Roland TR-8S Tutorial: Internal Side-chaining (How I Do It)

In this video, I show you how to use the assign out and ext in to achieve side-chain compression on the internal instruments. It's quick and easy. Remember that this is a Kit parameter, so it must be done to each kit that you want to have this effect on.
I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for watching!!
If you feel like supporting what I'm doing and fueling me with coffee, drop some coin over at
PayPal: paypal.me/BrianLamb
Venmo: @Brian_Lamb808
If you want to pick up a Roland TR-8S, or any new gear for your space, I recommend heading over to ​⁠​⁠ for some of the best deals. Use the link below to let them know I sent you there. Purchase any device in the Roland Aira / Synth line with the link below and get a free personal lesson from me!
link.perfectci...

[@wolfgangkundrus5551]

Sorry, but you missed some steps. This is not comprehensible.

[@UnitE808]

I did. I failed to mention that you have to set the ext in to mono in the utility menu, and I skipped over setting the desired track outputs to the assign out that is jacked to the ext in. Thank you for pointing that out. I’ll pin this comment so viewers can read the missed steps.

[@toddthomas4761]

@@UnitE808 LOL I knew I was having trouble with something! Would love to see another vid!

[@banjoemily3852]

I often use the assign out into ext in to add gnarly distortion to kicks. Turn up the input gain in the menu and then use the ext in volume knob to find the sweet spot where the overdrive sounds good.

[@UnitE808]

That would be a safer way to do it than just keeping the fader down lower as you overdrive the gain. That would let you push the fader to the top every time without fear of being too loud. Great tip!

[@IKUCHI-TRIBE-ICUICY]

Your vids are incredibly helpful. They are direct, clear and cogent. Thank you for your generosity

[@alexwestconsulting]

Nice video. I mean, it's not technically internal sidechain proper like Roland SHOULD be giving us, but yeah this is better than nothing. They even added internal sidechain to their budget T8. The problems are: 1. You have to tie up the internal aux inputs so can't input anything else (having the sidechain on a hardware unit is dawless gold, and not many units have external stereo sidechain processing, so this is a shame) 2. You have to tie up external aux outputs so you can't send audio out for external processing elsewhere 3. You need to pay for aux cables of quality 5. Those aux cables are dedicated for the purpose so can't use them elsewhere when running the sidechain (which will most of the time) 6. You need to keep the audio cables on hand, can't put them away deep in a box or anything, need to carry with when transporting 7. There is inherent sound degradation, forcing a run through dca out to audio, and then back through the dca if you are running through usb audio 8. There is inherent latency in the scheme Roland, just give us proper internal sidechain on your flagship drum machine please

[@synthsforbreakfast]

That’s what I thought when saw your post in the Facebook group. Looping drums from assignable outs to the external input. The downside is that you loose the ability to input other stuff and apply the sidechain to external synths, for example. But I guess you can’t have everything in this world hehe

[@UnitE808]

Unfortunately, it doesn't do EVERYTHING! Lol! 🤣 I am curious to try running a synth through the L input and move the assign out to the R and play with the panning of the instrument.

[@MatusFinchus]

You *COULD* run the external outs to a small mixer and route that back in (incorporating another synth etc. through the mixer).

[@cschill0]

Thanks for all the vids, super helpful. I am trying to recreate your bassline and the baseline patches sounds flat compared to yours. Are you using an external sample or internal instrument + shaping?

[@UnitE808]

Internal and shaping. Put a compressor on the track to beef it up. Also, I use the FM Kick Model a lot!

[@pltndbnn]

Great news, thats level up for me Thanx

[@mozr5053]

Thanks CS!!!🤙🏾🎧

[@jcain2411]

love this. Thanks

[@larsfrosznielsen3536]

Thank you, that's great

[@trusto1016]

Dope CS!!!

[@mindexmusic]

TR8s - Hawaii edition ;)

[@UnitE808]

U kno dat!

[@johnmelas3118]

Thanks again unit e. I was looking for a way to do this. Most recently started using the new Vinyl Sim effect which gives a good pump to the track. Your thoughts on this ? It’s way less controlled than your technique

[@UnitE808]

Since the Vinyl Sim isn't really made for that, it won't be as accurate of a sidechain. Plus, now you can find that sweet spot in the vinyl Sim for adding that bit of flavor and not as an extreme effect.

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

Thanks for this tutorial, much appreciated! When combining the TR-8S along with the MC-707 and MX-1, would you still use this process, OR, would you setup the "ducking/sidechaining" on the MX-1? Again, thank you!

[@UnitE808]

That's tricky because the MX-1 has the effect per channel and that would sidechain the entire 707 or 8S, not just one track. I would probably send the assign out of the 707 into its own channel on the MX-1. Then you can send specific tracks on the 707 through the assign out for sidechaning. Does that make sense?

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

@@UnitE808 So, what you are describing is to setup the TR-8S (USB to MX-1) per your vid instructions, then, when adding the MC-707 (via USB to MX-1) also have an add'l cable for assign out to another MX-1 channel. Is this correct? [I just got a used MX-1, thus, trying to integrate it with my TR-8S & MC-707, plus a couple of synths.] NOTE: I have seen some YT vids showing separating the TR-8S (USB to MX-1, and, Kick/BD to separate MX-1 ch via Assign Out of TR-8S) and have the MC-707 via USB input to MX-1, yet, not sure how they achieve the ducking effect.

[@UnitE808]

@@LuisTorres-qz5kr you're correct in the setup. The users sending their bd to a seperate channel on the MX-1 are doing this for additional processing of the kick. They are not trying to achieve a sidechaining sound this way. I use my MX-1 effects to the fullest. I love that machine! I send all my boutiques to it, my eurorack, and my 6S and MC-101. Currently, my 707 and 8S go to another mixer, so If I need to sidechain something on the 707, I send an assign out of the 707 to the ext in of the TR-8S. I don't normally use the internal sidechain of the 8S on itself, only if I'm jamming on it solo or if it's added to my DJ-808 setup for DJing.

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

@@UnitE808 Thanks! Making sense now. Will test this out this afternoon.

[@crazyFrankyy]

@@UnitE808 Clarifying question! Have same setup (MX-1,707,8S). What true method to use sidechain in this setup, when the 707 send on MX usb channel all this channel are sidechained(all 707 sounds, not only bass), What is the correct method you would recommend, for stanard trick use kick on bass in this situation, thanks!

[@melvinmarcredi5934]

Where can I buy those knobs? Thnx

[@pltndbnn]

Im using a Pro 1 synth as a main bass guy in setup feeding it in my left ext in channel for sidechaining with tr 8s. Is it possible to use sidechain of external device at the same time, cause there is only one external in?

[@UnitE808]

I haven't given it a try, but you can try to Run the assign out to the other side of the external input, the right port

[@UnitE808]

@@pavlovsstraydogs I gave it a try and it worked! Set your ext in to mono in the utility menu of the 8S.

[@pltndbnn]

@@UnitE808 1) what kind of splitter do you use? Y shape mono/mono in and mono out? 2) do all tacks assigned to internal sidechain Via such a trick loose their stereo capabilities? Thanx 🙏🏻

[@UnitE808]

@@pltndbnn 1. Splitter? None. I use a TS cable from assign out to ext in R. I use another TS cable from external synth mono out to ext in L. 2. As long as you're mix out of the TR-8S is stereo, you're fine. Drums really shouldn't be in stereo, though. There is no need to have 2 seperate signals of the same drum.

[@romantio]

How to keep sidechain when you turn off the kick channel ? For making breaks for example

[@UnitE808]

If you pull the fader down, you should still get the sidechain.. Unfortunately, it doesn't work when you mute a track.

[@kevinanderson7243]

Unit e can you program planet rock with the tr 8s can you do the double drum hits in the song. Or you can only program that on the tr-808

[@UnitE808]

It can be done. Let me see if I can dig up the pattern

[@designsinorbit]

I'm a wee bit unclear...so you're saying with the tr8s if you have, for example, a snare hit at the same time as say a kick drum (without side chaining), the sound will get muttled up? I'm hoping that isn't the case as I just ordered one. I'm new to the whole game...fyi

[@deanborrett6674]

don't worry, your beat and hats will still be heard and in time, they just sound better when ducked to allow the bass drum to be a bit more clear or pronounced, you will get it one day!

[@hardcore_mxthafxcka]

Why is there no normal sidechain function like in the novations circuits

[@UnitE808]

This is a drum machine, not a groovebox. It's meant to sidechain an incoming instrument, not more drums. I couldn't tell you why Roland made the decision, but that's my thought on it.

[@hardcore_mxthafxcka]

@@UnitE808 i think its weird AF. What about the internal kick and bass combinations? I still don't know what to buy. I was just checking out info about the korg volca sample and als the circuit rhythm looks tempting. I dont care about synth engines. Want to make mostly sample based music (full songs) in a fun and quick way, without a DAW.

[@UnitE808]

@@hardcore_mxthafxcka i don't think the 8s would be a good fit then

[@hardcore_mxthafxcka]

@@UnitE808 the synth sounds could be an fun extra feature. I love the faders on it. Its big, but thats good for live performance. It might be good for playing the track live and recording it. 'lil expensive though. I think imma get a circuit rhythm to start with.

[@UnitE808]

@@hardcore_mxthafxcka I use the synth sounds so that's why I use the ext in sidechain trick. It's really fun to play. It's not really made to make a complete song, just the rhythmic parts. My main combo is the 8S with the MC-101. The Circuit tracks is a good device. Not white as fun to play live, but has great features that might work for you.

[@Digiphex]

Does MC-707 have this?

[@UnitE808]

Not like this. You have to use motion recording or an lfo to simulate the sidechain function.

[@crazyFrankyy]

@@UnitE808 Hello! Can any option to use sidechain from kick TR-8s on only bass MC-707, i have this to device and the trick with input useful but it side chain all signal( I have MX-1, TR-8s and MC-707)

[@ramontemusic]

Why are you using only one cable from output TR-8S? This is a stereo drum machine with many FX, i thought you need two mono cables.. I have not yet connected my TR-8S to the computer and the audio interface, so I would like to know how to do it correctly...

[@UnitE808]

Drums should be recorded in mono. I don't need stereo for my drums fx. None of the fx on the machine are stereo fx. You are welcome to do stereo, it's just not my method.

[@ramontemusic]

@@UnitE808 Thank you for your advice! I'm a little confused what you mean about mono effects.. can I clarify this with you? now my TR-8S is not connected to the audio interface and I play separately with headphones! When I put Reverb and Delay on the clap or hihits, do I hear mono? I also have a bassline DB-01 synth connected by a trigger, when I put Reverb on the bass-synth, does it still remain in mono?

[@UnitE808]

@@ramontemusic mono is just playing the same audio in the left and right ear. Stereo is playing a different audio signal in each ear. The only reason you would want stereo mix out is for panning instruments in the stereo field. I don't pan my instruments in the machine.

[@ramontemusic]

@@UnitE808 I think I will also connect with one mono cable! because I will record in the Ableton and work with the recorded instruments! thanks for helping me figure this out! Did I understand correctly that I need one TRS-TRS cable?

[@UnitE808]

@@ramontemusic yes

[@lelandbobpalmer]

6.66 K subscribers! HAIL SATAN & thanks for the video ;)

[@UnitE808]

Lol! Didn't notice that.