Behringer RD-909 teaser photos of the new drum machine
It’s no secret that Behringer has been working on replicating one of the most iconic drum machines of all times known as the Behringer RD-909.
The RD-909 will be the successor to the 909 throne, and no better day to announce upcoming teasers of the pre-production prototype than on 9 September, Roland’s self-proclaimed international 909 day.
By the looks of the teaser photo most of the key elements that made the TR-909 are present, alongside some unique new features to bring the iconic drum machine into the new-age.
The Roland TR-909’s sound is credited for shaping genres from Hip-Hop to Dance in the late 80s and 90s and can still be heard in contemporary music across the board. If you’re a House or Techno producer, the chances are you have used a 909 sample without even knowing it!
The playability of the TR-909 presented new ways for electronic music creators to play drums live, from the programming of patterns, to the tweaking of parameters to the layering of live sounds on top, it was a truly revolutionary instrument – much more than just a machine.
Fast-forward over 30 years since the original release and it’s evident that the TR-909 is lacking in compatibility with newer setups and gear.
Not to mention the price makes a second-hand TR-909 almost unobtainable to many, Behringer has the answer…
The Behringer RD-909’s price is yet to be announced, however by the going rate it will undoubtedly be considerably cheaper than investing in the real-deal, and it also presents some interesting new features which we don’t see on the Roland TR-909.
The Behringer RD-909 will feature USB and DIN MIDI input/output and clock sync, and a built-in dual-mode analog filter. Something that caught my eye on the teaser photo, was the “Wave Designer”, is that a sample import function? to replace the now defunct cartridge system of the TR-909? I would love the ability to play the iconic 909 sounds alongside samples using the incredibly playable interface!
It looks like the Behringer RD-909 also has a built-in step and note repeat function with different divisions as trigger buttons. It also looks like this isn’t the last of the developments we’re likely to see on the Behringer RD-909, the teaser photo shows some possible “Drive” and “Pitch” parameter additions, as well as some advanced pad functions.
Behringer made the announcement on their Facebook page, so follow it if you’re keen to find out more.
