Behringer RD-8 Quickstart Guide and Tutorial

[@ianpullman203]

Absolutely fantastic, Behringer should be paying you for doing this.

[@ogasi1798]

One of my fave uses for the WD is about 8pm attack and full sustain on a cymbal with full decay, set up some kicks and hit the lo toms through it too and watch what happens to the cymbal being sucked and pushed , almost lfo like, very nice tool.

[@StarskyCarr]

I’ll have a play with that .. nice one.

[@ecowden]

Thank you! Thought my unit was DOA. It only arrives with a "Quick Start" that just describes the connections. Thanks to you I got some sound out of it! :-)

[@Naked4FunTV]

18:17 - The work around "Flam" bullshit is to make an empty 64 bar pattern with flam deactivated everywhere and save it as your initial pattern like song 1 pat one, so in the future you will have it deactivated everywhere and active it when needed :) (same thing for probability)

[@danf4236]

Excellent tutorial, got me up and running in like 5 minutes. Thanks for making this!

[@StarskyCarr]

Great to hear!

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

Excellent video! Been thinking about this one and the Crave lately, I just bought them and your videos have been REALLY helpful! Something about the cryptic character of interfaces from these glory days of electronic dance music, really reminds me of computers from those days too. Your video is dense with information that I need to learn my way around and it is presented in the order, roughly, that other n00bs to this hardware will encounter it as well. Or that's how it's been for me. This is from the older days of interfaces, you have to do a little searching to find those sweet spots sometimes. Not going to go on about how lovely the machine is because I just wanted to comment on your video. I like the fact that you didn't have to add a lot of bling, you got right to the point and it worked well, for me. Subscribed.

[@maccagrabme]

Didn't even bother with the manual and probably wouldn't have worked it out in a hurry as its not obvious, so thanks for your excellent tutorial. I had no intentions of buying this as I was happy with cloud and Tr8 but saw it for £220 new and couldnt resist. I must admit when I first used it I wasnt blown away as maybe I was expecting more due to the legendary status of the 808. I even tried the cloud alongside it and that sounded nicer to begin with, very punchy and detailed whereas the RD8 was more subdued. It wasn't until I used it in the context of a recording alongside the TD3 that it all made sense. The RD8 has that magical 80s sound whereas the cloud version doesn't. I could easily recreate all those famous 80s electro and house tracks with the RD8 and they felt much the same whereas I couldnt recreate the same with the plugin, it sounded good but was missing something and didn't balance too well in the mix. I only intended to test it out and put it back in the box until later but had to be dragged off it 5 hours later as I was having so much fun, this machine is highly addictive and I haven't experienced this in any plugin emulation so far or even the Tr8. Very pleased with this, yet another Behringer classic at an unbelieveable price.

[@joemillo]

Starksy for THE WIN!!!! Thank you so much for making this easy. Was having a hard time getting into the RD-8 until I saw your video. As always, you are my Sensei Of Sound!

[@Pandangus]

Thanks for the video! I can learn in a day what would have taken me months to figure out, as well as some stuff I would probably have never figured out with how I was getting on with the manual.

[@apislapis]

I have read on countless occasions that no two TR-808s sound the same, so who is to say that it doesn't sound like one of the originals? I have the poor man's 808 a 606. I wasn't interested in purchasing an RD-8, because I have the 606 and samples of an 808 that can be triggered on my Akai MPX8, until you sold it to me (Behringer take note, sign up Starsky now). I can overlook it's quirks/foibles because at £299 it's a bl00dy bargain. Great video as always Starsky. Keep churnin' 'em out la'.

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

Okay, I've watched you through now and have found this very useful. I'm going to have to look around at other videos about this piece as well. This has been far more informative for a n00b like me though than many videos with much more elaborate production, I think this is the kind of video you want to learn from.

[@dvuemedia]

I got one this week, I have been watching this vid to get started, Thanks. I have the v2/Mark2 version with first black keys instead the white ones. In this version, looks like the probability is off by default and it shows in different led color which step the probability is enabled. Nice.

[@luapworrag]

Excellent video. Was wondering where I was going wrong with a few areas. Hadn’t had a chance to read the manual

[@theemperorstarwarslegends8075]

the quick start guide doesn't really have any clear instructions in it, which is why I'm here.

[@MrFunktone]

Nice! The sound is awesome, I mean so close to the original I'm really blown away tbh. Top vid

[@randydarklight]

So great to listen to him.

[@honderdzeventien]

Aight!!! Thanx man, this vid does what the manual could never make clear to me, the unlit pattern/song was the point I got stuck, and really _frustrated._ Your vid's info isn't even made clear on behringer's own channel.....

[@marsmediapro]

I have recently acquired an RD-8, and just now powered it on- this video is a great help- I have watched it multiple times... btw- your facebook link is a dead end... and, I wish that you'd consider publishing an "RD-8 For Dummies" guide book- ha ha; but, seriously- would you, please?

[@theaudioeng]

Only just got mine after a 2 year wait (for all of us, right?), so this is helpful as in the box the Quick Start manual just told me what the buttons do, NOT how to programme up the beast! Now DL'd the User Manual off Behringer's website Music Tribe. More UL's please!! Cheers 😎🎶👍

[@crolodon8024]

You're tripping dude, they only announced it one year and 4 months ago.

[@cnfuzz]

It is actually pretty straightforward to use even without manual, if you only used to vsti you can have some headscratching

[@sirsilver1968]

I love how it sounds I have had mine for nearly a week now it's as close as you are going to get to the original.

[@StarskyCarr]

No - nothing. MIDI is for triggering/MIDI CLOCK and firmware updates only. The knob positions are MIDI’d. The TR08 is what you need for enhanced MIDI with CC etc.

[@cnfuzz]

@@StarskyCarr it also doesnt respond to velocity via midi , the midi side is indeed very bare bones

[@powermix24]

@doksan The whole point of this machine is to be able to play analog and you can OUTput each sound separately and record it that way in your DAW . The Roland boutique version makes no sense since you can get the cloud version and they sound the same because they are digital unlike the RD-8 because it's analog.

[@liamconner82]

Great video. Particularly helpful for programming songs.

[@PanCakeMixer101]

Just got it and having a blast with it. What I need to do now is synching it's midi clock with a synthesiser (Roland Gaia or Behringer Monopoly)

[@StarskyCarr]

Check out the synthtribe app I think you can select the clock mode in that - if not its in the main menu. Once you find it its simple. you need to set the clock to external or USB ir MIDI (I can't remember exactly - everything does things in the same way, but slightly different. You'll also need to tell your synth its clock is internal (sometimes referred to as master).

[@robertlane1197]

Thank you kind sir! Just got mine yesterday and got damn I love it already

[@mrgooakalegooster]

Thank you Sir! Yes I subscribed! Best RD-8 Tuto on NET!

[@elissitdesign]

I can’t get over how great this device sounds. It’s ace. On a side note I cannot imagine Behringer leaving Flam and Probability staying that way to program as it’s totally backwards. Might be an error? 😬 Waiting for mine to arrive. Next it 909!!!

[@LousyFacelift]

People who have used Elektron devices are often irritated by the different approach on probability Behringer is taking in the RD-8. I made a video talking about these differences. I must admit the flam function seems a bit weird also to me though.

[@kristian7692]

Thanks! I was really annoyed by the Flam affecting all the voices (wtf?) but thanks to this video I figured out how to solve this. Thnx a lot!!

[@Riktenstein]

Hahah - I've thought mine was broken at first too. I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING!! All sorted now and thanks for the video.

[@StarskyCarr]

Glad it's not only me :)

[@Riktenstein]

@@StarskyCarr I found a few bugs with mine. After I programme a few beats the step repeat stops working. Also I can't go beyond 16 bars. Is yours still working perfectly.

[@StarskyCarr]

Riktenstein Sorry to hear about that. Mines doing fine - although I’m not hammering it - a few different things in the go.

[@Riktenstein]

wasn’t a bug it was me. Had polymetric turned on and it doesn’t go passed 16 steps. Haha

[@StarskyCarr]

Riktenstein ... at least you didn’t do it on KZbin 🤫

[@ananta286]

Thanks for the video, great stuff. I ordered one of these today and can't wait for it to arrive, looks like fun and excellent sounds

[@StarskyCarr]

It’s great.

[@Flashlight242]

Nice starter tutorial and sooo useful since the original manual (is it even a manual?) is useless. Thanks for that !!!

[@cpwn2069]

they should write a program, like a wrapper; for all the Behringer drum machine like models someone would use for electronic music. rd-8,9, td-3, etc. as "modular" software devices. perfect tutorial. thanks again :)

[@J_Carter]

I would have done all the things...forget to hit Record, forget to hit Save...brilliant coverage here

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha I did! Hence the video :)

[@wanderingjuniper]

Great job as always, thanks

[@VirginiaWolf88]

Thank You!!! I'm trying to figure one of these out!!! I subscribed to you. I will check out your videos. Cheers!!!

[@ralfbrutting3073]

Please one Video more about Dump-Handling, Step-,Note-Repeat Recording in RD-8, Copy-Functions, etc Thanks

[@tomimpomeni4433]

No wonder its so cheap, they are not ever going to help you run the damn thing.

[@BillOdyssey]

Excellent video. I had my own head scratch moments when mine arrived! Had to switch it off a couple of times having got stuck 😂

[@StarskyCarr]

Glad it helped. Thanks for letting me know.

[@DJGodfatherDetroit]

Great video. I just got this one but and used to have a TR808. There are a lot more options with the Behringer. Love it

[@swapmeetdj]

The workflow looks a lot like that of the Roland MC grooveboxes, minus the menu diving. I’m pretty stoked about having more than 16 step A and B patterns, I’m coming from the Aira TR-8. I think I’m equally as excited about not frying my eyes with the TR-8’s LEDs

[@alphanuevo]

Very cool! I just ordered one yesterday! Thanks for sharing.

[@zzkjbry]

try putting the instrument voice switches in the middle position xD

[@benvigs]

Finally getting mine on Friday!!!! WOOOOOOT!!!

[@jokchung]

Thank you for this! Great video 👍🏼

[@kukipeter7524]

Thanks for this review.I order mine 3 weeks ago but i have to wait for it

[@tubemoog]

I had a problem with mine initially - had to perform a reset.....works fine now

[@ralfbrutting3073]

This Video is a big help for the beginning with RD-8, Thanks

[@alonsorascon9643]

Manual says you need a balanced TRS cable for the mono output and some people reported (myself included) low gain by using an unbalanced TS cable, it seems the mono output is phase inverted while the individual outs aren't, meaning higher gain on those.

[@Naked4FunTV]

if they say balanced and you put unbalanced inside, it probably make you hear one side so you have half volume in theory, plus the main volume is down cause you can give more with the wave designer

[@rayjones-x7l]

thanks 4 the tutorial RD8 brill

[@ThomannSynthesizers]

Great Tutorial :)

[@evildinoproductions5793]

godverdomme wat een wereldvideo. Thanks a lot. Very helpful indeed

[@jessedeanefreeman]

Thanks so much for this! Helped a lot to get started!

[@DiscreetHustle]

my shyt just arrived today looks like I have a lot to learn

[@MrDream-zm1pw]

Thank you so much for doing this!!

[@cnfuzz]

2 missed tricks on the rd8 i find , 1. Using seperate outs does not defeat the instrument on the mono bus out, this would enable you to group instruments on mono and solo some from group if you used these on seperate ( like on the rx5 , i dont remember if my original 808 did this) 2. return bus cant be used to channel external sound through wave designer

[@mrhappystacks]

Auto scroll during song creation had me going crazy!!

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha.. me too

[@SZiandSZoul]

After installing firmware 2.04, it seems that AUTOSCROLL doesn’t work anymore. I did all your steps again and again, but it doesn‘t switch to the second bank. 😡 I don‘t know what to do ...

[@in_10z]

Great vid. The manual needs work for sure or maybe it was intentional to force us to experiment. Just a little pedantic thing in your vid: at 16:05 you say "Not flashing = Not muted" but flashing = not muted.

[@tbeat03]

Just received it today. I can't understand why only the Mid Tom, Rim Shot and Hand Clap buttons are working, while the others not?? They doesn't make ANY sound while pressing trigger, even the knob are on a higher level. Any help, please?

[@666JGNotts]

Thanks mate, excellent video as usual

[@inverted.x]

Thank you kind sir 🙏

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks for the thanks 😊

[@mmrva]

Agree on probability and flam suggestion. Hope that will be changed in future updates. Did you compare individual outs with master summing?

[@reardondearborn]

Hi, quick question, any idea when chaining songs together how to make the chain stop after the last song, rather than looping back to the first song again? Oh yeah, is it possible to copy the patterns from one song bank into another?

[@golf-freq]

Excellent video -- many thanks!

[@station2station544]

Thank you, the manual is ridiculous. And the setting length, repeats, and Auto-Scroll WTF?!?! :). etc... is slightly different than a Roland 808.

[@deanbridges572]

Brilliant simple for minds

[@darrenlee1938]

Bought one. Sounded great, but found the record,save a massive pain in the arse. Sold it Not sure why B could not have made the basics Exactly the same as the original, but with added features .. I never tried it without headphones, but the effects section does not function thru headphones anyway..so thought I’d just use as I would a traditional 808, but it’s not the same

[@hermansimms8410]

Awesome thanks

[@seemedoit]

This is appreciated! Great job.

[@manuelcabezaliromero1940]

This was súper useful, thank you so much

[@AgentsofRush]

The flam feature always set for every sound to on at first seems a bit odd. Annoying.

[@mrtravoiceburges]

your lengt button is lit up and the step is off.. my copy button starts flashing when i try to set the length not luck im doing this along with the vido but mine is fucked up

[@AlainHubert]

A bit late to the party. One question: the cowbell is not tunable?

[@n.oneimportant5]

It's not (which is faithful to the original, but it would've been a nice update)...

[@Owyesthatissmooth]

Hey thank you very much, nice video ! I have being having a problme on mine... if i click on mute / solo, the button flash in orange but the select for each voices doesn't flash in red like yours... and the Wave designer receive signals but doesnt affect my voices, same for the FX, any advice please ?

[@MultiScampi]

Brilliant video, do you know if the Roland tb3 will work with this? Bearing in mind I'm not using a computer

[@JamieDunnOverride]

Is it easy to set the RD 8 up in Ableton? Can I record the midi from my patterns into Ableton and record the automation I use for adjusting the sounds on the RD8 live?

[@natbvm1880]

Thank you!!

[@StarskyCarr]

You're welcome!

[@jimmywheelo]

I've managed to setup Drumazon to respond to the midi out of the RD8. So if your ever bored of the sounds and want to turn the RD8 into a 909 with the benefit of the sequencer features (probability , polyrhythms etc) give me a shout and I'll send you the drum map for drumazon. 👍

[@YardPimp]

I have not messed with probability at all. Have they fixed it so it works with a single instrument with any firmware updates, that you know of?

[@RAGINxxXxxCAJUN]

How do you save your patterns and songs to computer?

[@adamthomason8285]

Hey man, great tutorial. Does the unit save your programmed beats when you turn it off? Does it require battery back up?

[@StarskyCarr]

Yes it saves them and no battery back up.

[@blablablablabittybla561]

Great vid! Can you cave the bass drum play more than 1 tone in the same pattern? Like in OutKast “the way you move.” I know yall want that 808 Can you feel the B A S S bass?

[@t3chnothrash593]

Another important thing I like to ask: If I save a Song 1 pattern with the kick for example with a different tone level say the knob is at 2. Then on another song 2 with the kick at tone level 8. I SAVE THESE: Then when I go do a live, does the sounds of the kick played at song 1 still be at tone 2 and when play song 2 will the kick be at tone 8?

[@mackmccord3743]

Dope question! Have you figured out it or have you gotten an answer yet?

[@t3chnothrash593]

@@mackmccord3743 yes its very easy to use, just received it a few days ago

[@ivanbuonanno3309]

Amazing tutorial as always. I recently bought the RD-8, I noticed the output level is very low even with the pots all the way up (about -20db), is this normal?

[@MrDcseltzer]

Has anyone noticed that if you leave the unit unplugged for power, there must be something plugged into the audio out for the unit to power up? Only happens when it has been unplugged for power for a few days

[@lucasdunwoody7614]

So Ive made S1 P1 I see signal going to the wave designer via blinking red light. Still no sound! (even trigger) signal path is good I don't understand where I'm going wrong...

[@sq7507]

Hi! Can you record the sequence as MIDI on a DAW and edit that sequence on the computer? Thanks!

[@Malle825]

programming probability seems to be tedious but you could programm a empty preset pattern for this, right? maybe something with probability on the weak steps of the kick, hi hat and claves for example. do it for 4 bars so you dont always have to do the same stuff again and again. you can recall it work on it and then save it to another place when you finished. when working on a beat you just have to adjust it to your liking. or would it not work?

[@MrFlatlandcycle]

I must have a different firmware. The length "procedure" at about 5:10 doesn't work for me. When I hit play the LENGTH indicators don't move to the 32 led. Yes, AUTO SCROLL is lit. This is sorted: You must press the last of the sequencer buttons.

[@LousyFacelift]

Great info especially on all this song mode stuff, pattern chaining and all that! Flam pre -set for everything seems quite weird indeed, I can (kind of) see why they did it for probability though.

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks, the song mode pretty easy to use once you’ve worked out how to do it!!

[@ogasi1798]

Starsky Carr great stuff as always, this will help many who haven't cracked it yet. Ftr song mode is different from pattern chaining bud , try it, it has a few quirks for you/us all as it stands, and something to be resolved regarding its looping of secondary songs

[@ogasi1798]

LousyFacelift no reason in the world to have probability on 100% the way it is implemented, when you realise what happens it clicks, if you don't want every step in the pattern to be altered by any step with probability then you must delete all steps and then go on to only select steps you actually want it on. Same with flam.

[@StarskyCarr]

OGASI thanks.. as far as I can tell there’s song mode - which is what I demo’d - and then there’s song chaining - according to the manual (I think they’re the terms used). I haven’t tried chaining songs yet. Isn’t pattern chaining essentially song mode? I may well have terminology mixed up (like trying to explain patterns, beats, steps, and steps as in steps in a chain - steps can be a single beat and a pattern could described as a beat). All gets very confusing when ad-libbing on camera :)

[@ogasi1798]

Starsky Carr hey man I'm not picking, not at all I was just saying, it's got pattern chains and song mode which links songs but both come under song mode yes you're right, and yes I know..... Another bloody terminology method to catch us out 😂 . Glad you found the auto scroll function, that had me scratching for a while the other day

[@ronanconsidine1]

Gr8 video, thanks!

[@lincolnmicrophonellc]

Thank you for this!

[@Blazejkrzak]

Does this have odd metrum and slow down/ speed up ? Fore example can I set the different tempo in song mode? EX: [104 bpm for pattern 1 and 106 bpm for pattern 2]

[@StarskyCarr]

yes you can do that (although I've not got it in front of me but pretty certain it does... worth double checking the manual if its needed, I think there's a global setting you can choose per patch or global).

[@jacopobianchini9468]

I do not understand very much what the TAP/HOLD button is used for tho

[@horder2344]

Really considering selling my TR-8 for this but it doesn't look as intuitive and as simple to use out of the box as the TR-8?..the step sequencer for example having to press record ( which is an extra step in a process). Is it right to assume the tr8 is more suited to live performance and the Rd 8 for studio?

[@StarskyCarr]

I’d say they’re both good for live - although obviously with the TR8 you have more kits, so more flexible for different tracks. I wouldn’t put one over the other from a live perspective though... just different.

[@Naked4FunTV]

I really like it the record thing, cause if you are in live situation you can insert some random trig and it will play only once if you don't press record, so kind of extra fill function

[@Naked4FunTV]

1:30 Simple Question: isn't the filter and wave designer out useless if you use individual outs? and if you use main out it will be mono so everything sound in the middle as there is no panning option? am I wrong?

[@TheGreatPanicker]

How does this stack up against the Drumbrute? Which would you prefer or which sounds better?

[@StarskyCarr]

Ive never used a drumbrute sorry.

[@eancurtis9333]

Is there a way to change the midi ch to 10 ? I hooked it up to my best step pro but it's so sketchy it misses hits randomly

[@LZ42BK]

Is it possible to erase not the entire pattern, but the one for a single instrument?

[@StarskyCarr]

You can go it it the pattern and just take away the hits you don’t want. It doesn’t take too long … max 4 pages of 16ths. Maybe the update does it but I’ve never bothered to find out … this way is super quick anyway. Far quicker than stopping to look it up ;)

[@graemelang111]

Cheers for the info 👍 😎

[@StarskyCarr]

No problem 👍

[@nicolaslerille4985]

thx for the lesson

[@Lex-vj8ci]

I have the RD 8. How do I save individual BPM‘s for different patterns

[@monalaphona]

I am having trouble with saving patterns correctly. So I make a pattern, Press save, Press Song 2, Press pattern 3 for example, Press save, and then the pattern reappears in Song 1, pattern 7. I never put it there. So I thought the Logic behind saving stuff is the following: you create a pattern,you tell rd8 where to save through selecting Song No. and pattern No., Press save and then it should be there. Apparently it is not working like this for me. So I read the manual and they say you create a pattern, save it through pressing save, pattern, No, save. They do not mention pressing song. So is it only possible to create a Maximum of 16 patterns at a time? Afterwards you would have to Chain them into a song (pattern chaining) and save them to a song in songmode. Then you could erase the patterns and Start fresh. So I am really looking for please. Please Share your knowledge with me rd8 Users :)

[@holografik3327]

is this a metal case ?

[@richardjames111]

Ordered one of these yesterday and i'm a COMPLETE BEGINNER to making music (although i've been dj'ing for 22yrs)... Stupid question alert... Do i need to have this going to my Xone 4D mixer and monitors to get sounds from it? Same question goes for the Behringer TD-3 which i bought today... Hope someone can answer this... Cheers :)

[@ravinderchahal7186]

planning on doing the same as you - good luck

[@michaelharris6106]

Iv done the very same as you two not a clue what I'm doing after DJing for years but it's fun finding it all out