Roland AIRA TR-8 Rhythm Performer

Full Description

Hard to Beat the Heritage

Since the TR-808 and TR-909 machines were first released in the '80s, they've become some of the most influential drum sounds in modern music. Used not just in dance tracks but across genres from Rap, House, Techno and Trance, they have earned their place in music culture.

Elevating that standard with genre-defining sounds and classic effects, triggered by solid, intuitive performance controls, the TR-8 Rhythm Performer presents unprecedented live pattern manipulation, ready to make its mark on the next 30 years.

Faithful, Familiar Sound

The Roland technicians have obsessively recreated every detail and nuance of the analog circuitry of their legendary rhythm machines. The AIRA TR-8 contains the boom and snap of the 808, the thud of the 909 and the robotic click of an 808 rim shot or a classic 909 snare roll. It's all here, fully reproduced based on the original design specification sheets, using newly-developed Analog Circuit Behaviour technology.

It's not just the familiar sounds that are there. Evolved for today's players, the Roland TR-8 features Tune and Decay knobs, with dedicated Attack and Comp knobs for the Bass and Snare drum modules, providing you with a greater variety of tone whether you want subtle, ambient percussion to pounding dance grooves.

There are 16 kits and 11 instrument types and the ability to mix sources connected to the external inputs. Two assignable analog outputs and full parallel outputs via USB provide total mixing flexibility.

While the new, unique Scatter function and per-step effects take the TR-8 into uncharted territory, the tweaking capabilities breathe new life into the sounds you know and love, inspired by an army of users.

Feel the Beat

Intuitive and creative pattern creation is at your fingertips, using the evolved version of the TR-REC method which originated in the TR-808 and became the standard for electronic rhythm programming. The TR-8 goes well beyond the original, seamlessly switch between programming and performance modes and introduce groovy rhythmic variations, from subtle snare fills to total glitch meltdowns.

Features / Specifications

Drum Sound Module

• User Drum Kits: 16
• User Patterns: 16
• Steps per 1 measure: 1-16 steps x 2 (Variation A/B)
• Tempo: 40 - 300

Instruments and Controls

• Bass Drum: Level, Tune, Attack, Comp, Decay, Inst Select
• Snare Drum: Level, Tune, Snappy, Comp, Decay, Inst Select
• Low Tom, Mid Tom, High Tom, Rim Shot, Hand Clap, Closed HiHat, Open HiHat, Crash Cymbal, Ride Cymbal: Level, Tune, Decay, Inst Select

Effects and Controls

• Accent: Level, Step
• Reverb: Level, Time, Gate, Step
• Delay: Level, Time, Feedback, Step
• External In: Level, Side Chain, Step

Modes

• TR-Rec, Pattern Select, Inst Play, Inst Rec, Drum Kit Sel, Drum Inst Sel

Controllers

• Volume Knob
• Scatter Knob
• Tempo Knob
• Fine Knob
• Shuffle Knob
• Pads: 16
• Mode Buttons: 6
• Clear Button
• Variation Buttons: A, B
• Scale Button
• Last Step Button
• Start/Stop Button
• Scatter On Button
• Scatter Depth Button
• Tap Button
• Power Switch (Rear)

Display

• 7 segments, 4 characters (LED)

Effects

• Reverb, Delay, Side Chain

Scatter

• Presets: 10

Nominal Input Level

• -10 dBu

Input Impedance

• 100 k ohms

Nominal Output Level

• -10/+4 dBu (Selectable)

Output Impedance

• Mix Out, Assignable Out: 1 k hm
• Phones: 130 ohms

Connectors

• Phones Jack: 1/4 inch stereo phone type
• Mix out (L/Mono, R) Jacks: 1/4 inch phone type
• Assignable Out (A,B) Jacks: 1/4 inch phone type
• External Out (A, B) Jacks: 1/4 inch phone type
• USB Port: USB type B (Audio, MIDI)
• DC In Jack

Power Supply

• AC Adaptor

Current Draw

• 1000 mA

Dimensions

• Width: 400 mm
• Depth: 260 mm
• Height: 65 mm
• Weight: 1.9 kg

Includes

• Owner's Manual
• Safety Leaflet
• AC Adaptor