Roland MC-4 Microcomposer
Encyclopedia
The Roland MC-4 Microcomposer was an early microprocessor
-based music sequencer
released by the Roland Corporation
. It could be programmed using the ten key numeric keyboard or a synthesizer
keyboard using the keyboards control voltage and gate outputs. It was released in 1981 as a successor to the Roland MC-8 Microcomposer
, which in 1977 was the first microprocessor-based digital sequencer.
. The MC-4 has an output patchbay to the right of the control panel, allowing you to patch the MC-4 to a synthesizer using 3.5mm patch cords. There are four channels of outputs containing CV-1, CV-2, Gate and MPX (multiplex) to control four separate synthesizers. To the left of the output patchbay there are two switches and a control knob. The control knob alters the tempo
of the sequencer. The first switch is for cycle mode (which allows the programmed sequence to repeat continuously until the sequencer is stopped), the second switch is for sync
control. The MC-4 can be synced to other Roland equipment such as a drum machine
or another MC-4 Microcomposer (offering eight separate channels of sequencing).
In the centre of the control panel is the numeric keypad and enter button. To the right of this are two blue keys for moving forward or backwards through a programmed sequence. Below the two advance keys there is another blue button used to tell the MC-4 that you have finished programming a single measure, for example a one bar phrase of notes. To the left of the numeric keypad are six more buttons. These buttons are used for editing the sequence that has been programmed; they include insert, delete
, copy-transpose and repeat. The bottom two buttons are for moving the cursor
on the screen from left to right..
After a sequence has been programmed it needs to be saved, as when you switch the power off the memory is not stored. The MC-4 had an optional digital cassette recorder called the Roland MTR-100
. The owners manual shows that a programmed sequence could also be saved to a standard stereo cassette
deck or portable cassette recorder. This is good news as the MTR-100 is quite rare to find..
When using the MC-4 for saving or loading programmes the CMT mode must be selected. CMT stands for cassette memory transfer. Programs were saved using program numbers for identification..
keyboard; Middle C
would have the value of 24, increasing upwards for higher notes and downwards for lower notes..
The second concept in programming the MC-4 are time values. The step time values determine the time interval between each musical note, or pitch
. The third programming concept is the gate time. This gate time refers to the actual sounded value; whether the phrasing is legato
, staccato
, semi detached etc..
converter. When the MC-4 is powered up the display will show the TB (time base) default of 120. This is the number of clock pulses per bar; this was the standard before Din and MIDI clock came into being. If a sequence is programmed while the MC-4 is set to the default TB it will never sync correctly to Din or MIDI clock. To sync correctly the MC-4 TB needs to be set as 48/12/6, this sets the MC-4 for Din sync and defaults the step time to 16ths (12 clocks) and the gate length to 32nds (6 clocks).
realised this had been due to his having changed from using a Roland MC-4 Microcomposer to using MIDI sequencers. So in 1991 he returned to using MC-4 sequencers for the recording of the Erasure
album Chorus
. After writing the tracks for the album, they were programmed into a BBC Micro
computer, running a UMI sequencing program, to get the arrangements right. The UMI software sequencer was then synced to the MC-4 and all the parts were programmed into the MC-4. The whole theory behind programming with the MC-4 was better timing. Clarke believed at the time that MIDI had timing problems due to data bottlenecks, and CV had much tighter timing. The whole sound of the Chorus
is due to the MC-4 not being able to program chords; the limitation of only having four channels of sequencing also contributed. At this time he envisaged touring using the MC-4 sequencer.
After the recording of the Chorus
album Erasure
went on tour. He took on the challenge of using a Roland MC-4 as the main sequencer for the live shows. It was used to control various synthesizers live. The synthesizers controlled by the MC-4 included a Minimoog
, Roland Juno 60, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Oberheim Xpander
and a Roland Jupiter 8. For the drums the MC-4 was synced to an Akai MPC60
II.
Before the tour Clarke's collection of MC-4 sequencers were ‘road hardened’ by having the chips removed from their sockets and soldered directly to the circuit boards.
Eight MC-4 sequencers were obtained for the tour as back up units, but they were not needed.
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
-based music sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
released by the Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
. It could be programmed using the ten key numeric keyboard or a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
keyboard using the keyboards control voltage and gate outputs. It was released in 1981 as a successor to the Roland MC-8 Microcomposer
Roland MC-8 Microcomposer
The Roland MC-8 MicroComposer by the Roland Corporation, introduced in 1977 at a price of around US$8,000, was one of the earliest stand-alone microprocessor-driven CV/Gate music sequencer, following EMS Sequencer 256 in 1971 and New England Digital's ABLE computer in 1975...
, which in 1977 was the first microprocessor-based digital sequencer.
Information
This sequencer was released before the advent of MIDI, and viewed by some composers to have more accurate timingTiming (music)
Timing in music refers to the ability to "keep time" accurately and to synchronise to an ensemble as well as "expressive timing" - subtle adjustment of tempo, note or beat duration for aesthetic effect....
. The MC-4 has an output patchbay to the right of the control panel, allowing you to patch the MC-4 to a synthesizer using 3.5mm patch cords. There are four channels of outputs containing CV-1, CV-2, Gate and MPX (multiplex) to control four separate synthesizers. To the left of the output patchbay there are two switches and a control knob. The control knob alters the tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of the sequencer. The first switch is for cycle mode (which allows the programmed sequence to repeat continuously until the sequencer is stopped), the second switch is for sync
Synchronization
Synchronization is timekeeping which requires the coordination of events to operate a system in unison. The familiar conductor of an orchestra serves to keep the orchestra in time....
control. The MC-4 can be synced to other Roland equipment such as a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
or another MC-4 Microcomposer (offering eight separate channels of sequencing).
In the centre of the control panel is the numeric keypad and enter button. To the right of this are two blue keys for moving forward or backwards through a programmed sequence. Below the two advance keys there is another blue button used to tell the MC-4 that you have finished programming a single measure, for example a one bar phrase of notes. To the left of the numeric keypad are six more buttons. These buttons are used for editing the sequence that has been programmed; they include insert, delete
Delete key
The delete key , known less ambiguously as forward delete, performs a function when struck on a computer keyboard during text or command editing, which is to discard the character ahead of the cursor's position, moving all following characters one position "back" towards the freed letterspace. The...
, copy-transpose and repeat. The bottom two buttons are for moving the cursor
Cursor (computers)
In computing, a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device. The flashing text cursor may be referred to as a caret in some cases...
on the screen from left to right..
After a sequence has been programmed it needs to be saved, as when you switch the power off the memory is not stored. The MC-4 had an optional digital cassette recorder called the Roland MTR-100
Roland MTR-100
The Roland MTR-100 was a digital tape recorder used for storing sequence programmes for the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer. It was offered as an optional accessory for faster data transfer than a standard audio cassette player.. When using a Roland MTR-100, the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer needed to be...
. The owners manual shows that a programmed sequence could also be saved to a standard stereo cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
deck or portable cassette recorder. This is good news as the MTR-100 is quite rare to find..
When using the MC-4 for saving or loading programmes the CMT mode must be selected. CMT stands for cassette memory transfer. Programs were saved using program numbers for identification..
Concepts in programming
The MC-4 can be programmed with the input of number values, using the control panel numeric keypad. When programming a sequence of notes into the MC-4 numerical values are entered. These correspond to the musical notes on a pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
keyboard; Middle C
Middle C
C or Do is the first note of the fixed-Do solfège scale. Its enharmonic is B.-Middle C:Middle C is designated C4 in scientific pitch notation because of the note's position as the fourth C key on a standard 88-key piano keyboard...
would have the value of 24, increasing upwards for higher notes and downwards for lower notes..
The second concept in programming the MC-4 are time values. The step time values determine the time interval between each musical note, or pitch
Pitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
. The third programming concept is the gate time. This gate time refers to the actual sounded value; whether the phrasing is legato
Legato
In musical notation the Italian word legato indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence...
, staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
, semi detached etc..
Syncing to MIDI
The MC-4 can be synched to MIDI using a clock to DinDIN connector
A DIN connector is a connector that was originally standardized by the , the German national standards organization. There are DIN standards for a large number of different connectors, therefore the term "DIN connector" alone does not unambiguously identify any particular type of connector unless...
converter. When the MC-4 is powered up the display will show the TB (time base) default of 120. This is the number of clock pulses per bar; this was the standard before Din and MIDI clock came into being. If a sequence is programmed while the MC-4 is set to the default TB it will never sync correctly to Din or MIDI clock. To sync correctly the MC-4 TB needs to be set as 48/12/6, this sets the MC-4 for Din sync and defaults the step time to 16ths (12 clocks) and the gate length to 32nds (6 clocks).
Vince Clarke using the MC-4
After a good friend noticed that his later albums had changed in sound, Vince ClarkeVince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
realised this had been due to his having changed from using a Roland MC-4 Microcomposer to using MIDI sequencers. So in 1991 he returned to using MC-4 sequencers for the recording of the Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
album Chorus
Chorus (Erasure album)
Chorus, Erasure's fifth proper studio album, was released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. in 1991 . This album was the last to end Erasure's classic period.- History :...
. After writing the tracks for the album, they were programmed into a BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
computer, running a UMI sequencing program, to get the arrangements right. The UMI software sequencer was then synced to the MC-4 and all the parts were programmed into the MC-4. The whole theory behind programming with the MC-4 was better timing. Clarke believed at the time that MIDI had timing problems due to data bottlenecks, and CV had much tighter timing. The whole sound of the Chorus
Chorus (Erasure album)
Chorus, Erasure's fifth proper studio album, was released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. in 1991 . This album was the last to end Erasure's classic period.- History :...
is due to the MC-4 not being able to program chords; the limitation of only having four channels of sequencing also contributed. At this time he envisaged touring using the MC-4 sequencer.
After the recording of the Chorus
Chorus (Erasure album)
Chorus, Erasure's fifth proper studio album, was released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. in 1991 . This album was the last to end Erasure's classic period.- History :...
album Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
went on tour. He took on the challenge of using a Roland MC-4 as the main sequencer for the live shows. It was used to control various synthesizers live. The synthesizers controlled by the MC-4 included a Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
, Roland Juno 60, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Oberheim Xpander
Oberheim Xpander
The Oberheim Xpander was an analog synthesizer launched by Oberheim in 1984 and discontinued in 1988. It is essentially a keyboardless, six-voice version of the Matrix-12...
and a Roland Jupiter 8. For the drums the MC-4 was synced to an Akai MPC60
Akai MPC60
The Akai MPC60 was an electronic musical instrument produced in 1988, by the Japanese company Akai in collaboration with celebrated designer Roger Linn. It combined MIDI sequencing and audio sampling with a set of velocity/aftertouch-sensitive performance pads, to produce an instrument optimized...
II.
Before the tour Clarke's collection of MC-4 sequencers were ‘road hardened’ by having the chips removed from their sockets and soldered directly to the circuit boards.
Eight MC-4 sequencers were obtained for the tour as back up units, but they were not needed.
Computer-based sequencer programming
In 2011, Defective Records Software released MC-4 Hack, a software application that enables programming of the MC-4's sequencer on computer. It works by creating audio that is routed into the MC-4's cassette input port. This eliminates the need to use the MC-4 calculator-style keypad to enter sequence information.Roland MC-4 additional options
The Roland MC-4 Microcomposer was able to be used as a stand alone CV/Gate sequencer, but as the system advanced various additional options were made available for owners needing to use the MC-4 with new tasks and procedures. These involved things like memory expansion, cassette tape media and synthesizer interfaces. Below is a list of additional options that were made available by Roland..- Roland MTR-100Roland MTR-100The Roland MTR-100 was a digital tape recorder used for storing sequence programmes for the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer. It was offered as an optional accessory for faster data transfer than a standard audio cassette player.. When using a Roland MTR-100, the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer needed to be...
(Digital Cassette Recorder) - Roland OP-8Roland OP-8The Roland OP-8 interface was designed to control Roland polyphonic synthesizers that were equipped with a DCB interface via the Roland MC-4 Microcomposer..The OP-8 and synthesizer were connected together usin a DCB cable...
(CV/DCB Interface) - Roland OP-8M (CV/MIDI Interface)
- Roland OM-4 (Optional Memory that converted an MC-4 into an MC-4B)
Notable users
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