Getting Real with the Roland TR8s

I have a new preset pack for the Roland TR8s available to all users. It's called "Fractured Horizons" and offers 16 patterns for performance or inspiration Download the TR-8S Production Pack today-available at no charge for Roland Account holders in Roland Cloud Manager.
In this video, we'll make a kit and pattern with the Roland TR8s and talk about what makes this drum machine good and bad. Join me, please.
Get a Roland TR-8s
At Patchwerks: shrsl.com/3tjt3
At Perfect Circuit: bit.ly/3OQhxsl
Join me on Patreon and get access to music, presets, samples, and a great community: bit.ly/rmrpatreon
Take a lesson with me: rmr.media/education
Find my music here:
Bandcamp: bit.ly/2Kq617o
Soundcloud: bit.ly/2NOH9Is
Spotify: spoti.fi/2N40SoX
KZbin Music: bit.ly/3PZQ4ol
iTunes: apple.co/2pqh3SK
Amazon Music: amzn.to/2O9q1fe
Merch: bit.ly/rmrshirts
Connect:
Twitter: bit.ly/rmrtwitters
Website: bit.ly/rmrmedia

[@MikeRenouf]

Since this was recorded, Roland issued new FM drum sound models that have a ton of parameters for adjusting. 👍

[@caxtnova]

I really appreciate your honesty in this review. The device speaks for itself for what it's capable of, but not knowing what something's weaknesses are up-front is one of the main things that prevents me from buying gear these days. Great tracks as always, Jeremy!

[@krazywabbit]

All clips are 🔥that second clip you played, juicy AF! Thank you for this and all you do in the space. Respect.

[@jigaireos]

Rarely comment on anything but must echo others, your honesty is so refreshing and encouraging as I've had the TR-8S since mid 2020 and your dive into the editor's capabilities and opportunities for enhancements had me nodding my head in agreement and thank you so much for doing this! I look forward to Roland continuing updates as they have. I think it would be amazing if they can incorporate the note/pitch editing with the sliders and also the step buttons like you suggested. I would be interested in a video where you got to use whatever samples you wanted. Thanks again!

[@pjohns92]

Having my TR-8S for a couple few years now it's definitely one of the most fun drum machines for simply writing songs. Found that sound design isn't it's strong suit but using the sliders for designing layered sounds was work around

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

CR-78 added in september fw 3.0. Now it is ready 😊 Used to go 808 & 909 but as of now it is 707 & CR-78. The Yamaha RY-30 was a pretty nice machine as well.

[@jazzjeffjazzjeff]

Amazing work! Thanks for sharing this!

[@FernandoDCDuarte]

So glad to see the T8RS on your channel! This was my first hardware device, can't say I regret it!!

[@alderpublishingllc4702]

Thank you for inspiring me! It will be fun making patterns with this thing! Abstract sounds, FM, filtering, pitch, pan, parameter changes, distortion, FX etc!

[@asynchronicity]

I love your commentary on the ergonomics and flow and natural feel of having a row of sliders. This thing really is meant to be played in that way clearly👍

[@swst09]

The newest firmware does have fully editable FM drum synth engines

[@JUSTO33344]

Yeah, weird how new this video is and it doesn't mention it anywhere, the new FM models are great and have been here for a while now

[@Grimbakor]

@@JUSTO33344 Jeremy said at the beginning that the video was recorded in August ahead of time

[@RedMeansRecording]

@@JUSTO33344 did you miss right at the start when I said I recorded this in early August

[@JUSTO33344]

@@RedMeansRecording yeah, I meant more of a clarification as a pinned comment or in the description as the video makes emphasis on the contrary, otherwise it's a great vid, loving the content (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠❤

[@ohheyitskevinc]

Nice! I’ve had mine for 2 years or so now - still hoping for software to import samples and create kits on pc or Mac. The editor is great for patterns, but patterns were never really a problem on the hardware. Samples are.

[@MatusFinchus]

Excellent stuff. I LOVE my TR-8S in combination with my MC707. It's pretty much all one needs (although I do have three other outboard synths wired in).

[@5lanediver]

i would like to see another video with the tr8s where you make some techno - that is where this machine really shines

[@danrosesexperiment]

Really helped me in some basic understanding that I really needed, as a complete newbie to getting this - thank you!

[@AndriSoren]

Some lovely lovely patterns here J

[@MattyBoy714]

Strongly agree with the sound packs idea! I've been thoroughly addicted to the little brother TR6S and adding external samples (especially if it's an entire kit from another drum machine) takes the device to a new level. I just wish the device had more internal memory or could read from the SD card. It's tough deleting kits and patterns to make way for new stuff.

[@DubElementMusic]

hey, can anyone tell me if i can use the tr8s also as midi controller for e.g. u-he diva and repro 5 ?

[@galacticmonkey810]

Some great sounds there mate 👏

[@ThinkerThunker]

Want FM syntheses ...? Do the upgrade Roland released about four months back. It's awesome.

[@jona_KardCiv1]

The best thing about the TR8S is that it is made for performing things like drops and the Ext In function combined with audio ducking with the kick.

[@strangersun7721]

Yeah it's a live performance beast. That's its real strength. The sounds are great, but the programming is just okay.

[@aikido8450]

Thank you very much my friend! Now i order this baby👊🎶❤️

[@freenfinity]

Amazing songs, so groove 👌👏👏

[@strangersun7721]

Hey cool to see more of this machine years after release! You make it sing. Yeah the FM sound programming could be deeper, but considering they added those with a firmware update, I saw it as a nice bonus. It's more like a simplified Model Cycles FM sound. You only get a single dedicated FM parameter as I recall, but tweaking it gives you a pretty good range of different sounds out of that one FM instrument. All I'd ever want from the TR8S after all their updates is the ability to have an offset on the step sequencer. I know that's sacrilege with the XOX style programming, but it would make this drum machine perfect in my opinion.

[@joonoonoo9643]

May I ask what do you mean by offset on the step sequencer?

[@djdeemz7651]

​@@joonoonoo9643imagine moving a beat or all the beats back or forward half a step on the step sequencer

[@MS7.7]

​@@djdeemz7651I can do that on my t8 shift + pattern + knob. I wonder why it's not on the tr8s, maybe it's a shift function? Did you check the manual?

[@rossimatic2134]

A way to 'tame' the pitch exists actually. Pitch is a midi cc, so send it out, quantize, send it back. Does require a computer though. So with a five note scale, say, the tune knob gets divided into ten steps. For seven note scales, 14 steps. Only two octaves this way, so use course tune for transposition (everything in C scale). Interestingly, you won't want successive motion data, i.e. same scale degree, because midi cc's only update on a change. So first note is quantized, second reverts. Easy work around though.

[@DEEP_PRACTICE]

Fantastic vid this, thank-you for this :)

[@tapsy]

When you record out from grooveboxes, with built in compressors/limiters, do you use some sort of mastering chain/maximiser/limiter after as well before releasing/posting?

[@berkut6313]

Wish they released such an editor for the mc-707/101...

[@gibsons7057]

Roland is magic gear... 👍👍👍 Am proud owner of vintage cdx1 disclab... Fave...

[@aquaticborealis4877]

So, for editing and sound design, not the greatest. But for immediacy and performance, it’s a win. That’s what I’m getting from this. I guess that app helps. I don’t really need sound design. I just want something that I can easily tweak sounds on the fly, edit patterns, has good effects, maybe can export/import midi stems, and have a good base set of sounds and patterns to start with. I grabbed an Uno Drum, and although it’s passable, it’s terrible for tweaking on the fly. It’s very limited compared to this. Got it on sale, took a chance, but not a great purchase for me. I also picked up the Drum Computer software plug-in (on sale), which is really nice, but not the most interactive experience in the world with the midi controller I have. I have been eyeballing the TR and MC lines from Roland for quite a while, but I dunno. The Elektron stuff also looks quite good, but this kind of thing is very hard to know until it’s in front of you.

[@JUSTO33344]

I got an 8s like a month ago and the digitakt vs tr8s was a big dilema for me. Ultimately I talked with some friends who perform live a lot and they told me the 8s is great for that and the elektron stuff can certainly do that but its more aimed at "create at home and play it live" specially now with the new song mode. Also not talked about in this video the 8s now has new FM models that are waaaay more tweakable

[@aquaticborealis4877]

@@JUSTO33344 Thanks for the feedback. I’m not a performer actually, more of a budding musician. But I am interested in experimenting and “performing” on the fly with beats and rhythms. That’s why I’m interested in hands on devices. It’s possible I could maybe get a similar experience from a midi controller with software, but I haven’t really found that yet. It’s s nice to have morphing capabilities for a particular sound, which a drum machine is good for. But it’s not a top priority. I basically want knob/fader/button per control beat making (maybe Groovebox) with pads and a decent but easy to use sequencer. I’ve heard that the MC line doesn’t do polyrhythms? Kind of a drawback. I’m not looking for a DAW in a box though. Something highly intuitive. I will likely be playing accompaniment on Keys. Something that I can export a performance from. And something that I can grow into over time. This sort of looks like that, but maybe the MC series is better. Cool that you can import directly from Zenology into them.

[@bencanny1343]

Thanks for the insight man. Your videos are top. (particularly enjoyed your zap vid) But just wanted to vote here for that comparison video with the TR-8S and the Rytm. And perhaps your thoughts on the drumlogue to boot. In the market for one of these three...

[@fargoththemoonsugarmaniac]

yes PLEASE do a comparison between the TR8S and the Rytm! I am about to buy one of them but am not sure which to get.

[@louisharkna9464]

Keep ROLAND, ROLAND, ROLAND, ROLAND...what?!

[@RedMeansRecording]

ITS ALL ABOUT THE TR8S BULLSHIT

[@TristanBaldi]

Took me a minute :p

[@worldofgreenhell]

@@TristanBaldi same 🤣

[@RealityShiftUK]

Is this harder to menu dive than the hydrasynth ? Definitly considering getting one

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

TR8s and a Tempest are a perfect match, you can jam it out for hours with lots of live dubbing and tweaking, stick a load of pedals through your desk and you’ve got a full gig.

[@djdeemz7651]

Dont know if you found them but there are packs on Roland cloud for it ...not sure what they are like but noticed them the other day

[@skunksmisery]

I'd download these, but as you say - the thing is already jam packed with patterns and kits. You did this in August - I can't remember - was this before or after the probability update? Seems like something really useful for the patterns you demoed.

[@Grimbakor]

Great unique beat, always a pleasure to listen to you work

[@DrLaemmerbein]

I'm happy that I got into Elektron first, this looks very tedious to program! But I guess it's a really great device if you're after the classic Roland sounds. Thanks for making this video! It keeps me from wanting a Roland drum machine :D

[@MatusFinchus]

From about 8 months experience - it's actually pretty straightforward to program. However of course, whatever you are used to naturally seems easier. :-)

[@terrytorain5364]

I liked your review. very honest. did you do one for the 707? thumbs up btw.

[@GuidoGautsch]

He did

[@giullianomg]

Congratulations, another excellent video. I love my TR-8S. The sound of the old school machines is killer. And I believe this is the main reason for its existence and fame. A lot of people get frustrated with the workflow, but it's important to say: The TR8s is not Ableton or a Groveboox, it's a classic Drum Machine! And I find it interesting how roland tries to balance this old way of making music with technology and a modern mind set, but there are some things that are left out of it. Clearly the difficulty in menegmenting samples is a point of convergence in the TR8S community. But as I saw someone commenting once, we get upset and think it's nonsense, but maybe it's not easy to develop something like that. Another thing that bothers me is the fact that they have put several basic waveforms in memory, and these wavesforms do not belong to the FM synthesis engine. So it makes no sense to have them there, since the subtractive engine is very basic in the TR8S. This ends up consummating a space that could be useful for importing samples, as well as the amount of factory kits, which let's be honest, nobody cares about them :P, basically they are things that cannot be erased. The FM synthesis after it was updated is absurdly cool, you can make a lot of absurd sounds freely. Since the 90's Roland has been investing in the concept of "Electronic Music for the masses", after many mistakes and attempts, I think that the TR-8S is perhaps the main success and the high point of this philosophy.

[@ionianechoes]

The good thing about the tr8s is that after using it for a while you realise that you might enjoy more the mc707 which eliminates all the things that are a pain in the tr8s and adds much more.

[@beesting6135]

I have both

[@MS7.7]

which one you prefer ?@@beesting6135

[@kevinanderson7243]

You are amazing with the Tr 8s. I know this may not be your type of music but do you think you can do a Chicago house beat with variations so it songs like a song and not a loop. If you can help me in anyway. I would surely appreciate it

[@justinstraube9738]

You can easily edit settings like level, pan, delay, reverb, gain, and more for each instrument part from the TR-8S quickly by using the mixer mode. Press [Shift]+CTRL Select, and the display will show a visual of each instrument and value for the currently selected instrument. Adjust the CTRL knobs to change the value for that instrument.

[@kpopdontstop953]

I definitely feel you on the pitch corresponding to an arbitrary number that doesn't really have anything to do with key...I would like to see a) a guide for what the pitches correspond to, and b) an easier way to edit multiple steps which is IMPOSSIBLE now going step by step and so hard to get any sort of precise notes Thanks for posting, learned a lot Edit: Would also like to see an option to add steps to multiple sequences at a time, not across pins but just across a-h

[@bloopbleepnothinghere]

I kinda find not knowing what the pitch is and tuning to what just sounds good is liberating. Perkons is the same, as is the Vermona DRM1. Just fun jamming rather than detailed composition.

[@VAKinc]

Would love a comparison between the Rytm and the TR-8S. I'm very entrenched in Elektron at this point but a lot of Roland gear recently has been catching my eye.

[@bloopbleepnothinghere]

I have a bunch of Elektron boxes too, and an 8s. The best part of the 8s is all the channels faders and three knobs at your fingertips. It makes for a much more fluid jam session. The thing I don't like about it is if you want to go beyond the three knobs and change up the LFO or fx settings there is a bunch of tedious menu edits.

[@diegosk8ification]

Is it possible to use TR Editor as a VST Plugin through Ableton?

[@RPLKTR]

I love your work, man, your Opsix video is one of the best synth videos on the Internet. That being said, the e-piano sound here is so out of tune in this otherwise stellar groove that I couldn't stop being bothered by it 😅

[@pbadach1468]

Can any one tell me why if i set melody i mean change pitch on the steps and then press autofill they all back to normal? All the same pitch. Why?

[@boydw1]

I'm curious - can you get the same kind of fader per channel live control over the Elektron boxes by adding something like an Akai Midimix?

[@fargoththemoonsugarmaniac]

yes of course!

[@isaac.anthony]

Thanks Jeremey! i pair it with my MC707 Octatrack and TD3 it's my favorite drum computer.

[@isaac.anthony]

Sliders is why i also love the MC707!

[@RandomNoiseMusic]

Dope patterns and programing! 🙌 I don't get why people expecting to get a pitch sequencing on a drum machine, I mean it is a drum machine not a grovebox.. 🤷🏻‍♂ And as such imo the TR8s does excel in many many aspects. Also with the new FM drum models and probability the capability of this machine really jumped high. My top two wish requests however are a much much better sample management system and process and maybe a proper song mode, these in my opinion are weakest points of that machine. Other than that I am super glad for getting a second hand one a year ago 😁

[@djdeemz7651]

I swear they add limitations with key things ...so you end up buying more equipment to fill the hole ..... " I bought a tr8s but note are a pain and not up to the job - guess ill buy an 8 too

[@richsaunders3543]

Need some help….thanks to a very understanding wife and Santa- we have a TR8s! However have an issue with sound from channels- certain channels- BD, SD etc are really quiet- barely hear them. Only way to change is going into the Shift/ Inst mode and go to PAN and adjust up- can hear then, but as soon as you change pattern- no sound again……. I am bewildered!!

[@madguy228]

very good video love the frou frou reference love them and imogen heap’s solo stuff good bye

[@dzaxys4643]

Had a tr6s sold it miss it Debateing either one of these or polyend play just love the pattern variation function so much fun for performing

[@LukeLendrum]

If it helps I had a TR8S first, sold it, borrowed a Digitakt, returned it, got a Polyend Play, sold it, and now have looped back to the baby TR6S.

[@dzaxys4643]

@@LukeLendrum yeah tr6s full Roland sounds with uploadable samples and a bit of FM in such a small box is almost miraculous considering how great they can sound

[@3ric908]

Wow didn’t know there is a soft, this is cool ! Is it possible to save « banks » of presets (kick A, hh close as this, hh open as that…), so we can chang bank in one click from a DaW ? This would be awesome, very peoductive (by kind of music.).

[@ShiftaelV2]

I'm curious just how high the BPM can go on this thing, since if I do finally decide to get one I'd love to use this to try and make 90's style gabber and also Frenchcore, and the other extreme, try and bring the 90's hip hop style back!

[@nosephemera7960]

Tempo goes up to 300 BPM IIRC. :D

[@twoHRdrive]

Silly question... but like, what's the point of the physical drum machine if most of the editing and pattern creation is done on the computer? At what point is the drum machine actually worth having?

[@asynchronicity]

How do you guys feel about this versus the MC 707… In terms of drum and groove machine power 🤔 Does the MC-707 really work as a drum machine?

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yeah

[@georgebush420epic5]

classic jeremy w

[@basehead617]

If you’re going to mostly use editor software for hardware you may as well use a plugin for drums entirely

[@5lanediver]

look into TR8Skreamer for being able to play things melodically

[@dbregel]

Still waiting for a MC707 editor that will never come :(

[@5lanediver]

please please compare to the analog rytm! i have a tr8s but the AR always seems so alluring…

[@jakebarnett4401]

I thought my TR8S was really fun to play, but I found the sample management and menu diving to be so poor that they were unusable. When I got bored of the built in samples and default sounds I sold it because getting kits set up with the samples from my computer was such a royal pain. I would consider buying one again if they fixed all that. The companion software looks like a good step in the right direction, but from what I can see it does not help much with getting samples onto the thing.

[@LukeLendrum]

Sold mine for the same reasons. Just awful.

[@WarzoneVictoryWins]

Lol. Someone told me the MC707 was fun. Since when is going through menus fun? Digitakt is fun to use. Roland products have a lot of capability, but they are a pain to use and you usually hit the limitations of the machine.

[@JamesBermingham]

I can hear the frustration in his voice with the limitations of the TR8-S. Especially coming from Elektron devices, this must have been a chore on Roland’s workflow.

[@mcgyrus]

Damn that fedora. *AND* she invented MiMuGloves?

[@5lanediver]

i really wish that the tr8s had a chromatic mode

[@Firstmajortomlikestoticker]

Are you sure you like Using this Gear? you have a lot of "not Likes" while going into Menus

[@RedMeansRecording]

I hate gear

[@davewerner7609]

3:29 wait… no SD card slot for expansion? Lame.

[@5lanediver]

there absolutely is an sd card slot

[@Pyroja]

Me: "I think I want a TR-8S" Damned near every music KZbinr I follow: "Hey have y'all heard of this great drum machine, the TR-8S?" Message received.

[@bahgo]

Rytm $1,600... 8s $600.

[@wickeddubz]

Both machines have their benefits, both are great for live performance. It’s more about preferences and workflow than about price. For mobile combo i’d take tr6s + mc101 rather than mc707.

[@RababaInc]

this looks tedious to work with lol

[@jonjonlambo]

absolutely the most confusing thing I have ever not watched.....

[@djo6198]

Went from Digi’s to this for some reason… huge mistake. This thing is a pig comparatively speaking. I thought having faders would be a performance enhancement but no. It’s terrible, super slow to program and limited in not inspiring ways. Most certainly not intuitive. Huge props to Jeff Mills for doing amazing things on an even more limited machine but I guess that’s just genius, but I digress. Working with samples is a chore to be generous, parameter locking… good luck doing it easily, advanced sequencing… better guzzle that bleach before you go any further, LFOs!! Gonna need financial aid for that, Filters and on and on. Fast and easily editable parameter access? No way silly rabbit those tricks are elektrons!! For an extra hundred get a digitakt-tone, syntakt and you’ll have a machine that’s worth at least double the tr-8s and a save you a trip to your local psychiatrist for extra antidepressants. Respect to the TR-8S lovers, you do awesome things with this, you must just have a different brain, I don’t know but for me, I’d rather poke myself in the eye with glowing red piece hot steel. Also, amazing restraint and choice of words in this review. Your channel rocks, keep up the great work. I bet you wanted to smash this thing to bits when you were done doing gods work. Peace

[@johnknightrider3867]

Didn’t like it then- Lol - I have Digitakt and Tr8s and agree the workflow on electron is better and far Superior but I do love the sound of the Tr8s. Is that enough for me to want to keep it?

[@stevehagen8694]

try and error? poor demo, sorry

[@wendigo2442]

Now do one where it's just an unbroken string of hi hats but you're modulating the tempo to where it sounds like a voice saying "support our troops "

[@Asdrubale01]

you talk at 300bpm