Compression; Gain; Tune; Decay - Roland Aoutique TR-09 User Manual

COMPRESSION

Compression is the process of lessening the dynamic range between the loudest and quietest parts of an audio
signal. This is done by boosting the quieter signals and attenuating the louder signals. The TR-09 features a
compression tool which allows us to apply an amount of compression to the BASS DRUM and the SNARE DRUM
(respectively.) The amounts are set uniquely to each sound, and effect all patterns and tracks.
To adjust the Compression
Press the [COMP] button
Select either the Bass Drum [1-2] or the Snare Drum [3-4] and use the TEMPO knob to attenuate the amount.
The display shows the setting
COMPRESION EXPERIMENT
I have a love/hate releationship with compressors. I need them, I love them, they're awesome. I hate them, they ruin
everything, they're horrible. So the idea is to learn when compression is wanted or perhaps needed to produce the
results we want, yes?
Write a pattern with just a kick. Press the [COMP] button and select the kick
Now rotate the amount up really high, and play around with the tune, level, decay, and attack knobs
Do you see how we can get some different and interesting sounds doing this? Interesting right?
Now try it with the snare.
EDIT MENU
The EDIT menu offers a few good tools for sound designing. You access the menu by pressing [SHIFT] + [COMP]
And then use the Tempo knob to srcroll through the available options

GAIN

This is a method of setting up a gain structure for your drum kits.
The value extends from 0 (silence) to 200 (wildly distorted) and can aid in making some viscious little sounds.
I use these in a fairly practical way to set up the basic sound of the TR-09 that I want, and then adjust the GAIN to
give me the maximum amount of headroom in a sound system. This is because what I usually think is going to be
perfect turns out to be all kick and nothing else. So the gain allows me to gainstage the sounds and get a great mix
pretty fast so that the knobs on the front of the drum machine are then enough to give a great performance without
saying things like "I can't hear the clap!" in the middle of the set to myself.

TUNE

As described in the KNOBS section, here you can address the tuning for the sounds which don't have a tuning knob
on the front of the machine.

DECAY

Also described in the KNOBS section, here you can set the decay values for the sounds which don't have a decay
knob on the front panel

PAN

Here's a cool way of doing a couple of things
1. Using a stereo output cable (stereo 3.5mm to Left and Righ for the mixer) you can set up a pannorama and get
your tom fills ripping from left to right, and image your cymbals into the stereo field.
2. You can set up the outs to be hard left for the kick, and hard right for everything else and get some separation for
mixing on the mixer.
PAN VALUES - L64 - C0 - R63
NOTE - This functionality Added to the TR-09 (Ver. 1.04)
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