Behringer RD-8
Rhythm Designer Drum Machine

As with many musicians in the electronic music space I have always wanted to own the iconic Roland TR-808 drum machine.  But a mint Roland TR-808 would like cost upwards of $3,500 in today's market.

When Roland launched the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer boutique drum machine I thought that this was the closest I was going to get to the original to snapped one up.  

Then Behringer announced that they were going to release a re-imagined version of the TR-808 in the form of the Behringer RD-8.  This was an opportunity to buy a full-size TR-808 clone that looked and sounded like the original.  Something I couldn't turn down, so the purchase was made and the drum machine was added to the studio equipment. 

When Behringer launched the Behringer RD-8 I ordered it.  Then waited 4 or 5 months for the order to be fulfilled and arrive.  This has been a typical pattern for Behringer instruments over the last few years.  Announce it, get orders and then ship it several months later.

When the RD-8 arrived I plugged it in and compared it to the Roland boutique that I already owned.  And I thought that while I could hear a subtle difference between the two drum machines.  They were so close to be almost indistinguishable.  To be honest once you have the drum machine in the mix it is indistinguishable.

Behringer have made no secret about their modelling and emulation technology.  This is the technology that has been incorporated into the Behringer RD-8, RD-9, RD-6 drum machines

While the RD-8 is billed as the Roland TR-808 clone, it brings several additional features to the party that differentiates it from the drum machine it was based on.

For start it works off a 9v power supply as opposed to having a mains power supply installed in the instrument.  This means that it is very light.

MIDI has been added which was only available via an after-market upgrade in the original.  MIDI is also available over USB as well as audio outputs on USB providing a digital audio signal directly into the DAW that you are using.

While the way the RD-8 sets patterns up using similar logic to the original the new instrument hold multiple patterns in memory that can then be strung together into the composition, which make the instrument easier to use.

While there are many other new features in the Behringer RD-8, a key feature  I like is the fact that you can back up your created patterns directly to your computer and consequently restore save patterns for use.