| Synth Name: | TR-505 |
| Synth Manufacturer: | Roland Corporation |
| Synthesis Type: | Digital sample-based |
| Polyphony: | 8 voices |
| Oscillator: | N/A |
| Ext Control: | MIDI in/out, start/stop foot pedal jack. |
| Sample: | 8-bit unsigned PCM data, with a 25.00 kHz sampling rate |
| Velocity: | No |
| Memory: | Patterns: 48 user, 48 preset. 6 Songs. |
| Fx: | No |
| Dates: | 1986–1991 |
| Price: | $318 US (1986) |
| Synth Hardware: | Main panel features a simple LCD display, 15 buttons, 2 knobs, 16 trigger pads, 2 outputs for left and right/mono, headphone jack, and tape input/output. |
| Keyboard: | 16 pattern keys |
| [[Velocity]]: | No |
| [[Aftertouch]]: | No |
| Split: | No |
The Roland TR-505 rhythm composer is a drum machine and MIDI sequencer released by Roland Corporation in 1986.[1] [2] It hails from the same family of drum machines as the Roland TR-909, TR-808, TR-707, TR-626 and TR-606. The drum kit includes basic rock drum sounds similar to those of the TR-707, plus a complement of Latin-style drum sounds similar to those of the TR-727 (the Latin version of the TR-707)[3]
Samples in the TR-505 are stored as 8-bit unsigned PCM waveforms at a sample rate of 25 kHz. The TR-505 offers some major improvements over the TR-707, including 16 digitally recorded PCM drum sounds (four more than the TR-707) and five Latin percussion voices from the TR-727, reducing the need to buy a separate unit or PCM card.[4]
Summary of drum voices:[5]
| Low conga | Hi conga | Timbale | Low cowbell | Hi cowbell | Clap | Crash | Ride | |
| Kick | Snare | Low tom | Mid tom | Hi tom | Rimshot / sidestick | Closed hi-hat | Open hi-hat |
Although there are 16 drum samples, the TR-505 only has an 8-voice polyphony, restricting some sounds from playing simultaneously: low conga or hi conga; timbale, low tom, mid tom, or hi tom; low cowbell or hi cowbell; hand clap or rim shot; crash cymbal or ride cymbal; closed hi-hat or open hi-hat.
The TR-505 offers very limited voice editing in the form of volume, velocity, MIDI channel, and MIDI note of each voice as a global parameter.
The TR-505 contains 48 factory sequencer patterns, organized into 3 pattern groups (A, B, and C). The drum machine can also store 48 user created sequencer patterns, organized into 3 pattern groups (D, E, and F).
The TR-505 features five basic modes, including the following:
An accent can be applied to any position in a pattern and will affect all instruments triggered at that position by increasing output volume.
Users can copy, insert, or delete one or more steps in any given pattern, and copy, insert, or delete patterns anywhere in a track (song).
Each individual pattern is a single measure long, The default time signature is 4/4 consisting of 16 steps and quarter note scale, resulting in each step representing a sixteenth note. Other time signatures can be programmed by changing the Last Step (length of patterns) and the scale, allowing for shuffle and swing rhythms.
Two or more patterns can be combined, using pattern chaining, to play as a single pattern. Each pattern in the chain occupies a pad, but it will only trigger the chain as a whole, not the individual pattern.
Up to six tracks (songs) can be programmed using combinations of patterns. Each song can consist of up to 423 bars (patterns).[6]
The TR-505 consists of 16 individual instrument/ pattern pads. The pads are not velocity sensitive, but can be modified by the accent parameter.
The TR-505 can transmit and receive on MIDI channels 1 through 16 and Notes numbers 25 to 99. It also contains a MIDI Omni mode allowing it to receive all MIDI data. The TR-505 responds to the following MIDI messages:
The TR-505 can store 48 ROM patterns, 48 RAM patterns, 6 tracks, and a maximum of 423 measures.[7]
The Tape interface (in/out) allow the Tracks and Patterns in internal memory to be stored on external tape. Data can be Saved, Verified, and Loaded from the tape.
There are companies, websites, and magazine articles documenting a DIY process for circuit bending and modifying the factory setting of the Roland TR-505. An example of a few modifications include changing audio samples,[8] voice circuit bending,[9] adding individual audio outputs,[10] adding CV outputs,[11] adding pitch change to each voice, and adding circuits to randomize sequences.