Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Hi!

I am looking at buying either a Roland D2 Groovebox or a Boss DR-202 Groovebox to noodle around with.

I am not a professional musician, I just want to play around with them. In the unlikely case that somebody has both machines, I would appreciate to hear from you which of these two machines offers more options.

And as I am already in the process of asking stupid questions that will make in this forum cringe: Can you use these machines to drive/"slave" my two Volcas?

Any answer will be appreciated!

T.

The DR202 is basically a drum machine.

The D2 is an MC-505 with a very simplified interface. It's far more powerful.

Both can slave your Volcas but again the D2 offers more options.

Thanks for the info!

Since we are at it: From the description it seems that the Roland d2 basically has a number of beats stored. CAn I also create my own patterns from scratch or do I have to use the preprogrammed beats?

Thanks!

Yes, you can program your own.

For some reason Roland has always provided preset patterns that cannot be erased in their grooveboxes. This has been a head-scratcher for most folks, esp. since there is usually 4x as many preset as user locations

They probably liked their own rhythms so much!

Anyway, thanks again, will get it now...

Ok, it got the said machine (Roland D2 Groovebox) from the seller. It is a lot of fun to play around with it, but it always goes off after half an hour or so. I think it might be the power cable. The (original) adaptor has been glued together somehow, and as the whole thing gets very hot, the glue gets soft.

I could replace the adaptor with a new one. (Do I have to get one with exactly the same input (9 V, 1000 Am) or do I have some leeway there? (I guess this question belongs into a general physics forum rather than a synth forum).)

I could also return it to the seller, who claimed that everything was in working order. I paid 130 Euro/142 US for it, which I think is an ok price, so buying a new power cable should be ok?

Then there is the MIDI out jack, which is round with five pins, same as on the volcas. Is there anything I need to pay attention to when I get one to connect these two. There are a lot of junk shops in my neighborhood, where I might get one of those cables used (I used to have them on my old stereo), but I am not sure if they all work with electronic instruments.

Thanks for bearing with me.
T.

Yes, get a Roland supply if you can...PSB-120 (9V, 2A) would be the proper replacement supply...$30 in the USA.

You want a real MIDI cable, DIN cables used with hi-fis might not work properly. Connect the D2 MIDI OUT to the Volca MIDI IN.

You can synchronize the Volca sequencer to the D2 clock (read the Volca manual sheet) or you can sequence the Volca from the D2 (read both manuals).

Again, thanks!