(click to enlarge)

The TR-626 is sort of an upgraded digital version of the classic TR-606 and TR-505 Rhythm Composers. This beat-box is still simple but has a few good points that come from its legendary ancestors - the TR-909 and TR-808. Its sounds are pretty drab, they are 12 bit low-quality samples of the most boring acoustic drum sounds around. Fortunately the sounds can be individually tuned and mixed and there are 8 individual outputs for the basic sounds as well as a stereo out. Its sequencer is very basic, coming with 48 preset patterns and 48 user patterns. But it has a simple matrix display similar to that on the TR-505, clearly displaying the current pattern in a graphical layout. The 626 also featured very good MIDI implementation for it's time. It has been used by Vangelis and Jimmy Edgar.

27 VISITOR COMMENTS

JUKE179r

April 25, 2012 @ 5:59 pm

I just won a broken TR-626 off of ebay for $25!!! Hopefully it will be a quick fix to get it back up and running.
I bought it mainly to compliment my TR-808 & TR-909. And yes... I am bragging! lol

drummchimp

April 23, 2012 @ 2:11 pm

if i'm not mistaken, all the sampled sounds on this machine later turned up in the Boss DR550 with a bunch of new ones to boot (64 in total). the only sound editing on that machine is the 'timbre' control (7 settings i think) which is like a crappy filter effect and decay which doesn't really spice things up much either.
also there's only stereo outs, but they're cheap as chips on ebay!

fortunato

April 23, 2012 @ 12:10 pm

@sheba, you can get the manual here:
http://soundprogramming.net/manuals/drum/Roland_TR-626_ Manual.pdf

Sheba

March 17, 2012 @ 12:37 am

Matt...I have the 626....I can capture a photo of the sticker on the yop of the unit and email it to you. you will be able to read it clearly. It has all the pre-sets listed for banks a-b-c.

I have lost my manual and i need to write a rythm and I cannot remember how to do it. Anyone got a manual or link to where i can download. Need asap.

Fender1000

November 26, 2011 @ 3:00 am

You know the thing about musical equipment. Its often timing. If this had come out BEFORE the 505 nobody would be talking about the 505 because this is miles better. It has a punchy bassdrum and great gated snare. If you eq and process it right it will sound very impressive with a good electro bassline under it. Its great for electro and freestyle music with the latin samples too.

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