Roland MC-4: The 1981 Music Computer

A look at the Roland MicroComposer / MC-4 from 1981. In 1977 Roland introduced the first ever microprocessor controlled digital sequencer, which was the MC-8 designed by Ralph Dyck. The MC-4 was the successor and was one of Roland’s few CV/Gate digital sequencers before they moved over to MIDI shortly after. Both when it was new and many years after it was seemingly obsolete, numerous artists swore by it and they’re now sought after. In the video we explore why.