Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer (1983) - A3, A2, A1 or A0 Music Tech Print
The drum machine that gave house and techno their heartbeat.
Few electronic instruments have shaped modern music quite like the Roland TR-909. Introduced in 1983, this legendary Japanese drum machine became one of the most influential pieces of music technology ever created, helping define the sound of house, techno, acid house and countless dancefloor classics.
Remarkably, the TR-909 was initially a commercial disappointment. Designed as the successor to Roland's equally iconic TR-808, it was intended to offer more realistic percussion and improved sequencing. But musicians of the day were often unimpressed by its distinctly electronic sound, and production ended after approximately 10,000 units.
History, however, had other plans.
As affordable second-hand machines found their way into the hands of pioneering producers in Chicago and Detroit, the TR-909 became the rhythmic foundation of an entirely new musical movement.
Its unmistakable sound combined powerful analogue bass drums, snares, toms and handclaps with digitally sampled hi-hats and cymbals. The thunderous kick, sizzling open hi-hat, punchy snare and distinctive ride cymbal became essential ingredients of electronic dance music.
Technically, the 909 was groundbreaking. Its programmable 16-step sequencer offered shuffle, flam and accent functions, while individual drum controls allowed producers to shape their sounds with remarkable precision. It was also Roland's first drum machine to feature MIDI, enabling synchronisation with synthesisers, sequencers and other studio equipment. Individual audio outputs made it particularly attractive for professional recording and live performance.
The machine's musical credentials are extraordinary. Larry Heard's Can You Feel It, Inner City's Good Life and Technotronic's Pump Up the Jam helped establish its unmistakable rhythms, while Madonna's Vogue, produced by Shep Pettibone, brought the 909's sound to an enormous mainstream audience.
Detroit techno pioneer Jeff Mills became synonymous with the instrument, famously manipulating its controls during electrifying live performances. Daft Punk paid perhaps the ultimate tribute with Revolution 909 on their groundbreaking 1997 album Homework.
Artists including Orbital, Richie Hawtin and countless generations of electronic producers have continued to exploit its extraordinary rhythmic character.
Today, original TR-909s are highly prized collector's instruments, while their sounds live on through countless samples, software recreations and modern hardware descendants.
From commercial failure to electronic music royalty, the Roland TR-909 is far more than a drum machine. It is the unmistakable pulse of a musical revolution — a genuine technological icon whose influence continues to fill dancefloors around the world.
Limited Edition of 250 A3 prints and just 20 of larger sizes.
A3 Size shipped in cardboard backed envelope. Larger sizes in rigid tubes.
