Roland MC-909 owner manual Adjusting the display contrast, Editing a value, Saving your data

An Overview of the MC-909

Editing performance data

Unlike a cassette tape or MD, a sequencer records a performance as musical data (not as sound). It’s easy to edit the performance data to create your own original patterns.

The controller section

The “controllers” of the MC-909 are its velocity pads, D Beam controllers, and the panel knobs and sliders. By operating these controllers you can modify the performance and sound in various ways.

Velocity pads

These pads function just like a music keyboard. They are also used to trigger RPS (p. 28) and the arpeggiator (p. 30). Normally, pad number 2 will be C4. The force with which you strike a pad will control the velocity (dynamics) of the note.

D Beam controllers

By passing your hand over these controllers you can play or modify sounds (p. 35).

Turntable emulation

These buttons and slider allow realtime synchronized performance with sound sources such as a turntable, assisting you with DJ performance (p. 36).

Realtime modify knobs

These knobs and sliders give you realtime control over sound parameters such as filter cutoff frequency and resonance or LFO speed.

The sampler section

A sampler is a device that captures sounds from a wave file or an external source such as a CD.

On the MC-909, a sampled sound can be handled just like an internal waveform of the sound generation section; you can change the pitch of the sampled sound, apply a filter to it, or modify its envelope.

Adjusting the display contrast

Use the [LCD CONTRAST] knob located at the right of the display to adjust the contrast.

Turn the knob toward the right to darken the screen, or toward the left to lighten it.

Editing a value

Use the [VALUE] dial to make large changes in a value, or use the [INC]/[DEC] buttons to change a value in steps of one. Your changes will affect the value that is displayed in white characters within a black frame in the screen. This location is called the “cursor.” If a screen contains more than one value that can be edited, use the [CURSOR] buttons to move the cursor to the value you want to edit.

Quickly changing a value

•If you hold down [SHIFT] while you turn the [VALUE] dial, the value will change more rapidly.

Key Repeat function

•The value will continue changing if you press and hold [INC] or [DEC].

•The cursor will continue moving if you press and hold a [CURSOR] key.

Turbo Repeat function

•The value will increase rapidly if you hold down [INC], then press and hold [DEC].

•The value will decrease rapidly if you hold down [DEC], then press and hold [INC].

•The cursor will move rapidly if you hold down a [CURSOR] button and then press the opposite [CURSOR] button.

Saving your data

After editing settings or recording a performance, you must save your data if you want to keep the results. If you turn off the power without saving, your settings or recorded performance will be lost. For details on saving your data, refer to the following pages.

•Saving a pattern (p. 50)

•Saving a Patch/Rhythm Set (p. 77)

•Saving a song (p. 85)

•Saving a sample (p. 123)

•Saving a Pattern Set (p. 27)

•Saving an RPS set (p. 30)

•Saving an arpeggio style (p. 32)

•Saving a chord form (p. 33)

Saving takes several seconds. Do not turn off the power until saving is completed. Doing so may cause the MC-909 to malfunction.

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