How to sync Roland TR-909 to SH-101

Viewer's request: how to synchronize a Roland-TR 909 to a Roland SH-101.
0:00 Introduction
0:25 How to sync them
1:20 TR-909 Rim Shot function
2:15 SH-101 One Note function
2:57 SH-101 Three Note function
3:48 TR-909 Rim Shot mute
4:09 SH-101 Sixteen-Note function
5:30 Typical 1980's Bass
6:44 SH-101 Sequencer tape trick
7:54 Conclusion

[@Frank-vf8xf]

Hello Synthamia incredible. Nobody has done something like that for me in my whole life I have no words for you you have personalised the video for me I am speechless. I thank you wholeheartedly for helping me. It is very difficult for me to understand these synchronisation issues and I always need help. It also costs me a lot to understand all this and it is very difficult for me to get information. You have been very kind for taking the time to make the video and share your knowledge with me and with other users. That says a lot about the quality of person you are. You have a friend in me for whatever you need, I thank you with all my heart. I have no words to thank you very much. Thank you very much for your time and what You did sounds amazing. I will hry tomorrow…. Thanks

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

You're super welcome, it's always been the "mission" of my website and channel since I started them. When I was growing up there was no Internet, it was very difficult to get any information on anything music/tech related other than trade magazines, physical stores, and word of mouth. I had to learn by myself via trial and error, so when the Internet came about, I decided I would share any information (if I can) to help out other people.

[@Frank-vf8xf]

Thank You so much Synthomania really. You don’t how much happy You make me be with your help. I can’t not tell you…😂. I bought my machines in 2008 and I was year and year without can synchrinized. No internet no information living in a far anywhere and without knowing English was really hard….really. Looking for information how I could….asking asking and asking ....now that smart phones exist translating texts....very difficult and I still ask.Not everyone does the same and that magnifies you as a person.An amazing vídeo ….Synthomania will surely have to ask you again in the future 😀 you’re a such good guy…Awesome…..Thank you for sharing your knowledge with others…..we need more people for help….👍

[@satchelm0uth]

@@Frank-vf8xf Make sure you post whatever you create. We are interested to hear!

[@Frank-vf8xf]

@@satchelm0uth Hi friend ….how are you? I hope everything it’s Ok….I will. I’m not a professional and I never uploaded a vídeo but I have to….😀.Don’t will be so so Cool like The vídeo @SynthMania did that’s sure. 😂👍 impossible….

[@exnihilo415]

You know, I never realized how much of the way this sync method is responsible for the styles of so much electronic music we know and love. This is awesome!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad you like it!

[@Frank-vf8xf]

Yesterday was my first time. I didn’t know too. I have the Roland’s SyncBox SBX-1 and I was thinking to Sync with it and also I bought all The cables before I Watched @SynthMania videos and look how he do it.Thanks again 😀

[@exnihilo415]

@@Frank-vf8xf I grew up in the time of MIDI so this sync stuff never seemed to appeal until I realized with this video how much of this sync method was actually a compositional and even stylistic tool tending towards these types of creations. Pretty awesome.

[@simonburns1055]

Love it when the machines work together

[@FeatherGlow1]

Very kind of you to help people in this way. You're a legend Paolo.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Awww, way too kind, it's always been the "mission" of my website and channel - If I can, I try to help out

[@BogginMashups]

I’ve owned an SH101 for *years* and I never knew about the sticky tape method. I also own a TR707 so, suffice to say, I will be trying out this technique soon! Thanks!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yzimsx]

Excuse me, but what's that in terms of the Behringer MS-1?

[@ASH-ou4cg]

Great! This will work exactly the same, with my TR-09 and SH-01A, so I am glad to know the little secrets, to getting the different variations. Thanks for not taking the lazy way out, in answering this question. You went above and beyond and really showed us all, how it could be most utilized.

[@ryananthony4840]

Another great tutorial Paolo!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Thank you

[@inamenu4745]

so glad i learned this, because i definitely own both an original TR-909 and an SH-101, as i have the money for both of them from the obscene amount of spotify money ive made off of my electronic music

[@kris_lx]

Great! All I need now is a TR-909 and SH-101.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

They are both readily available for purchase on marketplaces like eBay and Reverb.

[@Hiphophouse90]

Beautiful Synthmania !! your knowledge is second to none .

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Wow, thanks!

[@phaase0]

Was able to replicate this by sending drum hits from Cubase / Groove Agent once I unplugged CV/Gate I usually use as the bridge to my daw. These old programming ways bring another dimension to music production, are fun to use & a nice break from modern sequencing. SynthMania thank you for all you do. This & your gating videos have meant a good deal to me & I've used the knowledge with amazing results. A big hug from me.

[@cinemarising6957]

Great tips and tutorial,,,really well explained ,,thanks !!!

[@LouisSerieusement]

aha thank you so much, always awesome tutorials from you Paolo !

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad you like them!

[@Alfredo-ys7cw]

Thank you for this great video!

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

Very informative. I was not aware of how these were synchronized. Things are so easier today.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cryptout]

great demo! and man those machines sound nice.

[@djjammindave]

THIS IS INCREDIBLE AWESOME !!!!! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO.

[@Barry101er]

Paolo, you make it look so easy, thanks!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

You can do it!

[@Luri.narval.mp3]

You are awesome Paolo, thanks for everything!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

You are!

[@chrisstevens2735]

I love you man, thanks for this mate.

[@TheBluehood23]

Great full for this connection presentation 👏 👍 👌 🙌 😀

[@asdifasi5379]

yes yes, paolo gives a producer grade explanation and tutorial!

[@Toymortal]

Hahaha! I had a Boss DR110 & SH101 as a kid back in the 80's and I used to do a version of the sellotape trick with the sequencer - except I used a little weight rather than sellotape. I thought it was just me! Great video as always!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Rock on!

[@johnsignoretti4002]

Excellent tutorial

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Thank you

[@frankzelazko]

Cheers, Paolo

[@MeineVideokasetten]

Great Video!

[@deepsignalstudios]

Note that you can program a rest step (no note) in the SH-101 sequencer with the rest button.

[@Frank-vf8xf]

Thank You for this gift 👍 😀

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

My pleasure 😊

[@ollecram8647]

Great tutorial! I Like the tape trick.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@musicmix9259]

your channel is very rich with content.

[@pjm8779]

Great instructional video!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad you enjoyed it, P!

[@multiversum]

Very Thanks, helpful and please more of tis basicly Information.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

More to come!

[@SynthgodXXX]

Super cool 'how to' video! Just sounds so phat!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

It is! Thank you, Rik!

[@Frank-vf8xf]

Hi SynthMania and everyone …How are You? How's everything going? I hope all is well. I would like to send greetings and wish you a good weekend. Take care of yourself and happy Saturday to everyone and especially to you Mr. Paolo. Blessings and gratitude. Best regards

[@thepanicroommastering2062]

So good ✨👍 Thank you Paolo

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad you like it!

[@philippebackprotips]

Fantastic.

[@repstos]

Thank you for this. I really enjoyed this tutorial. I am thinking of getting an SH-101 to go with my 909, but wasn't sure how to sync without MIDI.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Glad it was helpful

[@chriswareham]

Probably my most productive phase was using an SH-101 synced to a Sequential TOM drum machine. Amazing to think that they were considered little more than junk at the time (early 1990s). I recorded them to a cassette based Yamaha portastudio with a dodgy pause button and just a bucket brigade reverb unit for effects. There's definitely something to the old saw about necessity being the mother of invention!

[@brianmansfield666]

They were never ever considered junk. In early 90's, after the rave explosion of late 80's is when they started to be collectable especially TR909 with starting prices of about £1000.

[@chriswareham]

@@brianmansfield666 Apart from the TB-303, it took a very long time for the prices of old gear to go up by much. In part I guess it's because there wasn't things like eBay or Reverb back then, so older gear was sold through small ads to a limited, local audience. Music shops didn't really stock much electronic gear in the 1990s, apart from bigger stores in London that focused on new stuff. Even in 1999 I still managed to buy a TR-808 and E-mu Emulator II for a couple hundred each (so wish I still had them).

[@JacobSkriver]

So Nitzer Ebb type of bass line!

[@brettwayne8103]

never knew that when I had a 101... The sequencer finally makes sense .

[@bernyboss]

Wooooooo funky awesomeeeee!!!! 😎😎😎

[@ddr4ig]

Ooompah,! Ooompah!, Ooompah!, Ooompah! Love it... Thanks Paolo!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Enjoy!

[@toitoitoy]

easy peasy tricks = Great sounds

[@manuelsouza2992]

Excellent

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Thanks

[@lars-fenin]

noice... i tried that in a way with the 606 tom out to trigger the juno 60 arpeggiator. but im thinking of doin this next time with the RD 8 and the td 3. pretty interesting results, depending on the triggers set from the source.

[@liamoconnell2831]

this is so dope. I wonder if i can do it with my Aria TR8. The SH101 is my so good. thanks heaps!

[@godot5082]

Your 101 sounds so fat, great and with the 909 a perfect pair

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Thank you, they're a great pair for sure!

[@shanepeach4793]

This was a fantastic explanation. I have been searching for this for so long. I take it you can do the same with a TR8 and SH01A ?

[@ME-ru4hv]

I'd put money that 5:04 is how Cameron got the Terminator chase sound

[@luigisambuy]

excellent pronunciation of portaaaaamento 4:45

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Mother Tongue. Madrelingua.

[@lebulotentongs1953]

Nice !

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

✌

[@victortvik]

Теперь я понял как всё происходит! При живых выступлениях не мог понять,как!👍

[@Frank-vf8xf]

Hi everyone, especially @SynthMania. Sorry for not writing before but until last night I couldn't get home and connect the equipment. I wanted to thank you all the comments, thank you all. I'm going to tell you what happened... I connected the SH101 as @SynthMania tolds and I programmed the TR909 with the rhythms and patterns. What I wasn't sure about was whether I had to change the Internal Mode to synchronize both machines. Everything worked although I discovered that you have to practice to get cool rhythms like the ones that @SynthMania did in his video. I have to practice more to get cool rhythms. Everything was going well. I was excited and happy and suddenly I heard a click on the headphones and both machines stopped working. The SH101 did not sound the notes and the TR909 stopped work. The TR909 featured the last buttons (15-16) Verify and Load on and it hit Play and it didn't sound anything. I think it may be an error message but I don't know what these messages mean and that these two buttons are turned on. Please, if anyone knows these types of error messages, I would like to know what they mean. To finish and not extend any longer in the end, I managed to restore everything and resequence the patterns on both machines and it hasn't given me any other problem. But I was quite scared because I thought something had broken down in both of them and where I live there is no possibility of taking them to repair. In fact, I have some problems with the TR909 and TB303 and there is no technical service for maintenance. Finally...I also tried to synchronize the SH101 and TR909 with the TB303 and I can’t......I will have to turn to @SynthMania again to help me but I'm sure he said something about it in the video but I have to finish translating everything to understand it because my English level isn’t great. Thanks to all and to @SynthMania

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

To add the TB-303 is easy also - all you need is another cable called "DIN Sync". It looks like a MIDI cable but it's wired differently. SOME MIDI cables that you already have in the studio might work too - give it a try - but if you have a dedicated DIN Sync cable, better to use that. The trick is to insert the DIN Sync cable "half way" into the TB-303, so that it acts as output instead of input. Connect the other end to the TR-909 sync input and you should be able to synchronize all three at the same time.

[@Frank-vf8xf]

@@SynthManiaDotCom Hello again @SynthMania, sorry for not writing before. Regarding the DINSYNC cables, I have several for the TR606 and TB303 and I know them and I know that they differ from MIDI cables by the connection of the PINs. I think they have 3 connections if I remember correctly. And the trick of connecting the cable in half has already been discovered and I use it to synchronize the TB303 and TR909. I took this information from a KZbin video or a forum but it took me years to find out 😂. I think I’ll don’t have any problem adding the TB303 along with the SH-101 and the TR909 if I do what you told me. Although I have a question... I will have to change the Internal Mode in the TR909 to use it from Master or to be the TB303. I'm not sure about this. Without going any further, I would like to thank you for your time and the knowledge you bring to me and I suppose other users will also serve all this information. Thank you very much best regards

[@Behnan]

brilliant:) the 16th melody is a great 80s soundtrack. reminds me a bit of "no retreat no surrender" :)..would like to know how many hits were produced with the tape trick ....

[@akotube1200]

Hi SynthMania, unbelievable mighty and practical tricks from the Master (like no other on YT). I do not have a SH-101. Do the tricks work even with a MicroBrute (via CV Gate input) connected to a TR-08 Trigger out?

[@rebmcr]

It should be possible to replace the momentary switch under the Key Transpose button, with the same size and shape of toggle switch. The SH-101 would no longer be original factory spec, but it would be a lot more ergonomic to use without any sticky tape! Sort of like adding MIDI to older models of synth. What do you think? Too far, or a useful minor mod?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

The problem with that is that every time you need to Transpose to another key, it will then take you two button presses instead of one. So while you get more "ergonomic" on one side, you get less "ergonomic" on another side.

[@YOURTECHFRIEND]

You accidentally programmed the new Knight rider theme song... I can see the Fuel cell car driving along 🚘😎

[@Zinkquer]

when you did the typical 80's base add a cow bell and you've got funky town

[@luluthereal6606]

Hi, great video thanks, i have question - so basicly the master tempo of the video is through the TR909 TEMPO control? for example 124.. and when u decide it so basicly both of the instruments the tr and the sh both are on exact 124? thanks

[@AboveTheTrees00]

can you somehow side chain using only those two? just wondering if there is a trick on that

[@ryananthony4840]

Now I understand why you had the tape on there in an older video...... My MS-1 doesn't need that

[@jmo2752]

Surely you can just use the hold button (rather than tape on the transpose) and trigger the arpeggiator to create those classic alternating octave baselines on each 8th beat? You could certainly do that with the Juno 60.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Nop - surely you can't do that on the SH-101. The Arpeggio feature doesn't work in the same way as it does on a Juno-60. You always have to use at least two fingers / two notes to trigger the arpeggiator on the SH-101, and that makes it impossible to play smooth arpeggiator patterns like you can do on the Juno-60 using one finger. You constantly get mistriggerings and pattern inversions. That's why it's better to use its sequencer. Also, with the sequencer, you can have an infinite array of patterns, rather than only Up, Down, and Up & Down.

[@jmo2752]

@@SynthManiaDotCom ah, thank you for clarifying!

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

You're welcome

[@RosalvoParadella]

Muito interessante !! Seria possível fazer isso com uma guitarra midi, pedaleira Roland GR20 e uma bateria Roland TR626 ou Boss DR3 ?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

you would need an arpeggiator

[@RosalvoParadella]

@@SynthManiaDotCom ok. Eu pensei justamente nisso hoje. E o arpeggiator do controlador midi arturia keystep parece ser uma boa opção pra mim. Obrigado Paolo. Deus te abençoe.

[@bernyboss]

Hi Paolo, thank you for the great video. Can you play muted notes on the sequencer of sH-101? Or only real notes?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Yes, you can do legato and rest notes

[@goalbe3]

Dove c'è Paolo, tutto suona!!

[@johnsignoretti4002]

If it’s possible, can you please break down Dreamer by Livin Joy?? Thank you very much

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Sure - I think you already asked about it and I put it on the to-do list - Dreamer takes a lot more time to do than simple technique vids like this, but I'll make an effort to do it soon for you

[@M1k1haus]

One day I'll own a 909.

[@ddemoes]

Great video! Do you have experience with a 'dead-signal' from the trig out too? Mine seem not to work when I plug the cables the way you show here.. Maybe my 909 needs a revision though, the pods are crackling a bit anyway..

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Which device are you sending the TR-909 rim shot trig out to? An SH-101?

[@ddemoes]

@@SynthManiaDotCom Yes, an 101! It does the job in combination with my 808, so I started to think the problem is the 909

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Sounds like it

[@jamesmurphy1628]

Can u run a Roland Juno g through the tr9 the same way

[@akirabenakira2797]

excuse me sir sorry to disturb does it work also with tr 606 and sh101??

[@djjammindave]

IM PRETTY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS WITH NEWER MODEL TR-8S ???

[@djmajiktuch82]

7:15 Tyrants in therapy!!

[@ioan7670]

Is beter an Tr 707 ,? Thanks

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

The TR-707 rim shot trigger out works the same way as on the TR-909. The main difference is that the 707 has a 1/8" socket instead of 1/4" socket on the 909.

[@bernyboss]

Ciao Paolo, do you know if this procedure works also with a MC-202?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Yes, it should work fine with the MC-202 as well

[@20thingsgoing62]

What happens when we plug into the 909 start/stop?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Spontaneous human combustion

[@AnalogResistance]

You did the opposite!, The titel says, sync 909 TO 101, But in the video it only shows the otherway around, so syncing the 101 TO a 909. Which is not possible with just a trs cable

[@heusker]

Do you need the tape? Will transpose work if you just hit it once, or is yours broken?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

It's a momentary switch. Think of how a door bell button works, and how you would manage to make it sound the bell continuously instead of just once.

[@heusker]

@@SynthManiaDotCom Wow, thanks for replying, SynthMania! You're kind of famous, so this makes my night!

[@heusker]

@@SynthManiaDotCom When I hit transpose, the button stays lit and I can then hit different notes to change keys. I guess it won't work this way when a sequence is running, or when it's synced from an external clock? I thought that I had tried transposing internal sequences before, but maybe not. I haven't done it when an external clock is used. I'm a new SH-101 owner.

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

If you have an SH-101, then simply just try it. You will understand the answer to your question by yourself, no?

[@heusker]

@@SynthManiaDotCom Yes, you're right--I have to hold the button down.

[@lgproductionsintechno]

Kenny glasgom

[@simonburns1055]

Is that Roland factory tape lol

[@ultraconchetsap]

Hi synthmania, is there a chance to do this in ableton with clips ?

[@SynthManiaDotCom]

Explain?