Roland's MV-8000 Production Studio Shipping

MV-8000

Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

Roland's new MV-8000 Production Studio, a complete hardware studio with 16 velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive pads, sampling, sequencing, effects processing and CD burning, is now out the door and available.

All major audio formats are supported via the onboard CD-RW drive, floppy drive and USB port. Arrangements can be created using a 136-track audio/MIDI sequencer, and the result can be burned to CD.

The MV-8000 comes with 128MB of RAM, which can be expanded to 512MB for up to 101 minutes of sampling when recording in mono. Users can sample their own sounds or import Akai MPC2000/4000 libraries, Roland S-700 samples, ACID and .WAV/AIFF files. Once inside, audio can be chopped, synthesized and time stretched in real-time, and then processed using separate 24-bit reverb, chorus/delay and MFX processors--complete with algorithms like Isolator, Filter, Vocoder, Guitar Multi and COSM effects.

For programming, the MV-8000 offers 16 velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive pads, and a sequencing engine with 136 tracks. These include 128 MIDI tracks (with 32-channel operation using external MIDI gear) and eight stereo audio tracks (16 mono) that can be used as a linear recorder. Audio can be automatically sync'd to BPM, and programming is easily accomplished using the MV-8000's large, icon-based LCD and realtime control knobs/sliders. Once finished, users can process the stereo mixdown with onboard mastering tools and burn the result to audio CD, or export the stereo .WAV file via USB.

All audio and project data are stored to the MV-8000's internal 40GB hard drive. And with Roland's V-LINK technology, the MV-8000 can be used to trigger and manipulate video clips when used with Edirol video gear (sold separately).

Connections to the MV-8000 include 1/4-inch stereo Mic/Line inputs, stereo RCA Phono inputs, 1/4-inch stereo Master and Headphones outputs, plus S/PDIF digital outputs in coaxial and optical formats. The MV-8000 also sports a USB port, MIDI input, two MIDI outputs and a Footswitch jack.

An optional MV8-OP1 expansion board is also available, which adds six analog outputs, coaxial and optical digital inputs, and an R-BUS port that provides simultaneous 8-channel digital output and 2-channel digital input. Following a major software upgrade planned for 2004, the MV-8000 will support use of an external VGA monitor and mouse.