Roland TR-8s Tutorial: Building Your Own Kit

A simple step by step for building your own kit. Don't forget to save it when your finished by holding "write" and pressing "kit".
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[@jderringer9]

You're killing it! Thanks for all these videos. Please don't stop posting!

[@UnitE808]

Jeff Derringer just keep watching! Sharing with your friends is encouraged, too! 🖒😉

[@aemma_official]

Great tutorial! love how you focus on one thing at the time so you don't get lost in all features.

[@marcelmarechal1420]

It is September 6th, 2019. I am watching this again, probably a few times haha!

[@UnitE808]

That's why its here! Watch it again and again!

[@ChazSeamus28]

i have to save them on a playlist and come back from time to time myself

[@eriksax]

I figured it out. I have to select “WRITE” in order to name the KIT.

[@VimyScout]

Finally have my TR-8S arriving in a couple of days - finding your channel is a big help. Thanks for sharing the time and effort you're putting into it.

[@vinylselektaz6475]

Nice Work! I appreciate your grind.

[@UnitE808]

Cult Snarez love grinding!

[@solalkorsec5130]

So everything you do on those parameters is saved without pushing any save button or so. If you turn the machine off and back on right now, you'll find everything again ?

[@UnitE808]

Only if autosave is enabled. Otherwise, press shift+write to overwrite kit and pattern settings.

[@solalkorsec5130]

@@UnitE808 Thanks for the tip !

[@sunshinestutube]

Hi there., I only got mine 2 days ago so I'm still getting to grips with it.... When building your own kit., do you know if it's at all possible to put 'Alternate Sounds' on one pad? Like the High & Low Agogos on the 727 or the SD on the 707 for example....... Great channel btw!., so helpful!....... many thanks.

[@UnitE808]

Stuart Jones yes, but only the preset sounds that came with an alternate sound are capable. You cannot create your own alternate sounds......yet. I hope to see something like that in an update. TO access the alternate sound for performance, hold the instrument button (BD, SD, etc.) And press the 1 or 2 step button on the sequencer to switch.

[@UnitE808]

Stuart Jones ...and thanks for watching!

[@davidchaparro2517]

Is there any way I could send you a couple of questions? I'm thinking of just calling Roland. If you allowed me to ask you some questions I promise I wouldn't over do it. I'm just having a lot of trouble getting the hang of it.

[@UnitE808]

Absolutely! Email Unit_e@hotmail dot com

[@davidchaparro2517]

@@UnitE808 thank you so very very much. I'll be in touch soon

[@davidchaparro2517]

@@UnitE808 Message sent, thanks again

[@Graincatcher]

Thanks for all your videos! They help make learning this beast a lil easier :)

[@UnitE808]

I'm glad you find them helpful! If you have been through them all and still have questions, please ask!

[@Asdrubale01]

My baby needs assistance to get repaired and unfortunately I realised that here in fckng Italy, Roland assistance is abominable. There are 5 assistance centres and none of these is honest and helpful. nor competent. wtf....

[@mrmusic9892]

Thanks for the video,I know it's few years old but i just purchased one. This video helped me out.

[@paul.__b]

Thanks very much for posting these videos. Very helpful. One question: can you layer sounds on a channel? E.g. have a 808 & 909 kick on the BD channel, or would you need two separate channels?

[@UnitE808]

paul b at the moment, you would have to use seperate channels. You can group instrument channels, so whatever sequencing you do to the master instrument, would affect the slave instruments. I have a video coming soon on grouping.

[@mechanikaltechno]

Appreciate this man, thank you for sharing

[@richardwalley2862]

Also I think kits start at 87

[@deanwolfechannel]

You are my tr8s guru!

[@lalalalalalalalalalaland]

Thank u very much

[@guigeek9919]

Hi' not possible to export audio kit on the sd card? With sample.

[@Robert_Hellier_Official]

Choosing 88 doesn't work for me, a do as exactly as you do but for some reason as soon as a I press Inst-Play a pattern appears!! Also can you do a tut on how to increase gain into the DAW (Logic) my levels as so low its silly..

[@UnitE808]

1000 Cutts make sure you are on a blank user pattern. Starting on 6-03, the patterns should be blank. Remmeber, patterns and kits are saved separately. I am going to do a video on setting preferences so every time you turn on the machine, it is on the pattern and kit of your choice.

[@CaidicusProductions]

This video was immensely helpful. I bought my 8S in China, and got a Chinese manual with it. I had this exact question, trying everything I could do with the "kit" button, not knowing how to build custom kits. This led me to worry that there was no way to set each instrument to a specific and unique kit. Thank God for this video. :D I'm very grateful to you.

[@UnitE808]

I'm glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@jakubjunga]

Hey. Do you know producers of acoustic wav or aiff samples for tr-8s? I can not find. I mean natural percussion. greetings

[@UnitE808]

If you join the Facebook group for the TR-8S, there is a post featuring sites for samples. Here is one link... www.autodafe.net/free-stuff/mega-drum-machines-collection-v-2-for-kontakt.html

[@richardwalley2862]

Ok found out what happened I’m not sure if it was mentioned in the video but after you make all your drum sounds you press write button then kit

[@UnitE808]

Shift +write saves both pattern and kit at the same time.

[@jimmywheelo]

nice clear instructions. Thanks man just got mine and this is making it easy for me. I appreciate your efforts

[@UnitE808]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@toffchunks]

top as usual thks!!!

[@willdorak985]

I did exactly how you explained but once I turn off the TR8S and turn it back on, the kit I created is gone. There must be something I missed to save my kit for good. Is there a save option somewhere?

[@UnitE808]

Write button then select kit. Hit enter.

[@willdorak985]

@@UnitE808 Nice, thank you

[@thomasmetz2681]

Thank you soooo much ❤

[@DJMcAliz]

Thanks man for the help. I do have a question, Is it possible to play a sample the full length, say 30 seconds? Or is it only 16 steps?

[@UnitE808]

You can play it for it's full length. Remember though, putting long samples like that in will take up space quickly.

[@DJMcAliz]

@@UnitE808 can you also tell me how because I get it chopped???

[@DJMcAliz]

Found it by Hold mode!!!

[@UnitE808]

@@DJMcAliz nice! Yeah, set the hold length to the amount of steps the sample is. Turn decay all the way up.

[@tf2762]

Is there a way to reset the effects in the CTRL..? Like, manipulate the sound like crazy, then boom, back to the original sound -on the fly? Shortcut?

[@UnitE808]

Unfortunately not

[@tf2762]

Wow. That’s bonkers..

[@eriksax]

I followed until the end, but the NAME on the drum kit is not saved by hitting “KIT”.

[@rjadamz9117]

Alas!!! The video I’ve been looking for. Mucho Danke

[@jamandspoonmusic]

Another useful video - thank you!😊

[@UnitE808]

Ted Wanski thanks for watching. Cheers!

[@tylon2999]

Remember to write all your program changes are you will lose them when you power down. The manual is quite good, I don't think there is any hidden features, but I just got it so don't quote me.

[@UnitE808]

Auto save is on by default, so all pattern and kit changes are saved when powering down. Otherwise, yes, shift+write to save pattern and kit data

[@UnitE808]

Auto save is on by default, so all pattern and kit changes are saved when powering down. Otherwise, yes, shift+write to save pattern and kit data

[@tylon2999]

@@UnitE808 No, at least on the one I purchased, I kept it off as I got use to working that way on my TR-8.

[@YOSHIOPC]

I also bought TR 8S so I will learn from now! Thank you！

[@EchoKraft]

Will you be doing a video on how to up date the firmware? directions are a little sketchy on the website

[@UnitE808]

Echo Kraft firmware version is found at the end of the utility menu. Hold shift and scroll to the end, it's under version.

[@UnitE808]

Echo Kraft I will do a video on how to update the firmware

[@EchoKraft]

Thank you man ! this is very cool !!!

[@stevenbriggs7535]

Really helpful these tutorials. Deserves a lot more likes

[@UnitE808]

Thank you for the kind words and support!

[@DrCatalinIlie]

Thank you!

[@adastra123]

Thank you. The manual is useless . You didn't waste any time on this video which is really really helpful when one wants to find just the essential "how do I do it " right now. Subscribed with bell, the least I could do . Again thanks.

[@UnitE808]

Check out the reference manual, found on the same downloads page as the owners manual. Twice as much info! Thanks for the sub! I'll keep making them if you keep watching!

[@adastra123]

@@UnitE808 I will do thanks. I didn't know there was a difference. Thanks to your quick vids I was able to keep grooving til the late hours like a kid with a new toy (which I suppose I am though I am fifty lol)

[@ultrajayme]

agreed. i can't stand the constant clown show of personalities in tutorials. "let me laugh and talk about the history of why i chose to buy this piece of gear and talk about the weather and my week for 5 minutes before i even bring up what you came here for in the first place." i can't stand it, my patience is at an all time low with trying to find straight, to the point tutorials on youtube. Everyone has to act like they're something special.

[@vinnytnecniv]

If u hsve a audio interface do u still need the USB from the tr8s connected to computer ?,also does it have less delay in ableton with USB connection, i been using mono and stereo going in to the audio interface should i have usb so the beats are not delayed or is there no need?

[@AtomkeySinclair]

Thanks for all the videos you have made on the TR-8S. I wanted to comment on this one and ask a question. When setting up a new kit I usually set an evenly spaced pattern first (after selecting a 'blank' starting kit). I create a pattern for each of the tracks I am interested in at the beginning of composition. In such a way they don't overlap too much. Instead of using INST PLAY, I just leave it in TR-REC, select the track and press the SAMPLE button. I can then let the sequence (pattern) play while I roll through the 'instruments' - this lets me hear real time the change to the instrument without pressing a button each time to see what it sounds like. And here is the question: How do I get the start kit and pattern to load on power up? I have managed to do it once. But now I can't seem to change it. I basically went to UTILITY->Start Kit-> and assigned the kit slot. Same with pattern. And then I went to WRITE->System. But I can't revert it and can't seem to change it to something else. My firmware is: [ Ver.1.11 ] DEC 2018. Thanks for any help.

[@UnitE808]

Instead of entering the kit number for the start kit, enter Last. Then each time you start up the TR-8S, the last kit you were working on will be there.

[@AtomkeySinclair]

@@UnitE808 Hey man thanks for the quick response. Yup! That worked - but in a way that made me consider something I had been missing. Duh. So yes, the internal save of the kit was used. But the kit I had been working on I had not yet actually written to the SD card. I had just been working on the internal workspace of the TR-8S. I had never scrolled down so far to even notice a LAST option was there. That made me think on actually saving the work in permanent form. Once I did that the UTILITY->GENERAL-Startup Kit option worked as I expected it to. So I learned two things from your help. You have to save the kit to the SD to use the startup routine by selecting the exact kit. I wish there was a comprehensive book on this device. I spend a great deal of time watching videos just to get a little here and there. I read way faster. I've looked for books and no luck so far. Do you know of any per chance? Thanks again for the help.

[@UnitE808]

The sd card is only for backup, not saving. All saving is done on the TR-8S. Pressing shift+write will overwrite and save both pattern and kit. There is no book, except the reference manual. I have 30 videos, each on a particular subject. If you need more help, I do one on one Skype sessions.

[@AtomkeySinclair]

@@UnitE808 I wanted to come back and thank you again for the help. I since contacted Roland with several other issues I have with the TR-8S. At their request I made a video that explains 4 glitches I have run across. Anyway, it is a long video but there is a time index at the start so Roland is able to jump to pertinent parts. I wanted to share the video with you for your own interests if any: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGm2i2SHqaxrhLM

[@UnitE808]

@@AtomkeySinclair please contact me at [e-mail] We can set up a video call and I can get you sorted on your issues. None of your issues are glitches except maybe the last step glitch

[@mainbodenleger2056]

THX for Your Videos Dude U explain very very good, that everyone can unterstand what U do. REALLY AWESOME ;) Edit: Why your Display is Green? Sry but cant find something about that in your videos Greetz from Germany

[@UnitE808]

Sven Duerrbacher the led display is green for everyone. Is yours a different color? Or, are you talking about something else?

[@mainbodenleger2056]

;) ;) ;) My display looks like more yellow/orange i can turn my eyes in every direction but thats not green like in your videos for sure But nP THX for Answer EDIT: I buy it last week including Version 1.04

[@UnitE808]

Sven Duerrbacher did you pick yours up second hand or as an open box? It could have settings saved in there from the previous user. You can always go to the utility menu and do a factory reset on the system and see if that changes anything. Only do the reset if you backed up your kits and patterns you've made, or don't mind losing what's on there and getting sent back to the factory settings.

[@mainbodenleger2056]

No, its first hand Also after factory reset the color is still not green. its ok dude...its not a must have for me. thanks for your time cheers

[@UnitE808]

Sven Duerrbacher you got the rare yellow one! Lucky!!😁 Enjoy it and would love to see what you come up with.

[@joeshell123]

Badman.

[@nonabpm]

hey, there, i got a quick question. how come that if i’m in program *86 trigger out i cannot modify the instruments of the last 6 tracks?(i can modify the colours but there’s no way to assign anything!) thanks

[@UnitE808]

Kit 86 is featuring the trigger out function. The last 6 tracks are assigned to the assign outs and the assign outs are set to be trigger outs. You need to go into the kit edit screen (shift+kit) and reassign the tracks under the output category back to mix out.

[@nonabpm]

@@UnitE808 oh thx indeed

[@UnitE808]

@@nonabpm my pleasure! I like your music on your channel!

[@nonabpm]

@@UnitE808 thx indeed buddy, tryna get into production.i post my journey on insta,let’s keep in touch there if u got it. pls keep this channel updated as i really like the simplicity of yr workflow

[@simonbrown4426]

Hi, I hope you still reply to comments on year old videos!!... My question is... How do I set a snare activate a fraction of a second before the beat to give a more 'natural' sound? Is it possible to nudge/set the timing of an instrument or step?

[@UnitE808]

Hi! I always answer comments! At the moment, there is no micro-timing for individual steps or instruments. However, the TR-8S is still highly supported and I expect some updates to come out this summer. Hopefully, we will see micro-timing and some other fun features! Thank you for your support!

[@simonbrown4426]

@@UnitE808 Your channel is awesome. I think I've watched all you video and refer to them often!... Stab in the dark, but do you have any experience with the MX-1 & Ableton?

[@UnitE808]

@@simonbrown4426 MX-1, Yes. Not with Ableton, though. I have both. What do you need to know? I still might be able to help.

[@simonbrown4426]

@@UnitE808 Amazing, okay... The set-up: I have a TB-3, System-1m & TR-8S in all connected via the MX-1 USB ports. The MX-1 is connected to my Macbook via USB. I'd like to compose a track in Ableton and record/export the track. When the MX-1 is in 'normal' mode Ableton sends the Midi to the TB-3, the TB-3 send audio back to the mixer and it's works if I were playing live, but because the audio is only going the the MX-1, when exporting audio from Ableton the file is mute. If you start the MX-1 with the 'Gain' pressed, then press 'Tone' you get three options for the mixer mode. Mix, Sur & Ext. I've put the MX-1 into Ext, setup the Ableton prefs as best I can but I get no audio at all. The TB-3 midi track seems to show audio but I can't hear anything no matter what I do!

[@dictabeat]

Thanks a lot for this video!

[@edoardogalliazzo7711]

Thank you for your videos. Super Clear

[@alanwainwright9443]

Thank you. Very simple and helpful.

[@diegogutierrez434]

Could you briefly explain how to make a default empty kit? So everytime I turn on the unit this “default system” appears.

[@UnitE808]

Diego Gutierrez it's not possible to have an empty kit, you can't have empty instruments. That is why I recommend creating your own default. I will make a video on setting the start up pattern and kit to be your default one.

[@jmez927]

808 pretty bad ass anyways......true dat

[@CalebCromb]

Hi, nice informative video! Just bought one about a month ago....I'm a bit confused as to the reverb and delay settings. The main volume for both of them seem to do nothing. I can lower the amount of each effect on individual channels, but the I assumed the main volumes for reverb and delay would lower the effect for all the instruments. Are you experiencing the same issue? Or am I missing something?

[@UnitE808]

Rosy Ray Sunshine those kit fx, the reverb and delay, only effect the instruments that have some send amount going to them. If you set the individual sends to 0, the effects will do nothing. If you set a channel or instrument to send an amount to the reverb or delay, then you will hear something when you turn up the effect level knob. Try to turn the bd delay send to 255. Then set the delay amount to 1/8 and feedback to 0. Hit play and turn the delay level knob all the way up and then back down. It should sound like a single repeat on the bd.

[@CalebCromb]

Thats what I thought it should do too, but on mine it doesnt. With the send amount to 255 i hear the effect, but turning the main reverb level knob down doesnt do anything. Shouldnt it be lowering the level of the reverb. If not, what is that knob for?

[@UnitE808]

Rosy Ray Sunshine yes, it should lower all reverb. When you turn the reverb level knob, does the display show the level decrease?

[@UnitE808]

Rosy Ray Sunshine is the delay level knob down as well? Sometimes delay can sound similar to reverb, and maybe it's bleeding through.

[@CalebCromb]

Yeah, both knobs show the level going down.....and even with both fully off the effects come through....I should make a video of it to upload....but im at work now lol

[@anthonylongo1465]

thank you. much appreciated

[@michimuzik2301]

do u know how to change the scale from the stepsequencer .. mybe in to a triolish beat

[@UnitE808]

Michi Muzik I'll look into that. It's an option in the pattern menu, but I'm not sure of a quick way from the sequencer.

[@user-or3ce4gt2r]

hi Brian , hope you are well. by importing own samples ( drum , snare or claps etc ) it doesn't shown the categories anymore ( by pressing shift + turning the knob ) ? the samples categories works only for internal presets ... or is it possible to category as well our own samples and easier to find them by TOM, SN etc ? many thanks in advance

[@UnitE808]

It will categorize them as import by default. If you hold shift and press sample, you can assign it to a category.

[@user-or3ce4gt2r]

Thank you Brian

[@handysandy9565]

​@@UnitE808Thanks so much. These little hacks are what helps in establishing a work flow. 😊

[@ChazSeamus28]

cool man

[@pauwels_francois_djset]

thank you

[@UnitE808]

pauwels françois my pleasure!

[@pauwels_francois_djset]

@@UnitE808i just get my tr8s now and i m back on internet... Ur video are the best on tr8s for beginners.... god bless u ;)

[@FuzeEdit]

I watch already some of your videos and you doing a great job, but can you help me out, how can I reset all parameters of an instrument, so if I switch the insert/sample it don't use the parameters of the previous one

[@UnitE808]

You have to manually go through each parameter and set it back to 0. There is no shortcut yet. If you dont want to save any of the instruments in a kit, you can initialize the kit in the utility menu.

[@FuzeEdit]

Thank you! Hope there will be fix for a clear function someday

[@richardwalley2862]

Thank you!

[@marcelmarechal1420]

What about making kits from samples you have on your computer? How can I load them onto sd to put in the machine and how can I choose where the sounds go?

[@UnitE808]

I have a video for that... kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4DFfIKma6t9jrM

[@Asdrubale01]

tr8s is not the best device for using sampling

[@chriscabral4342]

Your work is awesome. Get my 8s next week

[@UnitE808]

Chris Cabral You'll love it! Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best to answer them!

[@thevoiceofreason4310]

bro have youtube blocked your videos???

[@UnitE808]

Dont think so. Are you not able to watch them?

[@thevoiceofreason4310]

Unit:E when I tried on my laptop earlier - all of your videos had audio but no visual. However it worked on IPad and Iphone!! P.s. For your diligent work man - really appreciate your efforts👍🏾👊🏾

[@UnitE808]

@@thevoiceofreason4310 glad it ended up working, although it's strange that it had audio and no video on your laptop. I have checked on my desktop, laptop, and phone. They all worked okay. hopefully you just experienced a glitch in The Matrix. I am grateful for your support and I'll have more videos coming.

[@zerobeat2020]

"the 808 is pretty bad"? Oops, that comment will get a few people's hairs up Unit:E. The 808 is one of the most iconic drum machines ever. It may not sound like an acoustic drum kit, and you may perhaps not like it as much, but the 808 is revered the world over. It was the machine that pretty much started all other machines, including the one you are showing in your video (wonder why it is called the TR-08S). New versions of the fully analogue 808 are very popular. I love the sound and I would not have bought the TR-08S if it didn't have the 808 in it. But other than that little "indiscretion", very useful tutorial!

[@UnitE808]

That badass was meant as good, in a 80s slang sort of way. I am fully aware of the iconic 808. I don't have a 808 kick waverform as a tattoo for nothing.

[@reardondearborn]

I knew bad meant good

[@richardwalley2862]

Tried this but for some reason after I turn it off it does not save it

[@UnitE808]

Did you save it? Shift+write. Or turn on auto save in utility menu