X0X: The ancestors
Since 90's, almost everyone has been using the sound of Roland Bass Line TB-303 and Roland Rhythm Comperser TR-909/TR-808. As the X0X enthusiasm got heightened, Roland made many products using the fame of their older machines. MC-303 is the earliest of such model.
The name MC-303 is related to the two classic Roland models; Bass Line TB-303 and Micro Composer MC-202. Both are 1VCO monophonic analog synthesizer.
Roland TB-303 (1982)
Roland MC-202 (1983)
Roland SC-55mkII belongs to the GS Sound Module family - PCM synthesizer with limited editability.
MC-303 uses SC-55mkII's synthesis engine with different sound sets.
Roland Sound Canvas SC-55mkII (1993)
Roland JV-80 is the model that made the basic architecture of all later Roland PCM synths. The synthesis engines of MC-303 and SC-55mkII are based on JV-80 without editability and FXM nonlinear modulation function.
Roland JV-80 (1992)
Roland XP-10 is a keyboard version of GS synth. It's the first Roland PCM synth with the arpeggiator revived. It's based on SC-55mkII with some samples added.
Roland EG-101 seems to be a combination of MC-303 and a DJ sampler SP-202. It's 24 polyphonic - MC-303 has 28.
Roland XP-10 (1995)
EG-101 has the same sound set as MC-303, but I don't know how much they are compatible.
Roland EG-101 (1999)
Roland MC-505 is the updated version of MC-303. Its synthesis engine is based on that of SuperJV - JV-1080 etc. SuperJV has 64 polyphony and quasi-modular signal routing called 'Structure' with nonlinear functions - Ring Modulation and Booster.
MC-505 is fully editable via SysEx, and can fully exploit all the SuperJV functions.
Later MC-909 came out. It's based on XV series - SuperJV expanded with more filter types.
Roland MC-505 (1997)
MC-303 pioneered the new product concept - Groovebox. Many models followed; YAMAHA RM1x may be the most related, as it's based on XG synths - YAMAHA's version of GS.
Higher-end models like E-MU MP-7 and QUASIMIDI Rave-o-lution 309 may also belong to the same category.
Some grooveboxes are made with VA synths - YAMAHA AN200 is among them.
Back
MC-303
Deep Synthesis: Home10. 17. 2004