TR-909

The Roland TR-909 is a programmable drum machine that Roland produced in the early-to-mid 1980s. It is a hybrid design: the kick, snare, toms, rimshot and handclap are generated by analogue circuitry, while the hi-hats and cymbals are played back from short digital samples. Patterns are programmed on a step sequencer, and the unit provides MIDI, Roland's DIN sync, individual outputs and per-instrument level controls; its kick and hi-hat sounds are closely associated with house and techno.