The Ultimate Guide to the TR-8S Rhythm Performer – Create Balance in your Drum Mix with Gain and Panning

TR-8S Ultimate Guide
The Roland TR-8S has 11 Tracks for assigning Instruments, and the ability to record complex and dynamic drum parts on every Track. Adjusting Gain and Panning can help keep clarity in your mix when you have a full arrangement recorded in a Pattern.
Contributed by Alexander Marlowe for Roland Corporation Australia

Let’s take a look at creating some balance between the Individual Instruments with Gain and Panning.

Gain is like an extra volume control, apart from the Level Parameter that is controlled by the Track Faders. You can use Gain to get an overall Volume Balance between the Instruments in your Mix, and still have the flexibility to change the Mix, cut sounds and bring them back in, using the Track Faders.

Pan controls the position of each Instrument from left to right in the stereo field.

Before starting to edit a Kit, it’s a good idea to copy it to an empty Kit number, and work with the copy, rather than the original, so you don’t make changes to other Patterns that may use the same Kit. For a refresher on how to copy Kits, take a look at the article in this series called Copy a Pattern, Kit or Variation.

You may want to press the INST Play Button before starting to Edit. That way you avoid recording any unintended Steps in your Pattern, and you’re able to play the Instruments on the Pads [1-11], as well as the INST Pad, while doing your edits.

Adjusting the Gain of Instruments

  1. Press the Instrument Select Button of the Instrument you want to Edit.
  2. Hold Shift and press the INST Button to view the INST Edit screen.
  3. Turn the Value Knob to select Gain and press Enter.
  4. Turn the Value Knob to adjust the Gain.
  5. Repeat steps 1 and 4 for all Instruments you wish to edit.

Adjusting the Panning of Instruments

  1. Press the Instrument Select Button of the Instrument you want to Edit.2)
  2. Hold Shift and press the INST Button to view the INST Edit screen.
  3. Turn the Value Knob to select Pan and press Enter.
  4. Turn the Value Knob to adjust the Panning.
  5. Repeat steps 1 and 4 for all Instruments you wish to edit.

PRO TIP

To View and Edit Gain and Panning of all 11 Tracks in one screen, hold Shift and press the CTRL Select Button to view the Mix Screen. Turn the Value Knob to select Gain and press Enter. You can now press the Instrument Select Buttons of each Instrument and turn the Value Knob to adjust their Gain Settings as the Pattern plays. When you’re done editing Gain, press Enter, then turn the Value Knob to select Pan and press Enter. Now press the Instrument Select Buttons of each Instrument and turn the Value Knob to adjust their Pan Settings as the Pattern plays.
Article written by Alex Marlowe

Alex MarloweAlex Marlowe is a Composer/Producer, Musician and Consultant based in Melbourne, Australia. Alex has placed music in numerous movies and TV shows, and toured worldwide as a keyboardist with major artists. As a Teacher and Consultant, Alex has worked with platinum songwriters, music editors, producers and composers, and conducted courses in Music Production and Music Software, including at the Songwriting School of Los Angeles. You can find more info, and contact Alex at: www.logicproanswers.com

TR-8S Ultimate Guide

This Article is part of a series called The Ultimate Guide to the TR-8S Rhythm Performer, for the Guide’s Main Page click here.

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Created by Roland V-Drums specialist Simon Ayton, these patches were designed using the internal factory sounds and many of the techniques covered in the TD-50 guide. Enjoy exploring the possibilities!