Roland Tr-6S Compact Drum Machine
TR-6S Rhythm Performer
Compact drum machine with six tracks of authentic TR sounds, samples, FM tones, and effects.
Roland TR drum machines have impacted music for over 40 years—and they’re as influential now as ever. Based on the much-loved TR-8S, the compact and affordable TR-6S has the same speaker-pummelling, window-rattling, body-moving sound of its bigger sibling.
Elevate your drum tracks, make beats on the go, and experience the joy of hands-on production. With the TR-6S, the sound of classic tracks, today’s trends, and tomorrow’s hits are always within reach.
Six-track version of the TR-8S in a compact and affordable package
- Detailed circuit models of the Roland TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, TR-707, and more
- Large preset sample library with support for custom user samples
- FM sound engine for futuristic tones
- Mix and match sounds for exotic hybrid drum kits
- Advanced sequencer with sub-steps, flam, step-loop, motion recording, and more
- Runs on four AA batteries or USB bus power
- Also functions as a high-quality USB audio/MIDI interface
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Six tracks of rhythmic blissWith the TR-6S, you get six tracks of advanced drum sequencing and the most iconic rhythm sounds in music history—all in a battery-powered box that fits just about anywhere. And like other Roland drum machines, it’s fun and inspiring. With the familiar step-sequencer, plus dedicated faders and knobs, it’s easy to craft custom beats with visceral, hands-on control. | The gold standard in drum programmingThe sound of today’s music owes a lot to the classic step-sequencer—particularly the “TR-REC” variety found in early Roland drum machines. The TR-6S employs the same tried-and-true approach, enhanced with realtime recording and modern features like sub-steps for ratcheted parts and motion recording for rhythms that move. | Legendary drum machines built-inThe TR-6S is filled with authentic recreations of legendary Roland drum machines that have defined genres and driven culture for decades—including the 808, 909, 707, and 606. And these aren’t sample packs or cheap knock-offs—they’re living, breathing replicas that sound and behave just like their vintage counterparts. |
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All the sounds and moreGoing further, you can mix-and-match these sounds with preset and custom samples and futuristic FM tones, creating exotic hybrid kits that reflect your unique taste and style. | Positive effectsCreate punch, space, warmth, or grit with the array of high-quality effects in the TR-6S. Vital compressors and EQs are at your fingertips, along with lush reverb, delay, and modulation effects. Push your creative boundaries with filters, LFOs, and wild new effects that incite sonic mayhem. | Convenience and flexibilityThe TR-6S is a also a high-quality USB audio/MIDI interface, perfect for mobile or minimal production setups. And it fits in even the most space-starved studios or live rigs, so you can turn life into music whenever inspiration strikes. |
| Weight: | 1 kg |
| Dimensions: | 32.4 x 20 x 10 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Model: | tr-6s |
| Batteries Included: | 4 AA batteries required. (included) |
What a fantastic Drum machine.
The parameter guide PDF is 13 pages, and the owners manual is 39 pages, all the functions are easily accessible with a shift and a little scroll.
I got a TR-06 which has 5 trigger outs, an audio mix in and probability functions, but after a week I was really unimpressed with it its sounds.
I updated the firmware to 1.0.3 and put all my drum collections and loops in different folders on a sandisk extreme 32gb card, now the TR6S is supercharged.
When you register this on the Roland site you get 6 months of Roland Cloud Pro for free which also gives you the V3 unlock for Zenbeats, so that was a pleasant bonus.
I like this drum machine a lot as it’s fairly easy to use straight away and is filled with iconic sounds. Someone had nicked the supplied batteries from the box though?!?! So I do wonder how brand new it is.
Got this to work along side the SP404 for drum sounds and it works perfectly in that regard. If y
Really great item if you want a compact drum machine in your studio. If you wanted something more for live performances then i would recommend the TR8s as it’s bigger and has less menu diving.
Tiene un pequeo defecto y es que crea algo de ruido en el audio (cuando no se tiene ningn ritmo activado, es decir solo encendido), no exagerado, pero si eres un purista esto se nota. Se arregla comprando un cable usb que se divida en 2: por un lado los datos y por otro la electricidad (5V), es decir que vayan enchufados a 2 tomas distintas. No son fciles de encontrar y son caros (yo los compro en una web francesa, porque los compr en una china y no hacan nada) a casi 20 la unidad.
Ya digo que esto es para los puristas, pero en mi caso lo solucion y puedo poner los monitores a tope de volumen que no se nota nada, y entonces a disfrutar de esta mini caja que da mucho juego.
Estoy encantado y aconsejo su compra al 100%.
A superb drum machine from Roland that uses modern digital technology to accurately replicate the sound of their classic analogue drum machines. Also has the benefit of being able to import your own samples as well. Being portable (battery or USB powered) just plug in some headphones or earbuds and away you go.
Don’t be fooled by it’s size, this thing is a true powerhouse. If not for only having 8 tracks it almost functions as en entire groove box. If you’re clever you can easily get a bass line out of it alongside your rhythm
Ottimi suoni, facile da usare, editor in versione beta da correggere. Peccato non sia ricaricabile.
This is awesome you can put down your beats and save to memory, as the inspiration takes you, plug it in to logic x and play them into the daw as separate audio tracks for each line, for even more configuration!
Does more than you think!
Pretty easy to get the basics and get going with it, about 4+ hours battery life, usb-c to usb- b midi interface cable needed for power supply from mains (cable into smartphone charger works fine) great value for money , will have lots of fun playing with this!
Great piece of kit. Loving the authentic (ACB) 808 and 909 sounds!
Questa volta la Roland si un po ristretta strumento divertente ma non professionale e necessario prepararlo molto per fare la propria musica costante ma se ti accontenti dei suoni gia preselezionati che possiede ti divertirai tantissimo. Difficolta nel salvare i lavori che crei e delicato nel richiamare un ritmo che magari hai gia creato un momento prima. Ma per il resto molto molto versatile sopratutto per quanto riguarda i ritmi che puoi creare. Prezzo un po caro visto che ha lo stesso costo di un tr8 aria
For some reason the unit just sounded even better. Navigation is good but if you want to get in under the hood then workflow can slow.
This is where the editor comes in. OMG! a dramatic increase in creative speed, everything at your fingertips. It’s an absolute breeze to edit and explore now and Roland have done an excellent job.
I recommend you check out the few Youtube vids which demonstrate just how good it is.
6 outputs plus the stereo out via USB. So you can have all your drum sounds on seperate tracks into your DAW plus assign certain sounds through the stereo out and apply the TR6S internal FX…so 8 itracks altogether. Something I missed on first use.
In a recording set up this thing is now pretty perfect no need for the big brother TR8S (for me at least). Editing everything is quick and clear.
Loading your own samples is still done via SD card. It would be great if Roland made this possible via the editor over USB….fingers crossed for the next update.
All the Classic Roland TR drum machine sounds are here, with the ability to manipulate everything to create you own kits/sounds…then you have the FM engine to take things even further…plus you can load your own samples. So ACB sounds, FM synths and samples all in one small unit. Amazing!
I highly recommend this unit to every electro bro home studio owners out there. Even if you want to use it just for a basic live setup it’s still excellent but the editor now takes this thing to the next level.
I’ll leave my old review below in which I gave it 3 stars. I now give it 5 stars and eat my words.
It’s so good to see a large company like Roland constantly update, innovate and support it’s products…adding new life to some.
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It has the same sound set as it’s big brother the TR8-S. Although you can’t layer 4 sounds at once when creating or editing your own custom drums (maybe not an issue if you’re recording or using samples). The sounds and some of the presets are huge and show off nicely what this tiny thing can do.
Unfortunetly it’s when it comes to editing or creating anything more than basic that is become tiresome. Lots of menu diving that slows the flow. I didn’t even bother to try loading samples as I was bored and frustrated after a few minutes.
Stereo audio output but 6 serperate outs & the mix via USB which is a nice touch. Roland really have crammed it all in. Everything sound wise is top notch including the effects but it just didn’t funk me up!
If all you want is a access to bd, sn, hh presets (that are huge) and the ability for very basic tweaking, then I don’t think there is currently anything better for you. If however you want more immediacy and ease of full control then I would save a few more pennies and go for it’s big bro.
I don’t think it will be long before these drop dramatically in price or the 2nd hand market is awash with them. So maybe wait for a bargain.
I got mine via warehousedeals advertised as ‘very good’ condition…it wasn’t, it was an absolute wreck, so be careful if using AWH…I sent it back without hesitation but I would’ve even if it were brand new.