This document is meant to get you going quickly with the Roland Cloud TR-909 plugin. The below topics are covered:
- The OPTION Button – change how the plugin behaves in your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
- The PANEL Button – access important sound editing functions.
- The EDIT Button – access the sequencer.
- The Sequencer – input and modify notes on the grid
When you load the TR-909 plugin, it may begin to play a pattern. To stop this, press STOP. The default is for the plugin to run its sequencer, which may not be what you want.
The OPTION button will give you some choices about how you want the plugin to operate.
THE OPTION BUTTON
This is a closeup of the OPTION button menu:
Position Lock to DAW – when checked, the plugin syncs its sequencer to the DAW’s tempo. Unchecking this will stop the plugin from automatically playing when your DAW is playing.
If you are not going to use the onboard sequencer, unchecking this is the first thing you should do. If you are using the onboard sequencer, leave it as is.
Drag & Drop Pattern as MIDI – when checked patterns can be dragged to a DAW track as MIDI
Drag & Drop Pattern as Audio – when checked patterns can be dragged to a DAW track as Audio
THE PANEL BUTTON
The PANEL button shows additional parameters for each instrument.
The GAIN knob is the key to getting big sounds out of the TR-909. Gain emulates overdriven circuits in a musical way.
The PAN knob puts the sound in the left or right speaker.
THE EDIT BUTTON
The EDIT button reveals the TR-909’s sequencer.
THE SEQUENCER
Inputting notes on the sequencer is intuitive. The default grid is 1/16 notes, and each pattern (A-H) is one bar, which is why it is helpful to chain patterns together to make longer sequences. More on Patterns in the next section.
The LAST STEP, WEAK, FLAM, and SUBSTEP buttons, circled in purple, can be clicked to input different note variations. LAST STEP lets you choose how long your pattern is. You can create some interesting rhythms by choosing a different LAST STEP for each instrument.
PATTERN VARIATION BUTTONS
Patterns can be triggered in sequence by holding shift and clicking each pattern variation button (A-H).
These yellow A-H buttons are also where patterns can be dragged and dropped from.
Click and hold on an A-H button and drag the pattern to a track on your DAW.
If the EDIT button has been pressed and the sequencer is shown there is more information about the patterns available.
The red pattern buttons select which pattern you are editing in the sequencer. If you’ve shift clicked on the yellow pattern buttons (A-H) you will see that the red pattern buttons follow the A-H playback sequence. The column next to each instrument in the sequencer also shows what pattern they are playing.
WRAP UP
The TR-909 plugin (as well as the 808/707/727) has many more features including sub outputs, midi pattern triggering, drag and drop to midi or audio, advance shuffle and more.
To see some other ideas and techniques, check out the 8 Secrets of the 808 series:
https://articles.roland.com/8-secrets-of-the-808/
808 & 707 Similarities
Notice the PANEL, OPTION, EDIT, START STOP buttons on the 808 and 707 below: