TR-8s vs Digitakt - Should Elektron be worried?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Showing some of the main big differences between the Roland TR8s and the Elektron Digitakt. This video was mainly to help me decide which i should get next for my all hardware setup. Hopefuly it this videow ill shed some insight in the main differences between these two drum machines.
Rolands TR-8s Website - www.roland.com/global/product...
Check current price of the Digitakt now - amzn.to/2D5bWIt
Also check out Elektrons website here - www.elektron.se/products/digi...
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Footage sources:
@KNOBS, incredibly awesome videos probably my favorite channel on youtube right now.. - • Roland - TR-8S (for Mo...
@RolandChannel - • Roland - TR-8S (for Mo...
• Roland TR-8S Rhythm Pe...
@Elektron - • Roland TR-8S Rhythm Pe...
• Digitakt - Eight voice...
@MacProVideoDotCom - • Elektron 105: Digitakt...
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Gear Used:
Cables - amzn.to/2D3h189
Favorite Headphones - amzn.to/2Byszww
Recorder - amzn.to/2AeJpCq
Filmed with:
Camera - amzn.to/2jxi3xj
Lens - amzn.to/2BvtPAB
Tripod - amzn.to/2AisdM6 - เพลง
Which would you choose?
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Price Point - @1:00
Sampling - @1:26
Sound Design - @3:14
Sequencer - @5:43
Storage - @9:11
In's/Out's - @9:52
Direct Control - @12:25
Fun - @13:40
Finale - @15:09
Enrique Martinez tr-8s
I had the Roland tr-8 and I sold it for the Digitakt. I never played with the Roland tr-8 live. I have played with Digitakt live. I love the Digitakt. It’s an upscale version of the Kong Volca Sample.
Volca Sample is a gateway drug to the Digitakt, Volca FM is a gateway drug to the Digitone.
I now have both and agree. For performance, TR-8S is ruling. Fun factor for live performing and live setup, it's a done deal. Digitakt is just too much menu diving for you to have fun live. The sound manipulation is nicer on the Digitakt but getting the beats is much quicker on the TR-8S.
1:52 ROland's Sampler is the SP404A, i'm soon gonna get one ! ROland rocks for samplers, J DIlla used a SP303 for DOugnuts !
And the SP404A is integrated with the TR8 :)
Your Oberheim Xpander in the background glistens like a distant suburban valley townscape, viewed from a hilltop at night. August, 1982...listening to the car radio with my high school sweetheart, overlooking our sparkling town. What lay in store for me, for us? Where would electronic music take me? That night, everything seemed possible. None of this ever happened.
This made me feel a certain way..
nice. sounds like a trip.
I need your brain loool
I noticed this as well, but wasn't sure what it was. Looks very cool though. Didn't all of us have a hilltop with a girl in high school? Mine was a little earlier, in 1976...
hey, remember me? i was the guy on the other car with kick ass music and smoke coming trough the window...(btw it was smashing pumpkins, Prodigy and a couple of mixes by Jeff mills and Derrick May and Plastikman's Sheet One) oh boy what times where those! ;)
Just so you know, the TR8s can also record all outputs through USB, just like overbridge on the Digitakt. This is from sweetwater sales page: "The TR-8S Rhythm Performer features eight analog audio outputs that you can use to separate your sounds for recording or processing purposes. But if you're recording to your DAW, it's even easier to use the USB connection - you'll be able to record every TR-8S channel to a separate track in your DAW in a single pass."
BIGPUN4EVER ah yea noticed that after! *face palm* good thing I gave the point to the TR-8s though!
If you’ve ever messed around with ReBirth software from back in the day (or any of the original TR machines with 16 step pads) then the TR-8 feels like a magical hardware version of beautiful button, knob and fader goodness. I fell in love with mine so fast. It’s suuuuuuuper fun!
Great video! I’m looking forward to the show as well! 😎👍🏽
I've been looking at getting a drum machine for a while, but as a virtual beginner with such things the Digitakt does look complicated to me, so if/when I do decide to buy one then it'll be the TR-8S for me.
It just looks way more accessible to use, it has plenty of kits built in, kits that I'll actually use such as the 909, a memory card full of other samples will be more than enough for what I want. Oh and it looks nice, 😆 all those multi coloured lights and the layout of the machine is very aesthetically pleasing to me, I just like the whole package of the TR-8S better. 👍
The TR8S sounds great and is one of the most enjoyable machines I have ever used. If you have ever owned a 808 or 909, the TR8s is like having every feature (onboard sampling aside) you ever wished for in the original machines and more. The performance features are unmatched.
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Great video! I bought a TR8S and second guessed it for a second till I saw this. I wish I could turn quantize off or have the more in-depth sample editing features and storage the Digitakt has, but for the feeling of performance, happy to stick with the TR8S
Yeah I feel TR8S is way easier to use than Elektron gear.
I think for a lot of people it will come down to those final couple categories you discussed, because the Digitakt is fundamentally a sampler/sequencer and the TR-8s is fundamentally a drum machine. They can be used in similar ways and many people are comparing them to each other because of the similar price, but they're ultimately different tools for different jobs. I'm primarily interested in hardware like this for the purpose of performance: using sounds and sequences I've preselected or designed in the studio and then dropping them into a machine that will allow me to easily and intuitively perform them. For this reason, the TR-8s is the far better choice for me. If I was more interested in a tool for live sampling and sound design/mangling, the Digitakt would be the obvious winner.
The winner would be an MPC. I have both TR-8 and TR-8S great for playing live. I returned the Digitakt because I didn't have time to understand the kit.
I took the TR8s for live jams:
1. Sidechaine effect for Audio in, this is the final touch for my mix so that that everything sounds punchier.
2. Auto fill ins... I know exacly where I am with my loops.
3. Direct controll over volume/muting. This makes it more a live instrument for me.
4. Delay, Reverb and Mastereffect for building drops.
5. All the classic Roland drummaschine sounds + more in one Box... no need for samples (for me yet)
6. The lights... It looks so cool an asks to be played.
Amazing “Versus” video. Even the background loop in amazing. ✊🤘
I have both. Love them! My studio is all hardware. I would get the Digitakt
I had just ordered the Digitakt before the big TR-8s announcement. This video helped alleviate my anxiety. lol
haha no buyers remorse.. guaranteed!
If you wanted a straightforward drum machine with user sound storage, then the TR8S, is better, and due to the lack of user sound storage, the digitakt was the "budget" drum machine, since TR8, Drumbrute lacked that... but the DT was never really a drummachine, more of a sampler.
But for being creative with sound, the Digitakt beats the TR8S hands down...
You are a very good explainer , nice smooth voice and very good way to explain things..
Great review - very fair representation of both machines; they fulfill different roles. Thumbs up.
Appreciate that! Glad you found it helpful
This is a very good review. It would have been a great review if we heard these machines being used. :)
A very thoughtful and insightful comparison. I actually had this same dilemma back in December last year when I decided I wanted to get a synth and a drum machine to basically mess around with... Now, I don't do Ableton / FL / Garage / Logic or any of those other DAWs because really, I'm an old dog who can only learn so many tricks at once. I bought these things to 'PLAY' with. So, what did I decide? It was nearly as close as yours, but the kicker for me was two things: 1) Back when I wanted to do this the first time... nearly 30 years ago... I had Roland gear, so it was familiar to me. 2) The ability to quickly alter each individual sound during playback - like you said, you CAN do that on the Digi, but it's not nearly as fast, and you can only realistically alter one sound at a time. So yeah, for me the choice was the TR-8S or what I refer to as 'Trace'. And I'm having all kinds of fun with it! But yeah... that Digitakt is a hell of a machine, and if was more into sound design and some of the other things you mentioned, I might very well have gone that way. :)
Thank you, Enrique for very professional made videos. This is not usual on TH-cam.. And yes, of course, your content is also very good, informative and beneficial. Thank you.
Martin! Thanks man, I appreciate the comment. Glad you found it enjoyable
Enrique, you are a charming person, and I love the way you made this video. I get the complexity and also understand, that for me the choice would be TR-8S because I am not a teach guy. I'm more a musician and have not the patience for spending to much time educating myself with Elektron.
One thing this video fails to mention when comparing these two machines is the fact the TR-8S has digital models of all of the classic Roland drum machines, thus, making it a virtual analog drum machine as well as a sample player. The Digitak only handles samples.
Preach from the Church of Roland (I am also a member 😁)
Yep, but you can get those samples and load them on the digitakt
@@midclock Yes but not a digital model of them
@@100voo ok clear. I cannot say if there's any difference, as I don't know what parameters are on the Roland. Anyway with Adsr, pitch, eq, and fx, I bet you wouldn't miss digital models... And you are not limited to Roland machines only. Digitakt is a sample player, but it does it very well.
@@midclock I think the cool think at least for me , it's that the TR-8s is basically an drum FM synth , they added more stuff on 2.5 firmware , it's something that the video fail to mention. Now it has probability and more models.
I would love a comparison of the TR8S vs the RYTM. I’m deciding if I should just keep saving my money
Nice vid. I dug the background music as well. Nice vibe.
Thanks Jay! Hope to see you on here more often
Thanks Enrique ! Your a great Communicator/Person 🐸👍🏽
Oh man I pure the best! Thanks for saying that
Would love to see a video from you with the new 2.0 firmware update to the TR8S. Now that there’s 11 different FM engines built in as well as a bunch of new effects this changes the game!
Yeah, it was close when this vid was made, but now I feel like the Roland has so many things that push it past the 'Takt for general use.
The Elektron is still superior for sound design and creative LFO use.. But other than that I don't use mine nearly as much as the TR now.
Even without the new FM tones, I think the faders are way more fun in a live performance situation.
@@Gainn The digitakt to me looks like a sampler's dream; and I've never been a huge sample guy. Maybe because my gear isn't able to be out all the time due to space, but I definitely don't have a setup where I can just hear something cool - record it- and away I go. Performing with existing sounds, or maybe groups of samples loaded later and tweaking them / playing them in unique ways is my jam.
TR8S for me in the near future I think.
@@Daphoid the new tr-06s might be worth looking at.. You do lose track count over the others, but it's small and still keeps most of the workflow of its bigger brother.
It might even be worth looking at an mc-707 or 101 if space is a real issue because they can do a hell of a lot. But the downside is that the performance options on the tr's are more.. Instant..
Having up to 16 drum sounds per track makes the mc's incredibly versatile, and then you have all the (really quite powerful) synthesis capabilities to play with as well
TL;DR: to me the tr's are better performance machines. The digitakt feels more like a production tool.
I'd be looking at an mc-101 + tr-06s combo if I didn't have the bigger brothers.
@@Gainn Totally valid points. As I look at the digitakt, it just looks more like a super technical piece of hardware; rather than a fun performance tool. As you said, super focused on sound design, working with samples from Splice/Internet/Records/the world - whereas the TR8S is all about getting your groove going as fast as possible with the added FM & sample import features.
I've got a Maschine Mk III here as well that I need to spend more time with. The GAS part of my brain says the tr8s would go great with my growing collection of hardware gear. But the logical part says the Maschine is pretty versatile but I'm chained to my computer - and as I"ve owned a Mk II before it for 4-5 years; it's definitely comfortable; but also getting that audio into Ableton can be tricky.
Oh first world problems.
Tr-8s For the live performance, a beast !
Really love the tr-8s.
Just one think, i hope one day Roland making a new firmware with a quantize on / off mod...
(My bad english i m learning)
For live performance the TR8S is miles ahead, I found the digitakt to be rather clunky.
The sampling work is much better in the Digitakt tho'. no?
Dear Ricky, Have to tell you, yours is one of the most insightful reviews on TR-8S, and your style of a points playoff really fun. Personally, it would be a massive learning curve, going from my MC-505 to a TR-8S, never mind Elektron kit. That said, you explained the sequencer so well, it is obvious it goes way beyond 4-on-the-floor MC-505. I kind of knew you would choose Elektron, because you are into their ecosystem already, whereas my only Elektron piece is their original SID Station. Thanks again!
Good discussion throughout. It's really a different play / design style
exactly. Such a hard comparison but there is a good amount of crossover.
Really well done, thanks for this video, subscribed.
Appreciate that Michael thanks for watching
I own a TR8-S since June of this year, and is an amazing machine for a live performance i love it and in studio the multi-channel audio and MIDI interface makes all easy. I have the opportunity in the past to try a digitak but i dont see my self with that machine doing a live act, Digitak sounds so good but its kind complicated for doing fast changes.
I really appreciate the knowledge and your video; keep at it man!
Could you please do a direct comparison between the roland tr-8s and arturia drumbrute creation?
very helpful video. both look great. I want both 😃 thanks for the explanation
I couldn't stop thinking about Marshall from ”how I met your mother”
you do look alike
Plus,
tombs up for the good & simple explanation that you do
Thanks:)
I would really like to see your comparison between the TR-8S and the Drumbrute Impact. I appreciate your insight on equipment.
tried both also, favorite feature of the TR8s is the individual outs, I ran the stereo outs and ran my daw out the assignable outs. the TR8s can be used a soundcard for laptop. thats a big plus for me. also the using the dual mono audio input for a synth.
Great video! Drums: I sold the Digitakt and the RYTM and got the TR-8s. The RYTM had many menus, glitchy mk2 hardware, plus still no Overbridge after a year of delay. “Quack!” For sample-layered drum synthesis, stereo side chain, 8 analog outs, USB audio/midi, the TR-8s does everything I needed from the RYTM.
all good points, and one of the reasons i haven't updated my rytm mk1 haha
Excellent compare. For me it showed that it's the TR-8S. I appreciate the Electron is bigger and more powerful but that menu diving would drag after a while.
Coming to this video a second time a year later, might pick up the tr8s for bday lol.
For me, I really like the sound of the Digitakt, the reverb, the delay, just everything sounds top notch. Great comparison, both machines are awesome.
I love my Digitakt! Even though the FX possibilities of the TR seems exciting, I just cannot be sure if it’d be cutting it in a real pro situation, or if you’d have to use outboard stuff anyways... Good video though, thanks!
Thanks oguz, I was thinking the same thing when it came to the FX lol
45 McChickens is a lot of McChickens
pfft.. you're telling me? that like breakfast AND lunch..
Hahaha
it really depends on what you wanna do with the machines to find out which one is the best buy. if sampling capability is important to you - the digitakt is the clear winner. but I think it's really hard to compare the digitakt to the tr-8s because they both serve different needs. I feel like the tr-8s is more similar to a machinedrum uw+... both are digital drum synths with limited sampling capabilities. the digitakt on the other hand is a full featured sampler.
I had the exact same dilemma. For me the deal breaker for Digitakt was the mono sample playback only. What a massive missed opportunity! I've ordered the Roland, but it's so hot I'm having to wait 2 months to get mine :(
Oh no! Why 2 months?? Shipping?
The first batch at my local stockist are all spoken for. I vacillated too long!
Seen From Space 2 months... what a bummer - these 2 months are going to drag on and on - and each time you see a Digitakt on the web, I bet you can’t help but look at the calendar lol.
Be worth the wait though - I love mine... When I started seeing the praise the Roland was getting I was hoping I didn’t spend 700 bucks on something I wished was the other thing but nope - I’m more than please with mine - and it’s weird how like normally you get a new bit of kit, a synth, hardware or virtual, and you spend way more time with it than any of the rest of your toys - but jeez, I’ve barely even switched on another synth or booted up Ableton since I bought this. There’s SO much to it. Like SO much...
You’ll love it mate 👍
I've already started cooking up custom hits and loops in Logic to load onto it when it arrives 😎
I don't doubt you get great results - I've devoured YT demos and Digitakt is amazing. Agreed, stereo samples are less important for kicks, closed hihats etc. But if there's a big stereo reverb on a snare that's inherent in the sample, it frees up the global reverb to use *a different* effect on other parts. I almost never put reverb on rides or crashes because they already have a stereo image. I roll my own in Logic ;-) And I don't have to touch pan pots to separate them - they simply occupy their own space. I've experimented with the Octatrack as drum machine, but it doesn't have the immediacy of a real drum machine.
TR8s is a very nice step up from the old one, but i own the Digitakt already. Im not sure I can go back to a "regular" drum machine anymore. Digitakt is just an inspirational instrument. Some of the most interesting music Ive made has come out of that little black box. I would give up the Mc chickens in a heartbeat if i had to get one again. lol Choose Digitakt Enrique!
Shhh.. i got the Digitakt already and the mcChickens are in the mail haha, jk. But i hear you. I've had this thing for like 12 hours and my mind keeps getting blown. Just now getting into midi sequencing and parameter locking program changes and what not
I think that after getting mixed reviews about their boutique series synths, Roland did a good job with the tr-8s.
Well articulated video.
Changing the length of steps in real time was one of a crucial factor. Instead of pattern by pattern jump to realize that or stutter whole step lengths.
Thanks it made me realize whats suit me best and its a clear video
I am hopefully looking forward to akai JJOS 4XXXL.😁
Hey Enrique! Thanks for the video man. Just a heads up, the TR-8S can stream audio over USB to get individual tracks into your session, just like the TR-8. Thanks again and keep up the videos!
Awesome, thanks for the input. Does this mean you can track just a stereo out of the TR-8s into your DAW? or all sounds as seperate inputs?
All outs as separate tracks. Or a master 2 track.
Digitakt / Overbridge :)
baaaaaammmmmm!
As you said in the direct control part: for me in a live setup that's the most important thing. I'd use this machine for making additional drums, so wont have any pre-made loops. And on the fly it seems a lot of programming on the Digitakt. TR8s for me, without question (with all the respekt of the Elektron stuffs, they are just too programming for me, i'm sure its an up for many people, but its a huge down in my workflow)
Great job! Thank you
As soon as I saw the TR-8S released I pre-ordered it and sold my TR-8 (luckily within days). Picked my TR-8S on Saturday and it's a complete blast! It's just fun more than anything, and from fun comes inspiration for me :) I'm not knocking the Digitakt, but then I have an Octatrack MK2(!) so I'm sorted on the sampling front. As a fun example, I loaded the original LinnDrum LM1 samples into the TR-8S and used it to create vintage beats - it's pretty much perfect like this as it feels like an old drum machine in use (and you can filter the sounds and mix it all instantly). Have a go on one!
I'm going to get the Digitakt, it's the modern samplers dream in a way with an old school computer feel.
By old school, do you mean mono? If so, then yes it's exactly like the old school samplers
Audio Stream (all 11 Tracks individual!!!) via USB is also for the TR_8S possible, and the good thing there is: no overbridge is needed for that! ;-)
Oh man i gotta do more research next time :'( Thanks for correcting me :)
No Problem. I had the Digitakt too. But i sold it after about a month. Its a nice toy, but in the end it did not satisfyed me as i wanted it. I had many Drummachines all lost in the End from AR, TR-8, Vermona to Temepst and so on. The TR-8s seems for me 100% perfect ... even without sampling! I m ok with prepare my Samples in Ableton load to SD card and good to go. When i wanna sample i use mk2 OT or OP-1. So for me THIS is the holy Trinity 2018 :-) Can't wait to Gig with it.
@@dankefurnichts It only works that way if you use the tr8s as your main soundcard, doesnt it? Or is that just a Windows Problem?
@@Dedabile yes. But when you use a Mac you can integrate it to your standard Audio Interface (for me its a Motu Ultralite MK3) Its called aggregate Audio. Merge as many Audio Interfaces as you like to one. windows can't do this yes.
Also, TR8S assignable outputs are DC Coupled so you can run Ableton CV Tools into your modular setup. Considering the price of DC Coupled interfaces, the TR8S is a bargain.
TR-8s does look pretty awesome but I'm gonna have to go with the Digitakt as well!
I haven't tried either yet, but another thing that appeals to be about the Digitakt is the conditional and random triggering, I love the idea of being able to add a bit of automatic variation to a beat. Manual live manipulation is better of course, but if you're laying down a synth part or something it's really nice for the drums not to be just mechanically looping the same thing - and just subtle variations can be enough.
I get what you're saying about the multiple outs, I briefly owned a Drumbrute and that was one of the big appeals of that ... but once I started using it I was OMG I'm gonna end up with such a mess of wires if I really take advantage of that. I really with the Digitakt had just a couple of additional assignable outs tho, or an cue option to use the phones output for this.
as octatrack owner, TR8S wins for me.. for all the advanced fucntions i have OT, for great hands on control i will have TR8S (already ordered)
the tr8s has an lfo, too. and parameter locks.
I have the digitakt and it's a great piece of hardware. The functions may be not immediate to reach, but as you said, are endless, and it's evident that the user interface has been studied and evolved through the years.
It's a great starting point, which you can extend through midi to add more external control required in live sets.
If you need velocity control, then a drum pad can be used.
For controlling knobs, and every sound, a midi controller can do the job too.
About midi output, I think tat there's a setting to select if the port should be configured as midi out, or midi through. Sure it's not the same of having both at the same time.
Enrique clever format ...for live tweaking tr-8s no doubt....but for unique rhythmic sample warping digitact
Totally agree, Thanks for checking it out Funk Tree
For unique sample warping, any sampler released from about 1994 till now that costs less does more, works properly and doesn't have common features intentionally crippled in order to keep you buying new stuff
I think you're missing the second half of that sentence. Real cliff hanger there.
Great comparison
currently own the Digitakt. I'm thinking of getting the TR-8s as my drum machine only. Digitakt will be the sampler manipulator and clock.
pretty amazing comparison.
Apprecaite that hank! Thanks for watching
Being it the purpose for which you want a drum machine, live setting/improvisation, TR8s for sure because of its no frill straight-forward approach; after all, aside from the sound, the ease of use is what made TR lineage legendary. However, taking into account how familiar you are with the Elektron workflow, then that kind of becomes irrelevant since you're able to accomplish what you need in an equivalent amount of time. Although, I will say this, sometimes we end up getting a more cumbersome machine for its power precisely for its capability since it usually means more money, and since the price points are similar, it's very easy to trick oneself into buying the one with more bells and whistles but that may not fit the the very purpose for which you're getting the gear. Personally, i'll probably get both. The TR8s is straightforward conducive to fun, and the Digitakt is a powerhouse drum machine that is a force to be reckoned with; actually, Elektron over all.
Like the way you pass the knowledge, for me as a TR 8 user I cant wait to get the S version. It's a performer, and for me this is the big difference between the electron box's and tr8... To be honest I think they don't compare at all... I see the electron more of a studio device, perfecting the sample. They would add up each other really good come to think of it. Fix and perfect the samples with the electron, upload to the Roland, and then have some fun
Very true.. who's going to be perfecting the ADSR during a live show haha.
honestly for your purpose of having a live instrument I feel your arguments for the Digitakt were actually arguments for studio uses.
I think elektron devices are live devices... a computer will beat their capabilities any day, so does an iPad.
But unless one is Cenk from elektron, one do have to prepare the live-performances very well... on the other hand preparing for live performances is something muscicians have been doing since forever.
but as a drummer, I feel the TR-8S is more straightforward. Easier to get started on. And easeir to make quick live-tweaks on several instruments in a quick sucession.
If you throw in overbridge you have to use a computer / if your using a computer then you might as well get a regular tr8 / ableton intro and a cheap midi controller / DAWs are our friends
Since the last update of tr8s adding the FM synthesis the more accurate comparison would be with elektron rytm now. As this feature sends the digitakt down to "just sampler" category. The TR8s is simply a beast at that price point you can't get anything like that nowadays.
Always appreciate the vidz, brother! I'm an Octatrack & Digitone user and a big fan of their sequencing. I really want a dedicated drum machine to pair up with OT and my synths. Digitakt makes sense but there is some overlap with OT, and I just sold my Model:Samples so I'd prefer to look outside of the Elektron world. Any thoughts?? Drumbrute Impact I like but the snare I remember a bit white-noise heavy (like the digitone's). What other boxes am I missing besides TR8s and drumbrute? Genre for me is all over the place, experimental, melodic techno, etc... obviously COVID has us all restricted so gonna have to be an online purchase. Thanks!
Electron Sequencers are the absolute best. The TR-8S has more tracks BUT you can change samples per step, use conditional triggers and parameter lock etc on the digitakt. I use a digitakt live and its totally awesome. As mentioned Overbridge is gonna be totally insane.
When I was looking for a drum synth, I wanted a compact, no nonsense box. Build-in sequencers are great if they're very good (like the elektron one), but a total waste of money and space is they don't exactly do what you want. Even if they're very good, I think I'd still prefer a single box like the Squarp Pyramid to control all synths, much more efficient. I ultimately went with the Audiothingies Doubledrummer, for its form-factor, ease of use (no learning curve at all), gritty sound, price point, and surprisingly good fx section. It does everything it sets out to do very effectively, I never felt like something was too limited. I might get a sampler (perhaps even a digitakt) at some point as well, but that's an entirely different thing, that (imo) ideally requires a different interface.
I bought the TR-8S 4 days ago..............it will do what I need/not what I think someone wants to hear and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Trial to Dead Ears on both Performances. Thanks for your Video I love Documentaries.........Ricky.
I went with the roland maybe because I know the sound 909/808 type stuff. I do not regret it, it is fun and very capable, but I would like to also own the digitakt at some time in the future too for contrast (and i just love gear and can't have too much, lol)
I just got a secondhand tr-8s, this video heads towards the digitak until then end... then I realise I made the right choice after all... I had a machinedrum in the past and the reason I sold it was because it wasn't fun. if I want complex editing and infinite possibilities I'll use Ableton+push. if I want hardware fun and limitation use a real drum machine. Specs aren't everything!
Enrique, your video halped a lot! I really want to love the TR8S, but the cons of it are convincing me towards the Digitakt. I just wish the Digitakt was as easy to use with knobs and faders like the Roland...decisions decisions...
there are truly benefits and cons of both machines. Having said that, i still want a TR-8s after getting a digitakt haha
I’ll have both once I sell my TR-8 and get the 8S but, I wouldn’t give up my DT for the 8S. I’d rather have something closer to a true sampler.
I think that is the issue... the Digitakt is more of a sampler. And for a product to really notch that out of the radar, it would have to be a sampler.
As a drum-machine, the digitakt lacks the strightforwardness, and the TR-8S fixes most of the issues with the TR-8. Making it a really interesting drum-machine... but perhpas with a bit too much of a price increase...
I think you should get a Vermona DRM1 mkIII and sequence it with the octatrack that’s flashing in the background!
That was an amazing breakdown and I am still torn between both. Maybe you help with the deal breaker? My concern is how The TR8s would handle layered imported looped samples. Since you can't edit the samples would they lock-in and get quantized nicely or would they drift? I assume this would be easier with the Digitak because you can edit. Or am I off base in wanting this capability?
The ability to turn off quantization for the TR 8S would be a game changer for me.
totally, that would open up the ability to have that classic roland sound but with a little human behind it.
You should hire a human drummer then. ;) I've been playing drums for 30 years and I love quantization for EDM. A drummer works hard to quantize their grooves to a metronome and understand when to push ahead and pull back. EDM just needs BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! :)
haha! Thanks for watching Patient
Enrique Martinez no problem man, great video
Is there any drum machine that wont get that 100% quantization?
Don't forget that the TR8 and the TR8S do send all channels over usb to your daw. So you do not need an interface for individual in/outs. We are still waiting for overbridge... That being said: I have both the TR8 and the Digitakt. I'm thinking of swapping the TR8 for the TR8S because of the trigger out option and the individual FX/Global FX. I did a live gig a while ago with the TR8 and my modular and I don't think I can improvise with the Digitakt like I would on the TR8.
it really does come down to personal workflow with these two. Some people thrive on limitations, myself being one. I do desire to dive deep into sound design and perfection afterward, but while actually writing a track, I need immediacy, I need to feel the track and perform it and make happy accidents that become key parts and give it character.
After being in the DAW for so many years, breaking out and into hardware is what I needed. The tr8s is for certain people for a very good reason.
It lacks for me: micro timing, swing per sound, a software interface for handling samples etc (possibly in the works).
the tr8s does have more than enough sound design, better output situation, including usb output that sounds incredible at 96khz. You can certainly make a polished track on it
I have been in the same boat. I decided I will own both. One for sampling, and another for playing certain kinds of music live. Both win on looks too.
exactly.. might end up with both eventually haha
There is a master volume page on the digitakt where you can access volume of all 8 tracks via the 8 encoders at once...
Elekktrikk yeeaaaa but endless encoder vs fader feel super different to me. Especially trying to do some funky volume changes liver
The version 2.0 update made me love my tr8s
I have the TR8s, and octatrack to sample and mangle sounds of the TR8s. Although I do like Roland, the digitakt is very impressive of what it can do in one machine. I will purchase the digitakt for studio use for the time being. If I was a first-time buyer for an expensive drum machine - as standalone, the Digitakt is a no-brainer.
I have both and they are both great. I think the Digitakt is better for creative sounds, writing and sequencing but the layout and feel of the TR-8S works better for live performing.
Enjoy hearing your thoughts! It's "subjective" but it matters a lot to hear from you have you weigh matters of function vs. workflow and creativity.
I love Ableton & Maschine but Standalone machines are always sexy.
IMHO, I would take Roland because of it's layout. all the knobs are individual so you don't have to press any additional buttons to get to your desired editing parameter. I think that's a big plus for live.
For Studio use, I'd always take a DM with sampling option cause I'd like to be ready to capture anything at any moment.
I believe the TR8s Midi out doubles as a thru, not 100% sure though. Besides that, great video!
I sold my Digitakt and TR-8 and got the TR-8S. Having all those kits right out of the box (606, 707, 808, and 909) AND being able to load in the sample kits I used in the Digitakt gives me a hell of a lot of drum machine. Add in the individual outs, the huge amount of patterns/variations/fills/kits, and being pretty much knob per function and it was a no brainer. Plus, I've been a bit angry anyway that Digitakt still hasn't added Overbridge (which was advertised with the unit when I bought it months ago) and still has various glitches--some that lock the unit up. This was an easy decision.
Coming from a guy you used to mess with an 808 way back when... I bought the TR-8S because of the two, it looked 'simpler' while still having the features I wanted. Sampling wasn't a big deal for me since I don't really go that route. I think for me, the big deciding factor was 'how fun is it to play live?' TR-8S wins. At least for me. :)
Great video! It sounds like you don't really care so much for this whole ACB technology thing in the TR-8S though, which is arguably the most important aspect for the majority of people deciding between the two. But I've noticed you already own a Jomox XBase 09... that thing is incredible, I have one too, love its sound! So maybe that's why you're not that interested in getting another analogue sounding machine?
Yeaaa the ACB, while impressive, i'm just not too crazy about. It's not even a "they did it wrong" or "it doesn't sound analog" i think apart of me wants to find new sounds rather than circle back. and if i do circle back it better be sounding incredible like the Xbase ahah
hell yeah Jomox xbase09 is the mother of all kick drums.
Great video man. i have a quick question that I hope you don't mind me asking. :-) I'm still a learner.. Is the Digitakt reverb/fx global or can I have different reverbs and delay types per track? I couldn't quite work that out. Also why are there stereo inputs on the Digitakt?? Can we expect stereo sampling to appear eventually? PS I would like a new filter type..
Hey Neil, the Digitakt's reverb and Delay act as a SEND, which means they have ONE setting, but you can set how much of each sound gets sent to that same reverb or delay. So each sound DOESN'T have its own reverb setting, but it does have a setting for how much reverb.
The Stereo inputs on the Digitakt are so you can sample directly into the unit no hassle!
Bravo Roland, nice upgrade from TR8 & very immediate device ...digtakt goes deeper as your subscribers have noted ....
That immediacy is what had me on the fence since the first TR-8
Enrique Martinez yes sometimes you just need to lay down a rough beat as a reference to make music...so I got both the TR8 and AR MK2 to cover all bases , thanks for the video
Just bought a TR-8, no s. And that one can also send all channels over USB, to the PC. Just like over bridge
Side note my MPC live can also do it. Seems like all these devices are becoming audio interfaces as well
Great vid
Thanks man!
The Digitakt's lack of features is what makes it such a wonderfully unique sounding machine... I equate it to a modern day SP1200 in terms of how creative you can be with such limitations. Don't get me wrong... I would love for the Digitakt MK2 to include a "SONG MODE", micro SD feature, 8 outs, and a set of actual drum pads... but that'd just end up making it an Analog Rytm MK2.5 hybrid.
Now it has song mode!
played the roland tr 8s its very intuitive and fast to work with but coming from mpc and machinedrum it was way to limited for me when it comes to sounddesign and stuff.
I've never used Digitakt, but I'm really happy with my Roland TR 8S. It's very fun and has a lot of interesting factory sounds. In some of them you can perform FM synthesis, so the patterns become amazing. The sampling capability I barely use it, beacuse it's only useful with one shots (short) samples due to TR8s can't warp an audio file. But , the machine comes with a lot of variety of sounds. The workflow when you are playimg live is amazing: for example you can enter a looper mode in which you instsntly play tracks but the sequence don't stop. Great machine for me.
Good Good Video, thanks man