I just wanted to cast a STRONG vote for the Mc-505 as a music tool. I ordered mine from Japan ($800 new!!! with manual!), it arrived in 4 days and I've been using it night and day ever since. I've heard critics refer to it's techno in the box creators, but it is WELL worth the money purely to run basslines, synthleads, and MASSIVELY programmable drum loops. This thing is the answer to electronic music programming. All I can say is that if you can think it, or have heard it on the radio, you can make it with the Mc-505. The patterns, drum samples, synth sounds, and patches are simply awesome and too numerous to exhause. Coupled with a sampler this can make most anything you hear in a club - trust me that is the thing to get. Mc-505 Forever!

Eric

I'd like to second that opinion. The MC505 is truly amazing. The only think I do not like about the 505 is the way it handles MIDI in the RPS section and the manual truly sucks. I've been using a R8 as a percussion module since 1991. It appears the R8 will play second fiddle to the MC505.

The new Yamaha RMx1 is on the horizon but I cannot see how it could even compete with the 505.