Roland R-8 MK II User manual

Roland
HUMAN RHYXHM COMPOSER
R-B MKn
OWNER'S MANUAL
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Information
When you need repair service, call your local Roland Service Station or the authorized Roland distributor in your
country as shown below.
U. S. A.
Roland Corporation US
7200 Dominion Circle
Los Angeles, CA.
90040-3647. U. S. A.
S(213)685-5141
CANADA
Roland Canada Music Ltd.
(Head Office)
5480 Parkwood
Richmond B.C..V6V2M4
CANADA
S(604)270 -6626
Roland Canada Music Ltd.
9425 Transcanadienne
Service Rd. N., St Laurent,
Quebec H4S IV3,
CANADA
0(514)335-2009
Roland Canada Music Ltd,
346 Walline Avenue,
Mississauga, Ontario L4Z
1X2, CANADA
a(416)890 -6488
AUSTRALIA
Roland Corporation
(Australia) Pty. Ltd.
(Head Office)
38 Campbell Avenue
Dee Why West. NSW 2099
AUSTRALIA
a(02)982 -8266
Roland Corporation
(Australia) Ply. Ltd.
(Melbourne Office)
50 Garden Street
South Yarra, Victoria 3141
AUSTRALIA
»(03)241 -1254
UNITED KINGDOM
Roland(U,K.) Ltd.
Rye Close
Ancells Business Park
Fleet, Hampshire GU13
8UY. UNITED KINGDOM
S0252-816181
Roland(U.K,) Ltd..
Swansea Office
Atlantic Close, Swansea
Enterprise Park, Swansea,
West Glamorgan SA79FJ,
UNITED KINGDOM
a(0792)700 -139
ITALY
Roland Italy S, p. A.
Viaie delle Industrie 8
20020 ARESE MILANO
ITALY
a02-93581311
SPAIN
Roland Electronics
de Espana, S. A.
Calle Bolivia 239
08020 Barcelona. SPAIN
a93 -308 -1000
GERMANY
Roland Elektronische
Musikinstrumente
Handelsgesellschaft mbH.
Oststrasse 96. 2000
Nordersiedt. GERMANY
a040/52 60 090
FRANCE
Musikengro
102 Avenue Jean-Jaures
69007 LyonCedexO?
FRANCE
a(7)858 -54 60
Musikengro (Paris Office)
Centre Region Parisienne
41 rue Charles-Fourier,
94400 Vitrys/Seine
FRANCE
a(1)4680 86 62
BELGIUM/
HOLLAND/
LUXEMBOURG
Roland Benelux N. V.
Houtstraat 1
B-2260 Oevel-Westerlo
BELGIUM
a(0032)14 -575811
DENMARK
Roland Scandinavia A/S
Langebrogade 6
Box 1937
DK-1023 Copenhagen K,
DENMARK
a31 -95 31 II
SWEDEN
Roland Scandinavia A/S
DanvikCenter28 A, 2tr.
S-13! 30Nacka
SWEDEN
a08 -702 00 20
NORWAY
Roland Scandinavia
Avd. Norge
Lilleakerveien 2
Postboks 95 Lilleaker
N-O216 0slo2
NORWAY
a02 -73 00 74
FINLAND
FazerMusik Inc.
Lansituuientie
POB 169
SF-02101 Espoo
FINLAND
a-43 50 11
NEW ZEALAND
Roland Corporation
(NZ) Ltd.
97 Mt. Eden Road, Mt,
Eden. Auckland 3,
NEW ZEALAND
a(09)3098 -715
SWITZERLAND
Musitronic AC
Gert)erslrasse5,CH-4410
LiestaS, SWITZERLAND
a061/921 16 15
Roland CK (Swiizedand)
AG
Poslfach/Hauptstrasse 2
!
CH-4456 Tenni ken
SWITZERLAND
a061/98 60 55
Repair Sena^ by
Musitronic AG
AUSTRIA
E. Dematte &Co.
Neu-Rum Siemens-
Strasse 4
A-6021 Innsbruck Box 591
AUSTRIA
S(05 12)63 451
GREECE
V. Dimilriadis &Co. Ltd.
2Phidiou Str.. GR 106 78
Athens. GREECE
ai -3620130
PORTUGAL
Casa Caius Insirumenios
Musicais Lda.
Rua de Santa Catarina 131
Porto. PORTUGAL
a02 -38 44 56
HUNGARY
Intermusica Ltd,
Warehouse Area 'DEPO'
Torokbaiint. Budapest
HUNGARY
a(1)1868905
ISRAEL
DJ.A. International Ltd.
25PinskerSt..Tel Aviv
ISRAEL
a972 -3 -5283015
CYPRUS
Radex Sound Equipment
Ltd.
17 Panteli Katelari Str.
P.O.Box 2046, Nicosia
CYPRUS
a453426. 466423
TURKEY
Barkat Sanayi ve Ticarel
Siraselviler Cad. 86/6
Taksim Istanbul, TURKEY
a149 93 24
EGYPT
Al Fanny Trading Office
9, Ebn Hagar Askalany
Street, Ard Ei Golf,
Heliopolis. Cairo. EGYPT
32917803-665918
BRAZIL
Roland Brasil Ltda.
R. Alvarenga591
CEP-05509 Sao Pauio
BRAZIL
a(01 1)813 -7967
Repair Service for Roland
and Rhodes products
Oliver do Brasil S.A.
Instrumentos Musicals
Av.Ceci.No.S78 Centre
Empresarial Tambore
Barueri SP CEP 06400
BRAZIL
a(01 1)709 -1267
Repair Service for BOSS
products
MEXICO
Case Veerkamp. s,a, de c.v.
Mesones No. 21
Col. Centre
C.P. 06080 Mexico, D.F.
MEXICO
a(5)709 -3716
La Casa Wagner de
Guadalajara s.a, dec.v.
Av. Corona No. 202 S.J.
C,P,44100
Guadalajara. Jalisco
MEXICO
a(36)13 -1414
ARGENTINA
Netto S.A.
Venezuela 1433
1095 Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA
a37-1632
HONG KONG
Tom Lee Music Co., Ltd.
Service Division
22-32 Pun Shan Street.
Tsuen Wan, New
Territories, HONG KONG
a415-09Il
KOREA
Cosmos Corporation
Service Station
261 2nd Floor Nak-Won
arcade
jong-Ro ku, Seoul, KOREA
a(02) 742 8844
SINGAPORE
Swee Lee Company
Bras Basah Complex
#03-23 Singapore 0178
SINGAPORE
a3367886
THAILAND
Theera Music Co.. Ltd.
330 Verng Nakorn Kasem,
Soi 2. Bangkok 10100,
THAILAND
a2248821
MALAYSIA
Syarikat Bentiey
No.l42.JalanBukit
Bintang 55100 Kuala
Lumpur. MALAYSIA
a2421288
INDONESIA
PTGalestra Inii
Kompleks Perkantoran
Duta Meriin Blok C/59
Jl. Gajah mada No.3-5
Jakarta 10130
INDONESIA
a(021) 354604. 354606
TAIWAN
Siruba Enterprise(Ta!wan)
Co.. LTD.
Room. 5, 9n. No. 112
Chung Shan N.Road Sec.2
Taipei. TAIWAN, R.O.C.
a(02)5364546
SOUTH AFRICA
That Other Music
Shop(PTY) LTD,
256 Bree Street,
Johannesburg 2001
Republic of South Africa
a337 -6573
Paul Bothner(PTY) LTD.
17 Werdmuller Centre
Claremont 7700
Republic of South Africa
a021 -64-4030
As of Jan 8. 1992

F^-Q mkII Quick Operation Mode Table
iMain Mode
ISONG
SONG
im
Mhhu Display Bong Playing
EXIT
Sang Wriling
_-
tPATTERN
PATTERN
i
Menu Disg^Bv
EXIT
EXIT
SI
Patlem Playing lUsef-^'snernl
Sieo Writins
Basic Mode
4RWe
Normsl Edit Mode
SCOPE
Scope Edit Mode
Rest'timB Writing
IPAGE
REsl-umi Edit Mck)e
Pnltern Plaving (Prasel PaDBtn]
•MIDI
MIDI
10]
Manu DisplBV Transmii Ch
EX?T
—
>
Hecelva Ch
EXIT
NotB Number
EXIT
m
Function Switch
Em
ContrDi Change
eVt llrmrumem SKDOt^
PiiiormBnce Seerdu
EXIT JFftGE
Control Change
'EXIT
mIPerlDrmince Section
Note Number
Idtlslizing
EXIT
ffi
Su!K Dump
t—
EXIT
Hnstrument Assignment Card
INST ASSIGN
1
ffi
Menu Display —
•
InilnimimAnrgniBirt!
EXIT
Hi
Diipisy Assgnmera
Em
SI lisiliumtMAitigntnl
!nfliii:zin;
exTt
CARD
tCD
Menu Dtsplav Laed iiam RAM cifif
Em
Sevf 10 RAM cirt)
El
FoTmol RAM card
EXIT
•
—
RDMcani
EXIT
lUtilfty
UTILITY
1m
Menu Display An Song Clear
EXIT
m
All PBMrn Cl«ar
mi
m
Availebte Memcry
•—
EXIT
Edit Mode
Sound Editing
SOUND
!Dj
Menu Display Soufid ParamolBi
Edtina
Exrr
Copy Instrument
ixn IWGE
Copy inEUumanl
Naminq
EXIT
Sound PaiamsiBt
Iranaliiinn
exIt
(Performance Editing
PERFORM
Im
Menu Display F«fciniiinc( Ptfinntr
EXIT
Align
e^t
Psrttnniim pHimBB
CItEF
1
—
•Fee! Editing
FEEL
Menu Display —
.
PBtd< Selsn
oIt iPAGE
Groove Select
EXIT
JPAGE
Instiumant Select
'EXIT
2}-E] Gn»ve Swnch/
Random Switch
EXIT |PAGE
Graove
EXIT |P«GE
Handoin Factor
'EXIT
iPM5E
Inittumenl Svmch
'EXIT
Patch Copy
Em
3Fee) Patch
Clear
Em

Instrument Table
Group/
No. Display Name
KOI
K02
K03
K04
KD5
AMBO^K
DOINC_K
BOTTM^K
DBLH„K3
DEEP.Kl
am bo kick ^
boing kick *
boiiDm kick ^
double head kick 34=
deep kick 1^
K06
K07
K08
K09
KIO
DRY_K1
EZ^K
FACE.K
FL,OOR_K
FLOP^K
diy kick 1^
easy kick :):
face kick ^
Roar kick s):
flop kick ^
KU
K12
K13
K14
KI5
OATE_K
GATE_K2
HARD^K
HEAVY^K
HDUSE_K
galed reverb kick ^
galed reverb kick 2 if:
hard kick ^
heavy kick ^
house kick :>(:
K16
KI7
K16
Kiy
K20
MONDO^K
MLJSCL_K
PU\CH_K
ROOM^Kl
R00M_K2
niondo kick ^
muscle kick 4^
punch kick ^
room flmbicnl kick 1:4i
room ambicnl kick 24^
K21
K22
K23
K24
K25
R0DM_K3
R00M_K4
SNAP^K
50FT_K
SOLID^K
room amhieni kick 3%
room amhieni kick 49K
snap kick ^
.safi kick s^
.solid kick >(:
K26
K27
K2fi
K2V
K30
SQUAS^K
TEK\0_K
V|DEO„K
W00D_K2
W00D_K3
squash kick ^
techno kick ^:
video kick :+;
wood kick 2*
wood kick 3*
K31
K32
K33
SOI
S02
7B_K
yoy.K
DOiNC^S
nniTE.s
CR -7fl kick *
TR- BOS kick *
TR -909 kick *
boine snare 5|c
brigh! snare if:
S03
S04
505
sort
SG7
CQMriO_S
DANCE_H
FAT, 51
FLNK^S
camho snaic ^
dance snare sf:
echo snare H^
fai snare 1+
funk snare ^
508
509
SIO
Sl]
512
GATE_5
HOLSE_S
LA_S
LIG!IT_S
NO^SNRS
Kaied reverb snare :i:
house snare sjc
1„A, snare s}:
lighl snare sf;
no snares !+;
S13
5)4
515
51rt
517
PiCL_Sl
PISCES
RADIO_S
RE.^L^S
RIMSMTJ
piccolo snare 1jfc
ping snaic ^
radio snare :>^
real snare ^
rim shot snare 1^
Group/
No, Display Name
sie ROCK^Sl rock snare 1*
S19 RVBJl reverb snare 1*
520 SHARP^S sharp snare *
S2I 5LAM^5 slam snare *
522 SMALL.S small snare *
S23 SOUD_S solid snare *
524 TIGHT_S liehl snare *
525 TRASH_S irash snare *
S26 VIDEO^S video snaie *
527 \V00D_S1 wood snare 1*
S2B 7S_5 CR -78 snare *
529 B08_S2 TR -808 snare 2*
S3Q 909_S TR -909 snare *
531 S\ViS_S2 brush sVrish snare 2
S32 SWIS^S3 brush swish snare 3
S33 SWlS„Sd brush swish snare 4
S34 SLAP_S1 brush slap snare 1*
S3S 5LAP_S3 brush stapsnare3 *
S3fi 5L'\P^54 brush slap snare 4*
-^37 R0LL_S1 brush roll snare 1
538 ROLL. 53 brush roll snare 3
539 SIDSTKI side stick 1
540 SIDSTK4 side slick 4
541 8085 IDE TR- 808 side Slick
S42 909SIDE TR- 909 siile Slick
TOl ATAK^Tl aHack lam 1*
TD2 ATAK_T2 aiiack lom 2*
T03 ATAKJJ aliack lom 3*
TD4 ATAK_T4 aiiack lom 4*
TD5 HOLO^Tl hollow lam 1*
TOfi HOLD T2 hollow lom 2*
T07 II0L0_T3 hollow lam 3*
T08 HOL0^T4 hollow lam 4*
T09 REAL^Tl teal lom 1*
TlO REAL^T2 real tum 2*
Til REAL..T3 real lom 3*
T12 REAL_T4 real lam 4*
TI3 ROCKET1roctrom 1*
T14 R0CK_T2 rock torn 2*
Tii R0CK_T3 rock lom 3*
Tlh R0CK,T4 rock lom 4 *
T17 ROOM_TI room ambieni lom 1*
TIB R00\I_T2 room ambieni lom 2*
TI9 R0OM_T3 room ambieni lom 3*
T20 R00M_T4 room ambieni lom 4*
T21 SLAP_T1 brush slap torn 1*
T22 SLj\P_T2 brush slap lom 2*
T23 5LAP_T3 brush slap lom 3*
T24 5lJ\P_T4 brush slap lom 4*
T25 DOOM^Tl doom lom 1
*;The sound changes by changing your playing strength or the Nuance setting.
* * :The sound changes by changing the Nuance setting.

Group/ Display Name
T26
T27
HDl
HG2
1103
80S T
CLSDJU
0Pr;N^H2
PDAL_II2
TR -80R ion! :+:
TR -909 loni *
closed III -ha! 24^ ^
pen hi -hal 2^^
peiial closcil hi -hal 2
H04
1105
H06
H07
H08
CLSD_H4
0P[I\_H4
PDAL_114
CLSD^H5
0PEN_H5
closed 111- hal 4^^
pen hi -hal 44= %
p«lalcloBC[lhi-hai4
closed hi -hal 5^^
open hi -hal 54^ ^
Hoy
mo
Hri
H12
i]13
PDAL_H5
76_CHH
78_ONH
803C1IH
B08OHH
pedal closed hi -hai 5
CR-7S closed hi -hat **
CR- 78 open hi -hal **
TR -808 closed hi -hal ^4:
TR-BDBopenhi-hai **
1115
Hlfi
1117
YD!
yoy^CHM
yoy^oHH
[jnci,_Hi
nROP_ii]
CRSII_Cy
TR -909 closed hi -hal !j= 5(:
TR -909 Open hi -hal **
brush closed hi -hal 1%sf:
bnish open hi -hal t^^
crash cymbal 9
Y02
YGS
Y04
Y05
YOfi
CRSIICIO
CHINA_C
IIAS'D_C1
RlDt; C3
RDBL.Ca
crash cymbal 10
Chinese cymbal
band cymbals 1
ri[iccymbal3 ^^
ride- hetl cymbal 3^:4=
YD7
YOB
Y09
YID
POl
BELL_C3
RIVETRD
BRRD.CI
MLl.T^C2
COWiJEL!
ride cymbal bel! 3
ride cymbal wiih rivei s); ^
brush ride cymhal !:J: ^
mallei crash cymbal 2^=f:
cowbell 1
PD2
P03
P04
P05
POfi
C0\VBIiL2
TAMBRM
TAMnR\2
Dn.TREF.
CASTANE
cowbell 2
lamboiirinc 1
lambourine 2
bell Irec
casianeis
P07
PDS
POJ
PIO
Pil
C0\_DD2
GONG
TI\1PA\2
TRtANGL
W131..0CK
eoncCTl bassdrum 2Hi
gone
iimpani2 3^
iriangle
wood block
?\2
PI-1
PH
P15
Plfi
1.0W_BG
I1IGM_^BG
l.OWCC
SL[D_CG
5LAP_CG
low bongo H:
high bonfio sjs
open low conga sj;
stiiic low conga sf; %
slap hi^h conga ^
P!7
PIB
Piy
P20
P21
MLTE_CG
LOW_TB
HICIIJB
CUWEI
VIB5LAP
mule high conga
lowiimbale :4^
high limbak' 4=
ciavcs 1
vibra-slap
tiro up/
No. Display Name
P22 LNG_CUI long Euito
P23 5H0_.GUi shnrl guiro
P24 MARACAS maracas
P25 SHAKERI shaker I
P2fi CABASA
1
cabasa 1
P27 WtJISTLl whisile 1
P2B WI11STL2 whistle 2
P2y ACOGOl agogo 1
P30 OCT^GG oclave agogo **
Pil OPN^CUI open cuica
P32 MUT.CUl mule cuica
P33 OPN^PND open pandiero
P34 MUT^PND mute pandiero
P3S OPN_SRD open surdo
P3fi MUT_SRD muiE surdo
P37 TMBORIM lamborim
P3S KALI MBA kalimba *
P39 LOCDRUM log drum
P40 STEELDR siecl drum *
P41 TA1K02 laiko 2*
P42 CAiN3 can 3**
P43 55CLAVE DR -55 ciavcs
P44 78_COW CR -7H cowbell
IMS 7S_TAMB CR -78 lambourine
Pdfi 7B_BNG CR -78 bongo
P47 7aGUlRa CR -78 guiro
P4S 76_MARC CR •78 maracas
PA9 TSMBEAT CR -7S meiallic bcai
P50 aoBcow TR -808 cowbell
P51 808CNG TR -808 conga
P52 80BCLAV TR -SOS daves
P53 B08MARC TR -BOS maiacM
P54 B08CLAP TR -BOB hand clap
XOl FNCSNP2 finger snap 2
X02 HIGH_Q highQ
X03 RAPNOIS lap noise
XOA RVB_CLP reverb clap
X05 SCRPUSH scratch push
XOfi SCRPULL scralch pul)
X07 SPARK
1
spark 1**
xoa WHEEU wheel 2**
X09 back_si back snare 1**
Xin BACKJl hack lorn 1
XII BACK_C2 hack cymhal 2
XI2 BACK_GO back gong
ROl FNCBASS Tinger bass *
no2 SLPDASS slap bass *
B03 AC_BASS acoiiMic bass *
noi 303DASS TB -303 bass **
ROI REST rest

Group/
No. Spurce Inslrumenl
C!
C2
C3
C4
C5
KQ4
S17
T25
t:5
H04
DBLH^K4 *
RIMSHT2 *
D00M_T2
DOOM^TS
CLSD_H6 **
C6
C7
ca
CIO
H04
HQ5
H05
YOl
YOl
CLSD_H7 **
0PEN_H6 **
OPEN^HT **
CRSHCn
CH0K_C1
en
C12
C13
C14
C15
YDl
YD]
P54
P35
P26
SPLA_C1
SPLA.cz
DRYCLAP
OPEN„Di
CABASA2
C16
C17
C!6
C19
C20
PO!
P14
P29
H02
P29
C0\VBEL3
HIGH_CC *
AG0C02
PLATEl **
RING!
C21
C22
C23
C2d
C25
P27
Pll
PID
X07
P54
PlPEl
WBL0CK2
MUT.TRI
THHILLR **
CUNSHT!
C26 P25 SHADOW

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8
I
iMiK ANE^Y METHOD
TD BET YDU STARTED
Because this booklet is intended to illustrate the basic steps that might be taken for creating
patterns and songs, many other details are not touched upon. We recommend that you read
through the owner's manual beforehand to gain further useful information. We are going to
create asong using 5simple patterns written in real-time. We will make afew real-time
edits, insert some repeat marks and atempo change, and hopefully you will understand how
easy it is to use the R-8MKII. This exercise uses very simple patterns which we Invite you
to copy as we go aiong, or create your own. {For those of you who cannot read musical
notation, please program the patterns as you wish, but maintain the same length as our
example.)
Before Starting
To make sure we stay together through this simple process.
first initialize your R-SMKII by holding jSELECT |and |PAGE
down while turning on the power. Press
it's initialized.
ENTER twice and
*There are other ways of initializing specific parameters.
See the owner's manual on page 141.
Let's Make Rhythm Patterns
We will use the Tempo of 120 BPM. To verify, push TEMPO ,
adjust if necessary, then push TEMPO again;
Press IPATTERN i,and select number 3for Real-time Writing.
The display shows:
Pattern Number
Pattern Bank
i
The number of bars contained in the pattern
Pattern Name
ri Jl
PTNfflS2-61J<DEM0 6
RTM T=89.-- 8Q=l.--16
ff
Time Signature Quantize
*You can always exit from any step along the way by pressing |EXIT
if you are not sure of what should be showing in the display.
Weii, now we are ready to proceed one by one with our series
of patterns.

Rhythm Pattern AThe cursor is under the programmable pattern, A32. Using
VALUE slider or Numeric keys, select a
1/OFF +1/ON
programmable pattern, in this case, A90.
Next, we decide how many bars the pattern is going to have.
^°^^ \SHIFT [down and press |CLEAR |(key pad 14). The display
shows:
PTN FORMRT <PTHll9e
T=94.-- 4EfiR= 81
T
Time Signature T The number of bar
and the cursor is under the "BAR=01" position. Now just press
ENTER because programmable pattern A90 is going to be
one bar in lengthTv
•Now press |START| and you wiM hear the metronome. There
is an accent on the "one."
Count along to make sure you follow, hold down FLAM and
press the |SNARE |(key pad 14) on beat four.
i
•You hear the flam on beat "4." Let's edit the flam now. Stop
the machine.
Hold ISHIFT Idown and press |FLAM SET j(key pad 7). The
display shows:
FLfiM SET <PT
*INTUL= 15 yti
Flam Interval Value
"^is
Made a big change in the INTERVAL, bring it from 15 to 10 and
P""^^^ iENTER Start the machine and you should hear the
difference. Repeat this until you get the flam feel you desire.
When setting the flam, you can change not only the INTERVAL,
but the RATIO as well. Use |SELECT |to go back and forth.
INTERVAL changes the amount of time between each hit, and
RATIO determines their difference in volume.
Press ISTOP .

Rhythm Pattern BLet's go to programmable pattern A91. The cursor should
be under the pattern number in the display. Using |-1/OFF
+1/ON ,select the next pattern, in this case, A91.
Format the pattern the way we did with number 90 except this
time select 4bars for it's length. Press |ENTER |and then
START .You'll hear the metronome.
The quantize resolution is on 1/16 and you will notice that you
can change the resolution while the pattern is in the record
mode. To change the resolution you can use the VALUE slider,
Numeric keys, or 1/OFF +1/0N Leave it at 1/16 for
now.
Programmable pattern A91 will be your basic 8-beat rhythm,
as shown:
imfTTifTn
Isuggest you start with the Hihat, playing eighth notes for the
4measures.
Now let's suppose you want to do the Hihat again.
'^''^ss STOP;. Hold ISHIFT |down and press |CLEAR I(key pad
14). The display shows:
PTN CLERR <PTNS91>
IN5T=='::flLL INSi::-
Erasing all the Instrument
This is the stage where you can erase everything you have
done in the pattern, including the length; or you can just erase
all of the Hihat, Kick, Snare or whatever you want. In this case.
press the iCLOSED HH |(key pad 11), and it will appear in the
display. Press |ENTER jand the Hihat is gone, and you can do
it over again.
There is one other way of erasing, and that is in real-time. You
should practice this once to understand. After you have pro-
grammed your Hihat part again, while the machine is still playing.
ho'd ISHIFT Idown and press the |CLOSED HH ,(key pad 11)
down for as long as you want to erase the sound. To experiment,
Isuggest you hold it down for the count of 4and release it for
4, always keeping ,SHIFT |pressed.
Now that you know how to do this, program the Hihat part
again.
Program the Snare drum on the 2's and 4's and the Bass drum
as is written above.

Rhythm Pattern CPress 1STOP I,and go to programmable pattern A92. Hold
(key pad 14}, and format pro- CLEAR
SHIFT jdown, press
grammabie pattern A92 for 2bars.
Press !START .The metronome sounds and you will be able to
refer to the bar number indicator in the display.
m
gpiq?
rrr rr ^^
Here we are going to program the first measure first. Count
along and enter 8th notes with the Hihat in the first measure.
Enter the Kick and Snare as written. Add asimple Tom fill to
lead into the second measure. If you make amistake, it is easy
to create each voice, one by one.
Now, enter aCrash and Kick on the first beat of the second
measure. While the machine is running, (you should have afull
first measure and the Crash on the first beat of the second)
change the quantize resolution to 1/32. On beat "2" of measure
"2" we are going to enter aroll.
First, stop the machine and while holding down |ROLL ,press
any of the key pads and feel what the rol! can do. increase the
pressure on the pad and the volume increases as well. We are
going to enter aroll form beat "2" through beat "4."
Start the machine, and counting if you have to, press ROLL
and the SNARE (key pad 14) at the same time, from beat "2'
of the second measure. Stop before the "1" of the first measure.
If you do not end the roil well, erase the Snare drum, either just
the roll or all of the Snare in this pattern, and do it again.
•Real-time Edit (Pitch)
Let's have some fun with the roll. Let's use the real-time edit
function, and change the pitch of the roll so that it starts low
and finishes high.
Press START ,and while the rhythm is playing, press IPAGE .
The display shows:
PTNS92'"62J<^-^EDITi !>
RTM $UL= 264 ±
f
T
Sequence parameter Value
By pressing \SELECT |find "$PT==0000" in the display.

Use the VALUE slider or^ -1 /OFF I
^+1/On1 to determine the
starting point of the pitch change. Move it to -2000. While the
pattern is playing the roll, hold down the SNARE Ipad for the
length of the roll only. Release your finger after the roH, and the
next time it plays you will see what you have done. Now to
correct this type of edit, you must just select the original setting,
in this case GOOD, hold down the key to be edited, and it wii!
return to normal.
While the machine is playing, experiment with the VALUE slider,
to see how gradual achange you can make in the tuning. If you
hold down the SNARE pad while doing this, you will create a
real-time edit. Do this until you have arising-pitch roll.
Of course, with all the other parameters in this mode, there are
changes you can make. Let's keep it simple for now. Press
PAGE to return to the real-time write display.
Rhythm Pattern D
"::>?3
Next, we want to program another 4bar pattern. Format pro-
grammable pattern A93 for 4bars, press |ENTER |, |START
and program the same type of rhythm as programmable pattern
A91, only this time play the eight notes on the Ride Cymbal.
Make sure you are still in Pad Bank "A."
The pattern should sound as written here.
1fTTl rrn
f--7f-rf==rf=r^=ff=rf-7f=7
Real-time Edit (Pan)
While the machine is running, press PAGE and then iSELECT
until "$PN=*OFF*" appears in the display.
Hold down the 'RIDE (key pad 4} and with the VALUE slider or
1/OFF '. \+1 /ON ,change the pan of the cymbal from L-3
to R-3. Try to do it in rhythm or as you please, and release your
hands after you think you have got what you want. This is only
to show you how it works. You can of course, go back and pan
that rising-pitch roll from left to right if you like.

Rhythm Pattern EFormat programmable pattern A94 for 2bars. This is the
ending pattern, so we will just make asimple accented ending,
as shown here, or as you like.
1i
tPTTi
Remember, we changed the quantize resolution earlier, for pro-
gramming the roll, and depending on your real-time tapping
skills, you may find programming 8th notes with the 1/32 reso-
lution abit difficult. Change it as you wish. One reminder here.
There is also aroll resolution. It is important to remember that
the overall quantize resolution will determine how the roll sounds.
Match the two or set quantize to HIGH. Also, roll resolution will
change with the tempo.
Putting it all together
So now we have 5patterns to work with in making the song.
A90, A91, A92, A93 and A94. Press SONG !and the
display shows:
PLnV SUiRITE
Press Numeric key 1, and select the song number, in this
case, 1.
Press MiXIJ and then Numeric key 2, to write asong, and the
display shows:
Song Number
i
Song Name
i
SONG 1<
PRRT 001 PTNK10-01
TT
Part Number Pattern Number
Here is where we select the order of patterns to be used in the
song. We will be logical and start from A90.
or
Pressing either +1 /ON -1/OFF will change the num-
bers appearing in the right side of the display. With 90-01
showing, press ENTER :.You will notice on the left side that
"PART 002" shows. Here we are assigning rhythm patterns to
"Parts" in the song.
Press 1+1 /ON to change the display to show "PTN 91-04."

^''^ss !ENTER Iagain. Keep repeating this until you have made
5parts in the song, with the patterns appearing in order from
A90 to A94.
^"^ss IEXIT and then Numeric key 1to go to song play mode.
Press START [and what we have programmed is now a"song.'
Press STOP
•Song Edits
Let's mal<e afew simple edits to the song,
or
Press SONG EXIT | .Select number 2for song write. Push
iuntil "PART 002 PTN 91-04" appears in the screen. Press
shift: and |PART INSERT i(key pad 10). Display shows:
PPRT INSERT <:SuNi3 1>
PQRT 002 PTNia91-~04 ?
Press SELECT and "REP shows in the display. Press
ENTER
What we have done is enter the repeat mark, as we want to
repeat this four-bar pattern. Remember that arepeat mark is
entered as a"Part," so the number of parts in asong will
increase with every inserted change, like repeats or tempo
changes. It's important to remember this when you are writing
asong, so you do not get confused with the changes.
Now, with the cursor move it so "PART 004 PTN 92-02" shows
in the display. Press |SHIFT |and |PART INSERT j(key pad 10).
Use ISELECT ito bring ":|j x01?" into the display. Press
ENTER
What we have done is to enter repeat marks before and after
programmable pattern A91. Use the same procedure for en-
tering other song edits, such as tempo or level changes,
it is very easy and it is always simple to push EXIT \to start
your editing process ail over again. This concept prevails
throughout all the editing functions of the R-8. Though there is
alot you can do with it, each process is simple and easy to
understand. We hope this has made some of the most important
functions of the R-8MKII easier to understand.

Press EXIT or jSONG ,select number 1for song play, and any
programming miracles, you are on your way!
To check that you have gotten everything entered correctly, press
SONG ,Numeric key 2and then j.This will take you ^
through the PART order of the song as it is finally programmed. j;
It should read as shown below:
PART 001 PTN A90-01
PART 002 REP II :
PART 003 PTN A91-04
PART 004 REP :1x01
PART 005 PTN A92-02
PART 006 PTN A93-04
PART 007 PTN A94-02
If you go beyond the end of the program of the song, a"?" will
appear after the pattern number. The song will end with the last
part/pattern you have selected.
^Roland 26055621 '93-1-63-123

R-B MKnHUMAN RHYTHM
(zaMpnsER
OWNER'S MANUAL
Thank you for purchasing the Roland R-8MK II Human
Rhythm Composer.
The R-8MK II is an innovative new rhythm machine featuring
avariety of functions that make it easy to program extremely
realistic rhythm performances.
To make the best use of the R-8MKtt, please read this owner'
smanual carefully.
Copyright ©1992 by ROLAND CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in
any form without the written permission of ROLAND CORPORATION.

CONTENTS
llmportant Notes
IOutline of the R-8IVIK li
1. About Human Feel
2. Features of the R-8MK
IPanel Descriptions
iBasic Connections
RHYTHM PATTERN PROGRAMMING
-9
11
12
PLAYING RHYTHMS
d} Let's Play !
1. Manual Playing
2. Demonstration Songs
3. Pattern Playing
a. Playing Preset Patterns-
b. Playing User Patterns
c. Feel Patch Assignment
14
14
17
20
20
21
22
(^Before Writing Rhythm Data
1. Procedures for Rhythm Programming 24
a. Three Procedures 24
b. Rhythm Programming 25
2. The R-8MKIi's Nine Modes 28
3. Basic Procedures 30
INSTRUMENT SETTINGS
[T] Instrument Assignment 36
1. Assigning instruments 36
2. How to use aSound ROM Card 39
3. Display Assign 42
Setting Sound Parameters
1. Description of Sound Parameters'
a. Pitch
b. Decay
c. Nuance
d. Output Assign
e. Assign Type
f. Sense Curve
2. Editing Procedure
3. Copy Instrument
43
-43
-43
•44
45
45
46
47
-48
50
(D Pattern Writing (Basic) 54
1. Default Settings for Pattern Writing 55
2. Real-time Writing 57
3. Step Writing 61
a. Step Writing Modes 61
b. Basic Step Writing 65
c. Step Writing In the Edit Mode 67
d. Examples for Step Writing 71
Pattern Writing (Advanced) 73
1. Performance Parameters 73
a. Functions of the Performance
Parameters 75
b. Setting Performance Parameters 76
c. Using the Multj Assign Function 77
2. Swing/Flam/Roll Entry 80
a. Swing 80
b. Flam 82
c. Roll 84
S) Fee! Patch 85
1. Functions of Parameters 87
a. Groove Select -87
b. Instrument Select 87
c. Groove Switch and Random Factor
Switch 88
d. Groove 88
e. Random Factors 88
f. instrument Switch 89
2. Editing Procedure 90
a. Groove Setting 90
b. Random Factor Setting 92
3. Feel Patch Assignment 94
4. Feel Patch Copy 95
g] Rhythm Pattern Editing 96
1. Editing Seouence Parameters 96
a. Real-time Edit 97
b. Step Edit 99
2. Timing Edit 100
a. Macro Timing Shift 100
b. Micro Timing Shift 101

3. Pattern Edit
a. Instrument Change'
b. Pattern Append
c. Pattern Extract
d. Pattern Merge
e. Reframe
1Pattern Copy
g. Pattern Name
103
103
104
105
106
107
108
110
SONG PROGRAMMING
]Song Write
1. Song Writing
2. Repeat
3. Tempo Change
4. Level Change-
5. Label
a. Label Setting
b. Search Label
Song Edit"--
1. Part Delete
-
ZPart Insert--
3. Part Copy-
4. Song Copy -
5. Song Clear -
6. Song Name
Functions for Song Play
1. Continue Play
2. Song Chain
3. Initial Tempo and Initial Level
4. Search Label
5. Time Calculate
6. Time Display
7. Time Set
-112
-113
115
117
118
n9
119
120
121
121
122
123
125
126
127
128
128
129
130
131
132
134
135
OTHER USEFUL FUNCTIONS
mutility
1. Available Memory
2. All Song Clear
3. Al! Pattern Clear
138
138
138
139
2] Temporary Assign/Instrument List -140
1. Temporary Assign 140
2. Instrument List 140
S] Initialization 141
g] Memory Card (RAM) 145
1. Formatting 146
2. Save 148
3. Load 149
S3 Sync Play 151
1. Sync Mode Setting 151
2. MIDI Sync 152
3. Tape Sync 153
E] MIDI 155
1. MIDI Message Communication 155
2. MIDI Function Settings 159
a. Transmit Channel 160
b. Receive Channel 161
c. Note Numbers 162
d. Function Switch 163
e. Control Change 166
f. Performance Section 167
3. Example Setups 169
a. Using the R-8MK 11
as aMIDI Sound Module 169
b. Playing an externa! MIDI Sound
Module with the R-8MK il 171
4. Data Transfer via Exclusive Messages -172
a. Transmit--: 172
b. Receive 174
c. Transmitting Sound Parameters 174
Reference 175
1. Error Message Table 175
2. Troubleshooting 178
3. Blank Chart 183
4. Preset Pattern Table 187
5. Preprogrammed Sound Parameters
and Note Numbers 188
Roland Exclusive Messages 195
MIDI Implementation 197
Specifications 2O8
index to Functions 209
Index to Terminology 212

IMPORTANT NOTES
Be sure to use only the adaptor supplied with
the unit Use of any other power adaptor could
result in damage, malfunction, or electric shock.
[Power Supply] Placement]
When making any connections with other
devices, always turn off the power to all
equipment first ;this will help prevent
damage or malfunction.
Do not use this unit on the same power
circuit with any device that will generate
line noise, such as amotor or Variable
lighting system.
Do not subject the unit to temperature
extremes (eg. direct sunlight in an enclosed
vehicle). Avoid using or storing the unit in
dusty or humid areas or areas that are
subject to high vibration levels.
Using the unit near power amplifiers (or
other equipment containing large
transformers) may induce hum.
The power supply required for this unit is
shown on its nameplate. Ensure that the
line voltage of your installation meets this
requirement.
Avoid damaging the power cord ;do not
step on it, place heavy objects on it etc.
When disconnecting the AC adaptor from
the outlet, grasp the plug itself ;never pull
on the cord.
This unit may interfere with radio and
television reception. Do not use this unit in
the vicinity of such receivers.
Do not expose this unit to temperature
extremes (eg. direct sunlight in an enclosed
vehicle can deform or discolor the unit) or
install it near devices that radiate heat.
[Maintenance]
If the unit is to remain unused for a long
period of time, unplug the power cord.
For everyday cleaning wipe the unit with a
soft, dry cloth (or one that has been
slightly dampened with water). To remove
stubborn dirt, use amild neutral detergent.
Afterwards, be sure to wipe the unit
thoroughly with asoft, dry cloth.
Never use benzene, thinners, alcohol or
solvents of any kind, to avoid the risk of
discoloration and/or deformation.