Historic drum machines collections release! The legendary Roland R8

8 days ago

I am releasing the collections of drum machines one by one that I sampled in the 1980s and 1990s. I will post them here with write ups for each. Here is the first!

Complete sample library of the iconic Roland R8 drum machine including all 9 expansion ROM cards. Also includes the raw waveforms. All samples are studio quality.

About the R8

The Roland R-8 stands out as one of the best drum machines ever made, renowned for its excellent, expandable sound library. You can broaden its sonic palette with additional sound cards, including classic 808 and 909 kits. It comes loaded with great drum kits suitable for a variety of genres, from rock and electronic to ethnic and industrial styles. Most of its sounds are fully editable, allowing you to tweak parameters like tune, decay, attack, nuance, and output to create your perfect percussive elements.

What truly sets the R-8 apart are its innovative Feel Patches, which infuse your drum programs with a natural, human-like groove. The sounds themselves are ROM-based samples, and the R-8 boasts 32-note polyphony, 68 instruments, 100 patterns, and 10 songs. Its legacy continued with the R-8mkII, which offered expanded memory and sounds.

The R-8's influence is evident in its adoption by numerous prominent artists, including Orbital, Underworld, Jimmy Edgar, Autechre, 808 State, Dave Holmes, Fluke, Human League, and The Shamen. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its powerful features and versatile sound.

INCLUDED EXPANSION PCM CARDS:

SN-R8-01: Contemporary Percussion (Timbales, Cuica, Timpani, etc.)

SN-R8-02: Jazz Brush (Brush drum sounds, Acoustic Bass)

SN-R8-03: Sound Effects (Cannon, door slam, footsteps, glass break, etc.)

SN-R8-04: Electronic (Features classic TR-808 sounds, reverse sounds, synth bass, etc.)

SN-R8-05: Jazz (Kick, muted snares, sizzle ride cymbals, Fretless Bass, etc.)

SN-R8-06: Ethnic Percussion (Tabla, Baya, Matsuidaiko drum, etc.)

SN-R8-07: Mallet (Marimbas, xylophones, tubular bells, sanza, kenong, etc.)

SN-R8-08: Dry (Dry drum sounds, recorded without effects)

SN-R8-09: Power Drums U.S.A. (Large, powerful drum sounds)

SN-R8-10: Dance (Features classic TR-909 sounds, CR-78, etc.)

SN-R8-11: Metallic Percussion/Cymbals