Roland TR-505

The Roland TR-505 is a budget drum machine and MIDI sequencer from the same family as the Roland TR-909, TR-707, and TR-808. Released in 1986, the unit can be used to sequence short, punchy, 12-bit samples. The drum kit includes basic rock drum sounds similar to those of the 707, plus a complement of Latin-style drum sounds similar to those of the TR-727, which was similar to the TR-707 but with Latin instruments instead of rock drums:

* Bass drum
* Snare drum
* Low tom
* Mid tom
* High tom
* Low Cowbell
* High Cowbell
* Low Conga
* High Conga
* Timbale
* Rimshot
* Handclap (Rimshot and handclap cannot be used simultaneously)
* Hi-hat (open or closed, but not at the same time)
* Cymbal (ride or crash, but not at the same time)

The TR-505 features five basic modes, including the following:

* Track Play - plays whole tracks (arrangements of patterns to form "songs")
* Track Write - sequence patterns into tracks
* Step Write - sequence patterns by stepping through each position in the pattern
* Tap Write - sequence patterns by tapping drums sounds in real time

Also, the unit can be played in real time by tapping the pads.

Interesting time signatures can be programmed by changing the length of patterns and the scale, which actually refers to the signature ratio/swing. The unit handles MIDI quite capably. Each instrument can be assigned a level/velocity from one to five, a MIDI channel, and a MIDI note number. Individual pads also transmit MIDI data when tapped, although these aren't velocity sensitive. An 'accent' can be applied to any position in a pattern and will affect all instruments triggered at that position by increasing their volume. The memory in the TR-505 can store up to 48 patterns in 6 songs.

External links

* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/rolandtr505/?yguid=52214409 TR-505 yahoogroup]
* [http://burnkit2600.com/gear/?p=16 Burnkit2600] - Circuit bending and modding the TR-505