'How To' Articles, Product Guides

The Ultimate Guide to the TR-8S Rhythm Performer – From Fills to Mayhem with Scatter

The Scatter feature in the TR-8S is a powerful tool for generating anything from complex Fills to total mayhem, depending on how far you want to push it! Scatter uses the Auto Fill In controls, located in the upper right of the front panel, just to the left of the Display.

Contributed by Alexander Marlowe for Roland Corporation Australia

To use Scatter:

Press the Start/Stop Button to Play the currently selected Pattern.
Hold the Auto Fill In On Button and press Pad [16] to select Scatter.
Hold Shift and press the PTN Select Button to view the Pattern Edit screen.
Turn the Value Knob to select ScatterType and press Enter.
Turn the Value Knob to select ScatterType 1 and press Enter.
Turn the Value Knob to select ScatterDepth and press Enter.
Turn the Value Knob to set ScatterDepth to 1 and press Enter.
Press the Manual Trig Button to play a Fill generated by Scatter.
Turn the Value Knob to select ScatterType again and press Enter.
Turn the Value Knob to select ScatterType 2.
Press the Manual Trig Button to play another Fill generated by Scatter.
Keep turning the Value Knob to select different Scatter types [1-10] and press the Manual Trig Button to play Fills generated the various Scatter Types.
Turn the Value Knob to set ScatterType back to 1.
Press the Auto Fill In On Button to Turn Auto Fill On.
Next hold the hold the Manual Trig Button and turn the Value Knob to change the ScatterDepth and listen to the results with different ScatterDepth settings.
Try each of the ScatterTypes with different ScatterDepth settings.

You can bring Scatter in at regular intervals with Auto Fill On, or bring in the Fill or mayhem whenever you feel like it, by pressing the Manual Trig Button.

PRO TIP

You can hold the Manual Trig Button and turn the Value Knob to change ScatterDepth as a Scatter Fill plays, for some unexpected results! Try this with various Scatter Types for maximum effect. You can change the Scatter Type as the Scatter-generated Fill Plays for some interesting effects as well.

Article written by Alex Marlowe

Alex 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