Contents

Roland TR-808 Owner's Manual PDF

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Summary of Content for Roland TR-808 Owner's Manual PDF

Copyright 2018 ROLAND CORPORATION 04

Owners Manual

Software Rhythm ComposerTR-808

2

Introduction For details on the settings for the DAW software that youre using, refer to the DAWs help or manuals.

About Trademarks VST is a trademark and software of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Roland is a registered trademark or trademark of Roland Corporation in the United States and/or other

countries. Company names and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of

their respective owners.

3

Screen Structure

Main window This area shows various knobs and sliders that you can use to edit the sound.

Use the [PANEL] button to switch

[GAIN] knob Adjusts the gain of each instrument.

[PAN] knob Adjusts the pan (left/right position) of each instrument.

[TUNING] knob Adjusts the pitch of each instrument.

[PANEL] button

Instrument pads Sound is produced when you click these. While a pattern plays, these pads light to indicate the playback steps of the instrument selected by the [INSTRUMENT SELECT] knob.

[A][H ] buttons Switch the variation (AH) that plays. To make a multiple selection, hold down the Shift key. The currently playing variation button blinks.

[START/STOP] button Plays or stops the pattern.

[EDIT] button Displays the edit window.

[LIST] button Displays the Memory Select window.

Display (upper line) Shows the bank name.

Level meter Shows the output level.

Display (center line / lower line) Shows the selected pattern name and kit name.

[ ] [ ] buttons Recall the previous or next pattern or kit.

[WRITE] button Saves the pattern or kit.

Instrument edit section Here you can edit the tonal character of the instruments. You can use 11 different instruments (BDCH) in a pattern.

[LEVEL] knob Adjusts the volume of the instrument.

[TONE] knob Adjusts the tension of the head for the bass drum or snare drum; adjusts the tonal character for the cymbal.

[TUNING] knob Adjusts the pitch of the tom or conga.

[DECAY] knob Adjusts the decay of the sound. Turning the knob toward the left makes the sound crisper, and turning it toward the right extends the decay.

[SNAPPY] knob Corresponds to the resonating wires of a snare drum. Turning the knob toward the left produces the sound of when the resonating wires are removed.

Instrument select switch This switch selects one of two instruments. The two instruments cannot be played simultaneously.

[VOLUME] knob Adjusts the volume.

[INSTRUMENT SELECT] knob Selects the instrument that is indicated by the instrument pads.

[SHUFFLE] knob Adjusts the amount of shuffle (swing).

* This is multiplied with each instruments shuffle setting in Pattern Edit. If the instruments shuffle setting is 0, shuffle is not applied even if you turn this knob.

[OPTION] button Lets you make various settings, or authorize the software.

[HELP] button Displays help.

[ABOUT] button Displays information about TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer.

[PANEL] button Switches the instrument edit sections display to GAIN, PAN, and TUNE (Bass Drum only).

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INST

INST Parameter

BD INST

Parameter

SD INST

Parameter

CB

KIT Parameter

KIT

BANK

PATTERN

B STEP data

H STEP data

A STEP data

VARIATION

Pattern Setting

BANK 1

Patterns Kits

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3

Pattern 128

Kit 1 Kit 2 Kit 3

Kit 128

128 patterns 128 kits

BANK 2

Patterns Kits

Pattern 1 Pattern 2 Pattern 3

Pattern 128

Kit 1 Kit 2 Kit 3

Kit 128

128 patterns 128 kits

There is no limit on the number of banks

Sound Engine Structure

What Is a PATTERN? The performance data that you record is called a pattern.

Each pattern can have eight variations (AH).

You can use the [A][H] buttons of the main window and MIDI messages (p. 8) to switch variations while a pattern plays.

What Is a KIT? The 11 instruments are collectively called a kit.

The pattern plays the instruments of the currently selected kit.

What Is a Bank? A bank is a set of 128 patterns and kits.

By switching banks, you can recall a large number of patterns and kits.

You can save a bank as a file (p. 9).

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Edit Window

Parameter Value/Explanation

EDIT VARIATION SELECT buttons AH: Select the variation that you want to edit. CURRENT: Select the currently playing variation.

[SCALE] button Selects the scale. The scale changes each time you press the button. The vertical stripes that are the background of the step buttons are spaced at quarter-note intervals.

[LAST STEP] button Specifies the length of the pattern. You can set this individually for each instrument. [WEAK] button Turn this on to enter weak beats. [FLAM] button Turn this on to enter a flam.

FLAM TYPE Sets the flam interval for each pattern. Click the text TYPE. TYPE1: 0 msec TYPE29: Specify a spacing of 2048 msec in 4 msec units.

[SUB STEP] button Turn this on to enter sub steps. By entering sub steps, you can divide a step into repeated beats.

SUB STEP TYPE

Sets the type of the sub step to input. Click the text TYPE. * You can input different types of sub steps for each step button.

TYPE1: Duplets TYPE2: Triplets TYPE3: Quadruplets

TOTAL ACCENTBASS DRUM

The total accents and instrument names are shown. When the pattern length (LAST STEP) differs depending on the instrument, an instrument name is outlined in red and that instruments accents will match the TOTAL ACCENTs accented steps during playback. The instrument outlined in red can be switched by clicking other instrument.

Parameter Value/Explanation

Variation indicator This indicates the variation AH that is playing for each instrument. Even if different instruments have a different LAST STEP setting, and the variations being played do not match, this shows the currently playing variation for each instrument.

[M] (mute) / [S] (solo) button Specify mute/solo settings for each instrument (solo has priority).

[SHUFFLE] slider Specifies the amount of shuffle (rhythmic bounce) for each instrument. If the shuffle setting in the main window is set to 0, this has no effect.

Step buttons

These buttons set how the sounds play for each step. These buttons light up white as the respective instruments play during playback.

TOTAL ACCENT Sets whether the instrument plays or not.

COWBELLBASS DRUM When the step buttons are lit, the instrument plays.

Specifying the Pattern Length (LAST STEP)

1. Click the [LAST STEP] button The [LAST STEP] button blinks purple. The default is 16 steps.

2. For each instrument, press the button that you want to specify as the last step; the button blinks.

Inputting Steps 1. For each instrument, input steps by making the step buttons lit or unlit.

Lit steps produce sound; unlit steps are silent.

Inputting the Total Accent (TOTAL ACCENT)

The top row of step buttons are for inputting the total accent.

1. Make the button light for each step at which you want to apply an accent. An accented note is heard for all instruments that sound at a step whose total accent button is lit.

MEMO

The strength of the accent is specified by the ACCENT [LEVEL] knob in the main window. (Accents apply to the same step of all instruments.)

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Edit Window

Inputting Weak Beats 1. Click the [WEAK] button.

The [WEAK] button is lit white, allowing you to input weak beats.

2. Turn on the steps that you want to play as weak beats. The steps for which you input a weak beat are lit dimly.

MEMO

Even without making the [WEAK] button lit, you can input a weak beat by clicking a step while holding down the Shift key.

Specifying a Flam 1. Click the [FLAM] button.

The [FLAM] button is lit yellow, allowing you to enter flams. Click FLAM TYPE to select the flam spacing.

2. Turn on the steps at which you want to play a flam. You can enter flams in combination with weak beats.

MEMO

You can right-click to switch between flams and sub steps, without making the [FLAM] button light.

Inputting Sub Steps 1. Click the [SUB STEP] button.

The [SUB STEP] button is lit, allowing you to enter sub steps. Click SUB STEP TYPE to select the sub step type. Depending on the sub step type, this is lit light blue (duplets), green (triplets), or dark blue (quadruplets).

2. Turn on the steps at which you want to play a sub step. You can enter sub steps in combination with weak beats.

MEMO

You can right-click to switch between flams and sub steps, without making the [SUB STEP] button light.

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Edit Window

Editing a Variation Right-click the EDIT VARIATION SELECT button to use the following functions.

Function Explanation

Copy Copies the patterns of all instruments in the selected variation. Paste Pastes the copied variation to the selected variation. The variation is overwritten. Clear Erases the selected variation. Swap Swaps the selected variation with another variation you specify.

Editing an Instrument Right-click an instrument name at the left side of the edit window to use the following functions.

Function Explanation

Copy Copies the pattern of the selected instrument.

Paste Pastes the copied pattern to the selected instrument. The instrument is overwritten.

Clear Erases the pattern of the selected instrument. Invert Exchanges the steps that sound the selected instrument with the steps that are silent. All Turns on all steps of the selected instrument so that they all sound.

Placing a Pattern in a DAW Track Performance data from the variation [A][H ] buttons can be placed in a track of your DAW, either as MIDI or audio data. Use the [OPTION] button to choose whether youre placing MIDI data or audio data.

Drag and drop

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Edit Window

DAW Multi-Out Support If youre using this plug-in with a host application that supports multiple output, you can use a different output for each instrument. The output assignment for each instrument is as follows.

Output Instrument

Main out Mix Sub out 1 Bass Drum Sub out 2 Snare Drum Sub out 3 Low Tom / Low Conga Sub out 4 Mid Tom / Mid Conga Sub out 5 High Tom / High Conga Sub out 6 Rim Shot / Claves Sub out 7 Hand Clap / Maracas Sub out 8 Closed Hihat Sub out 9 Open Hihat Sub out 10 Cymbal

Sub out 11 Cowbell

* For more about multi-output settings in your host application, refer to the help or owners manual of your host application.

How Note Numbers Select Sounds or Variations Note numbers received by TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer select the following sounds or variations.

Note number Sound/Function

2431 Variation Select AH 32 Start step sequencer 33 Stop step sequencer 35, 36 Bass Drum 37 RimShot/Claves 38, 40 Snare Drum 39 HandClap/Maracas 42, 44 Closed HiHat 41, 43 LoTom/LoConga 46 Open HiHat

Note number Sound/Function

45, 47 MidTom/MidConga 49 Cymbal 48, 50 HiTom/HiConga 51 Cowbell 56 Cowbell 62 HiTom/HiConga 63 MidTom/MidConga 64 LoTom/LoConga 70 HandClap/Maracas 75 RimShot/Claves

* When switching variations using note numbers, the variation switches right away without waiting for the next measure to start.

* Also, when switching variations using note numbers, you cant use the [VARIATION] button to change the variation until playback is stopped.

About CC (Control Change)

TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer receives the following CC messages.

CC# Parameter

7 VOLUME 9 SHUFFLE 20 BD TUNING 21 BD TONE 23 BD DECAY 24 BD LEVEL 25 SD TONE 26 SD SNAPPY 29 SD LEVEL 46 LT TUNING 48 LT LEVEL 49 MT TUNING 51 MT LEVEL

CC# Parameter

52 HT TUNING 54 HT LEVEL 57 RS LEVEL 60 CP LEVEL 63 CH LEVEL 71 TOTAL ACCENT 81 OH DECAY 82 OH LEVEL 83 CY TONE 84 CY DECAY 85 CY LEVEL 86 CB TUNING 88 CB LEVEL

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Patterns/Kits and Banks 1. Click the [LIST] button.

The Memory Select window opens.

The selected memory is highlighted.

[WRITE] button Saves the edited pattern/kit as a memory in the bank.

[RENAME] button Renames the selected memory.

[NEW] button Creates a new empty bank.

[DELETE] button Deletes the selected bank.

[LOAD] button Loads a bank from a file.

[SAVE] button Exports a bank as a file.

[READ] button Loads a memory from a bank.

Switches between patterns and kits.

i symbol When you place the mouse cursor (mouse pointer) over this, a list of shortcuts appears.

Bank A bank contains 128 patterns and 128 kits. By switching banks, you can access a large number of patterns or kits. A bank can be saved as a file.

Changing to Other Bank

1. Click the Bank field. The bank list window opens.

2. Click the bank that you want to recall. By pressing the [H] [I] buttons located at the right of the bank field, you can switch to the next or previous bank.

Exporting the Bank Heres how to export a bank as a file.

1. Click the [SAVE] button. The file name input window opens.

2. Enter a file name and save. The file is exported.

Importing a Bank

1. Click the [LOAD] button. The file selection window opens.

2. Select a file and load it. The bank is loaded.

Bank

1 1

Pattern Kit

2 2 3 3

128 128

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Patterns/Kits and Banks

Creating/Deleting a Bank

Creating a bank Click the [NEW] button to create a new empty bank.

Deleting a bank Heres how to delete the selected bank.

1. Select a bank as described in Changing to Other Bank (p. 9).

2. Click the [DELETE] button. A confirmation message appears.

3. Click [OK] to delete the bank.

Renaming a Bank

1. Select a bank as described in Changing to Other Bank (p. 9).

2. At the left of the bank field, click [ J] button.

3. Edit the name and press the Return (Enter) key.

Patterns and Kits TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer manages 128 patterns and kits as one bank.

Loading a Pattern or Kit Heres how to load a pattern or kit thats saved in a bank. When you load a pattern or kit, its settings are shown in the edit area, allowing you to edit the settings.

1. Click the number of the memory that you want to load.

2. Click the [READ] button. Or press the Return (Enter) key. The pattern or kit is loaded.

* You can also load a pattern or kit by double-clicking the pattern or kit number.

Saving a Pattern or Kit Heres how an edited pattern or kit can be saved to a bank.

1. Click the number of the memory in which you want to save the sound.

2. Click the [WRITE] button. The pattern or kit are saved in the bank.

Renaming a Pattern or Kit

1. Click the number of the memory that you want to rename.

2. Click the [RENAME] button.

3. Change the memory name. (Up to 16 letters)

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Patterns/Kits and Banks

MIDI Learn Function Heres how to associate a MIDI control change with a sound parameter, so that the parameter can be controlled by that MIDI message.

Procedure

1. Right-click the sound parameter controller (knob or slider).

2. Choose Learn MIDI CC.

3. Operate your external MIDI device to transmit a control change message.

NOTE

You cant associate more than one MIDI control change with a single controller. Only the most recent setting is used.

Cancelling

1. Right-click the sound parameter controller (knob or slider).

2. Choose Forget MIDI CC.

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Setting

Option

1. Click the [OPTION] button.

2. Select items. A is shown for the selected item.

Item Explanation

Layout Original: This is the conventional screen layout. Compact: This condenses the space for other than knobs and buttons, using less screen area.

Zoom You can change the size (zoom factor) of the main window using the mouse.

Initialize MIDI Control Mapping Returns the MIDI control change mapping to its default state. & About CC (Control Change) (p. 8)

Clear MIDI Control Mapping Clears all MIDI control change mapping.

Position Lock to DAW

Specifies whether TR-808s pattern playback is synchronized to the DAWs transport (play, stop, playback position). If this is on, TR-808s pattern plays/stops in synchronization with the DAWs play/stop operation. Turn this off if you are playing TR-808 from a track of the DAW.

Drag & Drop Pattern as MIDI When you place variation performance data in your DAW, it is placed as MIDI data. Drag & Drop Pattern as Audio When you place variation performance data in your DAW, it is placed as audio data. Optimize for Lower CPU Usage Turn this ON if CPU usage is high, and clicks or pops occur.

Sub Output... Specifies how each instrument is output from individual sub outputs rather than from the main output (stereo).

Send Pattern to TR-8S Sends pattern data to the TR-8S. Get Pattern from TR-8S Receives pattern data from the TR-8S.

Setup...

Specifies MIDI settings used when sending or receiving data to or from the TR-8S. When the Setup screen appears, set MIDI CTRL Input: TR-8S CTRL MIDI CTRL Output: TR-8S CTRL Flip Scroll Direction: Inverts the direction of rotation when using the mouse wheel to edit a value (Only on Mac). The direction is inverted if Flip Scroll Direction is set to ON.

Roland Cloud... Displays the Roland Cloud site. Authentication...

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