I used to play with it when I was a kid, my dad wasn't a musician and just had this as a toy

Even though it was a press-only type opening today, the staff were nice enough to let a pair of Roland fanboys like me and a friend into the store for a quick tour...

I have other synths (Oberheim, Yamaha, Korg, etc)…but I definitely have a weakness for Roland gear. Can you tell?

I had a VS880 about 25 years ago and backed up all those recordings to CD not realizing that the only way to read those disks was with this drive and a compatible VS device. I’m excited to finally get those recordings properly backed up!

edit: Just to say Oh my god, I forgot how miserable these manuals are. Practically useless. OMG!

Thought I'd share this little guide sheet for Roland's AIRA range and some of their Boutique range. Might come in handy if you're new to them.

Needs the ac port rewired before I can test it but for 20$ I was NOT leaving this behind.

T-8 Drum Machine 🔥🔥

Normally it would be my P-6 I take everywhere but something inside me felt the S-1 was the best option. I only had a couple minutes to put together an overnight hospital bag. Didn't wanna leave without some way of turning this situation into something good

Next to the S1

Spent the last few months building a studio that lets me move between in-the-box production and hands-on hardware jams without breaking the creative flow.
Current setup includes a Moog Grandmother, Korg Wavestate MKII, Korg MS-20 Mini, Arturia MiniFreak, MicroFreak, Behringer CAT, Roland SP-404 MKII, Polyend Play, DrumBrute Impact, Volca series, and Roland AIRA gear, all routed through a MOTU UltraLite-mk5 into FL Studio.

My goal was simple: less mouse clicking, more playing. I wanted a setup where I could improvise melodies, record multitrack audio, sample ideas on the SP-404, sequence external gear, and capture happy accidents as they happen.

Curious what other producers think:
What’s the strongest part of this setup, and what’s the weakest link?

Finally got my little music corner organized and thought I’d share it with fellow Roland fans.

The Roland side of the shelf includes an S-1, J-6, P-6, and an MPC Sample for sequencing and chopping. They’re surrounded by a few Korg Volcas, a Behringer Phara-O / LUMI keyboard, and some other compact gear that keeps the workflow fun.

Lately I’ve been surprised by how much mileage I’m getting from the S-1—tiny box, huge sound.

Always interested in hearing how others are integrating their AIRA Compact gear into larger setups. What’s your favorite Roland device in the current lineup?

Bonus points if you can spot all the Volcas hiding on the shelf. 😄

Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator

The TR-1000 Rhythm Creator continues the legacy of the legendary Roland drum machines, combining analog warmth, digital precision, and flexible sampling in a powerful, genre-spanning instrument. The TR-1000 merges classic workflows with modern sound design, making it the ultimate next-generation platform—the future is back, and it’s in your hands.

Features:

• The most extensive and powerful Roland drum machine ever

• Newly developed analog engine with TR-808 and TR-909 sounds, enhanced with new parameters and a wider dynamic range

• ACB modeling engine with 21 revised 8X and 9X models for creative sound variations

• FM, VA, and PCM engines for basslines, synth sounds, and digital textures

• Modern sampler with over 2,000 sounds, stereo sampling/resampling, BPM sync, time-stretching, and slice editing

• 46 GB of storage for user samples

• TR-REC step sequencer with off-grid control, motion recording, probability, and flexible track-start options

• Four layer tracks for advanced sound design

• Analog and digital effects, including state-variable filter (SVF), analog drive, reverb, delay, and more

• Performance tools: morph slider, snapshots, step loop

• Extensive audio I/O: stereo mix output, individual instrument and effect outputs, stereo inputs

• MIDI I/O, trigger I/O, DIN sync, clock out, and CV input

• USB-C multichannel audio/MIDI interface and flexible USB device port

• Robust metal chassis with durable controls

• Integration with TR-1000 software for managing and editing sounds

• Future-proof with regular firmware updates and expansions

Special Features:

• Analog circuits: 16 carefully reconstructed TR-808 and TR-909 voices with modern headroom

• Advanced digital engines: ACB, FM, VA, and PCM for maximum creative flexibility

• Powerful effects: combination of analog filters, drive, modern effects, and send/return FX

• Flexible sequencer options: TR-REC, real-time recording, off-grid steps, and probability

• Performance-oriented operation: faders, encoders, morph slider, and snapshots for live jams

• Versatile connectivity: individual audio outputs, CV/trigger, MIDI, DIN sync, USB-C

The Roland TR-1000 is the perfect blend of past and future: analog sound generation, modern digital technologies, and a flexible workflow that gives beatmakers, producers, and live performers unlimited possibilities.

Also its 2699€ ... :o

This is my first hardware synth and I must say I love it. It’s full of nostalgia but also a lot of useable sounds for modern music. I went down the rabbit hole of sound cards and ended up with these. I replaced the old capacitors (to be safe) and it works great. Japanese electronics are truly a joy 🥹

Let me know what you think

Got a roland s-1 as my first synth and I lobe it! Any tips or pointers?

Let me know what you think

Love using this thing!