How to use a Roland TR808 Drum Machine Tutorial

[@tonelab]

Download ready-to-play vintage Drum-Machine kits for classic Hardware Samplers or Software Samplers now 💾 store.tonelab.au

[@JuJu-ob5iq]

You're the best! Thanks for this great clip. Just got mine back from repair after it had been broken for more than 5 years. I really needed that refresher. I'll be making beats for the next 2 weeks straight. Many thanks!

[@adamlangley6033]

this make's me wanna get mine repaired!

[@marcosmicozzi]

Just got mine, what an epic feeling!

[@dougstyles]

Should be one in the Hall of Fame

[@SpikesStudio3]

Yeah bro. Just what i needed. Just got Tr08. For all the years i have been making music, i had never learnt the 808. That amazes me. Not what i had expected im used to elektron sequencing. This is the inspiration for that m.o. 👍

[@jacksonbranner]

it's amazing to imagine all the beats the i have heard being made on this thing. kinda makes me wish i was around before the internet boom to see this thing in action haha

[@bojcio]

If you were around before the internet boom its actually less likely that you would ever see it. Back in the day everything was less accessible, even simple things, information and objects were much harder to acquire. You would certainly never get a walkthrough like this unless you knew someone in the industry or a musician who had it. Which again, is not very likely. I don't think younger people realize just how much much MUCH more accessible information is these days.

[@jacksonbranner]

@@bojcio true, never thought about this

[@rathnapish]

loved this , got me from 30% to 80% ... now 10000 hours.

[@don1mega]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! That 1st and 2nd part was confusing the hell out of me.

[@tonelab]

You're welcome!

[@9uidin9li9ht2]

Thanks so much for making this helpful and informative video! Just picked up one of these and needed a walkthrough.

[@thisiswhathappenswhenyouea2746]

Great video and sounds/looks like you’re an artist or musician rather than just an engineer like many others who make these videos

[@bobmatthews5720]

Thank you so much for this! I have been using this to see if the one I have is working properly. Seems like it has to go back to the technician for a couple of switches to be sorted.

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Thanks for the video again. I read the manual a while back when I got it in May. I know how to do most of the stuff, but I learned some new things with this video. Thank you! :) Take care, Sam.

[@PK-ct1bm]

Listening to this at very low volume. Funny, how intriguing the sequencer's timing is even then.

[@giveitallrecordsmusic]

This video is really interesting, when you input patterns in software clones of the 808 is a bit different but the basic remains.

[@power-yl6xh]

Now my brain is a little less fuzzy! Just got a roland dj505trs, had to come here to learn about sequencing. Thanks.😄

[@StudioOOMZ]

using one at MESS today. thanks for your guide!

[@フォグマシン]

7 minutes in and this video made my entire weekend

[@benlogan100]

Great tutorial. Learned a ton. Thanks!

[@RaquelFoster]

11:29 I think you can go back by holding the red button then hitting Tap. When you're setting the last step, Tap == 0 steps, so you can clear the 2nd Part. At least that's the way the TR-08 works. Anyway, this video is awesome. It's seriously pathetic how most people on YT with an 808 barely know how to program it because they're 100% ITB. And the TR-08 is really cool because it has the same workflow, but people don't even appreciate that and they just wanna plug it into Ableton and use it like a sample pack. But if you actually want to program a TR-08 this is probably the best explanation of how it works. After you play with fill-ins the next time you hear an old track with an 808 you immediately realize where they were using fill-ins.

[@Metroplex313]

your 808 is a beauty

[@ken444444]

Very well done video, and I know very little about making music! Great explanations.

[@basiledaudet5774]

Love that drum machine

[@hendog3894]

This is the most helpful tutorial out there ! Unfortunately mine has a dodgy tap button

[@tonelab]

Hey Henri .. thanks very much for the kind words, glad you liked it🙏🏻😏 ...y'know one thing I wanted to try.. but, never have .. was connecting a DP-2 sustain pedal to the rear 'Fill-in input' and seeing if the old sustain pedals would trigger the 'tap' button that way... let me know if it does?! 🤓

[@abstral66]

relly cool 4 the play compos mode didint know that!! thx!

[@damondahl]

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!! THIS HAS HELPED ME LEARN SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

[@majorswitch8117]

Thanks mate this vid is wicked think my tr 808 needs either a big clean or a big service 😕😕😕 cant part with this baby

[@boombap28]

Thanks for the share! My 808 has been sitting in my room for a long time.. I sampled the sounds but never really programmed much on it.

[@tonelab]

Their sounds as 'samples' are great, however.. when the unit is running along, in the flesh, with your other gear.. they are a lot of fun 👌🏼 ..thanks for watching 🙏🏼

[@andrewmanzano]

Ever thought about selling it? :)

[@tonelab]

@@andrewmanzano who me?! .. unfortunately, I have sold mine :(

[@therealrussellsmyth]

Thank you!

[@TheRadChannel]

Excellent!

[@thorvelizelos]

Awsome turorial man

[@tonelab]

Thanks! hope it helped 👍🏻

[@michael_sterling]

It's a credit to Roland that this video can also be used to learn how to program the new TR-08 as it's functionally nearly identical.

[@marctronixx]

Michael Sterling exactly !!! The tr-08 's manual should be looked over , then come here to see it visually.. :) As an aside, i LOVE the "CLUNK" of the start/stop and tap buttons.. 80s gold...

[@williamlittlejohn5929]

Amazing!Really useful!!!Many many thanks!

[@mike9604]

This video is gold! Thank you sir!! Helped me tremendously!

[@tonelab]

..good to get that 'penny drop' feeling. Once it 'clicks', right?! ..'bliss'

[@humphreybarclay4983]

Thanks

[@DerGrosseKrieger]

Thanks for this!

[@MsZuegig]

Even I understand it if you're explaining it! Nice video! :)

[@pragmax733]

you are the best mister

[@quantize]

Handy reference! Happy 808 day

[@dstrats]

This awesome demo will really work on the TR-08? This was so helpful! I was just asking a coworker about how yo get the tempo down. This video answered that question. I guess our phones really listen to us. Lmao All the best!

[@tonelab]

Thanks very much 👍🏼 .. yeah, I did this before the TR08 came out.. but then newbies were buying them and coming to watch this and chimed in to say 'it works exactly the same' (I'm sure there'd be some new features on it too) but, apparently the 'programming' of the patterns is the same! 🤓

[@carlocee6699]

Good job, buddy.

[@sevrin1965]

awesome mate, great video

[@stephencastledine6800]

thanks so much :)

[@gwEmbassy]

Good demo!

[@bruhlollmao560]

i have the vst one and i want to learn this! thanks!

[@tonelab]

You're welcome ! .. is it the RolandCloud version?!

[@bruhlollmao560]

@@tonelab yes! cause im broke and can’t afford a real one so i just use this instead

[@tonelab]

@@bruhlollmao560 well, let's just say you're 'testing it out' before you do buy a real one 🙊 .. let me know if the features work as I described.. I'd be keen to learn how close the VST is to the OG 🙏🏼😏

[@musicoctavemotivation3720]

Thanks bro great video

[@kevinanderson7243]

How did you create the fill in to roll like that. I have a Tr 8s and I would love to know how that is done

[@wackerburg]

11:33 "Once you've done it (adding the 2nd Part), there's no going back." That's what I was questioning myself with since I got my 808 a few weeks ago. So there's no way of erasing the 2nd parts ONLY. With leaving the 1st part intact?

[@tonelab]

That's a very good question! ..now, I don't have the unit in front of me.. but I think there may be a way to 'un-do' the 2nd part (despite the fact I said "there was no turning back" 🙊) .. I've never tried to do this, but you could try this experiment.. I'm going to presume one could put the 808 into '1st part-mode', while it's running/playing.. and then hold down the 'step-number / pre-scale' red-button and then press the 'white-16' step-button. I'm going to presume the 808 'would' revert back to 16 steps of it's 1st-part and 'forget' that it needs to continue on to the steps belonging to the 2nd part 🤔 .. so, check that out and let me know if that's successful 🤓

[@sats11697]

Not sure if you've figured it out already, but to set the number of steps in the second part to 0: press the tap button while holding down the step number button (while the mode is set to 2nd part)

[@dainja3528]

nice video ! subscribed !

[@ASAPFos]

Hey man thank you for this in-depth tutorial. Is it possible to change the time signatures on these things? Want to make something in 6/8 time.

[@tonelab]

'yes'... I touched on this inadvertently for a moment @ 14m 50s kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnTNemCDq6p9aNk only difference would be to select the correct Time Signature from the 'Pre-Scale' switches.. to get 3/4 you would select Switch-3 and then.. in Edit-Mode, while the unit is playing.. hold down the Red-Button 'Pattern Clear' (also Pre-Scale) button... and select the number of steps from the coloured Step Numbers.. 12. Upon the next cycle.. the 808 should cycle around 12-steps per beat.. You may need to experiment with the other Pre-Scale modes to achieve a 6/8.. it may involve using 2 patterns 'combined' .. Like A & B or 1st part & 2nd.. both of which will need to be set to the desired Time Signature and Step Length 👍🏻

[@ASAPFos]

@@tonelab thank you!

[@9uidin9li9ht2]

Pardon me if this was mentioned, but is it possible to chain patterns on this thing? Just for simple playback. Thanks so much!

[@tonelab]

Certainly is.. check the last section kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnTNemCDq6p9aNk 👍🏼

[@ericques9974]

Great video, I just bought this piece. I am trying to hit the pads so I can hear the drums, do you know what setting it should be at ? Again, I am just trying to use it for it's sounds, when I hit the pads drums should play right ? Thanks

[@tonelab]

Well, the TR808 won't actually allow you to do that while idling... however, if it's 'playing' in 'Pattern Write' mode, select an instrument .. striking the 'tap' button will enter those notes into your pattern in real-time... and you'll hear the sound while you're doing that.

[@ericques9974]

@@tonelab Can I pay you 10 dollars through Pay Pal to Face time me for 5 minutes ? I am just trying to hit the pads to hear all the drums sounds without sequencing. I am also trying to go OUT PUT from my MPC 2000 Sequencer into INPUT on this Roland and hit tha pads on my MPC Sequencer to hear the sounds and use my own sequence on the MPC if that makes sense ? Can you email me ? [e-mail]

[@night1247]

can I connect my 808 to my speakers with a USB cable or do I need an aux cable or something else ?

[@TerryBeatson]

TR-808's don't have a USB port but the TR-08 does. You'd need an aux cable with a 5 millimetre jack to do that.

[@Skacorica]

What sort of voodoo is this? It's like little magic buttons operated by a sorcerer

[@igrolvr]

Thanks for the tutorial. I just got a TR-08 and your video helped a lot. I get the impression is not possible to have both Maracas and Claps (or Claves/Rimshots, or Congas/Toms) in the same bar, you have to choose between them. Is it really the case?

[@delinquentdialect5869]

On a real 808 you have the choice of either sound, its not tied to bars at all and its not possible sequence the change. Its a physical switch, one or the other for each pair.

[@tonelab]

Unfortunately yes.. but in terms of technology at the time of the 808 release 12 voices, without the 'voice switches', was kind of a big deal, so to have 5 'alternatives' back then was impressive. But not sure what the new Tr-08 does, but they could've built in a feature in to cater for both of those tones to sound at the same time without too much trouble.

[@offworldnetwork]

gigglr nope... same as tr808

[@don1mega]

That's what your DAW is for.

[@FlyingFlameStudio]

Thank you so much for this video ! I have one question though : can you create your own fill-ins/intros ? If so, how ? Like a regular pattern but saved in the 13-16 bank ? I know I can do it on the TR-08, but I'm limiting myself to a strictly vintage use/sound. Thank you so much in advance !

[@JuJu-ob5iq]

Yes, it works the same for the last 4 slots numbered "Intro/Fill 1-4".

[@FlyingFlameStudio]

@@JuJu-ob5iq Thank you mister !

[@deltagali]

Good verry nice please the first part A i get it well, but the part B I dont get , cant you please write me which part BD,SD,HC,CH. I mean which number.Thankx

[@tonelab]

I'm not sure I understand your issue.. part B is just flicking the 'Basic Variation' switch to the right (bottom left of 808) 🤔

[@dego5064]

this must have been as advanced as flying cars in the 1980

[@LoneWolf-mn3dg]

Hey how do you save the beats you make on this? 'Cause right now I'm testing out the online io 808 and don't think you can save the beats made on there.

[@Zeal808]

LoneWolf6117 it auto saves every pattern until erased

[@andresalvarez1732]

😎

[@Metroplex313]

can u explain the switch above the tap button? what is that for?

[@tonelab]

I/F Variation = Intro or Fill-in Variation A or B: the last 4 steps (white buttons 1 -4) are reserved for Drum Fills, or alternatively, Intros. So, if you have your AutoFill-In knob set to 16, 8, or 4, etc... the 'last previously' played White Pattern will automatically play every 16 or 8 or 4 bars etc.. and if you have the A 'I/F Variation' switch set to B.. it will play the B-side of that last played White Pattern, depending on which one you have selected.. so you could have 1-4, A-switch programmed as your intro patterns... or if the I/F switch is set to 'B' you could have those programmed with 4 different drum-fills... that will sound automatically every so often, based on the 'AUTOFILL-IN' knob selection... of if the AUTOFILL-IN is set to 'Manual ' then the 'TAP" button will function as a 'FILL-IN' trigger... but only while the unit is playing.

[@Metroplex313]

@@tonelab thanks for quick rensponse mate.

[@djNastyJ]

where is The Egyptian Lover ?

[@tonelab]

Funnily enough, he was in town a few years back and was looking for a studio with a bunch of retro gear to record in.. I spoke to him about doing it at mine. He loved my list of gear.. but he specifically wanted a large format SSL console to record on 😑

[@sirsilver1968]

Just out of curiosity if I were to play a preset pattern and I put it in pattern clear mode can I clear the pattern whilst it's playing

[@tonelab]

You can remove individual sounds, but I don't think the use for the button will do much else other than change the time-scale whilst playing.

[@sirsilver1968]

gigglr thanks man great video

[@crezrox]

Hi is there any way to hard reset the 808? I was messing with the Scale and now all my patterns are not playing right. I tried clearing all patterns and have even tried going thru each individual scale and it is not playing right at all. :(

[@crezrox]

Figured out how to reset each individual bank. Thank you for getting back to me. Peace!

[@tonelab]

Whilst in Edit Pattern mode, and playing, you hold down the small red button under the Mode Selector and choose the 16th pattern. This will allocate the 16th step as the last step of your pattern or bar if you want 16 steps for 1 complete bar.

[@crezrox]

Exactly what I did!! thanks friend

[@vinnytnecniv]

909 is my vibe

[@tonelab]

Checked out the 909 demo ?! kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6armHScpNOdbLs

[@vinnytnecniv]

@@tonelab ok cool, Thanks

[@TheBluehood23]

after i clear the pattern like you show, and then switch to 1st part the light WONT BLInK. I SWITCH the dynsinc to internal but it still wont blink..any idea why? btw im using dynsinc re 808

[@tonelab]

I can't really speak for the DynSinc's functionality.. but, if I had to take a wild guess.. I'd suggest resetting the scale / step count - in the same manner I do in this clip 👍🏼

[@bash2898]

Hello thank you for the great video! I have a problem: why are my patterns runing with different tempo? For example pattern 1 is running on tempo 5 but pattern 2 is running much faster on tempo 5. Pattern 3 has again another tempo but the tempo knob is always on 5. Hope u cab help me out

[@tonelab]

Check out 14m 56s .. Probably, more than likely... the pre-scales are different on each of those patterns

[@bash2898]

It worked thank you very much, your tutorial helped me out a lot thanks again! Cheers

[@Armandosweden]

But not once did you explain how to select the Tempo using the big tempoknob??? It would be good to know how to select the BPM rate!!!

[@JanKowalski-vh1rg]

@@IvanStepaniuk there is a button above operating switch (that switch that you select pt1/pt2 etc)

[@JanKowalski-vh1rg]

You just turn tempo knob lol from 0 to 10

[@zone07]

He also didn't mention how the Master Volume knob worked. If you need to know how those knobs work, this video or just about any other video explaining knobs and switches may be too advanced for you.

[@Zeal808]

@@JanKowalski-vh1rg exactly

[@evillain999]

turn on shuffle

[@tonelab]

if you have the E-RM MultiClock, it can shuffle.

[@red_7497]

Why am i here? I don’t even have a TR-808

[@tonelab]

Well, if you have any friends with one.. you can shred on it now 🤙🏼😂

[@EvaSchwarzfuss]

ääääääh, so, äääääh....

[@フォグマシン]

7 minutes in and this video made my entire weekend

[@rigomortisfxstudios]

tr8 is the one of the newer versions i got mine for $250 black Friday deal at jays bigbeats in Portland at at times they have used gear ! you got to be there at the right time they do not do online store its walk in only they got a room full of dj gear used every weeks

[@tonelab]

Yeah, that 'penny drop' feeling.. not sure if you've seen the manuals for these things.. but most of them explain it with illustrations of music notation, hope you're all over it now!

[@iknikblackstone9082]

Thanks!

[@andresalvarez1732]

😎