Trend price : 2000-2500€
The legendary cult drum machine considered maybe as sought-after as the elder brother TR-808.
Overview
LAPTOP (weight: 4.5 kg).Main panel features a basic segments display , 31 knobs, 23 buttons and 16 pads with no velocity. Back panel terminal connectors:
- main out
- 10 individual outputs
- Midi interface
- tape interface
- sync input
- pulse trigger out
- pedalswitch input for start/stop
- memory cartridge slot
Sound
10 channels each with individual mix levels. The sound generation is an hybrid between: analog and PCM digital samples
Analog
Analog sounds are: kick, snare, toms, rimshot and claps. Family is generated like by several mini-synthesizers with individual circuits, onboard VCO oscillators, noise generators, envelope VCA stages and filtered by lowpass filters.
Digital
Digital sounds are:
hihat, crash and ride. These are 3 PCM samples coded at 6 bits resolution and 18 kHz frequency, the rest of the audio signal path is pure analog including EG, VCF and VCA.
Sequencer
based on famous 16 step step entries or tapping method. There are 3 main sequencer functions that enhance the pattern groove:
ACCENT: makes a specific step louder for a single instruments or all
SHUFFLE: swings the beat for a more human rhythms
FLAME: adds a syncope on a step. It does not apply to: rimshot, claps, hihats, crash and ride
Sync
internal tempo range from 37 to 290 BPM or external clock sync is possible in 3 ways: din Sync, Midi clock or tape sync
Memory
-
4 songs
-
48 patterns (max 896 measures)
Audio demo:
Video Clip:
Review
OK: cult / sound
NOT : price / overused
"OK, it is an expensive techno toy and you do not care for this kind of sounds, but You will NOT find any clones, VST, fancy DIY that match a true tr-909."
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci