Roland TR-606

[IgorSavtchenko]

Steve Albini used this to great effect on Big Black's records in the 1980s.

[enix165]

I'm completely lost as to how one of these things work. But I love it. xD

[ThexDarksider]

I want a TR-606... (._.)

[andy92811]

I like this pattern a lot. Good work.

[gasfgiop]

Nice to see someone who can use this thing, although "thing" is invariably underrated as this machine practically made House.

[HelloNewYorkCity]

i just don't like the fact that the tr606 can't change the decay for some instruments

[pomfrit93]

is that a sunsyn in the background?

[phono1337]

@pomfrit93 close, xbase09

[pomfrit93]

@phono1337 okay ;) hehe. where can i find your 606 mods?

[phono1337]

@pomfrit93 all over the net, you can try googling geoff waterstone, confused machines and mungo enterprises. Some of the info out there isnt complete so jsut drop me a line if you arent sure about something and ill try to help out.

[pomfrit93]

@phono1337 Thanks a lot ;) 

[darkshiningstar3]

I dont know, sounds quite flat. im disappointed, though i like the snare sound

[KaersoNProductionS]

amazing machine!

[nattydagger]

how do you program the fills?? that's rad!!

[groovechaser]

I bought one of these in 1994 for 50 bucks. I also bought the MSQ-700 (the Roland sequencer that tied in sync and any other Roland interface) for 80 dollars around the same time. The guy was just cleaning out all his analog gear to make way fot the "new and more exiting digital stuff." Hehe.

[TheKorgboy99]

@groovechaser i went in daddys junky music and saw the tr 606 for 600$ and you bought it for 50. lucky

[TheKorgboy99]

@groovechaser i saw one of these for 600 bucks and you got one for 50. lucky

[groovechaser]

@TheKorgboy99 The same place, I found a ARP Odyssey for the same price. He just didn't know what he had. I was lucky this once, though.

[jokerz909]

I would just use it as a tone generator like I do with the tr909.I control it with a Yamaha rs7000!!It rocks!!

[phono1337]

no midi on the tr606 just din sync

[sweepee4pres]

nice sound but no one ever programs a proper funky electro beat with it on YT like they used to do it back n da days.

[jokerz909]

nice!nice jomox too!

[Thewonkandfriends]

This is the same one as the band Big Black used, if I remember correctly.

[twoboots4you]

Thanks for the demo. I'd love to buy of these. but they still cost more than I'd lke to pay for something that I just think would be awesome to play with.

[pitalavera]

pfffffffffff la mamada esas tr

[narki86]

Ahh... The sound of early 90's Autechre. I really like the synthetic, sterile sound of this drum machine, used properly it can still do wonders!

[Parrock1]

What a classic - I had one, which I'd kept it as I sold it to a DJ mate for 20 quid about 20 years ago - aarrgh!! FYI, years ago someone made a midi conversion kit for the 606. I reckon if you can find one that's been converted, you have an ABSOLUTE GEM for the studio. There's no other sound quite like the original Roland machines.

[MalteSer001]

with 99 quid you can get a midi in and out + some filters kit from analogue solutions

[Elettronico94]

very good

[chunz10]

is this conected to a computer or how is it used

[hsifylleg]

No computer required. Infact this pre-dates the widespread use of computers in music production by a number of years. The tr-606 combined analogue sound synthesis and a pattern sequencer, to program it you select the instrument you want to program with the switch in the middle and then enter the pattern on the buttons at the bottom.

[Quadrange]

so good

[carocafella]

this is a reallllllly novice question.

ive nver used an analog sequencer are the sounds coming directy from the device itself?

[AppA]

yes

search TR-606 on vintagesynth(dot)org for more info.

[karmacollapsed]

hi!

well I really like drummachines! I'm even thinking about buying a TR-606 but as I don't have alot of money, someone has another idea or is this like the best thing you can buy and worth waiting like 6 more months?

[snolan1990]

You could buy an MC-303 for about £100 or $150

it can make 909, 808 & 606 sounds and thats just the drum machine component. of course you don't have as much room to tweak the sounds because its digital but for a beginner it is not a bad buy for your money. Although having said that i am thinking of getting a 707 or 606 to go with my MC-303.

[octelcogopod]

Ff you really want an analog drum machine, then get a Boss DR-110. It's basically the 606 but with a handclap instead of those stupid toms (some may disagree with me about that, heh)

Boss is a subsidiary of Roland, btw

[ec101dm]

+1

i have a dr110 and it sounds nearly exactly the same!

[Crumar]

Another option would be to consider an MFB-502 or 503 - they are recent machines (which are still made) with TR-style sequencers and analog (502) or hybrid (503) sound technology - the 502 can be had new for around 180 euro in Europe

[cubdukat]

Or if you have a computer and are willing to go with a software-only solution, there's always Propellerhead's Rebirth. And it's free now that they're not making it anymore.

Until I can actually save up enough for a 303/606 pair, that's what I'm using.

[krishotsaucemiller]

Nope, D16 Group has finally made a 606 vsti.. Audio Reaiism has already had ABL2 out for a long time (303 vsti) & D16 has one out too called Phoscyon.. Both vsti companies absolutely kill Reason's Rebirth!! Check'em out!!!

D16 Group & Audiorealism

[snolan1990]

Is it just me or does this sound alot better than a 707?

[laviedeboheme]

Well, I think it sound is a whole lot better then the 707,.. the 808 on the other hand... Still the 606 has a perfect electro sound.

[Rugerman205]

I have to agree... that Drumatix don't sound too bad!?!? I really like it BUT there's NOTHING on the Planet ever made to rival the Roland TR-808!?!? =) Geez Kanye West just dropped and album today 11/25/2008 using an 808 for the ENTIRE ALBUM!?!? Not to mention the countless references to an 808 mentioned by artists,software to duplicare & the programmable sounds into AKAI MPC it's legendary! Plus I'm an 80's baby it's the sound I grew up to! *LOL*

[colin5765]

great machine, can I ask a tech question, will it sync up with my sequencer on my Radias ?

[phono1337]

not directly, youll need a midi clock->din sync converter. I use the doepfer msy-2 for mine, works a treat.

[golafs]

can i ask you 2 tech questions? ;)

(just bought tr-606)

what kind of cable do you use for the DIN (sync) socket?

also, when I turn mine off all the beats get erased? do I need to change internal battery or is it nessecary to have normal batteries in the unit? or what, maybe it´s broken ;)

[phono1337]

the cable needs to have all 5 wires connected, so a standard midi cable wont work since they often only have 3 wires connected. And yes you need to have normal batteries in the unit to save the memory.

[neurojammer]

I just LOVE step-sequencing! While I don't have these machines (yet) I do have the closest thing to them to come along since the originals...the Korg E-Tribes (not the big ones with the glowing tubes in them). The originals—ER-1 & ES-1. But I would still trade for a 606. No questions asked!

[mubo144]

i used this machine all the time in the 80's (still have it) hook up the lo/hi tom triggers out to 2 roland sh-101's to control the internal sequencers and you got yourself a pre-midi sequencing station!

then you can take the sync in of the 606 and connect it to a c64 midi sync interface and have it play in time with your midi gear... ahhhh the old days..damn they fucking ruled!

[L0FiFr3Q]

I spy a Jomox ;)

[phono1337]

indeed you do :-P

[Ravensbrueck]

Sicker than hell. They touched god with the 606/303 combo.

[buddyeagle]

Drumatrix rules bro! Don't tease Bro! play this damn machine. Luv'it

[microkorgboy]

so this is how you control it . awesome!

[unklekarma]

I love this machine!

Very good snare, hihats and cymbals.

[owenthesoyboy]

sick, I love those sounds, makes me miss my 606 a lot.

[junglaismassivmon]

just get ReBirth RB-338 software, it emulates tr-303, tr-808 and tr-909 and does pretty awesome job + its free now.

[phono1337]

i prefer buttons and knobs over mice and screens %)

[junglaismassivmon]

not arguing here :> but not all have the money to buy hardware only + this machine is hard to come by these days so rebirth comes in very handy.

[ihitterdal]

I do, too. I wish I was able to afford this stuff. Damned child labor laws...

[cannibalcock]

I won't put down ReBirth users, cos i used to be one, and I know all about being broke. But even with a good CC controller, RB is far from the real machines. When you start turning those knobs, man ... *whew* ... machines luv you gooood! :)

[megadirt]

HARDWEAR 4 LIFE !!

[aciddeuf]

Cool vidéo, come and see mine, thank you ...

[FrozenExplosion]

606 or 707?

[phono1337]

personally i prefer the 606 since its analog and has that 808ish electro edge, the 707 is good if you want that chicago sound but since its sample based you might as well load them sounds into a sampler :)

[FrozenExplosion]

ta for the advice......

[markcatarina]

does the mc909 record like this? can you input the drums (and other sounds)in realtime by selecting the pad/pads you want to input?

[RRKS69]

Yes Mark - the MC-909 has TR-Recording.

[markcatarina]

hey, it's you again...thank you. that is a cool way to program drums! ok, a Voyager AND MC909...

[LF0]

better then i was expecting, i guess you have to know how to use them...

[icloo]

ooh nice. looks like it works 808 style.

time to save up.

[phono1337]

indeed it does, its sound engine is very similer to the 808, its like its baby brother

[DjJesse1swe]

I found a tr 626 ( the digital version) in our school's rubbishcan, and they wouldnt give it to me :(

[warehouse5am]

steal it from them. its worth it

[stompymusic]

What!!! C***s! I hate selfish people, what do they care if its being thrown away! Do what warehouse5am said!

[Jerdna3]

Aphex twin uses this drum machine along with the newer versions of the model.

[warehouse5am]

he uses like every drum machine from roland

[germdisco]

such a brilliant analog drum machine :) :) :)

[slackdave]

Aaaah man.. that just made me remember how I feelt first time I got mine....

Unfortunately it's demented and won't play right unless there's an accent on the last step in pattern. And it doesn't save patterns... Maybe I can get it fixed

[snolan1990]

they are pretty simple inside Roland might be able to fix it for you. In the UK roland customer support is pretty good but if you are in the USA you might have a hard time getting it fixed

[slackdave]

I've thought about that, but wondered if they really would fix it considering how old it is. I should ask to find out!

Thanks!

[klausito1970]

Nice, I love that vintage stuff.

[grittey]

nice one mate!!!!!

[matlib]

AND HERE TOO