Is it just me, or is the 707 everywhere these days?

Mark76 · Post by **Mark76** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 1:44 am

I'm sure the humble TR707 seems to be more popular now than it ever has been previously.

I hear it loads nowadays loads of tracks seem to feature a cheeky 707 Hihat or snare somewhere in the mix.

I'm sure it's got everything to do with the availability of the TR8 expansion pack, but I must say I've dusted off my old 707 and it really seems to sound great at the moment. No, the claps aren't the same as the 909, I think they're actually sweeter sounding. Even that dreadful snare doesn't seem to sound quite as bad as it did in 1996 when I bought my 707 for about £100!

The kick sounds fantastic with a bit of Compression/EQ and the Rimshot is pure house!

Certainly had great fun the other night triggering the Roland Scooper with the 707 Rimshot, impossible with a TR8!

ninja6485 · Post by **ninja6485** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 6:12 am

I wouldn't know if it's become popular again, but it sure is an awesome machine. Yes, you don't have the ability to edit the sounds, but it's compact, light weight, sounds and looks awesome, and has one of the all time great UI's, complete with the little mixer section for volume controls. The cymbals, clap, and rimshot are some of the strongest out of the classic TR's IMO.

philip · Post by **philip** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:17 am

with a proper midi It could be a dreambox

Mark76 · Post by **Mark76** » Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:44 am

philip wrote:with a proper midi It could be a dreambox

Yeh I never set it as the master clock as it invariably ends up as a disaster, but I never understood why Roland never applied the LCD screen to the 909, definitely makes things easier

Weren't the 707/727 launched as budget drum machines?

elsongs · Post by **elsongs** » Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:25 pm

Mark76 wrote:
Weren't the 707/727 launched as budget drum machines?

No, they were pro models (they had individual outs, after all), they were released in tandem with the JX-8P in 1985 as part of Roland's "digital-leaning" aesthetic at the time (The 707/727 were their first fully-digital drum machines and the JX-8P though DCO analog, had the very DX7-like UI).

It was used on hits like Michael McDonald's "Sweet Freedom" and INXS' "Need You Tonight."

The *real* budget drum machine at the time was the Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-220.

Post by **analoglsd** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 1:04 am

@Mark76 It's not just you. I've been noticing that for a while too.

gcoudert · Post by **gcoudert** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 9:46 am

I must admit the 707 is one of my favourite drum machines. The first time I used one was not for drums, actually: the local studio, where we recorded our demos in the late 80s, had one and we used it to record an FSK track in order to sync the sequencer (Amiga 500 + MRS) and record several lines from the same synth/module onto separate tracks.
Drum-wise, the only reasons I never tried to acquire a 707 in later years were the lack of velocity and its inability to tune the sounds. I now have a 707/727 rhythm patch in my Fantoms that I love (with velocity and tunability!) with the sounds laid out exactly as on the original machines.

More to the point of this thread, could anybody please point me towards a few recent tracks that make use of the 707/727? I'd love to hear how it is used nowadays.

Mark76 · Post by **Mark76** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 11:30 am

gcoudert wrote:I must admit the 707 is one of my favourite drum machines. The first time I used one was not for drums, actually: the local studio, where we recorded our demos in the late 80s, had one and we used it to record an FSK track in order to sync the sequencer (Amiga 500 + MRS) and record several lines from the same synth/module onto separate tracks.
Drum-wise, the only reasons I never tried to acquire a 707 in later years were the lack of velocity and its inability to tune the sounds. I now have a 707/727 rhythm patch in my Fantoms that I love (with velocity and tunability!) with the sounds laid out exactly as on the original machines.

More to the point of this thread, could anybody please point me towards a few recent tracks that make use of the 707/727? I'd love to hear how it is used nowadays.

Here's a couple I've got into recently from the last 12 months

Thundercat feat Kenny Loggins/Michael McDonald

Nice programming of a fairly dry sounding 707

and

POLICA Fish

Hihats aren't 707 by the sounds of things, but nice use of kick. The 707 seems really suited to this minmalist trip hop style. I'm sure POLICA used the 707 on another track on this album

gcoudert · Post by **gcoudert** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 12:09 pm

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Maybe it's just me but the 707 has always sounded 'harsher' and 'in your face' than the other drum machines I owned or used back in the day. Makes me want to reach for the EQ knobs on the mixer every time.

vinyl_junkie · Post by **vinyl_junkie** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 1:38 pm

The 707 has been super popular for ages I think.

It came seriously back into fashion few years ago with the electronic/dance guys, almost every track being released was using one and now it's starting to pop up into more popular types of music again. Probs also aided by the optional 707 kit on the Aira TR drum machine.

Personally I think Roland got it quite right with the drum sounds. There are so many PCM drum machines out there of that era that are bland or don't do anything or just faded away (mainly from Japan I think) but the 707 whilst rather dry seems to fit very well into many styles of music from dance to rock/shoe gaze to R&B

It's not my favorite but it always works, even when I couldn't care for it you can layer it on top of another drum and bingo.

gcoudert · Post by **gcoudert** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 2:39 pm

vinyl_junkie wrote:Probs also aided by the optional 707 kit on the Aira TR drum machine.

Very true. You probably answered the OP's question with that single statement.

princefan3 · Post by **princefan3** » Sun Apr 16, 2017 2:54 pm

Love my Tr707 and Tr09 combination best of both I'd say...didn't take to the TR8 at all.

elsongs · Post by **elsongs** » Mon Apr 17, 2017 11:02 pm

Empire of the Sun's hit "Walking On A Dream" used drums from a TR-707, although they actually sampled them into an E-mu SP-12 for the crunch factor.

Doc Tonewheel · Post by **Doc Tonewheel** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 3:00 am

Just picked one up really cheap in great shape. I love the sounds, the interface, and being able to drive other synths with the trigger out. The mixer is fantastic live letting you bring sounds in and out.

kuroichi · Post by **kuroichi** » Mon May 01, 2017 4:03 am

I like the 707 sounds a lot. I was about to pull the trigger on one on Friday, but stumbled upon a 909 that same evening. I actually passed up on 707 last December that was in great condition and a great price. So been feeling like I need to redeem myself ever since

Is it just me, or is the 707 everywhere these days?

Is it just me, or is the 707 everywhere these days?

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