Get the TR909 upfront presences from the TR1000 ... or anything else for that matter!

video upload by Starsky Carr

"How Close Is Close Enough? Is the TR-1000 really a TR-909 replacement… or is that missing the point entirely?

In this deep-dive comparison, I also put the Roland TR-1000 head-to-head with my original Roland TR-909 to see how close we can actually get — and more importantly, where the differences really matter.

Roland are clear: this isn’t meant to be a clone. But with TR-909-style analogue circuits, 808-inspired elements, and ACB models under the hood, it begs the question… can you sell your 909 and fund a TR-1000 instead?

After putting these 2 together I realised the biggest tonal difference isn’t to get that live 909 vibe is the main outputs. The TR-909’s main outs are band-limited, with less low-end and a high-frequency tilt that creates that bright, exciting presence. Using Logic’s Match EQ, I recreate that curve so you can apply it to:

TR-1000 outputs
909 samples
Any 909-style drum machine

I’ll also upload the reference files and EQ settings over on Patreon so you can try this yourself.

🎛 What’s Covered in This Video

Kick, snare, clap, rim & tom comparisons
Analogue voices vs ACB models (and why that’s ironic…)
The real difference between main outputs and individual outs
Why the 909 sounds more “band-limited” and less hi-fi
Frequency analysis & Match EQ deep dive in Logic
The exact EQ curve to give your 909 samples that crusty main-out character
Why obsessing over 1:1 matching might be missing the point


Each 909 is different anyway — 40 years of component tolerances and ageing guarantee that. So instead of chasing identical tones, I focus on character, feel, and what actually works in a mix.

🎧 Who Is This For?

If you’re into:

Techno / house production
Drum machine sound design
Analogue vs digital debates
Vintage Roland gear

Getting obsessive about tiny tonal differences 😄

…this one’s for you."