Roland’s TR-1000 is its first analog drum machine in over 40 years

Roland has largely decided sit out the analog synth renaissance of the last decade. But it’s (belatedly) making amends for that error with the launch of the TR-1000 Rhythm Generator. Unlike previous instruments that tried to cash in on Roland’s long legacy through digital technologies like its Zen-Core engine, Analogue Circuit Behavior (ACB) modeling, and Roland Cloud subscription service, the TR-1000 embraces the true analog sound of iconic Roland machines like the TR-808 and TR-909,

Unlike other TR instruments from Roland over the last several years that simply invoke the branding, the TR-1000 actually recreates 16 analog sound circuits from the 808 and the 909 while adding plenty of modern sound-shaping and sequencing conveniences. It pairs those authentic analog voices with digital ACB sound, FM percussion, PCM samples, and more. The TR-1000 even has extensive sampling tools for time stretching loops and chopping up drum breaks. In short, if there is a way to make a percussive sound, Roland has crammed it into this very serious looking (and very expensive) gray box.

Roland decided to lean even further into the analog world here, by including a stereo analog filter and drive section for adding grit and creating buildups. There are also a ton of knobs, buttons, and faders on the front that suggest made the TR-1000 will require less diving through arcane menus than your typical modern Roland instrument. While it does have some performance-friendly features, its substantial bulk seems best suited to a desk in a recording studio.

All of these luxuries will set you back quite a bit — $2,699.99 to be exact, which means the TR-1000 isn’t for casual hobbyists. Still, that’s about half of what a functioning TR-808 or TR-909 will cost you on the vintage market so, maybe the TR-1000 is actually a bargain?