Is the TR-8S the Perfect Ableton Live Controller? // Live Techno

[@LiamKillen]

Visit www.beatconnect.com to explore the cutting edge of online music collaboration. It's mind blowing where we are in 2023 🤯 Interested in purchasing some of the gear mentioned in this video? Support this channel while you're at it by using the affiliate links below: ►TR-8S: bit.ly/3itO8G3 ►Novation Launchpad X: bit.ly/3PhVsTN ►Merix LVX: bit.ly/41HH5ND

[@hovermotion]

The Tr8-s is such a great machine to use on the fly.. Well worth the money second hand..

[@LiamKillen]

Couldn’t agree more

[@kathleencoveny3860]

Sweet beats ... thanks for sharing the ins and outs along with your creative talents ..cheers !

[@LiamKillen]

Cheerz to you!

[@BraveSirSausage]

This is great thanks - the tr8s is such a fun versatile bit of kit

[@LiamKillen]

It continuously blows my mind.

[@AVCOME]

Hi Liam, first thanks for all your video. Quick question; if i understand the tr8s can be use as a midi controler as the faderfox product? Can you map all the knobs and fader and finally if you map a synth like minimoog vst can you save the setup and recall it later Thank you so much

[@LiamKillen]

I've only used it as a controller with Ableton, which is easy to do, but if there's a CC list in the back of the TR-8S manual, which I think there is, then you should be able to program those CCs to specific parameters on other units. I'm not 100% sure though because i've never tried this!

[@freudeamunsinn]

Great Video - THX! I use a Soundcraft Signature 11 Multrack Mixer as my primary Audio Interface in Ableton. How can I use the TR-8S as a secondary Audio-Interface or what would be the best way to Integrate the TR-8S in my Setup (Ableton)?

[@LiamKillen]

I think it makes the most sense to use it in a live setting because that's what it's really designed to do ! As mentioned in this video.

[@dalexandergonzalez5787]

You're the man for all your videos!! Been playing with my tr8s. Thanks for the new direction.

[@LiamKillen]

It’s a pleasure

[@SquarepulseMusic]

Commented on the other vid but I’ll comment here as well. Such a genius way to use the tr-8s! I’ve been using it as the core drum machine for my live dawless setup but never thought about how it could be used hybrid! Thanks for the inspiration and these great vids! Lmk if you ever book a good in San Francisco or Oakland! Would love to see this all come together on the big speakers!

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks again so much for watching!

[@huntrrams]

This is amazing! Does this work with TR-6s?

[@LiamKillen]

Yes ! You just don't have as much tactile midi control because less knobs / faders. Come talk about it in my Discord if you're not already a member ! hehe: discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP

[@MenkeriosAndemicael]

great idea. I'm finding now I prefer just to connect the Tr8s as a drum machine dumping to multiple channels, and then use a couple of cheap dedicated ableton controllers like the APC pro and minilab 3 to control the app. Expands options without crossing my mental wires.

[@LiamKillen]

Oh dooooope :-)

[@andrewkillen5879]

A year old, and very much still working. Cheers for the top ideas.

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for watching ! :-)

[@davefellows]

I got my TR-8S a couple of days ago and I'm getting really confused how to set this up with Ableton to support live play without latency issues. I get around 35ms of latency, which I can compensate for in the midi output settings, but the amount of latency changes every time I hit play and nothing I try seems to address that. How are you sending the TR-8S drum instruments through to Ableton to combine them?

[@LiamKillen]

This is the best explination of Ableton Latency on the interwebz right here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5LdhpKmd8aCfdEsi=mahhlG8vgfDIyU7r

[@willyum3108]

Awesome video. I saw it a few months ago, but as I just started digging into Ableton, I rewatched and it's inspired me to dust off the TR-8S and pair it with this Push.

[@LiamKillen]

They're such a perfect pairing!

[@davefellows]

How have you got on using it with the Push? I recently got a Push 3 and have just picked up a second-hand TR-8S so excited to see how I can use these two in combination.

[@GuidoGautsch]

I sold my TR-6S and got a Deluge instead. It's awesome, but I'm missing the drum synth controls... I'm now tossing getting this or the OG TR-8 for some hands-on control of all drum parts together with the Deluge, using the Deluge as the sequencer. I can get a used TR-8 for about A$300 and a TR-8S for about $750...a lot more! Do you think the S is worth 1.5x the price over the 8, considering i can already do samples with the Deluge?

[@LiamKillen]

I've heard nothing but good things about the Deluge but haven't fully checked it out ever.

[@davefellows]

Would be interesting to see some workflow possibilities of this combined with Push... Has anyone tried this combination?

[@LiamKillen]

That would be an interesting combo to explore!

[@tanguyf742]

Hey Liam cool video as always Do have any idea if you can also use one track of the tr8 to sequence an external synth with MIDI in an out? Thinking about getting one , I would like to send midi notes from my moog in the tr8, have them live recorded and played back in the synth while the sequence is running :) Have a nice day !

[@LiamKillen]

I don't know much about the TR-8 so I won't speak on it!

[@LVCID777]

That’s so cool

[@LiamKillen]

🙏🏻

[@dynatwenty]

Hey, such a nice piece of gear. One question, is it connected Mono to your mixer ? I ask because i ran out of stereo channels and ordered this fine piece! Will it work in mono, i only see one cable so i assume yes ? :)

[@LiamKillen]

Yes you can route mono / stereo from the TR-8S if that's what you mean

[@CoreySheikh]

Can the TR be used as a sequencer of single sounds from Ableton? I havent seen a video from anyone on this yet. Used as a midi control yes, but not to sequence a one-shot, just to launch and then control a loop or a midi made still within ableton (not using the white sequence keys on the bottom). I basically want to be able to replace any channel on the TR with any other one-shot sound that I choose.

[@LiamKillen]

It's not super clear what you're asking here - you can control a one shot in ableton if it's a loop and you can use the fader on the 8s to punch in where that one shot will happen. Hope this helps.

[@CoreySheikh]

Thanks for reply! What I mean is being able to sequence midi on a Ableton Drum Rack and/or track with one shot from the TR step sequencer@@LiamKillen

[@DJeMo]

Look up TR8S abelton Drum Rack There is a guy shows the way ​@InfiniteSheikh

[@3ric908]

Please 🙏🏻, is it possible to have it in same time with Live : - as drumbox (with separate channels in a group) - as controller on another channel (as eg for Spire VST) - as for global project interface (for mixing faders) …and by clicking from one of those channel to another, having those upper use without having to do anything ? (Hope easy understandable)

[@LiamKillen]

I'm pretty sure it's capable of everthing at once except for the "clicking from one scene to the next" - in that case you can just use a launchpad.

[@3ric908]

@@LiamKillen Thank you very much again Liam. In fact I explained badly (I meant by clicking with mouse from one channel to another, and then we get the change from (eg) drumbox (channel A) to controller (a Vst, channel B) without having anything to do. Btw you answered "Yes". Thank you.

[@satin360]

had no idea you could do this, been using my tr8s and Ableton separately for years

[@LiamKillen]

TR-8S + ABleton is at the forefront of my set up right now.

[@fpvwalleit-drones2884]

Nice video, gave me good insight because I'm considering this box. I'm using the Novation Launchkey to control Ableton. Is kind of the same what you did but wih auto midimap and some more features.

[@LiamKillen]

TR-8S is a secret weapon for reasons like this.

[@symbiat0]

Could you say the same about the MC-707 too ?

[@LiamKillen]

Hmm interesting question- personally I like the layout of the 8s better- plus the classic Roland drum sounds use ACB technology which the 707 doesn’t have. For me that’s a big plus

[@symbiat0]

@@LiamKillen The 707 has over 3000 classic Roland sounds built in but yeah, it’s ZenCore rather than ACB. I get that ZenCore is less “accessible” 😉 though the SH-4d shows Roland may have figured out how to make it more so. I don’t have a 707 but it seems to have a similar form factor / layout to the TR-8S so wondered out loud 😁

[@kulgeek.]

Hey Liam, great video, do you have the MC-707 curious if it has the same capabilities as well

[@LiamKillen]

It does! I like the tr-8s layout better though! And it also has acb which the 707 doesn’t - so it remains my choice option!

[@kulgeek.]

@@LiamKillen noob question what is ACB? Also can you do the same video for the 707 and how they compare pleeeeeeease?

[@GuidoGautsch]

​@@kulgeek.ACB stands for analog circuit behaviour: it digitally emulates the actual analog circuits in the original drum machines from the 80s, like the 808 and 909. If you crank the tune for example, it responds the same way as the original vintage drum machine would. The 707 is sample-based when it comes to drums, so you can still tweak them, but not to the same degree.

[@BDKabrini]

I named my TR8S "Tracy" ... 😊

[@LiamKillen]

Cute!

[@nicholascarroll7239]

Hey Liam are you experiencing latency when recording the TR8S? I am, even using the ER-M multi clock. The only fix I can find is to set the multi clock to POS/NEG mode, but that causes the TR to start one bar late which is not ideal. I know the multi clock manual says there is a workaround for this, but it isn’t working for me. How do you, or would you, handle this issue? Thanks!

[@LiamKillen]

There’s so little latency with my computer! I’m not having this issue! Here’s a video that might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5LdhpKmd8aCfdE

[@nicholascarroll7239]

@@LiamKillen That's awesome. So, just so I understand, when you record a kick drum from the TR-8S it is lining up exactly on the beat in Ableton? What are the specs on your computer? I'm running a brand new Macbook Pro with a Motu MK5 interface. If I need to book a session with you to work this out, then I'll be happy to do so. Not trying to steal your time! Thanks again

[@robinr22]

You need to adjust the midi clock sync delay in the midi settings. Just be aware that you will not be able to match it up perfectly and it will change every time you start and stop. I gave attempting to use external sequencers with Ableton for this reason - you can make it work but it's a fiddly pain.

[@nicholascarroll7239]

@@robinr22 Thanks for the info. It is really frustrating

[@Djmarcuslott]

Do you have all soound coming out of the tr8s

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah you can use it as an audio interface / midi controller / drum machine all at the same time.

[@Tbull88]

I tried to map the mute knobs like if you press MUTE and then press the BD and so on. But Ableton is not receiving midi :( from those buttons :/

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah you're best just using the faders in that case.

[@petro5]

do you still use the mc 707?

[@LiamKillen]

Honestly, no lol. I always just go to the TR-8S.

[@dharmaone77]

Can you do one on using it as a controller with Logic?

[@LiamKillen]

It’s essentially the same set up. I’ll consider it !

[@sonomute]

So, your four first tracks sunny acutely produce any sound by themselves and just usedc for the knobs and faders right?

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah they’re just controlling sounds in Ableton

[@sonomute]

@@LiamKillen would be cool if Ableton tracks could go through those channels and processed by them, no need for midi mapping then...

[@BoomBoomCastLondon]

sold.

[@LiamKillen]

my guy

[@chrismacintos6304]

Where do i find the link for the blower? I use compressed air right now but i need to buy a can every month or so.

[@LiamKillen]

Oops I forgot to include it- I’ll drop it in the description as soon as I get home

[@chrismacintos6304]

​@@LiamKillenI just received my blower. Love it already and my gear loves it too 😊 Thnx for the tip Liam 👊🏽

[@FabienPauloCardinal]

I am almost agry with you. Tr8s Will become the most powerfull midi controller as soon as the native mute fonction of the tr8s Will be able to send midi data instead of useless sysex. If you fine a solution to use tr8s's mute fonction to mute track or drum rack pad, let me know... 😅😅

[@LiamKillen]

haha noted - thx for watching.

[@k-g-p]

Could you do something similar with the Roland TR 6s?

[@dharmaone77]

You can but there’s only 6 faders and 1 knob per fader- you would want more aux send knobs. I know because I’ve tried this with the TR6S

[@LiamKillen]

Yes- minus the amount of tactile control you’ve got with the 8s

[@LiamKillen]

Exactly

[@Frodo1000000]

@@LiamKillen does tr6s have multiple separate outputs on its digital channel? for the daw

[@dumafuji]

Are the sound card specs good?

[@LiamKillen]

They’re solid!

[@maxxxee]

Unfortunately, not a single button transmits MIDI messages and you cannot assign channel selection buttons to turn a channel on or off, scene buttons on a rack with vocal chops and instrument buttons to launch scenes in Ableton and get the world's best phenomenal controller for playing live on 11 channels.. ((Roland said no.. not this time(

[@LiamKillen]

I would just use the faders for volume control. I would recommend the APC-40 MK2 as an Ableton controller ! it's very dope! Also would love to have you over in the Discord: discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP

[@andrerichter8349]

Who edit your videos?

[@LiamKillen]

Me!

[@MrJansteiner]

I actually don’t understand what you mean by “fade to grey”? A filter cutoff? What parameter are you controlling in Ableton with this?

[@LiamKillen]

It’s a stock Ableton DJ FX- I’m not 100% certain what exactly what it does but there’s like a filter / delay / reverb thing going on and I use it all the time!

[@MrJansteiner]

@@LiamKillen Ah, cool. Must check that out. Never heard of it before. And thank you for the video. I actually have a TR-8S but never used it as a controller. Not sure how it would compare with my Akai APC40? 🤔

[@symbiat0]

Also a great 80s track from the band Visage 😂

[@bloopbleepnothinghere]

@@LiamKillen Fade to Grey is an EQ3 and Delay with the knob mapped to GainMid and Delay Wet/Dry :). With any of those Ableton macro effects they are just racks so you can unfold them and see what they do.

[@LiamKillen]

@@bloopbleepnothinghere Oh! This is good to know! I might be wrong on this but i'm assuming there's a resource where people have made their own (dope) Ableton fx racks that are open to the public. Would you happen to know of this resource?

[@LVCID777]

This is some Richie Hawtin type stuff.

[@LiamKillen]

I love Richie Hawtin so it makes sense haha

[@FRESHENDEAVOUR]

hmmmmm this or Elektron ?! I recently sold all my gear and am starting a-fresh ?!!! thanks!!!

[@LiamKillen]

Depends what you're going for really. I tend to lean more towards Elektron though overall from a creative standpoint.

[@FRESHENDEAVOUR]

@@LiamKillen mainly a studio piece which can run with a DAW and without for jamming etc. I’d love an analog rtym II but might be a stretch price wise. I was thinking Syntakt as it can run with Overbridge for DAW, too. what are your thoughts on Syntakt?

[@bistrobmusic]

Roland has gotten some flak over their "green led" products but I've had a lot of fun with the Verselab, I think the product wasn't marketed well.

[@LiamKillen]

Green led I’m not sure what that means

[@NicholasSeamans]

He is talking about how green the first gen airas where

[@RobotSnake]

I wonder if this would be doable with stand-alone.

[@LiamKillen]

With just the tr-8s? Def not- maybe if you threw like an MPC / 404 in there 😏

[@RobotSnake]

@@LiamKillen I mean, would that work on a Push 3 Standalone. Sorry I wasn’t clear. But I’ve seen people do sets on just a tr8s and a looper or some fx pedals. I’m trying to shrink my live rig and thought the Push 3 would help. It’s amazing but that pause between loading tracks just won’t work so I’ll at least have to have another device. I keep going back to 3-4. Gear is amazing but playing live is complicated! Currently I’m using RYTM, MPC live and 404. All mk2. I was thinking if this worked with a push I would have something for transitions while I load something new.

[@robinr22]

​@@RobotSnakecould just load everything into a single project?

[@RobotSnake]

@@robinr22 You could but I don’t know if the standalone could handle that much.

[@robinr22]

@@RobotSnake I guess you'd have to be super careful with track management - from the little I've read, it doesn't seem the beefiest set up...

[@marcosrotllan]

Mmmm I still prefer the novation launch control mkii

[@LiamKillen]

Another solid option

[@Drrolfski]

@9:10: A 2-dollar paintbrush will also get the job done just fine.

[@LiamKillen]

It’s not as convenient though. I find myself cleaning gear more with the air blower

[@Drrolfski]

@@LiamKillen But then again, you have way more gear than your audience as KZbin basically pushes you into a GAS. With the pieces that I have an air blower is nice-to-have. Also, it consumes energy.

[@PabloRodriguezwhyCharlieWhy]

well, I don't see this video being a help since it doesn't explain how needs to be set up...

[@LiamKillen]

there's plenty of videos out there that can help you with that! :-)

[@mmacult5336]

no its not. not even close, did they pay you bro?

[@LiamKillen]

APC-40 mk2 I think is the best hardcore Ableton midi controller but the 8s works really well to + its hybrid! No they did not pay me I actually think this lol

[@space2703]

just brought it.ching Ching..thanks mate...convinced me... f$%^k it...we live only once

[@LiamKillen]

Awesome - you won't be disappointed ! :-)

[@MikeRenouf]

Nice ideas for a hybrid setup. ✨🪐

[@LiamKillen]

You can do so much with just this!

[@levent6293]

perfect one I believe is Ableton Push

[@LiamKillen]

It's def also amazing but also just a completely different workflow in comparison to the TR-8S