Recording - August 2021 - 60

in the TR-6S produces some very huge
drum tones and hits hard and deep. As
I explored the presets, the word that
kept coming to mind was 'punchy'-
and noticeably more so than the drum
samples in my DAW.
The TR-6S also provides some very
interesting and abstract sounds via its
built-in FM sound engine. Thanks to that
and the ability to load in any sounds
and samples you want, I immensely appreciate
the diverse sonic palette possible
with the TR-6S.
The built-in effects are available both
on the master channel and individually on
each of the six tracks. From delays and
reverbs to LFO controlled modulation, it's
easy to craft and refine your sounds.
Up to the challenge
Seeing that this bad boy can essentially
serve as a drum machine as well
as a full-on six-track sample player,
I
set out to create an entire song using
it. From an SD card, I loaded in a oneshot
of my Moog Sub Phatty playing
a middle C. With that, I created a
bass line by automating the sample's
pitch on each step of the sequence I
created. It can be a bit fiddly, but it
works. Then, working with a combination
of the built-in sounds and some of
my own one-shots from a drum sample
pack, my six-track song came to fruition.
I always like pushing the limits
of what a piece of gear can do. This
process showed me just how powerful
and versatile the TR-6S could be,
especially since it offers the ability to
stream all six tracks individually (via
USB) for further mixing and tweaking.
I think this feature is massively underrated,
and for my workflow, it is one
of the most significant selling points.
Frequently, machines like this leave
you trapped in the box, so to speak,
where all you can do is export a final
mixdown or use the stereo out to get
your beats onto your computer. Kudos
to Roland for thinking of this and allowing
the TR-6S to be a general audio
interface of sorts.
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In Conclusion
The Roland TR-6S is easy to incorporate
into an existing digital setup and offers
a great bridge between the classic drum
machine realm and the modern in-thebox
workflow. The TR-6S offers up classic
sounds still used in popular music to this
day, as well as near-limitless possibilities
for sound design and tweaking. While not
an inherent character box like many boutique
analog units on the market, the TR-6S
more than makes up for that with depth
and flexibility. Plus, it's easy to sample and
export vibey tones from your other gear.
Initially, I thought its price tag was a bit
steep for what looks like a petite plastic
drum machine. However, after spending
hours upon hours with the Roland TR-6S,
I can confidently say I no longer hold that
opinion. If you're feeling nostalgic for the
808 days of old, or if you are just in the
market for a versatile drum machine and
sample player, I recommend you check
out the Roland TR-6S.
Price: $409 More from: roland.com
http://www.roland.com http://www.psiaudio.com
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