Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • TR-606 Drumatix

A cool little box! So primitive and cute! The 606 was the percussion side-kick to the TB-303. It even looks like the 303. It stores up to 32 patterns and 8 songs. The 606 allows switching between Pattern Play and Write mode while running - making the 606 the only drumcomputer in the X0X series that can be edited while performing and switching patterns. It is also possible to link up to 4 consecutive patterns in Pattern Play mode. There is only a mono audio output, however there are mods from Kenton Electronics and Analog Solutions that will add individual outputs for each drum tone.

The 606 has seven analog drum sounds which are simple, yet great! Kick, Snare, 2 toms, open hat, closed hat, cymbal, accent. The hi-hats are a very tinny electronic sound and its toms are great for soft tribal patterns. These seven sounds alone are still quite popular today, and the 606 has been used by Überzone, Cirrus, Sneaker Pimps, Download, Aphex Twin, Astral Projection, Nine Inch Nails, Mr. Oizo, Jimi Tenor, Kid 606, OMD, Moby, Freddy Fresh, Autechre, Luke Vibert, and Union Jack.

For control, the 606 can receive or transmit DINSync for synchronization with other TR and TB family instruments. There are also two trig-outs on the unit, which make it very valuable as a pattern-programmable dual-channel trigger sequencer. It's often used for this by various people (Jimi Tenor) to 'drive' other sequencers and the like.

Modifications:

Editable Drum Tones! - Analog Solutions external modification adds tuning for all drum tones, snap and decay for the snare drum, decay for the cymbals and a sweep effect for the toms.

Individual Outs! - Analog Solutions adds 5 individual outputs for cymbals, kick, snare, toms and hi-hats.

Synhouse MIDIJACK DINSYNC - Adds a MIDI jack so the 606 can be sync'd to external MIDI triggers and tempo sources.

VISITOR COMMENTS

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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.

 

Chaffe

Posted 18 days ago

Big Black definitely needs to be mentioned here

Web

Posted 45 days ago

I have a Roland TR-606. It was past down to me by my father. He was a bass player. He used the hell out of it doing the late 80's.He wrote all of his songs using that box. He was the master. After reading the comments I'm going home and learn everything I can about the TR-606

Ras David

Posted 49 days ago

The cr-8000 has programable paterns -(i Belive 8?) and is very cool,(I rocked 1 alongside a 78,808,909 & 303 for years) I tend to see the 606 and 8000 as pretty dif. sounding..the 8000 is more on the vintage cr-78 side sonicly,-real tingey.(think early depeche) the 606,more like an 808.they're both great..And if you just HAD to rock them live,you could switch back and forth for dif. songs/sections and still have a cool diverse,vintage sound.

Paul

Posted 50 days ago

@Bleurgh
kick is soft and weak? only if you don't know how to mix the sounds right. ;) and the claim that CR8000 is a more flexible/useful machine... what? you can't even program your own patterns on it!

Gavin N

Posted 119 days ago

i have one for sale . if anyone is interested please email me iikon@hotmail.co.uk

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