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PhraseLab
Pros: Great analog modeling monosynth, sampler, sequencer, and effects in one compact box. Smart media backup.
Cons: Too few controls for too many parameters.
Bottom Line: A cool little loop studio in a box.
Roland Corp., www.rolandus.com
$445
Ten years ago, any self-respecting producer would have given their left leg for so many features in a small box like the MC-09 Phraselab. It's packed with the essential tools you'll need to record and loop audio, construct synth lines, and slather them all in tempo-matching effects. With live performance written all over it, the MC-09 is perfect for laying down some yuletide groove.
Coming out of its package looking like a little mixing desk, with four faders for mixing audio parts, a 3-element LED display, 16-step sequencer/keyboard, and eight solid knobs for realtime parameter tweaking, the MC-09 begs you to lay your hands on and twiddle. Plus, the Phraselab is perfect for Christmas morning, because the buttons lights up like the proverbial Christmas tree.
The MC-09's audio looper section is capable of...