Roland TR-8S with Apple Logic Pro X 10.4

Brief guide to setting up Logic Pro with the Roland TR-8S to record MIDI and individual audio channels over USB
00:00 Introduction
00:15 Driver details
01:20 Audio Midi Setup
06:50 Opening Logic
08:25 Midi clock settings
09:25 Recording midi pattern data
12:00 Creating audio channels
19:25 Testing
23:15 Tidying up
24:00 Extracting individual midi drum data

[@mintpillow]

This was absolutely brilliant - exactly what I needed, one of the best tutorials of this nature I've ever watched. Two places during this which tripped me up are below, but again BIG UPS to Stuart this improved my flow sooooooo much. Thank you!!! - Make sure on your TR-8S you have selected UTILITY > GENERAL > USB AUDIO > INDIVIDUAL - Make sure you have your newly created Aggregate Device selected as input/output for your Logic project - Also, fwiw I'm on Logic 10.5.1 and this all worked perfectly still

[@_Tricky_]

Oh man I wish I'd read this comment sooner. I was all over forums for weeks. Thanks!

[@kamull61]

Amazing work Stuart. Roland dropped the ball explaining this and you picked it up and stuck it in the back of the net.

[@fugamantew]

So thankful for this. Keep'em coming.

[@marianobbms]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH ! I've looking for this so long ! u make my DAY !!!

[@MrPhillee1982]

Thank you for your helpful video. I just ordered the TR8S. I really appreciate your help.

[@_Tricky_]

Amazing thank you! Also worth saying that on the Roland, you need to go to the utility menu and ensure that 'USB Audio' is set to 'Individual' (not 'assign'), which had me stumped for ages! It won't work without this being set BEFORE the steps in this video.

[@markfazzini7601]

That's a proper set-up video for this. I'll bet this has saved a lot of grief for a lot of logic users. Thanks.

[@michaelmccluskey7386]

Excellent. Great video. Separate by note pitch is a great feature I did not know about either. Thanks!

[@mattgoodwin2387]

Thank you!! You should invoice Roland for this - way better than anything they put out.

[@ther3volver]

Thanks, this was really helpful Stuart.

[@motiontracker5395]

Great video mate, very helpful and thank you for taking the time to do it. I can't help but think though, there has surely got to be a simpler way of doing it, although I sure can't think of any as I don't really understand midi etc etc. Anyway thanks again.

[@jorgegaliano8447]

Amazing, thanks! Roland should pay you for this tutorial.

[@nicolasroussel9344]

amazing bro thanks for being so clear

[@MarkVanVasey]

Great video. thank you for making it.

[@vladimirsorokin8563]

This is my first comment on youtube) I want to thank the author. Thank you very much, master

[@FvckTotvm]

BEST TUTORIAL EVER

[@compuphonic]

Thanks 🙏

[@toddthomas4761]

Thanks Stuart... this is way harder than it should be and one of the reasons I'm thinking of selling my machine! But this gives me slight pause... cheers...

[@compuphonic]

Thanks Todd. I agree, it should be a lot easier. I've owned an Elektron Analog Rytm for a bit and they've managed much better integration in this respect. It's certainly not perfect either, and it is twice the price of the TR-8S, but does demonstrate what's technically possible in terms of workable integration.

[@geedub1507]

Hi Stuart. Thanks for this, very helpful. I'm not sure what the purpose of the Logic I/O plugin is for this scenario. I thought the audio would just come in via the TR8s nominated inputs as per the Agg Device.

[@maximebouche410]

Hi, thanks for your help with this video! I have a question, how can i record the motion variations on the panning? Because every instruments are record in mono, when i change the panning in live it doesn't change ..

[@Marcandre44]

Merci beaucoup !!!!!!!

[@Paul-Carson]

Great video. got my tr8-s today. I have noticed the individual instrument outs when recording in apple logic are VERY low. Is there a way to boost them? Im having to go and add compressor to every channel in logic to get decent levels. Thanks for the video again.

[@doando5263]

Hi Stuart, this video is really helpful.I was able to get it to work and record the individual audio channels. However, the main instrument channel isn't recording to a midi event. have you had any issues with this?

[@trapptunezz4512]

At the end of your video when you separated it too the midi I’m new at making music so I don’t know what’s the kick clap ext. when it comes too renaming the midi how can I separate it too midi and still see the name like clap kick perc instead of seeing it all say the same name of the machine please help love your videos

[@rln7385]

What settings should be in tr-8s?

[@anynextdon4684]

Hi I just got the tr8s, is there any way to record individual outputs just in midi and not audio on logic pro x?

[@bpreflex]

Thanks for this video, Stuart. When recording the individual audio outputs, is there a switch in the signal flow to enable capturing FX which have been added to Logic's channel strips? I can hear the FX fine when monitoring the MIDI notes but on the playback channels I am only getting the dry audio recorded from the TR-8S. To be clear, I am not referring to FX generated by the TR-8S itself (which are only available on the stereo outs) but Audio FX and Aux returns added to the individual channels within the Logic DAW. Could you please advise on this?

[@melbellgrey]

Aloha, Thank you for this video, unfortunately I followed along but when I press record there is no data, I have gone back and forth trying to understand why this is happening but I cannot figure it out..any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have contacted Roland but they have not responded to my emails.

[@michaelrigg1804]

Greta video - Question, why are the audio recordings so faint? The actual audio data is tiny in your video and also when i record in logic.

[@conor909]

I cannot click "R" on multiple channels at once, its a toggle button that switches off any "R" on other channels. Also when I record, it stops the signal and no audio comes through the channel, recording silence. When unselecting 'R' then I see the audio coming through the limiter ??

[@Ataxia83]

Super helpful video my friend! Not sure if you have covered this detail but I would like to know how/if you can send out individual tracks to DAW 'WITH' the onboard effects on each channel? (ie delay/reverb) as i only seem to be getting the dry sends for individual tracks when using a USB to Logic. Also have a babyface pro fs as soundcard if there is any work around you might know! 🤔 Cheers

[@compuphonic]

Thanks. It's not possible to assign effects to individual outs. The effects only operate on the Stereo outs (and headphones).This limitation applies to the audio jacks and USB audio

[@seattlelisteningparty9938]

Hi Stuart, I've recorded tracks separately via usb before but for some reason it's not working for me now. I think I made some changes on the TR8S for some midi recording. Is there anything that I couldn't changed on the TR8S that would prevent USB recording from working? I have USB Audio set to INDIV and it is showing up on the computer and in Logic, I'm just not getting any sound or waveforms. Thank you for the video!

[@compuphonic]

If you've already set and saved INDIV it should be working. A few suggestions: Check that the TR-8S is showing correctly in the System Prefs control panel, and the sample rate matches the rate of your Logic session. Check it is appearing correctly in Audio Midi Setup - and not showing as ghosted. Try switching your core audio device to none or internal and switching back. Try a different USB cable. Try connecting USB directly avoiding any hubs. Close other apps that may be accessing the audio devices. Shutdown, switch everything off and try again!

[@Robert_Hellier_Official]

Thanks for the video - Been waiting for this for ages! Why did you create a track stack and then create a new audio track for each individual part - why not just keep them as recorded audio? Thanks

[@compuphonic]

The track stack itself is just to keep things tidy - the tracks within are for audio coming IN from the TR-8S. I could have recorded the audio and left it on these individual tracks, but would need to mute the TR-8S sending audio at the same time on playback. Quick way would be to just put the channel sliders down on the TR-8S, although sometimes I may be in the middle of something so don't want to change them. Because I've also got the option to record the midi data, I may want to edit that data and have the TR-8S send more audio to 'overdub additional tracks or performance/tweaks - so new audio coming in and the previously recorded playing back together Creating the additional audio tracks just gives a bit more flexibility on applying effects etc too that I might want on playback, but not recording. It also means I can mute those track stack inputs. This is a general get you up and running demo, so use the ideas to put together what works best for your workflow. I'm aiming to follow up soon with another demo of some other topics like patch and pattern changing, CC control etc

[@djmikejolly]

Hi Stuart, any chance of you updating this for 2022 please? I have just bought a TR8S and am trying to use it with an Apple M1 Silicon Mac and the latest version of Logic Pro X and having all sorts of timing, syncing and other issues such as the TR8s interfering with data sent to other hardware synths on independent midi channels! Ostensibly I just want to use the TR8S as a sound module and do the programming in Logic whilst recording the result from the TR8s out of it's main and sub outs through my UAD Apollo X6 interface back into Logic. Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

[@compuphonic]

Hi Mike, I'm a few versions behind on Logic at the moment and no plans to move to M1 for the time being, so can't offer any update or first hand experience currently. Are you running natively or under Rosetta? Is the TR-8S part of an Aggregate device with the UAD? Are you experiencing the issues using the same setup in the video?

[@Hugodolittle]

Hello i'm having an issue with recognising the driver to the TR8S like you say at 0:54 min.. Any tips?? Thank you!

[@compuphonic]

Which OS and which driver version do you have? Did you grant permission at the end of the driver install?

[@anthonyellis5517]

Thanks for sharing your tutorial! I have a question? How do you correct timing issues? With recording the audio from your tr8?

[@compuphonic]

Hi Anthony, I find Logic is 'reasonably' good at correcting the timing/latency issues using this method. Certainly a lot better than Ableton. It's possible to tweak the midi delay values in Logic Prefs to tighten things up a bit, or simply move the timing of the recorded audio afterwards. The approach depends on your workflow. Post some more info on how it impacts you and I'll try and offer some suggestions. Which version of Logic are you running?

[@anthonyellis5517]

Stuart Robertson thank you for your reply, my current set up is Logic Pro 10.4 and I use a m audio mix track 8

[@compuphonic]

@@anthonyellis5517 Ok, try the two suggestions I posted above. If you're a Facebook user and need to get a bit deeper into the details post in the TR-8S group and I'll see if I can help - I can't post screenshots here. facebook.com/groups/442726646143498/

[@6rava]

How do I install the Driver?? I've installed in based on the instructions of Roland's website etc. and double checked the version and everything, didn't have the TR8S plugged in while I did it, and yet it doesn't show up in my system preferences :/ Struggling

[@compuphonic]

Which OS version? On Mac, most likely is that the driver wasn't granted permissions in the security tab. There should be a pop up at the end of the install process. Also double check you're using the correct driver version for your OS. A reboot and reinstall usually is sufficient to force the security prompt to reappear.

[@jgbpkoolguys]

So you'll need an interface with a lot of inputs in order to record the individual tracks in Logic?

[@compuphonic]

Or use USB audio.

[@dr_eyebrow]

8:26 My laptop doesn't show the same screen, I get a list with 16 destinations set to off, each with a box that says 'clock', 'PDC', 'MTC' and 'MMC'. I can also change the delay for each destination. What do I do?

[@compuphonic]

The midi sync project settings page has recently changed. Think it was the 10.4.5 update that introduced the new layout you are seeing. Select the TR-8S as destination, and check the clock option. You probably need to enable Plugin Delay Compensation (PDC) too. I've not investigated this version yet with the TR-8S, but once I do I'll post a follow up video.

[@conor909]

Yes I have the same issue, I don't know what Im doing so I need to find a step by step video like this, but with the new screens. If you find one please let me know!

[@matthew5686]

@@conor909 any luck? cant set mine up :(

[@conor909]

@@matthew5686 Go to Preferences > Midi > Sync > then open "Midi Sync Project Settings" > You'll get a table of destinations, click the first line and select "TR8-S" instead of "off", and check the Clock checkbox

[@gstoelen]

Great video, but do you know how I can include an external effect (like an overdrive pedal) on just the bassdrum? Thx!

[@compuphonic]

Send the BD to one of the individual outs and connect this to the effect device.

[@gstoelen]

@@compuphonic I'm a bit of a beginner at using hardware in conjunction with a DAW :) But how does Logic pick up the effected audio from the BD? So the individual out from the BD goes into the IN from the stompbox, but where do you connect the OUT from the stompbox to? That goes into a separate port on the audio interface then?

[@compuphonic]

@@gstoelen yes, to an additional input on whatever you are using, audio interface/mixer etc. Alternatively you can try routing it back in via the Ext in on the TR-8S, but you may experience slight timing differences doing it this way

[@michaelmccluskey7386]

Hi - I've been trying to get this to work for the past couple hours and there are no other videos on this to piece the knowledge together. I successfully recorded the MIDI onto the first track. When I create the first audio track, there is no sound coming out. My audio input device is TR8-S and I have created 12 audio tracks. Each one has Input 3 and I/O plugin set to Input = 3. I have already set USB to INDIV using Utility. Is there any recommendation? Thank you!

[@michaelmccluskey7386]

Figured it out. USB drive needed to be changed.

[@MrKrif]

@@michaelmccluskey7386 Hi I've the same problem ! I followed all the steps but I don't have sound from the audio tracks creation.... Nothings comes but I've got the signal on my midi instrument. I checked my midi interface on my computer and it's the same of the video. Do you have an idea about my problem and How can I do ? Thank you

[@MrKrif]

I found the solution its was on my TR-8S. I changed the USB AUDIO INDIV ! But the quality is not good ..... I work on it

[@elans7695]

tried 4 times and its not working when I start to create the individual tracks... the main one it works in stereo in mt case 7+8 then I assign from 9... but no sound... idk what can be

[@compuphonic]

Check that you have General:USB Audio set to INDIV and not ASGN in the TR-8S Utility menu

[@Ovennc]

thank you for the video.it really clear to follow step by step. i did everything that you have been told from the video, and all good and work before 14:18 . when i add a new audio track and add an i/o in it, there are no sound and nothing coming out. can you tell what i have possibly go wrong?? please. i need your help. and sorry for my poor english too. im from HongKong, and i really need music right now.please send help.

[@compuphonic]

Check your Audio Midi setup as covered in the video at around the 2-3min, and remember your input channel numbers will be different from mine depending how many inputs you have in your aggregate device.

[@Ovennc]

@@compuphonic I already check.I put a zoom h6 (6 input interface) and the tr8s together. So my 1-6 channel is my zoom and 7-20 is my tr8s. But when I create single audio input 9-20 with I/O at the same input. It came out nothing. Is there anything I can do or something else I can set up maybe on the tr8s? Thanks for answering my question.

[@Ovennc]

@Stuart Robertson Yo man. I think i know what happen now. My tr8s need to set as USB AUDIO > INDIV at UTILITY thanks for following up, Cheers. Once again, thank you for making this video, its awesome.

[@philbasephunk]

Dear Stuart. Thanks for this video. Unfortunately it's not working with me. I done exactly as you said with the aggregate settings. All is good, i see out & in from my sound card (RME Fireface) and the TR8-S. First midi file with the midi signals from the TR 8-s is ok. But when i try to open the second audio input on Logic Pro, i only see the outputs from my sound card and not those from the TR 8 s... I started over many times ! (Sorry for my english, i'm French ! :) ) Thanks for your help

[@compuphonic]

Check that the TR-8S is recognised and active in the Audio Midi Settings, you may have to untick and re-tick the selector box if it isn't. Close and restart Logic after making any changes here. If it is showing as active in Audio Midi settings and Logic is not seeing the additional inputs, try switching your audio device settings in Logic to none, apply, then reselect your aggregate device and apply. Now check and see if Logic is correctly seeing your TR-8S inputs in the aggregate.

[@roberthanzl8294]

Hi! I had the same issue. I had to go to the Logic Audio Settings and set the Input device and Output device to the new aggregate device I set up in the Audio-Midi-Setup that I created earlier.

[@gardenroom2253]

Thank you so much for this Video!! It describes exactly the Solution for my Problem. I had no fucking idea how to handle it. Now ist works:-)

[@adoambros]

Hello , I was wondering why the Master Fx from the Tr8s does only play but not get recorded when i set all the individual outputs on logic x 10.5 . If I connect the drum machine to another audio interface instead I don't have found any problem with that, but I need to record all the instruments separately. Thanks in advance

[@compuphonic]

The master effects are output only on the stereo outputs. This is true if you use USB or individual audio outs. The signal flow diagram at the back of the manual helps to understand the input, output and fx routing

[@adoambros]

@@compuphonic Thank you very much for your time!

[@DanCThorpe]

I think I'm having an issue syncing. If I re-trigger the tr8s no sounds come out. If I turn sync off and just hit play sounds comes back. if I'm recording with sync on theres no issue. Any ideas anyone?

[@compuphonic]

Need to get a few more details from you, can you post in the FB group and I'll see if I can help?facebook.com/groups/442726646143498

[@DanCThorpe]

@@compuphonic yeah sure

[@samuelhanauer9887]

Heyy I have a problem. My Tr8s don't get listed in my preferences when I plug it in. Can someone help?

[@compuphonic]

Check the driver is correctly installed and you've granted it permissions in the security & privacy tab

[@samuelhanauer9887]

@@compuphonic Great. Now it worked! It was a genius video.

[@topofthemornintoya]

Does any one know if there is a way of using the clock in with the TR-8S and Logic but NOT recording the MIDI data? When I want to record to other MIDI channels it records the TR8S in every channel which is less than ideal

[@compuphonic]

Logic -> Preferences -> Midi -> Inputs, and uncheck the entry for TR-8S

[@topofthemornintoya]

@@compuphonic many thanks

[@topofthemornintoya]

@@compuphonic just out of interest, can you get it syncing with logic to the point where you can write music with out crazy latency? If I set a loop to work on, it just goes out of time each time the loop starts again. Not asking for a fix, just wondering if your computer allows you to fully integrate it with your workflow

[@bromtapes]

Hi ! I always have a off sync when recording, each step of the TR8s is slightly longer than steps in Logic. The result mean as the song goes on it goes more and more offbeat from logic grid... Can someone help you with this? It turns me crazy 😧

[@compuphonic]

Did you follow all the steps in my video? If the TR-8S is drifting that badly sounds like it is not receiving midi clock. Check Logic is sending midi clock on the correct midi port and the TR-8S is set to external sync rather than auto.

[@bromtapes]

@@compuphonic yes I'd did. I forgot to mention that I'm recording through a Mackie Onyx, could it be the variation source ? Thanks for your answering

[@compuphonic]

@@bromtapes I've never used an Onyx, but it's unlikely the audio recording device to causing the timing to drift this much. Difficult to do much troubleshooting on YT, if you are on FB ask in the TR-8S group and I'll see if I can help facebook.com/groups/442726646143498/

[@manosussa]

Any fix for the no AUDIO? Midi seems to be fine, also clock. I've done all the steps, but no audio coming via USB. Tried an immense number of possibilities from what I could find on internet and nothing until now? Anyone got it working and would share the fix?

[@compuphonic]

In the TR-8S Utility Menu, under General, do you have USB Audio set to INDIV ?

[@touronbrian180]

@@compuphonic you're amazing bro !

[@AC-vu5wm]

@@compuphonic I know i'm late to this party, but i've followed all the above and set USB audio to Indiv too but still can't get any audio coming through in the individual audio tracks. Is there any other thing that might be stopping this from working? Any help super appreciated!! Thanks

[@compuphonic]

@@AC-vu5wm is the driver installed and working - you should at least get the stereo output over USB? Does Logic see the individual outs as inputs? Which version of OSX?

[@AC-vu5wm]

@@compuphonic Heya - i'm on OS 10.15.7 - The audio midi setup display looks a bit different from the version in your video but i followed the same process. Re the driver - yes, the TR-8S displays in the drop down box on the pop up you access through Settings > TR-8S audio driver icon. When i go to the audio midi set up app to creat an aggregate device, my Edirol UA-25 audio interface has one checkbox for 2 inputs and another checkbox for 2 outputs. I order these first (inputs then outputs) and then select the TR-8S device which has 14 inputs and 8 outputs (select all using the one checkbox). Might it make any difference that i have the TR-8S USB cable plugged into a USB hub which is directly connected to my macbook? Thanks so much for your quick response and help!

[@_Stay_K]

The audio recording sounds out of sync with the click. Can you verify this?

[@compuphonic]

What timestamp? It could be as this is only demonstrating the process using the default timings. The screen recording adds some latency too.

[@_Stay_K]

never mind...

[@SPAZZOID100]

Ughhh....2022 and we are still dealing with DRIVERS?

[@briancoyne6700]

Stop smacking your lips!!!! Aaaaaah!

[@compuphonic]

Hi Brian. I wasn't aware of this until you mentioned it. Now I'm hyper vigilant of it and I seem to do it all the time. I've been recording some new material and hear myself doing it throughout, so feeling pretty self conscious about posting it.. Any tips on how to minimise this behaviour or techniques to make it less apparent in my videos? Thanks. Hope the material was useful otherwise.

[@formlessuk]

@@compuphonic you are very measured in your delivery and I would say that as a radio producer I was able to help presenters train out most of their audible ticks by slowing them down and encouraging them to add deliberate pauses. Usually things like ums and ahhs come from the brain trying to catch up with the mouth. Hope that helps. The video was brillliant!

[@compuphonic]

@@formlessuk thanks Dan, I appreciate the comment and positive feedback. I'll practice your suggestion for future videos, makes a lot of sense to me. Glad you enjoyed the video.