Roland TR-8s Tutorial: Importing Loops As Samples

Another importing video, but this one uses loops. Also learn a few tips on using loops, how to delete the sample and how to optimize user storage area.

[@UnitE808]

Please watch this video next to prevent your loops from fading. Sorry it wasn't covered in this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGitaoFmf7xrbNU

[@CaidicusProductions]

I gave a thumbs up before the video even started. I kinda just knew I was going to learn something about the TR-8S that I didn't know before watching it, so I took a gamble. I wasn't wrong, I learned. :D

[@UnitE808]

Ha! Glad I could help!

[@oskaarao2004]

really awesome and great tutorial. The process and method are explained so good , and you're very easy to understand. Thank you Sir 👍

[@UnitE808]

Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you found the video useful!

[@edgi55]

Thanks for the video, much appreciated.

[@UnitE808]

Glad you got something out of it! Keeps me inspired to do more!

[@UnitE808]

If you give a thumbs down, I would appreciate a comment as to why you gave it. I'm open to all feedback. Thank you!

[@AgentOrangeDJ]

Don't even try to understand the weird people of youtube haha. these vids are great and very helpful tnx a lot!!

[@UnitE808]

Agent Orange [DJ] haha! I'm always trying to improve so I like to know what I'm doing wrong.

[@jmez927]

Subbed...Ill watch this fully when i get the 8s...Im practicing with the i 808 online..

[@vinylselektaz6475]

Thank you!! You helped me make my decision.

[@UnitE808]

Cult Snarez awesome! You're going to love this thing, I know I do.

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

You shall enjoy this machine......immensely.

[@rickygarcia7400]

awsome my next toy on my list(:

[@carlingwilliam4473]

hi man great video! how can you quantize loops in your TR8-S so they can be synced to the rest of the drum patterns

[@UnitE808]

You would have to mess with the sample speed in the sample menu. This will also affect the pitch of the loop. Easiest thing to do is import the loop at the desired tempo of the pattern. Then there is no messing about, unless you speed up or slow down the pattern.

[@mikelarson1631]

How many samples can you import into internal memory (not on SD card). How much space in terms of MB\GB is available internally? How much total sample time\length is there? Thanks!

[@Mr.J2U]

Been a long time lol, but the answer is 10 minutes

[@sivaprayojan]

Thank you so much for these videos! really appreciate it! could you please tell me how many samples I can import? I mean MB wise or duration wise ? even though its a 32gb card recommended, it says no space when I try to import quite a few samples after a while.. i might have maybe 600 mb of samples but im sure importing all of that isn't possible right? thanks in advance.

[@UnitE808]

You get 600 seconds of 16 bit, 44.1 khz mono sample space. Upping the bit, khz, or stereo samples will reduce that time significantly. Just using stereo samples will cut that time in half. I recommend keeping your samplea on the sd card and only importing what you are going to use. You can preview the sample from the card before importing if you are unsure what the sample sounds like. Check my video on the 1.10 firmware update. It explains how to preview. Remember that the sd card is not where the samples are kept when importing. It is simply a transfer device.

[@sivaprayojan]

@@UnitE808Thank you so much for clearing it up! 🙏🙂

[@lukeygee123abc2]

Love your tutorials Unit: E. Been watching all your TR8s videos and they are so helpful. I'm going to keep looking, but I'm wondering if you might be able to share some insight. When I bring in a loop, the gain/volume does not remain consistent as the loop plays even if the decay is set to maximum. That is, the sample fades out. It almost sounds as if there is a volume envelope applied to each sample that has a decreased sustain. You can hear this on your house piano loop that you use in this video. I'm wondering if you've come across this issue too and have found a way to resolve it? Perhaps there's a work around with using a compressor. But maybe there is an easier/less audio degrading way in back menu somewhere? Thanks in advance!

[@trashbag8443]

Not sure if you sorted this yet, but take a look at the video linked in the pinned comment, the solution is there.

[@misteremagic]

Lots thanks !

[@timgrand5479]

I have a quick question. I want to buy the Roland TR8s, but I'm also looking for a device that can play backing tracks, so was thinking of a SPDX drummachine from Roland. The thing is, I saw that the TR8-s can also play samples up to 180 seconds per sample. You think it is possible to use the TR8s in that case for playing backing tracks (when you put decay on max for instance)

[@UnitE808]

Tim Verhaegen as long as the backing track isn't more than 180 seconds. There is only 600 seconds total of available sample space, and that is in mono at 44.1 kHz. I would go with a seperate machine and run it into the ext in of the TR-8s.

[@timgrand5479]

Thanks a lot. Any suggestion on a good sampler for running backing tracks? I don't want to use push 2 since I want to be laptop independent...

[@UnitE808]

Tim Verhaegen I'm not familiar with the full capabilities of the Roland sp404, but it might be a good option. Any 4 track recorder would be sufficient. Always try before you buy, if possible.

[@timgrand5479]

thanks for the great advice. I'll look into it! much appreciated

[@davislewislove1314]

Can you sample directly into the machine and trim the start and end points on the hardware

[@UnitE808]

DaRONiS R.A.E you cannot sample right to the machine. All samples must be imported via the SD card. You can, however, adjust the start and end points.

[@gwenmaze]

THK YOU SO MUCH :)

[@user-rj8hn1cb1w]

is it possible to timestretch a sample with the tr8s? thanks for your answer!

[@UnitE808]

You can slow it down, but it's like a pitch slider on a turntable. Your best bet is to make the sample the desired tempo before importing to the TR-8S.

[@UnitE808]

...and I cant respond to your other question posted, but try to re-save the samples through Audacity as wavs. Then import those newly saved samples.

[@petert7807]

This is the biggest downside to the tr8's, if it had a loop function that could lock/stretch loops to tempo this thing would be a dream machine!

[@ctambrosi]

Hey so I hit shift and plugged in my tr8s but It won't show up under devices. My computer is updated and I have the driver and firmware installed. Any advice?

[@UnitE808]

It won't show up under devices. It should appear on your desktop as a harddrive. Has the SD card been formatted on the TR-8S? That needs to happen before anything.

[@ctambrosi]

@@UnitE808 yep that was it! Thank you. I don't know anyone else that has done such a deep dive into this drum machine. Thank you sooo much, you have no idea how much you've helped me

[@harryberrymusic]

When i plug my tr8s into the computer it is opening it fine but there are no folders saying backup or samples what is up with that?

[@UnitE808]

You have to hold shift on the TR-8S when plugging the USB cable into the computer. The screen on the TR-8S should say Storage Mode when done correctly. Make sure you are on firmware version 1.05 or higher.

[@ttothey34]

You also have to format the SD card via the tr-08s also. That creates the necessary folders that you see missing.

[@monsieur420]

ttothey34 how so we do this?

[@skeletonmodel]

@@monsieur420 You can go to utilities and select format sd-card. If your card is formatted, and your TR8S is disconnected from your computer, like said above: Turn on your Tr8s, hold shift, plug usb in computer. It will show up as a drive as seen in the video. The tr8s will say Storage Mode in display.

[@DjPallette]

what is the standard beat per minute when preparing a drumloop to use in the TR8-S (and i want it to run in sync with the tempo of the TR8-S) If I try this with my Volca Sample need to be at about 130 bpm, but still its not fully tight which kinda sucks caus the loops sound chunky coming from the volca......I hope the TR8-S can do a better job at that and perhaps you can enliten me

[@UnitE808]

pallette recordings are you importing a drum loop?

[@DjPallette]

Unit:E yes for example a tribal loop.say its a 16 step sample and i trigger it via step one ...wil it run in sync with the tr8s tempo, and to reach that goal at what bpm should I render the sample before importing it? I got this idea to work with the volca sample but can't get it tight because of the bad midi implement on the korg volca devices. I hope the Tr8s does a better job as it has a lot of other things that make me want it.

[@UnitE808]

pallette recordings I guess the best Tempo to import the loop at would be the tempo that you plan to have the pattern set at. This would mean you can't use the same sample in a different pattern with a widely different tempo. I think when you get to stretching and compressing the samples, the sound quality is compromised.

[@johngannon]

Anyone know if you can see how much space you have left on the unit? Also can you delete their samples if you want?

[@UnitE808]

Utility menu. Sample category. Optimize. It will show free space and how much is fragmented. Optimize it if fragment is over 5%. Preset samples that came with the machine are not erasable. Fortunately, they do not occupy the same space as user samples.

[@johngannon]

@@UnitE808 You are a legend, thanks so much mate!

[@Mr.J2U]

@@johngannon You're a legend

[@Mr.J2U]

@@johngannon you must be british, eh mate?!

[@jakubjunga]

Hello Where you can buy samples of acoustic percussion. I can not find. Please, ask for a link. I do not know English well. Thanks :)

[@UnitE808]

Here is one place. www.drumwerks.com

[@jakubjunga]

thank you . :)

[@lgholland3417]

using loops to make patterns please

[@UnitE808]

It’s not advisable to do, but I can make a video on it.

[@reinerliwenc9487]

If you can import only 1 sample on each channel? So you can load only 12 samples? Or is there a function you can f.e. load 5 kicks samples on channel 1 and scroll it on the flow? And so one for the other channels as well

[@UnitE808]

One sound per channel. 11 sounds in all per kit. You can change kits on the fly

[@reinerliwenc9487]

@@UnitE808 thx. and how many kits with own samples should available? Or better, how many kits can you fill with your own samples? And is it able to prelisten the samples from the kits, f.e. with headphones on the flow?

[@UnitE808]

@@reinerliwenc9487 there are 128 kits. If you use 1 shot drum hits, you might be able to load them all with samples. They would have to be 16 bit mono, 44kHz samples though. There is no preview or cueing of instruments because the headphone and master out are the same signal path. Best idea is to create your kits ahead of time and build patterns live if your into the improv thing.

[@reinerliwenc9487]

@@UnitE808 ok thx 👍🏻

[@ironspade]

i was only able to upload about a single minute of sounds before i got an error message. thanks roland

[@UnitE808]

Doesn't sound like a roland issue. You get 300 seconds of mono sound at 44khz. What error message are you getting? Have you formatted the sd card (32gb or smaller) on the TR-8S? Have you updated to the latest firmware, then performed a factory reset? Let's work this out.

[@UnitE808]

...and I'm not Roland.😁😉

[@mcksexton]

I have bought a bunch of wav files from loopmasters, but when I import it says Not Supported. Any ideas why? other wav files work. what types of files are recommended?

[@UnitE808]

Wav files are the recommended format. Try to resave a few of them through Audacity and then import the new saves. Some users are reporting issues with wavs tht were created and saved directly from the source. Also, the bit depth is important. Needs to be 8, 16, 32 or 32 float bit.

[@mcksexton]

@@UnitE808 Thanks for reply. Will audacity show me the bit depth?

[@mcksexton]

@@UnitE808 SER SAMPLE (imported form SD CARD for playback): Available format: WAV, AIFF Total time for all samples: Approximately 600 sec (at 44.1 kHz, mono) * The maximum length of a single audio file that can be imported is approximately 180 seconds (at 44.1 kHz). is this what you're talking about?

[@UnitE808]

@@mcksexton Audacuty let's you pick the bit depth, but the default is acceptable.

[@UnitE808]

@@mcksexton not exactly. Elsewhere in the manual, it says what bit depth and sample rates are acceptable. Try to open a couple of the problematic wavs in Audacity and then export them back out to a folder specifically for converted wavs. If this doesnt resolve the 'not supported' issue, we can try another approach.

[@hostnik777]

Ok was this any different than your importing samples video? I really didn't see anything special about loops here.

[@UnitE808]

Yes, different.

[@hostnik777]

@@UnitE808 - can you please tell me how? I watched both and it seemed the same.

[@UnitE808]

@@hostnik777 loops act differently. They don't get timestretched. I also show how to make sure the entire loop plays and doesn't fade.

Can we put a sample longer than the 16 step. Like play a melody (sample) in back with drums from the tr8s ? Thank you for your response.

[@UnitE808]

Clément DURET you can and I believe one of the other users posted a video on it. I'll look deeper into it and hopefully post a video as well. Join the tr8s group on Facebook for lots more information

Unit:E Thank you. Yes a saw a user put the variation pattern in line for that. He "chaine" the variation pattern I think...

[@UnitE808]

Clément DURET kzbin.info/aero/PLUaVwwcakO-up8Tak7YUH9RW3P9SpqmVs I made a video for that. Preventing fade on loops video

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

Whoever down voted must be mad that they afford a TR-8S.

[@Rickyboa]

I just bought one. Suck on it all you down voters :)

[@JamesBermingham]

A TR8 owner maybe, or Drum-brute owner 😂

[@Noa669]

I recommend watching this in 1.5 Speed

[@UnitE808]

Why in 1.5?

[@Noa669]

Unit:E cuz U talking slowly bro 🙈

[@UnitE808]

@@Noa669 just want to make sure everyone understands.

[@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan]

Honestly, drink some coffee before filming.

[@UnitE808]

@@TheChannelofaDisappointedMan Coffee that late at night is not good for me. I put in work from 6am to 11pm every day. Then I go into the studio and try to make a tutorial just to be helpful. While this one was one of my first videos ever, and I wanted to keep my instructions slow and clear for people that might have a harder time with English, I do appreciate the honest feedback. If you check newer tutorials, you will see that they are faster-paced, but still perhaps too slow for your liking. Thank you for watching!

[@jirimor1850]

k o ko t, just missed the most important part of the info, prior to this tutorial, don't forget to format the SD card in TRS8 to have the folder structure as in the video. VITAL INFO

[@UnitE808]

That's all covered in my other video on loading samples to the card.