I watched several demos and came to the realization that it’s highly unlikely this box will ever become a classic. They've stuffed it with so many features and sound engines that it’s lost its individuality. It doesn’t have its own distinct sound anymore. Instead, it’s just another good, but pretty pricey groovebox kind of like the Roland MC-307, MC-808, MC-505, or MC-909 but in a TR-formfactor. It’s an American-style machine where they didn’t know when to stop overwhelming it with options. It’s trying to be a Cadillac wants to have it all but by removing the limitations that give something character, it ends up feeling generic.

 

Last edited: Oct 1, 2025

The wheel has already been invented. Every company has to generate revenue, otherwise they'll go bankrupt.

Back when the hype began—dance, techno, rave, disco—everyone was doing their best to make money and satisfy the need for equipment. The industry knows exactly what they're doing.

 

Orders opened this morning 9am at Thomann Germany, already sold out at 11am.

 

Except that it is NOT a groovebox in the purest sense. It's a drum machine + sampler combo. It doesn't have any other melodic synthesis engines (like Zen Core or ACB synths) in it. Granted, there are lots of samples (raw waves) on board and you can always treat them as "synths" in that sense, but using melodic instruments in the TR style setup was a major PITA on the TR-8S already - this box just seems like a 8S on steroids, so I doubt there's any difference.

I briefly had the hype for this, but now I feel there's no way I'd pay almost 3 grand for this.

The TR-8S had also major issues with its USB audio (and MIDI) capabilities, including massive latency which couldn't be fixed. Time will tell if they've improved it here.

Sampling (and samples) were severely crippled on the 8S and the MC-707 so it looks like an improvement here, with the large memory (46GB), time stretching and slicing etc. But dealing with all that inside that teeny tiny screen smells like trouble.

Also, these are meant to be performance instruments - and they are, provided you only perform on the single instrument! Add any other instruments or synths to the mix, and you run out of hands! At least this was the case with the 8S, this one has Song Mode, so I guess it's a bit better in that sense.

I just listened (watched) the Beato Global Top 50 video. Lots of those charting tracks had 808 type sounds, as always; none sounded "analog" and no one cares.

 

Of course, it’s not a classic groovebox I agree. But I was more referring to the groovebox-like impersonality of the device. You’ll never be able to distinguish it from anything else. Classic machines had their own unique sound, and this one just doesn’t. And there’s some pretty primitive MIDI groovebox content, like the song mode, which is basically just a bunch of premade patterns you can load from disk. Wouldn't be surprised if they start selling pattern packs too.
In theory, by releasing and selling a flagship, they’ll eventually break down the technology into more affordable devices.

 

name sucks -> hardware design sucks -> sound probably sucks

 

what design is your fav?

 

Sound is pretty impressive with the new analog models ... very punchy ... I hate the 10 instruments limitation tho, mid tom is missing hard ...

 

That’s what I thought too so much stuff for a drum machine with a small screen. Not sure, but it seems like a lot of the features are only useful and easy to reach in the studio, making it more of as groove machine without a hands-on, accessible interface.

 

Lots of acts are using TR8s live and it's more or less the same concept.
The TR-1000 offers a lot of "snapshots"/configuration so it's not hard to switch from a kit to another, using the front surface for tweaking ...
No need to dive into menu if your kits are well organized before.

 

It sounds really cool you can't fault that. But the mid tom in ACB and sample form feels like a bit of a compromise knowing the price

 

Lots? Show me examples - and note: only acts that are also using (controlling) other gear simultaneously.

Because I had one (sold it), and couldn’t gel with it in that sense. Like I said, it was fine by itself, but it wasn’t enough. And IIRC, you couldn’t even trigger the A-H pattern scenes via MIDI, you have to do it by hand. I don’t yet know how and if that’s possible on the 1000.

 

I know some acts who are using it midi synced to Ableton Live (SNTS, 999999999, Steffi, Sylys, Pig & Dan), of course they trigger patterns by hand, if you cant why not controlling the sounds directly thru midi ?

 

I have no favorite but it should fit the unit, I feel it doesn't fit a drum machine at all, it looks too much like a mixer for a DJ booth.

Nice to hear it sounds good, hope to have a sample pack on AZ soon.

 

The machine is intended for both studio and live use. For live use customers ask for realtime tweaking options that's why there is that many faders and knobs on the surface, but most drum machines features the same kind of surface : Elektron, Behringer, Arturia ... and previous Roland as well (TR8s), drum machines are not like 80ties sound modules anymore ...

 

Interesting even if it's too expensive for what it is but after all, it's a Roland product so it explains.
Consider that it's even more expensive than the top of the line AKAI MPC just to keep things in proportion.

 

Now this is vintage Roland! Cool feature to cram basically a SP404 into this, and then hamper it with a tiny display!

Just kidding, I love the fact that a sampler can actually, you know, sample.

 

Big Roland Boss fan for decades. But as an active speedy prolific dance writer/producer this is exactly what i dont need, as it would slow me down, they've missed a real oppo here, they proudly show off the 15 or so people involved in the design, too many cooks spoiled da broth, i could've done a much better job because making music using Boss & Roland is my job.

Real estate is at a premium on my table top, sold my TR8 when Tr6 came out cos less space for pretty much same thing, this things way too big, so will wait for cut downs.

My table top is full up, not a cm to spare, with a Mackie desk, Roland SE02+ etx box, Roland JU06A, Roland SH01A und Roland TR6 going thru 10 Boss geetar pedals, that's all the hardware i use, pedals aside, all bought off Ebay for under a grand, a much better set up for working speedily, much cheaper too.

 

A good drum machine at a terrifying price!

 

When I was younger, I asked a musician what kind of synthesizer I should buy (the internet hadn't been invented back then), and he recommended Roland. Roland had already recognized back then that product quality was important, and when bands played their gear live, people saw the Roland logo.

Then Roland Boss came along with its effects pedals, battery-powered, solidly built. I bought a Roland DR Rhythm DR-8880 (now discontinued) with a very large display and good design, and the buttons are pressure-sensitive. I made a video:

Boss - DR-880 - Dr. Rhythm - Drumcomputer - Examples

The most beautiful drum rail was this one, all made of metal in a beautiful blue: Korg - Electribe EMX-1 SD. The Korg company eventually stopped producing them...! Today there is a lot of plastic, few buttons, everything costs money and an endless menu with sub-menus...!

THE KORG ELECTRIBE EMX-1 IS ALREADY A LEGEND