Roland TR-1000 Quickstart Guide
Roland’s TR-1000 is a groundbreaking drum machine that delivers powerful analog sounds with modern-day technology. In this guide, we will show you how to use the TR-1000.
This article will get you up and running, but be sure to refer to the Roland Owner’s and Reference Manuals for more information. Follow the sections below to get started.
- Calibrate the TR-1000
- TR-1000 Patterns, Songs & Projects
- How to Create a Pattern
- How to Record & Assign Samples
- Creating Songs
- Additional TR-1000 Resources
Calibrate the TR-1000
Just like many other analog synths, the circuitry of the TR-1000 can “drift” with temperature, time, and age. To ensure a smooth sound from the beginning to the end of your set, calibrate the TR-1000 occasionally — especially when you first turn it on or if you haven’t used it in a few days.
- Press the MENU button, turn the C6/VALUE knob to UTILITY, then press ENTER.
- Use the C6/VALUE knob to select CALIB and then press ENTER.
TR-1000 Patterns, Songs & Projects
Before getting started, it’s good to familiarize yourself with the TR-1000 terms and concepts. A Project stores everything including sound presets, songs, kits, and individual sounds and samples.
- A Project can contain up to 128 kits, 128 patterns, instruments, and songs. You can create up to 16 projects.
- Patterns are the beats, fills, and variations of the beats.
- Variations are a great way to lengthen the pattern and change the rhythm. This is particularly useful for spicing up hi-hat or kick patterns.
- A Song houses your patterns. You can have up to 16 patterns in a song and 16 songs in a project.
- Kits are a collection of up to 10 instruments or samples. Kits also store reverb, delay, and master effects settings. You can have 128 kits per project.
- Instruments consist of both Layer tracks and Single tracks. Layer tracks are assigned to the first four instruments (BD, SD, LT, HT), and the Single tracks are assigned to all others.
- As the name implies, layers consist of two sounds.
How to Create a Pattern
The TR-1000 has thousands(!) of user patterns available for you to work with. There are eight banks of 16 patterns, so all you need to do is choose the bank and pattern number and start creating!
- Press and hold the PTN SELECT key and then press step keys 1–8 to select a bank.
- Press any one of the 16 step keys to choose the pattern. Alternatively, use the C3/SCROLL wheel.
Step Record
If you’re familiar with drum machines, then you’ll know what step recording is. If you’re just starting out, then step recording involves manually entering each step. This is perfect for genres such as EDM in which the tempo is very precise.
- Press the instrument track you want to use then press TR-REC.
- Press the track you wish to work with (e.g., BD, SD) and then press the step buttons you want to trigger the instrument. To remove a step, press it again.
Live Record
You can also live record on the TR-1000. This is useful when you want to add a little movement to your beats.
- Press the instrument track you want to use then press INST REC.
- Start performing. To quantize your performance, hold SHIFT and press INST REC. You will see “Quantize On” on the display.
- If you’re not happy with the performance, then press and hold CLEAR while pressing the tracks you recorded.
Pattern Variations
On the left side of the TR-1000 are the A-H buttons. Those buttons are assigned to what are called Pattern Variations. There are additional patterns you can create that have different rhythms, motions, accents, etc.
- To create a new Pattern Variation, press the letter (A-H) you wish to use then build your pattern.
- Accents are unique to each pattern!
How to Record & Assign Samples
A great feature of the TR-1000 is the ability to sample external audio, whether from an instrument or directly from your computer. You can even edit samples directly from the hardware, too!
- Connect your instrument or computer to the TR-1000. If you’re sampling computer audio, then make sure the driver is installed before you connect the device!
- Press the SAMPLE button and use the C4 (Input), C5 (Length), and C6 (Trigger) to update the routing, sample length, and trigger type.
- Recording will start with the Trigger (C6) option you selected. Recording will stop when the Length (C5) parameter you set is reached.
- For example, if you set the sample Trigger for Inst Play and the Length to 4, then the recording will start as soon as you begin playing and will stop after four beats.
- Press the ENTER button when the sample editor appears, use the C3 knob to select WRITE&ASSIGN, and then press ENTER.
- Press the track button you wish to assign the sample (BD–RC), use the C3 knob to select EXECUTE, then press ENTER.
Editing Samples
After you record samples, you can fine-tune them to fit your needs.
- Hold SHIFT and press SAMPLE to open the Sample Edit screen.
- Use C1, C3, C5, and C6 to edit the sample parameters.
- Once you’re finished, press EXIT.
Layering Samples
The first four tracks (BD–RT)can have two layers, allowing for two completely different samples to be triggered simultaneously. This is great if you want a unique, powerful sound.
Simply press the A and B buttons to switch between layers and adjust the sounds as needed.
Creating Songs
Once you’ve created a few patterns, it’s time to turn those patterns into a song.
- Press the SONG button then press a Step button (1–16) to select the song.
- Press and hold SHIFT, press SONG, and then use the C4 knob to choose the pattern you wish to add.
- If you want to add a pattern variation, then use the C5 knob or press the pattern variation button (A–H).
- Use the C6 knob to choose the song playback mode.
- Repeat using the C4 (and C5) knob(s) to select patterns and C6 to choose the playback mode.
Roland TR-1000: Hybrid Analog-digital Drum Machine & More?
Additional TR-1000 Resources
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator Deep Dive
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator | Everything You Need To Know
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