Even if you’re not familiar with the Roland TR-909 by name, it’s a sure bet that you’ve heard it in classic Hip Hop (check out Schoolly D’s “PSK” being played in the video below), House, Acid, Techno, and even pop music (see Sussudio below). The younger cousin of the Roland TR-808, the 909 is by many accounts, the second most influential drum machine in modern music.
Although this rhythm composer was released in the early ’80s, it’s still in demand amongst those with an obsession to make music with this percussion legend. The list of revered performers to use the 909 is long, from electro stars Daft Punk to house legend Frankie Knuckles and beyond. Results from a search on Ebay for this vintage beat-maker will give many sticker shock, with prices in the thousands. However, Roland is now relaunching this icon in a near-identically looking and sounding machine with a smaller frame named TR-09. With a price-tag of under $500, this will now give those retro beat-box aficionados an opportunity to get their hands on an iconic looking (albeit smaller) and sounding machine, but at a fraction of the price of the 30+ year-old original.
Here’s an interesting comparison of both machines in action-
by Israel Vasquetelle
