Starsky Carr Throws Down: TR-1000 vs TR-909 – The Real Drum Machine Face-Off

Starsky Carr wastes no time: Roland themselves don’t claim the TR-1000 is a 909 clone, and anyone expecting a pixel-perfect replica is missing the point. The TR-1000 borrows 909-style analog circuits and even throws in some 808 DNA, but it’s not about chasing ghosts – especially when every 909 on the planet has aged into its own mutant.

Instead, Starsky’s approach is all about character. He’s not here to split hairs over 40-year-old tolerances or obsess over matching every click and thud. The real question: can the TR-1000 deliver that unmistakable 909 vibe, or is it just another pretender in the drum machine arms race?

Diving into the sounds, Starsky runs through the rim, clap, hats, cymbals, and more. Some voices land close to the 909, but others – like the rim and clap – have their own quirks. The TR-1000 often comes off brighter and a bit more hi-fi, while the 909 keeps things gritty and raw.

There’s plenty of tweakability on both boxes, but don’t expect to dial in a perfect match. Even with parameter wrangling, the two machines have their own personalities. The takeaway? Both can slap, but they’re not twins – and that’s half the fun.

Here’s where things get spicy. The real difference-maker isn’t just the circuits – it’s the outputs. The 909’s main outs are famously band-limited, slicing off low-end and boosting the highs for that signature presence. The TR-1000, by contrast, is more hi-fi out of the box, especially when you use its individual outs.

Starsky demonstrates how the same pattern sounds radically different depending on which outputs you use. If you want that classic 909 crunch, it’s not just about the samples or the synthesis – it’s about running through the right outputs. This is the kind of detail that separates the bedroom producers from the rave bunker veterans.

Not got a 909? No problem. Starsky pulls out some EQ jiu-jitsu, using Logic’s Match EQ to analyse the 909’s main out curve and recreate it on the TR-1000 or any 909-style sample. The trick is a high-frequency tilt and a bit of low-end shaving – instant crusty presence.

He even shows how to mimic the effect with a standard five-band parametric EQ, so you can inject that classic vibe into any drum track. If you want the full nerdy breakdown (and the actual EQ settings), you’ll have to check out the video – some things are just better seen and heard than read.