Roland TR-8s Tutorial: Making A Melody Using Motion Record

Brief video on how to make a melody or scale using one note and motion record. I apologize in advance for the experimenting with changing the ctrl knob parameter to see if I can use the knob for something else after using it for motion rec....it doesn't work.
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[@UnitE808]

I want to add that Motion Rec does NOT need to be on, and I recommend leaving it off, when doing step recording. The Coarse tuning on the CTRL knob is essential to maintaining accuracy when changing notes, the tune knob is better for fine tuning and live motion recording. Until I make a better video on this subject, feel free to ask any questions here.

[@bigdaddy4302]

when is a better video on this subject coming?

[@UnitE808]

Big Daddy what are you looking for? I made another one that explains a little better. It's really not a difficult thing to do, just takes a little forethought. Check this one out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a32yipyqftSWjrM

[@bigdaddy4302]

thanks

[@MCGarten]

Sir, i did not find the Video to change notes in length from 1/16 to 1/4 etc. with "sub" it "fame". Ps: one step is 1/16 right? Thank you very mich, sir.

[@pauwels_francois_djset]

I love you man! I learned more in a few minutes than in 4 hours with your videos!!!!! thank you from the heart !

[@robertescher3082]

Thank you so much for this video, you really did lay it out step by step in a way that even a novice such as myself could follow... I've made my first melodic drum pattern and I am just psyched... I fell like I've unlocked at least another 15% of what this amazing machine can do! Again, my heartfelt thanks!

[@UnitE808]

Psyched that you are psyched!

[@user-yv7li5bg4m]

Awesome, thank you so much for this. I spent about 3 hours trying to get a melody going across variations and thought it was impossible until I read this.

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

Thats SO awesome! WAY better than uploading different samples of the same sound. Thank you so much for all you do.

[@TAPE5IVE]

Best explanation i've seen so far. Thanks

[@marianobbms]

Thank you ! Unit:E for all the tutorials ! they are amazing !

[@blockr7119]

Explained so clearly, thanks buddy :) was trying for ages to do this, came across this video and BAM! :)

[@NightSpeed9]

I appreciate these uploads man! I have the tr8s and these vids help alot. Thanks

[@UnitE808]

Edward thanks! You keep watching them, I'll keep making them. Also, be sure to share with any of your friends or anyone you might think would benefit from these videos. Thanks again for watching.

[@mullen6134]

Great vids my dude! Hope to see some more posts soon 👌🏼

[@mewaone9674]

Simple and on point. Very helpfull. Thanks.

[@DeBanked]

subbed and ty for so many great TR8S video tutorials there are few out there and great to watch while i await this to ever come to stock!!

[@UnitE808]

Antonia Delgado Thank you for subscribing! I appreciate your watching and feedback. Any questions or requests for specific video on anything you see in my main picture, feel free to ask!

[@DeBanked]

no ty, have mine on back order for weeks so love the classic sounds this has but now with sampling playback...that is addition affordable perfect setup for my dawless jams

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Excellent! Thanks for making these videos. :)

[@worksafe3441]

Thanks for doing this! Can't wait to fool with it!

[@dennismossinkoff7993]

I do not have i yet but i know everything about the tr8s thanx Mr. E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@2787Marty]

This is great! Love it! Tr-8s does so much more than I expected. I looked in AIRA, where can I find simple tr-8s percussion for Happy Birthday and Jingle Bells? This will be so much fun to play at senior center when we finally open again.

[@herbertdoucet6183]

Dude you are freaking awesome thank you

[@DEEP_PRACTICE]

Great vid. Thank-you!

[@CaidicusProductions]

This was extremely helpful. I was trying to do this with the tune knob at the top, and not holding the step I was trying to affect, but doing it through live record. Needless to say, it didn't work at all. Thanks for making this video!

[@CaidicusProductions]

One question, if I set the control knob to coarse (for example), and adjust it, then change the knob to another control like delay or reverb, will it erase the changes I made while it was in coarse?

[@UnitE808]

@@CaidicusProductions no. Only motion record carries over if you change the ctrl parameter.

[@jensen6735]

I love all the Roland gear!!

[@quobou]

Jensemann maybe you are a snob

[@floridahiker1503]

@@quobou . Not cool.

[@djmumma]

Really useful, thank-you!

[@UnitE808]

I want to add that it is not necessary to turn on motion rec button. Holding the step and adjusting the tuning works as long as you are in TR-REC.

[@zazoomatt]

Invaluable......................... Applause..................Happy Halloween 2020

[@anthonylongo1465]

mind blown. thanks so much

[@stephenalcaide1778]

All hail the Monarch of the land of TR-8S! Thanks Unit:E !!!

[@shahriarshahabi9871]

Nicely exolained- tnx

[@georgegalamb7523]

Unit:E A great THANK YOU for another great tutorial! Roland should have made the instrument-tuning/pitch-function on the TR-8s much more simpler/easier/quicker by adding dedicated "pitch control” knobs/multi-turn-decoders (or even multipurpose knobs/decoders) above each of the 16-step-buttons, that way the TR-8s would function just like a decent step-sequencer, and you could hear it in realtime as you change the key/pitch of each particular “step” of your chosen instrument. One must hear the pitch-changes it in real-time in order to achieve the desired results.

[@UnitE808]

George Galamb you can do all of whatnot showed you while the pattern is playing. It can get a little trickier with recording movement.

[@JJCcubes42]

The most annoying thing about adjusting parameters by step is that the playback always goes with the MOST RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED value. I.e. if you set the pitch on the last note, and then it doesn't encounter another manually set step value until halfway through the 16 steps of playback, its still going to be at the last note's pitch, rather than just whatever value the control/tune knob is at (the base pitch value for the instrument). sometimes it can give you a cool effect when transitioning between variations, but as a rule of thumb, always remember to set your pitch on the FIRST STEP, even if you're just setting it to the value of what the control knob is already at, otherwise it will give it the value of the last modified pitch value it saw and can mess up your transitions

[@UnitE808]

If you set your pitch back to 0 after setting your last step value, it will play back at the normal pitch. It is staying there because that is where the knob is set. I usually stop playback after setting my steps, set the knob back to 0 then hit play.

[@JJCcubes42]

@@UnitE808 I don't quite understand what you're saying, can you clarify please?

[@UnitE808]

@@JJCcubes42 after you are finished setting the tune or coarse tune on your steps, turn the knob back to zero.

[@andykirby]

If you use the square trigger pad on the right can you preview the tuning as you motion record so you don’t have to write the numbers down? I could just pop to my studio and try it myself as my TR8S turned up yesterday😅

[@UnitE808]

andy kirby once rec is on, all motion is recorded. If you turn it off, you can preview.

[@UnitE808]

andy kirby you can preview it. Just don't turn on record and hit the pad. When you have the semitone you want, hold the step and turn the ctrl knob to that semitone. Let go of the step and move on to previewing the next note.

[@andykirby]

Unit:E cool Thanks, I’ll try it.

[@cresshead]

Q. how ,uch user sample time is in the unit? roland say 300 secs but does that include to onboard presets?

[@UnitE808]

cresshead that is user time, in mono at 44khz.

[@anbstudio4426]

Hey. Thanks for your videos, they help me a lot. How can I record the Patterns A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H in the lower left corner? I want them to run from A to H. That they run 16/32 bars, or shift them. whatever. 63/5000 63/5000

[@notlimited214]

I, am wondering what does it mean if the selected sample is scaled, and why was there no attempt to play the pattern chromatically on those buttons? I, realize what I am describing may not exist from a functional perspective with the current firmware, but I am also wanting to know and confirm can anything be played chromatically on those buttons?

[@UnitE808]

E Junior thanks for the question! You currently can't play the sequencer buttons like a keyboard. That would only be possible by assigning a different note to each instrument. I like your idea, though! It would be nice to see a 'keyboard mode' for playing bass and synth lines live or to quickly record. Perhaps a 'shift+inst play to activate and just select the instrument to play.

[@notlimited214]

Unit:E Really appreciate the prompt response! The essential idea or workflow I am seeking is something similar to the digitak/digitone workflow but with the Roland unit. Work arounds aside, do you even think that it's possible for this to be implemented in the Tr-8s? I, understand that it's not a sampler but to have the option to play the notes in real-time would make this unit better than just about anything. Especially, considering the level of control and sound quality given to the drum programming. I want the option to build a high quality track pre daw. If this unit could be used like a live daw, with the ability to program melodic content from the unit or with a midi keyboard, in addition to the default feature set...Then both the performer and studio musician have a real serious kit here! Not to mention these would stay sold out...I think everyone wants a pre daw composition tool that is not $1000 or more even if it's still tethered power wise.

[@UnitE808]

E Junior I can do a little research and let you know if it is even a possibility. I think it would be great to have and can't see why it couldn't be done with an update, but I'm not a developer....😀

[@MrPsykopatman]

Really nice videos ! I like the subliminal message @ 3.59 ... Firmware update !-)

[@UnitE808]

😉

[@MrMizzkitten]

Thank you

[@bigdaddy4302]

what if give it some reverb or delay first, and then do the coarse tune? im gona try later

[@UnitE808]

Big Daddy easy. Hold the instrument channel button and turn the reverb or delay to the desired amount. Then, coarse tune

[@UnitE808]

Big Daddy I try to make sure my videos are basic. The more in depth ones are coming. Just have a lot of gear to cover.

[@meldmagic]

🤠 It's real hard choosing a beat device. I mean how do you choose between MC-707, TR-8s, MV-1 & Digitakt? You could reason it like if you were a dj then go for the MC, a songwriter the MV-1, a band member the TR-8s & the Digitakt for a studio boffin but you'd still be suffering buyer anxiety.

[@UnitE808]

The 707 and MV-1 are a step above the 8S. The zen-core synth is amazing!

[@PitorioTorpini]

In my menue I can only find off, pan, reverb send, delay send and LFO. No course. Is there a misunderstanding?

[@UnitE808]

You are using an ACB tone and those can't coarse tune. If the instrument has only a P at the top left of the screen, it is an ACB tone.

[@monsieur420]

I don't think the rec button has to be on to capture the motion I tried it yesterday and as long as the motion is on it will play what you dialed for each step. please correct me if im wrong as the tr8s is so complex compared to the tr8

[@UnitE808]

monsieur420 you are correct. I mention that in a pinned comment. I failed to mention it in the video.

[@chriscabral4342]

Can you use headphones to hear separate tracks

[@UnitE808]

Chris Cabral no sir. Headphones only hear the mix out.

[@TommyLeeTones]

Hi, this problem you tell us in the video "or the experimenting with changing the ctrl knob parameter to see if I can use the knob for something else after using it for motion rec....it doesn't work" maybe Roland fix it in the next update? cheers

[@UnitE808]

Adding layers to each knob would be great.

[@user-ef4zt6no3h]

Thank you for the video. When I do this, say on step 1.2 and 9, and I put in the motion on step 9, alle the steps turn out as the motion on step 9. That is - it runs through the step correctly the first time, but the second time it goes throgh the pattern, al the selected steps sound the same. Do you know why?

[@UnitE808]

Yes. You never told it to go back to the original note on the first step. Remember, motion recording is setting a value at a point in the sequence. If you don’t ever tell it to change back or to a different value, it will hold onto that value Indefinitely.

[@user-ef4zt6no3h]

@@UnitE808 How do I tell it to go back on the first step?

[@UnitE808]

@@user-ef4zt6no3h each step needs to have a value set, not just 9. Say you want it to play C, E, G on steps 1, 2, and 9. You have to hold step 1 and turn the ctrl knob to 0. Then, hold step 2 and turn the ctrl knob to +4, then hold step 9 and turn knob to +7. If you are using multiple variations(A-H), these changes have to be made in each variation.

[@user-ef4zt6no3h]

@@UnitE808 Thank you, but tats actually not necessary.. In my example, I only wanted to change step 9. I dont have to change all of the steps - only 9 and 1. Step 2 will be as 1. This is great to know if you have many steps with few tone changes..

[@mik300z]

Hi and thankyou so much! This should allow me to do sequences i only dreamed of....except i don't get an option in the control settings for coarse tune..only reverb delay pan and instfx??? Frustrated, i must be doing something wrong. Old age maybe🤪

[@UnitE808]

You are probably using the ACB tones. Those are not samples, so they can't be coarse tuned. On the screen when selecting an instrument sound, if it has just a 'P' in the upper left, it is an ACB tone.

[@mik300z]

@@UnitE808 oh cheers for the swift reply, in the meantime i found that I was not holding the ctrl select before the selected track , so found course tune- But now, and i hate to be a pain- inst play will not allow me to play the solo track across the 16 pads, only each inst sounds back, the keys are all multi coloured- do i need 2.0 vers update?

[@UnitE808]

@@mik300z inst play is supposed to play each instrument per button. It does not allow for Chromatic playing of a sound. That is currently not possible on this machine.

[@brianwolle2509]

nice.

[@markuspoltner4665]

How delete the melody? Is it necessary to go step by step and turn it back to zero?

[@UnitE808]

Hold the Motion ON button and turn the ctrl knob to erase all motion from that knob

[@Delirium386]

...fine....thanks.....

[@petrusbarbatusberolinensis2102]

So, you cannot connect a keyboard to play the sample chromatically?

[@UnitE808]

No, not at the moment within the machine. A user has created a max 4 live device in Ableton that let's you do this when connecting the TR-8S to Ableton.

[@surf_machine]

hi, is there also a way to motion record the whole morphing of a sequence, not only for one note?

[@UnitE808]

What do you mean? All instruments? All the steps of one instrument? All the instrument knobs can be motion recorded, as well as the reverb and delay and master fx. Turn on the Rec of the motion recording and twist away.

[@surf_machine]

@@UnitE808 sorry i wasn't clear with my question, i meant all the steps of one instrument, but i guess u still managed to answer it :) so basically i just found out what's the rec button for right? sorry still a newbie ;) do you have a video what's the sub button for? and thanks for your answer :)

[@UnitE808]

@@surf_machine sub button is for substeps. I can give lessons, if you're interested.

[@matthewbaccari8256]

Can you do live recording with this thing? Play beats in real time? Can you play drums simultaneously?

[@UnitE808]

You can live sequence or play the instruments on the TR-8S. You cannot record into the TR-8S. Do you mean play a real drum set along with the TR-8S, or play the drum sounds on the TR-8S in a live environment?

[@matthewbaccari8256]

@@UnitE808 Hey, I meant can you play the drums in the TR-8s all together at once? can you sequence all together as well?

[@UnitE808]

@@matthewbaccari8256 yes, you can. In the Inst Rec mode, you can play out your beat on the pads and it records it all to the sequencer.

[@michaelolaleye5215]

The problem I am having for now, is that the Velocity-sensitive pad would have been more useful to get the kind of fast/multi-notes convoluted rhythmical beats I want to get out of an instrument, but when I use this, the playback doesn't get replicated as such, instead it plays back in single-notes non-fast-rhythmical pace, that is unintended. It appears that this problem I am experiencing is related to perhaps tempo setting issue?, or perhaps only achievable using sub steps and flams?. Any hints/tips appreciated.

[@UnitE808]

You are correct in that you cannot place more than one note or hit per step using the instrument pad. To achieve different rhythmic patterns and multiple hits per step, you will have to use sub steps and flams.

[@michaelolaleye5215]

@@UnitE808 Thanks for quick reply Brian...will have to experiment with this sub steps/flams settings used with the velocity instrument pad. Hope you are making good progress on the TR8S+RC500 video?

[@UnitE808]

@@michaelolaleye5215 I am not sure if you turn substep on and hit the inst pad, that it will place a substep. I have not tried that! That's my first thing when I get home! The video is coming along. I have the content together that I want to show, just need to nail the one-take recording. I have no software for post-production. I'm waiting for Roland to fly me to their Artist Relations Center so I can do some top quality videos 😉 .....I can wish....

[@michaelolaleye5215]

@@UnitE808 Please keep me posted of the outcome of your trials on the substep/insta pad combination.

[@UnitE808]

@@michaelolaleye5215 you got it!

[@cresshead]

can you hook up a keyboard for input to play in the tune?

[@UnitE808]

cresshead I dont think the ctrl knob can be controlled by a keyboard, and direct note input is not possible.

[@cresshead]

ok thanks...i guess the whole unit is on 1 midi channel unlike the korg electribe sampler (all 16 channels) .My yamaha RX5 (1987) has melody input you can customise the top 12 pads and tune up each of them or you can hook up a midi keyboard for input. Maybe roland might have an update to extend melody input one day?

[@UnitE808]

cresshead it would make sense that a sampler has multiple midi channels. This isn't a sampler. It does have multiple midi channels, just one at a time though. There is quite a bit you can do with this machine, it's pretty amazing. It's possible that a future update will allow for note input, but not through midi. That would mean the TR-8S would have to read key signature and analyze notes. It would have to be accomplished by knob control by a keyboard.

[@cresshead]

if the RX 5 fro 1987 can have note input via midi is don't see why a new drum machine can't if they want to update it with the RX5 you do the same course up down tuning of a pad or a selection of top pads it's 12x2 pad arrangement top 12 you can manually assign to 1 sample and tune each pad. some clever chap at roland might go and add in a more easy to use than a 1 knob twist it currently has. And YES i agree the tr8s appears to be pretty amazing..i'm watching a few vids on this and other options like the digitakt and korg electribe sampler..each have plusses and minuses...not a fan of korg/s midi adapter and not a fan of the lack of hihat/open close cut off on the digitakt and both are stuck to 4 bar patterns. not easy choosing a new drum machine!

[@UnitE808]

cresshead from what Roland told me, it is not going to be possible for note input, it is a hardware limitation. Maybe a MKII will have that. It can be possible for keyboard control of the coarse tuning. That is already a feature request on the boards and on the Facebook group.

[@richardwalley2862]

Where is a good place to get drum samples online? Free?

[@UnitE808]

Not sure about free ones. I really like Splice right now. For 8 bucks a month, you can get about 100 high quality samples each month.

[@UnitE808]

Watch this video here for a quicker description... kzbin.info/www/bejne/a32yipyqftSWjrM

[@UnitE808]

Check out this video of my WIP. It features this technique on the track! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3bZaoN7jraBjs0

[@beatmeister16]

it looks great and all . . but .. compare this to a DAW like logic pro, reason or FL . i mean .. why would u use this .. it is so slow .. lol .. like going back 30 years in tech .

[@MONTES262011]

Just play don’t tock My god !!!!!!

[@UnitE808]

It's a tutorial, not a performance. Talking is important for tutorials. You want performance videos, check out the kit challenges I have posted or many other user videos.

[@apersonontheinternet8034]

That is the most overly complicated and convoluted way to do stuff. Why do Roland always fail at User Interfaces? * *Laughs in Elektron* *

[@UnitE808]

It's a drum machine, not a synth. This isn't their intent with this machine, so I figure that is why it is done this way. It's really not complicated at all. Thanks for watching and the positive comment!

[@apersonontheinternet8034]

@@UnitE808 not complicated at all?! 🤣 It sound good but it is the most unintuitive, complicated device currently available. It makes the Octatrack feel obvious and simple.

[@UnitE808]

@A Person On The Internet I think they are just 2 different methods of sequencing. I have a harder time working on elektron gear than Roland gear. It's just different. No need to clown a company. Have a great day!