Thanks! A lot of recommendations for patterns actually come from our Patrons, which is how I got introduced to Skinny Puppy. I look forward to transcribing some of their 909 patterns soon :)
Thank you for this! I was so torn when the MKII came out, as a MKI owner, happy to say that I am still pleased with my MKI even after the side by side. It hits all the right notes for me.
Crazy how those minor changes improve the feel of the groove. Most noticeable on the Skinny Puppy and Afrika Bambaataa rhythms, most prominently down to the cowbell length, but the whole image feels tighter. The TR-08 is massively shown up in this comparison also. Behringer has outclassed Roland here by faithfully capturing the magic of the 808. Hats off.
hmmm the RD sounds fatter yes, but the tuning of the HH on the TR is closer to the original.. and both still kinda sound choked compared to the 808, but that could be the mixer or output stage.. maybe if all separate outs would go to a mixer.
@@auralplex Why cope? that's the way to run an 808 as well and I'm probably unfairly comparing it against that sound, if you'd spread these out over the the table they'd be great as well?
At last the comparison that we were all waiting for, thank you! By the way, I was the one that coined the term “Rimzilla” on GearSlutz ;-) I ended up returning it and getting a revised mark 1 which from the sounds of this video I’ll be keeping. If you feel like fixing your Rimzilla yourself, Maffez has some mods on his page.
Hey Allotropes, great to see you here :) I'm aware of Maffez' mods (we mentioned his page in the RD-6 review), but I'm not sure I'm ready to open my RD-8 up yet. But as soon as the warranty is gone, it's fair game ;)
I'm madly in love with my MK1, it's become the percussion centerpiece for my house tracks, industrial and EBM jams, the sound of my individual unit feels like an analog fingerprint. I like that they're constantly fiddling and updating these units, but truthfully it feels like with any of these analog machines, old or remake, each unit's gonna have its own appeal. I'm really glad you did this video, because there's been just a tiny bit of anxiety about whether my precious lil buddy was in need of replacement. Sentimentality aside, listening to these side by side makes me actually super glad I snagged a MK1 when I did, and I wonder how many people coming to this video will be hunting for a white-key 808 now. Thanks again
i missed the boat on the MK1 so i snagged the MKII as soon as it was back in stock on sweetwater. Very pleased with it so far and can't wait to get my hands on the RD-9 as well. If it weren't for your videos on these drum machines, i wouldn't have been aware of their existence! Very helpful and insightful when in the market for some hardware
@@jessihawkins9116 the RD-9 has sounds that serve really well on certain tracks, for example, the hi-hat is one of my favorites. Same for the RD-8. I think it's ideal to have both for that reason. In a live performance setting where i'd strictly be using hardware (and maybe only a laptop for recording and adding certain effects), having both means more possibilities in sounds and patterns
There might be potentiometers inside that allow you to tweak things further. There is one inside the RD 6 for the snare. If you take good measurements, you can drill a hole inside the back cover of the RD 6 and then easily adjust it with a non-metallic screwdriver to make your snare harder or softer.
I want to learn how to make beats so bad but I'm only 14 and broke maybe next year when I get a job I can start practicing,until then I'll take notes from your videos
A lot of us started making electronic music when we were 14 and broke. Start by getting whatever cheap or free instruments you can find, it’s more fun that just spending a ton of money on gear and will result in a more unique sound.
Thanks for the comparison! I have the mk 1 and was planning on getting rid of it and buying the mk ii. But the snappy Snare noise, longer cowbell, and ability to record a clap without reverb before the circuit warms up is awesome. I will be keeping the 1 and getting the II soon 😎
Holyshit!!!! Ultra mad props👌 for giving skinny puppy's "dig it" a demonstration in the gear demo.. Hugely grateful🙏 rivet heads for life!!!!🎹🎧💀💫😵👌😎👍BrAp oN!!¡!✋✌
This video convinced me to buy the RD-8 MKII. I used to own an OG 808 for about 10 years. I sold it because I cashed in on these ridiculous vintage bubble prices. Behringer fixed all the little things that were bugging me in the MKI. The kick now has that proper full punch and harmonic richness that my OG had. The snare is snappier now and the clap is the proper pitch and tone... among the other changes. I just wish Behringer included a switch to choose between the early 808 snare and the later one. I'm spoiled because I had the real deal for so long, so those MKI differences bothered me. But honestly, in the grand scheme of things, both machines will get the job done. But you want to be nerdy about it, the MKII really does nail that OG 808 vibe. I'm impressed!
First of all I wanted to say excellent comparison. I really love that you switched back and forth very quickly because as you probably know, the human memory of actual sound is incredibly short. So I thank you for a proper A/B. Also you made me laugh a number of times and since I'm mostly a robot it's very hard to do but you did not fail. And lastly I have to say the clap on your MKII just didn't do it for me. It was too high in pitch and sounded tiny. But that of course is my robot opinion. Also love that you included Mr Robotnik. We're cousins.
The separate outs on the Behringer make it the better choice over the Roland TR-08 for me. I've actually owned two vintage TR-808s over the last twenty years, and they sounded quite different to each other. That difference may have been down to any revisions Roland made during the production run, but it could also have been down to components ageing differently depending on how much use each machine had seen before I acquired them. (Before anyone accuses me of hoarding vintage TR-808s, I no longer own either of them!)
Today every 808 sounds diffrent beacuse its analog machine and resistors with tolerance 20% and TR 08 dosen't have "Multi out" beacuse its using ABC technology (computer simulate analog circuits behavior)
@@JanKowalski-vh1rg Are you sure about the 20% tolerance? In the schematics in the 808 service manual you'll see resistor values from the E12 (or E24) series which suggests at least 10% tolerance ones were (also) used.
Yeah the looooong trail on the MKII clap sucks, the snare is better on the first one, and I think I prefer the bassdrum on the MKI. The MKII kick has a great tail, and a warmer tone, but the initial attack transient has a weird, subtle stutter which drives me nuts. It's also subdued after the attack, which gives it a strange curve. The MKI BD Is clearer, the attack is a snappy ping, the body is very round and bouncy. I initially thought I preferred the MKII bass drum, but the more I compare them the more it annoys me. It actually sounds almost like a cross between an 808 and 909 bassdrum.
One big advantage the Roland TR-08 has over the Behringer is the footprint. I don't have a lot of space in my studio, so I love its size. (I don't own one yet, I have the Roland TR-06 which suits me just fine - for now)
That's true. I find myself reaching for the TR-08 very often simply because it's battery powered and has an internal speaker. Plus you don't have to tidy up the desk first ;)
Small footprint is definitely a plus. I wish Behringer would have gone with a size similar to the Crave. But the Roland's are digital and the difference definitely comes through even on small speakers.(I have no problem with digital anything in fact I love them equally). I have a few analog drum machines (Dr 55, Dr 100, Simmons sds8) and the analog sound is distinct. But my favorite of them all is the UNO Drum... it's a small analog/digital hybrid. With 12 sounds 6 analog 6 PCM. It actually has about 55 or so PCM drum sounds to choose from, and through their software you can swap them out for other KITS they offer (free) from their legacy collection that includes Roland and other fairly obscure drum machines. The analog sounds, sound superb and have basic tuning options as well as built in comp and drive (both analog) with line in. It's not perfect though. Outputs are extremely limited and many people claim a noisy output (seems related to how it's powered) but it's definitely there regardless.
Thank you for this video. I just bought an used RD-8 Mk1 for a good price, but, without any research I just tghout the mk2 would be substancial diferent, mainly in the sound circuits, and I would be loossing something, but not at all. Not to much to be worried about. Alghout, the noise floor it's a a very nice upgrade, but I guess I will have to live with it , because I am keeping it as it is
Nice, for one the rd-8 sounds more airy than the tr-08 which sounds a bit muffled by comparision. And the mk2 sounds a bit more muffled than the mk1. Think i prefer the mk1 sounds
Thank you for this. My MK1 bit the dust and since I didn't register, Behringer won't cover it. So that sour experience had me leaning towards the TR-08 but after hearing the comparison; nnnoooooo.......
I have an Analog Rytm Mk2, so I'm not in the business for the Behringer machines. But the Mk2 RD-8 is a winner for the improved claps alone. Shame they missed the opportunity to give the cowbell tune and decay knobs. Oh, and the TR-08 has the far punchier kick, so I'd go for that in a hearbeat. ;)
Fantastic video thank you, I have to say the MK1 / MKII comparison was so well done with the video editing. Really appreciate the effort this must have taken to create. Well done sir.
Great comparison. I own a mk1 and ordered a mk2, just to compare like you did. ( I thought I will keep the mk2) To my ears, I liked the mk1 more and, fun fact, on the single outs I had more noise on the mk2.
It almost seems worth buying them both. They both have their own charm. I prefer different sounds from each. The best part, is you can buy them both, and still save over $5k. I love Behringer for what they do. I only own a Model D, but I'll more than likely buy more Behringer gear. I'm waiting for the UB-Xa. Unless I end up coming into more money than I currently have, and can afford an OB-X8. Hopefully I'll be able to afford one someday, but for now, I'm waiting for Behringer to release theirs.
lol I agree, I just got an MK2 because the sounds were improved but really wish they didn't change those keys to black... almost made me want to pick the MK1 just for the brighter keys as silly as that sounds...
Some of these changes may not be MkI to MkII, but simply individual differences from unit to unit. The pitches definitely. The kick decay and rimshot volume, probably not.
Absolutely! Sadly we don't have any more RD-8s lying around to test this, but it's safe to assume that there are small differences from unit to unit :)
@@Trig242 Yeah, I got two different 909 owners send in recordings of their 909's to compare with mine and an RD-9, and yes, the differences between the 909's are bigger than the difference between my 909 and the RD-9. :-) I made a video about that.
It's interesting. I have a real TR-808 and comparing the MKI vs MKII with my 808 it's a bit of a mixture which sounds closest. The clap of the MKII sounds identical to my 808. The same goes for the claves. But the Rimshot on the other hand (apart from the volume thing) sounds closer to the MKI. Also the toms are slightly closer to the MKI, but my tuning range is a little different. The bass drum on my TR-808 actually has a longer maximum decay than even the MKII. The most 'off' to me sounds the hihats, which are higher and 'cleaner' sounding on my TR-808. But the RD-8 hats are still closer than the Roland TR-08 hats are, which sound even more off to me, but in the opposite direction (too bright). 😅 But having heard other TR-808s online, I know there are quite a lot of differences between separate units, which makes comparisons a bit hard in general. I think either Behringer RD-8 is pretty close to 'an' example of a TR-808 without it likely matching any particular unit exactly.
Boy, when you played the Behringer in comparison with the Roland, the Roland sounded AWFUL. Really boxy and anemic. I liked the Mk1 overall by Behringer, unpopular opinion.
I would fit the volca beat in these comparison as well, with the separate output mod, it has been, for quite some time, the best 808 alternative on the market. Price wise, it's unbeatable. The Rd-08 mkI second hand price has gone down significantly, whilst the Tr-08 is still on the far edge, more expensive than the MkII. The Tr08 hats sounds higher in every song comparison, better, crispy and clear sound to me, but it seems the Rd-08 hats tone could go up a little more??
For me it will be Kick MK2 , Snare Tr-08 , Toms/Congas MK2 , Clave MK2 , Rimshot MK1 , Clap MK1 , Cowbell MK1 , Cymbal I DONT USE THEM 😂 , Hats MK2 ( Tr-08 Hats are from a VST, right? 😅) , so in the end I will stick with my TR-8S to have ALL this! Great vid BTW 😉Thx
I heard the color change was due to a copyright scare from Roland. Not sure if there's any confirmation, but it would explain the sudden random color change.
It would be interesting to test 2 MK2 units side by side. Being analog they may also sound slightly different . I think that any 2 analog unit will also sound slightly different
I have the Mk 1 and remain pretty pleased with it. The core sound is good enough. We are talking about nuances here in comparison with the mk2. After putting the mk1 through a compressor and or something like Elektron’s analog heat, for example, it ceases to make sense comparing fractional details. Unless of course you’re a complete anorak.
Nice vid; thanks! The Skinny Puppy sounds much the same between Mark One and Two. I def like the clap sound better on Mark One, so, I won't be "upgrading". It's e good comparison! Thanks.
Bunch of people here in the comments saying whichever one they already own sounds ‘better.’ Well I have neither and on my monitors the mkii sounds better. More organic and less harsh. The instruments seem to glue together more as well
I’d just get both, and the Tr-08. I’m no gear snob, and to me it’s like you can have multiple guitars that have just slightly different sounds, and each one has its purpose, and everyone seems to understand. So even if they’re all separate remakes of the same drum machine, since each has its own slightly different sound and look from eachother, they’re all worth having, Cause each sound might find its way in a totally different song... The question is, will you need 3 variations of the same sound, And the answer is, yeah maybe... probably..
I've owned just about every 808 clone at this point. I sold every one but the rd8 MK1. I never thought about mine being rimzilla. I guess it is. I would imagine if I could afford ( or wanted to spend that kind of money) a actual 808, it would likely have some kind of quirk as well. I just make music and try not to get caught up. I absolutely lobe my rd8 more so than the Miami I had before it. Thanks for the video. I prefer the sound of the MK1 to the MK2. It seems every instrument on the MK1 goes together better. The Mk2 sounds like some of them are out of place. Like the snare and cowbell.
Got the MKII. Will most likely replace my euro trigger sequencers for just this. I really prefer the Behringer to the Roland. Hats sound really off on the Roland
Ours just had to charge up only once after turning it on and it didn't lose its charge over the session, hence "no longer an issue" :) But I'm curious to see how that evolves over time because I remember that the MKI didn't need that many triggers to charge up when I first got it...
Honestly I feel like more could have been done to call it a mark 2 upgrade, they could have added some heavier new features, like a decay knob on the cowbell would be cool, or an ability to live record pitch change to the kick since 808 kicks are notoriously known for the long bass like draw that's so often used with fake 808 sounds in daws and on like every post 2000s rap song ever lol. It'd be cool to be able to automate it on the actual 808 machine In my opinion I do like the black, on the first 4, even though it doesn't blend as well, it does show the divide between 1 through 4 and 5 through 8 better
I can definitely hear the difference in the kick decay. The longer kick decay definitely makes the mkii worth checking out. I have a late model mki which sounds very good and doesn't have the rimzilla defect. However, I'd like to have the longer decay bassdrum on the mkii.
I was going to buy the mk2 last month but was skeptical due to the fact that I really wanted and needed to know the difference between the previous model; which I had previously watched your video and ultimately put me into this purchasing conundrum as you really showcased why it's such a great machine. I'm sure when I start and finish watching this video you will have inadvertently led me to make the correct/appropriate choice in making said purchase. thanks for all that you do. ❤
Behringer changing the colors of the buttons has probably legal reasons. Roland protected the design of the TR-808. Behringer just reversed the order on the MK1. It's pretty much the same sequence of colors when looking at the unit from the other side. I can imagine that some customers reversed the order back to match the original TR-808, also. With the black buttons it is not possible to do this without sourcing new buttons or painting the existing ones white.
Is it me or is the MK2 Kick a little more "beefy"? Thanks for the video. It was very helpful. Even though Im an 808 guy the RD9 has caught name off guard. I have been having a ton of fun with it and am leaning a bit more towards it these days. I have always loved both machines and am glad I can actually own both today at an affordable price. If you're bored swing by my channel and you can hear me messing with my new RD9. Thanks for the awesome video again!
The Intern and I agreed that there's a more pronounced pitch bend on the MKII kick, which might be the reason it's a little more "beefy". Glad you liked the video!
Mk II is lot “tighter”. MK I in comparison sounds more dispersed. The Roland… well, like someone has put a sock over it and commercialized the product 😅, too “narrow” for my taste. Huge THANKS!
The MKII wins for me, EXCEPT for the clap & cowbell. I prefer the sound of the lower pitched clap, and longer tail cowbell on the MKI. I guess I'll have to buy one of each?
I’d love a comparison with the Acidlab drumatix..I tried one in a store and I really liked the sound and I prefer the 606 over the 808 for hats and snare.. just that wimpy kick drives me nuts. I’ve ruled the Roland variants out because of the micro usb power.
Superb video , the totally messed up the Clap and cowbell on the 2 , but the rest in MK2 seems better or equal .... strange choice for the clap , my main concern You're totally right about a pitch control on the clap ;) By the way the comparaison with the roland is way off since you didn't tuned for exemple the HH on the roland to match the MK2 .... pretty everything can be tuned in the Roland ...
Thanks! We actually did tune everything on the Roland to get everything as close as possible, but you can't get them to sound alike. There's apparently more to it than a simple pitch adjustment.
I own a real TR-808 and don't feel that they 'messed up the clap and cowbell' on the MKII. The cowbell does sound slightly closer to the MKI on my TR-808, but it's not 'way off' on the MKII either. The clap on the MKII does sound quite close to my TR-808. The pitch is perfect (it was too low on the MKI) although the 'reverb trail' is somewhere between the MKI and MKII on my TR-808. The clap on both actually do sound better than the TR-08, which has too much of a 'crackle' in the clap sound. My 808 sounds smoother, more like the RD-8s. The most 'off' to me are actually the hihats. Too dark (but maybe it's better if tuned up a little) and too much 'tone' on the RD-8 compared to my TR-808. The hihats on the TR-08 are even more off though, sounding too piercing and bright. But I know that different TR-808 units will all sound a bit different, so it really depends on what you're comparing it to. This makes it hard to say which sounds 'more like a TR-808' in general. 😉I do still think the RD-8s are much better sounding than the Roland TR-08 though.
One problem with the MK-I ist phase inversion of single istrument outs and main out. Additionally in my specimen the dry signal considerably bleeds through the additional filter which is a pity - since I like the tuning of the MK-I better. Great video! Thanks a lot :)
Roland's 808 I actually like more, got a good snap it less muddy, and it's adorably sized, although I'm happy witg my behringer mk1 808 And definitely the biggest difference is that noise reduction and that awesome clap reverb
IMO I think the mk2 sounds less “harsh” on your ears. On my mk1 when I would tune the hi hat lower it would hurt my ears but on my mk2 it’s a lot better.
Captain Pikant always puts serious effort in to his videos.
What a splendid chap.
Great taste in patterns! Love that beat from "Dig It", much love for Skinny Puppy!
Thanks! A lot of recommendations for patterns actually come from our Patrons, which is how I got introduced to Skinny Puppy. I look forward to transcribing some of their 909 patterns soon :)
@@CaptainPikant they have quite a breadth of good 909 patterns, especially on their first EP "Remission"
Remission and Bites are both great
Thank all of you for giving skinny puppy the props they deserve!🙏 riverheads for life!🎹🎧💀💫😵👌👍BrAp oN!!¡!✋✌
@@CaptainPikant
Skinny was the first band to use the 909 on a recording if I remember correctly.
Yep. I'm old.
Just cruising through. ❤
Thank you for this! I was so torn when the MKII came out, as a MKI owner, happy to say that I am still pleased with my MKI even after the side by side. It hits all the right notes for me.
Crazy how those minor changes improve the feel of the groove. Most noticeable on the Skinny Puppy and Afrika Bambaataa rhythms, most prominently down to the cowbell length, but the whole image feels tighter.
The TR-08 is massively shown up in this comparison also. Behringer has outclassed Roland here by faithfully capturing the magic of the 808. Hats off.
hmmm the RD sounds fatter yes, but the tuning of the HH on the TR is closer to the original.. and both still kinda sound choked compared to the 808, but that could be the mixer or output stage.. maybe if all separate outs would go to a mixer.
@@tanzkatzencope.
@@auralplex Why cope? that's the way to run an 808 as well and I'm probably unfairly comparing it against that sound, if you'd spread these out over the the table they'd be great as well?
@@tanzkatzen just messing around lol. Like if someone says something very reasonable and then I say "cope," it's kinda funny.
i disagree. the Roland sounds better
At last the comparison that we were all waiting for, thank you! By the way, I was the one that coined the term “Rimzilla” on GearSlutz ;-) I ended up returning it and getting a revised mark 1 which from the sounds of this video I’ll be keeping. If you feel like fixing your Rimzilla yourself, Maffez has some mods on his page.
Hey Allotropes, great to see you here :) I'm aware of Maffez' mods (we mentioned his page in the RD-6 review), but I'm not sure I'm ready to open my RD-8 up yet. But as soon as the warranty is gone, it's fair game ;)
I'm madly in love with my MK1, it's become the percussion centerpiece for my house tracks, industrial and EBM jams, the sound of my individual unit feels like an analog fingerprint. I like that they're constantly fiddling and updating these units, but truthfully it feels like with any of these analog machines, old or remake, each unit's gonna have its own appeal. I'm really glad you did this video, because there's been just a tiny bit of anxiety about whether my precious lil buddy was in need of replacement. Sentimentality aside, listening to these side by side makes me actually super glad I snagged a MK1 when I did, and I wonder how many people coming to this video will be hunting for a white-key 808 now. Thanks again
Wow, we're really happy the video was so useful to you! I came to the same conclusion ;)
I love how I got slightly more excited for more noise on the MK1.....well that plays right into my industrial jams
@@Trig242 😂 The hum is roughly a G2, if that helps :)
I prefer the snare and clap of the mkl myself. The deeper tone of the rim is also to my preference. I don’t think I’d feel bad owning either.
Mk1 sounds better
JUSTICE OUTRO!!! Loved it!!!
The only thing I can complain about this channel its not have enough videos for me
AAAAH BRO! THAT WAS JUST MAGIC! Love your productions. Am so happy to have my mk 1. Thanks for the re-assurance.
i missed the boat on the MK1 so i snagged the MKII as soon as it was back in stock on sweetwater. Very pleased with it so far and can't wait to get my hands on the RD-9 as well. If it weren't for your videos on these drum machines, i wouldn't have been aware of their existence! Very helpful and insightful when in the market for some hardware
Why do you want the RD-9 too? Will the RD-8 not do everything you want?🤔
@@jessihawkins9116 the RD-9 has sounds that serve really well on certain tracks, for example, the hi-hat is one of my favorites. Same for the RD-8. I think it's ideal to have both for that reason.
In a live performance setting where i'd strictly be using hardware (and maybe only a laptop for recording and adding certain effects), having both means more possibilities in sounds and patterns
Very good comparison and animation. Felt flattered to see my name in the end credits. Great end tune too!
Thumbs up for the justice cover at the end. Underrated album Imo
There might be potentiometers inside that allow you to tweak things further. There is one inside the RD 6 for the snare. If you take good measurements, you can drill a hole inside the back cover of the RD 6 and then easily adjust it with a non-metallic screwdriver to make your snare harder or softer.
Ok buddy
rimzilla! :D just discovered your channel, great work! fresh new approach and great narration and clear and not overdosed info
I want to learn how to make beats so bad but I'm only 14 and broke maybe next year when I get a job I can start practicing,until then I'll take notes from your videos
A lot of us started making electronic music when we were 14 and broke. Start by getting whatever cheap or free instruments you can find, it’s more fun that just spending a ton of money on gear and will result in a more unique sound.
Thanks for the comparison! I have the mk 1 and was planning on getting rid of it and buying the mk ii. But the snappy Snare noise, longer cowbell, and ability to record a clap without reverb before the circuit warms up is awesome. I will be keeping the 1 and getting the II soon 😎
Holyshit!!!! Ultra mad props👌 for giving skinny puppy's "dig it" a demonstration in the gear demo.. Hugely grateful🙏 rivet heads for life!!!!🎹🎧💀💫😵👌😎👍BrAp oN!!¡!✋✌
CBD may help you
This video convinced me to buy the RD-8 MKII. I used to own an OG 808 for about 10 years. I sold it because I cashed in on these ridiculous vintage bubble prices. Behringer fixed all the little things that were bugging me in the MKI. The kick now has that proper full punch and harmonic richness that my OG had. The snare is snappier now and the clap is the proper pitch and tone... among the other changes. I just wish Behringer included a switch to choose between the early 808 snare and the later one.
I'm spoiled because I had the real deal for so long, so those MKI differences bothered me. But honestly, in the grand scheme of things, both machines will get the job done. But you want to be nerdy about it, the MKII really does nail that OG 808 vibe. I'm impressed!
First of all I wanted to say excellent comparison. I really love that you switched back and forth very quickly because as you probably know, the human memory of actual sound is incredibly short. So I thank you for a proper A/B. Also you made me laugh a number of times and since I'm mostly a robot it's very hard to do but you did not fail. And lastly I have to say the clap on your MKII just didn't do it for me. It was too high in pitch and sounded tiny. But that of course is my robot opinion. Also love that you included Mr Robotnik. We're cousins.
Thanks Russ! I'm really glad you recommended Alexander Robotnik to us, we already made an end jam out it for the distortion pedal episode :) 🤖
Wow! I did not expect differences this big.
there isn't if your music already sucks
Nice video! I was waiting for it!
The separate outs on the Behringer make it the better choice over the Roland TR-08 for me. I've actually owned two vintage TR-808s over the last twenty years, and they sounded quite different to each other. That difference may have been down to any revisions Roland made during the production run, but it could also have been down to components ageing differently depending on how much use each machine had seen before I acquired them. (Before anyone accuses me of hoarding vintage TR-808s, I no longer own either of them!)
Today every 808 sounds diffrent beacuse its analog machine and resistors with tolerance 20% and TR 08 dosen't have "Multi out" beacuse its using ABC technology (computer simulate analog circuits behavior)
That is maybe why you hate it or love it.
@@JanKowalski-vh1rg Are you sure about the 20% tolerance? In the schematics in the 808 service manual you'll see resistor values from the E12 (or E24) series which suggests at least 10% tolerance ones were (also) used.
@@bigredracingteam9642 Maybe but still its 40 years old gear
Yeah the looooong trail on the MKII clap sucks, the snare is better on the first one, and I think I prefer the bassdrum on the MKI. The MKII kick has a great tail, and a warmer tone, but the initial attack transient has a weird, subtle stutter which drives me nuts. It's also subdued after the attack, which gives it a strange curve. The MKI BD Is clearer, the attack is a snappy ping, the body is very round and bouncy. I initially thought I preferred the MKII bass drum, but the more I compare them the more it annoys me. It actually sounds almost like a cross between an 808 and 909 bassdrum.
One big advantage the Roland TR-08 has over the Behringer is the footprint. I don't have a lot of space in my studio, so I love its size. (I don't own one yet, I have the Roland TR-06 which suits me just fine - for now)
That's true. I find myself reaching for the TR-08 very often simply because it's battery powered and has an internal speaker. Plus you don't have to tidy up the desk first ;)
Small footprint is definitely a plus.
I wish Behringer would have gone with a size similar to the Crave.
But the Roland's are digital and the difference definitely comes through even on small speakers.(I have no problem with digital anything in fact I love them equally).
I have a few analog drum machines (Dr 55, Dr 100, Simmons sds8) and the analog sound is distinct.
But my favorite of them all is the UNO Drum... it's a small analog/digital hybrid. With 12 sounds 6 analog 6 PCM. It actually has about 55 or so PCM drum sounds to choose from, and through their software you can swap them out for other KITS they offer (free) from their legacy collection that includes Roland and other fairly obscure drum machines.
The analog sounds, sound superb and have basic tuning options as well as built in comp and drive (both analog) with line in.
It's not perfect though. Outputs are extremely limited and many people claim a noisy output (seems related to how it's powered) but it's definitely there regardless.
bigger is better...gear and women
@@fortheloveofnoise Actually, I'm gay, but this applies to men too.
I don't buy the tiny stuff
Thank you for this video. I just bought an used RD-8 Mk1 for a good price, but, without any research I just tghout the mk2 would be substancial diferent, mainly in the sound circuits, and I would be loossing something, but not at all. Not to much to be worried about. Alghout, the noise floor it's a a very nice upgrade, but I guess I will have to live with it , because I am keeping it as it is
Nice, for one the rd-8 sounds more airy than the tr-08 which sounds a bit muffled by comparision. And the mk2 sounds a bit more muffled than the mk1. Think i prefer the mk1 sounds
Instant like for including Skinny Puppy
This video is sooo well done!
IMO the big improvement is the sounds of the toms and clave.
Thank you for this. My MK1 bit the dust and since I didn't register, Behringer won't cover it. So that sour experience had me leaning towards the TR-08 but after hearing the comparison; nnnoooooo.......
Skinny puppy!? Wow, instant sub. Nice comparison.
As an owner of neither, to me Mk2 sounds tighter, the swing is more engaging, kick leaves a stronger impression/ more punchy
I have an Analog Rytm Mk2, so I'm not in the business for the Behringer machines. But the Mk2 RD-8 is a winner for the improved claps alone. Shame they missed the opportunity to give the cowbell tune and decay knobs. Oh, and the TR-08 has the far punchier kick, so I'd go for that in a hearbeat. ;)
Fantastic video thank you, I have to say the MK1 / MKII comparison was so well done with the video editing. Really appreciate the effort this must have taken to create. Well done sir.
Many thanks. Great comparison
Great vid! Love that little totoro! I'll be grabbing the mk2
MK I sounds like TR-808. I have Roland TR-808.
Great comparison.
I own a mk1 and ordered a mk2, just to compare like you did. ( I thought I will keep the mk2)
To my ears, I liked the mk1 more and, fun fact, on the single outs I had more noise on the mk2.
My main observation is the Roland sounds terrible when compared to the Behringers. Such a shame. Nice comparison thanks for the hard work!
Thank you for your detailed and thorough content. Very well presented and informative!
Can the black buttons be replaced with white ones?
I m happy with my two Rimzilla's i just adjusted the noise trimmer inside for the snaresound .
It almost seems worth buying them both. They both have their own charm. I prefer different sounds from each. The best part, is you can buy them both, and still save over $5k. I love Behringer for what they do. I only own a Model D, but I'll more than likely buy more Behringer gear. I'm waiting for the UB-Xa. Unless I end up coming into more money than I currently have, and can afford an OB-X8. Hopefully I'll be able to afford one someday, but for now, I'm waiting for Behringer to release theirs.
The color scheme of those first four step keys on the MK II would absolutely drive me bonkers, over and above any sound difference
lol I agree, I just got an MK2 because the sounds were improved but really wish they didn't change those keys to black... almost made me want to pick the MK1 just for the brighter keys as silly as that sounds...
Impeccable work as always
the end jam is so good
Some of these changes may not be MkI to MkII, but simply individual differences from unit to unit. The pitches definitely. The kick decay and rimshot volume, probably not.
Absolutely! Sadly we don't have any more RD-8s lying around to test this, but it's safe to assume that there are small differences from unit to unit :)
They always say no 2 TR-808s sounded alike either!
@@Trig242 Yeah, I got two different 909 owners send in recordings of their 909's to compare with mine and an RD-9, and yes, the differences between the 909's are bigger than the difference between my 909 and the RD-9. :-)
I made a video about that.
yap...there might also be a difference between the "rimzilla" mk1 and the later version of the mk1 (which i own).
Much like the Mk1 more as it is raw like the old one i had once. The BD on some original TR's weren't that low and needed loads of post processing.
I think in MKII the overall "mix" is better, it sound's tighter and instruments are clearer
TR-08 is harsher, more bright
The other way around for me ,MK 1 has more lift in the patterns , MK2 sounds like a MK1 with a depression😅
@@cnfuzz I'll have to take a second listen :)
@@cnfuzz Hahah well now when I listened MKI sounded better :D More old school sound
It's interesting. I have a real TR-808 and comparing the MKI vs MKII with my 808 it's a bit of a mixture which sounds closest. The clap of the MKII sounds identical to my 808. The same goes for the claves. But the Rimshot on the other hand (apart from the volume thing) sounds closer to the MKI. Also the toms are slightly closer to the MKI, but my tuning range is a little different.
The bass drum on my TR-808 actually has a longer maximum decay than even the MKII. The most 'off' to me sounds the hihats, which are higher and 'cleaner' sounding on my TR-808. But the RD-8 hats are still closer than the Roland TR-08 hats are, which sound even more off to me, but in the opposite direction (too bright). 😅
But having heard other TR-808s online, I know there are quite a lot of differences between separate units, which makes comparisons a bit hard in general. I think either Behringer RD-8 is pretty close to 'an' example of a TR-808 without it likely matching any particular unit exactly.
Boy, when you played the Behringer in comparison with the Roland, the Roland sounded AWFUL. Really boxy and anemic. I liked the Mk1 overall by Behringer, unpopular opinion.
Wow thank you, your video is the best so far on TH-cam. Love it 💗💙💜❤💛💚
I would fit the volca beat in these comparison as well, with the separate output mod, it has been, for quite some time, the best 808 alternative on the market. Price wise, it's unbeatable. The Rd-08 mkI second hand price has gone down significantly, whilst the Tr-08 is still on the far edge, more expensive than the MkII. The Tr08 hats sounds higher in every song comparison, better, crispy and clear sound to me, but it seems the Rd-08 hats tone could go up a little more??
For me it will be Kick MK2 , Snare Tr-08 , Toms/Congas MK2 , Clave MK2 , Rimshot MK1 , Clap MK1 , Cowbell MK1 , Cymbal I DONT USE THEM 😂 , Hats MK2 ( Tr-08 Hats are from a VST, right? 😅) , so in the end I will stick with my TR-8S to have ALL this! Great vid BTW 😉Thx
I heard the color change was due to a copyright scare from Roland. Not sure if there's any confirmation, but it would explain the sudden random color change.
It would be interesting to test 2 MK2 units side by side. Being analog they may also sound slightly different . I think that any 2 analog unit will also sound slightly different
I see a Captain Pikant notification, I click watch. Simple
Thank you for your service ❤
I have the Mk 1 and remain pretty pleased with it. The core sound is good enough. We are talking about nuances here in comparison with the mk2. After putting the mk1 through a compressor and or something like Elektron’s analog heat, for example, it ceases to make sense comparing fractional details. Unless of course you’re a complete anorak.
Nice vid; thanks! The Skinny Puppy sounds much the same between Mark One and Two. I def like the clap sound better on Mark One, so, I won't be "upgrading". It's e good comparison! Thanks.
Bunch of people here in the comments saying whichever one they already own sounds ‘better.’ Well I have neither and on my monitors the mkii sounds better. More organic and less harsh. The instruments seem to glue together more as well
excellent review. it looks exactly like the boss rc-505 update, the mk2 being not really worth the money from the mk1. subbed the channel, thanks!
That outro was SICK
such lovely hands
I’d just get both, and the Tr-08.
I’m no gear snob, and to me it’s like you can have multiple guitars that have just slightly different sounds, and each one has its purpose, and everyone seems to understand.
So even if they’re all separate remakes of the same drum machine, since each has its own slightly different sound and look from eachother, they’re all worth having,
Cause each sound might find its way in a totally different song...
The question is, will you need 3 variations of the same sound,
And the answer is, yeah maybe... probably..
You know Skinny Puppy's Dig It ! Niiiiice !
Yeah one of our patrons introduced me to them :)
I've owned just about every 808 clone at this point. I sold every one but the rd8 MK1. I never thought about mine being rimzilla. I guess it is. I would imagine if I could afford ( or wanted to spend that kind of money) a actual 808, it would likely have some kind of quirk as well. I just make music and try not to get caught up. I absolutely lobe my rd8 more so than the Miami I had before it. Thanks for the video. I prefer the sound of the MK1 to the MK2. It seems every instrument on the MK1 goes together better. The Mk2 sounds like some of them are out of place. Like the snare and cowbell.
i feel the same way
Fantastic work as always Captain!
Warm Regards,
Digital Ruler
The pitch range variations are likely just something to do with the manufacturing tolerances of the potentiometers.
IMO they ruined the clap in the mkII
Yeah, I have to say I prefer the lower MKI clap with less decay...
No. I think the clap on the mkII is much improved. I just wish it was pitched the same as the Mkl.
Nice comparison thanks Captain P. Think i'll be fine with sticking with the MK1 for now (and instead go for the RD-9 hubba hubba)
Nice ;)
thanks brother im get one of these i think i gonna be the roland as it sounds crisper
Loved the On'n'On - Justice outro!!!
Got the MKII. Will most likely replace my euro trigger sequencers for just this. I really prefer the Behringer to the Roland. Hats sound really off on the Roland
You are wrong in regards to the clap capacitor on the mk2 it occasionally does need to charge up, on mine anyway after 1 or 2 hits.
Ours just had to charge up only once after turning it on and it didn't lose its charge over the session, hence "no longer an issue" :) But I'm curious to see how that evolves over time because I remember that the MKI didn't need that many triggers to charge up when I first got it...
Honestly I feel like more could have been done to call it a mark 2 upgrade, they could have added some heavier new features, like a decay knob on the cowbell would be cool, or an ability to live record pitch change to the kick since 808 kicks are notoriously known for the long bass like draw that's so often used with fake 808 sounds in daws and on like every post 2000s rap song ever lol. It'd be cool to be able to automate it on the actual 808 machine
In my opinion I do like the black, on the first 4, even though it doesn't blend as well, it does show the divide between 1 through 4 and 5 through 8 better
I agree, pitch automation on the kick would have been a killer feature!
The Mk2 sounds more balanced when playing full patterns. Behringer did a great job there, it sounds amazing!
I can definitely hear the difference in the kick decay. The longer kick decay definitely makes the mkii worth checking out. I have a late model mki which sounds very good and doesn't have the rimzilla defect. However, I'd like to have the longer decay bassdrum on the mkii.
Tbh the dry clap has always been a reason i didn't want to sell my mkI. prob buy this one as well as the rd-9.
So many people tried to copy the amazing drum pattern on sexual healing. Like Steve Winwood, Higher Love. None were as good!
Happy with my MK1, clap is better in my opinion and I dont need a very long decay on the kick.
You played problems. Such an underrated song these days.
Dig it dig it
I was going to buy the mk2 last month but was skeptical due to the fact that I really wanted and needed to know the difference between the previous model; which I had previously watched your video and ultimately put me into this purchasing conundrum as you really showcased why it's such a great machine.
I'm sure when I start and finish watching this video you will have inadvertently led me to make the correct/appropriate choice in making said purchase. thanks for all that you do. ❤
They should keep upgrading the firmware, I feel it would make more of a difference than having a mkII.
Thanks for the great comparison.
I’ll keep my TR-6S ;)
I absolutely LOVE his voice! It’s like a combination between Henry Kissinger and the narrator of Peppa Pig.
Behringer changing the colors of the buttons has probably legal reasons. Roland protected the design of the TR-808. Behringer just reversed the order on the MK1. It's pretty much the same sequence of colors when looking at the unit from the other side. I can imagine that some customers reversed the order back to match the original TR-808, also. With the black buttons it is not possible to do this without sourcing new buttons or painting the existing ones white.
excellent. thank you so much
I have the MkII and a yocto V2, that's all you would ever need as far as 808 goes.
Is it me or is the MK2 Kick a little more "beefy"? Thanks for the video. It was very helpful. Even though Im an 808 guy the RD9 has caught name off guard. I have been having a ton of fun with it and am leaning a bit more towards it these days. I have always loved both machines and am glad I can actually own both today at an affordable price. If you're bored swing by my channel and you can hear me messing with my new RD9. Thanks for the awesome video again!
The Intern and I agreed that there's a more pronounced pitch bend on the MKII kick, which might be the reason it's a little more "beefy". Glad you liked the video!
Mk II is lot “tighter”. MK I in comparison sounds more dispersed. The Roland… well, like someone has put a sock over it and commercialized the product 😅, too “narrow” for my taste. Huge THANKS!
The MKII wins for me, EXCEPT for the clap & cowbell. I prefer the sound of the lower pitched clap, and longer tail cowbell on the MKI. I guess I'll have to buy one of each?
I’d love a comparison with the Acidlab drumatix..I tried one in a store and I really liked the sound and I prefer the 606 over the 808 for hats and snare.. just that wimpy kick drives me nuts. I’ve ruled the Roland variants out because of the micro usb power.
I'd really like to get my hands on an Acidlab machine, but the manufacturer appears to be out of business now :(
@@CaptainPikant probably chased from the market with the B onslaught
How can I order the mark 11
Thank you for the excellent video.
How can I buy your cheat sheets for the synth please?
Your videos are so clear and concise.
Thanks Peter! You can find all our Cheat Sheets on our Patreon, the link is in the video description :)
Superb video , the totally messed up the Clap and cowbell on the 2 , but the rest in MK2 seems better or equal .... strange choice for the clap , my main concern
You're totally right about a pitch control on the clap ;)
By the way the comparaison with the roland is way off since you didn't tuned for exemple the HH on the roland to match the MK2 .... pretty everything can be tuned in the Roland ...
Thanks! We actually did tune everything on the Roland to get everything as close as possible, but you can't get them to sound alike. There's apparently more to it than a simple pitch adjustment.
I own a real TR-808 and don't feel that they 'messed up the clap and cowbell' on the MKII. The cowbell does sound slightly closer to the MKI on my TR-808, but it's not 'way off' on the MKII either. The clap on the MKII does sound quite close to my TR-808. The pitch is perfect (it was too low on the MKI) although the 'reverb trail' is somewhere between the MKI and MKII on my TR-808. The clap on both actually do sound better than the TR-08, which has too much of a 'crackle' in the clap sound. My 808 sounds smoother, more like the RD-8s. The most 'off' to me are actually the hihats. Too dark (but maybe it's better if tuned up a little) and too much 'tone' on the RD-8 compared to my TR-808. The hihats on the TR-08 are even more off though, sounding too piercing and bright.
But I know that different TR-808 units will all sound a bit different, so it really depends on what you're comparing it to. This makes it hard to say which sounds 'more like a TR-808' in general. 😉I do still think the RD-8s are much better sounding than the Roland TR-08 though.
Love ur reviews - very honest and in depth.
Would you consider the Drumbrute for review?
Thanks! The DrumBrute Impact is one of my favourite drum machines, but I don't know if we have the time to review it :)
@@CaptainPikant Thanks for the opinion!
One problem with the MK-I ist phase inversion of single istrument outs and main out. Additionally in my specimen the dry signal considerably bleeds through the additional filter which is a pity - since I like the tuning of the MK-I better. Great video! Thanks a lot :)
Roland's 808 I actually like more, got a good snap it less muddy, and it's adorably sized, although I'm happy witg my behringer mk1 808
And definitely the biggest difference is that noise reduction and that awesome clap reverb
IMO I think the mk2 sounds less “harsh” on your ears. On my mk1 when I would tune the hi hat lower it would hurt my ears but on my mk2 it’s a lot better.
Really nice end jam! What gear was used? Thank you
Except for the RD-8 MKII, everything was done inside of the box. A lot of it are TAL U-No-LX-V2 synths and Valhalla reverbs :)