Roland R8 MK2 drum machine programming

a more in depth video here:
• Roland R-8 MKII - The ...
Programming real time pitch and decay parameters on the Roland R8 mk2 Almost identical on the mk1. An amazing drum machine with great sequencer features. I do get asked a lot about how to do this, so hopefully you can see how to record the real time slider.

[@iOnlyHereForTheBeer]

Instant early Autechre Anti EP vibes with that pitch control.

[@buckrogez87]

Listening to this in headphones is a pretty sublime experience! Thanks for making me want one! It's okay they are pretty cheap from what I've seen.

[@DavidMorley]

Thanks for your comment! Enjoy the R8 if you get one.

[@christian1554]

The 808 clap of the R8 (not MKII) was unbeatable. It's very sand that I sold mine to bye a MC-303...

[@DavidMorley]

It's hard looking back sometimes. I sold so many really nice things!

[@mrlawilliamsukwarmachine4904]

Reminds me of the electro track ‘clear’ by Cybotron!

[@georgeshsk7695]

Excellent, David !

[@blacksheepaudio3065]

You and Persing kings of the R-8!

[@DavidMorley]

Thank you!

[@discodivo9045]

thank you for the video. Maybe I am missing something very simple that is right in front of my eyes, but honestly I am a bit lost and could not find the answer in the manual so please bare with me as I'm an absolute beginner. In all of my other PCM drum machines, the samples can be navigated through and are ordered by instruments BD, SD, HH etc. so far so good with the R-8. now here's the rub. In all of my other drum machines the samples are also organized and can be navigated as whole kits that are pre mapped to the pads. What am I missing here? For example, if I want a kit from the 808 samples that are on the unit do I need to manually assign each sample to a pad? and then have only 5 combinations that can be saved? I'm pretty sure I'm missing something out here. I hope that the answer is simple and that browsing the samples as kits is easy, and that it is possible to navigate between those kits in one klick. Especially if I get the WAVEREX Rom expansion card for even more samples and going to load my own samples. Sorry if I am bothering you with something that is basic, I am sitting with the manual and still can't figure this out. Thanks a lot for reading, have a great day ❤

[@DavidMorley]

@@discodivo9045 hi there. if I understand your question correctly yes that’s how it works. You assign the individual samples to specific pads and you have five kits in my world that’s fine, but obviously maybe not for you. You also have performances which are in effect edits of those kits, so it’s a bit more flexible than it appears at first.

[@discodivo9045]

thanks a lot taking the time and answer

[@discodivo9045]

@@DavidMorley thank you very much for the info David

[@RecMirage]

How many tracks can the R8 MK2 have going at once and can you mute them in a live setting ?

[@J._Campbell]

1:31 I like that! ;)

[@ArthurStone]

Funky stuff Maestro; cheers : D

[@god0]

I set up a pattern in 7/4 and can't see or edit anything beyond step 4. How do you do that?

[@peterfuzz3887]

is there the same pitch/decay function in the R5 version ?

[@mardobeats2944]

Can you make more video about how to use this machine

[@DavidMorley]

Yes. I will make a tutorial. Thx for asking! Hopefully next week

[@mardobeats2944]

Thank you sooooooooooooo much 👍👍👍 I just got one this week and I love it thank u 🙏 for response back

[@mardobeats2944]

👍

[@ignaciohiguera5634]

@@DavidMorley soon pls

[@noiseforthealgorithm4668]

@@DavidMorley still waiting for this

[@manwelldocampo4083]

Nice vid ! I was wondering if u are using the internal presets of the machine or using an extension card ? Sounds like u have the rare 04 isn’t it?

[@DavidMorley]

Hi there. I think these are the internal sounds. At some point I can check. The electronic card is great though and absolutely worth having.

[@eulbk6909]

Nice video. Is it possible to *disable* or adjust the touch sensitivity on these pads.? If you have tried..

[@DavidMorley]

A bit late, but I've never tried. I think you can set sensitivity to a very low level at least..

[@RaveTracks]

Nice!

[@MrMaxi75]

David, thank you for great vid! Is it possible to assign different functions to the value slider? And how can you change this when possible?

[@DavidMorley]

Yes, you can choose a variety of parameters. Pitch, decay, level, pan, nuance etc

[@emielredant8331]

Can you divide multiple pitches of a drumsound over the patches to create a melody too ?

[@DavidMorley]

Yes you can

[@ramessar10]

Hello to use the Bass ...??

[@mehmettiryaki5201]

The sounds of written rhythms are low, how can we amplify them?

[@upfaders7210]

Great vid and a great machine! I have the mk2 also but i don't have the filter click (zap) sound you have on pad 10 in this vid - do you have an additional card with that on? can't find it anywhere in memory! cheers!

[@upfaders7210]

ignore that it was routed to a multi out and i'm on headphones - phew!

[@RecMirage]

Sounds Amazing. Are you using an expansion card?

[@DavidMorley]

Yes,the electronic card I believe.

[@disxiple_113]

was this with stock sounds or a card?

[@jaggass]

Do you still have the ARP2500?

[@DavidMorley]

Alas, no

[@jaggass]

@@DavidMorley Oh no.

[@สุดทินคํามาอ้าย]

How much..????

[@garyjohnson627]

I have one of these to sell with 5 pre programme drum cards in their original cases. Is there a market out there for these machines.

[@DavidMorley]

Sûre! Worth maybe $500 with the cards.

[@garyjohnson627]

@@DavidMorley if anyone is interested please contact me. I couldn't get on with it.

[@noname52768]

Gary Johnson email me mate [e-mail]

[@puertomusic4910]

Still looking to sell your machine?

[@garyjohnson627]

@@puertomusic4910 yes if your interested

[@mardobeats2944]

👋 hey how do you make the metronome sound click when u recording because I accidentally turn off my

[@DavidMorley]

I'll get back to you as I need to be Infront of my r8

[@mardobeats2944]

Naw it’s cool I figured it out I learn a lot about the past few days with this machine I had to get the book lit for it I’m still having problems saving my music in the card plus I would to how to send the song or track to the 8 outputs

[@uvoikimovundutrauerblume3302]

@@mardobeats2944 go to sound settings and sellect a voice on the drumpad . When you search in the sound edit settings you gonna see panning and click left or right panning until you see multi out 1 -> 8 . You need to do this for each drumsound on the pads and padbanks . On my r 8 and my r 5 ( have only 4 outputs extra )is it on this way .watch out the headphone out is not in function anymore with multi out and its also possible to give the metronome click a individual out . Good for using with other drummachines in midi sync for example

[@gabrielmagno2595]

How to save volume on a pattern? Thanks.

[@DavidMorley]

Overall volume you can't I don't think. Sorry!

[@ramessar10]

Hello can you show how to program the Bass...

[@dassolosyndikat5113]

Yes i would like to know that too

[@lucianopazzelli7840]

Como conecto bateria electrica a esta caja?

[@DavidMorley]

È sufficiente collegare l'uscita midi del pad o del controller all'ingresso midi del Roland e assicurarsi che il canale midi sia lo stesso.

[@adamharris7775]

In Liberian Girl, the Roland R-8 MK2 bass drum and Roland R-8 hi hat were heard.

[@Andronicus2007]

Really? Liberian Girl was released on the Bad album, which came out in 1987. The R8 wasn't released until 1989. Maybe it was a TR707 or TR727, there are some similar sounds on those machines.

[@aejacobs101]

you still own this?

[@DavidMorley]

Yes. I just uploaded a newer video

[@aejacobs101]

@@DavidMorley WOULD YOU CONSIDER SELLING IT?

[@liamgreer8019]

@@aejacobs101 I’ve got one I’d sell if you’re still looking

[@aejacobs101]

How much Liam?

[@ymotechnopopfan]

1:41?

[@DavidMorley]

You can assign a variety of parameters to the slider and record that over the pattern

[@ymotechnopopfan]

@@DavidMorley are there some pitches of this drum machine?

[@Mazeisaspace]

Islets in pink polypropylene (!!)

[@spyrock247]

Honestly you moved too fast, there’s no way to see what buttons you press or menus you dive into to understand how to do this 😢

[@DavidMorley]

I can try at some point to do a slower demo. Basically it's not too tricky though. In a couple of weeks, I'll try and do a simple explanation video.