Roland R-8

Roland R-8
Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer
Manufacturer Roland
Dates 1989 - 1996
Technical specifications
Polyphony 12 voices [1]
Synthesis type ROM
Storage memory 32 Preset Patterns, 100 User – Patterns, Maximum number of bars : 99, Memorized Data : Velocity / Pitch / Decay / Nuance / Pan / Micro Timing
Input/output
External control Start / Stop Jack, Value Jack, Tape Sync In Jack, Tape Sync Out Jack

The R-8 Human Rhythm Composer is an electronic drum machine introduced in 1989 by Roland Corporation, using PCM voices. The R-8 features velocity- and pressure-sensitive trigger pads, and the ability to create loops of beats. The device has eight individual outputs, 12-voice polyphony, and four-part multitimbral MIDI.

The R-8 had one RAM memory card slot for saving user-created patterns and songs, and one slot for PCM ROM cards to augment the internal sound banks.

The R-8M is a rackmount version of the R-8, lacking the trigger pads and the sequencer capability, but with three front-facing ROM card slots. These sound libraries may be accessed simultaneously. This device was available from 1989 through 1994. The rack version has less individual outputs: 6 instead of 8 [2].

In 1992, Roland released a second version of the R-8 drum machine, the R-8 MKII. This version offers greatly expanded memory. The ROM went from 67 to 199 samples[3]. It brought onboard basically the content from the PCM cards SN-R8-01, SN-R8-02, SN-R8-09, SN-R8-10 and most of the 808 samples from SN-R8-04. It did lose 22 of the MK1 samples. Another 16 samples from the MK1 returned in a slightly modified version with another name. A minor omission on the MKII is the absence of the Space Invaders boot screen. This device was discontinued in 1996.

Roland also came with a trimmed down version of the R8 in the form of the Roland R-5 which had less sounds and features than the R-8[4]

PCM sound cards

Known Roland ROM cards, each containing 26 samples [5]:

  • Roland SN-R8-01 - Contemporary Percussion
  • Roland SN-R8-02 - Jazz Brush
  • Roland SN-R8-03 - Sound Effects
  • Roland SN-R8-04 - Electronic (Contains 11 TR-808 samples)
  • Roland SN-R8-05 - Jazz
  • Roland SN-R8-06 - Ethnic Percussion
  • Roland SN-R8-07 - Mallet
  • Roland SN-R8-08 - Dry
  • Roland SN-R8-09 - Power Drums U.S.A.
  • Roland SN-R8-10 - Dance (Contains 6 TR-909 and 10 CR-78 samples)
  • Roland SN-R8-11 - Metallic Percussion

Notable Users

References

  1. ↑ https://archive.org/details/synthmanual-roland-r-8-owners-manual#page/n192/mode/2up
  2. ↑ https://archive.org/details/synthmanual-roland-r-8m-owners-manual
  3. ↑ http://www.kolumbus.fi/sapora/RSC/R8_patches_summary.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/roland-r5/102
  5. ↑ http://www.mamosa.org/jenfi.home/detail/rolandsnr8series.php
  6. ↑ "Colin Towns: Behind The Mask". Sound On Sound. April 1997. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "N-Trance: Do You Think I'm Sexy?". Sound On Sound. December 1997. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012.
  8. ↑ http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/r8.php

Further reading

  • "Retro: Roland R-8". Future Music. No. 56. Future Publishing. May 1997. p. 55. ISSN 0967-0378. OCLC 1032779031.
  • "Roland R8". Music Technology. February 1989. pp. 78–84. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 483899345.
  • "Roland R8M". Music Technology. April 1990. pp. 62–68. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 483899345.
  • "Roland R8 Rhythm Composer". Sound On Sound. February 1989. pp. 26–30. ISSN 0951-6816. OCLC 31700536.
  • "Roland R8". Home & Studio Recording. March 1989. pp. 14–16. ISSN 0896-7172. OCLC 17285024.


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