Inner City/Big Fun (Circuit Rhythm Instrumental)

video upload by Guinan

"Written in 1987 and released in 1988 Inner City’s ‘Big Fun’ was one of the first big crossover hits for House music internationally. Composed with minimal equipment and featuring Paris Grey’s iconic vocal, it set the template for many imitators and subsequent hits.

In the interview below Kevin Saunderson states that all he wanted to create was a track that could be played at the Paradise Garage, the birthplace of House. Nearly 40 years later it can still fill a dancefloor.

Much of the essence of the track comes down to the sampled sounds used. I’ve tried as far as possible to use the original sound sources for my samples and have recreated a version that fits the track into the Circuit Rhythm. What you hear (on both the instrumental and vocal versions) is recreated entirely on the Rhythm and recorded direct from the audio outs. See below for more details."

How Kevin Saunderson Made Big Fun

video upload by Mixmag

Roland AIRA TR-8 Rhythm Performer Drum Machine w/ Original Box

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via this Reverb listing

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"Roland TR-8, tested in great working condition. Includes original box and power supply."

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Roland MC-505 Groovebox / Workstation

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via this listing

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Roland XV-5080 Rackmount Synthesizer Module SN ZN40607

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via this listing

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Roland System 700 Lab jam #rolandsystem700 #system700

video upload by analogia pl

Roland TR-1000 In-Store Play

video upload by INHALTVIDEO

"Big thanks to Perfect Circuit [TR-1000 here] for letting me record a bit of the excellent new Roland TR-1000 drum machine. Definitely takes a second to understand the instrument selection and editing process so don’t take this as some musical masterpiece. I was primarily interested in the analog voices so that’s what I was playing with in this clip. But as expected, the machine sounds exactly as it should. I was very impressed with both the build quality and the accurate sound."

Roland SR-JV80-07 Super Sound Set Demo

video upload by Panu M Savolainen

"Roland JV-2080 and Eventide Space used for some sounds of this demo. All sounds are from the expansion card. Pictures are from old studios from the early 2000s."

Roland GR-500 GS-500 Guitar Synthesizer External Synth With ARP Odyssey

video upload by WayneJoness

https://gr300.com/GR-500.html

"Roland GR-500 GS-500 Guitar Synthesizer External Synth With ARP Odyssey

This video details using the Roland GR-500 guitar synthesizer with the ARP Odyssey analog synthesizer."

Roland Introduces the TR-1000 Rhythm Creator w/ TR-808 and TR-909 Analog Drum Circuitry

video uploads by RolandChannel

The TR-1000 is available now for $2,699.99. Check with dealers on the right for availability.

"The TR-1000’s analog engine features 16 of the most coveted circuits from the TR-808 and TR-909, faithfully recreated from the original designs with detailed engineering and carefully selected modern components. Alongside the TR-1000’s analog voices are powerful digital sounds driven by Roland’s latest advancements, including 21 circuit-bent TR-808 and TR-909 models built with Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology, FM percussion, virtual analog tones, and a deep PCM library for sonic exploration and fresh textures."

Playlist:

1. Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator | Egyptian Lover Performance
2. Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator | Everything You Need to Know
3. Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator | Everything You Need to Know

User videos followed by hi-res pics and the press release:

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The Crow Hill Company Adds Roland CR-78 Based RHYTHM MACHINE to VAULTS

video upload by CROW HILL

"Step back to 1978 and discover the iconic Roland CR-78, the first programmable drum machine that changed the way artists approached rhythm. Before the 808 and modern drum machines, the CR-78 gave musicians the power to create and store their own drum patterns. In the hands of artists like Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Blondie, it became iconic. For this Vault, we’ve preserved the much-loved character of the CR-78 and expanded its sonic potential with some tasteful effects."

https://thecrowhillcompany.com/free/

Press release follows:

The Crow Hill Company creates …RHYTHM MACHINE as latest free VAULTS… VI, preserving vintage classic’s character while expanding its sonic potential

EDINBURGH, UK: The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce availability of VAULTS - RHYTHM MACHINE as its latest VI (Virtual Instrument) release ready for all to download and make music with for free for the rest of their lives — literally preserving Roland’s 1978-vintage CR-78 CompuRhythm’s classic character as the Japanese giant of electronic musical instrument manufacturing’s first programmable drum machine (that changed the way artists approached rhythm and, in doing so, stamped its musical mark on a number of notable hit records that subsequently secured its iconic status in the annals of music technology history for all eternity), effectively expanding its sonic potential with some tasteful effects as a result — as of October 1…

Far from stretching the boundaries of truth, it is fair to say that the introduction of Roland’s CR-78 CompuRhythm changed the course of history as the first computer-controlled programmable drum machine. Most rhythm machines before its late-1978 introduction were preset-only affairs, forcing their users to pick from the likes of ‘Bossa Nova’, ‘Rock’, and ‘Waltz’ — more in keeping with the home organ-orientated terminology of the time. The CR-78, however, offered something new — namely, an ability to program rhythm patterns and store them in memory using the external WS-1 programmer optionally offered by Roland. Indeed, its 14 onboard instruments include bass drum, cymbals, hi-hats, rimshot, snare drum, and tambourine alongside several Latin-type sounds, such as bongos, claves, and cowbell — all generated using analogue circuits, giving it a distinctly warm, punchy character. Thanks to the CR-78’s analogue nature, though, the tempo control is not exactly surgical, but this foible only adds to its charm. And, as history has borne out, when placed in the creative musical hands of Blondie, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and others, it became an iconic instrument in its own right.

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Roland MC-202 // Analog Vintage Synthesizer // BEAUTY!

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via this Reverb listing

"This is the iconic Roland MC-202 from the golden era of analog synths... and this one is in beautiful condition!

The MC-202 was part of the Detroit, Belgium and Dutch house scene in the late 80s, early 90s. It's therefore becoming a rare unit nowadays, most units you find on the market were HEAVY used during those decades. Plus way less units were produced comparing to it's two fraternal twin the SH-101.

The MC-202 is basically a SH-101 with tons of additional sequencing features, CV in/out options, double sync etc... and a display! Its a gorgeous unit and it's sounds are all instant house music.

Important things to consider buying this beautiful unit from us:

No discolouration or faded teint of the outer shell like most units have!
Clean Battery compartment, most units had battery leaks in the past creating future problems on the boards, like also the case in many 606 and 303 units.
Display like new, most units have faded/watery displays.
No destructive devaluating mods have been done, no drilling in the case, etc."

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Synth History: Ela Minus

video upload by Synth History

"The first episode of Synth History on musician and producer, ‪@ElaMinus‬! Synth History's web docuseries brings the Synth History interviews to life.

A Synth History production in association with Video Horse Films.

All music by Ela Minus.

Director: ‪@danz_cm‬
Producer: Danz CM & Matthew James Reilly.
Cinematographer: Max Flick.
Production Designer: Ambar Navarro.
Gaffer: Danner Gardner.
Grip: Rashad Stribling.
First Assistant Camera 16mm: Todd Kappelt.
Film Editor: Johann Flash.
Production Sound Mixer: Paul Cornett.
Makeup Artist: Alexa Cantarini.
Production Assistant: Doug Delacruz.
Sound Design: Carlotta McKittrick.
Mini DV Camera Operators: Max Flick & Ambar Navarro.
Visual Effects: Ariyan Hashemi.
Colorist: Hal Bowman.

Special Thanks: John Kopec, Willie Nedrow, Michael Stein, Pushkar Ojha, Domino, Gil & Roy, The Last Bookstore, Vidiots, CypherBlu, Moog."

Roland Juno-106 Analog Keyboard Synthesizer SN 508413

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via this listing

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Roland MC-707 Groovebox

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via this Reverb listing

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Roland TR 909

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via this Reverb listing

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Roland RS-09 Organ Strings Synthesizer SN 947450

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via this eBay listing

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Thoughts on the Juno-X in 2025

video upload by MR TUNA Music

"I have had the Roland Juno-X since it's release and it may seem almost redundant in my studio, especially with the big bad Jupiter-X looming behind me in the main shot, but despite being it's medium sized brother, the Juno-X has so much to appreciate and even some improvements on the aforementioned flagship.
Here's a few reasons I still really love my Juno-X:

0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Connectivity
1:25 - Turning the Juno-X on
1:54 - Original Juno series vs. Juno-X
2:45 - Getting started making sounds
3:00 - Pulse Wave Modulation
3:22 - Filter envelope settings
3:55 - Layering in oscillators
4:20 - Adding in classic Juno chorus
4:34 - Effects
4:59 - Layering sounds
5:40 - Inverted filter envelope pad
5:59 - Together
6:36 - Part 3: Arpeggiated pluck
6:47 - Assigning arpeggios
7:48 - A big arpeggiated sound
8:34 - Part 4: Piano
9:04 - Everything Everywhere All At Once
9:40 - Bonus USB MIDI control
9:53 - Part 5: The Rhythm Section
10:13 - Playing with drum beats
11:35 - Thanks for watching"

bento multisampling tutorial - automatically multisample other synths!

video upload by 1010music

"1010music samplers can automatically multisample other synths, complete with split zones and velocity layers. Here we show you how it's done on bento, our sampling production lab using vintage Roland Juno and Casio CZ-5000 synthesizers."

Roland CR8000 CompuRhythm w/ Original Box

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via this Reverb listing

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New Roland TR-1000 RHYTHM CREATOR Incoming

Update: teaser videos added below.

This one was sent in via an anonymous reader. It's apparently from a Sweetwater catalog.

The text reads:

"NEW!

Meet the TR-1000:
Roland's Legacy Rhythms Reborn

Blueprinted with unprecedented potential, the Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator marries historic heat, analog presence, and digital precision into a polychromic powerhouse built on the masterfully re-created circuits of the legendary TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines. Its hybrid architecture houses a trio of synth engines, bringing a prismatic palette of FM, PCM, and VA possibilities to the TR-1000's analog foundations, with ACB modeling supplying the coveted circuit-bent sonics of the 8X and 9X models. Over 2,500 onboard sounds join a wealth of digital and analog effects while the suite of classic-to-contemporary connectivity effortlessly integrates the TR-1000 into any arrangement. Add in cutting-edge Morphing performance controls, next-gen TR-REC sequencing. true-stereo re/sampling, and an unbridled array of sonic contouring tools, and you've only scratch the surface of the TR-1000's kaleidoscopic capabilities — vintage heart, modern soul. and endless exploration waiting to be discovered by you."

If legit, I'm curious how it will compare the the TR-8S. Note the change in design aesthetic. Reminds me of the GAIA with a touch of Elektron gear. Note the Morph slider on the bottom right and display on the top right.

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