Conference napalm::commusic_v1

                             -< ROLAND TR-626 >-
    
      I recently bought the TR-707 and am very happy with it except
    for its lack of latin sounds (cabassa, timbales, congas, etc.).
    I'd like to know what sounds the 626 offers, and also any advantages
    that this machine has over the 707, (I understand that the 626
    doesn't incorporate a mixer on the machine like the 707 does).
    
                                                        Ron

    
    But, but, doesn't the 707 have a sibling called the 727 which does
    do Latin sounds? Plus you get another mixer for those.
    
    Does the 626 allow you to tune the percussion sounds?
    
    /pjh

    the 626 has: 2 bass drums,	3 snare drums, 2 timbales, 6 toms, open
    and closed hi-hat, crash, china cymbal, rim click, shaker, ride,
    ping, cowbell, 2 agogo bells, lo, hi, and muted conga, and tambourine.
    (hope I didn't miss anything) 
    all sounds are tuneable (+7 to -7), volume for each drum is adjustable
    , volume for each drum in accent mode is adjustable, there are 8
    individual outs, plus 2 stereo and mono.
    I just figure out how to write in 7/8 time, and I'm thrilled.
    there are also flams, which are adjustable through 4 levels, from
    tight to very open.  Wide open flams can sound like 32nd notes.
    You don't get slider controls, but you can adjust everything through
    software, and it will remember.  Also, if you go out one of the
    individual outs, that sound is not sent through the main out.
    This way you can add tons of reverb to your snare, but not your
    timbales.  You can also store tracks on memory cards.
    problem: when controlling from my keyboard (for velocity sensitivity)
    	one of the bass drums is the b below the bottom c on the keyboard.
    this means I'm going to have to change the whole friggin midi layout
    to make it ergonomically pleasing. (I'd like to have both bass drums
    near one another, not one up 4 octaves from the other.

    Can you reassign the note numbers the individual sounds respond
    to?
    
    len.
    

    re -.1
    yes
    

    
    
    How much is this beast going for?  Also, how do the cymbal sound
    compare with the 707?  Any better?
    
    Ralph
    
    

    I've seen the 626 for $398.00 at American Musical Supplies(m/o).
    Don't know how about the 626 cymbal sound, but it must sound
    better than the 707's.
    
                                                       Dubmaster

    
    one might assume, since it's tunable. Hmph. Is the human interface
    as cryptic as the 707 or is it a bit easier?
    
    /pjh_who_gets_confused_when_hitting_multiple_keys_and_power_switches

    I don't really know how the 707 cymbals sound, but they arent too
    bad. The hi-hats are actually quite good (although on recordings
    I still dub in my own hi-hats.  Diddles and your left foot are still
    not programmable parameters.) The china is great, because of the
    
    tuning, you can go from a 14" swish to a 26" pang with no problem.
    The human interface is still a pain, and the buttons are not as
    responsive (read: quick) as I would like. (solution: control with
    my keyboard)  
    I paid $350 cash including tax.  This is unbeatable.  The best deal
    I've seen is $395 in Venemans Drum Center (east coast mail order).
    This price was at the Guitar Center in Hollyweird.
    
    The unit also has claves and handclaps, and if you use an external
    EQ, you can get very realistic sounds.  I prefer a Bass Drum with
    less muffling, a snare with a lot of ring (stewart copeland, Alex
    Van Halen, Alan White), and Neal Peart toms.  From a demo I heard
    (a very quick 'hit the button and listen to this') the 626 blows
    the 727 and 707 and 505 off the map.  If I could sample a sound
    or two, I'd be even more ecstatic, but for $350 including tax.
    I'm semi-content.

    Let me try again...
    
    The 626 goes for $289 at american musical supplies.  I can get
    you the address if you like (AMS is a mail order co.).

    Please do...
    
    It goes for $425 at Union Music....
    
    Edd

            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
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Note 2758.0                  MIDI interface question                     1 reply
WR2FOR::PORTERA_DA                                    7 lines  25-OCT-1991 18:08
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    After reading the manual for the tr-626 roland drum machine, I was
    unable to determine whether the unit has the capability to send 
    program changes to external midi devices. Does anyone know if it
    is or isn't possible??
    
    _da (looking for the MIDI experts)

            <<< DNEAST::SYS$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;2 >>>
             -< * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * >-
================================================================================
Note 2758.1                  MIDI interface question                      1 of 1
DRUMS::FEHSKENS "len, EMA, LKG1-2/W10"               10 lines  28-OCT-1991 11:16
                               -< Probably Not >-
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    Roland's MIDI documentation is usually pretty complete.  There should
    be a sheet with *very* small print (looks like a reduced copy of a
    printout) that specifies in detail all MIDI messages sent and received.
    In the section on messages transmitted, if program change is not
    listed, it can't send it.  My guess is, it being a drum machine, it
    can't send program change (I can't imagine how you'd program it to do
    so anyway).
    
    len.