Roland TR-606 User manual

^Roland®
Owner's Manual

TR-606^
Operation Manual
Important Notes
•This unit features non-volatile memory which
will retain the Data you have written (such
as Track compositions 1even when switched
off and disconnected from any external power
source. This back-up circuit, however, relies
on its batteries, therefore not available if the
batteries are fiat or not securely connected.
Please be sure to keep the batteries securely
connected even while using the AC adaptor.
I^Roland
..« Roland IOOOOOOrDri^^t..
|ll II II lllll II II llHl HII llhj 14
H_--

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
BASIC COURSE ^
Basic Connections _4
Front atid Back Panel Layout g
Writing Rhythm Patterns 7
Playing Rhythm Patterns 13
Composing the Rhythm Track 14
Playing the Rhytlim Track 15
ADVANCED COURSE ig
Control Descriptions \q
Other Connections )g
Playing Rhythm Patterns 23
Writing Rhythm Patterns 24
Composing the Rhytlim Track 29
Sample Rhythms 34
Specifications 43

INTRODUCTION
Tlu; Roland TR tt06 is aportablo, economical,
aulomaiic and fully piogrammalJle rliyiliin
device, wliicli can mernoriHe your own rhythms
will! exceplional flexibilily. With il you can
write and record diKerent percussive rhyliims
inio non-volatile memory (battery back-up),
with up to seven different drum sounds plus
accent. Then you can adjust the volume of each
percussion sound with individual level controls
for full flexibility over ilie final mix.
Programming several rhythms can be accom-
plished and stored in aparticular order in the
memory, forming the entre rhythm track of a
song. This music can then quite easily be
amended, since the TR-606 includes asimple.
yet effective, ediiting facility.
In this manual, we shall refer to each bar of
music as a"Rhythm Pattern".
So. the TR-606 lias mainly 2basic functions.
One of them is "Writing/Playing aRhythm Pat-
tern", the other is "Writing/Playing aRhythm
Track". The former describes the writing of in-
dividual bars into computer memory, to be
played later, while the latter discribes writing
the entire rhythm track of apiece of music into
computer memory .which also may be played
later.
The TR-606 can do all this, and more, so eacti
switch has at least two functions. Furthermore,
adjacent Rhythm Patterns may be "chained"
together into single, more complex patterns, for
divisions as small as slxty-fourtti notes, or for
more complex lime signatures.
When tising the Tiack Write function, eiglit
track positions give amaximum of seven dif-
ferent compositions of 64 bars each and one ot
256 bars, and can be chained together in various
combinations for extended compositions of up
to 256 bars each.
Aprogrammable D.C. BAR allows you to pro-
gram the final bar of aTrack composition to
begin again at the first bar.
The TR-606 can be connected to avariety of
digital sequencers, synthesizers and other
devices for synchronized rhythmic control of
sound, expanding its live performance, corn-
posing and recording applications.
The TR 606 is exceptionally compact, and for
maximum portability features battery opera-
tion for all functions including aself-contained
Headphone Amplifier for monitoring through
any Stereo Pleadptione. For extended battery
life, asocket is included on the back panel for
connection to an optional Boss ACA Battery
Eliniinator.
The TR-606 owner's manual has two courses
consisting of aBasic Course and an AdvanceiJ
Course, because these unique functions should
be completely understood.

BASIC COURSE
This Basic Course will provide essential infor-
mation needed to satisfactorily operate the TR-
606 Drumatix. For complete information and
more complex applications, reler to the Ad-
vanced Course fvlanual.
Basic Connections
Output Headphone jack
AC Adaptor jack
»Please connect aBoss ACA
Battery Eliminator to this
socket.
eDo not connect any other brand
of Battery Eliminator as this
could damage the internal cir-
cuitry of theTR-606.
Caution
It should be noted that when using the TR 606
by itself (without interfacing with other units
using the SYNC connection), the SYNC
iNPUT/OUTPUT switch on the back panel
should be set to the OUTPUT position. The
TR-606 will not operate with this switch at
the INPUT position.
Output Input
n
Synchrojack SYNC Switch
Guitar Amp.
SP Audio Amp. SP

BASIC COURSE (Confd)
Choostnc) Amplification
The TR 606 Rhyllirn Coinposer may be moni-
tored through any conventional ajnplilication.
but ideal amplification will reproduce its
realistic drum sounds faithfully with amini-
mum of added distortion and coloration.
Audio OUTPUT
The OUTPUT jack on the back panel of the
TR-606 presents the summed output of ttie in-
dividual INSTRUMENT MIX LEVEL (f) con-
trols as adjusted by the master VOLUME (A)
control to allow very precise control over the
TR-606 final output level and balance.
HEADPHONE Jack
The TR-606 also provides self-contained ampli-
fication for any conventional stereo liead-
pfiones through a'A inch stereo phone jack on
the back panel. The HEADPHONE OUTPUT
level is controlled by the master VOLUME
control (A) in combination with the individual
INSTRUMENT MIX LEVEL (g) controls.
Battery Eliminator
The rR-606 is fully portable, normally relying
on batteries for all internal hrnciiotis and to
power the self-contained Headphone amplifier.
To extend battery life, merely connect aBOSS
ACA Battery Eliminator this socket.
"CAUTION" Don't connect any other brand
of Battery Eliminator, as this could damage
the internal circuitry of the TR 606.
CAUTIONS (Refer to below leftl
eWhan the TR-SOB is not in use for long peri-
ods, remove the battery to prevent leakage.
»If battery voltage drops, effect becomes in-
ferior or no sound is produced. To prevent
that, replace the batteries.
•Be sure to keep the batteries securely con-
nected, even while using the AC Adaptor.
'Even if AC Adaptor cord comes out during
performance, if the batteries are connected,
the TR-606 will continue to operate.
•If this unit is not to be used for long periods of
time, please be sure to switch the power off
andremove the exausted batteries, or various
troubles may be caused by battery leakage.
Memory Back-Up
The TR 606 Rhythm Composer features anon-
volatile memory which will retain Rhythm
Patterns and Track compositions when switch-
ed 'OFF' and disconnected from any external
power source. The TR-606 relies on its batteries
for its back-up circuit to protect these memories.
Always replace the TR-606's batteries with a
complete set of fresh batteries when tlie RUN/
BATTERY Indicator LED ©either flashes
or fails to illuminate during the normal Run
condition of the TR-606. If the batteries are
changed quickly, within one minute, the
memory can retain the DATA.
(UM-2)'X4
AC ADAPTOR (OPTION!
Use BOSS AC adaptor
for AC operation.
Use of adifferent
adaptor may cause
improper operation or
no sound.
BOSS ACA-120
FOR i17V AC BOSS ACA-240
FOR 240V AC BOSS ACA-220
FOR 220V AC

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
Front and Back
Panel Layout FRONT PANEL LAYOUT
©TRACK/INSTRUMEfSiT (f) INSTRLJMENT MIX Controls (A) POWER SWitch/VOLUME Control
(^Rol^ld
(D) TEMPO Control
SCALE Selector
©CLEAR/RESET Button
(G) battery Ctieck/-
RUN Indicator
®RUN/STOP Button
(I) FUNCTION Button
BACK PANEL LAYOUT
Q- QQOQ- Q- Drum
(D MODE Selector
,::^f^z. ^^- ^_ m-606 ,
""' V^Hr '" "VSi# i~'"~ Compu'e' Comtolied
^^ ^^""" ©Indicator ""
-itix
(O) PATTERN GROUP indicator
;fj) PATTERN GROUP Button
K) SELECTOR Switches @TAP Button
HEADPHONE
OUTPUT
DC9V TRIGGER OUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
SYNC RUN/STOP
31

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
Writing Rhythm
Patterns
We will write a4/4 Bock Rhylhrn Pattern
(shown in Fig. 11 into tlie cornputer memory
location ctiosen by SELECTOR switcti (K) #1
.
Fig. 1
OH -#—#—« ^__J—^^1^ _j
^
BD
IStep No I
BD
SO
OH
CH
AC
2 3 4B67BIQ U1? IS 14 16 t6
titf!i*1
1<1
1
1i#
#<>tf »ttttt*t»t !1
«1t11 1 ^•1
PROCEDURE
1
.
Connect either headphones or an amplifier
to the TR-606, (see BASIC CONNEC-
TIONS).
2. Turn thePOWER swiich (A)on.
(Clockwise!.
4. Set the MODE selector (^ to PATTERN
WRITE position.
POWtH SW Oi ff*^^=»^\
3. Turn the TEMPO control (D) and IN-
STRUMENT MIX controls (D to the mid
point.
5. Press the PATTERN GROUP button (N)
to select Pattern Group I.
The PATTERN GROUP button (N)
switches alternately between Iand II and
illuminates the selected indicator.
i-g- on
6. Press the #1 SEl_ECTOR switch (K),
wtiicJT is tlie location where \A/e will \A/rite
the first Rhyilim Pattern.
"The selected indicator liilj should be
flashing.
^
While holding the #1 SELECTOR switch
@down, press the CLEAR/RESET
button (F).
fi)cl[ a«nRisi?T|/V-
PATTERN CltAB
ci®-^
Press the RUN/STOP button (H).
*The RUN/BATTERY LED@ lights
up and the other LED INDICATORS
(L) begin scanning across from #1 to
#16, step by step.
BUN -Q'-. BBl ItOI
9. Set the SCALE S6lector0to #1 ,then
press the FUNCTION button®.
'When the FUNCTION button Q) is held
down, the TR-606 displays the posi-
tion of every quarter note on the LED
indicators (1).
*If you make amistake, or wish to change
the SCALE, simply repeat operation 9.
(Refer to the ADVANCED COURSE
MANUAL for details).
]

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd}
10. While holding the FUNCTION button (1)
down, press the SELECTOR switch (K) ol
the last step in the measure. In litis case,
press #)6.
*The LED indicators (I) begin scanning
across from #1 to the last step that is
#16 in this case.
Once again, if you malce amistalce. just
repeat operation 10.
11.Select the instrument to be written by
rotating the TRACK/INSTRUMENT
selector ©. Set it at BD (Bass Drum) in
this case.
(track! instrument
Lim. .EJHr
sdcd -^^ \•lacv
Acm-1
12. Press the SELECTOR switches (K) corres-
ponding to the dots in the score (Fig. 1
1
one by one.
»The LED indicators (L) of the selected
steps will light, and you will hear the
selected instrument sound on those
steps.
*You can adjust the speed by using the
TEMPO control knob (B). This will allow
you to write at aslower speed, if afaster
speed proves difficult, etc.
13.
14.
"Erasing is completed when all the LED
indicator (E) lights are out.
The pattern can also be written in real time
by using the TAP method (M). While the
Rhythm is running, just press the TAP
button (y) at the appropriate places in the
measure.
'If you press the wrong SELECTOR
switch (K), just press the same SELEC-
TOR switch (K) again, and then the
written sound will be erased and the LED
indicator (l) will be turned off.
O
®
Repeat 11-12 (or the other instruments
in the Fig. 1example.
*BD Bass Drum
SD Snare Drum
LT Low Tom
HT High Tom
CY CYmbal
OH Open Hi-Hat
CH Closed Hi-Hat
AC Accent
*If you want to erase a note, simply
press the respective SELECTOR switch
(Q .When you want to erase all of the
notes of the selected instrument, hold
the CLEAR/RESET button (?) down
until all the notes are cleared.
(Ex. BD in this case)
jfRACkl NSTHUMENT /
LTHl .EJHt /
sdQ]-^"""^(Scv /
bdE]-^3'^^^=55==^ -mOH /PA! lEnNCLEfiH
AcCD-^^SssgJ/ -[Dch/ C®i
[WRITE/NEXT I
TAP
STEP BESET
15. Press the RUN/STOP button f
ni»i/STOP
*You have just written the Rhythm
Pattern indicated in Fig. 1into the
computer memory.
IMPORTANT NOTES
When pressing the button, do not fail to
release it once, and go on to the next
operation, except for the cases that it is
specifically instructed to keep pressing the
button. (The TR-6(X does not function
properly if you go on to the next operation
without releasing the button.!

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
16. Now, write the Rhythm Patterns in Fig. 2
into Die assigned rnemofy locations by
repealing the procedures from 6lo 15.
Fig. 2Assignments of Rhythm Patterns
•POSITION* PATTERN GROUP 11
5^ ^^- >-
„ij —J
—
d^S~J—»--#—J-J—J—J- J-J-J—J._J^J-
SD -^ iJ^ 5^-Z
BD aJL
^FOSITION-*PATTERISJGROUPl2
•^—.^ ->
cH mm. F^=i fi >..
p, Ij
—
et—-^h—^ #-Ti^—j^ ,gil
—
^j^—^^ ijZ
—
HT~^^ -^ i^-^
LT--,^ -^ -^ -.^Hh
-^ —«^^-
^pmm^lmmmm1rr-^mm
^—J.Z ,at—,^~
«Hi Hal
i
=CLOSE
=OPEN
CLOSE
=OPEN
NOTE
If ¥0
gain Accent.
*If you write OH upon CH, CH will
(step no|^ 1234567B910 11 12 13 14 16 16
BD
SD
OH
CH
AC ^^^^oII tItT
Tf t
a<i ^<i Mo• # ^
^^^^*
jStep No|-» 1234S 6 7a910 11 12 13
BD
SD
LT
HT
OH
CH 1^ ^
AC 4
**4) OOII

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
•k POSITION -+ PATTERN GROUP I3
7- yV
8il^^
CY I
HT —^-
LT —,^
SD —T-
BD -J^-'
-.^^ j^ j^
|SlBpNo|"* 12345 6 7B910 11 12 13 14 15 16
BD #
V^ -^- -j-
^^
JT
..^.i,. XJ ^-^
^^
SD
LT
HT
CY
OH
CH
AC ##9
f
O0-< I
**OO(»-
•POSITION -* PATTERN GROUP lA
=H^^3^^S ^
^
CY —
LT —
SD —
^
BD
V=^ ^^^
-X ^^ ^^
^J r::::^^^-^-^^
jr:^:^-^^-^
[StepNol-* 1234B678 9 10 It 1? 13 14 15 16
BD
SD
LT
CY
OH
CH
AC f#
tmo
-k POSITION -+ PATTERN GROUP 15
»- 3^ J- *- ;
RH_^^3-^
OH
CY-i
3>-*- »-
tr—
^
T1^/n
SD—
^
BD-J—
J-
_^tl- J-J-] 9J
(step No|* 1234567B910 11 12 13 14 16 16
BD t
SD T
CY
OH
CH ft
AC f
tItil «**
;;,
]0

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
kPOSITION -PATTERN GROUP 16
T»
8«-
so—
^
BD—J
—
_^_^ ^._^_^_^,^^^_^__^_^ |SlepNo|-» 12345 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 H15 16
-J SJ Jd~J #—
J
J—^ JJ—\ SD i
Si M-_^JL
-^ xra__^ ^AC
12345 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 H15 16
Vli iniu.'ij
<'#1 «lh4!ifil
*POSITION -» PATTERN GROUP 17
gB^^^^^-^s^m
?'-2L—-J' |stepNo|-* 1234S67B910 11 U13 14 15 16
au ^
SD—-^ -i-
BD- JlEl. Ura-„^
SD I
OH ^I^
CH I##
AC IffIf
T;!i
tiT
If!
llr POSITION -» PATTERN GROUP 18
CH_^^ ^-^
CY—«^ _^ 1^ ^
HT—
^
SD—
^
BD—J
—
^>> J-J—J-J
^
ij T-J—T^—J—t^
-^ S-^ 4i
[step Nq|«> 12 3 4667a 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 16
BD
SD
HT
CY
OH
CH
AC #t
tI*4M»#
#4
ti
41
<l 4> 41 I)
^
i/

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
*POSITION "* PATTERW GROUP 19
-J-
CH
OH
CY
HT —
^
^a^^^-.^SJ -M-^
-^ ^
-^
^-#-
SD —
^
t..r:3-4
:^-^ 3-^J-
[StepVioj>» 123-1 6 6 7a910 11 12 13 14 16 16
BD
SD
LT
HT
CY
OH
CH
AC
44O4*
OI» <(-
----o --
(I - - ---
oo- -(»
•POSITION -* PATTERN GROUP MO
CY -^t/-
sD-/y' —-^
im-i- t
-^
3-^J—^X
-^
-4^
-^
-v^
[Stepijo]-* 1234667a 9 10 II 12 13 14 16 16
BD
HSD
LT
HHT
H"'
OH
—
j
CH
AC
12

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
Playing Rhythm
Patterns
We have just ptoyiamniBci ten Rhylhrn Patlorns.
We will now play ihese Rhythm Patterns and
show some new functions.
PROCEDURE
1.Set the rhythm to stop position by pressing
RUN/STOP @.
Kl.M QuAJURY
nuN/STOP
2. Set the MODE selector (§) to PATTERN
PLAY.
3. Select Pattern Group I(N)
PAT TEHH GROUP
4. Select aRhythm Pattern by pressing the
SELECTOR switch (g) (press #1 in this
case).
"^^
5. Press the RUN/STOP button (H) to start the
rhythm running.
6. Press another SELECTOR switch (K),
(press H2 in this case).
'Ai the end of the first Rhyttim Pat-
tern, the #2 Rhythm will begin to play
and will repeat.
7. Press the SELECTOR switches (g) #2 and
#4 simultaneously.
•The LED indicators(L) tt2, #3, and #4
will light up, and the rhythms will play in
sequence from #2 to tt3 to tf4 and then
back to #2 again. p- 2-^ 3-' 4—i
*This is called CHAINING THE RHYTHM
PA TTERNS. Rhythms can be chained
up to four rhythms in ablock. The
TR-606 has four blocks, #1-4, 5-8.
9-12, and 13-16.
OOOOOOOO oooooooo
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
BLOCK IBLOCK 11
NOTE:
The TR-606 can only chain rhythms
within the blocks illustrated above, it
cannot for example, chain from #3 to
ti6.
10 II U13 M15
BLOCK Hi BLOCK IV
8. Press the SELECTOR switch (g) #1 again.
*The rhythm returns to #1 rhythm at the
end of the #4 rhythm and repeats rhythm
#/.
9. Press the RUN/STOP button ®to stop the
rhythm.
m
-p:-
i\ul-i -f J-BAIltfli
L®:
13

BASIC COURSE (Cont'd)
Composing the
Rhythm Track
We liave programmed ten Rhythm Patterns
shown in Fig. 2into the memory locations #1
—#10. Tluough [he use of these iliythms, we
will now compose an entire composition in
Track #1 according to the following conit)osi-
tion table.
Fig. 3Track Composition Table
I"l %«/
/• 1-2
1-5 1-6 1-7 1-8
i-9 1-3 1-9 1-4
1-9 1-3 1-9 MO
PROCEDURE
1
.
Stop the rhythm.
2. Set the MODE selector® to TRACK/
WRITE.
MODE
3. Set the TRACK/INSTRUMENT selector ©
to Track #1.
(thacR] instrument
iiH). .(a>"
sdQ] x'"^- IH'^''
BDta- ks^^^\ ^°"
«ctD- V'i-i^^v -ID™
4. Press ttie CLEAR/RESET ©button.
[D Cj[ BAH B£5£r|
t'AI Tl [INCLtAR
'This button re-sets the first bar of
the Track.
5. Select in PATTERr\l GROUP I@.
«-^ O.
pfti nmGROUP
6. Start the rhythm by pressing RUN/STOP
'^-'
11#U
"The rhythm previously recorded in
the 1st bar of the Track will be
heard.
Choose anew 1st bar Rhythm Pattern by
pressing aSELECTOR switch (K), in this
case #1
.
"The new Rhythm Pattern will play at the
end of the old rhythm, and will repeat.
8. Press the TAP button (M)
®uJ
jV^nilE. N£Xl [
TAP
SlEPnESET
10.
The running Rhythm Pattern will be re-
corded in the Track Memory as the 1st
bar, and the Track Memory is advanced
to the 2nd bar, and it will play the pre-
viously recorded old rhythm.
You can re-select anew 2nd bar Rhythm
Pattern and then press the TAP button
@to record it in Track Memory.
(Repeat the PROCEDURES 7SSfor
bars following the 2nd bar within a
block. 4patterns can be witten at once
between the 5th and 8th bar by following
method given in CHAINING THE RHYTHM
PA TTERNS, see page 11.)
'0:
y
Continue switching Rhythm Patterns
and logging them into IVlemory by press-
ing the TAP button @.
Repeat the PROCEDURES 7&8for
writing from the 9th bar to the one be
fore the last bar.
TAP
SIEPnCSEt
At the last bar, where the SELECTOR
switch #10 is pressed in this case, choose
arhythm and then press the CLEAR/
RESET button (F).
[p.c||barre5ct)
14

BASIC COURSE (Confdj
11.
•By pressing the CLEAR/RESET button
(F), you hai/e set the last rhythm as the
D.C. bar. The D.C. bar is the last bar in
the composition, and after playing the
D.C. bar. the Track will return to the
first bar of the Track and play the entire
Track again from the beginning list bar).
Press the TAP button (Q) to write ihe
rhythm as the D.C. bar in the Track
Memory.
TAP
Sl£Pn£S£T
12. Stop the rhythm. (Press the RUN/STOP
button)
HUN (3 BAfltfilf
HUN/STOP
Now you have programmed the entire
composition shown in Fig. 3, into Track
#1.
The program can be checked and corrected
trom the beginning of the Track by the
following procedure;
1) Stop the rhythm.
HUN/SIOP
2) Set the MODE selector (I) to TRACK
WRITE.
MODE
3) Press the CLEAR/RESET button (?)
to re-set the Track to the 1st bar.
fttC][BAH HEStT]
PMtERNClEAH
4) Start the rhythm.
aii
flUM/SlOP
Check the Rhyllim LED indicators (T)
which display the Rhythm Pattern
numbers.
5) If the rhythm number is wrong, press
the SELECTOR switch (k) to rewrite
the correct Rhythm Pattern, and then
press the TAP button (M) to write it
into Memory.
o-®
"rwmnE/Ntxi
Slfc>(l£S£l
if it is all right, just press the TAP
button (Q) to advance to the next bar.
6) Repeat step 5until you reach the last
bar (D.C. bar).
7) Stop the rhythm.
Acomposition of up to 64 bars in a
Track can be programmed. Ttie TR 606
has 8Tracks. Refer to ihe ADVANCED
COURSE MANUAL for details.
Playing the
Rhythm Track
.Stc pthe rhythm.
.Set the MODE se ector (B) lo TRACK
PLAY.
MODE
^•|£i«l'
•'• WHITE —^
mACKi
3. Set the TRACK/INSTRUMENT selector ©
to #1.
ItrackI instrument
nia. .mm
scQ] /'~^- Scv
•The PATTERN GROUP will be selected
automatically.
Press the CLEAR/RESET button ©to re-
set the Track to ihe 1st bar.
PATH HNCtfcAH
5. Start the rhythm.
,.,.^-,
HUN .'Slop
"The rhythm will run and return to the 1st
bar of the Track at the end of the D.C.
bar. This will be continuously repeated.
15

ADVANCED COURSE
Control Descriptions FRONT PANEL LAYOUT
(C) TRACK/INSTRUMENT (E) INSTRUMENT MIX Controls (S) POWER SWItch/VOLUME Control
(p) TEMPO Control \
... ,/^™^\...
SCALE Selector
(£) CLEAR/RESET Button
(S) BATTERY Check/'
RUN Indicator
(H) rum/stop Button
(J) FUNCTION Button
BACK PANEL LAYOUT
(fURolaKsd QQOOOODrumi
1WSIHIPMiNT MIX* ^(B) MODE Selector
,>is; ™TR-606 ff
Compuier Conlfolled
(L) Indicator """"
itix
(6) PATTERN GROUP Indicator
N) PATTERN GROUP Button
(K) SELECTOR Switches ®TAP Button
HEADPHONE
OUTPUT
DC9V TRIGGER OUT
OUTPUT
INPUT
SYNC RUN/STOP
16

ADVANCED COURSE
Control Descriptions (e) INSTRUMEWT mix Controls
Thesu coiiirols. located at ihe lop cenwr of the
control panel, are used lo achieve abalanced
mix between the various instrument voices
available witli the TR-606.
@TEMPO Control
This rotary pot is used to control the Tempo ol
the TR-6Q6's rhytlirns. Tempo is not aprogram-
mable function and may be varied during the
writing or playing of Rhythms or Tracks for
maximum control artd flexibility.
(C) TRACK/INSTRUMENT Salactor
This 8position selector serves tor adual
pitrpose. During the programining of Rhyttim
Patterns, it is used to select any one of 7dif-
frent instrument voices or Accent program-
med.
The second function of the control is as a
selector for the Bmemories used in composing
Rhythm Tracks. Each one of the Memories 1to
7contains storage capacity for 64 bars of aRhy-
thm Track, while tnemory 8has astorage capa-
city for 256 bars of aRhythm Track. Each of
these memories may be accessed individually for
programming or playback. Up to four tracks
may be chained together for composing Tracks
of extended length, with amaximum track
length of 256 bars.
(a) MODE Salector
This rotary control is used to select one of the
four basic operation modes of the TR 606:
PATTERN WRITE Moda allows you lo pro-
gram the available Rhythm Patterns (IB each in
Pattern Groups (N) Iand III to be programm-
ed with any desired rhythm for each of seven
available instruments plus Accent.
PATTERN PLAY Moda allows pertormance of
the 32 available Rhythm Patterns you have
programmed. Rhythm Pattern selections are
made using the 16 Selector Switches (K) and
the Pattern Group (N) Selector. Within certain
guidelines, adjacent Rhythm Patterns may be
chained together to performs as signle, or more
complex Rhythm Patterns.
TRACK PLAY Mode allows the performance of
an entire Rhythm Track composition program-
med into one or more of the 8TRACK Selector
positions.
TRACK WHITE Moda allows any of the 16
Rhythm Patterns programmed into Pattern
Group I(N) (or tlie 16 Pattern Group II rhy-
thms) to be combined into compositions
(Tracks) and programmed into any one or
more consecutive memories selected by the
Track Selector.
®POWER SWitch/VOLUME Control
The master VOLUME Control (A) also serves as
the power On/off Switch, cutting off all D.C.
power to the TR-606 when rotated fully
counterclockwise. For the TR-606 to perform
any function, this switch must be rotated clock-
wise past its initial detent. Tfie 'On' status of
the TR-606 may be checked using the various
LED indicators (L) on the front panel.
Once the POWER SWitch/VOLUME Control(g)
is past its initial detent, it will control the
overall output level present at the Output and
Headphone output jacks for amplification and
monitoring.
(?) CLEAR/RESET Button
Depending on the MODE Selector (§} position
and the RUN/STOP condition, this button will
perform the following functions:
When stopped in the PATTERN WRITE Mode,
this button will clear an entire rhythm pattern
by pressiiig it while tiolding tfie SELECTOR
Switch ©down for the Rhythm Pattern to be
cleared. The Scale and number of Steps in tlie
Rhythm Pattern will not change.
When running in the PATTERN PLAY Mode,
this button has no effect.
When stopped in tfie TRACK PLAY Mode or
TRACK WHITE Mode, this button Resets the
TH-606 so that it will begin with bar 1of the
Track selected when the RUN button (h) is
pressed. If litis button is pressed while the
FUNCTION buiton(I)is held down, tlie D.C.
bar will be displayed using the LED indicators
®.
When running in the TRACK PLAY Mode, this
button has no effect.
When tunning in the TRACK WRITE Mode,
this button writes the current bar into memory
as aD.C. bar, signalling the end of the track.
(g) BATTERY CHECK/RUN Indicator
This LED will light to indicate the Run condi-
tion. If the indicator flashes or does not illumi-
nate in the Run condition even if the other
LEDs still illuminates, replace all of the batteries
with new ones.
@RUN/STOP Button
This button alternately starts and stops the
running of rhythms and will perform different-
ly according to the position of MODE Selector
®.
©SCALE Selector
This selector determines the number of steps
assigned to each quarter note beat, as shown by
the relationship between the graphic illustra-
tion to the right of the SCALE Selector (3)and
the 16 SELECTOR Switches (K) below. The
position of the SCALE Selector(T)is memoriz-
ed into computer memory when the FUNC-
TION buttonQ) is pressed while running in the
PATTERN WRITE Mode.
17

ADVANCED COURSE (Cont'd)
(j) FUNCTION Button
This butloii will perform different functions
according to tfie RUN/STOP condition and itie
MODE Selector @position.
Wlien stopped in the PATTERN WRITE Mode,
this button has no effect.
When running in the PATTERN WRITE Mode,
pressing the FUNCTION butlon(J)will
mennorize the SCALE Selector(T)posilion and
virtually display the first step of each quarter
note beat using the 16 LED indicators (L)and
allows you to set the last step by pressing the
SELECTOR Switch (K).
In the TRACK PLAY and TRACK WRITE
MODE, pressing the FUNCTION button (j)will
display the current bar number witfiin the
Track using the LED indicators (L). While the
FUNCTION button (j) is being held down, the
SELECTOR Switches (K) and tfieir associated
LED indicators (L) may be used to change the
current bar number. Finally, while the rhythm
Is stopped, hold the FUNCTION button (j)
down while pressing eitlier the CLEAR/RESET
(f) or PATTERN GROUP (N) to display the bar
number of the D.C. or D.S. sign, respectively
using the LED indicators (L).
When running in the TRACK PLAY and
TRACK WRITE MODE, pressing the FUNC-
TION button (j) will display tlie current bar
running using the LED indicators (L).
(l) LED Indicators
The 16 LED Indicators (T) located directly
above the SELECTOR Switches ©are used to
indicate the Rhythm Pattern number. Steps
within aRhyttim Pattern, or Bar Numbers,
depending on the use of the other TR-606
controls. Details of these different applications
and reading Bar numbers are given in the Ope-
ration section of this manual.
(k) SELECTOR Switches
These 16 switches will perform different func-
tions according lo (he RUN/STOP condition
and the MODE Seleclor position.
When stopped in the PATTERN WRITE and
PATTERN PLAY Mode, the SELECTOR
Switches (K) determine whetlter individual
Rhythm Pattern or Chained Rhythm Pattern
will begin when the RUN/STOP button (fi) is
pressed. Amaximum of four adjacent Rhythm
Patterns within the blocks of 1-4, 5—8, 9-12,
and 13-16 may be chained together to perform
as one complex Rhythm Pattern and may be
played once or repeated as asingle unit.
When running in the PATTERN WRITE Mode,
the SELECTOR Switches (R) are used to write
the instrument selected with the TRACK/
INSTRUMENT seleclor (C) into specific steps
of the Rhythm Pattern. Details of this pro-
cedure are given in the Operation section of this
manual.
Wlien stopped in the TRACK PLAY and
TRACK WRITE MODE, holding the FUNC-
TION button @down allows the SELECTOR
Switches (K) to be used to select any specific
bar number within that track.
When running in the TRACK WRITE Mode, the
SELECTOR Switches (K) may be used to select
individual flhythm Patterns or to designate
Chains of Rhythm Patterns, f^ote: The Rhythm
Patterns heard here are not written into the
Track memory until the TAP switch (M) is used.
(n) pattern GROUP Buttori
Depending on the MODE Selector (§) position
and the RUN/STOP condition, this button will
perform the following functions:
When stopped in the PATTERN WRITE and
PATTERN PLAY MODE, and when stopped in
the TRACK WRITE Mode the PATTERN
GROUP button (N) switches tlie TR 606's
inemories between the 16 Rliythm Patterns in
PATTERN GROUP (fi) Iand the 16 Rhyihm
Patterns in PATTERN GROUP (g) II.
When slopped in the TRACK PLAY Mode, the
Pattern Group number which has been to
program the Track in the PATTERN WRITE
Mode will be selected automatically. Tlie
PATTERN GROUP button (H) itself will have
no effect.
When stopped in the TRACK WRITE or
TRACK PLAY, hold the PATTERN GROUP
button (N) down while pressing the FUNCTION
button (J), and the LED indicators (t) will
display the bar number to which the g- sign
has been assigned.
When stopped in the TRACK WRITE Mode,
the PATTERN GROUP button (N) selects the
PATTERN GROUP to be written into tlial
Track Memory.
When running in the TRACK WRITE Mode,
tfie PATTERN GROUP button (N) will assign
the current bar as tlie S- sign bar in the Track
memory.
(M) TAP Button
Depending on the MODE Selector (B) position
and the RUN/STOP condition, this button will
perform the following functions:
When running in the PATTERN WRITE Mode,
this button will perform the real time Tap pro-
gramming.
When running in the PATTERN PLAY Mode,
ttie TAP button (M) acts as aSTEP RESET
button (M) to cause the Running Rhythm
Pattern to immediately begin again from the
first Step of the current Rhythm.
When stopped in the TRACK PLAY or TRACK
WRITE Mode, the TAP button (M) will advance
one bar furtlier into the selected Track.
18