The release of the Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator is welcome news. First, it is—after a long time—the quasi “real” successor to the classic TR-808 and TR-909 (and R-8, we would add). High-quality construction, sophisticated aesthetics, stylish appearance… a genuine Roland instrument, unmistakable.
Secondly, prices for the TR-808 and TR-909 will drop significantly with the release of the TR-1000. The days when an 808 changed its owner for a mere 5,000 Euros will soon be a thing of the past. After all, the new TR offspring (also) has a combined analog/digital sound generator plus many extras … and costs only slightly more than half the above-mentioned 808 street market price.
Ultimately, however, it is certainly the musical and creative possibilities that will convince musicians and producers of the TR-1000’s merits. However, you may find yourself thinking back to the TR-808 with a touch of nostalgia (once you see the possibilities in detail), because Roland has remained true to its multi-layer principle, familiar from its synthesizers: Project / Pattern / Kit / Generator / Song / Motion … there’s a lot for the user to get to grips with!
Regardless, some users will simply limit themselves to creating rhythms—Rhythm Creator (!)—and perhaps devote their attention to the Motion function and a few special extras… because, after all, no one has to create a complete “project” (of which the TR-1000 can store 16).
Given that the hardware, aesthetics, and creative possibilities are so impressive, it is also worth mentioning the manual. It starts off somewhat deceptively with a few pages of lists, but soon develops into a user-friendly manual that explains the functionality of the TR-1000 with clear topics, paragraphs, and accompanying graphics.
If at least part of the manual was generated by AI, it would come as no surprise. Even after reading it ten times, we still didn’t understand the following explanation of ACB technology (analog modeling):
“This is an analog modeling instrument that completely reproduces the behavior of an analog sound generator. In addition to reproducing an analog sound generator, this product customizes the circuit using digital technology, letting you experience new sounds you’d never have imagined with traditional sounds.”
(Roland TR-1000 User Manual, page 14)
Be that as it may, the TR-1000 looks like a must-have drum machine that elegantly combines tradition and modernity. The best thing about it is, of course, the price: 2,699 Euros seems very fair to us, considering the excellent hardware and the comprehensive package. Incidentally, the “good old” TR-909 was offered at a similar price (2,600 DM) in 1984, at least in terms of the current value at the time …
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Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
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For a device that’s marketed as performance-oriented, it’s a miss not to include a dedicated performance pad or button for recording into notes without switching modes. The TR-8S and TR-808 both handled this properly. The TR-1000 technically allows it via MIDI, but you still have to enter a special recording mode that turns all the step sequencer buttons into play pads. Odd design choice.