Roland TR-8S: Multitracking External Inputs

The TR8S has some amazing features for multitrack recording, including the ability to easily route every drum track to it's own channel in a DAW. Recording the external inputs as their own channels is a little more of a challenge though. Here is a guide to how it can be achieved.
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[@Djmarcuslott]

How do you record with no latency to the arrangement

[@MikeRenouf]

That's a great question! I'll look into it for a future video because it isn't something that I have fully got to grips with yet myself 👍

[@MikeRenouf]

Hey Dankmaster2 - I made a video to answer your question. Here's a link. I hope this helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2rYkIeZpbd6Y7M

[@markszili2577]

I've actually asked Roland via a feature request to consider a product firwmware enhancement to do a stereo for each indiv instrument over ASIO, because on the device it can actually pan each instrument as stereo pre mix out. So I'm preposing that instead of 11 mono USB asio instruments they give us 22 (11 pairs) Would be great if everyone started emailing them about this as the USB interface should be able to handle this no sweat and the more feedback they get the more likely it is to happen.

[@ehcmier]

Neo-noir, on the hunt, intercut with an interrogation montage, back to the hunt.

[@officialsimonharris]

surely it's easier to just have the external stereo input mixed in stereo to tracks 1 & 2 and then pull all the other faders down on the TR8S, then you would get the external stereo to 1 & 2 and the other USB tracks as the other individual instrument outs (BD, SNR etc etc)

[@MikeRenouf]

Not thought of that. If the faders are down I guess you couldnt audition the sounds directly but you could monitor the USB outputs. Nice idea, worth a try 👍

[@wakinglife7065]

Could you not duplicate the mono track and pan it hard right and left?

[@PabloRodriguezwhyCharlieWhy]

The problem that I had with this, the input are too low in volume

[@MikeRenouf]

Have you tried going to Kit Edit, and adjust the Gain level for the external inputs? That might help. You can do this on the unit or using the software editor.

[@jona_KardCiv1]

Look for a Boost option in my Utility section

[@ClaudeYoung]

This is the best explainer for using the external outputs! Thank you so much for making this video available!

[@MikeRenouf]

You're welcome! Let me know if there are any other topics you would like me to cover and I'll see if I can help. 👍

[@jeffbaumet794]

Great video! thanks this is really helpful

[@MikeRenouf]

You're welcome Jeff! ✨🪐

[@RichardThomas-sp4iy]

anyone figured out how to do this in studio one?

[@NoCoverCharge]

This I need but for pro tools

[@MikeRenouf]

Ive never used pro-tools, so cant be much help there, but the principle should be the same.

[@chriswilson6118]

I need this, but for Studio1 6 😂🤦🏼‍♂️. So far this morning I've managed to remove all my hardware from it twice 😖. Resulting in me wanting to pour my coffee over everything.

[@ernestomusic]

great tip

[@MikeRenouf]

Cheers - glad it helped! ✨🪐

[@chriswilson6118]

Has anyone here done this for studio 1? I'm struggling, hours in and getting nowhere 🤬🤬

[@MikeRenouf]

Sorry, I cant help on this one. Ive never used Studio 1 ✨🪐

[@tecModeDJ]

Great explanation. Had no idea this was possible. Thanks for the video!

[@MikeRenouf]

Youre welcome - glad it has helped! 👍

[@CristobalArenas-qq1tn]

brother, i was hopìng you could help me out. can u use your audio interface as the ASIO audio device? I just got a TR8s and I would love to use it along with my Digitone (through its own plugin and usb audio) and my Analog Synth(plugged in to my interface) which I play all on live with ableton and my audio interface.

[@MikeRenouf]

Hi! Audio interfaces generally use the ASIO drivers - yes. If you want your TR8S and your interface to be visible as input and output devices in Ableton at the same time though, you need to use an 'audio aggregator' called ASIO4ALL - that's a free software which puts multiple inputs and outputs into a collection which the DAW can access. I really ought to do a video on this - it's something several people have asked about!

[@Josec823]

You might just monitor the TR8 analog outputs through your mixer while composing and switch to the USB outputs just for recording the individual outputs when you want to commit and mix. I do not see much reason to use ASIO4ALL, that can introduce some problems, to use several audio sources if you have a mixer that you can use for monitoring.

[@MapleSonics]

I don’t understand how this can be of use when also using inputs on your main audio interface. There is no way to use multiple audio interfaces with ASIO.

[@MikeRenouf]

Asio4All is a free software solution which allows multiple devices to be used. Also, some people don't have a dedicated audio interface device, so if they have only the TR8S they could use it as an interface.

[@MapleSonics]

​@@MikeRenouf​ Multiple audio interfaces at the same time? You have to show me how then 🙂

[@MikeRenouf]

I will try to find time to make a video on this. 👍

[@menclar5476]

Can you record Individual tracks in Mono?

[@MikeRenouf]

Hi, yes you can. Just select the left hand column of the inputs on the Ableton setup screen shown at the beginning of the video. I selected the left and right columns which means the mono AND stereo options are available in ableton. I hope this helps!

[@menclar5476]

@@MikeRenouf thank you 🙏

[@De_Bars_Gullible_Travels]

Panning worked for me too with the td3’s….👍

[@MikeRenouf]

Great! Always nice to hear of a success!

[@De_Bars_Gullible_Travels]

@@MikeRenouf it was your advice….❤️👍

[@De_Bars_Gullible_Travels]

Just rewatching…. Happy Happy Happy Christmas Good Sir!!!!

[@5lip5pace]

hell yeah

[@MikeRenouf]

🙌 Thanks for watching!

[@DJeMo]

Watching this to refresh any avenues I might have missed before but I've been havin brainstorms with this for a while windows user here so the aggregate device for extra soundcards is a no and Asio 4 all isn't 100, been looking at other ways too, eg send high end out assigns and back in ext to sidechain to the BD, and other thoughts

[@MikeRenouf]

I just started looking as Asio4all as an aggregator. I never really needed it to be honest as Im happiest dealing with just a few tracks in Ableton, rather than every drum having its own channel. Still, would be good to find out how to make it work.

[@DJeMo]

@@MikeRenouf if you have asio 4 all in Ableton that will enable all sounds inputs and you need to name them, TR8S output is a minor problem as it's 1/2 and if your using another soundcard like me as output, it's 1/2 so here is the first rerouting or case of needing to send it somewhere else and in under another number 3/4 etc, I also saw if your not using the main out the sound defaults to assign AB but I haven't tried that, and I also seen folks mention using the headphone output also, but I haven't bothered doing that yet, I use both outs LR I think L is mono only and no FX if solo plugged not sure, there is so many wee lanes and avenues and once you have a number of devices and they have optional routings also, ive been changing stuff around here n there to see the workload or the bonus speed in working....

[@MikeRenouf]

Wow - nice work! You're ahead of me in all that aspect. Thanks for the insight. 🔥🔥🔥

[@DJeMo]

@@MikeRenouf there is other tricks about not monitoring 1/2 drummer in àbleton and using another 1/2 etc and also maybe grouping 3 sections low mid high and using assign out etc but you lose the FX, but could you get the FX into a separate track by taking the master output into something then into Ableton, it's a happy maze in many ways and when you find the best route then the question would be, using Asio and after latency addressing across the chain, would that need reset every new session on another day... as it's jittery no doubt Ps check out some TR8 latency and routing tricks I found some info with them users that I could carry that sense to the tr8s also, being a windows user with many soundcards brings these lil extra requirements, although windows has sound settings for play thru etc, so there is like 3 or 4 areas overall to all tie up together to maximise routings, the craic is great

[@MikeRenouf]

Sounds like a rabbit-hole I shall leave alone until after September 😆

[@BraveSirSausage]

this is so useful - thanks

[@MikeRenouf]

You're welcome!

[@chriswilson6118]

@Mike so do I need a bigger soundcard/interface to do this? 🤣🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️. I only have 1 input in my focusrite ..... And will I also need a bigger desk? I have a Mackie 1402-VLZPRO. If you can assist I'd be very grateful.

[@MikeRenouf]

Hey Chris. What other gear do you have at the minute (synthesizers and drum machines I mean). Some pieces of gear can also act as interfaces.

[@chriswilson6118]

@@MikeRenouf so I've got the tr-8s the tb3,the system 1 and vt3, m-audio keystation49 mk3, for my controller on the soft synths in studio1 , only because Im not sure how to use that to control the hardware , but don't really think I want to do that.

[@chriswilson6118]

@@MikeRenouf after watching some of your live sets I recorded a track from the tr/tb into my daw, it sounded great going into one track but not so great when I played it, a few of the drops were off due to my timing and there was literally no kick ☹️. Other than that a reasonably good track .

[@MikeRenouf]

I think you have a few options. 1) You could mix everything externally and record a single stereo track in you DAW. Many people seem to shy away from this but it is often the simplest and fastest way to get a finished track if you are happy with a 'live performance' setup. This is actually my preferred workflow. I have lost enthusiasm for arranging multi tracks in a DAW. 2) start looking at ASIO4ALL. This is a free windows and Mac software which allows multiple audio intefaces to be used simultaneously. It is a bit complicated, but it works once you get it set up. This would allow you to simultaneously use your TR8S, TB3, the focusrite and any other devices that can work as interfaces and have them pipe digital multi tracks direct into your DAW. 3) Record tracks one or two at a time into the DAW using you focusrite/mixing desk and arrange/mix afterwards in the DAW. None of these is right or wrong - its all personal preference. ✨🪐

[@chriswilson6118]

@@MikeRenouf ok fella thank you . I gotta go up my game now! Lol. I've told myself I need to work back through the track on the tr and get the levels right , I'll give that a go and see what happens as I don't think I can afford a new interface yet, but I'll also take a look at the ASIO4ALL 🙏🏻 but for now I'm goin back to Star Wars.

[@auphoriamusicxxx]

DO I need a software from the Roland? Because I can't see the TR option in the audio device on the settings =(

[@MikeRenouf]

Hey @auphoria. Yes you'll need to install TR8S drivers from Roland's support website. There are drivers for Mac or for Windows. Ableton will not find the instrument without those drivers 👍

[@auphoriamusicxxx]

@@MikeRenouf I love you Mike!!!!! thank you so much!!!

[@MikeRenouf]

Youre welcome! 😁