Recording Audio and MIDI from Roland TR-8 into Ableton Live

[@cjhegyi]

USB audio is all you need. Use the Ext. In option instead of Audio in. in Ableton. Ext Inputs 3-13 are dedicated individual TR-8 outputs over USB. 1 and 2 are you main I/O. setup sync and remote in your midi setup and your DAW or TR-8 will control start stop. Yes you do want remote on. you don't need to check clock. its auto sync once you have enabled remote in your MIDI setup. YOU CAN RECORD ALL 13 DRUM TRACKS AT THE SAME TIME IN MONO USING USB EXT. IN INSTEAD OF AUDIO INPUTS. You wont need to worry about the being spot on if you enable remote and sync.

[@tsaras]

you are the man! I just need to find ta detailed video on the midi settings on ableton but this is what I wanted to hear!

[@imkennyshaw]

Also you can plug something into the tr8 input such as the tb3 and then set audio channel 14 in Ableton to receive from there

[@jordancarral]

But the latency is massive on that how do you get the latency right ?

[@danball3679]

Great vid :)) if you want to get rid of the doubling/slapback effect, turn the scatter knob whilst holding down the last step button until it shows 'off' on the tr8 display. That way it'll ignore the pattern and only play back the midi being sent from the daw.

[@RowanJCC]

Is this done in setting mode?

[@rjadamz9117]

Good demo needed that. Finally able to get one and love the hell out of the founds esp with the 7x7 eco pack that came with it used.

[@invisible_elephant]

Very good mate, thank you for this, I feel like I'm getting closer to understanding which way to record and edit my tracks. Keep it up, subbed!

[@VinnieAces]

Hey thanks a lot, complete beginner when it comes to hardware. This video and another of yours showed me how to get back to working with Midi using my TR8 and TB3. Much appreciated!

[@rezzonator]

Great stuff. Glad you found the videos useful

[@hristuppiteitinu]

Thanks for sharing, that was helpful - especially that Max 4 Live device, hadn't occurred to me but such a great idea.

[@FRESHENDEAVOUR]

presumably, this is v similar with the TR-8S ?! I might choose this for my first hardware since a refresh ! thanks !

[@rezzonator]

I would assume it's very similar

[@iQuadraPop]

Is it possible to record internal tr8 effects through usb cable to ableton? So lets say snare would have that internal reverb

[@rezzonator]

Not got my TR8 any more so not sure. I seem recal that it wasn't possible to do that but not 100% sure.

[@ss_websurfer]

Hi, awesome video! I have a noob question though. If I am understanding correctly. If I record MIDI into Ableton with the TR8, I will just get the pattern right? I am trying to get it to work, but all I get is that, the pattern, and in order for it to playback I need to add a drum kit from my library. Is that how it should be? If yes then I am doing it right. I thought I was able to use the pattern AND the corresponding sounds from it, all coming from the drum machine. hope someone can clarify please

[@aethehorus]

Thank you my friend!! I can move and edit the tones en the pianokeys after record midi with the tr8 but conserving the sound of Tr8?

[@archivosaether]

Thank you my friend!! I can move and edit the tones en the pianokeys after record midi with the tr8 but conserving the sound of Tr8? Thank you !! very good video!

[@ss_websurfer]

where you able to preserve the corresponding sounds from the midi? or just the patttern?

[@hepworthn]

great vid

[@Dekkie61]

So, the USB audio is how I'd do it, however, I'd want to hear my other instruments also, because I'd like to sort of live-perform the drums from tr-6s patterns over an Ableton arrangement. I'd use the tr-6s's stereo output as the main ableton out for all my instrument tracks, as well as the individual drum tracks Would that work with the tr-6s (usb implementation is exactly like the 8s), or would i get feedback/loops or doublings of the drumtracks because both the tr-6s amd Ableton are outputting them to 6s's master channel?

[@rezzonator]

Think that would work ok. I've just got a tr6s and if I remember rightly there is a separate output for the main Ableton output in addition to the 6 drum channel outputs

[@irieearnest9138]

Did you figure out how to do this? I'm trying to figure out how to use my tr8s like this but I'm having trouble setting it up with ableton. I can't figure out how to hear what i've recorded with the tr8s through ableton. I don't have an audio interface so maybe that is the problem.

[@Dekkie61]

@@irieearnest9138 yeah, works for me. You can set up your tr as the asio soundcard. On a tr-6s there is a single stereo output (i just use the headphone output). Input channels 1&2 are the stereo master output of the tr (post fx). All the other tr tracks have single mono inputs on the soundcard device. You have to make sure that you are either recording with the faders open on the tr and the ableton channels muted, or playing back the recording from the ableton channels with the faders on the tr turned down, or you'll hear them both.

[@AlexRanedo]

Great helpful vid! Personally, I'm using a TR8S with Reason but the same set ups and techniques work. Question though (and I've been searching endlessly everywhere so maybe this isn't even an option at all). I understand and am able to record the MIDI notes into the DAW but do you know if it's possible to also record other parameter changes made on the synth into it (volume/decay/etc.)? My other bit of hardware is a bass station 2 and that records any and all parameters no problem so I imagine (hope!), it's an option with the TR8S.

[@rezzonator]

Not had any experience with the TR8s. I guess it all depends on what midi cc messages are sent by it. If you look at the midi implementation chart it should tell you what cc messages are sent by it. Hope that makes sense!

[@AlexRanedo]

Oh, I just found the solution in case anyone else has the same question. I added the TR8 as a 'MIDI control surface' as opposed to a 'MIDI control keyboard' in the preferences. Silly oversight. Works like a charm!

[@ss_websurfer]

@@AlexRanedo hey, how are you able to export the MIDI pattern with its correspondent sounds into ableton? If I am understanding correctly. If I record MIDI into Ableton with the TR8, I will just get the pattern right? I am trying to get it to work, but all I get is that, the pattern, and in order for it to playback I need to add a drum kit from my library. Is that how it should be? If yes then I am doing it right. I thought I was able to use the pattern AND the corresponding sounds from it, all coming from the drum machine.

[@yokkoi4532]

Hello.im using max for live control tr8 with ableton..but can't hear the sound.do you know why??

[@rezzonator]

Are you doing audio over midi or via standard audio cable?

[@yokkoi4532]

@@rezzonator thanks for reply.im doing with audio cable!!

[@rezzonator]

First thing is check you have sound from the tr8 with headphones so you then know the issue is with Ableton and not the hardware. If so it will down to the audio routing in Ableton or you may have the audio monitoring turned off on the audio channel you are using for the tr8. Difficult to advise any more without seeing the max for live device and you routing/setup etc.

[@yokkoi4532]

@@rezzonator I can hear the sound from tr8 obviously.but not with max for live control.

[@rezzonator]

Have you tried putting an external instrument device on the max for live channel to route the audio

[@james82408]

thanks man. mine is starts to clip, but randomly.... which is workable, but, if theres a solution? any ideas why anyone?

[@glen4lfc]

I'm really trying to use the second techniqye with my Roland TR09 but the full drum loop is played through each channel rather than each instrument. Can anybody help :(

[@themarcvelazquez]

Wow that’s so slick thank u

[@misteremagic]

Many thanks ! Good video as on the midi recording . Thanks

[@diegouribemoreno9258]

How do you solve the problem with the diferent tempo when the sound is triggered fomr the tr8 and when its trigered via midi from ableton cause they are not the same

[@adriannunez8868]

If I get a 16 channel mixer how would I connect the tr8 to the mixer to upload into my daw? I have close to 11 pieces of hardware/equipment and I’m confused as in how the TR can be channeled individually to my daw while only connected to one line input on a mixer?

[@rezzonator]

You'd only get the stereo mix from the Tr8 if you plug it into a channel on your mixer...assuming the mixer is connected to your DAW. If you still want the separate outputs of the TR8 into your DAW then it would need to be connected via USB into your computer

[@marktomas4177]

Hey, great video! Helps so much!! Thank you! :)) I followed everything and it works great :)) Only one thing doesn’t: I can’t connect the tr-8s-midi to live ,,,, live doesn’t recognize any midi-action from the tr-8s. Could please someone give me a hint how I could fix that ?? Have a great day!! Mark

[@bboyclipsy]

Great video. Maybe you can tell how to record tr-8 drums in one audio channel ? Thanks.

[@rezzonator]

bboyclipsy assume you mean the whole drum mix in 1 audio track? depends on which sound card you are using but there will be a stereo mix input. I use the MX1 as my sound card so if I want to record the whole drum mix onto 1 track I just set the input to channel 9/10 as that's where my TR8 is plugged in via the usb connection on rhe MX1

[@bboyclipsy]

Thanks, but I'm using TR-8 as my sound card ;/ Is there any way I can record whole audio track with it ?

[@rezzonator]

bboyclipsy yes there will be a way. I can't think off hand what the settings will be as I've not used the TR8 as a sound card for a while. I am back in the studio this week so will do a quick video for you showing you how to do it.

[@bboyclipsy]

Rezzonator Great ! Thanks a lot.

[@rezzonator]

bboyclipsy if you follow this set up - www.rolandus.com/support/knowledge_base/201920279 you can then record the whole output of the drum machine onto a single track by selecting 1/2 as the input. If I remember rightly 1/2 is the stereo output of the whole machine and then inputs 3 to 14 are the individual tracks. Hope this helps and that this is what you wanted to achieve.

[@chavacanisimo117]

Does anybody knows if that rack from max 4 live can be saved with the midi channels already selected? so every time you launch ableton and open that max4live rack the channels will appear already set up

[@adripa391]

thanks for the video! very well explained

[@JerrMakak]

I found out, one should use Monitor In to record 0 latency (if having capable sound card I suppose). Also need to check "Reduced latency" in ableton options. Anyway interested if you have solution to record also Scatter and effects - they are only in main output where all sounds are together. Which makes sense - mainly for scatter - it's all together. Maybe only by recording all in MIDI and then play it like that back to TR-8. Recently I found interesting way to just record all together and never regret :) Because I like manipulating it on the device itself. TR-8 doesn't send (but recieves) Scatter MIDI data, so you would need to do it in ableton midi mapped controller. I have TR-8 just one day so I'm still very curious.,]

[@tdav15]

Hi wonder if you can advise me, the audio recording tracks works a treat but I have a problem when recording midi info, ableton reads the midi info from the tr-8 but when playing back I cannot hear anything. The output channel does not let me select to master. Any ideas?

[@rezzonator]

tdav15 you would have to make sure the midi info is being sent back to the tr8 on the correct channel. The sound should then come out the tr8. Its usually set to midi channel 10 unless you have changed it

[@tdav15]

Rezzonator ok thanks, so whilst playing back the midi info through the tr-8 to your speakers you wouldn't be able to hear your ableton workflow through another audio interface?

[@MauritsBoegman]

You put the clap track input on channel 1 and had to be 9 so that's why you heard the other sounds.

[@mariohocks9211]

i was saying that to the screen the entire video >.

[@Trovarsi]

Great video!! Question, I created an aggregate device and use both the MX-1 and TR-8 (their built in sound cards) the device works great. I get more channels out of the TR-8 but not all of them in this setup situation. However, I do run into CPU issues once the project gets larger as I add more tracks. Have you tried this method? Do you find that if you just run the TR-8 through a sep. sound card (as you did in the video) instead of using the TR-8's built in sound card - you have less issues with CPU and latency? Any advise to cut CPU usage down would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[@rezzonator]

I've only ever used either the MX1 or TR8 separately as sound cards. I found the MX1 better than the TR8 as a sound card...lowest latency I've ever had in a sound card. Depends as well I guess on how powerful your computer is at that has an effect on cpu. I used to have an i3 processor laptop and then went to an i7 and the difference in cpu usage was noticeably better

[@Trovarsi]

Thanks for responding! I went home last night and tried a combo of your method and mine and it works great and with low cpu usage! I used the MX-1 and a NI komplete 6 (built as an aggregate device). I ran the TR-8 through the NI sound card and I think that's what worked re keeping down the latency issue for me. I was still able to sync and start/stop/rec the TR-8 directly from ableton. Just thought I'd share the info. incase anyone else out there is having cpu usage issues on their macs.

[@manuelz69]

How do you récord Reverb or delay from Tr8 in ableton?

[@miroslavradulovic6129]

Hi, is it possible to have MIDI recording same as in your video, but with other sound card (not with TR-8 as a sound card)? Btw, great video!

[@rezzonator]

Thanks. Yes you can record the midi from the TR8 via usb without using it as a sound card.

[@SeemSimone]

Hello There...thanks a lot for sharing this video. I am new in the hardware world so sorry if i won't be clear. I am following your procedure,a cable from the mix out of the Tr-8 into the inputs of my Focursite 6i6. The issue starts when I open it in Ableton i see the signal coming in the midi channels and not in the audio channels as I can see in your video. Can please someone help me out with this problem? Thanks a lot.

[@rezzonator]

You can actually record the audio from the TR8 over usb without the need for an audio interface. You can use the TR8 as a soundcard. Follow this to set it up - www.roland.com/us/support/knowledge_base/201920279/. If using your Focusrite as the interface you need to make sure you have an audio track in Ableton and not a midi track. The input from the Focusrite should then show up. If not you may need to activate the inputs ib the preferences section of Ableton similar to the link above. Hope that helps.

[@SeemSimone]

Thank you very much your video was so helpful. At least I know now from where to start. Btw I tried the set up with the usb and record with that,but the audio was too loud even with the overboost off. I now fixed the problem,just had to activate the inputs from the focursite software. But still my TR-8 is pluged with usb as well otherwise I can’t sync it with Ableton. Is that right?

[@rezzonator]

@@SeemSimone yes you will still need the usb to sync it

[@SeemSimone]

Thank you very much..really apreciated!

[@pepeurrutialasalle1273]

very good, thanks!!

[@viktorapostolski8663]

when i record my beats are not a spot-on, they have latency when they are recorded trough the usb.. what might be the issue and the fix ?

[@rezzonator]

Viktor Apostolski it could be a number of things...setting on your soundcard or within Ableton. I have the same problem. I generally just use the warp function to tidy up the timing....check out my recent video on multiwarp mode to see how I do it. Think I also have another video about it on the channel.as well.

[@viktorapostolski8663]

yes but that means that quantizing would ruin the swing/shuffle..

[@rezzonator]

Viktor Apostolski if you just set the 1.1.1 to start at the first transient marker it will eliminate any small sections of silence due to latency but should then retain and swing or shuffle as you are ot actually quantizing it...check out this video..kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHS9kqZ9l5uLnbc

[@viktorapostolski8663]

thanks, but what about monitoring ? lets say I have a bassline playing from a vst on 16th's and the tr-8 via midi.. it would be off and disturbing.. any solution bout this ?

[@charlottegiraudot3639]

the same happened to me and weirdly it was a driver problem, uninstall and instal it again!

[@garyfearless]

Klasse video YEAH YEAH YEAH :-) THANK YOU Mr.Rezzonator

[@NickyWide]

Hi Rezzonator Congratulations for your sound, i have a question for you after seeing your tutorial. I bought Tr8 , are three days that i'm going crazy,i can not, in any way, to record (midi and audio) in time. I tried them all, driver error compensation ,etc. but recording (midi or audio) its always late. You can advise me how to solve? I use Ableton + Apogee Duet Duo with Tr8 Drumrack usb. iMac mid 2010 i7 - 2,93ghz - 12G DD3 Thank you :)

[@rezzonator]

Hi. Have you checked your latency settings in the preferences?

[@Terrywaites]

I have followed this to the second, issue im having is once I push record the TR8 is coming through twice..I have spent hours trying to figure it out :(..Any ideas what im doing wrong?

[@rezzonator]

Only thing I can think is to turn the monitoring to Off on the channel you are recording onto

[@Terrywaites]

@@rezzonator Where is the button to turn monitoring off in live9? thanks for you swift response man :)

[@rezzonator]

@@Terrywaites there are 3 buttons below where you choose your audio input that say In Auto and Off - click off to make that highlighed yellow

[@Terrywaites]

Then I cant record in, as the sound is doubling up :( as soon as I click "In"

[@rezzonator]

@@Terrywaites I haven't got my TR8 anymore so unfortunately can't experiment with the setting. I do remember having a similar problem. Are you using the TR8 as your audio interface or an external interface?

[@djandreezer]

Do you have a video running your Aira gear thru MX-1 and into Ableton?

[@rezzonator]

Andre Ezer yes all the hardware goes through the mx1 into Ableton. all the Aira gear is connected just via usb. I then record the video separately and sync it up after with the recorded audio within Ableton

[@djandreezer]

Rezzonator btw - great vids! I have the same setup - running all Aira thru the USBs on the MX-1 but when I record into midi tracks in Ableton I only see the notes or annotations register. No sound! I only seem to get sound when doing audio tracks.

[@djandreezer]

Rezzonator btw - I meant do you have a KZbin video showing your MX-1 Ableton setup? :)

[@rezzonator]

Andre Ezer sounds like the midi is not getting sent back out to the Aira gear. check the midi out settings

[@rezzonator]

Andre Ezer don't think I have a specific video about that but check out my tutorials playlist as it may well be covered in other videos I've done. Tutorials: kzbin.info/aero/PLpD4Y7QWZvbWfhPG3ZBo1QOdn0ifohqG6

[@jorgesaid7389]

Good video. I have a problem... Ableton doesnt recognize the tr 8. the audio option (audio device) to put the tr 8 doesnt appear. Its connected via USB->USB (im using asio4all)

[@rezzonator]

Not sure what the problem would be. Are you connecting straight into the computer via USB or through a hub as I generally have issues when using a hub

[@jorgesaid7389]

straight

[@ultravirtual5749]

Thanks well explained ! Subbed!

[@TwistedMentality089]

how do you record with scatter function triggered on ??

[@rezzonator]

I think you can only record the scatter function by recording the audio output direct...not over usb. You would need to take the stereo output from the TR8 into an input on your sound card and record it that way.

[@TwistedMentality089]

ah thats really annoying, thanks anyway great vids btw subscribed to your channel

[@rezzonator]

+ra-d089 thanks. Yeah I agree. I have the MX1 and have the same problem. Would love to know if it is possible and I am missing something

[@fancybabylaflare2044]

after DOWNLOADING THE DRIVER AND CONNECTING THE TR8 BY USB, TR8 DOES NOT POPULATE IN MY DAW, WHAT DO I DO NOW? IS YOUR TR8 CONNECTED THROUGH AN INTERFACE?

[@rezzonator]

FANCY BABY LAFLARE no its connected direct into the usb port on the pc. What DAW are you using

[@fancybabylaflare2044]

I have both studio one and adobe audition. Tried both and it didn't work

[@rezzonator]

FANCY BABY LAFLARE I've never used either of those so can't really help with that.

[@fancybabylaflare2044]

I downloaded Ableton and its still not working I have my tr8 connected directly to my laptop, nothing... I connected my tr8 to my midi in and out on ym interface and connected my interface to my laptop, nothing..

[@palindromeAU]

Great vid!

[@palindromeAU]

Was there a fix for the doubling of sound when recording midi?

[@NickyWide]

I tried everything! I can not. you can make a video where you explain exactly how to make the optimal settings? :)

[@rezzonator]

Will do if I get chance. Are you using the TR8 as your audio interface?

[@NickyWide]

+Rezzonator have you telegram o whatsapp ?

[@rezzonator]

+Nicky Wide Did have what's app until my phone died yesterday!! Will let you know when I am back up and running again

[@NickyWide]

+Rezzonator skype?

[@NickyWide]

ehy ? :D

[@mr.butman7862]

thank you

[@alessiobovi4179]

Live to Studio nice 😊😎😍😚

[@alexbarlow8029]

What are you doing..... You recorded the kick into the clap track that's why its doubling up......

[@divalimusic]

why can't i hear anything?

[@TheDeefh]

Asio 4 all .

[@m1losh882]

Lets pan a kick :D

[@jobbygerm2706]

Oooft!! 🤣🤣🤣