It took way too long, but Roland finally caved and gave the people what they want: a proper analog successor to the iconic TR-808 drum machine. The 808’s sound, especially the kick drum, is embedded so deeply in the DNA of modern music that it would be a gross disservice to try and boil its influence down to a single sentence or a list of artists. (Note: Not all of the songs linked necessarily use an actual 808, but they at least feature samples or approximations of its sounds.)
But, in typical Roland fashion, the company didn’t just re-create some iconic analog circuits. No, the TR-1000 also has digital emulations of other classic Roland drum machines. It has FM synthesis, PCM samples, and a built-in sampler with looping and chopping abilities. Not to mention dozens of effects, the ability to layer sounds, and a modern sequencer with probability, automation, and microtiming. In short, if there is a feature you wish a drum machine had, the TR-1000 probably has you covered. But that also means the TR-1000 is an intimidating piece of gear with an equally intimidating $2,699.99 price tag.
Just looking at it can be a bit daunting. Roland has at times trended toward garish or toylike designs, which it’s rightly been criticized for. Now the company may have overcorrected. The recent Gaia 2 and SH-4d synthesizers are utilitarian, almost boring-looking. The TR-1000 continues that trend, but it carries a gravitas that those two instruments don’t. Roland’s flagship drum machine means business and looks the part.
The stark gray-and-black scheme gives it an industrial, almost brutalist vibe. There are 16 satisfyingly clacky keys across the bottom for the step sequencer, firm sliders for each of its 10 audio channels, plus buttons and knobs galore. Roland heard you wanted more hands-on controls and decided to give you all the hands-on controls.
One of the TR-1000’s best features is its gritty analog filter.
The result is that you can do a lot on the TR-1000 with minimal menu diving. If you’ve ever used a step sequencer before, you should be able to bang out a simple beat immediately. There are dedicated knobs for tuning and decay so you can easily get that ultra-deep, modern 808 kick drone. While the labeling on the other knobs is generic (CTRL 1, CTRL 2, CTRL 3), the screen on the top right shows what they control.
Now, that does not mean there is no menu diving here — this is a Roland machine, after all. But the company has made strides with its UI in recent years. The issue is that Roland still hasn’t gotten a handle on its compulsion to cram every possible feature into every device. Is it nice to have sample chopping and resampling abilities on the TR-1000? Sure. But using them isn’t always intuitive, and the layout isn’t ideal for exploring chops to recontextualize a loop. For sampling one-shots and drum hits, the TR-1000 is great. But some of the more advanced features feel tacked on, buried behind convoluted button combos and cumbersome menus. The result is that I rarely used the looping or chopping features, and instead treated the TR-1000 as a more traditional drum machine.
From that perspective, the TR-1000 is an undeniable, if incredibly expensive, success. The headline feature is, of course, the 16 analog drum circuits that re-create iconic sounds from the TR-808 and TR-909. These are the reasons to splurge on the TR-1000. If you don’t care about having an authentic analog re-creation of the 808 snare, then spend your money elsewhere. There are countless digital facsimiles, including affordable options like the T-8 from Roland, and more free sample packs than I can count. But for those who crave the real deal, this is what you’ve been waiting for.
If you’re into making old-school hip-hop, house, or classic techno, this is the palette you want to be painting from. But I wouldn’t call the 808 or 909 sounds retro. They’re timeless. And the TR-1000 helps prove that point by placing them in the context of a modern sequencer, alongside more aggressively digital sounds.
The 808 bass drum is the most important development in pop music since the electric guitar.
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