Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $4,795

High-end/Boutique

$150

$601+

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High-end

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Description

Introducing the Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer; a legendary piece of music history. This programmable, step-sequenced drum machine is renowned for its distinctive blend of sampled and analog drum sounds, making it a go-to choice for techno and house music creators. Its impressive compatibility features, such as DIN Sync24, MIDI In and Out, along with individual outputs for each sound, allow it to seamlessly integrate with various gear setups. With the TR-909, you're not just getting a drum machine, you're getting a tool that's been an integral part of the creative journeys of iconic artists like Moby, The Prodigy, and The Chemical Brothers.

Key Features:

  • Programmable, step-sequenced drum machine
  • Unique blend of sampled and analog drum sounds
  • DIN Sync24, MIDI In and Out for enhanced compatibility
  • Individual outputs for each sound
  • Numerous controls for fine-tuning each sound
  • Used by renowned artists across the globe

Product specs

Brand Roland
Model TR-909 Rhythm Composer
Finish White
Year 1983 - 1985
Made In Japan
Categories Drum Machines
Analog / Digital Analog
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output
Polyphony 11 Voices

FAQs

What type of synthesis does the Roland TR-909 use?

The Roland TR-909 uses analog synthesis for its drum sounds, providing a distinctive, classic sound that has been influential in electronic music.

Is the Roland TR-909 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Roland TR-909 is highly regarded for live performances due to its robust build, intuitive interface, and ability to sync with other MIDI equipment.

How many voices of polyphony does the Roland TR-909 have?

The Roland TR-909 offers 11 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex rhythmic patterns and layering of sounds.

Does the Roland TR-909 have MIDI capabilities?

Yes, the Roland TR-909 features both MIDI Input and Output, making it compatible with other MIDI devices for synchronized performances and studio work.

What are the main sound characteristics of the Roland TR-909?

The Roland TR-909 is known for its punchy kick drum, crisp snare, and unique hi-hats, which are staples in techno and house music production.

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix

Roland TR-909 Famous Patterns

Video thumbnail for Roland TR-909 Famous Patterns by Doctor Mix

Roland TR-909 Famous Patterns

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix

Video thumbnail for Roland TR-909 Demo by Perfect Circuit

Roland TR-909 Demo

Perfect Circuit

Perfect Circuit

Video thumbnail for Roland TR-909 - Sound Demo & Features HD by BB Squelch

Roland TR-909 - Sound Demo & Features HD

BB Squelch

BB Squelch

Reviews

PROS

  • Snare sound unmatched by emulations, delivering unique audio quality

  • Hi-hats and claps provide distinct techno sound, cutting through mixes

  • Tactile interface and knob-laden panel for hands-on control

  • Durable build quality, designed to last

  • Excellent sequencer for precise rhythm composition

  • Each unit has a unique sound character, even among other 909s

  • Can shape Toms for melodic additions, enhancing track versatility

  • Iconic 909 kick offers powerful bass tones

  • Allows for separate instrument sampling without losing analog warmth

CONS

  • High market prices can be prohibitive for new buyers

  • Limited sound adjustability compared to modern drum machines

  • Some find it overhyped and replaceable by newer models like RD9

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer.

Features and functionality

  • The TR-909 is renowned for its iconic hi-hat sound, particularly favored in house and techno music.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • This drum machine is highly valued in dance music production, considered a classic for its use in genres like house, techno, and even hip-hop.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Users often compare the TR-909 to the TR-808, noting that preference between them can depend on whether one leans toward hip-hop or EDM soundscapes.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Collectors' market prices for the TR-909 can reach up to $9,000 to $10,000, depending on condition, highlighting its status as a sought-after item.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The internet offers numerous free samples and VSTi replicas of the TR-909, providing a more accessible way to achieve its distinct sounds without the high price.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Roland TR909

soundonsound.com

The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is a legendary piece of gear that has withstood the test of time, cherished for its distinctive sound and real-time control. This iconic drum machine, once undervalued, found its niche within Chicago house and Detroit techno scenes, bringing a unique character to electronic music. Pros include its durable build, intuitive interface, and tweakable sounds, from punchy kicks to snappy snares. However, its vintage status means it lacks modern conveniences like extensive MIDI capabilities, and its high second-hand price reflects its sought-after status. Despite these downsides, the TR-909 remains a staple for those seeking authentic, vintage drum sounds.

positive

Roland TR909 (12T Apr 84)

muzines.co.uk

The Roland TR-909 is a mixed bag for its time. While it offers a unique blend of analog and digital sounds, the overall effect leaves it sounding distinctly like a drum machine rather than a real drum kit. Its user-friendly interface is a highlight, making programming a joy. However, the snare sound disappoints, lacking the authenticity expected from a high-priced unit. Priced comparably to fully digital competitors like the Oberheim DX, it struggles to justify its cost with less convincing sound realism and limited expression. Despite its ease of use and live performance potential, the TR-909 feels overpriced and underwhelming, falling short of expectations for studio use.

negative

Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer review on doctormix.com

doctormix.com

The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer remains a quintessential force in electronic music, especially revered in techno and house circles. Its appeal lies in its robust MIDI capabilities, distinctive analog sound, and unique features like the "accent" and "flam," which inject life into its beats. While it lacks the realism of its Linn and Oberheim contemporaries, its characterful sound and user-friendly sequencer make it a studio and live favorite. The 909's limitations in realism were overshadowed by its pivotal role in defining modern dance music. Despite initial low prices and technical constraints, its sound and ease of use have cemented its legendary status.

positive

Vintage Rewind: Roland TR-909

musictech.com
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 6 Reviews and 57 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
lntmike

One of a kind ! a Must Have

This vintage drum machine worth any penny I have spent to purchase it. There is only one Kick like the 909. Probably the most powerfull kick of all time. My second favorite instrument are the Hi Hats. It's sounds so Techno-ish. The clap is also excellent, especially through a good combination of effects (reverb/delay). The Toms can be shaped easily and can be a great melodic addition in any tracks. We can also do great things with the snares, so snappy and rich! It's possible to sample all the instruments separately & decently but you will loose the unique feel of the machine. This baby swings !

G

I'm content to have samples of it instead. Yes it would be cool to have a real one but they are viciously expensive and what if it breaks?

lntmike

It's unbreakable, this machine is a bear :) LoL just kidding, it may happen and if it happen there is skilled electronician to fix them in my city. One of my friend's one got a major electric failure and partially burned. They fixed it perfecly. Well I hope it will never happen to mine ... Samples are pretty decent but it's not the real thing. Yep 909 is expensive, but it worth it. :) (btw I did a lot of samples .. just in case.. some are ok..) Thanks for the comment bro !

bradflora

Kudos to you for having great gear!

L

With That House Music, You Can't Go Wrong...

Funny enough it's home to one of, if not, the most iconic Hi Hat ever to appear on a house track. Still, if you have the luxury of comparing them, no one 909 sounds exactly the same. Mine has been recapped, re-power supplied and pumped up to bring that little bit extra when I use it live. The snare sounds like an Uzi and the hats cut through like noones bizznizz. I'd kill to protect this box. And believe me, I'm so not joking...

atonalmeasure

The holy grail of house

Along with the TR808 the 909 is a complete legend, i have owned 2 of these, my first once was bought from Italy in 2001 and again its all over my early single releases, theres not a lot you can say about this amazing instrument, its a real performers machine, the sounds can be emulated pretty well but you can't get away from the fact that its all in that tactile interface and knob laden panel, just an absolute dream of an instrument and made to last until hell freezes over.

mick_roby

Absolute Classic

Sounds are large and incredible, cutting through the mix without any comp or eq. Although sounds are hardly adjustable, the amount of juice this thing kicks out is unparalleled.

jimmarchi1

what'd you pay for yours? that's a valuable collection of transistors

mick_roby

Incredibly, a family friend gave it up to me for free. Talk about Christmas in July

alfa_trax

one of the best duro machines ever

excelent timing, great sequencer, ext inst sequencer.

tomahawk

Hybrid of synthesized and sampled sounds. Classic!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Richard Devine uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Richard Devine

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

(@4:40) "and then from there I got a TR-909 Drum Machine"

See how RZA uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

RZA

Rapper, Music Producer

Wu-Tang Clan

...
Verified via YouTube

The RZA talks about his history with drum machines and such in this video at 2:50, including the 909 machine "...My Dj Scotty Rock gave me my first 909 drum machine..."

See how Liam Howlett uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Liam Howlett

Music Producer

The Prodigy

...
Verified via Theprodigy

Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is a partially analog, partially sample-based, drum machine introduced by the Japanese Roland Corporation in 1983. The brainchild of Tadao Kikumoto, the engineer behind the Roland TB-303, it features a 16-step step sequencer and a drum kit that aimed for realism and cost-effectiveness. It is fully programmable, and like its predecessor, the TR-808, it can store entire songs with multiple sections, as opposed to simply storing patterns. It was the first MIDI-equipped drum machine. Around 10,000 units were produced.

All drums except for the hi-hats and cymbals are synthetically generated; there is an oscillator circuit with a dedicated filter and envelope curve. The hi-hats and cymbals are 6-bit samples, compressed and combined with a volume envelope curve (and tuning) to allow slight modification. Thanks to the analog circuitry, various aspects of the drum sound can be modified (pitch, attack, decay).

There is also a feature called "accent"—a primitive means of humanizing the drumbeat. In a simplified model of a drummer and a kit, the loudness of the sound created would basically depend on the velocity at which the drummer hits a given part of the kit. A human drummer can emphasize certain notes by playing them louder, and the accent parameter provides a means to boost a particular step.

Part of the charm of the TR-909 comes from its 16-step sequencer — the 16 buttons along the bottom of the interface correspond to the 16th notes of a single bar in 4/4 meter. For example, punching the buttons 1, 5, 9 and 13 on the bass drum part would create a simple "four to the floor" beat. Multiple patterns can be grouped or chained together which allows the user to create drum patterns that are longer than one bar in length or, alternatively, create drum patterns in compound meters outside of 3/4 or 4/4. While the sequencer is running, a light runs from step 1 to step 16.

This machine is used most of the common dance tracks and you can almost say that this is the standard House and Techno beatbox. Used:

Almost in every Experience track! like... Everybody in the Place Wind It Up

This machine can been seen in many Prodigy Experience videos and sometimes Liam uses it in live shows.

See how Junkie XL uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Junkie XL

Composer, Music Producer

Tiësto vs. Junkie XL

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video "Drum Computers - Studio Time: S2E2," Junkie XL demonstrates his use of the Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer, highlighting its fun and engaging features.

See how The Crystal Method uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

The Crystal Method

Music Producer

The Crystal Method & Bubba Sparxxx

...
Verified via YouTube

at 3:40 the TR-909 can be seen behind Scott

See how Jeff Mills uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Jeff Mills

Music Producer, DJ

The Paradox

...
Verified via Instagram

In a video shared on his official Instagram account, Jeff Mills is seen using the Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer.

See how KiNK uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

KiNK

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via Photo

In this post, KiNK can be seen playing Roland TR-909. Through his Instagram posts, he seems to use the TR-909 frequently in the studio.

See how cEvin Key uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

cEvin Key

Drummer, Keyboardist

Skinny Puppy

...
Verified via Side-line

"Basically everything we’ve used we practically still have here. So it’s a list too long to go into. There is a wall alone that is the orginal setup of Skinny Puppy, based around a pair of Roland TR-808’s, Roland TR-909 with trigs going to many differnat devices including Sequential Circuits Pro One, Roland System 100m, ElectroComp Eml 101, Korg SQ-10, Korg MS-20, Korg MS-10, ARP 2500 and ARP 2600."

See how Thomas Bangalter uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Thomas Bangalter

Guitarist, Music Producer

Daft Punk

...
Verified via Photo

In this user-uploaded photo, Thomas Bangalter is seen with a Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer, a key piece of gear in his production setup.

See how Joris Voorn uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Joris Voorn

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

In this article, Joris says, “When I started, techno was still pretty big, so I decided that I needed to have a 909. I bought the 808 as well, but the 909 has a much tougher sound on the floor. I don’t use it much now - apart from the odd sample here and there.”

See how ATB uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

ATB

Music Producer

ATB with Heather Nova

...
Verified via YouTube

In the 2002 YouTube video "Recording Studios Presentations | ATB Music Production & Recording Studio," ATB is shown using the Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer in his main studio.

See how Bicep uses Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer

Bicep

Music Producer

...
Verified via Facebook

From about 14 seconds you get the best view of Bicep using the Roland-909 in this video on their Facbook.

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 TR-909 Rhythm Composer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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nutritiouspig

nutritiouspig

Gear IQ 785

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Gear IQ 161

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Gear IQ 214

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Gear IQ 94

kinzo_chrome

kinzo_chrome

Gear IQ 73

mirko_bostic

mirko_bostic

Gear IQ 94

maarten_van_der_vleuten

maarten_van_der_vleuten

Gear IQ 109

abcdj

abcdj

Gear IQ 59

robert_pierson

robert_pierson

Gear IQ 435

architecturemusic

architecturemusic

Gear IQ 79

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