Roland TR-8S: 808, 909 and your own samples in one box
· re:union Radio editorial · 3 min read
Roland TR-8S: six TR classics as ACB models, FM sounds, your own samples and 8 outputs. What the Rhythm Performer can do – all the specs at a glance.
The Roland TR-8S packs the TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, TR-707, TR-727 and CR-78 into one box – not as sample packs, but as ACB models that Roland rebuilt down to circuit level. On top come FM sounds and your own samples. According to Sound On Sound, that is exactly what the "S" stands for: samples alongside the modelled drums.
At a glance
- 11 instrument tracks plus a dedicated track for the trigger output
- 128 patterns, each with 8 variations (A–H) and 2 fills
- Mix output plus 6 assignable individual outputs, 24-bit/96 kHz
- Import your own samples as WAV or AIFF via SD card
From TR-8 to Rhythm Performer
The predecessor TR-8 arrived in 2014 and recreated the 808 and 909 through synthesis, with no sampling at all. The 707, 727 and 606 were only available as expansions back then. The TR-8S, reviewed by Sound On Sound in June 2018, ships with all of these engines as standard.
What matters to you: you decide which sound sits on which track. The channels are labelled Bass Drum or Hand Clap, but you can line up eleven 808 cowbells if you like. Each track gives you pitch, decay and a freely assignable CTRL knob.
"The TR-8S was literally made to play live."
— Roland, TR-8S product page
Sequencer: probability, fills and motion
At its heart sits the classic TR-REC step sequencer with 16 buttons, joined by a velocity-sensitive pad for live input. You set a percentage probability per step, plus flams, accents and sub steps for rolls. Every track can have its own length – that is how you build polyrhythms.
Auto Fill triggers fills every 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 measures, and the Scatter effect slices a measure into short bursts. Motion recording captures knob moves, while step locks pin values to individual steps. There is no song mode, and Sound On Sound also missed an undo function.
Specifications
| Instrument tracks | 11 plus 1 trigger track |
|---|---|
| Kits / patterns | 128 each |
| Variations | 8 (A–H) per pattern, 16 steps each |
| Fills | 2 per pattern |
| FM sounds | 72 |
| Preset samples | 300 or more |
| User samples | WAV, AIFF; approx. 600 s total (44.1 kHz, mono), up to approx. 180 s per file |
| Outputs | Mix L/R, 6 × assignable/trigger, trigger out (mini jack), headphones |
| Inputs | Ext In L/R (1/4-inch jack) |
| Converters | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
| Interfaces | MIDI In/Out, USB type B (audio and MIDI), SD card (SDHC) |
| Dimensions | 409 × 263 × 58 mm |
| Weight | 2.1 kg |
Studio, stage and updates
Over USB the TR-8S works as a multichannel audio and MIDI interface: every track lands separately in your DAW. The six individual outputs can switch to trigger mode and drive external analogue gear. If you are planning a setup around an analogue clone like the Behringer RD-8 or a sampler like the Elektron Digitakt, you also get a control hub here.
Roland keeps supporting the unit. According to Gearnews, update 2.0 in August 2020 added an FM engine with a Morph knob plus the Saturator, Freq Shift, Ring Mod and Spread effects – free of charge. Firmware 3.0 has followed since. The TR-EDITOR software is a free download via Roland Cloud Manager.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TR-8S analogue?
No. Its sounds are generated digitally through Roland's ACB models, FM synthesis and samples. Output runs through 24-bit/96 kHz converters to eight analogue outputs.
Can I load my own samples?
Yes, as WAV or AIFF from an SD card. Total capacity is around 600 seconds (44.1 kHz, mono), and a single file can be about 180 seconds long.
Which Roland machines are inside?
The TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, TR-707 and TR-727 including modified versions, plus the CR-78 CompuRhythm.
Source: Roland, Sound On Sound, Gearnews
