Why hasn't the TR 606 gained the notoriety/value of 808/909

[sequentialsoftshock]

I'm just curious as to why the 606 hasn't gained the same level of fame... I was just able to get one for $250 and it still sounds good even though it doesn't have some of the same features. It is at least write while you play.

[Z]

The 606 is a great drum machine (I have 2), but it was never really on the same "professional" level as the 808 & 909 which have individual outputs. The 808 & 909 mainly have their notoriety & value from being used on classic electro, new wave & soul (808) and house (909) tracks from the 80's & 90's. I cannot name a single classic track that the 606 was used on.

[Electroluver]

I'm pretty sure that Daft Punk used the 606 on their song "Technologic."

Plus, I've seen a modded 606 with individual outputs.

I guess it all comes down to popularity and the TR 505, 606, and 707 are not as popular.

[monolith]

Apparently this is a 606 too..




I love the sound of the 606, i really want one some day.

[sequentialsoftshock]

Ahh yes, the individual outs was something I overlooked. That can be a deal breaker. That was the downfall of the TOM. But this could also raise the question as to why (while not really comparable in terms of synthesis to 606/808/909) the DrumTraks was never bigger. It had a lot of the same features as Oberheim and Linn boxes. Of course, I guess that would just lead to the whole Prince debates

f**k UMG!! They won't let me view the Smashing Pumpkins video off YouTube. God forbid they lose out on a quarter of a cent for an ad...

[Z]

True, you can mod the 606 with individual outs and tonal controls, but no one (to my knowledge) was modding them when they were new in the early 80's.

I've never heard of the 3 songs that were just posted. Must not be from the "classic" era I was referring to in my first reply.

The 606 is a great and inexpensive alternative to the overprices 808's & 909's. I think that their value as a great drum machine has only been discovered recently (last 10 years or so).

[monolith]

I've never heard of the 3 songs that were just posted. Must not be from the "classic" era I was referring to in my first reply.

I wasn't trying to prove you wrong just posting tracks i'd heard a 606 on. Though the pumpkins song is a classic amongst me and my dorky friends
The Blur track reached # 5 in the uk, though i doubt the 606 is what propelled it there.

[sequentialsoftshock]

I wasn't trying to prove you wrong just posting tracks i'd heard a 606 on. Though the pumpkins song is a classic amongst me and my dorky friends
The Blur track reached # 5 in the uk, though i doubt the 606 is what propelled it there.

Obviously their super awesome cartoon Brady bunch box.

Also, I think I've id'd the 808 in one of the most unsuspecting places, on one of my favorite bands first album they used a drum machine for almost all the tracks and I swear it's an 808.



The embed code didn't work. YouTube. I don't know what the deal is with her voice here. Some BAD compression.

[Scories]

Is this a classic?

[dinotread]

Most of Autechre's Incunabula features the tr606. One of my favorite albums of all time. 90% of my time making music is spent with just the 606, sh09, csq100 sequencing it, and a delay or reverb pedal on either. I can noodle on those for hours at a time. In fact, I just spent the last 2 hours playing with just those :p

[Scories]

Autechre always liked the sterile analog sound of the 606, and for good reasons. Personally, I don,t care much about the individual outs as I like flat-sounding beats.

[monolith]

Most of Autechre's Incunabula features the tr606. One of my favorite albums of all time. 90% of my time making music is spent with just the 606, sh09, csq100 sequencing it, and a delay or reverb pedal on either. I can noodle on those for hours at a time. In fact, I just spent the last 2 hours playing with just those :p

Do you have any tracks online featuring this combo? I'd love to hear it.

[Solderman]

Yeah, I was gonna mention Incunabula as my favorite usage of the 606. I guess alot of people like the sustain of the kick drum on the 808 and its clap/snare mix is f**k unbeatable. When it comes to x0x hats though, I much prefer the 606.

I modded my 606 in 2003, although there are a few mods I never got around to doing. I did do the kick drum sustain mod though. Here's my demo:


edit:
Version without shitty youtube audio quality here.

Yeah, the kick drum pitch can go below sub-audio.

[Scories]

That's a very deep kick.

[pflosi]

...as I like flat-sounding beats.

was that a hint for another track?