Roland TR-1000 firmware 1.50 adds notes, keyboard mode and FM sounds
Roland TR-1000 version 1.50 adds per-step notes, a keyboard play mode, 50 FM instruments from the TR-8S and new effect and output routing options.
Roland has released version 1.50 of the system software for the TR-1000 Rhythm Creator, its analog, digital and sampling drum machine launched in October 2025. According to Roland’s official release notes, dated October 2026, it is the biggest update since launch: it makes the TR-1000 more melodic, adds FM sounds and reworks effects and output routing. It is free, installed from a computer or through the TR-1000 app.
Notes and a keyboard mode
The two headline additions target basslines and chords:
- NOTE, a new step parameter, sets a pitch in semitones on each step for compatible sound generators (“GENs”);
- KEYBOARD, a new play mode, turns the step keys into a keyboard to play those generators.
That moves the TR-1000 closer to a groovebox: an instrument that sequences both rhythm and melodic parts. Version 1.20 in May had already added the “909 Bass Line” and “808 Bass Line” instruments; 1.50 finally provides the tools to play them as notes.
Sounds and effects
- 50 FM instruments from the TR-8S library, plus a COARSE tuning parameter on every FM generator. FM (frequency modulation) synthesis uses one oscillator to modulate another, producing metallic or percussive tones;
- new MFX types Roll, Roll 2, Rev Pan Delay and SBF-325, the latter also as an insert effect (IFX);
- new modulation destinations: layer A/B pan and the insert delay time, which can also be assigned to a knob.
Routing and live continuity
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| KEEP KIT EFX & EXT IN | carries external input, reverb, delay, mod, MFX and analog FX settings across kit changes, so reverb and delay tails are no longer cut |
| INDV OUT: MIX ONLY | removes a track from its individual output; it stays available as digital audio over USB |
| AFX FX ROUTE: ANALOG | sends the analog effect to the AFX output only (the previous behavior remains as MIX+ANA) |
| PATTERN SELECT MODE: MANUAL | when browsing with the encoders, the pattern only changes once you press ENTER |
| AUTO TRACK SELECT | in instrument play or record, pressing a step key selects the track |
| Sample Auto Adjust | matches imported sample levels to the destination category |
The interface gets polish too: a clearer Song Mode screen, a Tempo screen with a large BPM readout and nudge indicators, and graphic displays for the filter EQ and the tune/decay offsets.
Roland’s walkthrough of the update:
Who it’s for, what it costs, what it competes with
Who it’s for. TR-1000 owners first, who get melodic sequencing and smoother live transitions for free. Then anyone still on the fence: the machine now handles basslines and simple chord parts without an external synth, which matters for a self-contained live set.
What it costs. The update is free. The TR-1000 itself launched at US$2,699.99 according to Roland’s October 2025 press release. Official page: TR-1000 on roland.com. View at Thomann
What it competes with. The direct rival remains the Elektron Analog Rytm MKII, which also combines analog voices and samples, with a sequencer known for per-step parameter locks. Below the TR-1000, Roland’s all-digital TR-8S now shares its FM instruments with it. With 1.50, the TR-1000 closes part of the gap with melodic grooveboxes without becoming a polysynth: notes only apply to compatible generators. For another take on the analog drum machine, see the Erica Synths Konstrukt 8, and our Firmware Updates section for other releases, such as the OP-XY update.
