Shop Keyboard Deals, Financing, and More

Roland TR-6S Rhythm Performer

Virtual Analog Drum Machine with Sample Support and Onboard Effects
$399.99

Earn $20 back in Bonus Bucks OR pay $9/month with 48 month financing*

Find it used on Sweetwater's Gear Exchange
listed for
$310.00
In Stock!

Only 8 left in stock! More on the way.
Add to Cart
Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

What is a Sales Engineer?

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Roland TR-6S Rhythm Performer
In Stock!
$399.99
Add to Cart
Add to list
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Vintage TR Sounds and Modern Performance in a Streamlined Package

Powered by Roland’s proprietary Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology, the Roland TR-6S delivers the entire coterie of classic TR drum machines — including the 606, 707, 808, and 909 — in a streamlined unit. However, the TR-6S is so much more, arming users with the ability to upload their own samples and construct custom kits alongside the iconic kicks, claps, snares, and hats from the TR series — a feature that impressed synthesists at Sweetwater. Moreover, the TR-6S boasts a massive effects section, with numerous filter effects, dynamics processors, reverbs, delays, modulation effects, and a host of audio distorters, crushers, and manglers. With access to loads of sounds, modern and vintage, and limitless ways to manipulate them, the Roland TR-6S is the new-school drum machine with an old-school flair you’ve been looking for!

Combine your samples with classic TR drum machine sounds

Crafting your own signature sound in the modern musical landscape calls for layering individual elements, and the TR-6S Rhythm Performer is ready with support for WAV and AIFF samples. Packing every single sound from Roland’s entire range of TR drum machines, plus the ability to use your own samples, the TR-6S Rhythm Performer offers massive creative potential. Thanks to Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior technology, the TR-6S drum machine not only delivers all the authentic TR series sounds you know, but it also gives you a level of control and flexibility never before possible.

Old-school sequencing for the 21st century

Modern step sequencing would never have come about if it weren’t for the original TR-808 drum machine, and the TR-6S’s bank of 16 backlit, per-step pads instantly conjure up images of this beloved analog classic. In addition to the old-school TR-REC recording method that set the stage for many drum machines to follow, the TR-6S includes intuitive hands-on controls for programming each step with its parameter settings. Choose pattern sizes up to 32 steps long, with A and B parts and simple chaining to create longer progressions. What’s more, thanks to its flexible architecture, you can seamlessly switch back and forth between performing and sequencing to create and tweak your grooves on the fly.

Cutting-edge Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology

Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology captures the essence of their legacy synths, emulating every step in those units’ signal paths, down to the individual circuit board components. The Roland TR-6S leverages that technology to deliver a spot-on re-creation of the sound of the original TR drum machines. In fact, many synthesists at Sweetwater were unable to determine which were which in side-to-side comparisons. And unlike the original TR drum machines, the TR-6S is consistent across units, so you’re guaranteed to get the highest-quality tones possible for building epic patterns and sequences!

Roland TR-6S Rhythm Performer Features:

  • Equipped with the largest, most authentic collection of TR drum machine sounds available
  • ACB technology provides component-to-component modeling for unrivaled authenticity
  • Supports WAV and AIFF samples via SD card slot for layering your own creations with classic TR sounds
  • Contains 86 ACB tones and 300 factory samples
  • Step sequencer controls 6 instrument parts
  • Each pattern offers 2 fill types and 8 pattern variations for big performance potential
  • Built-in audio interface allows you to multitrack directly to your DAW
  • Enter steps manually or record your drums in real time to create grooves on the fly
  • Original TR-REC behavior provides an authentic TR series programming experience
  • 16 backlit per-step pads make pattern creation easy (supports up to 32-step patterns)
  • Dedicated Tempo controls and TR-909 Shuffle control lets you create beats that pulse and groove naturally
  • Solid MIDI clock sync provides tight timing with external gear
  • Power over USB or via 4 AAA batteries for ultimate flexibility

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: Drum Machine with Sequencer
  • Pads: 16 x Sequencer Trigger Pads
  • Sounds: Preset Samples, FM Sound Engine, Analog Circuit Behavior Tones: TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, TR-707
  • Kits: 128 x User Kits
  • Patterns: 128 x User Patterns
  • Sequencer: 16-steps per variation, 8 variations per pattern, 6 x instrument parts
  • Sampling: Sample Playback (WAV, AIFF)
  • Effects: Reverb, Delay, Compressor, Filters, Distortion, Fuzz, Phaser, Flanger, Ring Mod
  • Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4" (L/mono,R)
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/8"
  • MIDI I/O: In/Out/USB
  • USB: 1 x Type B
  • Storage: SD/SDHC Card Slot
  • Power Source: USB bus powered / 4 x AA batteries
  • Height: 2.37"
  • Width: 8.81"
  • Depth: 5.18"
  • Weight: 1.56 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: TR-6S

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

it's like having every classic drum machine

I wanted a simple drum machine that I could lay down beats easily with for my modular synthesizer. In this, I found a gold mine.

First off, this device is incredibly easy to program for. You can use traditional TR programming, you can use INSTA REC for quantized timed beats according to button presses, you can program several variations, you can record automations (called "motion"), you can use 3 FX at a time, you can use external inputs VIA usb, and it all comes in a fun little box with responsive sliders and knobs.

If you need a bigger system, there's the TR-8S, but the TR-6S perfectly fit my needs in a compact package that sounds incredible. Do make sure you plug into an isolated power source as ground loops are more likely the less isolated you are. Any usb into my PC causes a lot of noise, but plugging into an isolated source on my power supply puts out pure and clean tones.
Music background: mastering engineer
Rated 5/5

TR-6S: Why aren't these everywhere?

The TR-6S sounds amazing! It is the only drum machine I need to recreate almost any beat I hear in popular music. This alone is reason to buy it.

But I think the other huge standout feature is the mix faders. Faders are better than knobs. On many drum machines, if you want to mute a bunch of drum tracks and slowly mix them back in, you need to use knobs, and you can only twist two at a time. With the faders, I can mix in any or all drum tracks as slowly or quickly as I want.

It is easy to program and visualize a drum pattern. Almost no learning curve to get up and running with a great beat. Don't be confused by the 32 steps in the specs- you can have 8 variations within a pattern, so a beat can be far longer than 32 steps (you could technically encode a single pattern that spans an entire song).

It is preloaded with all the classic kits (finding myself really loving the 626) as well as FM engine and samples. With plenty of stereo effects. There are also many preset drum patterns for inspiration and to showcase its sonic capabilities (perfect for a beginner).

It's very compact (but not too small) and battery powered. While you can power it from USB, I'm coming around to battery power as I add more to my amateur studio and find myself not having enough spots on the power bar. A handful of rechargeable AAs and you're good.

Lastly, the price. It's comparable to an RD-8 (with far more sonic power), half a Digitakt, half a TR-8S (with the same power). I think it's offers the best price to performance in the market.

Caveats: I haven't tried to load samples via SD card yet, and it looks to be a bit of tedious process. Would be cool to have onboard sampling. Also, if you want to adjust kit or instrument parameters (eg. effects, spread, tone), there's an entire separate manual dedicated them. Programming these given the interface is not intuitive and takes time to learn. If anything, I think this highlights the depth and power of the TR-6S. But you really don't need to change them - the default kits sound terrific as is.

Anyway, that's my love letter to the TR-6S. I'm hoping you read this and realize this could be your first and only drum machine.
Rated 5/5

FUN BOX

The TR-6s is the best little drum machine. Create beats easily with so many different drum sounds & samples onboard. Not too difficult to navigate, but you should definitely check out tutorials before & after getting it. I'm sure the bigger TR-8s can do more, but for a compact little drum machine you can store in a drawer, or bag, you won't be let down. The portability of the TR-6s really puts it over. Oh yeah, it sounds amazing too. BOOM BOOM
Music background: Music Lover
Rated 5/5

Good bang for the buck

A very flexable drum machine. You get your traditional 606,808,and 909 sounds plus the fm drum synth. There are also fx on board. Easy to use and sounds phenomenal.
Music background: Artist and producer of heavy electronic music
Rated 4.5/5

Packs a lot into a small package!

The TR-6s is a great way to get original TR sounds without breaking the bank. It sounds great, takes up very little desktop real-estate and is easy to program beats with a minimal learning curve. Most of all, it is FUN to use! The only caveat is that the panel text is a bit hard to read in low light. It would have been better to have used bright white lettering.
Music background: Professional Musician/Arranger

Simply put, modern electronic music wouldn't exist without Roland. Many of the electronic musicians here at Sweetwater cut our teeth on TR Rhythm machines and fondly remember programming our first TB-303s. We owe a good part of our careers to this amazing and innovative company. It's been fun to watch and grow right alongside Roland, as they've introduced wave after wave of revolutionary keyboards, digital pianos, and more. For example, Roland's V-Drum Kits continuously redefine the possibilities of electronic drums, beginning with SuperNATURAL technology to the latest Prismatic Sound Modeling. We're huge fans, and we'd love to tell you all about them. Whether you want a pocket-sized synth or a cutting-edge video mixer, if Roland makes it, then Sweetwater is 100% behind it.

Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Success!

Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!