Roland TR-6S 'battery powered' Roland ACB TR style Drum Machine

[SLiC]

I couldn't see any posts on this or its big brother the TR-8S...

The TR-6S came out after the TR-8S, it is cheaper (I just paid £269 inc VAT), battery or USB powered smaller (has less knobs) and limited to 6 drums sounds at once (8s has 11)

https://www.roland.com/uk/products/tr-6s/

The TR-6S is an 'on the grid' TR style drum machine. It has Analogue Circuit Behaviour (ACB) 808, 909, 707, 606 (like the VSTs in Roland Cloud and the Roland Boutique Models) + FM drum synth and sample player. Lots of Roland FX, per drum, master and send + scatter. Roland ACB models of their own instruments are pretty much spot on as far as I can tell. Personally I prefer the Roland (ACB) 808 to the 'analogue' Behringer RD-8 (MK1) I had for a while, but that all personal preference.

For under £270 it seemed like a pretty good way to get pretty much all of the Roland ACB models and a pretty fun portable ( 4 x AA battery) drum machine...With USB its also an AISO audio IO 8 in to DAW, 2 out which I think you can send to FX/sidechain. There is a very cheap 3rd party VST controller....https://tr-8s-editor-controller.jimdofr ... ler/#link2

The sound is very good, I have it in the same mixer as my Analog RYTM and it holds its own (ACB against analogue) and cuts through the mix very well. A lot of shift/menu for the more advanced feature controls (especially FX) but not to bad given the size which to me was one of the attractions. Basic step editing and pattern playing is pretty strait forward, I had the thing pretty much mastered in an hour...I'm still figuring out my RYTM after 7 years

Do I have niggles- of course...the send FX are a bit strange in implementation for me and sample editing is limited (but to be honest I just consider sample playback and FM a bonus, I bought it for the ACB modelling).

Is it just VST in a box? Well, you can say that for any digital synth (with controls and IO and no computer required etc) but in this case you can only get the VSTs by subscribing to Roland Cloud, this seems a cheaper way of doing it! t on.

'For the money' I think its great, very portable powerhouse drum machine. No hesitation recommend this, but if you want something bigger and with more direct controls, check out the TR-8S, they go for around £520.

[chk071]

Amazing. The how many-th remake of one of their "classic" devices is this?

Really don't want to bash on them, but, Roland is really extreme in terms of building on their legacy. What was their last unique and new product?

Well, as long as it sells, I guess...

[SLiC]

I think this little battery powered form factor (along with the MC 101) is actually pretty interesting...at least Roland are updating, modernising and building on 'their' legacy, it makes a change from Behringer building on it!

Roland 'originated' and make a lot of new and unique products, from electronic drums to wind instruments...like or loath it they are currently pioneering the Zen-core system so you can use VST and Hardware with the same sound engine for example as in the MC 101. https://www.roland.com/uk/promos/zen-core/

[kcearl]

I never know what to make of these products, I buy them then they never really fit in and end up sold…had the 101 since it came out, Ive considered the 6s too but I know Id never use it either. I sold off my drum machines and just moved to samples, mind you its not as if I make “beats” or really dwell much on drum sounds.

Roland are really all about their legacy when it comes to synths…I wonder if its even the main part of their business considering the asian/pacific market is bigger than the rest of the world combined. Saying that who isnt about legacy products nowadays??

[SLiC]

I looked at the 101 as well, but ultimately it was the ACB that attracted me (but the FM and sample playback is nice to have)

[kcearl]

I looked at the 101 as well, but ultimately it was the ACB that attracted me (but the FM and sample playback is nice to have)

yeah Ive had ACB stuff before and there is a little less polish than the Zencore engine...I havent had any ACB drums though, unless theres some included in my Cloud account.

I think this is a cooler box than the 8s, if the 101 had velocity Id prefer that over the 707, just great form factor (and batteries!)

[canadian_moose]

The ACB modeled stuff sounds way better than Zencore in my opinion.

[kcearl]

The ACB modeled stuff sounds way better than Zencore in my opinion.

Weirdly I think ACB sounds more realistic, but not sure if I think it sounds better. I dont know about drums but definitely with synths. Maybe its because I came into these sounds via Rolands rompler route rather than from the original analogues??

[canadian_moose]

I only have experience of the original Roland gear limited to the Juno 106 and the SH-101 (even that my memory is hazy as it was high school years)
The ACB Cloud version of the Juno 106 and the SH-101 seem to instantly bring back the feeling of having the hardware. The Zencore not so much. The Juno isn't bad but the SH-101 seems quite off compared to the hardware and cloud ACB version.

For me, the softube model 84 is the best Juno 106 emulation to date and really gives me the vibe. I also think the GUI's have something to do with it. The Zencore GUI is totally uninspiring to me compared to the ACB 'authentic' re recreations.

[kcearl]

I only have experience of the original Roland gear limited to the Juno 106 and the SH-101 (even that my memory is hazy as it was high school years)
The ACB Cloud version of the Juno 106 and the SH-101 seem to instantly bring back the feeling of having the hardware. The Zencore not so much. The Juno isn't bad but the SH-101 seems quite off compared to the hardware and cloud ACB version.

For me, the softube model 84 is the best Juno 106 emulation to date and really gives me the vibe. I also think the GUI's have something to do with it. The Zencore GUI is totally uninspiring to me compared to the ACB 'authentic' re recreations.

I have the softubes 84 too...in my experience of software (not that much mind you) its the best emulation of an analogue synth Ive heard...fck knows how they manage to get it to sound so good.

Id agree with you on the other points, when I think 101 bass, if I use the zencore in the 707, Im actually just thinking of a bass sound, not any level of realism. One thing though...I definitely prefer the J8 sounds/presets in zencore, even Supernatural...I know the ACB might be more realistic but it really disappointed me on the S8, so anemic. Im much more of a Juno man...I guess its whether the start of your synth "love" dates to early eighties or the beginnings of the dance scene where it was all 106s and Alphas (now of course I love all eighties cheese)

[cryophonik]

I've had the TR-8S/6S on my radar for a while now and have an opportunity to buy a like-new 6S for a great price, but the 8S is also on sale for the next few days (still leaning toward the 6S for size/portability/price). The only thing I see that could be a deal breaker for me is the lack of a song mode. That seems like a pretty monumental miss to me. Also, does the 6S/8S have randomization/probability? I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the reviews I've seen, but maybe I missed it?

... ultimately it was the ACB that attracted me (but the FM and sample playback is nice to have)

Yeah, the ACB is really attractive to me as well. They really are great sounding units

[Kalee]

I've had the TR-8S/6S on my radar for a while now and have an opportunity to buy a like-new 6S for a great price, but the 8S is also on sale for the next few days (still leaning toward the 6S for size/portability/price). The only thing I see that could be a deal breaker for me is the lack of a song mode. That seems like a pretty monumental miss to me. Also, does the 6S/8S have randomization/probability? I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the reviews I've seen, but maybe I missed it?

... ultimately it was the ACB that attracted me (but the FM and sample playback is nice to have)

Yeah, the ACB is really attractive to me as well. They really are great sounding units

No randomization / probability. I would only use the internal sequencer for live improv techno.

ACB is nice + you can upload samples.

Worth noting that when sequencing externally, muting a channel does not mute it. It only mutes the internal sequencer. I have not checked for fw updates in a long while so that might have been changed

[cryophonik]

I've had the TR-8S/6S on my radar for a while now and have an opportunity to buy a like-new 6S for a great price, but the 8S is also on sale for the next few days (still leaning toward the 6S for size/portability/price). The only thing I see that could be a deal breaker for me is the lack of a song mode. That seems like a pretty monumental miss to me. Also, does the 6S/8S have randomization/probability? I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the reviews I've seen, but maybe I missed it?

... ultimately it was the ACB that attracted me (but the FM and sample playback is nice to have)

Yeah, the ACB is really attractive to me as well. They really are great sounding units

No randomization / probability. I would only use the internal sequencer for live improv techno.

ACB is nice + you can upload samples.

Worth noting that when sequencing externally, muting a channel does not mute it. It only mutes the internal sequencer. I have not checked for fw updates in a long while so that might have been changed

Yeah, I ended up buying it a few days ago and it's fun and the ACB drums do sound good, but it's too limited to be much use for anything other than making simple beats on the couch. I should've known that anything with the Roland logo on it in this century would be a major disappointment.

[Kalee]

I've had the TR-8S/6S on my radar for a while now and have an opportunity to buy a like-new 6S for a great price, but the 8S is also on sale for the next few days (still leaning toward the 6S for size/portability/price). The only thing I see that could be a deal breaker for me is the lack of a song mode. That seems like a pretty monumental miss to me. Also, does the 6S/8S have randomization/probability? I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the reviews I've seen, but maybe I missed it?

... ultimately it was the ACB that attracted me (but the FM and sample playback is nice to have)

Yeah, the ACB is really attractive to me as well. They really are great sounding units

No randomization / probability. I would only use the internal sequencer for live improv techno.

ACB is nice + you can upload samples.

Worth noting that when sequencing externally, muting a channel does not mute it. It only mutes the internal sequencer. I have not checked for fw updates in a long while so that might have been changed

Yeah, I ended up buying it a few days ago and it's fun and the ACB drums do sound good, but it's too limited to be much use for anything other than making simple beats on the couch. I should've known that anything with the Roland logo on it in this century would be a major disappointment.

Well, the sequencer is basic Roland style + knob movement recording.

For me its best drum machine atm because of sounds and panel features, but I sequence it with ableton live. Explore the FM and master effects.

[SHall1000]

I sequence mine with a Keystep pro. A Beatstep should work well too I think.