Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • TR-505 Rhythm Composer

A cheap (budget) drum machine. It features 16 drum tones which unfortunately, are only mediocre samples. Its memory contains 48 patterns and 6 songs. Unlike its TR cousins it does not have individual drum tone outputs. There is no drum tone editing capability either. It does however feature extensive MIDI implementation, even the pads will transmit MIDI data. The 505 works well with a computer and sequencer or as a stand alone drum machine. It is extremely basic and unexciting but does make a good starter or play-along drum machine. Vince Clarke and Aphex Twin has used the 505.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

john

Posted 15 days ago

i bought my tr 505 in 86 and have used it for years, mainly for self practise between band practises and it has always worked very well. not the greatest sound , but never let me down.

danny

Posted 18 days ago

If your looking for realistic sounds, this isn't the drum machine for you.
But, If your into acid house/Detroit, this is something to look into.

The Rim, Cls/Oh hihat, and crash cymbal sound like a 707.
The congas sound similar to that of a 727 only a little less primitive. They're my absolute favorite instrument on the 505 and they get constant use.

The sample on this page doesn't do the 505 justice.

A-Falcon

Posted 48 days ago

My dad bought one new in the mid 80's...it sounded bad then and it sounds bad now. I learned as a child to programme beats though so it's in my heart. But this drum machine sounds so incredibly awfull there are not words to describe it. I could bang on my garbage pail and make drum samples that sound better.

Bosques de mi Mente

Posted 49 days ago

I citcuit-bent mine and the sounds are really cool and weird! They are cheap, easy to find and easy to bend, so I think other comments are not taking into account the potential of this little machine... I am glad I got mine.

KitKat

Posted 52 days ago

The sounds aren't that bad I was expecting worse.

It's limited yes, but not unusable.

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