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 (18)

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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.

 

Aske

Posted 5 days ago

Hey Jiver. same happened to me a while ago after i cleaned it. I thought i killed it. But then i tried to do a lot of things and at last it helped what i did was to unscrew the skrews at the bottom of the case just a bit so the wasent that tight. it helped. seems to run smooth again now :) greets from denmark! good luck!

Jiver

Posted 8 days ago

Guys, I'm following the manual instructions to the letter. But the LED only flashes above step 1. It doesn't scan across all 16 beats. Changing the last step doesn't do anything. It just flashes on step 1. The tempo knob seems to work. Also I can preview the sounds using the TAP button. But I can't make a pattern! So close to using this beast. Yet so far. Any advice would be a godsend.

sequentialsoftshock

Posted 19 days ago

jiver- it sounds like your machine is working fine if it turns on; you probably just need to go into pattern write mode, press start, and then hold down function and step 16 or whatever number you want to end your pattern on.

Aske

Posted 45 days ago

jiver@ You will need to switch the input/output to output.. then it should work again. I also have 1. great machine, a bit old, but with a good hand and some magic it should all work. greetz from denmark ;)

jiver

Posted 54 days ago

i got a 2nd hand tr606 recently.
unfortunately, i opened the battery compartment to find old batteries looking up at me! don't know if they leaked. but the tr606 doesn't seem to work.
when i set up to begin the step sequencing the red light just flashes on position 1. it doesn't scan across all the beats as the manual says it should. apparently other people have had this same problem and have been unable to find a solution.
so i thought i would post here in the hope of some wisdom.

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