Roland MC-8 Factory Demo Program - Bach Invention #1

This is another of the demo programs provided in the Roland MC-8 manual. This time it's a Bach Invention, played back on a Roland SH-101 synth (not seen in the video). The first part of the video is specifically designed to bore you with stunning footage of me entering the channel 1 CV data for the first 3 pages of the 10-page score. Be thankful that I didn't decide to include the entire CV/Step/Gate data entry process for the entire score. In the 2nd part of the video, you hear the entire mixed piece, played back in sync with the MC-8 displaying the CV data for channel 1.

After posting this video, I was informed that Yellow Magic Orchestra featured this very same demo at the very end of the show during their 1980 world tour. You can hear their version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1qocPz5gLo

For more info about the MC-8, and to see high-res scans of the score & program data sheets for this piece, please visit http://www.rolandmc8.wordpress.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• analog
• synth
• synthesizer
• switched-on
• baroque

[aceyage]

How did you get the SH101 play polyphonically? Did you overdub? Is it some sort of trick?

[peahix]

yes, the first step is to record a sync signal from the mc8, then you can re-sync it to itself repeatedly, overdubbing one monophonic line each time. to do 3-note chords, you have to program each voice in the chord on a seperate cv channel, and link them to a common gate channel, then overdub them one line at a time.

[Blissfull]

I already loved Wendy Carlos and other synth precursors, but seeying the horrible ammount of work involved, now I also admire them all the more

[peahix]

well, wendy actually had no such luxury when doing "switched on bach." that was all played by hand, one monophonic note at a time. no sequencers!

[synthead]

@peahix And did a wonder job at that! I learned about Wendy when I bought an LP of Switched-On Bach at a thrift store years ago cause I thought the cover looked funny. Little did I know that I'd be a huge can later :)

[douro20]

@aceyage

There were only two hundred of these made.

[XYtoTheDoubleG]

YESSSSS!

[BrontoScorpioMusic]

Really funny! ^^

[aceyage]

@peahix Hey! Thanks very much for your elaborate answer! That's how I thought you did it The MC8 is such a tight sequencer it's insane! Really cool toy you got yourself there! Take care!

[immasuperninja]

thats an interesting device you've got there lol