Behringer RD-8 vs TR8 vs Roland Cloud: Sh808tout 

On the Roland Cloud version there is too much gain (distortion) if keys are played with full velocity. If you turn down the gain levels on the Roland Cloud version, the toms and congas are cleaner!

was thinking about some new videos on RD-8 today, and omg what did I see first when opened youtube : new upload by Starsky 19 min ago! Great man as always, your channel is treasure!

I get such a kick out of your captions! Can't wait for more.. Good luck with the manual :)

Very helpful comparison! As much as I love to jam on the TR-8, this really highlighted what's been bugging me about the sound.

What a nice comparison is that what you have made here! 👍

Behringer did a fantastic job. It looks great, sounds great and is very affordable. Nice work, very interesting to hear the comparisons.

Thanks mate :) I'd be very interested to see a walk through of the Behringer. One of my pet hates is hardware that is fiddly and complicated to use so I'd want to be sure I could get along with it!

Thank you for the video. I'm an interested in the Behringer rd but just figured out how to make my Moog Grandmother push out a kick. The sound it makes is so addicting. I use the cloud right now.

Thanks a million for this!

I bought a TR-8 shortly after they were released and I kept it for a month or so before I sold it. I LOVE the volume faders and the FX were pretty handy but a lot of the sounds seemed off to me, as this video exemplified with the hats. I don't think the RD-8 is perfect by any means but I think it sounds pretty solid overall plus I like the large form factor, individual outs, and the extras like the sequencer functions as well as the main filter thing.

As others have pointed out, the cloud version wasn’t tested properly here. When you send max velocity values, you get an overdriven version of the sounds. In reality it sounds nearly identical to the TR-08, TR-8, and TR-8S. Honestly I think all of these are good options. They all sound great (even the cloud version, when used properly). RD-8 - If you want a full size, analog version, the RD-8 is the obvious (and only) choice other than the original (if you can find/afford one). TR-08 - If you want the original layout and sequencer and don’t mind smaller controls, the TR-08 takes up a lot less space and has modern features like separate outputs over USB (so you don’t have to run 11 cables and use 11 inputs on your audio I/O). Unless you have a bunch of outboard gear you want to run your individual outputs through, having all the individual outputs over a single USB cable is better than analog outputs in every possible way (no noise, no cable mess, no unnecessary AD/DA conversions, don’t need to use (or even have) 11 audio inputs). The TR-08 (and probably the TR-8 and TR-8S) also has features like optional compression on the kick and snare, panning, and the ability to tune all the sounds (not just the ones with a tuning knob). The cloud version doesn’t have any of those features. TR-8 / TR-8S - If you want a full size drum machine with modern features, the TR-8 or TR-8S is the clear winner. Cloud - If you don’t care about hands-on control and just want the sounds, but want something better than samples, the cloud version is the way to go. The TR-08 and cloud versions also have one benefit that most people don’t notice: If you control them with MIDI instead of the internal sequencer, you can use all 16 sounds simultaneously (for the five switchable sounds, the switch only applies to the sequencer; all the sounds are accessible with separate MIDI notes). This might be true of the TR-8 / TR-8S as well, if you control it with MIDI, but I wouldn’t buy a large drum machine just to use it as a sound module. Finally, the TR-8S and cloud version have the ability to save patches (the levels and other settings for all the drum channels), which is not possible on the TR-08 or RD-8 (not sure about the TR-8).

Great comparison. Used to own an original 808 back in the 80’s.. They all have good 808 emulations.The 808 cloud sounds the best for its extra features and has got some good editing.

i have the original TR-808 and the cloud version. all i can say is that the sound of the soft is far from the Original TR. in this video the Behringer RD-8 is the best option.

excellent comparison

To me the rd-8 hands down looks the coolest and most fun to play.

Very helpful, thnx!!

I'm going to give it to Behringer. They gave people what they wanted. It's an ANALOG drum machine with tons of individual outs. The rest is just bullocks.

Thanks for the comparison review anyway! Big fat "Like"!

They all have their plusses and minuses. I had use of the TR8 and liked that it had all those kits and bizarro features. Very cool. Own the RD8 because, the outs just make it so flexible! I'm sure the cloud is great but I'm not on the DAW life atm

I played along at the end, playing the individual sounds on my RD-8 and the sounds where exactly the same as yours so it seems all RD-8s do sound the same. I expected the cowbell to be tuned slightly differently or something.

Got my Behringer RD-8 MkII today but I dont like the Kick. Its ok but aside from the attack-click it sounds weird. TR-8 and Cloud have a much cleaner and much better bottom imho on the kick when pitched lower. Also when the RD-8 gets pitched high it has some annoying frequencies. the others are more earcandy to me. Would love to see the Yocto 8080 in this comparison. The artist "verstaerker" makes it sound so clean, deep and beautiful with his high-quality outboard-gear in his demos here on yt. I dont believe it would be possible with the Kick of the RD-8.

Hey -just got the rd-8. If I turn the closed hat tone knob to the right the level goes really quiet - is that normal?

14:02 I just got a mk2 RD8 and you can play the sounds with the 'select' button now

Great comparison. I'd like to hear comparisons of the various 303 incarnations that are around. ABL3 is enough for me but just curious how they all compare. When's Behringer releasing the 909 clone?

The RD-8 does it for me mostly because it's true analog, but I would probably get the TR8 for no other reason that I can also get sampled drums as well, since I would use them more anyway...

Faders, 909, 808, 606, 727. combinations, tuning. You can roughen sounds after. Smoothing is not so easy. Longer bass tail. Kink and Honeysmack have made brilliant sounds with it.

My thoughts from this comparison: Kick: RD-8 > Cloud > TR-8 Snare: RD-8 and Cloud tied. Toms: Cloud > RD-8 > TR-8 (might just be because they sound nice overdriven though) Congas: RD-8 and TR-8 tied. Again could be because of the extra drive on the Cloud one though. Claves: No preference. Rimshot: RD-8 and Cloud tied. Claps: RD-8 > TR-8 > Cloud. Cowbell: TR-8 by a long shot just for the ability to tune it > Cloud > RD-8. Hats: RD-8 > Cloud > TR-8. Slight preference for the RD-8 overall but I was surprised at how close it was.

i bought the rd and i couldn't be happier. price unbeatable...un-fucking-beatable!!! audio input, daw control and couple of other extras which are all great

I'd seriously consider the RD-8 if I didn't already have the Roland Cloud version

The thing about the cloud - it gets updated regularly. Small tweaks here and there to just tighten things up a tiny bit. And it ain't going away any time soon. I know they release firmware updates for the hardware too, but it's not at all the same thing. With any digital hardware there are going to be real limitations of memory, CPU, etc in a way there aren't on desktop computers.

Nothing beats the real 808 hats.

As a sound engineer...: 1. Cloud 2. Behringer 3. Roland As a sound designer...: 1. Behringer 2. Roland 3. Cloud

Prefer the cloud kick for its little overdrive but I absolutely prefer the rd8 !

The big drawback to the RD-08 IMO are the cymbals. They just don't sound good with harsh frequencies - the Roland cloud cymbals by contrast are nice and smooth. Most everything else IMO is pretty usable on all machines

The irony is these three all sound closer to each other than the two original 808's in this video sound like each other: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ACxNgFmIpkU.html

Where do I find the cloud version in the app store?

Feel like the cloud version sounds best, but it sounds suspiciously like it has some compression going on it.

Would have been nice just to hear each running the same pattern like Planet Rock

Isn‘t this difference just an input velocity issue?

I wish you would have included D16 Nepheton

rd-8 for me..(with updates..:)

I'm saving up for the RD-8. Hands-down winner, in my book.

the roland cloud stuff has a saturation stage in its main volume knob..atleast for the synth vsts..i would imagine the drum machine is the same ..

Accent in the roland cloud is off , is it normal ?

wave designer and filter only possible on the main out but if lets say you want to use the clap and the hihat thru the filter and not the rest just plug those via the main out and the rest goes only via the individual outs and not also via the main out.

Great comparison, thanks a lot ! I'm wondering if maybe Behringer tried to copy the sound of the TR 08 and TR 8S rather than a random original. There is another video in which the RD-8 sounds extremely close to a TR-08. Everyone knows the originals can sound drastically different from eachother and since Roland made these new digital and more consistent versions it makes sense to use them as a reference. Their cloud version sounds the most vintage though, almost distorted on some settings which is something you wouldn't expect. Amazing how many variations of the same old sound character there are these days and they are all unmistakingly 808... Btw - The TR 8 has an extremely hot output level compared to the RD-8. If it was just for the kick and snare alone I'd be happy with the TR 8 but all the other voices sound a lot better to me in the RD-8, well, except for the claves maybe... they are just a little too quiet.

Great video. I like the RD-8 and think it’s amazing for the price. But they’re all useful. The only losers are those listening to this on laptop speakers!! :-)

The RD8 has the original cowbell pitch. I you watch videos of people tuning their cowbell referring to the original tr-808 schematic you will notice that the end result is the exact same sound/tuning .Indeed Behringer logically copied the tr-808 schematic.

you are going to run into a lot of oddities on the RD8 Starsky. Probability, flam, note repeat sequencing, polyrhythms and how they affect a pattern are all stupid and done badly, dropping beats,, lots for you to discover LOL. Sounds brilliant, looks and feels great, i will keep mine but man it needs FW fixes asap

I can't speak to the TR8 because I don't have one but I have both the cloud version and RD-8. To my ears, my RD-8 blows away the Roland cloud version. The cloud version is actually still quite good and I'm sure with mixing and effects you can yield similar results, but the RD-8 (especially the kick) sounds so pure out of the box. Roland cloud is very much a VST, and sounds like one. I think there are actually better VST 808's out there. I have a few nitpicks about the RD-8 sound primarily the cowbell, but from what I understand all the original Roland 808's had faulty transistors which gave it its unique sound. Once that transistor was no longer available they stopped producing the unit. I think that Behringer did the best possible clone and the sound nearly spot on to what I think an authentic 808 should sound like. Never thought I'd get my hands on anything close and all of my vst's have left me wanting actual drum machine hardware.

So which one is better?

Cloud (VSTi) Wins!!! Simple As That... But Make Sure You Turn The Velocity Down To Around (88) In Your DAW To Correct The Distortion On The Percussion Sounds. i.e Congas/Toms/Cowbell/ & Especially Rim Shot!. Took Me Some Time To Work The Percussion Distortion. Everything Sounds Great After Setting The Velocity To (88) The Sweet Spot. Top Video Editing Starsky!!! 👍

the hits and cymbs sound very less good on the VST version than original. They seamed to did exprès d'avoir foiré les cymbales sur le VST

Which is best for live?

This video made it absolutely clear for me that Behringer is a winner in my book and I'm gonna buy one of those machines. Thanks Starsky. ; )

What's wrong with RD-8 features? I think they've replaced the actual schematic of hats (for example) with a static "hat noise" + hi-pass filter. It's really weird! I've didn't used live TR808 or 909 but I know how these analog hats are made basically. There is a simple "analog-digital" noise modulation which gives that cool tuning effect. And the modules which should be tuneable are static... This suxx :( One big pro that I see here is that it's analog and with a proper approach (and having some decent amount of free time) you can modify it and make much closer to the original. Did they've tried to make something "original"? Well... it's weird and original (maybe) in the same time. P.S. Cloud version sounds much flatter BTW. I prefer uTonic. Also it's possible to find free VST drum machines that resembles 808 and 909. I've used some...

i think we often under appreciate the importance of look and feel of an instrument. I think most would find it very difficult to reliable pick out which is which in a blind test, but when playing around with one I think alot of people would a strong preference for one of them. Some might go for that old school feel and fun factor of the rd-8, others might prefer more modern features and flexibility of tr8. Some just want it to be in the box and Cloud is an excellent option then. Great comprison as usual mate.

8:06 he said hi to me

I think it is not a good comparison between these hardware. The only comparison would be some of original TR808 with the RD-8.

The Roland Cloud version, just press panel then you can tune the cow bell, I used the cloud versions on this joey beltram ENERGY FLASH remake, they smashed it! really dont need to buy a hardware version unless for live performances or fun in the studio. The RD-8 is pure analog, and for the price is very tempting just to get the contrast of the two. my remake here if anyone interested here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ccOOTExcPYA.html

A pitty that you could not compare it to the tr-08 - that sounds excellent

Notation drum station is the closest I’ve ever heard. RD 8 is a tough sounding machine.

RD-8 WIN !

I found it was easy to be swayed when I was looking at the machines - when I listened without looking the cloud was the standout (sadly)

RD8 got that Rumble.

Seems sorta.. idk... unfair to represent the cloud in this way now that you know the test was flawed. Maybe put up a disclaimer in the video or something? Lots of people here trashing the cloud, despite the comments section explaining why it sounds bad here.

my uncle has the tr-8. Im going to get the RD-8 and bring it over for a direct comparison.

TBH i prefer my DB Impact for a live jam.

Claw Vays

Cloudz808

The TR-8 hats are awful. They actually sound like samples and nothing at all like my old TR-808 (I used to have one, yes). Actually my TR-8 was broken first and I had it replaced under warranty. No difference in the sounds though. The Cloud version is incredibly authentic but the service is a bit unreliable with frequent online reauthorizations constantly breaking the workflow. The RD-8 might be the best reproduction. Amazing.

A couple of things. You cannot trigger multiple sounds on the original 808. You can trigger one sound at a time, otherwise you must sequence them if you want to hear multiple sounds in a beat. You can't play with your fingers MPC style like you can with the TR-8. The RD-8 stays true to form in this fashion. Also, the RD-8 cowbell sounds most like a real 808. The 808 cowbells are two detuned oscillators, and on most 808 units they sound pretty detuned against each other. The TR-8 and cloud are too closely tuned. They don't sound right. As I've said from the beginning, the TR-8/TR-8S, along with everything else Roland has put out (since the late 90's, excluding the VP9000 and V-Synth) are toys. Garbage. They sound like crap, sterile and lifeless, totally uninspiring. I feel bad for people who buy that junk. The TR-8 even looks crappy. Like a toy. I have the design, the retarded LED colors... Everything about new Roland stuff irritates me. Maybe Behringer will get Roland off their ass and get them to create an actual analog TR-808 reissue.

Before you all rush out and buy your new RD8s, the TR8 is a great drum machine that has got 909, 707, 727, 606 kits. It sounds great. For live it's awesome. I got mine for £200. U sure you'll notice the difference in a mix?

..the ship has sailed and Roland has missed the boat once again.. Roland is going get their panties in a bunch when sales start skyrocketing on this RD-8 and crash on their TR-08 which serves them right.. Roland stopped making quality hardware in the 90's and instead mass produced crap for extreme prices.. trust me I used to work for Mar's music until Mar's closed and Guitar Center first opened.. I would offer Yamaha over Roland even to my worst enemy.. who in their right mind wants a digitally tame TR-08 unless it is to be used while slipping a $6 coffee latte in the morning after an gourmet wine hangover.. to be fair Behringer did mass produce defective mixers in the beginning but it appears like they finally got their act together just in time to steal a top slot in the pro audio gear market.. well done Behringer you took your past revenue and put it to good use.. lets see what happens next while Korg and Behringer battle it out to be the next king.. meanwhile Yamaha and especially Roland slide down the slippery stripper pole of the music meat market..

the acidlab miami is as good as the rd-8

The toms sound really bad on the RD 8, it's missing that noisy background tail or whatever you would describe it, somewhat similar to the reverb on the clap, maybe it's using the same circuits.

In a mix, and with a good studio setup...no difference. I own many synths and drum machine. Both digital and analog. Just enjoy making new music! These are tools! 🕶🎶

I'm still "linked" to my Yamaha Rx8 and it's still better than Roland.

Tr8s is much better

That clone beats the brakes off that overpriced roland

I have a real TR808, another World.

You're voice is too loud

I wouldn’t trade my TR8 for any other

cloud better

The Cloud version is the loser. RD-8 ftw.

The only comparison where the crowd is looking for is TR-808 vs. RD-8. Nobody wants to see the green ugly Roland product.

The cloud is garbage

I figured I'd see the cheap ass Behringer fan boiz rushing here to claim it the best. The 808 is the most common drum machine sound on the planet. There's TONS of ways to get those sounds (though I don't know any serious producer still using those crappy old sounds). Samples are everywhere for these sounds. If I wanted them I'd just stick with the TR-8S. Much fuller drum machine. Multiple kits, built in effects, can do samples, etc. Behringer is junk. Worse, they rip off other pieces of gear and make junk. Look how many Boog's are already on the market because they won't keep tune. If you're a cheap skate, or on a tight budget, get the ripoff Behringer. Don't be surprised when it goes belly up on you in a couple years though. However, if you want a versatile drum machine, where the outdated 808 sounds are just one aspect of it, then get the TR-8S.

I bought a TR-8 shortly after they were released and I kept it for a month or so before I sold it. I LOVE the volume faders and the FX were pretty handy but a lot of the sounds seemed off to me, as this video exemplified with the hats. I don't think the RD-8 is perfect by any means but I think it sounds pretty solid overall plus I like the large form factor, individual outs, and the extras like the sequencer functions as well as the main filter thing.