Roland MC-101

Also check Drums.

Compressor

Mostly from How To Use A Compressor | Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release & More.

Core parameters

ATTACK (0.05-50ms)

How quickly compression starts when signal exceeds threshold

• Fast (0.05-5ms): Catches transients, punchy but may reduce attack
• Medium (5-20ms): Balanced, preserves some attack while controlling peaks
• Slow (20-50ms): Preserves transient punch, only controls sustained parts

RATIO (1:1 to inf:1)

How aggressively the compressor reduces signal above threshold

• 1:1: No compression (bypass)
• 2:1-4:1: Gentle compression, natural dynamics
• 6:1-10:1: Obvious compression, significant control
• 20:1-inf:1: Limiting, prevents exceeding threshold

THRESHOLD (0-127)

The point at which compression is activated

• High (90-127): Only compresses loudest peaks, subtle
• Medium (50-90): Compresses most content, moderate effect
• Low (0-50): Heavy compression, reduces dynamics significantly

RELEASE (0.05-2000ms)

How quickly compression stops when signal drops below threshold

• Fast (0.05-100ms): Tight control, can cause pumping
• Medium (100-500ms): Natural sounding, good for most material
• Slow (500-2000ms): Smooth, prevents pumping but may over-compress

KNEE (Hard/Soft)

How compression occurs around the threshold

• Hard Knee: Abrupt onset, aggressive sound
• Soft Knee: Gradual onset, smoother, more musical

MAKEUP GAIN (0-+24dB)

Compensates for volume loss from compression

Quick settings library

• Punchy Drums
  • Threshold: 70 | Ratio: 4:1 | Attack: 5ms | Release: 100ms
• Smooth Bass
  • Threshold: 75 | Ratio: 6:1 | Attack: 10ms | Release: 200ms
• Synth Lead
  • Threshold: 80 | Ratio: 3:1 | Attack: 15ms | Release: 150ms
• Master Bus Glue
  • Threshold: 85 | Ratio: 2:1 | Attack: 30ms | Release: 300ms
• House Pumping (Sidechain)
  • Threshold: 75 | Ratio: 8:1 | Attack: 10ms | Release: 150ms
• Ambient/Subtle
  • Threshold: 90 | Ratio: 2:1 | Attack: 50ms | Release: 500ms

Genre master settings

Genre	Threshold	Ratio	Attack	Release	Character
House	85-90	2:1-4:1	20-30ms	200-400ms	Maintains groove
Tech House	80-85	4:1-6:1	15-25ms	150-300ms	Pumping energy
Techno	75-80	6:1-10:1	10-20ms	100-200ms	Heavy pumping
Ambient	90-100	1.5:1-3:1	30-50ms	400-800ms	Subtle control
Hip-Hop	70-80	4:1-8:1	5-15ms	100-300ms	Punchy drums

Chords progressions

Emotional Chord Progressions for EDM

Mostly from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yw85rAb6cw

Quick reference:

Name	Scale	Progression	Chords
Uplifting, joyful, euphoric	D# minor	5,6,7,1	Bbmin - Bmaj - C#maj - D#min
Deep and serious	B minor	6,7,1,7	Gmaj - Amaj - Bmin - Amaj
Tense and suspenseful	G major	Just one chord	Gmaj
Sad like really sad	G minor	1,7,4,6	Gmin - Fmaj - Cmin - Ebmaj
Feel good, euphoric	B minor	6,3,7,1	Gmaj - Dmaj - Amaj - Bmin
Feel good but kinda sad	G# minor	6,1,7,5	Emaj - G#min - F#maj - D#min
Pump up	G minor	1 (for 2 bars), 6, 4	Gmin (2 bars) - Ebmaj - Cmin
Pump up but kinda happy	G minor	1 (for 2 bars), 3, 6	Gmin (2 bars) - Bbmaj - Ebmaj
Chill and relaxed	C# minor	6,1,7,1	Amaj - C#min - Bmaj - C#min
Happy	Every major	4,5,1 (for 2 bars)	IV - V - I (e.g. Fmaj - Gmaj - Cmaj)

1. Uplifting, joyful and euphoric

   • Scale: D# minor
   • Notes: D# - E# - F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D#
   • Progression: 5,6,7,1
   • Chords: Bbmin - Bmaj - C#maj - D#min
   • Roman numerals: v - bVI - bVII - i
   • Tips:
     • Add pedal notes
     • Put 3rds one octave higher

2. Deep and serious

   • Scale: B minor
   • Notes: B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B
   • Progression: 6,7,1,7
   • Chords: Gmaj - Amaj - Bmin - Amaj
   • Roman numerals: bVI - bVII - i - bVII

3. Tense and suspenseful

   • Scale: G major
   • Notes: G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
   • Progression: Just one chord
   • Chord: Gmaj (held as drone/pedal)
   • Note: Consider adding tensions (sus2, sus4, add9)

4. Sad like really sad

   • Scale: G minor
   • Notes: G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G
   • Progression: 1,7,4,6
   • Chords: Gmin - Fmaj - Cmin - Ebmaj
   • Roman numerals: i - bVII - iv - bVI
   • Tips: Add pedal tone tonic

5. Feel good, euphoric

   • Scale: B minor
   • Notes: B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B
   • Progression: 6,3,7,1
   • Chords: Gmaj - Dmaj - Amaj - Bmin
   • Roman numerals: bVI - III - bVII - i
   • Tips: Add pedal tone on the 3rds

6. Feel good but kinda sad

   • Scale: G# minor
   • Notes: G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E - F# - G#
   • Progression: 6,1,7,5
   • Chords: Emaj - G#min - F#maj - D#min
   • Roman numerals: bVI - i - bVII - v
   • Tips:
     • Pedal tone on 3rd tone
     • Pedal note 7 steps above 3rd

7. Pump up

   • Scale: G minor
   • Notes: G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G
   • Progression: 1 (for 2 bars), 6, 4
   • Chords: Gmin (2 bars) - Ebmaj - Cmin
   • Roman numerals: i - bVI - iv
   • Tips: Double 3rd note using another instrument (after putting it one octave higher)

8. Pump up but kinda happy

   • Scale: G minor
   • Notes: G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G
   • Progression: 1 (for 2 bars), 3, 6
   • Chords: Gmin (2 bars) - Bbmaj - Ebmaj
   • Roman numerals: i - bIII - bVI

9. Chill and relaxed

   • Scale: C# minor
   • Notes: C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A - B - C#
   • Progression: 6,1,7,1
   • Chords: Amaj - C#min - Bmaj - C#min
   • Roman numerals: bVI - i - bVII - i
   • Tips: Add note on the tonic of the scale

10. Happy

    • Scale: Every major scale
    • Notes: Works in any major scale (example: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C)
    • Progression: 4,5,1 (for 2 bars)
    • Chords: IV - V - I (example: Fmaj - Gmaj - Cmaj)
    • Roman numerals: IV - V - I
    • Tips:
      • Add pedal tone on the tonic
      • Get rid of the 5ths and the 3rds
      • Get base tones and put them up an octave
      • Double the pedal tone

Production Notes

• Common Techniques
  • Pedal tones create harmonic tension and richness
  • Octave doubling of thirds adds brightness and presence
  • Extended tonic chords build anticipation
  • Major chords in minor progressions create emotional contrast
• Scale Degree Reference In minor keys:
  • i = minor tonic
  • bII = diminished supertonic
  • bIII = major mediant (relative major)
  • iv = minor subdominant
  • v = minor dominant (natural minor)
  • bVI = major submediant
  • bVII = major subtonic

Resources

• 2025-07-22 ◦ hooktheory.com / Songs DB Awesome DB to search for chords, chords progressions. They also provide an API.
• 2025-07-22 ◦ Song Galaxy (download MIDI files)
• 2025-04-15 ◦ Roland MC-101 Help: How To Use “SYS-CTRL” - YouTube
• 2025-04-15 ◦ Additional track MFX controls on Control knobs using Sys-ctrl settings
• 2025-04-15 ◦ Roland MC-101 effects and live performance guide
• 2025-04-15 ◦ Vocals and the Roland MC-101 – appclusive
  • Roland GO:MIXER PRO-X
• 2025-03-20 ◦ Roland MC-101 Tips & Tricks

Visuals

• 2025-09-22 ◦ keijiro/Khoreo: An audio visual experience with the Unity game engine and the Roland MC-101 synthesizer
• 2025-09-22 ◦ keijiro/Grubo: Audio visual experience with Roland Groovebox MC-101 and the Unity game engine

Youtube

Live performance

• 2025-03-26 ◦ Roland MC-101 | Techno/House (No Talking)
• 2025-03-26 ◦ Christopher Kah | Producing ‘Tenor’ on Roland MC-101

Tutorials

• 2025-10-20 ◦ How to Make House Music (edmprod)
• 2025-09-18 ◦ How I Make a Dub techno long live set from scratch ( first two tracks ) with #mc707 NO TALKING
  • awesome work-through shown on the MC-707 (most of the settings also apply for the MC-101)
• 2025-09-18 ◦ Roland MC-101 Looper Workflow: Build Clip Collections for Future Tracks
• 2025-09-18 ◦ MC 707 deep Explanation:How I set for LONG LIVE SET with EXT. Gears
• 2025-07-23 ◦ #MC707 HOW MAKE A TECHNO TRACK FROM SCRATCH
• 2025-07-23 ◦ MC-707 Tutorial: Side-chain Compression Effect Add pumping bass line. Also applies to the MC-101. Settings for the Motion Designer:
  • C1 Form type: SQr
  • C2 Step length: 4
  • C3 Min Value: 40
  • C4 Max Value: 90
• 2025-07-23 ◦ Roland MC101 generative rhythm trick. Mc707 Zen-core glitch style. Using Motion designer