Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer

Roland TR-707 Image

A very underrated drum machine! It resembles the popular TR-909, and better yet, its hi-hat, cymbals, and clap sound almost identical to the TR-909! The TR-707 is a great source for cheap 909 samples. It has some other cool features too such as its Matrix display which clearly maps out your pattern for you in an easy to read display panel. It also features both MIDI in/out and DIN sync control - the best of both worlds. Why this unit even has individual outputs for each of its drum tones!

For programming, it features a shuffle and flam effect and its programming abilities are very impressive. But it does have its limitations, the only adjustment you can make to each drum tone is volume. And all of its other drum tones are boring (especially ride, kick and snare). It's used by Aphex Twin, Laurent Garnier, Squarepusher, Luke Vibert, Freddy Fresh, Phil Collins, Marshall Jefferson and Plastikman.

72 Visitor comments
me_Human
September 10, 2008 @ 11:50 am
TR-707, AWOSME DRUM MACHINE FOR EVERY USE! PICKED ONE UP FOR DIRT CHEAP, THE GUY DIDNT KNOW WHAT IT WAS, SCORED!!!!! TONES ARE GREAT, BUT COULD USE ALITTLE MORE BASS IN THE BASS DRUM BUT OTHER THAN THAT GREAT!!!!!! ONLY DOWN FALL, CANT EDIT DRUM TONES..... OR CAN U?
Paco deBongo (a 707 rockin freq)
August 29, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
The 707 is one of the most useful tr-xox's behind the 909 and 808...Though untweakable, the sounds are pure jackin (not quite rz-1 jackin, but close)..think early acid house. Being familiar with the kit, I'm surprised how often I hear it all over recordings, both commercial and underground. "I need you tonight" by INXS might be one of my favorites...

You really can't go wrong with this box, at the very least it can always be used as a link to midi and din instrument sync (though it has to be the master clock.

707 is the bomb! and I broke the 707 comments cherry....hahahahaha
 
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  • Demos & Media
  • YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 1
    - Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer

    Manual - Roland has made manuals for most of their products available as free PDF downloads.

  • Specifications
  • Effects - Shuffle / Flam
  • Oscillators - Sample Playback/Acoustic Simulation. Drum sounds are 8-bit, Crash & Ride are 6-bit.
  • Tones - 15 sampled sounds (kick1, kick2, snare1, snare2, low tom, mid tom, high tom, rim shot, cow bell, hand clap, Tambourine, open/closed high hat, crash/ride cymbals)
  • Patterns - 64
  • Songs - 4
  • Arpeg/Seq - Sequencer
  • Keyboard - none
  • Control - MIDI IN/OUT & DIN SYNC IN/OUT & TRIG OUT (outputs Rimshot sound as trigger)
  • Date Produced - 1985

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