Roland TR-8s: Comprehensive Feature Walkthrough and My final Thoughts about it 

In the first half of the Video (and partly into the second half) it's hard to see the Steps on the Sequencer due to the Lighting. Sorry for that! These Buttons are very shiny and i did not noticed the Result on Video before i was already done "filming".

When importing samples from the SD Card, you can preview the currently selected sample by pressing the SAMPLE button. It is flashing to indicate it is active. You can even hold the SAMPLE button down and scroll through the sounds and they will automatically play as you select each new sound. This feature was added in Firmware 1.10, August 2018, after umonox's video was made.

Thanks for making this vid! Straight to the point and super helpful to someone who just got their tr-8s.

Very thorough run thru. Learned a lot, thanks!

Great video umonox - the way to preview a sample is with the square tap-in pad. South East of the TEMPO knob.

Really helpful video. I’ve upgraded to an s from the standard 8 after Santa treated me. I’ve spent 3hrs tonight playing around and clearly haven’t even scratched the surface. Such an impressive piece of kit from what I’ve seen so far

Great review...I appreciate the depth and honesty....covering good points and bad. Please make more videos 🤞

GREAT COMPREHENSIVE VIDEO. Thank you!

Great comprehensive video. Since we are at 1.10 now, some of your concerns I think have been answered. I agree with the motion control but that’s workable by adding a rack to whatever sequencer you’re using in your DAW.

WOW - thank you for the video and for the tips man!

this is the best drum machine for dance music

Thank you great video😊

Great reviews man

Looks like lots of great potential I can’t wait to try it out

I'm looking to buy a drum machine to get away from clicking a mouse... Have to say one thing I've learnt from all the demo videos is that no matter what machine you use it always sounds amazing! Love the pattern walkthroughs. Keep up the good work. 👍

Thanks for a great video 👌🏽👍🏽🎵

Great Clip. Everyone who minds to Bu this piece of hardwar should watch it so he/she can judge what he/she realy gets for her/his money. Keep up the good work.

I have just purchased a tr8s and so far I love it, I have only had it for 2 days. one thing I really would have liked is a longer predelay on the reverb for use on the kick drum, but so far so good :)

There’s a major bug with the Roland TR8s regarding Program Change over midi. Although it may not be important to most single users of the TR8s, if you plan on syncing it up as either master or slave, the following bug is Still present on the machine. The BUG is When either sending or receiving a Program change message via a midi clock, the TR8S slightly lags behind when the program change is executed. Yet when a program change is made manually on the TR8s, there is no problem. It’s been a real pain for me, because the machine itself is amazing.

FW 1.1 and 2.0 improved a lot. I think this unit beats the competition. Design, functionality and features are just perfect.

Great video! Are you going to make a new video showing the new features, work flow, tips and tricks, etc. with the new firmware 2.0 update?

With the firmware now on V3, it would be really interesting to know how much better the TR-8S stacks up than it did five years ago

That sidechain trick is genius. I use the external outputs loads but never thought to do that.

Thank you for this amazing tutorial.

Thanks!!

I appreciate this video. I just got a TR-8S and I'm finding it really fun and intuitive (mostly, although I did have trouble uploading samples at first...still sort of figuring it out...). But, yeah, I can see your concern/desire about the lack of automation. I feel like so far, making a few samples and then tweaking them with the onboard EFX has been great, and the ability to play live with tweaky, more esoteric samples will be fun. Like you say, it seems they very much designed it for playing live.

Best video tutorial for the TR-8S!!!!!

Thanks for this very informative video. Much appreciated

I'm pretty sure they used the motion rec button to layer multiple motion effects from the Ctrl knob in the Roland demo videos. But I'll get mine in a couple days and check to be sure.

Don't forget the TR-8S has audio-outs for each individual channel, allowing to have them multitrack in sync on a DAW where then you can apply any further automations to complete your full track.

thks a lot !!!!

Time line 1 - Basics 00:41 2 - Sidechain Input 07:10 3 - Alternate sounds / Edit overview 14:01 4 - Sample management 18:09 5 - Sample Editing 21:48 6 - Effects 28:03 7 - Motion sequences (the weak point) 57:04 8 - USB recording in the D.A.W 1:02:49 9 - Fill-in overview 1:04:55 10 - My final toughs 1:08:06

Hello, late to the party here, but what would you recommend for helping to order ones tracks for live ? the TR-8S, MC707, or the Digitakt? I like polyrhythms and the whole nine yards.

Very good review, thank you. I have a question, once it don't have song mode it is possible to change patterns with an external sequencer like the Yamaha Rm1x?

Hi Umonox, does it have per step editing? So that you could make toms next to eachother different lengths without altering the rest? I'm thinking of your minimal groove on the rytm where you made the front bass tom much shorter. Thanks.

great walk through. I really want to like this machine, but watching how fiddly that menu diving looks is giving me a headache. maybe it's gonna be the Digitakt after all.

Does this have a metronome for tracking in the INST REC method?

Hello! Thnanks a lot for this tour) I still don't get if any kick has so crucial pitch envelope speed and depth parameters on tr-8\8s? Maybe you can assign it to control knob or you can find it deep under the hood?

Is it possible to use Delay, Reverb and Overdrive as individual FXs or are they just master FXs?

Thanks for the Video. Does anyone know where do I find the cowbell on this machine?

Once your samples are imported are they quickly and easily selectable forever like the factory samples? You don't have to wait for the loading with the machine being unusable each time do you?

How many mono quarter inch jacks would i need for the sidechain and my speaker only allows for one jack input so would i need an adapter cable that it all feeds into one jack to connect to my speakers??

love this tutorial - have started a google doc to get some of these gems down :) i'm not able to accomplish the side chain portion though, i have two patch cables going from 1 - 2 (a) into L - R (EXT IN) - and when I change output on CC to ASSIGN A I get nothing :\ If I go back to MIX can hear again - assuming I'm missing some simple here - thx if can point me in right direction, and thx a ton again for this video! ✌️

great video thanks, thinking of getting one ,can I load full tracks into the tr8s

Have you actually looped ouput A (stereo) back to the inputs? Do you only use one cable (mono) for the MIX OUT? Why? Sorry for these questions. I am trying to figure out what you are doing, because the information is awesome. Love the sidechaining stuff!

Hey there! Thank you for review. This AIRA have sequenser (pattern, song mode)?

Hope they revamp an update for it

What does everyone think or combining tr-8s and Digitakt?

Is motion-rec independent from parameter locking? Also, when i choose a different Parameter for CTRL is the automation lost in that moment or is it saved until i record a new motion with the new parameter?

Do you recommend setting master volume and faders to max?

How manny external samples can you load at once?

Hi dude,i hope you can help me please. What have i do to shoot tr8-s with computer(ableton) thank you

user sample ram is what exactly? roland sys 600 seconds mono

I've been trying to find a beat machine that's close to or similar to the "E-MU SP-1200 Beat machine" Would you say that the "Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer is that machine? Thanks!

How can I change reverb settings pr step? From the owner´s manual this seems possible, but I can only get it work on an instrument level.

so is that cable looping back from output A to the ext input or is the sidechain being applied internally. Bit confused about how you explained it??? Cheers.

do you have a video or could you explain how you setup the Tr 8s to work with Ableton via USB? I cannot seem to get it working to record. I currently have an audio interface, but I would like to be able to record all the channels indiviually. For reference I do have a windows computer, with Live 10. I am not sure if that affects it or not.

Hi I've had my 8s for months now, I can't figure out how to get the audio to play in Ableton Live 10. What proper cords do I need for this ? Do I need an audio interface ?

Can you shift individual steps off the grid to create your own groove?

Soo...what you say about editing sequences, one effect limited, is there any machine which can work with multiple effects for a sequence??

Hi, thanks for the great video. I wanted to ask- if I was getting this machine as a way to import entire kits from sample company- samples from mars, say a whole Linndrum kit, DMX kit, LM1 kit, C78 kit etc, how many kits could I save into the machine? If this is quite limited, what would be a better option for what I’m looking at?

What part of the video does he explain internal side chain trick , dying to know!!

Awesome vid...are those buttons still working with the way you hammer them home are were you just really excited to spread sunshine all over World with your great demo? lolzi

Can anyone help me out? I have a tr8s, I'm trying to figure out how I can put samples on n the SD card from my computer and load them onto the machine, put in the right order...thanks guys

Sorry just got the TR8s, you can previw samples, press "Shift" then "Sample" and then go to import section. After this you can preview your samples. You can youtube: Roland TR-8s Tutorial: Sample Import its in the last min of this video.

Is it possible to change the pitch per step? If so how???

Hi, thanks for this great video tutorial. I just purchased the TR-8S and would like to know if its possible while playing a track to tell quickly which one of the faders or Instrument select buttons have a sound in it? I find it difficult to look through each of the instrument select buttons to see where the sounds are

Mr umonox it is a big Find of the controldata loss...(the weak point)!! I think it is an important issue for an update!!!! so let's notify Roland for this bug fix!!!! and uh Thanx man!!

I think it's misguided to expect more options with ACB tones; they are modeling the circuitry of original machines, so the limits are inherent to the source circuitry.

Can you have multiple automations per track? EG: Coarse tune, Filter Cutoff and Reverb send level change per step on a single sample track?

23:46 Begs the question why Roland put in the possibility to set the rate negative if that does just, well, nothing. This can't be a feature, it has to be a bug right?

The best review so far...therefore I just bought the digitakt

oh? very good?!

Does any one know how to play a long 1 shot sample? I have decay on full but it fades the sample out after 20 sec

The digitakt also has master effects though.

Can external devices run through the effects of the 8S? That would be a big selling feature. If you mentioned this in the video, my apologies, I'm still in the midst of jumping back and forth in the video. :D Guilty.

Hey Hey ! Ich hab den Roland jetzt seid circa 2 Wochen, macht Bock aber ich hab ein fettes Problem und ich weiß nicht genau was ich falsch mache. Es geht um das Abspeichern und es treibt mich in den Wahnsinn! Ich hoffe du kannst mir dabei helfen. Ich hab einen track gebastelt auf dem Kit88. Alles schön und gut. Alles abgespeichert (Kit Pattern & System). Jetzt hab ich im Kit 89 was gemacht. Hab abgespeichert und wollte mal bei Kit 88 reinhören. Und dort waren exakt die Einstellungen von Kit 89 drin. Wollte den Pattern wechseln aber da dann nichts drin. Keine Ahnung warum Roland das so Fucking kompliziert macht das ganze abzuspeichern !! Kannst du mir das bitte erklären wie ich das abspeichern muss? Weil so macht das keinen Spaß... Ich hoffe du kannst mir helfen

Do i really need this?

hi, why did you send it back ? And if the raison is because it's not an elektron, do you think it can do the job for someone looking for a drum machine for a home studio ?

Good vid but it's annoying how the first initialisation steps are skipped over... without those the rest doesn't make sense!

Hey, großartiges Video - vielen Dank. Der Support von Roland bei der Installation der Tr-8s ist unglaublich schlecht & als Neuling im Bereich externen Gears habe ich große Probleme bei der korrekten Aufsetzung. Mittlerweile bekomme ich es hin, die einzelnen Instrumente als einzelne Spuren in Ableton auf dem PC aufzunehmen und das Start Signal für die Tr8s über meine DAW zu schicken. Dabei nutze ich die Tr8s als externe Soundkarte. Allerdings habe ich ein riesen Problem, dass ich nicht gelöst bekomme - vielleicht kannst du mir helfen. Läuft nämlich die Tr8s kann ich keine anderen Spuren in meinen Projekten solo schalten, der Sound der Groovebox bleibt genauso prominent. Irgendwo muss es also an meinem Routing hapern oder die Funktion zur Lösung des Problems steckt im Utility-Menü der Tr8s aber ich verzweifle so langsam bei der Lösung dieses Problems. Lieben Gruß & danke für die Wahnsinnsarbeit, die du in deine Tutorials packst :)

ThX for your video. About to not order this...Cheers!

I can't seem to find anyone talking about the build quality on this machine? Is it a metal or plastic body? Thanks so much for the great vid!!

Lt. deiner Kanalbeschreibung bist du aus Deutschland, deshalb frag ich einfach mal in meiner Sprache: Um 10:00 herum erklärst du, dass du beide Ausgänge direkt mit den Eingängen verbunden hast. Dabei sind fast alle Sounds auf "Mix" gestellt und kommen fast daher je nach Panning gleichzeitig aus den Ausgängen A und B. Nur der CC-Sound kommt ausschließlich aus Ausgang A. A ist mit den Eingängen verbunden und die Sidechainfunktion beeinflusst das, was in den Eingängen ankommt, hier also Sound CC. Warum sind nicht alle anderen Sounds auch durch Sidechain beeinflusst? Du musst ja schon alle anderen Sounds hart rechts gepannt haben, oder?

I have a little question, and not really finding info on it nowhere. I want to use the TR-8S as a midi controller, as i was doing with the TR-8 before, but now i only can make it work on the sequencer, but no faders or knobs send no midi! Hope somebody can help me on this Thanks a lot.

The manual should add an extra page to reference this video. This video is why i subbed . I should thumbs down because there will no longer be no more tutorials.

thanks for this video.. a pity you mainly used a synth sound instead of drums during the effects part of the vid.

I think for a similar price the MC-707 makes this redundant now

hmm... why are you sequencing note changes with the Control knob? and not with the Tune knob?

Hi umonox! Weisst Du wie man die Effekte nutzen kann, wenn die Instrumente zu den assignable outputs geoutet sind und nicht über den Mix Out gehen? Danke

i think u have to render the samples in a DAW cause ~5MB thats a hole track and to much for 11 samples LG sebastian

Recording into it into ableton it’s recording is off

I have enjoyed your video. Liked & subbed: so lately on my mind, is the TR-8s, BUT I am wondering, is there a more complete groovebox / rythem performer than the TR. I am a novice in the hardware it self (after understanding the hardware, I let go of my creativity): maybe I compare apples with oranges, but I try my luck with the more experience people among you incl umonox: If i have buy the first piece of hardware: TR-8s / Digitakt / or something like Akai MPC one/live/or live 2 (after saving up a bit more). Wich one is the more complete one , if you could choose

Hi warum machst Du kein deutsches Tutorial?

How dumb is it that I have to plug in cables from the machine straight back into the machine in order to use the internal side chain capabilities?

idk I think you should look at this as what it is, a drum machine not a sampler

Gibts das auch mal auf deutsch?

returned mine - no song mode = hobbled

Warum machst du das nicht auf deutsch?

why do anyone has to see this as a sound design machine and compare with electron but not with other drum machines as long as it is a drum machine with additional features. no disrespect, just need to understand the logic behind because Im about to buy one and coming back and forth to buy tr8 instead.