit page is very basic at least to me.

I made a 10 episode "bootcamp" video series on YT where "long-time" users of mc707 were surprised by what I managed to get out of it. If you are interested just look up my name on YT.

[sockofgold]

If you are interested just look up my name on YT.

I am, and I will!