Roland TR-6S

[tr909]

@pselodux

it’d be nice if the CTRL knob changed to a useful parameter

Further more it’d be nice if the volume faders could have other functions when in sound/kit edit modes.

[pselodux]

Ooh that would be great.

In the meantime though I think I’ll use it with an external controller when I need to do more tweaking.

[d4ydream]

@pselodux

In the meantime though I think I’ll use it with an external controller when I need to do more tweaking.

Sadly, the MIDI implementation doesn’t expose as much as you’d think it would. From a previous reply regarding MIDI implementation:

@d4ydream

It would have been a more effective use of the available CCs, IMHO, to expose parameters that require a dive or an assignment to a knob over ones that have dedicated controls. This would have allowed not only for remote control but for the expansion of the physical controls.

Exposing Delay send, Reverb send, Pan, Insert FX send, Coarse and/or Fine Tune, and Morph (for FM sounds though this would not be a wise choice as the parameter only exists for FM sounds and not samples or ACB), would’ve made far more sense. You can still control these parameters via MIDI by assigning them to the CTRL knob but it is easy to “break”. Especially so on the TR-8S as there are four methods by which these parameters can be assigned. Quite often I am adjusting Delay and Reverb sends on the same track during a performance. Having the above all mapped to my MIDI Fighter would have been nice.

It would have also been really neat to be able to use an Elektron sequencer to plock or LFO modulate the effects sends and pans or to play chromatically using the Coarse Tune parameter. You still can but only one at a time.

None of this breaks the game.

I believe intelligent design would have allowed for mapping parameters that need to share one physical control instead of using up the limited CCs exposing parameters with their own controls on the panel. There is likely a more healthy balance for the limited number of CCs available.

You can map a decent amount but most mappable things already have a dedicated panel control.

[pselodux]

Yeah I just looked at the chart. Still, it’s not bad for quick adjustments to delay feedback/time etc., stuff that I’d be more likely to need during a live set.

[AdamJay]

Nope, just went back to focusing on Octatrack

[Synthtastic]

You do amazing things with it. Sounds great!

[AdamJay]

Thanks,
I kept telling myself that I would have loved something like the TR-6S 15 or 20 years ago. It can do so much with those 6 tracks. I wish M:S had that much fx processing.

[Synthtastic]

Would’ve been pretty rad to have one plugged into the 3rd channel of a vestax mixer along with a pair of 1200s.

[jiffybox]

A battery powered mini MX from Roland is exactly what I don’t want to be announced during my NGNY

[acidhouseforall]

@plragde

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think the TR-8S offers as many advantages over the TR-6S as the MC-707 does over the MC-101.

A lot more dedicated buttons, knobs and pots. Large, comfortable, playable interface. A lot more i/o… audio input alone is worth it (fx, side chaining, etc). Nearly double number of tracks.

Advantages are huge.

[plragde]

@acidhouseforall

Advantages are huge.

The physical advantages are obvious. I was referring more to the ability to do more sound design on the MC-707. As far as I can tell, you can’t take a TR-8S instrument anywhere that the corresponding TR-6S instrument can’t follow.

[acidhouseforall]

Ah ! yes indeed, same sound engine between 6S and 8S.

I used to have the 707, I hated it.

[alechko]

@AdamJay

Anyways, these are my most recent findings. A very solid, useable box. I’ve got three patterns so far

very solid sound, I’m sold! gonna get me one of these to couple with my DN… very affordable, all roland classic sounds… going to send it through the DN reverb and master distortion… what’s not to like?

and a big plus for me that it’s small, won’t have to give up lots of desk space for this…

[AdamJay]

@AdamJay

I didn’t have many gripes with the sound, but rather the interface. Wish I owned it after the editor had been released.

Well after letting my first TR6S go, I’m giving it another shot and found a good deal on a used unit. Looking forward to the editor, but also using the unit in a different context than before, as Syntakt partner.

So I’ll lean heavily on things Syntakt lacks: 909 sounds (acb and samples), gritty and bright sawtooth dub stabs, compression, and the more wild FX under the hood.

Hoping that not trying to use it for standalone tunes, and focusing its use as a Syntakt partner will make it shine better and stick around longer. Pretty sure I still have my old project sd card backed up too.

[plragde]

@AdamJay

after letting my first TR6S go, I’m giving it another shot

Ah, good, I was going to work on six tracks of 909 hihats for you, but I’m sure you’ll do a much better job of it.

[Microtribe]

@AdamJay

Hoping that not trying to use it for standalone tunes, and focusing its use as a Syntakt partner will make it shine better and stick around

This is where the 8S/6S radiates power. The master compressor and soft clipper give such a good punchy sound, cutting into a mix in a very pleasing way. Sit a beefy synth next to it and youve got gold.

[d4ydream]

I just picked up another one to use as a drum module with the OT. I have a TR8S but want a smaller footprint. I’m also focusing more of the live performance chops on euro rack/OT. Just need a nice drum module that sounds great in a small footprint.

[x0x]

@AdamJay

Syntakt partner.

I can see this working well. You can give up a track on the Syntakt to send the MIDI notes and CCs to the 6S, then route it’s audio into the ST inputs to run through the FX block. Would seem like your just using one machine. Plus you get those 909 hats

[AdamJay]

Yea I could! I’m going to keep it simpler than that, though, using the TR6S’s own sequencer with variations employed. Bit easier to manage than sequencing 6 tracks of drums on a midi track that has max 4 note polyphony. And two sequencers sync’d means less paging around.

Will def run it through ST input tho

[x0x]

Just to warn you that my TR-8S totally glitches out when receiving PCM’s from the Syntakt, which I assume will be similar for the TR-6S