Roland TR-08
Rhythm Composer Drum Machine

The Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer drum machine was introduced in August, 2017.  This was actually the second drum machine to be release as part of the boutique drum machine range with the Roland TR-09 being released the previous year.

The Roland TR-08 was a compact modern emulation of the classic Roland TR-808 drum machine that was used on countless dance and pop tracks during the 1980's.  Many of these dance orientated producers during this time picked up the original instruments up from cheap music stores for dollars because they were dismissed by the mainstream musicians / producers due to the mechanical sound.  At the point of writing you would be lucky to find a good example of the original instrument for under $3,000.

I had previously purchased the Roland TR-8 soon after it was launched in 2014.  This was acquired on the basis that using the Analogue Circuitry Behaviour (ACB) this drum machine emulated a number of legendary drum machines (namely Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909, Roland TR-606, Roland TR-707 and Roland TR-727).

So why did I acquire the Roland TR-08.  Well if you have watched my YouTube channel you will know that I am a sucker for a drum machine.  But the workflow on the Roland TR-8 was not the same as the workflow on the classis instrument.  The Roland TR-08 uses the same ACB technology to generate the tones of the classic instrument and is setup with the same workflow.

The other advantages of the TR-08 over the original instrument:  

• Both a traditional 5-pin DIN and USB implementation of MIDI

• USB audio to your computer

• Computer controlled clock, if not using MIDI as the clock source

• Non-volitile pattern memory 

• Memory for greater pattern storage

Disadvantages of the newer platform:

• The instrument only allows a left and right stereo feed as opposed to the individual instrument feeds.  (Assuming you are not using the USB audio which does allow multiple feeds.)  

• The audio feed is a mini-jack implementation.

• No seperate power supply.  Both data and power use the same USB connector.

Based on my experience the Roland TR-08 is a great hardware alternative to the original TR-808 drum machine.  Although the recent Behringer RD-8 is also a good resonably priced alternative.