Roland TR-505

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TR-505
Roland TR-505 4578.jpg
The Roland TR-505
Manufacturer Roland Corporation
Dates1986
Price$318 US (1986)
Technical specifications
Polyphony 8 voices
Oscillator N/A
Synthesis type Digital sample-based
Velocity expressionNo
Storage memoryPatterns: 48 user, 48 preset. 6 Songs.
Effects No
HardwareMain panel features a simple LCD display, 15 buttons, 2 knobs, 16 trigger pads, 2 outputs for left and right/mono, headphone jack, and tape input/output.
Input/output
Keyboard 16 pattern keys
External controlMIDI in/out, start/stop foot pedal jack.
Audio sample8-bit unsigned PCM data, with a 25.00 kHz sampling rate

The Roland TR-505 rhythm composer is a drum machine and MIDI sequencer released by Roland Corporation in 1986. [1] [2] It hails from the same family of drum machines as the Roland TR-909, TR-808, TR-707, TR-626 and TR-606. The drum kit includes basic rock drum sounds similar to those of the TR-707, plus a complement of Latin-style drum sounds similar to those of the TR-727 (the Latin version of the TR-707) [3]

Contents

Voice synthesis

Samples in the TR-505 are stored as 8-bit unsigned PCM waveforms at a sample rate of 25 kHz. The TR-505 offers some major improvements over the TR-707, including 16 digitally recorded PCM drum sounds (four more than the TR-707) and five Latin percussion voices from the TR-727, reducing the need to buy a separate unit or PCM card. [4] [3]

Summary of drum voices: [5] : 9 

Low congaHi congaTimbaleLow cowbellHi cowbellClapCrashRide
KickSnareLow tomMid tomHi tomRimshot / sidestickClosed hi-hatOpen hi-hat

Although there are 16 drum samples, the TR-505 only has an 8-voice polyphony, restricting some sounds from playing simultaneously: low conga or hi conga; timbale, low tom, mid tom, or hi tom; low cowbell or hi cowbell; hand clap or rim shot; crash cymbal or ride cymbal; closed hi-hat or open hi-hat. [5] : 9 

The TR-505 offers very limited voice editing in the form of volume, velocity, MIDI channel, and MIDI note of each voice as a global parameter. [5] : 14,40,42 

Sequencer

The TR-505 contains 48 factory sequencer patterns, organized into 3 pattern groups (A, B, and C). The drum machine can also store 48 user created sequencer patterns, organized into 3 pattern groups (D, E, and F). [3]

The TR-505 features five basic modes, including the following: [5] : 8 

An accent can be applied to any position in a pattern and will affect all instruments triggered at that position by increasing output volume. [5] : 15 

Users can copy, insert, or delete one or more steps in any given pattern, and copy, insert, or delete patterns anywhere in a track (song). [1]

Each individual pattern is a single measure long, The default time signature is 4/4 consisting of 16 steps and quarter note scale, resulting in each step representing a sixteenth note. Other time signatures can be programmed by changing the Last Step (length of patterns) and the scale, allowing for shuffle and swing rhythms. [5] : 24 

Two or more patterns can be combined, using pattern chaining, to play as a single pattern. Each pattern in the chain occupies a pad, but it will only trigger the chain as a whole, not the individual pattern. [5] : 27 

Up to six tracks (songs) can be programmed using combinations of patterns. [5] : 16  Each song can consist of up to 423 bars (patterns). [6] [5] : 18 

Keyboard and external control

The TR-505 consists of 16 individual instrument/ pattern pads. [6] The pads are not velocity sensitive, but can be modified by the accent parameter. [5] : 51 

The TR-505 can transmit and receive on MIDI channels 1 through 16 and Notes numbers 25 to 99. It also contains a MIDI Omni mode allowing it to receive all MIDI data. The TR-505 responds to the following MIDI messages: [3]

Storage

The TR-505 can store 48 ROM patterns, 48 RAM patterns, 6 tracks, and a maximum of 423 measures. [7] : 1 

The Tape interface (in/out) allow the Tracks and Patterns in internal memory to be stored on external tape. [4] Data can be Saved, Verified, and Loaded from the tape. [5] : 35,36,37 

Modifications

There are companies, websites, and magazine articles documenting a DIY process for circuit bending and modifying the factory setting of the Roland TR-505. An example of a few modifications include changing audio samples, [8] voice circuit bending, [9] adding individual audio outputs, [10] adding CV outputs, [11] adding pitch change to each voice, [9] and adding circuits to randomize sequences. [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 Gilchrist, Trevor (May 1986). "Drumatix Goes Digital". Electronics & Music Maker. 6 (3): 38.
  2. ↑ Lockwood, Hannah. "ROLAND DRUM MACHINE HISTORY: 1964 – 2016". Roland Australia Blog. Roland Corporation. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Reed, Tony. "Roland TR 505 Rhythm Composer". RhythmCheck. International Musician. 12 (6): 102–103.
  4. 1 2 Gilby, Ian (April 1986). "Beat Box". Sound on Sound. 1 (6): 24.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Roland TR-505 Owner Manual, Osaka Japan: Roland Corporation.
  6. 1 2 "Roland TR505". Making Music. 1 (1): 27–28. Apr 1986.
  7. ↑ TR-505 Service Notes. (Jun 1986). Osaka, Japan: Roland Corporation.
  8. ↑ "Roland TR-505 ROM Expansion". HKA Design. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "TR-505". Burnkit 2600. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Project: Separate out for the Roland 505". International Musician. 13 (4). Mar 1987.
  11. ↑ "Roland TR505". Polymonial. Retrieved June 16, 2020.

Further reading

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