Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator: The First Analog TR in 40 Years

Roland has just unveiled the TR-1000 Rhythm Creator, marking a historic moment for the company. This is their first drum machine with genuine analog circuitry in over four decades, bringing together the warmth of classic hardware with modern production tools.

Analog Meets Digital

At the heart of the TR-1000 sits 16 analog tones built from faithful recreations of the legendary TR-808 and TR-909 circuits. Roland has carefully selected modern components to match the original designs, ensuring that authentic punch and character that defined countless records.

But Roland hasn't stopped at pure analog. The TR-1000 also features digital sound engines using their ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) technology, adding 75 tones to the palette. You'll find 21 circuit-bent versions of classic 808 and 909 sounds, plus FM and PCM. This hybrid approach gives you access to 2,000+ preloaded samples, with room for 46 GB of your own sounds in the onboard 64 GB memory.

Built for Modern Workflow

The sequencer offers 4 layer tracks and 6 single tracks, with 16 steps per variation and 8 variations per pattern. You get advanced features like off-grid control, motion recording, step probability, and track direction settings. Fill-in patterns and a comprehensive song mode round out the sequencing capabilities.

For processing, there's an analog state-variable filter and analog drive, alongside 17 instrument effects, multiple reverb and delay types, and 14 master effects. The morph slider and snapshot functionality give you real-time performance control.

Connectivity That Matters

One of the standout features is the extensive connectivity. The TR-1000 includes 10 configurable trigger/output jacks, letting you route individual sounds to separate outputs or send triggers to other gear. There are dedicated analog effects outputs, stereo/mono inputs for sampling, and trigger/CV inputs for modular integration.

You also get MIDI I/O, DIN sync, and USB-C for audio and MIDI interfacing with your computer. The machine can act as a hub in both hardware and software setups.

The Details

The TR-1000 is housed in a solid metal chassis measuring approximately 19 inches wide by 12 inches deep and weighing 5.5 kg (12 lbs). The build quality reflects its flagship status in Roland's lineup.

The stereo sampling and resampling capabilities include BPM sync, time-stretching, and non-destructive slice editing. With a 48 kHz sample rate and up to 16 minutes per sample, you have serious sampling power on tap.

Storage is generous too: 2,048 user drum kits and 2,048 user patterns, organized across 16 projects. This gives you plenty of room to build libraries and organize your work.

The TR-1000 Rhythm Creator represents Roland's commitment to both honoring their heritage and pushing drum machine design forward. By bringing back true analog circuits while adding modern sampling and digital engines, they've created an instrument that bridges classic and contemporary production styles.

Of course, at $2,699, the TR-1000 doesn't come cheap, and some producers have already voiced concerns about the pricing. Whether this flagship machine will find its place in studios worldwide or remain a niche tool for dedicated enthusiasts remains to be seen. Time will tell if the combination of analog warmth and digital flexibility justifies the investment.