Roland TR-1000 Firmware 1.20: 808 Bass Generators, Vinyl Sims and Overhauled LFOs

The Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator received a free firmware 1.20 update at Superbooth 2026 on 8 May.

1. ACB 808 and 909 bass generators added as dedicated pitched sound sources for tuned sub and mid-bass lines.
2. 303 Vinyl Sim: a Master FX combining a characterful compressor with noise, wow and flutter controls.
3. 404 Vinyl Sim and Cassette Sim: lo-fi Master FX for texture and grit, with an age control on the Cassette Sim.
4. DJ FX Delay ported from the SP-404 MKII, providing echo-out style transitions direct from the master bus.
5. Rebuilt LFO section: note-triggered one-shot modes, sample-and-hold, and a kit-level LFO across all layers.

The 808 and 909 bass generators are the headline change for DnB and dubstep producers. The TR-1000 already carried ACB models of 808 and 909 percussion voices, but v1.20 adds dedicated pitched bass instruments that sit directly inside the sequencer workflow. You can now program tuned 808 slides and resonant 909 subs without routing out to an external synth or plugin, which keeps hardware-first sessions tight and avoids the sync overhead of a second instrument.

The rebuilt LFO is worth equal attention. Note-triggered one-shot modes mean pitch sweeps and filter automation lock to individual step hits rather than running free against the clock. For shaping a tom roll or building movement into a rolling break, this adds a layer of control that was previously awkward on the unit. The four Master FX give you fast lo-fi texturing at the output stage. The DJ FX Delay, drawn from the SP-404 MKII and covered in detail by Sonic State at Superbooth, is particularly useful for live transitions and performance drops.