FREE VGA EXPANSION FOR MV-8000
The expandable MV-8000 is the only sampling workstation that lets you plug in a VGA monitor and a mouse (via MV8-VGA expander). Get your hands on an MV-8000, and you'll never look at your music the same way again. Purchase an MV-8000 between July 23, and March 31, 2005 and you'll receive a FREE MV8-VGA expansion board ($295 value) from Roland! visit: http://rolandus.com/products/mv8000_web2.pdf

OVERVIEW
The MV-8000 is an all-in-one production powerhouse that allows you to take your project from just an idea and some samples to a mastered CD ready for mass-production. For the 8000, Roland has combined the strengths of their highly successful VS series multi-track recorders and SP series phrase samplers, with the best parts of Akai's MPC series. The result is a machine that can be at the center of a production set-up or simply be the entire studio.

USES
• Sampler
• Sequencer
• Multi-track recorder
• Mixing Console
• Mastering Tool
• CD burner

FEATURES
The MV-8000 has four main modes of operation; sampling, sequencing, recording and mastering, which can all be used together (and for the most part simultaneously) to achieve a complete project. Sampling was designed to be fast and painless. It features dedicated input volume knobs for getting the correct level, a phono input for direct connection to a turntable and the ability to load both Roland and Akai MPC sounds from its internal CD-RW and floppy disk drives. Unique features like its chop mode, which allows you to cut a sample into mutiple-segments and automatically spread them across the 16-touch sensitive pads and its clip board function for coping and moving samples with the touch of a button, put the 8000 in a league of its own for convenience of use. With its memory fully expanded (512 Mb) the 8000 can sample nearly 100 minutes of audio (mono). All editing of samples is done graphically on the machine's large LCD screen.

In addition to sampling, the MV-8000 can act as a sound module by playing back a full range of instruments stored on its 40GB internal hard drive or imported from CD-ROM or a computer. These sounds can be played on the machines pads or with an external MIDI controller. A virtual analog synth is also included for designing your own sounds and adding them to your compositions.

The sequencer section of the 8000 offers both pattern (drum machine style) and linear (computer style) programming. All of your programming can be visually edited and arranged on its LCD screen or intuitively with its pads. The 8000 also acts as a hard disk recorder allowing you to record up to 16 (8 stereo) tracks of audio from any source you'd like, just plug in a mic, guitar, synth or whatever and your ready to go.

After everything is programmed and recorded you can move into song mode to arrange and mix down your creations. In addition to editing your parts and putting them in the right order, you can use the 30 built in 24-bit effects (reverb, delay, compression, etc.) and EQ to get it sounding exactly how you want. After that you can move into mastering mode to give your work the professional edge using either preset templates or your ear to achieve the best sound possible. Finally you can burn your song/s to the 8000's internal CD-RW drive and create real Redbook audio CDs ready to be sent to the CD duplicator.

OUR OPINION
While the MV-8000 is a bit on the expensive side, you are getting what you pay for" a complete production center capable of taking your projects from start to finish all without leaving the machine. Roland obviously spent a lot of time with MPC users to develop this machine as the 8000 includes a lot of features that improve on the MPC's limitations. These features include more short cuts to speed up your workflow and the inclusion of a multi-track hard disk recorder.

This is a production tool for serious minded musicians/producers, who want everything in one neat, easy to use package. In addition to all the features that come standard on the MV-8000 numerous choices for upgrading the machine are also available, including a full size screen for better visuals, a mouse connection and numerous INs and OUTs and pedal options.

• all-in-one sampler, multi-track recorder, sound module and mixing console.
• 16-bit, 44.1kHz audio (sampling and recording).
• Stereo mic(XLR)/line(1/4") inputs.
• Stereo analog (1/4"), digital (coaxial & optical) & headphone outputs.
• USB, 1x MIDI IN & 2x MIDI OUT connectors.
• 24 min of mono (128Mb) sampling time, expandable to 100 min (512Mb).
• 40GB internal, floppy disk and CD-RW drive.
• 128 MIDI tracks and 16 MONO audio tracks for recording.
• 18" x 19" x 5"
• 21 lbs.