Description

Explore the Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer Drum Machine from Roland. Below you will find product details, specifications and images to help you decide whether it is right for your setup.

Roland are one of the most well known and respected drum machine manufacturers in the entire business. Their range of innovative instruments has left an indelible mark on recorded music, with their most famous models (like the 808) forming the backbone of iconic tracks across hip-hop, soul, pop, alternative rock and more. Enter the TR-8S Rhythm Performer Drum Machine: the latest evolution of the brands' tried and tested creative formula.

TR-8S v2.0 Update

The Roland v2.0 update brings new features making the TR-8S one of the most powerful sound design and performance instruments around:

• An all-new TR-8S FM sound engine
• A powerful FM MORPH control
• Four new INSTRUMENT FX
• A cool RELOAD feature to reset your jams to their original tone/pattern setting

Old Meets New

The history and character of Roland's storied past has been distilled into this truly modern piece of gear, combining old-school sensibilities with cutting-edge sound design and production methods. This has led to a drum machine that is in its absolute element while you're performing, or simply just exploring and experimenting in the studio.

Varied Sounds

An extensive sound library has been incorporated into the TR-8S. It contains faithful recreations of every sound ever included as part of  the companies most legendary TR models; with meticulously engineered circuit models of the 727, 707, 909, 606 and 808 all packed in. Every one of these respective machines has been painstakingly modelled on the exact architecture of their predecessor – meaning they operate and sound completely like the original!    

Apply Effects 

A versatile and powerful processor forms the backbone of this instrument. It delivers better detail, nuance and performance than ever before! It's now also possible to harness both custom and preset samples, providing you with the tools required to craft multi-layered kits. These can then be tweaked and altered further via a range of exciting effects, each of which will no doubt enhance your sound design capabilities. Hands-on controls make the process and absolute breeze.

Load in your own sounds

Grab any of your own samples and load them into the TR-8S over SD card or USB to mix them in with any of the in-built drum sounds to create custom user kits.

Pattern Variations, step lengths and Fills

The TR-8S features 128 user pattern locations, with each pattern containing 8 pattern variations which can either be played individually or chained together to create patterns up to 128 steps in length.

Create polyrhythms on the TR-8S by setting different step lengths for each instrument; set you kick to play in a 12-step pattern while your hi-hats play in 5’s for example. The TR-8S also features two slots for fills per pattern, which can either be triggered manually or used with the auto-fill feature to be dropped in after a fixed bar number.

Motion Record

The motion record tool allows you to record the knob movements of the TR-8S. This is an excellent way to automate the sound changes of drum sounds, samples or effects over time within your patterns.

Performance Pad

Use the built-in performance pad to tap out your rhythms in real time.

Assignable Outputs

The TR-8S has six assignable outputs, meaning you can route individual drum sounds out of separate outputs to apply further processing. These outputs can also be used as trigger outputs if you want to use patterns on the TR-8S to advance step sequencers on a modular synth system perhaps. The TR-8S also features a stereo external audio input, allowing you to connect your favourite synth a process it through the TR-8S’ master effects, all whilst keeping it in time with the master clock over a Midi connection.

USB Audio Interface

Record your TR-8S over USB directly into your DAW and what’s more is you can even record each individual drum on its own separate track to make mixing easier.

TR-8S V2.0 

The free Version 2.0 firmware update for the TR-8S adds in a fantastic selection of inspiring FM sounds covering expressive drum hits, space-like percussion stabs and futuristic synth tones. These can be freely assigned in drum kits to create truly unique sounding rhythms. These FM tones can be further shaped and automated using the Morph control which sweeps through the tone adjusting several parameters at once for easy sound design.

Instant Reload

Instantly recall the saved parameters of a kit or pattern with the new Reload feature. Perfect for live performance, this allows you to completely mess with your kit settings and enter in variations of your pattern, and then instantly revert to the saved version with a button press. You can do this globally or on a per instrument basis for flexibility.

New effects

The TR-8S V2.0 upgrade also adds in 4 new great sounding effects: Saturator, Ring Modulator, Spread and Frequency Shift for more sonic variation.

In the Box

• Power supply

Specifications

• Weight: 2.1 kg
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 409 mm x 263 mm x 58 mm
• Accessories: AC Adaptor
• Power (Power Supply): AC Adaptor, Current Draw = 2,000 mA
• Connectors: Phones Jack: Stereo 1/4-Inch Mix Out (L/Mono, R) Jacks: 1/4-inch, Assignable Out/Trigger Out, XT In (L/Mono, R) Trigger Out Jack: Miniature Phone Type, MIDI (In, Out) Connectors, USB Port, DC In Jack
• External Storage – SD Card (SDHC Supported) for Backup/Restore Function and Import Sample Data
• Display – 16 Characters, 2 Line (Backlit LCD) 7 Segments, 4 Characters (LED)
• Step Sequencer – 11 Instrument Parts and 1 Exclusive Part for Trigger Out. 16 Steps Per 1 Variation. 8 (A – H) Variations Per 1 Pattern. 2 Fill-In Patterns Per 1 Pattern

Check the current price and availability, then follow the retailer link to order directly from a UK music retailer.