Roland TR-06 Boutique Compact Drum Machine with Modern Upgrades

*I had some more time with it, and just started using it as a midi controller for both Reason 10, and Ableton Live 9, and it worked great. It's an audio/midi interface, and transfers both over the USB which is awesome. Sequencing my DAW rhythm tracks is so much more fun on the TR-8S, you can program your drums just the same as if you were sequencing the on-board sounds, it works the exact same way. Or, if you prefer using the onboard sounds you can just send it in as audio. For ever application I have used the TR-8S it has exceeded my expectations big time! I have made quite a few purchases this year, the GAS is real, and this, plus the Novation Circuit, are the ones that blew me away. It's also aesthetically pleasing IMO.*Just got this recently, and still have a lot of features to learn, and master, and there are A LOT of features! I also have the TB-3 which works very well with this, and they sound great together. Hooking all my gear up, and getting it all synced was pretty easy.The sound quality on this is really amazing, and all the ways you have to tweak your patterns makes this a real treat to play live.My absolute favorite part of this device is all the variations you can add to each pattern, and the either auto/manual fill you can set anywhere between 2 and 32 steps. That plus shuffle can make these really come alive, and not sound repetitive or stale.The built in models of all the classic roland machines sound really incredible. I'm not the person to side by side compare them to the originals and say they're 100%, and I'm not looking for that anyways. I just love how amazing they sound. The presets are pretty awesome, and really help give a feel for what this can do, as well as, help you get started with your own patterns.This device is easy to use, very easy to tweak live, easy to get tons of variations either automated or done live, and it sounds really phenomenal! It's easy to get up, and going out of the box, but there's definitely enough features here to keep me learning for a while! It even has the ability to add flams, and you can control the gap between the flam hits! As an actual drummer that to me is a really cool feature, among many others.Don't know if this helps anyone trying to decide. But I at least wanted to let everyone know I wasn't disappointed with what I got, and actually received a bit more than I expected from it, and and I am more than happy. If that ever changes as I learn, and master the machine I will update this.

I had been looking for a drum machine for a while to help with writing music. I was going to get a simple and cheap machine with a few kits. I am so glad I didn't. Even though it is pricy, it is well worth it. There is so much customization on this machine and so many variables can be tweaked to get the sound you want.There are constant times I am listening to music online and can hear sounds I have heard on this drum machine so it's cool to know I can replicate these beats with a drum kit I can build in the machine.The first day I got it I was pretty much able to play with it right out of the box. If I had a question it was very easy to find in the user manual.The design is slick. Only con for me is it feels a little light and fragile. But I resolved that by getting a hardshell case with foam protection from Harbor freight (Apache 4800 case).What I really like is that this thing was built to be played live. Even though I bought it for writing, I know I can confidently take this gear out on a show and provide high quality sound.I work in the audio visual industry and was able to hook this gear up to some pro audio subwoofers and speakers we use for big events and the quality was amazing. Definitely a great buy!

I have nothing against using computers to produce music but the recording set-up I'm using these days is new digital gear with an old school hands on feel.Maybe just a touch of menu diving.Hence a Tascam DP-24SD rather than a laptop.The Roland TR-8S fits this catagory perfectly. It's a new school machine with an old school feel and all the great old school Roland drum kits. I purchased a TR-6S earlier in the year because I remembered how much fun 16 step sequencers were to mess around with in the late 80's-early 90's. I liked the TR-6S so much I upgraded to it's big brother. Same great sounds but now I have way more hands on control. Most importantly,though,is that I have more instrument tracks and the outputs I need to record individual drums to individual tracks on the Tascam,giving me much more control with mixing and post-production.Six dry mono outputs are perfect for keeping with an old school approach,and if I want to record wet signals I can go through the stereo outputs. And hey,my TR-6S isn't redundant because it's nice and portable. I can use it to come up with ideas that can then be moved onto the TR-8S. I'll probably even chain them together at some point,maybe have the little guy playing some basslines or something. A great piece of gear if one is going DAWless. Now that the bug has bitten I'll probably take it further and buy a true analog machine but I'm glad I got this one first.

I'm a firm believer that specific instruments and hardware can inspire an individual's writing process. For me this is one of those missing pieces I didn't know was missing.I have all the VST versions of Roland's vintage drum machines along with Ableton's ENDLESS abilities to essentially do what this device can do. Perhaps that's the problem though. It's endless... Along with too many options. Not to mention, it's on a computer screen.There's something about physical knobs and faders that aren't on a midi controller. Also I just like things that can do one (or a few) thing(s) very well. I owned the MPC1 and it didn't have the same effect on me that the TR-8S does. It's a great machine, but I found myself menu diving way more than I wanted to. Especially if I was in the metaphorical "zone" we all hope to live in.This thing will either do something for you or it won't. I can't give advice which is based on someone's individual writing and creative process. If you're more of an all in one person, maybe go for something else. But... if you're wanting a rhythm/drum machine that lets you use your hands and separates you from the computer, give this thing a shot. It's loads of fun and inspiring.