The Yamaha MODX M and Roland MC-707 make a surprisingly elegant pair when you stop thinking of them as separate instruments and start treating the MC-707 as a MIDI recorder and playback brain for the MODX.

In this setup, the MODX becomes your hands and sound engine, while the MC-707 becomes the place where performances are captured, edited, looped, and arranged. It’s a simple idea, but it unlocks a very fluid, performance-first workflow.

The Core Concept

At its heart, this setup is about MIDI capture and replay.

When you play the MODX keyboard, it sends MIDI note data — pitch, timing, velocity, note on and note off. The MC-707 records that data exactly as played. On playback, it sends the same MIDI back to the MODX, which reproduces the performance.

The MC-707 isn’t “understanding” harmony, melody, or intent. It’s acting like a high-quality tape machine for MIDI — precise, repeatable, and editable.

Basic Connection

The cleanest way to connect the two is with traditional MIDI:

  • MODX MIDI OUT → MC-707 MIDI IN

USB MIDI can work, but using DIN avoids host/device confusion and is generally more predictable, especially in hardware-only setups.

MC-707 Setup

On the MC-707:

  • Create a MIDI track (not a Tone track)
  • Set the MIDI input channel to match the MODX transmit channel
  • Arm the track for real-time recording

This tells the MC-707 to listen to the MODX and capture whatever you play.

MODX Setup

On the MODX M:

  • Set the keyboard transmit channel to match the MC-707 MIDI track
  • Set Local Control = OFF if you want to avoid double-triggering during playback

With Local Control off, the MODX becomes a controller feeding the MC-707, and the MC-707 becomes the source of all playback MIDI.

Recording a Performance

Recording is straightforward:

  1. Press record on the MC-707
  2. Play on the MODX keyboard
  3. Stop recording

The MC-707 records:

  • Notes
  • Timing
  • Velocity
  • Performance feel

When you press play, the MC-707 sends that MIDI back to the MODX and the performance is recreated exactly.

At this point, the MC-707 is no longer just a groovebox — it’s acting as a central sequencer for an external synth.

Editing and Playback

Once the MIDI is recorded, you can:

  • Loop sections
  • Apply quantisation (or leave things human)
  • Duplicate patterns
  • Build full arrangements across scenes

All without touching the MODX keyboard again, unless you want to re-record or layer something new.

Working with MODX Performances and Arpeggios

If the MODX Performance uses arpeggios or motion sequences, you have two creative options:

  • Record the keys you play and let the MODX regenerate movement on playback
  • Record the generated MIDI output for total control inside the MC-707

Both approaches are valid. One keeps the intelligence inside the MODX, the other commits everything into the MC-707.

Multi-Part and Layered Sounds

The MODX M can transmit on multiple MIDI channels when using layered Performances. The MC-707 can record this, but it’s usually easier to start with a single Part and channel until the workflow feels solid.

Once comfortable, expanding to multiple tracks and channels becomes much more intuitive.

Why This Setup Works So Well

This pairing plays to the strengths of both machines:

  • The MODX M excels at expressive playing, sound design, and performance control
  • The MC-707 excels at capturing, looping, arranging, and recalling musical ideas

Instead of programming notes step-by-step, you perform ideas once and let the sequencer handle repetition and structure.

Summary

Using the Roland MC-707 as a MIDI recorder and playback device for the Yamaha MODX M is simple, reliable, and musically satisfying. It turns the MC-707 into a central brain and the MODX into a powerful performance instrument — a combination that encourages playing first and organising later.