History of the Roland TR-909

Looking back at the music industry’s synthesized drum machines, the Roland TR-909 is a serious standout. As the successor to the company’s coveted TR-808 model, this historic machine conquered a range of genres, from techno to hip-hop and everywhere in between — a feat that its predecessor couldn’t match. Fast-forward four decades, and the TR-909 remains a household name among contemporary artists. So, what made this rhythmic beast so special? The answer lies ahead; in honor of 909 Day, we’re exploring the rich history of one of Roland‘s most sought-after analog instruments.

Sound in MotionFirst in Line: The Roland TR-808The Roland TR-909: A Techno & Electro SuperheroHistory Through SoundHarness the Spirit of the 909

Sound in Motion

The Roland TR-909 story starts as the very first drum machines are launched. History’s first-known “drum machine” arrived in 1932 with the premiere of the Rhythmicon. Designed by electrical innovator Leon Theremin, the Rhythmicon was the result of a commission requested by American composer Henry Cowell, who sought an instrument that could easily create rhythm accompaniment for solo performers. Although the result was more harmonically focused and less than ideal for today’s rhythmic standards, the Rhythmicon was an important precedent for the automated percussion to come. It proved that such a tool warranted attention.

Composer and music theorist Joseph Schillinger and the Rhythmicon (1932). Stanford University via Wikimedia Commons

The late 1940s gave rise to the next notable rhythm-keeping machine: the Chamberlin Rhythmate. Designed and built by Harry Chamberlin, the Rhythmate featured more than a dozen sampled drum loops and was capable of providing basic rhythms to accompany solo artists playing separate instruments. Tempo was also adjustable by a moving spindle, so players could adjust playback speed to match their performance. Although roughly 10 units were made, the Rhythmate greatly impacted musical innovation, as it inspired the birth of countless instruments by the end of the 1960s, including the ever-important Mellotron tape-based keyboard. As for drum machines, the Rhythmate was the basis for what musical artists sought: a rhythmic device to provide selectable, side-by-side percussion in total automation.

Rhythmates are seldom seen today, so sourcing one for yourself can be difficult. Below is a demo video of Chamberlin’s Rhythmate Model 30. Notice how the device features pre-recorded loops. This makes the percussive audio authentic, but it’s not customizable enough to create unique tracks for yourself.

Drum machines gained little ground after the release of the Rhythmate. In fact, it wasn’t until the mid-1960s that drum machine innovation truly took the music industry by storm. Notable units like the Elka Drummer One and the Maestro Rhythm King claimed the first chart-leading records to feature a drum machine. Until this point, drum machines had featured preset patterns. While both devices above included volume and pattern control, neither included the ability to swap out instruments or plot rhythms manually.

Front panel of a Maestro Rhythm King. jm3 on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The call for customizable drum patterns came with the release of the Roland CR-78 drum machine in 1978. Though still incapable of manipulating each sound on the drum track, the CR-78 was revolutionary in its ability to manufacture rhythms via a microprocessor, giving it full ability as both a studio and live drum utility. Notable tracks on which the CR-78 was used include the first half of Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight” and Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” ultimately boosting the appeal of drum machines to several new artists and setting the demand for customizable percussive machinery even higher.

First in Line: The Roland TR-808

In 1980, Roland would change the game forever with its release of the TR-808 Rhythm Composer. As you can probably tell by the name, the TR-808 was the direct predecessor to the TR-909 and, as a result, was a major influence on the TR-909’s final design. So, what set the TR-808 apart from other drum machines of its time? The answer is simple: freedom from the unit’s built-in customizable sequencer, which allowed users to diverge from traditional percussion patterns into building unique rhythms of their own. With a TR-808 in the studio, producers were able to conjure up seemingly endless concoctions of percussion while keeping each product new and exciting.

The popularity of sample-based sound technology meant that the late 1970s were a hotbed for several like-sounding drum machines. Roland’s Tadao Kikumoto knew that the TR-808’s sound had to be unique to garner worldwide appeal. To that end, the TR-808’s percussive elements relied on analog synthesis to produce sounds, unlike most other models that utilized pre-recorded sounds and loops. Analog construction also meant that users were able to fine-tune various aspects of a sound’s tone, including pitch, snap, decay, and more. Producers were no longer required to work with exact sample sounds and could instead “build” their own kit to utilize in any way they saw fit.

A Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer (1980).Brandon Daniel, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

But a couple of years later, despite its revolutionary potential, the TR-808 was discontinued. The reasoning? Firstly, the unit was expensive. Upon its release, the TR-808 cost a whopping $1,200 — that’s more than $4,000 in 2023! The price barrier discouraged many self-produced artists and small-scale studios from buying the machine. In terms of sound, the TR-808 was new and unique, but many critics critiqued the unit for its less-than-authentic acoustic drum sound. Other problems, including the threat of electric replacement of drummers and stocking difficulties, sent the TR-808’s popularity into a deep dive, resulting in its discontinuation in 1983. When all was said and done, Roland had sold about 12,000 units. Popularity in later years and the decrease in equipment value eventually drove the TR-808 to its time in the spotlight, casting itself as one of the most iconic and invaluable machines of its time despite its rocky introduction.

The TR-808 may not have gained the initial momentum that its designers had hoped, but it did provide a first look at the potential of sequenced drum machines. One of the most influential examples of the TR-808 in pop culture is found in Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.” This song delivers one of the most recognizable drum rhythms ever, entirely constructed with the TR-808.

The Roland TR-909: A Techno & Electro Superhero

The time had come. Following the TR-808’s discontinuation in 1983, Roland released techno’s favorite drum machine: the TR-909 Rhythm Composer. Despite its similar lineage, the TR-909 far exceeded its predecessor. It was a drum machine with some significant changes. First, the TR-909 was an analog/digital hybrid instrument, combining sampled cymbals and hi-hats with analog-built drum sounds. The goal was to make the machine sound more authentic than the TR-808. It succeeded, but the TR-909 was still far from emulating genuine acoustic drum kits. However, it featured a fan-favorite shuffle effect, which delayed and skipped grooves at alternating intervals, giving rhythms a more “human” feel than traditional drum machines. What’s more, the TR-909 was among the first machines to include MIDI, skyrocketing rhythmic possibilities in studio and multi-instrument settings.

A Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer (1983).Brandon Daniel, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately for the TR-909, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Like the TR-808, financial barriers and sample quality prevented the machine from performing as well on the market as Roland had hoped. By 1985, production had ceased with only 10,000 units being made — making it a rarer find than its predecessor despite its (arguably) more advanced structure. Over time, prices for used units began to drop, and, much like the TR-808, the TR-909 made a resounding comeback in pop culture. However, the TR-909 would not be used as extensively in pop tunes of the time as its predecessors were. It would instead find a niche in the techno and house community that was quickly taking the music world by storm.

Not only did the TR-909 house the perfect category of sounds for electronic music’s punchy character, but it also was oftentimes the only option for low-budget producers, some of whom report buying their machine for a meager $50 in pawn shops and thrift stores. By the late 1980s, the TR-909 had become the “secret weapon” of big-city electro/techno records, fueling inner-city hip-hop, house, and other forms of electronic music. The remarkable price tag gave these artists a chance to prove their mettle with top-shelf gear, and it’s apparent in the numerous examples of record releases featuring the TR-909 by the end of the decade.

History Through Sound

The TR-909 is still considered one of the quintessential drum machines of all time and can be heard in tracks of nearly every genre. You’d be surprised at the number of artists still using the TR-909. The following list features some of the instrument’s finest moments in musical history, from early ’80s house to modern experimental hits:

“Take Me Home” is just one example of Phil Collins utilizing the TR-909 on his No Jacket Required album. As a song that seemingly continues at the same pace the entire way through, it’s easy to see why Collins selected the 909 as the primary rhythm maker throughout the track.

No drum machine is safe from the hands of Daft Punk. The popular track “Revolution 909” is the band’s dedication to the esteemed TR-909, so it should come as no surprise that the song is jam-packed with beats created from the machine itself.

Mr. Finger’s “Can You Feel It” is an early example of the TR-909 being used in a deep-house track. The single-format record from which the track came has been cited as one of the first notable Chicago house releases and, as such, showcased the potential of the TR-909 in electronic/dance music.

Believe it or not, the TR-909 is in the theme song for the famous Bill Nye the Science Guy series. You probably didn’t notice the drum pattern before, but it’s easy to pick the 909’s distinct sounds out of the mix when listening closely.

Evidence of the TR-909’s use in modern music is found in Peggy Gou’s “I Go.” The track floats within the realm of house and techno and provides a rhythm similar to older ’80s-style dance releases.

Keep exploring the realms of dance, techno, hip-hop, or some early ’80s electro tracks, and you’ll run into the TR-909 sooner or later. Sure, the machine wasn’t exactly a best seller upon its release, but its impact over decades has proven to be massive. The previous songs are just a few examples of the machine’s use in music — a simple search reveals hundreds of similar tracks.

Harness the Spirit of the 909

Now that you’ve seen the TR-909’s true power in action, there’s a good chance you’d like to try it out for yourself. Though it was discontinued, the machine’s modern popularity has given rise to several reissues and clone models, many of which are available here at Sweetwater! Take a look for yourself!

Computer-based producers will appreciate the Roland TR-909 drum machine software — it’s an exact replication of the original unit’s features that anyone can use directly inside their DAW. At first glance, you’ll see the TR-909’s familiar controls, including the essential shuffle knob, a total accent parameter, and authentic start/stop buttons. Under the hood, however, this plug-in adds modernity to magnify the TR-909’s skill set tenfold. Notably, the unit’s edit button takes you to an upgraded pattern entry interface, which makes plotting your specific sounds much more accessible than before. Likewise, onboard pattern and kit presets and the ability to save and load your creations make percussive recalls a breeze. If you’re looking for all the gusto of the original unit without the hardware space requirements, then Roland’s TR-909 drum machine software is for you.

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When Behringer steps to the design table, Sweetwater musicians always know they are in for a treat. This is precisely the case with the company’s RD-9 analog drum machine. Of course, it looks and sounds as close as possible to the TR-909, with a few minor tweaks and improvements. It features two modes: authentic and enhanced. Authentic mode makes the unit perform exactly like the original unit, with near-identical sound re-creation and controls. In enhanced mode, you have all these parameters plus three more — pitch depth, pitch, and hi-hat tune control — giving you more opportunities to create sounds that wouldn’t have been possible on the real deal. Fans of the hardware experience will immediately adore this machine’s authentic character and rich, upgraded palette options.

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Lastly, there’s the D16 Group Drumazon drum machine plug-in. It’s a perfect option for interested producers looking to get their hands on the TR-909 sound quickly. At an affordable price, the Drumazon delivers spot-on tonal re-creations of the original unit by utilizing synthesis instead of samples. As a result, it’s a perfect option for house, acid, and other electronic music genres. There’s also a built-in easy-plot sequencer, which adds convenience to creating and manipulating drum patterns when time is of the essence. Need inspiration? No problem — a handy randomizer feature boasts fresh beats in a flash to help get your creative juices flowing.

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Keep the Beat Alive

With all the revamped model options and plug-in possibilities available today, the history of the Roland TR-909 continues. If you want to get a taste of this legendary model’s sound, then check out some of the modern equivalents above! If these don’t suit your fancy, then that’s no problem — Sweetwater boasts a massive collection of like-minded drum machines to meet the needs of any project, so feel free to explore every option! However, making the right decision on a piece of gear is essential, so call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 if you need assistance. Happy beat making!
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