This brief summary also includes the affiliated Roland companies of Ace Tone & Boss
1964
++ R1 Rhythm Ace (Push button percussion)
This was the world’s first transistorized, non-automatic (no preset patterns),
percussion instrument.
1966
++ Rhythm Ace R-3
1967
++ AceTone FR-1 (Rhythm Ace)
++ Ace Tone FR-2L (FR-2D)
++ Ace Tone FR-3 (FR-3S)
++ Ace Tone FR-4 (Multivox)
Ace Tone FR-3
1968
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR 5-C
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-6
++ Multivox Rhythm Ace FR6M
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-7
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-13
1968
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR 5-C
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-6
++ Multivox Rhythm Ace FR6M
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-7
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-13
1969
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Producer FR-15 (provided the feature to modify the pre-programmed rhythms)
++ Rhythm Ace FR-20 (Floor type)
++ Rhythm Ace FR-30 (Floor type)
++ Rhythm Ace FR-60 (Floor type)
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-70 (upright drum machine)
1972 - This year marks the birth of Roland
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Fever FR-106
++ TR-33
++ TR-55 (see Acetone FR-6)
++ TR-77 (Acetone FR-8L)
++ Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-7L - a variation of the TR-77
++ TR-700 Rhythm 700
The TR-700 is an upright drum
The TR stands for Transistor Rhythm. These were the first Roland-branded products.
The 77 is known as an updated version of Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8L. It is also known as Hammond Rhythm Unit.
1973
++ TR-330 (Rhythm 330)
++ Roland TR-66 (Rhythm Arranger).
1978
++ +CR-68 (Human Rhythm Player.)
+++ CR-78 CompuRhythm.
+++ CR-78 repairs & internal pics
+++ CR-800 - very rare - upright drum housed in a speaker cabinet.
These were the world’s first microprocessor-based rhythm machines.
The CR68 was called the "Human Rhythm Player".
The Roland CR-78 is called the CompuRhythm:
1979
++ Boss Dr-55 Dr. Rhythm ( production started in 1979-1980)
1980
++ TR-808 Rhythm Composer Rhythm machine.
This programmable rhythm machine allowed musicians to program an entire song, and achieved legendary status around the world
1981
+++ CR-5000 Compurhythm
++ +CR-8000 CompuRhythm (CR 8000 Mods)
+++ TR-606 Drummatix
1983
+++ TR-909 Rhythm Composer
+++Boss Dr.Rhythm Graphic (DR-110)
+++ Roland Rhythm Plus PB-300
1984
++ TR-707 Rhythm Composer
++ Boss HC-2 (Hand Clapper Pedal)
++ Boss PC-2 Percussion Synthesizer
++ Boss DB-66 Dr Beat.(Metronome)
1985
++ α-DRUM (Alpha Drum)- Digital drums. Roland's first electronic drum set
++ Roland DDR30 drum sound module.
++ Roland PAD-8 Octapad.
++ TR727 Latin Rhythm Composer
The TR-727 is visually identical to the TR707 aside from having blue highlights on the case, but it contains a different, Latin-inspired sample set.
++ MKS7 Super Quartet.(a duophonic lead synth, a monophonic bass synth, and a four-voice
polyphonic synth (hence the name... 2+1+4 = MKS7) plus a drum machine
with 11 PCM sounds drawn from the TR707)
+++Boss Dr Rhythm DR-220A (Acoustic)
+++Boss Dr Rhythm DR-220A (Electronic)
1986
+++Roland TR-505
+++Roland CR-1000 digital drummer.
1987
++TR626 Rhythm Composer.
1988
++ PAD-80 Octapad II controller
++ Roland RA-50 Realtime Arranger
1989
++ R-5 Human Rhythm Composer.
++ R-8 Human Rhythm Composer Drum Machine: A drum machine with velocity-sensitive pads.
++ DR550 Dr Rhythm.
1991
++ CR80 Human Rhythm Player.
1992
Roland R-70 Human Rhythm Composer.
Roland R8 MkII Human Rhythm Composer.
Roland TD7 sound module. (V-Drum)
Boss DR550 MkII Dr Rhythm.
Boss DR-660 (DR Rhythm)
Boss R70 Human Rhythm Composer.
Boss R8 MkII Human Rhythm Composer.
1993
Boss DR 5 - Dr Rhythm section
1994
Roland TD5 sound module. (V-Drum)
1996
MC-303 Groove box.
This was Roland’s first entry into the club and DJ scene; it became a new hit in the world of dance music. It was their first non-keyboard drum machine, sample-based synthesizer, and sequencer combination bearing the name Groovebox. Supporting a full 8-track sequencer.
1997
TD -10 V-Drums Digital drums.
Boss DB12 Dr Beat.
Boss DB88 Dr Beat.
Boss SP202 Dr Sample.
1998
Roland MC-505 GrooveBox:
(Successor to the MC-303 with a more powerful synthesizer and sequencer).
Roland SPD20 percussion pad.
Roland SP-808 Groove Sampler
Boss DR- 202 Dr Groove.
Boss DR770 Dr Rhythm.
1999
Roland HPD15 Handsonic percussion controller/drum module/sequencer
Roland TD-8 sound module.(V-Drum)
Roland MC307 Groovebox.
Boss DR-202 (Dr Groove)
Boss SP-202 (Dr Sample)
TD-10 (enhanced) - V Drum
2001
BOSS SP-303 Dr. Sample
Boss SP505 sampling workstation.
Boss DR-670 Dr Rhythm.
TD-6 V-Drum
Roland D2 - GrooveMachine
2002
Roland MC-909 Sampling GrooveBox
Roland MC-09 PhraseLab
Boss SP-505 (Groove Sampling Workstation).
2003
Boss DR-3 Dr, Rhythm
TD-6V V-Drum
TD3 V-Drum module.
TD6V V-Drum module.
TD20 V-Drum sound module.
VH12 hi-hat.
Boss DB60 Dr Beat metronome
Boss DR880 Dr Rhythm.
SP-606 Groovesampler.
2005
Roland SP-404SX Sampler
TD-12 V-Drum
Roland MC-808
2007
HD-1 V-drum module
2008
TD-20 Enhamced V Drum Module
TD-8 V Drum module
2009
TD-4 V Drum Module
TD-9 2.0 V Drum module
2012
TD-30 V Drum Module
TD-15 V Drum Module
TD-11 V Drum Module
HD-3 V Drum Module
Aira's TR-8: Rhythm Performer, based on the drum-sounds of the TR-808 and TR-909.
TD-1 V Drum Module
TM-2 V Drum Module
2016
Roland Boutique Tr-08
Roland Boutique TR-09
2018
Roland TR-8s
2019
++ Roland MC-101 GrooveBox
++ Roland MC-707 GrooveBox
(MC stands for Micro composer)
I'll update this as I go. Please let me know if there are errors or omissions.
J
The TR stands for Transistor Rhythm. These were the first Roland-branded products.
The 77 is known as an updated version of Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8L. It is also known as Hammond Rhythm Unit.
++ TR-330 (Rhythm 330)
++ Roland TR-66 (Rhythm Arranger).
1978
++ +CR-68 (Human Rhythm Player.)
+++ CR-78 CompuRhythm.
+++ CR-78 repairs & internal pics
+++ CR-800 - very rare - upright drum housed in a speaker cabinet.
These were the world’s first microprocessor-based rhythm machines.
The CR68 was called the "Human Rhythm Player".
The Roland CR-78 is called the CompuRhythm:
++ Boss Dr-55 Dr. Rhythm ( production started in 1979-1980)
1980
++ TR-808 Rhythm Composer Rhythm machine.
This programmable rhythm machine allowed musicians to program an entire song, and achieved legendary status around the world
1981
+++ CR-5000 Compurhythm
++ +CR-8000 CompuRhythm (CR 8000 Mods)
+++ TR-606 Drummatix
1983
+++ TR-909 Rhythm Composer
+++Boss Dr.Rhythm Graphic (DR-110)
++ TR-707 Rhythm Composer
++ Boss HC-2 (Hand Clapper Pedal)
++ Boss PC-2 Percussion Synthesizer
++ Boss DB-66 Dr Beat.(Metronome)
1985
++ α-DRUM (Alpha Drum)- Digital drums. Roland's first electronic drum set
++ Roland DDR30 drum sound module.
++ Roland PAD-8 Octapad.
++ TR727 Latin Rhythm Composer
The TR-727 is visually identical to the TR707 aside from having blue highlights on the case, but it contains a different, Latin-inspired sample set.
Roland DDR-30 (Digital Drums)
Roland OctaPad PAD-8
+++Boss Dr Rhythm DR-220A (Electronic)
1986
+++Roland TR-505
+++Roland CR-1000 digital drummer.
1987
++TR626 Rhythm Composer.
1988
++ PAD-80 Octapad II controller
++ Roland RA-50 Realtime Arranger
++ R-5 Human Rhythm Composer.
++ R-8 Human Rhythm Composer Drum Machine: A drum machine with velocity-sensitive pads.
++ DR550 Dr Rhythm.
1991
++ CR80 Human Rhythm Player.
1992
Roland R-70 Human Rhythm Composer.
Roland R8 MkII Human Rhythm Composer.
Roland TD7 sound module. (V-Drum)
Boss DR550 MkII Dr Rhythm.
Boss DR-660 (DR Rhythm)
Boss R70 Human Rhythm Composer.
Boss R8 MkII Human Rhythm Composer.
Roland's TD-7 (The heart of the Compact Drum System)
1993
Boss DR 5 - Dr Rhythm section
1994
Roland TD5 sound module. (V-Drum)
1996
MC-303 Groove box.
This was Roland’s first entry into the club and DJ scene; it became a new hit in the world of dance music. It was their first non-keyboard drum machine, sample-based synthesizer, and sequencer combination bearing the name Groovebox. Supporting a full 8-track sequencer.
1997
TD -10 V-Drums Digital drums.
Boss DB12 Dr Beat.
Boss DB88 Dr Beat.
Boss SP202 Dr Sample.
1998
Roland MC-505 GrooveBox:
(Successor to the MC-303 with a more powerful synthesizer and sequencer).
Roland SPD20 percussion pad.
Roland SP-808 Groove Sampler
Boss DR- 202 Dr Groove.
Boss DR770 Dr Rhythm.
1999
Roland HPD15 Handsonic percussion controller/drum module/sequencer
Roland TD-8 sound module.(V-Drum)
Roland MC307 Groovebox.
Roland HPD-15 HandSonic (1999)
Roland TD-8 Percussion Sound Module (1999)
2000 Boss DR-202 (Dr Groove)
Boss SP-202 (Dr Sample)
TD-10 (enhanced) - V Drum
2001
BOSS SP-303 Dr. Sample
Boss SP505 sampling workstation.
Boss DR-670 Dr Rhythm.
TD-6 V-Drum
Roland D2 - GrooveMachine
Roland MC-909 Sampling GrooveBox
Roland MC-09 PhraseLab
Boss SP-505 (Groove Sampling Workstation).
2003
Boss DR-3 Dr, Rhythm
TD-6V V-Drum
Boss Dr 3 (Dr. Rhythm)
2004TD3 V-Drum module.
TD6V V-Drum module.
TD20 V-Drum sound module.
VH12 hi-hat.
Boss DB60 Dr Beat metronome
Boss DR880 Dr Rhythm.
SP-606 Groovesampler.
2005
Roland SP-404SX Sampler
TD-12 V-Drum
Roland SP-404 SX - Linear wave Sampler
2006Roland MC-808
2007
HD-1 V-drum module
2008
TD-20 Enhamced V Drum Module
TD-8 V Drum module
2009
TD-4 V Drum Module
Roland TD-4 (V-Drum Module)
2011TD-9 2.0 V Drum module
2012
TD-30 V Drum Module
TD-15 V Drum Module
TD-11 V Drum Module
HD-3 V Drum Module
TD-15 V Drum Module
2014Aira's TR-8: Rhythm Performer, based on the drum-sounds of the TR-808 and TR-909.
TD-1 V Drum Module
TM-2 V Drum Module
2016
Roland Boutique Tr-08
Roland Boutique TR-09
2018
Roland TR-8s
2019
++ Roland MC-101 GrooveBox
++ Roland MC-707 GrooveBox
(MC stands for Micro composer)
I'll update this as I go. Please let me know if there are errors or omissions.
J
