Conference napalm::commusic_v1

79.0. "Roland TR707 Drum Machine" by KATADN::BOTTOM () Mon Apr 08 1985 18:20

Well I finally got my TR-707. WOW! This machine is real nice. A brief 
rundown follows. 
 The TR-707 has 12 voices:
   2 Bass drum		cowbell
   2 Snare drum		handclap
   hi tom		tambourine
   mid tom 		2 closed hi-hat
   lo tom		open hi-hat
   rimshot		crash
   ride
 Each voice except for the rimshot/cowbell and the handclap/tambourine are
individually mixable into either a mono, a stereo or individual outputs to
be mixed on a different mixer. The rimshot and handclap share the same 
fader for mixing ie:rim/cow = 1 fader and the hand/tam = 1 fader. the outputs
for these pairs are shared also.
 The voices are digitally generated but I'm not sure what sample method(s)
are used. The sound is very good. 
 Triggering for external devices (synths etc) is done off the rimshot signal
and the trigger has a separate output, uses a 1/8" plug. Programs may be saved
using tape (1/8") there is a save and load jack. These jacks are also used for
sync out and in. At this time I'm not sure what the functionality of that is.
There are three MIDI din connectors. MIDI in, MIDI out and SYNC. Additional
memory is available in plug in cartridge (approx $75, Wurlitzer does not have
these yet).
 The program display is the same LCD type arrangement that was used on some of 
Rolands cheaper units such as the DR-110 etc. It works ok. 
 Programming can be done in two ways. Step mode : you select a bank (there are
four banks A thru D, each has 16 16 beat measures) and then manually plug in
each voice as you want it and where. The number of beats in each measure is
programmable and not limited to a choice of just 12 or 16 any number between
0 and 16 is acceptable. During the step write time you can change each beat
by simply selecting that voice at that time or deselecting it. Each beat has
a button to push to make the selected voice play at that time. Or you can Tap
Write: Star the clock and play the voices in in real time.  A nice feature of 
the unit is that you can chain measures together so that if you need a 32 beat
measure to get the intricacies of your beat in you can do it. You can chain
all 16 measures in that bank together if you like. 
 After you get the measures together you can then program a track, ie a song
so you get a number of measures in to get a whole song. There is a whole 
variety of edit functions that go with this but I'm still learning them.
The song will play from start to finish and then stop. 
 In the step write or pattern play mode the number of beats per minute is
displayed in the LCD.
 I just picked the unit up this Saturday and I'm very pleased. It comes with
a rom based demo program in it, you can write over the demo and recover it at
a later date if you like. 

 What I don't like: 1: the cymbals should have a programmable decay (nice but 
   not necessary)

    2: The accent is very exaggerated on the crash cymbal but manageable.


price: $560.00

availability: to my knowledge limited I waited since January for mine to come 
              in on special order.




PS: it also has a headphone output and a start/stop jack for footswitches.

                                             *db*