Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $120

Budget/Beginner

$150

$601+

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High-end

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Description

The Roland R5 is a compact yet powerful drum machine designed to elevate your DJ sets and studio sessions. Known for its sleek design and intuitive interface, the R5 delivers high-quality drum sounds that cater to a wide array of musical genres. Whether you’re crafting beats for hip-hop, electronica, or pop, this versatile unit offers the tools you need to innovate and inspire.

One of the standout features of the Roland R5 is its PCM sound engine, which delivers realistic and dynamic drum sounds. With a range of preset kits and the ability to customize and save your own, the R5 provides flexibility and creativity at your fingertips. The user-friendly layout ensures a smooth workflow, making it ideal for both live performances and studio production.

With its extensive pattern memory, the R5 allows you to store complex rhythms and sequences, enabling seamless transitions between tracks. Additionally, the built-in MIDI connectivity ensures that this drum machine can easily integrate with other equipment, making it a valuable asset in any musician's setup.

Key Features:

  • PCM sound engine for realistic and dynamic drum sounds
  • Extensive pattern memory for storing complex rhythms
  • User-friendly interface for easy operation
  • Built-in MIDI connectivity for seamless integration with other gear
  • Wide range of preset kits with customization options
  • Compact design ideal for both studio and live settings

Product specs

Brand Roland
Model R-5 Human Rhythm Composer
Finish Black
Year 1990s
Made In Japan
Categories Drum Machines
Analog / Digital Digital
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony 32 Voices

FAQs

What are the key features of the Roland R5 drum machine?

The Roland R5 Human Rhythm Composer features digital sound generation with 32-voice polyphony, MIDI input/output/through for connectivity, and a robust selection of drum sounds suitable for various music genres.

Is the Roland R5 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Roland R5 is suitable for live performances due to its versatile sound capabilities and MIDI connectivity, allowing seamless integration with other equipment.

Can the Roland R5 be used with other MIDI devices?

Yes, the Roland R5 features MIDI input, output, and through ports, making it compatible with other MIDI devices for synchronized performance and sequencing.

How does the sound of the Roland R5 compare to modern drum machines?

The Roland R5 offers classic digital drum sounds from the 1990s, which may differ from modern machines that often include more advanced sound processing and sampling capabilities.

Does the Roland R5 allow for custom drum patterns?

Yes, the Roland R5 allows users to create and store custom drum patterns, making it a flexible tool for producing unique rhythms.

Cokabit

Cokabit

Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer DEMO

Video thumbnail for Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer DEMO by Cokabit

Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer DEMO

Cokabit

Cokabit

Video thumbnail for Roland R5 Drum machine by CJ99

Roland R5 Drum machine

CJ99

CJ99

Video thumbnail for Roland R5 drum machine with backlight module by Bill Bax Music and Audio

Roland R5 drum machine with backlight module

Bill Bax Music and Audio

Bill Bax Music and Audio

Video thumbnail for Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer + RE-101 Space Echo by SUBTOKYOSHOP Music Gears

Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer + RE-101 Space Echo

SUBTOKYOSHOP Music Gears

SUBTOKYOSHOP Music Gears

Video thumbnail for Roland R5, Behringer TD-3 - Acid House - R5 Acid Test One by Future World Machines

Roland R5, Behringer TD-3 - Acid House - R5 Acid Test One

Future World Machines

Future World Machines

Video thumbnail for Modified Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer from 1989 by Moth Hunter Mods

Modified Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer from 1989

Moth Hunter Mods

Moth Hunter Mods

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland R5.

Features and functionality

  • The R5 lacks expansion card options, limiting its sound versatility compared to models like the R8, which supports additional sound cards.

    Source
  • Offers control over parameters like decay and allows for significant pitch manipulation of built-in samples, despite their basic quality.

    Source
  • Unlike the R8, the R5 lacks a visual sequencer, which can affect ease of use for those accustomed to more modern interfaces.

    Source
  • The R5 can store its internal memory as .syx or .mid files, offering complete memory snapshots for backup and restoration.

    Source

User experience

  • Known for its enjoyable playability, with aftertouch-sensitive pads allowing for dynamic rolls and flams, enhancing live performance capabilities.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Historically used in live gigs and noted for its role in footwork studios in Chicago, indicating its suitability for certain electronic music styles.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • A robust USB-MIDI interface is crucial for smooth SysEx data transfers; cheap cables often falter with large data dumps.

    Source
  • MIDI-OX for Windows and SysEx Librarian for Mac are recommended tools for managing SysEx data from the R5.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The R5 requires a bulk dump initiation for SysEx transfer, which is distinct from handling standard MIDI files.

    Source
  • Internal battery replacement is advised before receiving low battery warnings, crucial for maintaining memory integrity.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Roland R5 (MT Jul 89)

muzines.co.uk

The Roland R5 is a commendable drum machine that strikes a balance between affordability and functionality, featuring most capabilities of its more expensive sibling, the R8. While it lacks some advanced features like extensive memory and complex programming options, the R5 compensates with a user-friendly approach and a solid sonic palette, showcasing excellent percussive and melodic sounds. However, its limited quantization resolution and slower programming process may frustrate those seeking a more intuitive experience. Despite these drawbacks, the R5 stands out as a valuable tool for musicians, making it a worthy investment for anyone looking to experiment with rhythm and composition without breaking the bank.

positive

4.5 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 3 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Puce Mary uses Roland R5

Puce Mary

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

A Roland R5 is seen on the table. She used it when she was performing live at Nothing Changes in NYC the 6/19/2013

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland R5, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Delfy Square Stepper
Delfy Square Stepper Audio Sequencers
1

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