Roland TR 808 - Quick Start
The 808 is a pretty basic machine that isn't too complicated to program, though it has a few odd quirks that are good to know. Before, you write any new patterns, it's important to clear the old ones.
How to clear old patterns
1. Turn on with the top left power switch
2. Turn the MODE knob all the way to the left, to "Pattern Clear".
3. Choose which memory location you wish to erase by pressing one of the
16 step buttons.
4. The "Basic Variation" switch needs to be in the AB position.
5. Press the Red "Pattern Clear" Button
yOU will see the AB LEDs flash really fast
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How to program a simple pattern (1st Part rhythms)
1. Clear any existing patterns (See above)
2. Turn the MODE knob to the "first part"
3. The LED should be blinking in time with the tempo.
(If it's not blinking, check the sync switch at the back of the 808.
It should be set to internal sync)
4. set the Basic variation to A. The A LED will light up.
5. Hit START.
The LED should be running across the 16 steps
6. Set the scale (I mostly use the 3rd row which is 4/4 time)
7. Use the "instrument select" rotary switch to choose your instrument.
8. Program your beats by pressing the step buttons (step mode) or the TAP button
(Tap mode)
9. If you flick the Basic variation to B you can program the steps 17 to 32.
The B LED will light up. (Keep the MODE Knob on "first Part")
Setting the variation to A/B will play steps 1 to 32.
I generally use pre-scale 3 which is a standard 4/4.
If you want to go double time, use pre-scale 4
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How to Play existing patterns
Now that you have programmed lots of patterns, this is how you play them back. You can jump from one pattern to another.
1. Turn on with the top left power switch
2. Turn the MODE knob all the way to the left, to "MANUAL PLAY".
3. Choose which rhythm you wish to play by pressing one of the
16 step buttons.
4. You will notice that the LED above the step button will flash.
5. The "Basic Variation" switch has 3 modes (A, B, and A/B) which gives you a total of 32 sixteen step patterns.
5a. Set the Basic variation to A. The A LED will flash.
6. Adjust tempo
7. Press the START/STOP Button
8. If you set the variation to B, steps 17 to 32 will play.
Setting the variation to A/B will play steps 1 to 32.
9. Pressing a new step button will tell the 808 to play the rhythm stored in that memory slot.
aLWAYS check the sync switch at the back
The 808 in this pic is the master, and is sending DinSync (clock info) to a TB 303.
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The Second Part
I don't use this very often, but it's good to know what it does.
The 808 allows you to program a total of 32 different patterns (16x2).
Each memory has a 1st & second part that can be used for even more
rhythm patterns.
This second part is used to allow for rhythms other than 16 or 32 steps.
Use it if want 12 steps, or 18 or 24 steps.
It allows you add the difference that you are missing from the first part to the second part.
For example, if you want to make a 24 step pattern, you can make the 1st part 16 steps long and
the second part, 8 steps long. Or you can make the 1st and second part 12 steps.
Below is an example of how to use the second part.
This is how you add a second part to an existing 1st part.
1. Program your 1st part rhythm as shown above.
2. While it it playing turn the program knob to "second part".
3. Hold the red button down & press the last step you wish the 2nd part to have.
eg to add an extra 8 steps to your existing 16 step pattern, press the
8th step button. You now have a 24 step pattern.
4. When you that step button you will instantly hear the tempo
of your existing pattern change (it's slower).
5. Add your extra beats as above.
6. While the drum is playing you can add new sounds to each part
by switching the program knob between the two parts
If the mode selector is on the 2nd part, then the LEDs will indicate
the 2nd part only.
If the mode selector is on the 1st part, then the LEDs will indicate
the 1st part only.
7. Press the START/STOP button when programming is finished.
How to program two 12 step patterns
ie 12 steps in part A & 12 in part B
1. Choose a free Memory slot (steps 1 - 16)
2. Set mode to Pattern Clear. (set Basic Variation to A/B).
Clear patterns as above.
3. Set the Basic variation to A. The A LED will flash.
4. Set Mode to 1st Part Pattern Write
5. Press Start.
(The sequencer must be running for this to work).
6. set PreScale to 4
You can add some drum beats if you wish for the 1st part, or leave it empty for now.
8. Set Mode to 2nd Part Pattern Write
(the LEDs for each step will go off)
9. Press CLEAR + STEP12
9a. Program some drumbeats for the second part.
You have now set up a 24 step pattern and the flow of LEDs will change from the 1st part
to the second part. (Note, the number of steps in the 1st & second parts don't need to be the same).
10. Set the mode selector to Part 1 to program new beats or exit that part if there are existing beats present.
Likewise for part 2
If the mode selector is on the 2nd part, then the LEDs will indicate the 2nd part only.
If the mode selector is on the 1st part, then the LEDs will indicate the 1st part only.
11. Press the START/STOP button when programming is finished.
After you have done all this put the 808 into pattern play mode.
Now you can jump between patterns in real time.
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I/F Variation Switch
I/F Variation = Intro or Fill-in Variation A or B
This performs the same function as the BASIC VARIATION switch, except it is only used for INTROs and FILL INs and relates to the last four white STEP buttons.
Intros and fill ins are additional rhythms separate from your basic rhythms. You add an intro at the beginning of your main rhythm, and a fill-ins between different basic rhythms.
The step buttons 1 to 16 are divided into two groups:
a) BASIC RHYTHMS (buttons numbered 1 to 12)
b) INTROS / FILL INs
(white buttons numbered 1 to 4)
Drum-fills will play automatically. This is based on the
'AUTOFILL-IN' knob selection.
The AutoFill-In knob can be set to 16, 12, 8, 4 and 2.
The selected "White Pattern" will automatically
play every 16 or 8 or 4 measures etc
If the AUTOFILL-IN is set to 'Manual
' then the 'TAP" button will function as a 'FILL-IN' trigger... but
only while the unit is playing.
You can turn the Intro/fill function on and off by pressing the TAP button.
When you first turn the mode to "play" you will see two LEDs lit:
a) One from the 1 -12 group (flashing LED)
b) one from the 1 - 4 group (solid LED)
Pressing the start button will play the rhythm as standard.
BUT
If you press the TAP button first, the 1-4 LED will start to flash.
Now press the START button and the selected intro rhythm will play before the basic rhythm.
To disable this function just press the TAP button again, and the LED will stop flashing.
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Setting the Pre-Scale.
Pre scale is the number of steps for each beat.
The prescale must always be chosen to match the minimum division of the note to be used in the rhythm pattern.
Matching the pre-scale on each of the recorded rhythms is really important. Though the switch may not change, each track can still run at different tempos. This was the case when I bought this drum second hand, all those years ago... I couldn't understand why each rhythm played at a different speed.
If you are playing a pattern and decide to change the pres-cale switch, don't forget to also press the red Pres-cale button.
Example 1
To program a rhythm in 3/4 time.... uses a 12 step measure and the number 3 Pre Scale.
1. STOP the Rhythm
2. Set MODE to PATTERN CLEAR
3. Press a BASIC rhythm button (1 to 12)
The LED should light up but not flash.
4. Set the Basic Variation switch to A
5. Press CLEAR button
6. Set MODE to PATTERN WRITE 1st PART
7. press START/STOP button
8. Set the Pre Scale selector switch to #3
9. Hold the CLEAR button down & press switch 12 at the same time.
10. Release the CLEAR button
You have just set a 12 step pattern using a #3 Pre Scale.
Example 2: (basic 4/4 beat)
Create a 16 step pattern using the #3 pre scale
1. Clear the memory as above (in A/B mode)
2. Set variation to A
3. Set MODE to PATTERN WRITE 1st PART
4. press START button
5. Set the Pre Scale selector switch to #3
6. Hold the CLEAR button down & press switch 16 at the same time.
7. Release the CLEAR button
Example 3.
You can change the time signature of existing rhythms without erasing them.
1. STOP the Rhythm
2. Select a BASIC rhythm button (1 to 12) to edit
The LED should light up but not flash.
3. Set the Basic Variation switch to A
4. Set MODE to PATTERN WRITE 1st PART
5. press START button
Your rhythm will play.
6. Set the Pre Scale selector switch to #3 (for example)
7. Hold the CLEAR button down & press switch one of the step switches (1 - 16)
at the same time.
8. Release the CLEAR button
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Composing the Rhythm Track
Play/Compose/Track ClearThere is memory for 12 Rhythm Tracks .
It's labeled in orange and uses the instrument select dial.
This is how we sequence a entire performance.
It's done live.
1. STOP the Rhythm pattern.
2. Set the MODE to COMPOSE
3. You will see a Step LED flash.
4. Set the instrument select to #1
(to compose in bank 1)
5. Press TRACK CLEAR
6. Set both variation switches to A
7. Press START.
While in this mode every change of rhythm
patterns will be memorized.
8. Play your desired patterns in whatever order you wish.
9. Press STOP
The exact time you press STOP is critical .... it must be exactly when the measure ends.
10. Set the MODE to PLAY to listen to your performance.
Each of the 12 tracks will memorize up to 64 measures.
These can be used separately or together for a max of 768 measures (12x64)
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It's important to note that both Variation switches are "play" function only.
The 808 doesn't memorise the setting of either switch.
When the drum plays rhythm #5, you can control if part A, part B or part AB is finally played.
I think this is a pretty neat performance feature.
+ TR 808 Drum links
