Roland TR-09 Drum Machine In Depth Review

Leonard from Kosmic Sound takes you on a tour of the TR-09 Drum Machine.
Buy online from Kosmic here: www.kosmic.com...
0:29 A little bit of history
0:54 The tech inside
1:14 Comparison to the TR-8
1:55 Front controls
2:50 Back of the unit
3:32 Upgrades from the TR-909
4:10 Let's play something
5:39 Pattern demo
5:55 New built-in compressor
6:30 Instrument sounds
8:24 Comparison to TR-8
9:09 Tuning instruments
9:56 Delay on the ride
10:35 Sequencing a pattern
12:50 Sequencing - Dynamic in the steps
13:33 Sequencing - Controlling the hihat
14:43 Sequencing - Changing pitch
15:57 Sequencing - Bass lines with toms
18:05 Sequencing - Creating a build up
19:58 Crash cymbal
20:48 Controlling shuffle
21:20 Flam
22:15 Alternate ways to enter a pattern
23:14 Copying one pattern to another
24:52 Cycling and grouping patterns
25:11 Creating a track
27:00 Total Accent control
27:49 Computer integration with the TR-09
29:57 Built-in stand

[@djthomaswhite]

Seriously, best review of this out of the gate. Thanks for making this about the sound and having someone who knows the real 909 do this review. I watched 10 reviews out there the minute they were allowed to be released and all focused on the color being right, etc. great job guys!

[@RaggaMatik]

from the site: Via its USB port, the TR-09 also functions as a high-quality audio interface, providing a simple and reliable way of recording directly to your DAW application. You can even send individual drums to separate channels, thanks to the TR-09’s four discrete outputs over USB. Saving your favorite settings and sequencer patterns is easy too via the USB data backup function

[@MerlinoLive]

Dude! your reviews are not only in Depth, are f*king GREAT! Thanks

[@mattsynth]

The separate outputs thru USB is wonderful. This way you can add effects to each separate instrument. Great 909 sound but still a little difficult to program as like on the original. Great job Roland on recreating a classic.

[@SPAZZOID100]

That feature is SOFTWARE based, rendering it temporary at best.

[@Goldensk8t]

Big Help on refreshing my memory of how the sequence works. Im now up and running with it. Thank you for the tutorial Leonard. Those who are pondering to purchase, the TR-09 is worth what there asking.

[@raymcpherson6772]

Thanks for this; lots of stuff Roland don't make clear in the - ridiculously non-helpful instruction manual. You are a star. Ta ta.

[@1BorisRoss]

Best in depth tutorial for the TR-09 so far !

[@minimal-j6011]

Excited about mine! (18 hours to go) What matters to me is...the way it swings and how I can take it on the go. If I need separate outs, I will just record my hi / lows on different tracks later. What I care about is the IDEA first.

[@mak533]

get this guy a glass of water

[@somedood6621]

or at least a DeEsser.

[@sladefx]

LOL

[@marcelmarkus6969]

InstaBlaster...

[@VisionQuestSound]

Leonard thank you for all your inspiring and intuitive reviews and demos. Have learned a lot.

[@umdesch4]

Thank you! As an owner of an original TR-909 for much of the 80s, I needed to see this to get a sense of this thing. I've decided I need to check it out, thanks to you!

[@elissitdesign]

I love the look and size of the new Roland Boutique TB-03 and TR-09. I'm sorry but you idiots that say it sounds bad are absolutely, without a doubt lame. Roland went through extensive work at bringing a product that's insanely close to the originals. I see tons of sour people commenting on how the products don't sound good... which is bullshit. You cannot tell over a compressed h264 video found on KZbin, if you want to get technical. Not to mention most songs go through extensive post work if you compare to any 80-90's mixdown you've heard. It's just silly to bash the product--end of story. I'm happy with my purchases on the new Roland hardware.

[@JoShMILLerLIKesMEn]

I agree completely the whole point is that they are "boutique" the small size makes it great to throw in your bag and break it out during a lunch break etc.

[@JoShMILLerLIKesMEn]

If I wanted to get hella technical Id just use a simulated 909 in Ableton made with max and a shit ton of versatile controls assigned to it.

[@marceloribeirosimoes8959]

Eric, please, get a real TR-909 and use the individual outputs. After that you'll see the difference...

[@15svehlaw1]

they sound incredibly different but both amazing

[@antfactor]

"incredibly different"? please.

[@platinumedgemusic9293]

I've owned 2 909s. I currently own a great collection of TR909 sample packs/NI Maschine, Logic/Drumazon/R8 cards...etc, including the samples I made myself,before I sold my 808 and 909. Also, I've owned a Aira tr-8, there were multible things I didn't like about it. I sold it after 4 months. I've watched and read every review I could find on the new tr-09 and it sounds INCREDIBLE❗️For the size, functionally, style, price point, and yes the SOUND....I say Hell Yea, and why not❗️ Pre ordered mine last Friday.

[@Dogboy73]

I don't why but I'm completely infuriated by the DJ style playing of this guy. You know that IDM DJ thing - Jumping from left to right hand on the same control & dabbing the knobs as if they are made of molten metal!!! Aarggghhhhh! I hate that shit!!!! Drives me nuts!

[@wariusgaius]

I thought I was the only prick who got wound up by that petty stuff.

[@Dogboy73]

+Warius Gaius No. We are many.

[@vivalagaita4769]

Me too. This guy is a Kosmic Klown!!!!!!!!

[@vivalagaita4769]

Listen to that beautiful pattern playing when he starts panicking since the machine is out of control!!!!

[@MrRoskoPeko]

Yeah cracked me up too!

[@Diskoboy1974]

I bought this and a JP-08 two days ago. I'm having so much fun jamming with these things. Next purchase will either be the JU-06 or the TB-03. My one and only complaint about Roland's boutique line is they need to make cases for transporting them. I'm not too keen on the idea of loading my bag full of these little things.

[@guywilkinson]

I think Roland have done great service by recreating this machine. if they made a true analogue 909 again it would be pretty expensive. I have a tr8, love it but would have bought this instead because less is more for me.

[@8lorko8]

'' if they made a true analogue 909 again it would be pretty expensive '' funny the way people justified this junk years ago, behringer sure puts roland to shame now.

[@alternatingbitmusic]

Jeff Mills mention at 13:50 - yesss!

[@Rachelnymetal]

super cool. I already have the TR 08 but I still want this. Retro

[@silverfiltersoundlab]

Brilliant review and tutorial! Thank you for taking the time to do a proper and detailed one 👌🏼

[@fraser145]

These reviews are just spiffing!, really clear and in depth. I'm sold on the 09 and 03. I think I shall purchase.

[@maccagrabme]

The sound doesn't have to be analogue at this price point and individual outs aren't essential. However it would have been great if Roland catered for the wider market and made a pure analogue version for professionals and diehards as the demand is there. I have a Tr8 yet I would still buy a brand new analogue 909 or 808 from Roland.

[@Tazmanian_Ninja]

Playing with this in a shop, I'll say this: The sound is very close to a real 909. Any difference there is, isn't of importance. Lots of early techno and house records were recorded with a slightly overdriven input gain on the analog mixer, which certainly gives it an extra something. That's something you can do with the TR-09 as well. To do it in-the-box, get Waves' NLS plugin, and use the "Mike" mixer, emulating an old EMI console. It sounds amazing. Source: I used to make music with a guy who had lots of the analog originals, incl. the 909. He lived 3 doors down the hall, so I practically lived with that 909 (and his many scorpions! 🙀) Why I didn't buy this (I intended to! It's why I went to the shop today) is the small, cramped knobs. I'd buy this for the tweakability. Even with my small hands, I couldn't rotate the knobs without touching the surrounding knobs too. The TR-08 is slightly better in that regard. And it's easier to program than the TR-09. 808 has just never been my cup of tea. What a one-dimensional kick, awfully metallic hats, etc. The Aira (TR-8) ... that box... So cheesy.

[@TheBlashMusic]

7:35 He didn't even twist a knob hahaha

[@emori96]

lmao

[@thelifeproductions1]

Great Review! Thanks for positing this.

[@Zelamir]

Hi Leonard, in the video the instruments seem to be panned left and right, but as far as I know the TR 09 doesn't have any Pan regulation, or at least I can't find anything about it in the manual. So how did you pan the sounds? Thanks.

[@norakat]

The people complaining about no individual outs probably didn't watch the video to the end. You can somehow route digital audio into your DAW with 4 individual outs and route the individual sounds to whatever output you want. If that works well that would be pretty incredible.

[@d4funky1]

Fantastic review. Can I ask does it just have stereo outs to the DAW or could you have had 8 mono outs therefore more control on each individual instrument? Thanks again

[@TH3_FURY]

Hey !! What do you think between this TR09 Roland and the TR909 of the TR08 Roland aira ! What instrument is the most powerful technically and about the sound ! sorry for my bad english ! Thanks for your answer!!

[@krishna34674]

why the fk is the trigger out jack on the front panel ....

[@geluix69]

yes, kinda of a strange place to put it.

[@LandonBalk]

Roland, you're killing me with those mini jacks.

[@AnalogMonoxide]

What happens at 17:40-ish when you turn up the ride? It goes out of sync? Or is this a problem with the recording?

[@Dogboy73]

Yeah that sounded a bit odd. I actually thought it sounded pretty good. But it sounded like it was broken ..... In a good but completely unintentional way.

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

The toms seemed to be flamming (I'll pretend that's a word), or something. A recording issue seems plausible, because he didn't activate the flam feature for the toms.

[@bogelmanDDD]

Very similar to drumaxx from FL studio. What do you think looks like?

[@uperez1203]

I know ppl are upset about the hardware outs, but since they're assigned to midi channels couldn't you plug it into a midi device with hardware outs, or something similar, to produce a similar effect? Say I have a Tr-707 and hook up the Tr-09 to it. Then I map all the Tr-09 channels to the 707s and use the hardware outs of the 707 to control both of them? Is that feasible?

[@RecMirage]

Didn't demo the trigger out. Wonder if the will include muting tracks later on for live use.

[@soundadapter]

a great drum machine adjustment possibilities for the super sound engineer Have a nice weekend greeting Frank

[@brhodes0]

great review! the separate usb outs is a logical way to do it, as long as it is stable. The programming is authentic, and the sounds (through youtube admittedly) are good. I had a 909 for many years which I lost to an epic tax bill. A few things come to mind - first - the tr8 is very good and close but on my tr8, the 909 closed hi is just...wrong. It is ok at short decay settings but with the decay higher up you don't get that metallic 'clatter' (Jeff Mills style as you say!!). So I hope this gets that flavour. You mention that these sounds were sample based but due to technical limitations at the time, I believe they are 12 bit samples and this coupled with the probably not mega quality dacs of the time give rise to that beautiful hi hat character. Secondly, some of the character of a 909 comes from small variations in tempo arising from the fact that the tempo was set by a resistor and also that the clock-speed of the CPU was tiny by today's standards. So when a pattern is running, for each step the CPU 'scans' each instrument to see if it should play on that step. I believe (someone can correct me) that it does this with the bass drum first, then the snare then I think the hats etc. This means that sounds 'hit' fractionally off the grid - consider that this varies minutely bar to bar - you get some idea of why a 909 is described as 'alive' by users. Thirdly, the way tom flamming works on an original 909 is...odd. On the original, if you write a tom flam, and look at the waveform you see that the flammed hit is actually the normal tom hit but missing the 'attack' portion. It's a big part of the sound, the tr8 doesn't do it - if Roland have TRULY modeled every component on the circuitboard then this machine should do this. Lastly - and this might be hard to demonstrate on a youtube video due to compression - does this new machine accurately reproduce the 'third' sound that you get when you write a clap and a snare on the same step - it is a 'whooshing' noise that is very distinctive because the clap and snare derive from the same noise source. The detroit techno guys know all about this!!! Again if it is a true circuit board model it will be there - the TR8 does at least have this sound. If you run a 909 pattern through the single main out, you get a lovely hardware compression and it is nice that they have tried to model this. Does it force Logic to 96.000 by the way - because the TR8 does and it is a nuisance!! all the best Bri

[@TheLucaCrash]

Hi.. i bought my tr-09 but i don't know how to set my patterns on ableton.. where i can read or see something about the integration with ableton?

[@dsmartwave3335]

Hi great video, can you give me the background music name ? thank you

[@medievalsessions]

So did they just put the tr-8 in a different case and call it a day?

[@fededj2002]

Thank you very much amte, I was going crazy trying to get it my own ahah. Cheers!

[@peter6602]

Thanks for the nice and detailed review. Question, can you use the edit/tune parameter to tune the actual bassdrum oscilator, too? because you can't do that in the tr-8. That would be a big plus.

[@peter6602]

Hey Leonard, do you know this? Or could you have a look? :D That would be awesome!

[@nbuehster]

There needs to be special holidays for producers/DJs. In this case, it would be September 9th.

[@angusbeeby5391]

Question about the Trigger Out: Will it trigger the arpeggio on old pre-MIDI synths? (i.e Korg Polysix)

[@ronlaboa1]

why dont they just make the 909 808 303 and all their synths again i know it would be expensive but they would sell.

[@savanaviolenta]

They don't have anymore engineers that design analog synths.

[@Darthtribe]

does it have AIRA Link support?

[@marctronixx]

Does Jeff Mills give his endorsement...? :)

[@MobySlick]

I have never worked with machines like this but i would like to get into the matter so i really have to ask this maybe silly question: Is it possible to create a pattern that for example starts with a 4/4 beat which then turns into a 6/8 beat and then into a 3/4 and so on? Is it possible to programm a pattern like these into that machine and then plays in a row without switching settings?

[@Wijnfles]

ive got a jomox xbase 999 and i'm always surprised by the sound of a tr09... is this normal?

[@jaggass]

Does it use any of the original circuitry?

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Thanks for the awesome video. I just bought the TR-909 off eBay after listening to all the hype about this little guy coming out. I'll probably get this as well. It's just so awesome, cute, and portable. I love it. I'm going to use this video to learn how to use the TR-09. I appreciate it. It seems to be very similar to the TR-909 though, so it shouldn't be too hard. Take care and have a wonderful 909 day. :)

[@Madrrrrrrrrrrr]

Yep! Mini keys! Now all the hipsters have to go to finger fitness too. Love this machine!

[@AlavonMajor]

Any word of multichannel audio output over usb for tracking purposes?...

[@lardosian]

This sounds very nice. Not too impressed with the 303 boutique but would defo buy this and the D05.

[@drum4life42]

Great review. Just wondering, how many different patterns can you have per track?

[@adekoyote]

is there a way to get the usb separate output assignment without a computer?

[@Dougie-]

So which mixer accepts usb audio in? Not having individual outs is such a bad choice. "Hook it up to a computer to get 4 additional outputs". But that is the whole point, i dont want to use the computer..

[@dan-alexandrumancas590]

yeah, this isn't of any help if you don't want the computer...

[@Dougie-]

Nope :(. So I think I'll rather go for used Drumstation and Beatstep pro. Much more for less.

[@jimmywheelo]

looks and sounds fantastic.

[@scottvan-cy9rp]

What video do i need to see on the difference between tr8. Not interested in the sound. Just game play. Please

[@Metroplex313]

how does he putt the patterns together in track write mode? he doesnt explained that.

[@MFPRODUCTIONSCHANNEL]

At 18:33 what are you doing? You are touching the SAME control knob like 8 times with two hands, and don't move it at all. This is what DJs do to fake that they are actually playing a song live. You are meant to be demonstrating a product here, not putting on a show. No need for fakery. Just show the product, thats it.

[@shawnshipstad739]

I agree read my response above. I think you may agree.

[@otocyondamour5990]

...And the patterns sound shit.

[@osands]

Does it also have CC limitations like the other boutiques?

[@ccfunk1]

Nice. can you store your own patterns on it? real time write?

[@TheBugmike]

hello Kosmic, thank you for the video. I'm having trouble sending the TR-09 sound through logic. When I setup external instrument i don't see Tr09, but the computer recognizes it in sound preferences. Please help.

[@TheBugmike]

How do you get the tr-09 to appear under 'Midi Destination'?

[@TheNanologue]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@TrinityAngels]

This is the best tutorial ever on the TR-09, way better overview/structure, compared to the owners manual which is quite a mess.

[@NeoLudditevisons]

Oh an is there panning too?

[@DeathByDinSync]

yeah, would like to know about panning as well!

[@NeoLudditevisons]

it says stereo out for main output. So thinking, like the hidden gain, tune, decay.... there is panning :)

[@thankgodforatheists4473]

Around 7:30 when the toms are demonstrated, I can clearly hear some stereo field with the low toms left and the high toms right, whether these are fixed positions or can be controlled with a hidden function is unclear, the manual and the internet don't reveal anything about it...yet.

[@bengineer_the]

It would be really nice if Roland updated the firmware to allow the trigger out to be midi sequenced. Please assign a midi note to that bad boy, when hooked to the tb-03 it's insane!

[@TheRadChannel]

Will there be a TR-08?

[@savanaviolenta]

First Roland needs to discontinue TR8

[@junahn3935]

could anyone explain how to make usb 4 parallel out? I don't understand how to route audio and midi channels in another DAW from 27:49

[@iguisard]

where can I buy one of these? I do like to get my hands on this.

[@mrelevenerxi]

can u record knob movements automation with this ? or tr8 ?

[@marcio_souza007]

Great video! Thank you very much.

[@SophielazarMusic]

is this and the tr 03 going to work in the USB ins of my MX-1 that i already have? googling...

[@DeathByDinSync]

Great demo... Thanks!

[@TheSnurr]

can you put diffrent step lenghts on diffrent tracks?

[@davidpicarazzi]

Do I need anything extra to get this going in Ableton or I simply plug it into my computer and it’ll be on time with Abletons bpm?

[@BoomBubbleBustRepeat]

GREAT REVIEW! Really helped me get up and running and more fully use this! Thank you Kosmic!

[@KUPHSER]

always wanted a classic 909, but settled for the tr8 couple years ago. i cant see this being any better than the tr8. i was hoping they would re release the original analogue 909 machine. i would've paid top dollar for one no questions asked. what a let down

[@KUPHSER]

+MrTrollinglol i just wrote what i expected..

[@ramoniak6]

The TR-8 is actually 50€ difference in Europe. I wanted to buy the tr-09 first until I noticed that I can get the tr-8 for the same price.

[@KUPHSER]

and the tr8 is a much better decision.

[@reason2910]

get the Nova Clone

[@maccagrabme]

I agree, I have the Tr8 too and its a great device, good sound but if Roland released an analogue version I'd buy it instantly . I think they have done a brilliant job of the emulations but still hear a fuller tone with the originals and clones.

[@JEANBRUCEnocturbulous]

Separate outputs ?

[@everpuremusic]

Not with audio jacks. Only via USB audio.

[@zacm9174]

Wonder when someone's going to come up wit a hack?

[@housemusic4456]

does it come with any software integration?

[@chrisdominick7598]

Can you pan the sounds? I want my hi hats in one output but I'd like to separate them via pan

[@savanaviolenta]

Yes

[@t0sh400]

I currently see the TR-08 here for 449 while the TR-8 is 499,- .... hmmmm. Should i wait for a price drop?

[@NeoLudditevisons]

Can you mute instruments ??

[@fluxsta]

Love mine. Fantastic intro video

[@fighterzbt23]

I'd like a TR-08 too, that'd be cool

[@turquoisecapricorn]

Robert Armani in the house!! ;-) Great demo! Thank you!! greetz

[@RaggaMatik]

Does it have USB audio out? Maybe the single channels?

[@oliverlopezofficial]

Roland says that it has a 4-channel audio interface: ,,You can even send individual drums to separate channels, thanks to the TR-09’s four discrete outputs over USB."

[@RaggaMatik]

+DJ OLF thanks

[@lk0707]

Very nice review. Thanks.

[@officialsimonharris]

is it made of plastic or metal?

[@OcarinaKid7]

If it's anything like the JU-06(I don't own any of the others), it's aluminum on the front and plastic on the back.

[@djbrucelee_barcelona]

how the OH DECAY works?

[@riamiwovideos]

my favorite drummachine! :)

[@gendermind]

can the TR-09 store beats?

[@djRoyalTee]

Leonard, We got scared the reviews would suck because you cut your hair...glad we were wrong. Nice Rev!!

[@Snoosnan]

So useful, thank you!

[@djkoopz]

How do I clear patterns?

[@phatzdom]

great review, thanks!

[@housemusic4456]

dayum leonard. ill be in soon to pick one of these up;-) im so lucky i live 5 minutes away:)

[@FelippeSenne]

Great tutorial!

[@freejazzbone]

Great workshop. I just purchase one !

[@klauzsynth9939]

I learn a lot, thank you.