Roland R8 MKII pattern editing R-8 drum machine 

Yes, the metronome. People, They way I write is with it on because I just do. I focus on that when doing the real time edits. I could assign it to a specific output and mute it on the desk BUT as you cannot switch between record and play on the fly, I just deal with it. To stop the R8 recording whilst in record (so I can check what sounds are on which pads for example), I press the tempo button as this stops the pads recording but keeps you in record mode.

purchased my R-8 in 1989 and still programming with it in 2020

ahaaaa....i see Autechre most deffo used this alot...superb demo and i love that data slider!! awesome kit....

One of the best drum machine ever I love Roland R8 and tnx for this upload :)

You are the master of the R8! Great!!

Thank you very much for that video! I recently got the R8 and your demo helps me a lot understanding this great machine...

Cool. Keep the videos coming! Best!

Very nice demonstration! Cheers Dennis

Man Great Stuff I used to have one in the 1990. Great Machine. Great Stuff.

What a Jam ❤️🔥

sounds epic!

A must have in the studio!Greetz

Wow, this feature is so well hidden that it is hard to reproduce even after watching the video. The trick is to use CURSOR to move from default recording screen to realtime parameters. After getting $VL (velocity) you can get another parameters such as pitch (&PT) by using SELECT and not CURSOR any more. I doubt this was documented, the manual PDF is not searchable, so I am not going to bother checking. Hmmm, perhaps I should keep this crazy machine after all?

great jam

really cool the recorded cc data with value slider sound like a groove box or similar stuff

Very Creative!!

i have a r8 and mpc 2000xl. i sample sounds from it into the mpc. this is a good demonstration.

So much fun.

good job on this.

Great demo! This machine has never appealed to me until seeing this.

This video changed my approach to drum programming, thanks. And thanks for explaining how to do it; the manual is rather unclear.

Thanks for Sharing David me gonna Learn from you....Salute...

instant Autechre 0:36

this drummachine is better than the tr8 , good vídeo demonstration of the capabilities of this machine.

I'm one of those 'straight ahead drum machine' guys. Didnt think you could do realtime recording of those parameters ! I'm on an R5 though.

I miss my R8. Autechre keeps it.

It reminds me a lot old Nine Inch Nails tracks, was sure they use it ... but after google research it says roland R 70 :) or something close

Sounds great, did you use stock sounds or any particular rom in this video? Thanks

hi David hope you can help. i am playing now with my r8 (just got it) and i can't figure out why instruments has different loudness even though level everywhere adjusted same. for example: in pad bank A,B I can barely hear a kick, snare in pad bank E clap and side stick. i though the buttons might be broken but its a matter of a bank that i use.

Does the MKii come with any presets? Or do you have to make all of your own? And I am thinking about getting one to play as a backup percussion when I play guitar/sing live... I am assuming that the "sequencer" allows you to string a bunch of preset patterns together to make a full song? Thanks so much!

Hi just got my R5 going. Is there a TAP tempo function? Thanks!

@buchla300 thank you, mate! Hope that my Alesis MMT-8 will save all that beats

It appears this video has been up for a couple of years or so. I am new to this drum machine as I just purchased a Roland R-8 but can;t figure out how to create patterns of my own, in fact I can't figure out how to even get the metronome started. I can't find any tutorials out there that steer me in the direction to using this machine. I am satisfied with drum keypad sounds at power up, but I am searching for a basic operation tutorial on how to create a pattern of my own. The factory preset program patterns are what they are and don't in my opinion just give an example of what the machine is capable of doing etc. Any help would greatly be appreciated!

VERY impressive demo. I can tell you start off by jumping into Record mode, but you later stop and restart playback, then keep adding/changing stuff. Can you enter Record mode at ANY time ?

what drum sounds are you using here? what can you say of the Tr-909 ROM Sounds - comparable to the original ones? thanks a lot!

So this also has parametre automation? Nice thing for such old machine. How does it perform in live setup? Can you quickly change patterns in playmode, or only jump up or down like in Boss DR-660?

you did this with the MKII - can it be done with just the standard R8?? Thanks!

That low end.

will anyone help me please!! i have roland r8 but kept for years in my store room. but when i took it out, it has no sound at all. the installed sounds gone, the power is working but has no sound. please advise. thank you!

I shouldn't have sold my old Roland R8... :-(

I just got an R8 and I have figured out everything except for adding slider movements to sequences. When I am in pattern mode and select "write", the red light flashes to the metronome and the value slider adjusts the quantize value by default. The sequencer doesn't seem to recall these slider movements. As soon as I click "sound" or "perform" in order to select "pitch" as the assignable effect for the slider, the record light goes green and it is impossible to record any changes I make to pitch in real time. is there some sort of way to assign different things to the value slider? Is there a layer of memory protection I need to turn off? Would greatly appreciate any advice you have. I have scoured the manual and the Web for answers.

I have question about memory (for recording patterns) on R8, maybe you can help me? After recording about 20-25 patterns on my r8, when i record new ones, machine stops and i see message - MEMORY IS FULL. How can I clear place for my future patterns without deleting previous? When i`m loading my much loved Electronic and Dance cards, i`m loading only sounds, without demos, original demos also not exist in memory... can`t believe there`s so small memory in drum machine like this(

Yo David How can i access the record mode ?

Cool. How do I get my R8 doing this? I have no Idea.

What is the difference between R8 and the R8 MK2. Is it only that the MK2 has more drums, or is there something more ?

I have an R8 I assume is a Mk1 (1988) & I have tried varying the pitch of an instrument while in Real Time record mode however it doesn't record any of that info. Am I missing something ? Page/Perform/Select either Pitch,Nuance,Decay or Pan/Value Slider.

almost makes me wish I hadn't have sold mine :(

How do you assign a multi output for a bass drum to a mixer

Can you record on it without 32/16/8 sequencer grid? Off beat?

Is the live /recording sound edit particular to the MkII ?

What's that “Stereo keyboard sampler”

That is a fucking amazing groove you've got going with the hats there. Mind if I sample it? ;D

You still own this?

The metronome...

Thanks for making a constructive video.

one question do you kmow if is possible doing the same real time edition of the pitch decay etc on the r8 mki?

someday............................ gonna get 1

can this hook up to an amp.

stock sounds