Morphing my TR-707 into a 909, 808, 727, LinnDrum, LM-1 and Oberheim DMX!

[@rectorsulk]

thx for this wholesome video, it really helped me do my own 707. It's one of the most useful and elegant mods out there, I found

[@gwEmbassy]

Harry Axten killed it :) Nice job doing your own one!

[@666Nightshift]

You convinced me to get a 707 on a previous video and now you just sold me the Kit! Thank for the video!!!

[@gwEmbassy]

Ha :) :) Enjoy your 707!

[@falangistavaleroso9689]

@@gwEmbassy u also made me want to buy it again. I am returning to 1995

[@AxisChemicals]

@@gwEmbassy aa

[@ASH-ou4cg]

Your 707 looks so pristine and bright white! Lucky to have it in such great condition!

[@gwEmbassy]

It is in decent shape, but a little grubbier than it looks on the video.

[@ASH-ou4cg]

Taken straight out of your mouth... brilliant! I had no idea about this and was super excited when the video started and you told me what it was about. When you said it didn't involve any butchering, I got even more excited... then... all my hopes were dashed when I realized, still how much was involved. I am not minded in this way and could never handle this mod on my own. As much as I would like it, my 707 is going to stay stock, unless I can pay someone to do this for me. Thanks so much for sharing, your channel is very unique and informative. I always enjoy watching.

[@gwEmbassy]

It takes about an hour as I said on the video. It’s an intermediate level project rather than one for a beginner. That desoldering station is gold for this one. Thanks for watching again Andrew!

[@MegaPhalaenopsis]

A genius! The person who will produice and propose that kind of machine today will definitively be rich! Everything including the DMX the 808/909 and linndrum is included that's incredible ! I fall down sitting.

[@gwEmbassy]

Truly yes!

[@kollusion1]

Who knew you could put new sounds in? I'm really glad you're shining light onto something other than an the usual 808 / 909, overdone lazyness. Love your 'anti-static' T-towel!

[@gwEmbassy]

:-D I just cover what I like really, and I like the 707 a lot!!

[@chizknocka]

thank you for taking the time to do this! Are you planning on learning to load and edit your own circuits and chips, or are you fine with staying at this stage of the knowledge set? Because if you're gonna continue, I'm right there wicha!

[@gwEmbassy]

I am a full qualified electronic engineer, but I’m not always a fan of bringing my work home with me. Having said that, I might do some more electronics videos on future!

[@autoy]

Just finished my installation as well, this kit is brilliant and I’d say that for the price it’s a must. I liked the 909 and Linn LM-2 best out of the sampled ones and I wasn’t expecting much of the 909 tbh so that was a surprise. I don’t agree the 808 CB should be the one in that kit cause the 707 CB just fits right without sticking out on top. The LM-1 kit was a tad dark for my taste but the DMX works really well. The 808 has too much aliasing on the bass drum but it’s such a hard one to get right I’m better off thinking it’s just something else. Overall it’s an amazing bang for buck expansion.

[@gwEmbassy]

Thanks for the extensive comment Autoy! It’s all a question of taste isn’t it? And I expect if I listened to one of your tracks with the 707 cowbell I’d enjoy it. But I’m happy we agree : the kit is awesome :)

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

Great vid. I have my 626 with this mod and I’m very happy with it. Only criticism is that the 707 rim shot wasn’t included on the mod. That’s really disappointing as it’s possibly my favourite sound on the 707!

[@gwEmbassy]

the 707 rimshot is a great sound :) to be honest I love all the 707 sounds

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

@@gwEmbassy same here. It’s a great machine. I’ve got the 606 and the 909 so one of these would be a nice addition to the family. Your vid helped me when modifying my 626 so many thanks.

[@acdnrg]

Many thanks for this walkthrough. I consider doing this to mine, but it´s sold out atm :(. Wish me luck that there will be another batch soon.

[@gwEmbassy]

good luck!! I hope there will be another batch soon 🤞

[@acdnrg]

@@gwEmbassy Many thanks man :) Regarding 303 neighbours: I´m working in the direction of adding different pedals to get a little chain. At the moment I´m playing with EQ (MXR-10), Compression (Empress Effects) and Distortion (Lone Wolf Audio Left Hand Wrath Deluxe & Klirrton Grindstein). Guess this fun will never end because thanks to you I have a long laundry list to go through ^^.

[@ohheyitskevinc]

Sadly found that my eBay bought 727 was water damaged. Discovered when I removed IC-34 and IC-35. The traces under IC-35 just fell apart :( I’d try fixing the PCB traces with copper, but looking at the overall board compared with yours - mine is a mess. Nice looking paperweight though :) Good walkthrough.

[@gwEmbassy]

I’m sorry to hear your 727 was not in good shape. But maybe with some care it’s still possible to fix.

[@MrTRAUMSCHMIERE]

good to see see you mate!!

[@gwEmbassy]

Hey buddy!! Long time :) Hope you are doing well. Good to hear from you!

[@lars-fenin]

moin..:)

[@gwEmbassy]

Moin Lars! :-D Shitkatapult crew in the house!

[@nordloef]

Great video! I have his eproms for the 505 and 626. Keep on making these gear videos. Always brightens my day!

[@gwEmbassy]

Thanks Nordloef!! :) :)

[@gdel5104]

Yeah! I'm going to get it.. Thanks! P.S I also love the TR707. Cheers!

[@gwEmbassy]

I’m sure you won’t regret it!

[@proto2149]

The pumping station really impressed me as i have never seen one in action, the 1 hour it took you to do the job could well take 5 without it, amazing! 7 fully functional drum machines in 1 box, you must be in heaven eheh Also congrats having the the developer helping you tweak the eprom mod to your taste, what a nice guy :)

[@gwEmbassy]

That pumping station was really worth every penny yes! And it removed the chips so cleanly too. Thanks for watching!

[@MrJskov]

@@gwEmbassy do you have at link to the desoldering station? (also bought the Kit from Harry, hopefully it will arrive next week.... and also I totally agree on the cowbells 😊)

[@gwEmbassy]

Katsu desoldering station on Amazon

[@gwEmbassy]

www.amazon.co.uk/KATSU-140W-Desoldering-Rework-Station/dp/B079ZC3WBC

[@jonathanblayney789]

this is one of the best mod I have seen! Now all HKA has to do is sort out how to sync a 707 with a modular. Great video too

[@gwEmbassy]

It is a great mod! Thanks for watching :) you can always sync it with the rim trigger. There are also some dinsync to modular converters out there too!

[@jonathanblayney789]

@@gwEmbassy I have used the trigger out alright, but was hoping to slave to the eurorack, the midi on the 707 seems to lag ever so slightly, but it's part if the charm I guess! Do you have a patreon of anything?

[@gwEmbassy]

No Patreon. Maybe if the channel gets bigger I will set one up :)

[@gwEmbassy]

www.juno.co.uk/products/touellskouarn-triglostek-din-sync-24-to-trigger/714702-01/

[@YouBredRaptorsMusic]

if an manage to find one, the roland SBX-1 does practically all the fun sync stuff you could ever want.

[@soulcabbage]

Great I had my pin 9 wired to the wrong pin on the ribbon but yourself and harry sorted that .

[@gwEmbassy]

Glad you got that working!

[@Decoy303]

Kick and snare are better on the 505. I would use them in tandem. House beat 4/4 with kick on one at step 1 and 9 with the other on 5 and 13 with snare on one machine hitting the 5 and other on the 13. Nice bit of oscillation.

[@gwEmbassy]

You are right the combination could be interesting. I like the 505, but I love the 707 :)

[@ZenMountain]

Great! Thank you for this!!!

[@gwEmbassy]

You are welcome :)

[@hINC]

I'd like to have a 707, since I really LOVE those sounds as well. And this mod does make it even more usable. BUT... Since I have limited space aka channels on my mixing board; plus my 909 and the MPC 2000 XL do fill up 20 channels already - I think I stick to loading the 707, 727, 808, DMX, Yamahas and whatnot samples into the MPC which also gives me the ability of tuning all those samples on the fly with the Note Variation slider. But still, kinda tempting... Especially since you don't have to butcher the 707 for that mod... Cheers and thanks for this detailed video! :-)

[@gwEmbassy]

Hi H! Thanks a lot for watching. The 707 is a fun machine for jamming and quick messing about. The new sounds fit well into that :)

[@hINC]

Got one now :-) And a 727, too 🤷‍♂️ Couldn't resist :-) Now I have to get that kit from Harry. I was on the list, but I read his email when the batch was already sold out *eek*

[@gwEmbassy]

Congrats! I hope you enjoy the kit when it arrives

[@Luigi1984]

many thanks for this video

[@gwEmbassy]

You’re very welcome!

[@D5x610]

Thanks for the video! I’ll be doing this mod soon. Awaiting the ROM. I have a lot of other refurbishing to do in the meantime. Any idea where to identify and source the screws? My unit is missing most of them as someone gave it to me in poor shape years ago. It works great though, just needs some TLC.

[@gwEmbassy]

Not sure where to source the screws. I tend to keep all the screws from old equipment for these situations. Good luck with the refurb!

[@rhythmdroid]

How can anyone complain about aliasing on the 808 kick? Isn't that what the point of this mod is...to play 8-bit samples of analog sounds? I'm looking forward to the crunch!

[@gwEmbassy]

It’s a brilliant kit :)

[@mantax55]

Do you happen to have samples of these coming out of the 707? The 808/909 sounds coming out of this have a nice character!

[@gwEmbassy]

The sounds do sound really nice. I don’t have a sample pack, but maybe I should record one!

[@carlomurjahn]

Thanks for this Video!

[@gwEmbassy]

You’re welcome, thanks for watching!

[@carlomurjahn]

@@gwEmbassy I'm about to order this extension for a Tr-707. Do you have any idea whether the TR-727 set of this mod is up to pairs side-by-side with a 'original' TR-727 or is it somewhat different? Thanks!

[@gwEmbassy]

Some of the sample rates are different on the TR-727 I believe. Harry Axten himself has a demo of the kit in a 727

[@carlomurjahn]

@@gwEmbassy - Thanks and best regards!

[@FOKKR]

Nice! Do you know if that 707 Pitch Mod works on all those Extensions also?

[@gwEmbassy]

not for sure, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t

[@leoluvsleo1]

Is this kit still available? Where can I purchase one?

[@gwEmbassy]

hkadesign.org.uk

[@UncleGordon1978]

Very good tutorial! Thanks

[@gwEmbassy]

Appreciate that Alexander, this one took a while to edit!

[@AepoK-]

oO wow excellent !

[@gwEmbassy]

Harry Axten made a great mod!

[@juliansullivan2488]

Hi Gwem, thanks for sharing - great video.. I might have missed it but can I pls ask whether installing the mod means that the original 707 bank is still present in the machine or is it now sourced from the chipset on the new pcb add-on and whether the authenticity of the 707 bank you are left with might now be questionable? Many thanks and have just invested in a stock tr-707 which I'm v much looking forward to receiving in the next few days, Jules

[@gwEmbassy]

believe me, as a 707 nut, that bank is completely authentic! :)

[@juliansullivan2488]

@@gwEmbassy Thanks Gwem - I did think that might have been the case knowing how dedicated you are to the 707! I've watched through a few different videos of yours now covering various different aspects and every time you fire it up it just brings a smile to my face in a way that I'm afraid to say the 808 and 909 just don't - a truly remarkable little machine.. : )

[@Pamberjack_]

2023 note: it appears that the current version of the mod now lets you change sounds WITHOUT turning the machine off an on again...

[@gwEmbassy]

Thats a nice twist :)

[@redwillowcounselingrecover3882]

Wish it were actually possible to buy a kit somewhere.

[@gwEmbassy]

I’m sure Harry will get some more in stock soon :)

[@lars-fenin]

noice... just fyi: theres also a mod to shorten the decay of the closed and open hi hat on the 707...(knobs for control) (a friend did it on mine years ago, but maybe theres a technican you know (harry) that an provide more infos about the technical aspects.

[@gwEmbassy]

thanks for the heads up! a number of the drums have envelopes that can be modded

[@lars-fenin]

@@gwEmbassy good to know.. thought it only appeared for the hi hats on the 707..

[@gwEmbassy]

The crash and the ride are the other two sounds with VCA envelopes

[@lars-fenin]

@@gwEmbassy ahh.. okay thanx...

[@kilevox]

It is a genius kit indeed. I will order it as soon as it will be available. My 707 is already prepared with DIL sockets installed. It is a shame Harry didn't add E-mu Drumulator samples into the bank 8. Is there any hope for this in the future?

[@gwEmbassy]

If you have an EEPROM programmer you can add the kits yourself fairly easily.

[@kilevox]

@@gwEmbassy Yes, but you need to sample all sounds from Drumulator first. And as seen from your video above...you have one right there in the corner ;)

[@gwEmbassy]

That’s an SP1200. Maybe Drumulator ROM dumps are available online somewhere.

[@lownrgy]

I ordered one too, would prefer SCI Drumtraks and E-mu Drumulator over sampled analog drums, sample oriented 707 would make much more sense

[@arnoriva]

Cool demonstration !! Thanks. I plan to install that kit in my 626, to tune that LinnDrums sound and got individual out. Seems to forgot the rim shot sound on tr909. Doesn't it?

[@gwEmbassy]

Maybe I skipped over the 909 rimshot sound by mistake. Thanks a lot for watching the demo :)

[@TheBroDotTV]

I do like the Linn Drum sounds but I gotta say I'd never mess with my 707 lol. You're braver than me Gwem.

[@gwEmbassy]

You can hear the relief in my voice when I remove the first ROM. The 707 is so great in stock form. I was worried about doing this. But it’s totally worth it.

[@fuzziemusic]

you could buy a cheaper 727 and instal the mod on that one... brings in a nice blue colour scheme to accompany the 707 orange too.. and dubble the fun

[@gwEmbassy]

That’s true, and you would have the crash and ride sounds replaced by the 727 alternatives too

[@lownrgy]

@@fuzziemusic 727s are not cheaper

[@123452462]

I was offered to trade a modded 707 like this in exchange for my tr8s which I actually really like and I don't know what to deside..I really like break beat so the tr8s delivers that for me

[@gwEmbassy]

I would keep the TR8S. The modded 707 is very cool, but it’s a less versatile piece.

[@benjaminframe5530]

Is this available for sale?

[@gwEmbassy]

definitely not ;)

[@benjaminframe5530]

That sucks, it should be. Lol.@@gwEmbassy

[@gwEmbassy]

well, I think the kit is, but not my own 707

[@benjaminframe5530]

Big misunderstanding….sorry. Lol. I’m definitely interested in the kit though@@gwEmbassy

[@jimsmith2919]

Do you think if you put a tr-727 eprom into a tr-707 it would function as a tr-727 with the tr-727 sounds? Why do you think there were 2 chips you had to remove? Is one the firmware and one the samples?

[@gwEmbassy]

Both of the chips were the samples. You can select the 727 sound bank and it sounds just like a 727!

[@jimsmith2919]

@@gwEmbassy I saw that you can buy a 727 eprom chip off eBay for $20 and was wondering if just switching out that chip would give you 727 sounds on the 707. I should really just buy the HTX mod but everything I go to the site it's sold out.

[@josemanuelreimondez5491]

friend it is possible that you tell me where to connect pin 9 well, you can't see a good image the reflection of the light covers the place, Thanks advance.

[@gwEmbassy]

The Harry Axten instructions actually explain this pretty well I think

[@josemanuelreimondez5491]

@@gwEmbassy I solved.

[@gwEmbassy]

Happy to hear!

[@stevenzagony6187]

Can this be done with the TR-727? Would it also give me 707 sounds?

[@gwEmbassy]

Yes and yes! :)

[@danselmix]

22:32 you talk about "8-bit samples" as responsible for the aliasing, but the bit depth has nothing to do with it. It's the low sample rate what´s can cause it.

[@gwEmbassy]

Yes, you are quite correct. It is not aliasing, but the artifacts caused by the lower bit depth. Thanks for pointing this out.

[@midierror]

Yes, Harry is a legend!

[@gwEmbassy]

He delivers the goods :)

[@TheBroDotTV]

Gwem could you send me a link to the video about the Memory Cartridge you made for the 707. Thanks bud.

[@gwEmbassy]

I got that wrong! This video is coming out on Wednesday :) Stay tuned!

[@buddhikachathuranga9202]

Hi! What is the different between using 707 samples and a real machine????

[@gwEmbassy]

A lot of it is about workflow and the spirit of the machine. If you don’t care about such things, samples will do you just fine :)

[@buddhikachathuranga9202]

@@gwEmbassy Does it sound different??? I don't know. I don't have the machine(707).I have a midi controller called M-Audio Trigger finger pro Which has Modern Samples like for Dnb,Dubstep,Trap. I discover that those samples are not good as 707.they maybe like harsh or something like that.punchyness comes from the 707 doesn't compare with my machine.actually it has no built-in sounds.but it has the 16 step sequencer.that's why I like it. If I load the samples to my sequencer I have the programmble function like 707.and I can do the same thing.But I think it feels differnt.Maybe punchiness like things... and I really like the space that 707 gives to mix.doesn't it??? I have the opportunity to buy 707.What is the advice that you can give me?????? thank y ou man..😔✌

[@gwEmbassy]

Yes, the real 707 is dry and punchy. You could try finding the ROM sample dumps of the sound, they maybe found online. Maybe they sound closer than a sample.

[@Limites_Invisibles]

Hello Hello ! I would like to know something: when you use one of these extensions, and you create a pattern, is that pattern saved somewhere? How do I recall this pattern when the machine is turned on again? thank you

[@gwEmbassy]

The pattern gets saved in the machine. It you go into pattern play mode you can recall it.

[@plimplomplim100]

@@gwEmbassy Thank you !!

[@maxbrank]

@@gwEmbassy I'm waiting for my 707 to arrive, So, the cartdrige is to put our patterns in another 707 ?

[@gwEmbassy]

You can do that with the cartridge. Or it also expands the number of patterns you can store on your 707.

[@thantophobe]

Hey what desoldering tool are you using ?

[@gwEmbassy]

It’s the Katsu one from Amazon

[@DOSputin]

💙 gwEm!

[@gwEmbassy]

Thanks DOS!

[@falangistavaleroso9689]

how much is it mate?

[@gwEmbassy]

I forget exactly, but it was quite affordable. You can have a look on the website I linked to in the description.

[@owenaitken4754]

707 or 606 what are your opinions

[@gwEmbassy]

707 :)

[@elektrovolt]

yes

[@kennymd2488]

I appreciate the idea, at least it keeps the look of the instrument intact, it's not an infamous mess like that committed by certain "circuit benders"... ;-) Apart from this I don't understand the reason why I should put the sounds of a Linn or a 909 into a 707, only to still have a limited version of those drum machines (no tune controls... ). If I use a 707 it's because I want the sound of a 707, if I want a Linn or a DMX I have more faithful and effective means on my DAW to emulate these machines. About the TR 808 I have no no problems, because I'm a lucky owner of the "real thing"... :-D

[@gwEmbassy]

it’s an interesting perspective. I like it because it’s fun, and a different take on the sounds

[@Fernando-cn2xb]

Why...

[@gwEmbassy]

Because it’s fun

[@markusi_wagner]

Doesn't make sense. It's a retro sample player, so nothing special then.

[@gwEmbassy]

Except it sounds good and is very fun :)