Roland R-8

Roland R-8
Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer
Manufacturer	Roland
Dates	1989 - 1996
Price	UK£665
Technical specifications
Polyphony	12 voices
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 has 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 fewer individual outputs: 6 instead of 8.

In 1992, Roland released a second version of the R-8 drum machine, the R-8 MKII. This version offers greatly expanded memory. User pattern memory was doubled from 100 to 200, arranged in two banks of 100, A and B. The ROM went from 67 to 199 samples. It brought onboard 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, while losing 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 released a trimmed-down version of the R8 in the form of the Roland R-5, which had fewer sounds and features than the R-8

PCM sound cards

Known Roland ROM cards, each containing 26 samples:

• 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

• Drexciya
• Pimp C
• Autechre
• New Order
• 808 State
• Prince
• Massive Attack
• Jean-Michel Jarre
• Aphex Twin
• Colin Towns
• Human League
• Jermaine Jackson
• PIG
• Jimmy Edgar
• N-Trance
• Orbital
• Tangerine Dream
• Underworld
• The Shamen

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.
• "Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer MkII". Music Technology. July 1993. p. 39. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173.