How to sync Roland TR-909 to SH-101 

Hello Synthamia incredible. Nobody has done something like that for me in my whole life I have no words for you you have personalised the video for me I am speechless. I thank you wholeheartedly for helping me. It is very difficult for me to understand these synchronisation issues and I always need help. It also costs me a lot to understand all this and it is very difficult for me to get information. You have been very kind for taking the time to make the video and share your knowledge with me and with other users. That says a lot about the quality of person you are. You have a friend in me for whatever you need, I thank you with all my heart. I have no words to thank you very much. Thank you very much for your time and what You did sounds amazing. I will hry tomorrow…. Thanks

You know, I never realized how much of the way this sync method is responsible for the styles of so much electronic music we know and love. This is awesome!

Love it when the machines work together

Very kind of you to help people in this way. You're a legend Paolo.

I’ve owned an SH101 for *years* and I never knew about the sticky tape method. I also own a TR707 so, suffice to say, I will be trying out this technique soon! Thanks!

Another great tutorial Paolo!

Great! This will work exactly the same, with my TR-09 and SH-01A, so I am glad to know the little secrets, to getting the different variations. Thanks for not taking the lazy way out, in answering this question. You went above and beyond and really showed us all, how it could be most utilized.

Great! All I need now is a TR-909 and SH-101.

so glad i learned this, because i definitely own both an original TR-909 and an SH-101, as i have the money for both of them from the obscene amount of spotify money ive made off of my electronic music

Was able to replicate this by sending drum hits from Cubase / Groove Agent once I unplugged CV/Gate I usually use as the bridge to my daw. These old programming ways bring another dimension to music production, are fun to use & a nice break from modern sequencing. SynthMania thank you for all you do. This & your gating videos have meant a good deal to me & I've used the knowledge with amazing results. A big hug from me.

Beautiful Synthmania !! your knowledge is second to none .

Very informative. I was not aware of how these were synchronized. Things are so easier today.

Great tips and tutorial,,,really well explained ,,thanks !!!

Hahaha! I had a Boss DR110 & SH101 as a kid back in the 80's and I used to do a version of the sellotape trick with the sequencer - except I used a little weight rather than sellotape. I thought it was just me! Great video as always!

Thank you for this great video!

great demo! and man those machines sound nice.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE AWESOME !!!!! THANKS FOR THE VIDEO.

Paolo, you make it look so easy, thanks!

You are awesome Paolo, thanks for everything!

yes yes, paolo gives a producer grade explanation and tutorial!

aha thank you so much, always awesome tutorials from you Paolo !

Note that you can program a rest step (no note) in the SH-101 sequencer with the rest button.

Excellent tutorial

Cheers, Paolo

I love you man, thanks for this mate.

Probably my most productive phase was using an SH-101 synced to a Sequential TOM drum machine. Amazing to think that they were considered little more than junk at the time (early 1990s). I recorded them to a cassette based Yamaha portastudio with a dodgy pause button and just a bucket brigade reverb unit for effects. There's definitely something to the old saw about necessity being the mother of invention!

So Nitzer Ebb type of bass line!

Thank You for this gift 👍 😀

Great tutorial! I Like the tape trick.

Thank you for this. I really enjoyed this tutorial. I am thinking of getting an SH-101 to go with my 909, but wasn't sure how to sync without MIDI.

Great full for this connection presentation 👏 👍 👌 🙌 😀

Super cool 'how to' video! Just sounds so phat!

Great Video!

Great instructional video!

your channel is very rich with content.

never knew that when I had a 101... The sequencer finally makes sense .

So good ✨👍 Thank you Paolo

Hi SynthMania and everyone …How are You? How's everything going? I hope all is well. I would like to send greetings and wish you a good weekend. Take care of yourself and happy Saturday to everyone and especially to you Mr. Paolo. Blessings and gratitude. Best regards

Very Thanks, helpful and please more of tis basicly Information.

Fantastic.

Ooompah,! Ooompah!, Ooompah!, Ooompah! Love it... Thanks Paolo!

easy peasy tricks = Great sounds

This was a fantastic explanation. I have been searching for this for so long. I take it you can do the same with a TR8 and SH01A ?

Excellent

noice... i tried that in a way with the 606 tom out to trigger the juno 60 arpeggiator. but im thinking of doin this next time with the RD 8 and the td 3. pretty interesting results, depending on the triggers set from the source.

this is so dope. I wonder if i can do it with my Aria TR8. The SH101 is my so good. thanks heaps!

Hi everyone, especially @SynthMania. Sorry for not writing before but until last night I couldn't get home and connect the equipment. I wanted to thank you all the comments, thank you all. I'm going to tell you what happened... I connected the SH101 as @SynthMania tolds and I programmed the TR909 with the rhythms and patterns. What I wasn't sure about was whether I had to change the Internal Mode to synchronize both machines. Everything worked although I discovered that you have to practice to get cool rhythms like the ones that @SynthMania did in his video. I have to practice more to get cool rhythms. Everything was going well. I was excited and happy and suddenly I heard a click on the headphones and both machines stopped working. The SH101 did not sound the notes and the TR909 stopped work. The TR909 featured the last buttons (15-16) Verify and Load on and it hit Play and it didn't sound anything. I think it may be an error message but I don't know what these messages mean and that these two buttons are turned on. Please, if anyone knows these types of error messages, I would like to know what they mean. To finish and not extend any longer in the end, I managed to restore everything and resequence the patterns on both machines and it hasn't given me any other problem. But I was quite scared because I thought something had broken down in both of them and where I live there is no possibility of taking them to repair. In fact, I have some problems with the TR909 and TB303 and there is no technical service for maintenance. Finally...I also tried to synchronize the SH101 and TR909 with the TB303 and I can’t......I will have to turn to @SynthMania again to help me but I'm sure he said something about it in the video but I have to finish translating everything to understand it because my English level isn’t great. Thanks to all and to @SynthMania

Wooooooo funky awesomeeeee!!!! 😎😎😎

I'd put money that 5:04 is how Cameron got the Terminator chase sound

brilliant:) the 16th melody is a great 80s soundtrack. reminds me a bit of "no retreat no surrender" :)..would like to know how many hits were produced with the tape trick ....

Your 101 sounds so fat, great and with the 909 a perfect pair

Hi SynthMania, unbelievable mighty and practical tricks from the Master (like no other on YT). I do not have a SH-101. Do the tricks work even with a MicroBrute (via CV Gate input) connected to a TR-08 Trigger out?

Теперь я понял как всё происходит! При живых выступлениях не мог понять,как!👍

Nice !

excellent pronunciation of portaaaaamento 4:45

It should be possible to replace the momentary switch under the Key Transpose button, with the same size and shape of toggle switch. The SH-101 would no longer be original factory spec, but it would be a lot more ergonomic to use without any sticky tape! Sort of like adding MIDI to older models of synth. What do you think? Too far, or a useful minor mod?

when you did the typical 80's base add a cow bell and you've got funky town

can you somehow side chain using only those two? just wondering if there is a trick on that

You accidentally programmed the new Knight rider theme song... I can see the Fuel cell car driving along 🚘😎

Hi Paolo, thank you for the great video. Can you play muted notes on the sequencer of sH-101? Or only real notes?

Hi, great video thanks, i have question - so basicly the master tempo of the video is through the TR909 TEMPO control? for example 124.. and when u decide it so basicly both of the instruments the tr and the sh both are on exact 124? thanks

Can u run a Roland Juno g through the tr9 the same way

If it’s possible, can you please break down Dreamer by Livin Joy?? Thank you very much

Great video! Do you have experience with a 'dead-signal' from the trig out too? Mine seem not to work when I plug the cables the way you show here.. Maybe my 909 needs a revision though, the pods are crackling a bit anyway..

IM PRETTY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS WITH NEWER MODEL TR-8S ???

Muito interessante !! Seria possível fazer isso com uma guitarra midi, pedaleira Roland GR20 e uma bateria Roland TR626 ou Boss DR3 ?

Surely you can just use the hold button (rather than tape on the transpose) and trigger the arpeggiator to create those classic alternating octave baselines on each 8th beat? You could certainly do that with the Juno 60.

excuse me sir sorry to disturb does it work also with tr 606 and sh101??

Ciao Paolo, do you know if this procedure works also with a MC-202?

Now I understand why you had the tape on there in an older video...... My MS-1 doesn't need that

What happens when we plug into the 909 start/stop?

Is beter an Tr 707 ,? Thanks

One day I'll own a 909.

Dove c'è Paolo, tutto suona!!

Do you need the tape? Will transpose work if you just hit it once, or is yours broken?

7:15 Tyrants in therapy!!

Is that Roland factory tape lol

You did the opposite!, The titel says, sync 909 TO 101, But in the video it only shows the otherway around, so syncing the 101 TO a 909. Which is not possible with just a trs cable

Kenny glasgom

Hi synthmania, is there a chance to do this in ableton with clips ?