TR-909

Analog Meets Digital on the Dance Floor 

An authentic 909 for your computer DAW

The influence of the TR-909 drum machine is still heard—and felt—nearly four decades after it was launched. Now, the 909 is available as a software plug-in, delivering the speaker-pummeling power of the original with new features that extend its sonic capabilities and make programming faster and more fluid. 

“Like the TR-808 before it, nobody could have predicted the reverence in which the TR-909 would eventually come to be held.”—Sound on Sound 

Analog/Digital Hybrid, Before It Was Even a Thing 

In 1983, Roland followed the massively influential TR-808 with the TR-909. Around this time, digital samples of acoustic drums had become fashionable, but the sounds in the available devices weren’t very adjustable. And let’s be honest—they still didn’t really sound like real drums. For the 909, Roland engineers took a hybrid approach that used tweakable analog circuitry for the kick, snare, clap, and toms, while reserving digital sampling for the cymbals. 

Sibling Rivalry 

Only around 10,000 TR-909s were made, but the machine’s lasting impact is apparent on dance floors to this day. Much like the TR-808’s dominance in rap and hip-hop, the TR-909 left an indelible mark on electronic music styles like techno, house, acid, and industrial. It’s the sound you hear in your head when you think of floor-shaking dance music. 

Plug In Your Own TR-909

In addition to faithfully modeling the TR-909’s analog circuitry, Roland's software version uses the original sample ROM and models the early digital technology present in the vintage hardware. This attention to detail results in a fully authentic TR-909, with all the sonic characteristics that make it a perennial favorite of electronic and dance producers the world over. And the plug-in version also includes some groundbreaking new features for modern production.
 
Hardware Integration 

The TR-909 software instrument integrates seamlessly with Roland's TR-8S Rhythm Performer and TR-09 Roland Boutique hardware. Transfer TR-8S patterns directly into the TR-909 plug-in, create beats on the go and send them back to the hardware, or use the TR-8S or TR-09 for direct hands-on control of the plug-in. 

Features

• Authentic recreation of the hybrid analog/digital TR-909 drum machine
• Powered by ACB technology with original sample ROM and circuit modeling
• Classic 909 sounds: punchy kick, snappy snare, crisp hi-hats, claps, toms, and cymbals
• Overdrive control for added grit and sonic variety
• Modernized sequencer with individual lanes for each instrument
• Eight pattern variations for dynamic, evolving rhythms
• Drag and drop audio or MIDI patterns into your DAW
• Adjustable flams, sub-steps, soft hits, last step, and shuffle per instrument
• Seamless integration with Roland TR-8S and TR-09 hardware for hands-on control and pattern transfer
• VST3, AU, and AAX support with native Apple silicon compatibility