Roland R-5

Roland R-5
Manufacturer	Roland
Dates	1989 - 1996
Price	$899
Technical specifications
Polyphony	32
Timbrality	16
Synthesis type	ROM
Input/output
External control	1/4" Phone Jack, Stereo Main, Stereo 2, Stereo 3, Stereo Headphone

The R-5 Human Rhythm Composer is an electronic drum machine introduced in 1989 by Roland Corporation, using PCM voices. The R-5 features velocity- and pressure-sensitive trigger pads, and the ability to create loops of beats. The pads are assignable and can be user defined for different sounds and also for different amplitude and semi-tones within each sample.

The R-5 is the smaller sibling of the Roland R-8 which had more sounds and features than the R-5^[1]

Sounds

It featured 68 internal voices^[2] such as: Electronic Kick, Jazz Snare, Rimshot, Electronic Snare, Brush Roll Snare, Electronic Toms, Timbale, Bongo, and Slap Bass.^[3]

Notable Users

• Autechre^[4]
• Orbital
• Underworld
• 808 State
• Human League
• Miki Berenyi^[5]
• Puce Mary
• Bis^[6]

References

1. "Roland R-5 - Specifications, pictures, prices, links, reviews and ratings".
2. "Roland R-5". Audiofanzine (in French). Retrieved 2018-06-20.
3. Lord, Nigel (July 1989). "Roland R5 (MT Jul 89)". Music Technology (Jul 1989): 14–16. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
4. "Roland R-5 Human Rhythm Composer". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
5. Berenyi, Miki (2022). Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success. London, UK: Nine Eight Books. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-1-7887-0555-4.
6. "Bis-We're all fighting over the keyboard". mtv.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024.