Roland TR-6S: build a kit

19 drum sounds this box makes on its own, in the order to build them.

Record each hit with the sampler, recorder, or DAW you use.

This block draws on the TR-6S Parameter Guide eng02, pp.7-10 and the TR-6S Owner's Manual eng02, p.17; its values are starting points.

Everything else about the Roland TR-6S

1KICK 1Short, front-loaded kick
kick · hard
- TONEBD category, ACB
  ATTACK below exists only for ACB tones of the BD category (p.7)
- TUNE4(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY92(0…255)
- ATTACK178(0…255)
  Attack strength of the bass drum
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ATTACK48(-128…127)
- REVERB SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 1.
2KICK 2Long, tuned-down kick
kick · dark
- TONEBD category, ACB
- TUNE-30(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY176(0…255)
- ATTACK64(0…255)
- INST FX TYPELPF(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- LPF DEPTH150(0…255)
  On this filter a *higher* Depth lowers the cutoff, deepening the LPF (p.8)
- REVERB SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 2.
3KICK 3Driven kick with a broken top end
kick · dirty
- TONEBD category, ACB
- TUNE0(-128…127)
- DECAY110(0…255)
- ATTACK200(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEDRIVE(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DRIVE BALANCE190(1…255)
  The range also carries OFF, which is not a number and so is not modelled here
- DRIVE96(0…255)
- DRIVE LEVEL110(0…255)
  Drive raises output; trim it back here (p.9)
- REVERB SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 3.
4SNARE 1Tight snare, wires up
snare · hard
- TONESD category, ACB
  SNAPPY below exists only for ACB tones of the SD category (p.7)
- TUNE12(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY84(0…255)
- SNAPPY190(0…255)
  Volume of the snare wires
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ATTACK40(-128…127)
- REVERB SEND30(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND12(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 1.
5SNARE 2Open snare with air on the tail
snare · bright
- TONESD category, ACB
- TUNE34(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY132(0…255)
- SNAPPY224(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEH BOOST(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- H BOOST120(0…255)
- H BOOST FREQUENCY168(0…255)
- REVERB SEND64(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND28(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 2.
6SNARE 3Crushed snare, sampling rate pulled down
snare · dirty
- TONESD category, ACB
- TUNE8(-128…127)
- DECAY100(0…255)
- SNAPPY160(0…255)
- INST FX TYPECRUSHER(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- CRUSHER BALANCE180(1…255)
- SAMPLERATE96(0…255)
  Higher settings lower the sampling frequency — more lo-fi, not less (p.10)
- CRUSHER FILTER190(0…255)
  Lower it to take the harsh top off (p.10)
- REVERB SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 3.
7SNARE 4Snare with nothing on it
snare · clean
- TONESD category, ACB
  SNAPPY below exists only for ACB tones of the SD category (p.7)
- TUNE0(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY96(0…255)
- SNAPPY176(0…255)
  The wires are the noise in a snare, so grit rides them here — with THRU below there is no effect to push instead (p.7)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND28(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND14(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 4.
8CLAP 1Hand clap with a short room
clap · bright
- TONEHC category
- TUNE24(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY112(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEH BOOST(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- H BOOST96(0…255)
- REVERB SEND96(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND36(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLAP 1.
9RIM 1Dry rim shot on the offbeat
rim · clean
- TONERS category
  HC holds it — this box has no rim shot instrument of its own
- TUNE16(-128…127)
  Hold [KIT], press [INST]
- DECAY40(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND48(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as RIM 1.
10TOM 1Low tom with the room left on
tom · dark
- TONETOM category, ACB — 808 Low/Mid/High/Full Tom
  COLOR is ambience on the 808 toms, and resonance on the 808 *Noise* Toms (p.7)
- TUNE-48(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY168(0…255)
- COLOR72(-128…127)
  On 808 toms this is the amount of noise/ambience
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND56(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as TOM 1.
11CLOSED HAT 1Tight closed hat, forward in the bar
closed-hat · hard
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE30(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY44(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ATTACK56(-128…127)
- REVERB SEND16(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLOSED HAT 1.
12CLOSED HAT 2Closed hat bit-crushed into a tick
closed-hat · dirty
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE44(-128…127)
- DECAY36(0…255)
- INST FX TYPECRUSHER(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- CRUSHER BALANCE220(1…255)
- SAMPLERATE128(0…255)
- REVERB SEND12(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLOSED HAT 2.
13OPEN HAT 1Open hat left ringing between the kicks
open-hat · bright
Routing — KIT Edit > MUTE, OH = CH — the closed hat chokes the open one (p.6)
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE36(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY150(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEH BOOST(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- H BOOST104(0…255)
- REVERB SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND32(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as OPEN HAT 1.
14OPEN HAT 2Open hat struck hard and cut short
open-hat · hard
Routing — KIT Edit > MUTE, OH = CH — the closed hat chokes the open one (p.6)
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE24(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY104(0…255)
- LEVEL176(0…255)
  Level is read after INST FX on this box (p.7)
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ENV DEPTH200(0…255)
  Scales the two below — without it their sign is a setting with no stated size (p.8)
- TRANSIENT ATTACK88(-128…127)
- TRANSIENT RELEASE-64(-128…127)
  Negative softens the release — the ring is cut rather than boosted (p.8)
- REVERB SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND16(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as OPEN HAT 2.
15OPEN HAT 3Open hat played gently, and short with it
open-hat · soft
Routing — KIT Edit > MUTE, OH = CH — the closed hat chokes the open one (p.6)
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE20(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY76(0…255)
  The shortest open hat on the box, and still well clear of the closed one
- LEVEL104(0…255)
  Under the pattern rather than on top of it
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ENV DEPTH160(0…255)
  Scales the two below — without it their sign is a setting with no stated size (p.8)
- TRANSIENT ATTACK-72(-128…127)
  Negative softens the attack (p.8) — grit rising is what puts the edge back
- TRANSIENT RELEASE-40(-128…127)
  Negative softens the release too (p.8): a gentle hit rings for less time, not more
- REVERB SEND56(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as OPEN HAT 3.
16RIDE 1Ride pattern on the open hat slot
ride · clean
- TONECC/RC category
  OH holds it — this box has no ride instrument of its own
- TUNE8(-128…127)
  Hold [KIT], press [INST]
- DECAY190(0…255)
- LEVEL150(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND56(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND32(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as RIDE 1.
17METALLIC 1Hat rung into a metal tick
metallic · dirty
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE60(-128…127)
- DECAY52(0…255)
- INST FX TYPERING MOD(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- RING MOD FREQ1400Hz(0…8000 Hz)
- RING MOD FINE-18Hz(-128…127 Hz)
- RING MOD BALANCE168(1…255)
  The range also carries OFF, which is not a number and so is not modelled here
- REVERB SEND16(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND72(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as METALLIC 1.
18GHOST PERC 1Clap dropped under the groove
ghost-perc · soft
- TONEHC category
- TUNE20(-128…127)
- DECAY56(0…255)
- LEVEL120(0…255)
  Sits under everything; the level fader is this value
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND48(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as GHOST PERC 1.
19NOISE 1Open hat opened out into a wash
noise · soft
- TONECH/OH category
- TUNE-40(-128…127)
- DECAY220(0…255)
- LEVEL110(0…255)
- INST FX TYPELPF(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER, SATURATOR, FREQ SHIFT, RING MOD, SPREAD)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- LPF DEPTH130(0…255)
- REVERB SEND140(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND88(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as NOISE 1.

1KICK 1Short, front-loaded kick

2KICK 2Long, tuned-down kick

3KICK 3Driven kick with a broken top end

4SNARE 1Tight snare, wires up

5SNARE 2Open snare with air on the tail

6SNARE 3Crushed snare, sampling rate pulled down

7SNARE 4Snare with nothing on it

8CLAP 1Hand clap with a short room

9RIM 1Dry rim shot on the offbeat

10TOM 1Low tom with the room left on

11CLOSED HAT 1Tight closed hat, forward in the bar

12CLOSED HAT 2Closed hat bit-crushed into a tick

13OPEN HAT 1Open hat left ringing between the kicks

14OPEN HAT 2Open hat struck hard and cut short

15OPEN HAT 3Open hat played gently, and short with it

16RIDE 1Ride pattern on the open hat slot

17METALLIC 1Hat rung into a metal tick

18GHOST PERC 1Clap dropped under the groove

19NOISE 1Open hat opened out into a wash