Sonic LAB: Roland Tr-08 Boutique Drum Machine

[@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!

[@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.

[@Zeal808]

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

[@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.

[@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.⚡️

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@lesperluettedupigeonnier3120]

le tshirt du groupe français MAGMA

[@Claidheambmor]

Indeed - I adore Magma. :)

[@brmh1667]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@AdamsAbstract]

Amazing choice of t-shirt there Gaz

[@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.

[@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

[@FracmentalMusic]

Arthur Baker

[@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 ...

[@markhall3323]

Gaz was only 46 when the original 808 came out

[@jobananas3052]

Gaz should do a trap album

[@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.

[@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.

[@kellymerrill5294]

Roland got it right! Good review.

[@NathanHassall]

roland got it wrong. Behringer got it right.

[@satyanpatel6403]

Gaz, as always excellent video. I bought the Roland TR-08 AIRA version when it came out and still haven't stopped tinkering with it. for a few more dollars the AIRA edition is well worth it. Especially for triggering your own samples via MIDI (if you have a sampler laying around) with the new firmware update. This boutique edition is just that. A boutique item. It's for those who are limited on space and have always wanted a piece of Roland history without the fuss, mess of trying to acquire the original. My TR-08 Aira edition can't quite sit in my lap while on the couch plus I am then tethered by the AC adapter, but this boutique edition one can add batteries and case and easily enjoy life on a commute on the bus or train / tube / subway. I know I would have easily picked it up if I didn't have to drive. Great review again as always, Gaz.

[@doctorwize]

Really like your Magma tee shirt. One of my favorite bands. I worked with Georgio, their producer, many years ago.

[@LudovicCoullet]

Magma thsirt !!!

[@e.tienne6600]

Ludovic Coullet just under THAT beard, it rocks !

[@djindustrialcomplex]

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..

[@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.

[@ryanswinney395]

Crazy, watching this at 8:08am

[@mCKENIC]

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

[@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.

[@Dogboy73]

Maybe if Roland had done this 10-20 years ago, if I didn’t already have these sounds in a multitude of ways already, if it had some more interesting additions than what it has, if it didn’t have the archaic and masochistic step programming of the original, if it was cheaper, if it wasn’t quite so small and fiddly, if, if, if. Roland are incredible and doing things all wrong. Should have been listening to what people were screaming for the last quarter of a century. When the screams largely stopped then Roland decided to do something!! I was very interested in the 808 in the 90’s. Fast forward to 2016 and this feels like some sort of miss timed joke.

[@supersquare]

Even though I'm buying one, I thoroughly agree.

[@EnochDark]

Yet I still see myself spending more time with it than my DR-202...

[@EnochDark]

Still not sure what's so "fiddly" about it. I was a big fan of "realtime" recording 20 years ago which is why I went with their non-groovebox drum machines ala "Dr. Rhythm." (First with the DR-5) If only I'd had a better grasp as to what the appeal of a "groovebox" was back then... I bought and (regretfully) traded my Korg Electribes ES-1 and EM-1 shortly afterward for a DR-670! Unfortunately, back then the internet wasn't what it is today and the ability to watch countless demos, tutorials, etc. just wasn't there...

[@jonnie2bad]

i miss my es-1 so bad

[@Hexspa]

20 years ago? What you're seeing wasn't thinkable in 1997. Even 2007 pushes it.

[@acidtrip3309]

This guy is Freakin AWESOME

[@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 !

[@Digiphex]

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

[@VR360TV]

Great video, thanks Gaz : )

[@v10monster]

Hell yeah! Nice Magma shirt!

[@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...

[@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

[@ChrisP3000x]

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

[@CDA43]

@@ChrisP3000x Too bad this worthless POS is the size of a polly pocket and its digital lol

[@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.

[@Tinyvince1971]

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

[@Th3LordZalor]

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

[@Spydamonkee]

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

[@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

[@nano-onemusic4119]

Best Overview so far thanks 😀

[@brandonbanks32278]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@_o__o_]

Santa still here

[@severeflows]

Can you play bass drum chromatically with a midi keyboard?

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

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

[@johnk6312]

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

[@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.

[@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??

[@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

[@NicenEasyuk]

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

[@DaveMcGarry]

As the Beastie Boys noted "Nothing sounds quite like an 8 0 8"

[@BendApparatus]

There's a reason for that...and it can never be replicated...we need to move on... because eventually...all the existing 808's will break...

[@10akee]

This is a digital circuitry. I want the analog circuits with the opamps, resistors, and capacitors used to generated the tones.

[@triumphadelic]

Buy a TR808 then....here ebay....

[@potensia_music]

Nice Shirt Brother - Magma Forever

[@RaquelFoster]

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

[@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.!!!!!!!!!!

[@el_dani]

oh, we got a Zeuhl lover here :D

[@silverqumera]

Magma Shirt!

[@drfangaz-pronouncedlikefan4019]

Got that Rick Rubin look going.

[@gustavoelizondo2498]

Cool Magma shirt!

[@dionysiaex5538]

This drum machine is 37 years out of date. In ALL THAT TIME could Roland not have invented something better?

[@disarmsox]

Herr Absurd people want retro.

[@triumphadelic]

yes... youd think all these companies like Ludwig, Fender & Gibson , Moog & Roland & Korg would invent something better than their CLASSIC legacy creations.....

[@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

[@ubahnrider1337]

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

[@dimllc]

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

[@Cylume.]

Pound the side of it with a hammer to get that REAL analog "boom" sound. 'just like a real drum. 'so life-like.

[@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

[@steve-on7kl]

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

[@salvadoreec]

Excellent demo! Thanks!

[@PolskiAmbient]

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

[@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

[@seemo1547]

Veeery cool Magma shirt, Gaz. 😍👍

[@TheDazlermac]

Great review again Gaz

[@wannes788]

Gotsta love that Magma shirt

[@FreonTheFrozen]

Great presentation Gaz.

[@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).

[@JesseJuup]

Thanks Gaz! Great review!

[@Bansenshukai9]

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

[@volt7cooltangs701]

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

[@vinyljunkie07]

No individual analogue audio outputs other than a stereo mix for a box aimed at live performance.. Ok

[@SPAZZOID100]

vinyljunkie07 that is the deal breaker. Sonically, they nailed it.

[@my4trackmachine]

Good to see you around the comments section! Its been a few years since I visited your channel but glad to see you still at it. Inspiring stuff. As for the tr-08, I totally hear you. Generally I work half in box and half out so I think this would work ok for my workflow but can see the frustration with a more live studio hardware focused musician like your self. I personally think that while not super friendly it could be ok for live stage use for portability sake. It's a matter of getting used to those tiny volume knobs for bringing sounds in and out or using a computer with controller as a live mixer for each individual digital track. In theory it is kinda similar to the workflow of the Elektron machines with their Overbridge products. I personally enjoy that way of working but it definitely isn't for everybody.

[@atommachine]

You Know that V J, tr 8 is better value but them lights feeewwffftttt 0-0

[@EnochDark]

works fine for my live perfomance as I'm using a DJ mixer...

[@AFinalForm]

It's just not really a live instrument, it's a compact, retro, desktop instrument. The TR-8, on the other hand, absolutely is a live instrument, it's the right size, has assignable outs, faders, etc. Unfortunately it's also green.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

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

[@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!

[@HazeAnderson]

I see these drum machines as drum sets that have certain qualities and limitations. I prefer to have dedicated machines that are predictable when I add them to my jam at hand. I find the workflows are more conducive FOR ME than using one uber menu-diving "do-it-all oh but not that" single unit box (that is essentially a DAW).

[@futurfry]

Where can I get that amazing magma t???

[@richardscriven3750]

Can you use this with the roland tb-3?

[@Decoy303]

Sure. Midi out.

[@johngulliver9139]

My Mrs said “nothing in the TR-08 that I couldn’t create with kitchen utensils”.

[@lucio788]

is that boom sounding realistic like a real 808 boom?

[@adamchisum2150]

1% the sound of the drum machine. 99% the sound of the guy’s voice

[@trumjohannsmancave]

Forget about the machine... Hail MAGMA!!😍🎶🤘

[@td4yd154]

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

[@MrAxtradamus]

Damn Magma shirt. Nice one

[@theoneselve]

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

[@kbdkbd99]

Entertaining review thankyou Gaz.

[@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...

[@42tehfloor]

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

[@otherreality]

I wish I had cash to splash out for the boutique's, the D05, SH01A, TB03, and the TR08. I'd be in 90's electro/techno/trance clone-o-heaven. And I love Gaz reviewing stuff, anything really, Gaz I can sit down and watch you reviewing a toothbrush, honestly :)

[@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?

[@ryananthony4840]

HIM: "we don't have compression on an accent, that would be silly....." ME: "would it now.....? :-/ " lmao

[@georgegalamb7523]

Looks great and sounds great; but the price of this machine shouldn't exceed $199.00 with today's tech manufacturing capabilities, especially because its small size.

[@EnochDark]

does a bit more than a tom cat could but yeah it's not "real" analog... i dunno, they want even more for the tr-09 now.