In this article we’ll use Realtime Recording mode to record a pattern in realtime by playing the Instruments on the Pads 1 through 11. The Instruments assigned to each of these Pads are marked on the front panel just below the Pads. (Pad 1 plays the Bass Drum, Pad 2 plays the Snare Drum, etc.)
Press the PTN Select Button, then press a Pad to select the next available empty pattern.
To get started, let’s use the Closed High Hat Instrument to create a click that will serve as a timing reference for recording the rest of the pattern. Press the TR-REC Button. Press the CH Button to select the Closed High Hat Instrument. Press Pads 1,5,9 and 13, to get a high hat playing on each beat.
Press the INST REC Button, located just above the Variation Buttons A-H, to enter Realtime Recording mode.
Press the Start/Stop Button to start your Pattern playing. The Pads each light up in green as the TR-8S plays through the Pattern. You can use these lights to catch the start of the pattern, (to tell where the first beat of the measure is.)
Next let’s record a Bass Drum: Press Pad 1 in time with the high hat, to record the Bass Drum on each beat of the Pattern. If any of your bass drum hits don’t get recorded on the beat in time with the high hat hits, press and hold the BD Button and press the Clear Button, to erase the bass drum part and try recording it again.
Now to add the Snare Drum: Press Pad 2 on the second beat and the fourth beat of the Pattern, to record snare hits on those beats. As with the bass drum, if your snare hits don’t get recorded on the beats in time with the high hat hits, press and hold the SD Button, then press the Clear Button to erase the snare part and try recording it again.
Next, press and hold the CH Button then press the Clear Button, to erase the high hat part, so that you can record one of your own. Try pressing Pad 8 in time with the Bass Drum to record high hats on every beat.
You can hold the CH Button and press the Clear Button, to erase the high hats, as many times as you like, to try recording different high hat patterns in realtime. For example, try pressing Pad 8 in between the bass drum hits, to record high hats on the upbeats. Feel free to experiment with different rhythms, if you don’t like the results, you can always clear the Instrument and give it another go!
Using The Clear Button
One more thing you should know at this point: While a Pattern is playing, the Clear Button will erase whatever Instrument is currently selected, for as long as you hold down the Clear Button. You can use this function to “spot erase” only some of the hits in your pattern.
For example, if you only wanted to erase the second snare hit of the pattern, press the SD Button to select the Snare Drum Instrument, then press the Clear Button only at the point when the snare you what to erase is played, then release the Clear Button.
Be aware that you can accidentally erase parts of your Pattern you don’t intend to, if you press the Clear Button while an Instrument is selected and the Pattern is playing.
PRO TIP
You can use the Inst Pad, located in the lower right of the front panel just above Pad 16, to play the currently selected Instrument in realtime.
The Inst Pad is velocity sensitive, meaning that the selected Instrument will play, and record, louder or softer depending on how hard you hit the Pad.
Let’s try using the Inst Pad to record the Snare Drum in realtime. First press the INST REC Button to go into Realtime Recording mode.
Hold the SD Button and press the Clear Button to erase the existing Snare Drum part. Press the Start/Stop Button to start playing your Pattern. Next, press the SD Button to select the Snare Drum Instrument. Now you can play the Inst Pad to record a new snare part in realtime. If you don’t like the results, and want to start fresh, you can always hold the SD Button and press the Clear Button, to erase the existing snare part and try it again. Try experimenting with louder and softer snare hits by varying how hard you hit the Inst Pad.
You can also try the same steps with the High Hat Instrument, using the Inst Pad to record a new high hat part.
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
TR-8S Ultimate Guide
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