Drum Machines ⇝ Roland ⇝ Roland R-8

Marketed as the "Human Rhythm Composer", the R-8 has one card slot for SN-R8 PCM expansion cards and one RAM card slot (for an M-256D or M-256E).

It was released in module form with the same sound set but without pattern sequencing capabilities as the Roland R-8M. An upgraded version with more sounds was released as the Roland R-8 Mk II

Specifications

Year Released: 1989

Number of Pads: 16

Polyphony: 32 notes

Multitimbral: 4 parts

Preset Patterns: 32

User Patterns: 100

User Songs: 10

User Drumkits: 32

Tempo Range: 20 - 250 BPM

Sequencer Resolution: 96 PPQN

ROM Size: 68 sampled waveforms at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz resolution

Outputs: 8 individual 1/4" outputs

Screen: 20 x 2 character LCD

Power Consumption: 7 watts

Weight: 3.1 kg

Dimensions: 410 mm x 290 mm x 70 mm

User Demo Videos

Rating

Sound Samples

WAV samples are available on freewavesamples.com.

File Downloads

Roland R-8 Manual

Items for Sale on Reverb

Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer (vintage digital drum-machine, Japan, 1989) ($445.39)

Roland R-8 MKII Drum Machine ($1,950)

Roland R-8 MKII Human Rhythm Composer, Rare Drum Machine ($740)

Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer 1980s - Black ($455.16)

Roland R-8 1980 - black ($454.91)

Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer 1980s - Black ($434.26)

Roland R-8 MKII Human Rhythm Composer 1990s - Black ($750)

Roland R-8 Drum Machine + SN-R8-08 Dry & SN-R8-09 Power drums USA cards ($278.37)

Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer 1980s - Black ($501.07)

Roland R-8 MKII Human Rhythm Composer 1990s - Black ($723.77)

Roland R-8 ROM Card Ethnic Percussion SN-R8-06 1980s - blk ($79.99)

Roland R-8 Sound Effects card SN-R8-03 ($87.97)

Roland R-8 SN-R8-06 Ethnic Percussion Sound Data ROM Card VINTAGE GEAR DEALER ($84.99)

Roland SN-R8-02 Jazz Brush ROM CARD for ROLAND R8 R-8 MKⅡ 1986 - SN-R8-02 Jazz Brush ROM CARD for ROLAND R8 R-8 MKⅡ ($75)

Roland SN-R8-02 Jazz Brush ROM CARD for ROLAND R8 R-8 MKⅡ ($70)

Roland SN-R8-06 Ethnic Percussion ROM CARD FOR ROLAND R8 R-8 MKⅡ ($80)

Roland - SN-R8-09 - Power Drums USA - Sound Data ROM Card for the R-8 + R-8M - Sound Library - 90s - from the collection of Paul Hoffert ($75.06)

Roland SN-R8-09 Power Drums USA for R8 R8M R-8 R-8M ($95)

Roland SN-R8-09 POWER DRUMS USA ROM CARD w/ box for R8 R-8 MKⅡ ($120)

Roland SN-R8-02 Jazz Brush ROM Sound Card for R-8 drummachines ($72.38)

Roland SN-R8-09 POWER DRUMS U.S.A. for R-8 ($110.12)

Roland SN-R8-11 Metallic Percussion ROM CARD for R8 R-8 MKⅡ ($140)

Roland R-8 OS v2.02 EPROM Firmware Upgrade KIT / Brand New ROM Update Chip with Service Manual R8 ($19.99)

Roland R-8 1992 tan ($29)

R-8 MK2 OS v1.03 Final EPROM Firmware Upgrade KIT / Brand New ROM Update Chip R8 MKII ($20)

Roland R-8 MK2 OS v1.03 Final EPROM Firmware Upgrade Kit Update ($16.65)

Roland R-8 latest firmware version 2.12 firmware OS update EPROM R8 drum machine eprom ($27.78)

Roland R-8 firmware Version 2.02 firmware OS update EPROM R8 drum machine eprom ($16.65)

Roland 1992 Catalog - JD-800, D-70, R-8/5/8m, S-770/750, U-220 - etc ($12)

Roland R-880 R880 and GC-8 Latest Os Firmware 2.0 Update Upgrade Rom Eproms ($33.35)

Replacement Backup Battery for Roland Percussion SPD-8 SPD-11 SPD-20 R-70 ($9.49)

Roland - R is for Roland BOOK / Rare ! / Book about TR-909 / TR-808 / Jupiter 8 / SH-101 / MC-202 / TB-303 / TR-727 / RE-201 and many more ($334.05)

Roland 100 / 110 volt AC Power adaptor for Roland R-8 drum machine (suit USA or Japan) ($63.89)

Roland R-88 2013 - Black ($500)

Roland R-880 Digital Reverb w/ GC-8 Controller ($1,199)

Roland R8 M 1987 ($265.36)

Power Supply For Roland Ach 120 Us 120 V American Adapter 10 V 500 Ma Uk R5 R8 R8 Mkii ($54.16)

Power Supply For Roland Ach 240 240 E 230 Uk Adapter 10 V 500 Ma Uk R5 R8 R8 Mkii 2 ($54.16)

Roland SN-R8-01 Contemporary Percussion for R8 drum card ($95)

Roland SN-R8-08 Dry 1990s - Black ($65.70)

Roland SN-R8-08 Dry 1990s - Black ($68.24)

Roland R-8M Sound Module Drum Machine ($224.99)

Roland SN-R8-05 Jazz ($70)

Roland SN-R8-11 Metallic Percussion 1990s - Black ($75)

Roland SN-R8-03 Sound Effects ($89.08)

Roland SN-R8-06 Ethnic for R8 drum card ($95)

Roland SN-R8-11 Metallic Percussion for R8 drum card ($95)

Roland SN-R8-06 ($59.99)

Roland SN-R8-02 Jazz Brush 1990s - Black ($65)

Roland R-8M Total Percussion Sound Module ($218.58)