Roland TR-707 (1985) Rhythm Composer

Digital drum machine based on PCM samples and step sequencer with advanced synching options.

TR 707 is part of the famous Rhythm Composer family with similar Roland TR-909 design and sharing same PCM samples

DRUM MACHINE The main panel features 1 knob, 16 buttons, 16 non-dynamic pads and a central volume mixer for each instruments.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- 11 separate outputs
- main out
- headphones
- footswitch input for start/stop
- trigger out (+5V)
- tape intrface
- Midi interface
- sync at 24 PPQ (5-dins).

Power supply PSU Roland Boss 12V DC (- negative center.

VOICE main core is a Hitachi HD6303X 8- bits CPU manages 10 channels polyphony.
STRUCTURE: each voice has one or different assigned samples from a sampled wavetable, sounds cannot be edited in anyway but the volume mixing.

WAVETABLE there are 4 x HN61256P MASK ROMs (each 32kb) contains 15 samples at 6 bits resolution .Here's the sample full list, note that some instruments are channel-shared:

 

Name	Channel n.
bass drum	1
snare	2
low tom	3
mid tom	4
high tom	5
rimshot	6
cowbell	6
clap	7
tambourine	7
hihat	8
crash	9
ride	10

 

SEQUENCER notes can be entered by either:
1- realtime with metronome
2- step mode with a 16 steps grid (can be defined)
Some recording functions:
- shuffle adjustment
- swing option
- variable quantisation resolution
- 3 accent velocities off / mid / strong.

SYNC the TR-707 is also very appreciated as Sync / Midi communication bridge.
It can be synchronized to other units in 3 different manners:
1- Midi clock
2- tape sync
3- sync at 24 PPQ.
The trigger out signal generates pulses at +5V (controlled by rimshot) and syncs arpeggiators or sequencer like Juno-60 or SH-101.

 

 

MIDI the implementation is basic with just velocity, in addition pads transmit assignable Midi notes (not the lenght) using speciacl Midi mode 2 setting.

MEMORY:
- 64 patterns
- 4 songs
RAM system works with 2 X 1.5V stilo batteries. Data can be saved in 2 different ways:
1- memory cartridges 64 Kb model M64C
2- tape interface dump.

 

 

 

MODIFICATION there are some modifications to revamp the tr707:

	PCM rom swap with tr808 kit or else ->VIDEO
	Realtime pitch modification ->VIDEO
	Tr707 circuit bending ->VIDEO

 

 

FAMILY RELATED:

	Roland TR-727 quite same machine, the only difference is the blue prints and the internal wavetable with different sounds latino-oriented.
	Roland TR-909 hybrid analog digital same crash, hihats and rides as tr707
	Roland TR-626 successive digital model, no more sync, plain Midi
	ROLAND TR-08 AIRA (2014) full kit released as plugin (75€) called "7x7".

 

VST PLUGIN & SAMPLED there are some free and commercial samples set:

	name	price	link	demo
	free sample pack	free		N/A
	VST planet	free
	Tom Fire	free		N/A

 

AUDIO DEMO:

original demo created pattern

Soundcloud TR-707

VIDEO CLIP SELECTION demo1 with JUNO 6 Circuit bent