Roland TR-08 A User’s Guide To The Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer !1 !2 Acknowledgements 1 This manual was assembled, Corporation. The task was initially illustrated, and written by Sunshine undertaken in a moment of fury, and Jones. All of the contents is taken assembled, proof read, and then hastily from either his personal experience, produced exclusively for love, and existing documentation, and pleasure. It has continued mainly techniques submitted and found in because of the pleasure it brings to the public domain. The document is create technical drawings, and re write intended as a companion guide for these leaflets in a time when I am very, the Roland Boutique TR-08 Rhythm very busy. Composer drum machine. It is in no way offered as a criticism, or intended It is our hope that as the result you will to be an authoritative guide to replace begin to explore and discover layers of the official documentation which rhythm and joy which were previously accompanies the commercial overlooked. We hope and trust that you purchase of Roland Boutique, or will use the pattern worksheets to Roland AIRA musical instruments. document your discoveries, and our extensive encouragement to share, and Rather, this manual is intended to import patches and patterns of your own support the musician, the user of into a thriving community of exploration these and other synthesizer modules and delight. and inspire them to create music, share sounds, and fully realize the If you wish to correspond with the author drum machines in front of them. of this manual you may do so by navigating your web browser to the In the tradition of owner’s manuals, following destination: rarely are they opened until problems http://sunshine-jones.com arise. We tell you over and over again The original article and a bank of patterns to RTFM, but do you listen? No, no may be found within the non-fiction you don’t. Manuals should be both section of the site. tools for reference and instruction, as well as inspirational guides to While no rights are reserved for the possibility. An owner’s manual should copyrighted materials, nor the registered be equally a pre purchase discovery, trademarks discussed or absorbed into meant to inspire the curious with this manual, the assemblage itself and capability and possibility, and a post subsequent sound examples, purchase celebration of depth, illustrations, and concept are offered technique, guidance, and surprises. exclusively under the Creative Commons But this is by no means the last word. license of share and share alike. This is So many people have read and re and shall always be free of charge to the read a manual only to still have no reader, and user of the Roland TR-08 idea what the manual was attempting Rhythm Composer, and must never be to suggest. This owner’s manual is offered for sale or barter. This is offered free of charge to anyone freeware, and free information for all. curious, or frustrated by the tiny little leaflet which covers the operations of With Love the TR-08 in several languages, as a legible alternative to the official Sunshine Jones documentation. August 2018 San Francisco, California This manual is not associated in any way, personally or professionally with Version 0.01B" anyone connected to the Roland !3 Table of Contents 2 1 Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………. 3 3 Front and Back Panel Layout ………………………………………… 5 4 Basic Connections …………………………………………………….. 6 5 Introductions …………………………………………………………… 7 6 Controls and the Common Section ……..……………………………. 8 7 Rhythm Patterns …………………………………..…………………… 14 8 Rhythm Tracks ………………………………………………………….. 21 9 Menu Mode …………………………………………………………… 25 10 MIDI Specifications …………………………………………………….30 11 Pattern Memo …………………………………………………………. 32" !4 Front and Back Panel Layout 3 !5 Basic Connections 4 !6 Introductions 5 The TR-08 is an • Highly portable for mobile music making detailed snare fills and intricate, rolling hi- obsessively detailed and • Includes DK-01 Boutique Dock for hats. It also has a track-selectable trigger faithful replica of the multiple-angle viewing out for working with other instruments like legendary TR-808—easily • Battery-operated (4 x AA) or USB the TB-03, SH-01A, or modular gear. An powered the most famous and unobtrusive LED display provides finer • Built-in powered mini-speaker for instant influential drum machine enjoyment control of tempo and shuffle. You can ever made. After creating • Compatible with optional Roland step-program or tap in your parts in real- a monumental shift in the Boutique accessories time without stopping to change modes. sound of music, the “808” Everything sends and receives MIDI has continued to shape The TR-808 arrived in 1980 to an control messages and it even supports and define entire genres. unsuspecting and somewhat audio and MIDI over USB. Beloved by musicians and bewildered public. To many at the producers the world over, time, its purely analog sound and Original TR-808s are big and heavy, and it’s one of the most range of tweakable parameters didn’t their rarity makes them extremely revered and sought-after exactly deliver “traditional” drum expensive and sought-after on the used electronic musical sounds. It wasn’t until adventurous market. Because of this, many have instruments of all time. The musicians and producers got their resorted to 808 sample packs or TR-08 brings the look, hands on the TR-808 and started hardware knockoffs. But there’s sound, and feel of the tweaking those knobs that the world something about the colors and controls original 808—with would fully realize the sonic impact it and, of course, the sound of a genuine stunning accuracy—to the would leave on music forever. For the TR-808 that brings home the sound of so Roland Boutique format. It next three decades, the sizzling hi- many classic tracks. The TR-08 blends attention to detail hats and snappy snare, the robotic, accurately recreates the ingredients that and respect for legacy with clicky rim shot, the unmistakable make an 808 so special. The interface, modern convenience and cowbell, and yes, that booming bass while miniaturized, is 100% authentic. reliability. drum, would be heard on many The sound is vibrant and alive thanks to thousands of tracks. Worldwide hits, our proprietary Analog Circuit Behavior • Ultra-compact recreation of underground classic, and entire (ACB) technology. We use ACB to the legendary TR-808 drum genres were spawned. Its influence is carefully recreate all the details and machine so deep that it’s been name-dropped quirks of the original hardware by • Retains the sound, modeling each analog circuit, right down character, and user interface in famous tracks, had albums to the component level. of the original TR-808 dedicated to it and bands named after • Hands-on control including it, and even been the subject of a tone, level, tuning, and decay feature-length documentary film. Not only does the TR-08 look and sound • Added Compressor, Gain, the part, but it also has some modern Tune, and Pan for selected Time has not diminished the TR-808’s features and conveniences. With all this instruments influence. New genres continue to beat-making power, it would be a shame • Programmable via classic make use of the 808, with some to keep it shackled to the studio. After all, Step and Tap write modes utilizing it as the main instrument and inspiration can strike anywhere, and • Sequencer has 16 steps with defining sound of the style. Sure, you drum machines are fun to play live. The 16 sub-steps for detailed TR-08 is literally small enough to take patterns and rolls can use samples of a TR-808, but just about anywhere. It’s ruggedly built • Continue playing beats even there’s nothing quite like the real while switching between write thing. The 808’s user interface with its with sturdy knobs, buttons, and switches. modes buttons, knobs, and switches, and the It has several tilt options for easy viewing • LED display for easier odd quirks of how the sounds interact in various live and studio scenarios. It navigation and fine control of with each other—they’re all vitally can be a low-latency, portable audio tempo and shuffle important to conjuring up that real interface. It has a built-in speaker, and • Ten separate outputs via 808 mojo. And you know it when you even runs on batteries for when the beat USB audio hear it. absolutely must go on. With all this power • Dedicated, track-selectable and flexibility, you may be most surprised trigger output for controlling by the TR-08’s affordable price, which external instruments The new TR-08 adds some thoughtful puts the legendary 808 vibe within reach • High-quality construction and modern touches to the classic with metal front panel formula. The sequencer has 16 sub- of just about anyone who’s ever dreamed steps per step, so you can create of owning the iconic original." !7 General Functions 6 The common section of the TR-08 options, automatic shut off timing, Common Section Rhythm Composer includes everything access to the LED demo settings, a you need to program and play rhythm choice of programming modes, USB patterns, pattern chains, tracks, and audio/midi output assignments, output also access to the system and internal assignment for the physical 3.5mm sound sections for extended editing, output connection, and a scale button and sound creation operations not lock so the scale doesn’t change in a immediately available on the front performance or during composition by panel. In this section there is also the mistake. The common section also master tempo knob/data wheel, real features the main start and stop/ time access to the pattern length, continue transport buttons, and a shift shuffle and flam amounts, instrument button for accessing alternate modes selection, compression amounts, gain for writing, and editing, and there’s a adjustment, tune, decay, pan, midii clear button for swift and simple channel selection, sync source erasure of entire tracks and patterns.