Roland TR-8S: build a kit

21 drum sounds this box makes on its own, in the order to build them.

Record each hit with the sampler, recorder, or DAW you use.

This block draws on the TR-8S Reference Manual eng01, pp.17-33; its values are starting points.

Everything else about the Roland TR-8S

1KICK 1Short, front-loaded kick
kick · hard
- TONEBD category, ACB
  ATTACK below exists only for ACB tones of the BD category (p.30)
- TUNE4(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY92(0…255)
- ATTACK178(0…255)
  Attack strength of the bass drum
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ATTACK48(-128…127)
- REVERB SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 1.
2KICK 2Long, tuned-down kick
kick · dark
- TONEBD category, ACB
- TUNE-30(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY176(0…255)
- ATTACK64(0…255)
- INST FX TYPELPF(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- LPF CUTOFF150(0…255)
  On this filter a *higher* Cutoff lowers the frequency, deepening the LPF (p.31)
- REVERB SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 2.
3KICK 3Driven kick with a broken top end
kick · dirty
- TONEBD category, ACB
- TUNE0(-128…127)
- DECAY110(0…255)
- ATTACK200(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEDRIVE(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DRIVE BALANCE190(1…255)
  The range also carries OFF, which is not a number and so is not modelled here
- DRIVE96(0…255)
- DRIVE LEVEL110(0…255)
  Drive raises output; trim it back here (p.32)
- REVERB SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND0(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as KICK 3.
4SNARE 1Tight snare, wires up
snare · hard
- TONESD category, ACB
  SNAPPY below exists only for ACB tones of the SD category (p.30)
- TUNE12(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY84(0…255)
- SNAPPY190(0…255)
  Volume of the snare wires
- INST FX TYPETRANSIENT(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- TRANSIENT ATTACK40(-128…127)
- REVERB SEND30(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND12(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 1.
5SNARE 2Open snare with air on the tail
snare · bright
- TONESD category, ACB
- TUNE34(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY132(0…255)
- SNAPPY224(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEH BOOST(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- H BOOST120(0…255)
- H BOOST FREQ168(0…255)
- REVERB SEND64(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND28(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 2.
6SNARE 3Crushed snare, sampling rate pulled down
snare · dirty
- TONESD category, ACB
- TUNE8(-128…127)
- DECAY100(0…255)
- SNAPPY160(0…255)
- INST FX TYPECRUSHER(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- CRUSHER BALANCE180(1…255)
- SAMPLE RATE96(0…255)
  Higher lowers the sampling frequency — more lo-fi, not less (p.33)
- CRUSHER FILTER190(0…255)
  Lower it to take the harsh top off (p.33)
- REVERB SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as SNARE 3.
7CLAP 1Hand clap with a short room
clap · bright
- TONEHC category
- TUNE24(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY112(0…255)
- INST FX TYPEH BOOST(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- H BOOST96(0…255)
- REVERB SEND88(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLAP 1.
8CLAP 2Clap tucked behind the snare
clap · soft
- TONEHC category
- TUNE-8(-128…127)
- DECAY72(0…255)
- LEVEL132(0…255)
- INST FX TYPELPF(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- LPF CUTOFF120(0…255)
- REVERB SEND64(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLAP 2.
9RIM 1Dry rim shot on the offbeat
rim · clean
- TONERS category
- TUNE16(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY40(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND48(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as RIM 1.
10TOM 1Low tom with the room left on
tom · dark
- TONETOM category, ACB — 808Low/Mid/HighTom
  COLOR is ambience on the 808 toms (p.31)
- TUNE-48(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY168(0…255)
- COLOR72(-128…127)
  On 808 toms this is the amount of noise/ambience
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND56(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as TOM 1.
11TOM 2High tom, resonant and pitched up
tom · bright
- TONETOM category, ACB — 909Low/Mid/HighTom
  COLOR is resonance on the 909 toms (p.31)
- TUNE56(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY104(0…255)
- COLOR40(-128…127)
  On 909 toms this is the amount of resonance
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND32(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as TOM 2.
12CLOSED HAT 1Closed hat, straight sixteenths
closed-hat · clean
- TONECH category
- TUNE0(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY36(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND12(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND16(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLOSED HAT 1.
13CLOSED HAT 2Hat pushed into the compressor
closed-hat · dirty
- TONECH category
- TUNE40(-128…127)
- DECAY44(0…255)
- INST FX TYPECOMP+DRV(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- COMP+DRV BALANCE200(1…255)
- CMP BALANCE220(1…255)
- DRV BALANCE130(1…255)
- REVERB SEND20(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as CLOSED HAT 2.
14OPEN HAT 1Open hat choked by the closed one
open-hat · bright
Routing — KIT Edit > MUTE, OH = CH so CloseHH chokes the open hat (p.27)
- TONEOH category — the manual calls this sound OpenHH (p.27)
- TUNE28(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY148(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND48(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as OPEN HAT 1.
15OPEN HAT 2Open hat with the top rolled off
open-hat · dark
Routing — KIT Edit > MUTE, OH = CH so CloseHH chokes the open hat (p.27)
- TONEOH category
- TUNE-24(-128…127)
- DECAY176(0…255)
- INST FX TYPELPF(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- LPF CUTOFF132(0…255)
- REVERB SEND56(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND48(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as OPEN HAT 2.
16RIDE 1Ride keeping the eighths
ride · clean
- TONERC category
- TUNE8(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY128(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND56(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND32(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as RIDE 1.
17METALLIC 1Rim shot bit-reduced into a tick
metallic · dirty
- TONERS category
- TUNE64(-128…127)
- DECAY32(0…255)
- INST FX TYPECRUSHER(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- CRUSHER BALANCE255(1…255)
- SAMPLE RATE140(0…255)
- REVERB SEND16(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND72(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as METALLIC 1.
18GHOST PERC 1Mid tom dropped under the groove
ghost-perc · soft
- TONETOM category, ACB — 606Low/Mid/HighTom
  COLOR is ambience on the 606 toms (p.31)
- TUNE20(-128…127)
- DECAY56(0…255)
- LEVEL120(0…255)
  Sits under everything; the level slider is this value
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND48(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND40(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as GHOST PERC 1.
19GHOST PERC 2High tom tuned into the floor, lowpassed under the groove
ghost-perc · dark
- TONETOM category, ACB — 606Low/Mid/HighTom
  COLOR is ambience on the 606 toms (p.31)
- TUNE-70(-128…127)
- DECAY84(0…255)
- LEVEL108(0…255)
  Under everything; the level slider is this value
- INST FX TYPELPF(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND30(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND24(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as GHOST PERC 2.
20NOISE 1The hat slot let ring and crushed, wherever its tone came from
noise · dirty
Routing — KIT Edit > MUTE, OH = CH so the closed hat still chokes it (p.27)
- TONEany
  Every parameter here is in p.30's "Common to all tones" block, so no tone category is required
- TUNE88(-128…127)
- DECAY206(0…255)
- INST FX TYPECRUSHER(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- LEVEL118(0…255)
- REVERB SEND76(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND52(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as NOISE 1.
21IMPACT 1Crash on the downbeat of the section
impact · hard
- TONECC category
- TUNE0(-128…127)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- DECAY220(0…255)
- INST FX TYPETHRU(THRU, HPF, LPF, LPF/HPF, H BOOST, L BOOST, L/H BOOST, ISOLATOR, TRANSIENT, COMPRESSOR, DRIVE, COMP+DRV, CRUSHER)
  Hold [SHIFT], press [INST]
- REVERB SEND120(0…255)
  INST Edit > ReverbSend
- DELAY SEND64(0…255)
  INST Edit > DelaySend
- SHUFFLE0(-128…127)pattern-wide
  Pattern-wide: one setting for the whole pattern, not per instrument
  Hold [SHIFT], press [PTN SELECT]
Record one hit with your recorder as IMPACT 1.

1KICK 1Short, front-loaded kick

2KICK 2Long, tuned-down kick

3KICK 3Driven kick with a broken top end

4SNARE 1Tight snare, wires up

5SNARE 2Open snare with air on the tail

6SNARE 3Crushed snare, sampling rate pulled down

7CLAP 1Hand clap with a short room

8CLAP 2Clap tucked behind the snare

9RIM 1Dry rim shot on the offbeat

10TOM 1Low tom with the room left on

11TOM 2High tom, resonant and pitched up

12CLOSED HAT 1Closed hat, straight sixteenths

13CLOSED HAT 2Hat pushed into the compressor

14OPEN HAT 1Open hat choked by the closed one

15OPEN HAT 2Open hat with the top rolled off

16RIDE 1Ride keeping the eighths

17METALLIC 1Rim shot bit-reduced into a tick

18GHOST PERC 1Mid tom dropped under the groove

19GHOST PERC 2High tom tuned into the floor, lowpassed under the groove

20NOISE 1The hat slot let ring and crushed, wherever its tone came from

21IMPACT 1Crash on the downbeat of the section