Sonic LAB: Roland Tr-08 Boutique Drum Machine

Another Roland reboot of the classic 808 drum machine, this time in Boutique format - its a pretty authentic recreation of the classic, with some nice modern features - multi-channel USB audio for one. Gaz Williams, takes a trip down memory lane.
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[@machiwoomiapoo]

Excellent video Gaz! I always enjoy your personality. :) I bought the TR-08 when it came out and the TR-808 last year. I did a comparison video of the two and I feel this new version is pretty close to the original. And after working with the TR-808 for the last year I really love the new functions they offered on it. Thanks for making this wonderful video. I love the Roland Boutique line. After carrying around the originals for the last year it sure makes it more convenient to move around. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@SynthgodXXX]

Still planning on getting this! It will fit good in a mix & my budget! Thank you for this video!!

[@Zeal808]

Just bought mine today, fun to have a stand alone drum machine

[@mCKENIC]

Thanks Gaz and SonicState! Pretty much decided I wanted one soon as they were teased - your review has only cemented that idea:-)

[@alanchan6275]

Thanks , Gaz! What a nice review! I just got mine a week ago for about HK$2,000 on sale which was great. I also owned a TR505 which was a nice machine too but I’ve found theTR08 to be having a lotta fun to work with.

[@EnochDark]

Got mine recently. Thought the small knobs and buttons would be a problem with my large f'd up handz but so far I am too busy having fun twerkin' da knerbz to notice any such problem. The unit while small, seems quite tight/solid/not cheap. Even the tiny button things seem better than larger ones on another "groove box" I've got. And it's solid metal case is a nice thing to feel in the winter. Convenient adjustable angle stand thing is a nice touch and comes in handy. Most importantly it sounds plenty "phat" for real! I can understand how this may not be for "most" musicians but it works well for me... a DAW-less "producer" who loves little hardware gadgets and lots of fun effects.

[@Pulsonar]

This is a very good product review, good intro of nearly all features and a run through of what is plugged in and not (reviewers are often crap at explaining the ports) a good practical demo of this calibre is just what I need to crack on and learn how to program my new TR-08.

[@Xmaster1990]

Thank you so much for the Video. Bought a tr-08 the other Day but totally did not got into it.had no idea how to program.with your vid i finally got into it and can use it now.

[@brmh1667]

Very informative without being too OTT on tech details. Thanks.

[@brocktunes]

apologies if someone already asked this/got it answered, but what other drum machine/software combo allows you to record and split all the parts into separate tracks all at once like what he does at 15 minutes in??

[@oscillationcommunications709]

Having Gaz and Nick represent Sonicstate is one of the absolute benefits of the core. Both have deep passions for their demos,and it shows. What a great team.⚡️ I’m not sure if they’ve worked together on music and live shows,but I bet that combo would rock.⚡️

[@MrBasic]

Nice. Good to show it does have separate outs into DAWs. Also good you mentioned the TR-8 for everyone who prefers the practical. The 08 is all about the look and history.

[@AdamsAbstract]

Amazing choice of t-shirt there Gaz

[@brandonbanks32278]

THAT DEFINING MOMENT THOUGH @18:40 GAZ... YOU TOUCH MY SOUL WITH SUCH EXPRESSION OF LOGICAL CURIOUSITY!

[@lesperluettedupigeonnier3120]

le tshirt du groupe français MAGMA

[@Claidheambmor]

Indeed - I adore Magma. :)

[@NicenEasyuk]

Love it Gaz! Real blue peter vibe to this sonic LAB (in a great way!) Merry Christmas all!

[@InflatablePlane]

Now I wanna see a Boutique reissue of the LinnDrum so I won’t pay out the nose for a vintage one!

[@redjack123]

Me and you are on the same page

[@JesseJuup]

Thanks Gaz! Great review!

[@salvadoreec]

Excellent demo! Thanks!

[@johnk6312]

Very helpful tips here,eg i couldn't figure out the copying of patterns so I'll try reversing it like this guy.

[@tctheripper]

Thanks for this, super informative.

[@PolskiAmbient]

thank you, I've enjoyed watching you. now need to buy it ;]

[@mrbreaker101]

A lot of the potential customers for the TR-08 are people who have collected a good few of the other Boutiques and simply can't resist the nostalgic appearance.

[@TheDazlermac]

Great review again Gaz

[@kbdkbd99]

Entertaining review thankyou Gaz.

[@v10monster]

Hell yeah! Nice Magma shirt!

[@VR360TV]

Great video, thanks Gaz : )

[@severeflows]

Can you play bass drum chromatically with a midi keyboard?

[@Th3LordZalor]

Channels over usb is a cool little feature, hope to see that more in the future.

[@acidtrip3309]

This guy is Freakin AWESOME

[@markhall3323]

Gaz was only 46 when the original 808 came out

[@Tinyvince1971]

i feel your enthusiasm gaz...same like mine. Best machine from roland.

[@terrybeach3269]

I own various drum machines including the Roland Tr-08, and found a 808 menu on one of my old drum machines, a Dr-5 I had from the maybe mid 90's and the sound on that sounds remarkably like my Tr-08 in quality...

[@philipgilligan_art]

Hey hi, how do i set up cubase 11 pro on a mac so that I can record and hear plus see the multiple tracks via usb out of this please???? Big ask but I cannot find an answer on internet

[@pontram]

Very good review, as a previous owner of an original 808 I was especially interested in the emulation of its workflow. The substep feature in particular is very promising as an enhancement, because for something like that you had to recreate your pattern then. However, I don't remember if the 808 forced you to have the same step number for A/B, which the TR-08 does (I just read that in the Tr-08-manual, but couldn't figure it out in the 808 manual).

[@ubahnrider1337]

9:35 the way you said that made me miss my british friends straight away :D great review!

[@ohstirfry]

The tb-03 comes with the dock in silver. So I’m a bit ticked off that the rest don’t come in the dock

[@FreonTheFrozen]

Great presentation Gaz.

[@steve-on7kl]

How does something like this compare to an equivalent VST? Is there a noticeable audible difference?

[@basehead617]

The knobs on the TR-808 instrument channels are even smaller than on the boutique

[@EnochDark]

THANK YOU. Finally someone points this out! Yeah the original 808 knobs are TINY! So what people are really bitching about is the lack of space between them. Which I was concerned about personally until I got one and honestly have less trouble with than the realestate on Volca series.

[@sullycliftona]

Gaz my tr o6 won’t re set ,, plus. What’s next. Korg u no the one about 140 quid /with the sequencer , or behringer 303 replica ,, and I don’t use computers ,. Any tips on mixers ,,.cheers from briz

[@gnuter3000]

Karl Marx

[@BaymondRell]

Or Charles Manson looking rascal (Sorry Gaz ur still cool man)

[@JohnLaVine333]

How dare you!? :P

[@theecatindahat]

Billy Connolly

[@unapprovedtruth7116]

Don't compare Sonic Lab to that Commie shit stein

[@fracmental5166]

Arthur Baker

[@theoneselve]

does anyone knows music using drum machine like the video? im really gettin into it now

[@offworldnetwork]

At 3 minutes you mention the optional dock. My TR-08 came with the 2 angle tilt function at no extra cost !? I assumed this was standard. Are you sure its an optional extra ? Nice in depth review i learned a couple of things here today.

[@PorchBass]

Mine came with the dock attached straight out of the box... I think it's standard too.

[@wariusgaius]

There is a dock, with mini keys which fits all the boutiques. It is a different product from the tilt thingy.

[@Wagoo]

yeah the tilt dock comes as standard on these.. you can tell which ones have the "free" (although I'm sure it puts the price up) dock by comparing the width in the specs to something like the JP-08, they list as slightly wider because of the dock

[@Spydamonkee]

Sounds like AIRA engine in new small case with retro original 808 touch.

[@projectz975]

anyone know if the trig out can be used as a gate signal for Microbrute?

[@pekkagronfors7304]

Great review.

[@irasciblefox]

Hello folks! I have really appreciated Sir Williams's examination on Tr-O8, I appreciating his accent very much, so i should ask you if there are any suggestion about A-O1 by Roland. I would like to know more of that machine before to buy and use it. Greatings from Pescara!

[@pozsoz]

For a similar prize you can get the MFB Tanzmaus or the Tanzbar Lite which are analog (for the purists) and also have parameter locks and much more modulation probabilities, also separate outputs for when wanted or necessary. This one for me seems more like a really fun drum machine but not a serious one when compared to the other options in the market. I would still buy one just for the fun and looks of it.

[@ryanswinney395]

Crazy, watching this at 8:08am

[@alanladdseinekatze859]

Nice of you pointing towards the signature misusage of the bd now being an actual feature of it being allowed to feature an extense decay. But lacking the ability of programming basslines internally due to not being able to tune the bd, is it possible to do so on an external hardware sequencer? This unanswered quest is the only unsolved mystery keeping me from getting a hold of this. I want this as a bassline badly, just as, in contrary, I would not want my 303 as a bassline at all...

[@apislapis]

I was unable to afford an 808 in the 80s but was fortunate to purchase a second-hand 606, the poorman's 808, to go with my second-hand 101 and 202. From owning the 606, I recognise many of the features and the methodology for programming a Roland drum machine. Point 1. I love the nostalgia of programming drums in this way and it would perhaps, offer younger fans of electronic gear a different modus operandi for producing electronic music, which cannot be at all bad. 2. Many of the reviews of using the 808 by 808 owners comment on the fact that no two 808s sound the same due to the analogue technology available at the time. So it may be worth younger electronic enthusiasts noting that point when electronic 'officiandos' or mates become @rsy. Great review Gaz and well thought out as always.

[@futurfry]

Where can I get that amazing magma t???

[@RaquelFoster]

4:57 Gaz == only guy doing a TR-08 review who knows how to pronounce clave!

[@kellymerrill5294]

Roland got it right! Good review.

[@NathanHassall]

roland got it wrong. Behringer got it right.

[@nano-onemusic4119]

Best Overview so far thanks 😀

[@42tehfloor]

If it acts as a decent controller for the cloud TR-808 vst then it might be worth getting

[@td4yd154]

So you can’t step edit (rearrange) the sounds on the laptop?

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Which Unit is Better? this one vs. The Behringer RD-8 - they both Sound so Authentic.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Have looked at all the current drum machines and decided on the Elektron Digitakt. By far the most value box of the moment. No dubt the TR-08 is fun and sounds good but eventually you want more functionality and sounds. Agree with Gaz it is expensive.

[@davidw9736]

the Digitone is also a cool drum machine, though not cheap.

[@D.Z.A.-kp8lf]

Elektron is kicking everybody's ass

[@volt7cooltangs701]

Is the 3.5mm audio output on the TR-08 Stereo or just summed mono?

[@Smooinator]

Stereo mix is what windows calls an aggregate device (I'm guessing, never used a mac), it's just an option on the recording devices

[@richardscriven3750]

Can you use this with the roland tb-3?

[@Decoy303]

Sure. Midi out.

[@wannes788]

Gotsta love that Magma shirt

[@UnitedPebbles]

Sounded like the synth on those daw disc?

[@lucio788]

is that boom sounding realistic like a real 808 boom?

[@avalaonadulwulf8486]

You cant do the individual out on a PC...Well you can but you will end up scrapping it as its a total pita. If you have more than one you can only do one. And when yo udo that it has to be your interface. Hardly anyone will do that. The other issue is when the USB is pluggued in to your computer there is noise/hum. Its from the USB connection. So, the only way to get rid of that is to plug in to a USB power socket on the wall but then you lose the USB connectivity. I have the TR-09 one which is great. Shame about the USB/power/noise stuff though.

[@drstupid1]

Avalaon Adulwulf use ASIO4ALL (It's free) and get usb cables with ferrite lugs to kill the hum and/or unplug you laptops power supply when recording

[@klaasj7808]

strange, no issues with a edirol fa-66. oh wait thats firewire hahahahaha, fuck USB. Best ever, made in Japan.!!!!!!!!!!

[@sergedrely2635]

Very cool T shirt of Magma : the fantastic french progressive rock band with the fabulous drummer Christian Vander . Seventies was really an awesome period for music !

[@twzstudio139]

I love Gaz William's enthusiasm, and it helps peak my interest in things, such as the boutique line, which generally do not appeal to me. The USB audio feature is quite nice, and would be a great asset for any drum machine. Nicely done, and entertaining as well.

[@jobananas3052]

Gaz should do a trap album

[@achtertijdtm786]

WARNING FOR PC USERS!! doing the audio over USB thing is quite limited on windows. It only works if you use the TR-08 as your only soundcard, but what Gaz is referring to, using it as an aggregate device alongside your soundcard is very unstable in windows. You have to use ASIO4ALL and I did not get this to work cleanly. I am now a quite bit dissapointed with my tr-08 ... Wish sonicstate would have pointed this out. That would have made me reconsider my purchase ...

[@LinaaaOfficial]

Biggest thing I miss on it are separate analog outs, audio over USB is fine if you just use one boutique but if you have more.. nope. It's a pain on PC, dunno about mac. Other than that it's really great.

[@SPAZZOID100]

LinaaaOfficial audio over USB will work for about 5 years tops.

[@LinaaaOfficial]

I have a bad feeling about that too.

[@alejandravioleta5794]

Why?

[@EnochDark]

lack of driver updates/support? I've had it happen to other gear.

[@onkelberra3166]

I am still bummed they didn't include audio out for each channel. Sure via usb-midi... But then I get groundloop noice :(. Guess I'll wait for the behringer rd808

[@Bansenshukai9]

Love the MAGMA T-Shirt!!! - Good Man!!!

[@AndrewThacker]

I'm trying to trigger the D05 in the same way you triggered the TR08 at 4:32 with a Roland A800Pro in Reaper. I can't seem to figure it out. Can you point me in the right direction?

[@Decoy303]

The trigger out needs to go into a CV in or I believe a sync in.

[@AndrewThacker]

@@Decoy303 a friend of mine helped me out with this a while back but I appreciate that you'd reply to such an old comment asking help!

[@Decoy303]

@@AndrewThacker no problem @ all.

[@cresshead]

looking forward to namm 2018...what next? Tr-8 II? updated tr - 8 maybe?..more patterns ir diff color scheme love to see a W30 boutique

[@mkultraproductions1549]

cresshead less boutique toys would be nice. Maybe Roland should look to Korg for some inspiration?

[@cresshead]

like the volca toys? ha ha ha!.....choose a better inspiration!..latest korg thing is a £2000 arranger.... just saying! roland boutiques are selling really well...they 'work' as a great revenue income for roland. to me fair i'd sooner go get a TR - 8 than the boutique tr-08

[@mkultraproductions1549]

cresshead volcas are at least reasonablely priced as well as analog. Let's compare monologue vs sh-01 at the same price points...

[@cresshead]

i have 3 volcas (bass, synth, beats) i have the system 1 with sh101, sh2 i have 2 boutiques - jp-08 and jx-03 the jx-03 runs rings around any of my volcas the sh-2 in the system 1 is pure amaze balls...i have no desire for a monologue myself just now myself but it looks okay.

[@mkultraproductions1549]

Would love to see some videos if you have a minute!

[@bryanscarboddi1210]

This gem🤖🥁🤖 will only go up in price 🤑

[@gustavoelizondo2498]

Cool Magma shirt!

[@LudovicCoullet]

Magma thsirt !!!

[@e.tienne6600]

Ludovic Coullet just under THAT beard, it rocks !

[@marketingdisaster]

Funny coincidence, I just introduced my son to Magma this morning!

[@morismateljan6458]

T-shirt is da hundin

[@Ledvolta]

The prog rock band, right? 🙂

[@Claidheambmor]

Udu wudu udu wudu udu wudu..

[@Danielsfield]

Thanks

[@MarctheDarc]

First a shout-out to all: Even if you're not gonna watch the whole thing, jump to 20:00 !!! Great review, Gaz' enthusiasm is quite contagious, but I've noticed several reviewers are starting to hit the nail on the head regarding the boutique series. Between the missing PSU and some weaknesses in the connectivity, they just seem a little too expensive. It's not actually about them being digital or any of that. And gotta say; that bottom end, especially on the closing jam.

[@wariusgaius]

The TR-8 emulates the 606/707/727/808/909 for just a little bit more. It surprises me there actually is a market for the TR-08.

[@noname52768]

People want the og interface.

[@dimllc]

At 14:54 Gaz made a new intro for all Sonic State videos in 2018.

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

"...and when I get that fee-lin', I wån't...808 hea-lin'"

[@KozmykJ]

Analogue chic Huh? Can't deny the accessibility of a stand alone machine vs a 'puter window. Funnily enough I dug my old Alesis SR-16 out the other day. I think I might still have an old 606 around here somewhere. I certainly still have an SH-101 and a Kenton MIDI Converter which I used to run with it. >Koz disappears for days to return, covered with cobwebs and dust, clutching curious ancient device.... Nice review Gaz

[@laurencevanhelsuwe3052]

Gaz, that weird approach to copying a pattern, where you specify destination first, and then source, is the same as what all Intel processors use. In their machine code, copying instructions (called "move" instructions) specify destination first, then source. Other processors of the late 70s, early 80s, such as the Motorola ones, did copying the way you'd expect: from source to destination. So had Roland used Motorola chips, maybe the drum machine copying workflow would have been more intuitive?

[@el_dani]

oh, we got a Zeuhl lover here :D

[@potensia_music]

Nice Shirt Brother - Magma Forever

[@unready56]

Got the USB 12-channel output working flawlessly in Win10 and Cubase by using ASIO4ALL.

[@lars-fenin]

cool design.... but im looking more forward to the behringer clones (09/08)

[@hermansimms8410]

Me too.why couldn't Roland just re make the 808 with midi ect added but instead they bought this low rent peice if crap out what is it so small

[@CDA43]

Im looking at those. I really would have to hang my head in shame if I put behringer anything in my studio, but I just dont like the size of these. I'd pay double or more if it was 1:1. I dick around on old Boss drum machines from roland in the 80s and some of them are so small. Don't get me wrong, I like playing gameboy also.

[@CDA43]

@@hermansimms8410 exactly

[@ChrisPBacon3000]

Too bad that Behringer's useless version can't sync.

[@CDA43]

@@ChrisPBacon3000 Too bad this worthless POS is the size of a polly pocket and its digital lol

[@Nammedit]

Hey great review, I'm thinking of buying one of these! Is there any way of making patterns that are for instance 6 or 7 steps?

[@Zeal808]

Yes...annd if you trigger the sounds from an external sequencer (like the digitakt) you can make the individual sounds as many steps as you like

[@seemo1547]

Veeery cool Magma shirt, Gaz. 😍👍

[@silverqumera]

Magma Shirt!

[@braincoral9866]

I just switch audio device in the middle of a session, Gaz..just to record my TR-8..then I switch back to my sound card..works a treat

[@Metahedron]

MAGMA!!!

[@Digiphex]

This is good to allow children to experience the great Roland of the past whose passionate lovers of circuitry are apparently gone.

[@MrAxtradamus]

Damn Magma shirt. Nice one

[@Jdinrbfidndifofkdndjoflfndjdk]

Tr 8 > Tr 08. Both are sampled no analog but the Tr 8 has assign output. I would use this for recording though since I think it's more 808-y.

[@Unifono2012]

they are not sampled

[@Jdinrbfidndifofkdndjoflfndjdk]

Unifono2012 tell me then how ACB works. Not being defensive. Genuinely curious on how it works without being "sampled"

[@Unifono2012]

www.roland.co.uk/blog/what-is-acb/

[@Jdinrbfidndifofkdndjoflfndjdk]

Unifono2012 I read that. It doesn't explains how it works or what it really is. Have you noticed that they keep it very general? They use the term emulate. I'm fairly sure that tr8 osc's are digital which in fact is a sample

[@Unifono2012]

No it's not a sample. It's DSP based, digital synthesis. VA, virtual analog modeling, like a Virus or a nordlead basically. Samples would be recordings of an exisiting sound. Here the sounds are digitally generated. But not analog as the original 808 sounds.

[@Hexspa]

amaze

[@pete19ify]

it's the same thing & somebody need boutique of the sp 1200 or asr-x

[@thereals496]

Yessir indeed. Good comment

[@jumpingeezus5080]

Brokeman music ASR-X? Nice.