Getting Real with the Roland TR8s

I have a new preset pack for the Roland TR8s available to all users. It's called "Fractured Horizons" and offers 16 patterns for performance or inspiration Download the TR-8S Production Pack today—available at no charge for Roland Account holders in Roland Cloud Manager.

In this video, we'll make a kit and pattern with the Roland TR8s and talk about what makes this drum machine good and bad. Join me, please.

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[MikeRenouf]

Since this was recorded, Roland issued new FM drum sound models that have a ton of parameters for adjusting. 👍

[caxtnova]

I really appreciate your honesty in this review. The device speaks for itself for what it's capable of, but not knowing what something's weaknesses are up-front is one of the main things that prevents me from buying gear these days.

Great tracks as always, Jeremy!

[jigaireos]

Rarely comment on anything but must echo others, your honesty is so refreshing and encouraging as I've had the TR-8S since mid 2020 and your dive into the editor's capabilities and opportunities for enhancements had me nodding my head in agreement and thank you so much for doing this! I look forward to Roland continuing updates as they have. I think it would be amazing if they can incorporate the note/pitch editing with the sliders and also the step buttons like you suggested. I would be interested in a video where you got to use whatever samples you wanted. Thanks again!

[ohheyitskevinc]

Nice! I’ve had mine for 2 years or so now - still hoping for software to import samples and create kits on pc or Mac. The editor is great for patterns, but patterns were never really a problem on the hardware. Samples are.

[michelvondenhoff]

CR-78 added in september fw 3.0. Now it is ready 😊

Used to go 808 & 909 but as of now it is 707 & CR-78.

The Yamaha RY-30 was a pretty nice machine as well.

[pjohns]

Having my TR-8S for a couple few years now it's definitely one of the most fun drum machines for simply writing songs. Found that sound design isn't it's strong suit but using the sliders for designing layered sounds was work around

[krazywabbit]

All clips are 🔥that second clip you played, juicy AF! Thank you for this and all you do in the space. Respect.

[lanediver]

i would like to see another video with the tr8s where you make some techno — that is where this machine really shines

[alderpublishingllc]

Thank you for inspiring me! It will be fun making patterns with this thing! Abstract sounds, FM, filtering, pitch, pan, parameter changes, distortion, FX etc!

[justinstraube]

You can easily edit settings like level, pan, delay, reverb, gain, and more for each instrument part from the TR-8S quickly by using the mixer mode. 

Press [Shift]+CTRL Select, and the display will show a visual of each instrument and value for the currently selected instrument. Adjust the CTRL knobs to change the value for that instrument.

[MatusFinchus]

Excellent stuff. I LOVE my TR-8S in combination with my MC707. It's pretty much all one needs (although I do have three other outboard synths wired in).

[danrosesexperiment]

Really helped me in some basic understanding that I really needed, as a complete newbie to getting this - thank you!

[swst]

The newest firmware does have fully editable FM drum synth engines

[louisharkna]

Keep ROLAND, ROLAND, ROLAND, ROLAND...what?!

[strangersun]

Hey cool to see more of this machine years after release! You make it sing.

Yeah the FM sound programming could be deeper, but considering they added those with a firmware update, I saw it as a nice bonus. It's more like a simplified Model Cycles FM sound. You only get a single dedicated FM parameter as I recall, but tweaking it gives you a pretty good range of different sounds out of that one FM instrument.

All I'd ever want from the TR8S after all their updates is the ability to have an offset on the step sequencer. I know that's sacrilege with the XOX style programming, but it would make this drum machine perfect in my opinion.

[FernandoDCDuarte]

So glad to see the T8RS on your channel!

This was my first hardware device, can't say I regret it!!

[asynchronicity]

I love your commentary on the ergonomics and flow and natural feel of having a row of sliders. This thing really is meant to be played in that way clearly👍

[jona_KardCiv]

The best thing about the TR8S is that it is made for performing things like drops and the Ext In function combined with audio ducking with the kick.

[ionianechoes]

The good thing about the tr8s is that after using it for a while you realise that you might enjoy more the mc707 which eliminates all the things that are a pain in the tr8s and adds much more.

[MattyBoy]

Strongly agree with the sound packs idea! I've been thoroughly addicted to the little brother TR6S and adding external samples (especially if it's an entire kit from another drum machine) takes the device to a new level. I just wish the device had more internal memory or could read from the SD card. It's tough deleting kits and patterns to make way for new stuff.