Roland TR-8S Cheatsheet by Nig@airainfo.org v1.

UTILITY Operations

The UTILITY menu is accessible by pressing UTILITY button.

Press WRITE and select System to save any changes.

Item Parameter Notes

UTILITY General General parameters such as LCD Contrast, PTN Lock and Auto Save
Reload Reload the current Pattern or Kit (undo any changes)
SAMPLE Sample input utilities
LED LED brightness and Colours
SYNC/TEMPO Time Sync and Tempo operations
MIDI MIDI options such as MIDI channels and note assignment
Sound Configure sound settings
MIX-OUT Main output level settings
Assign Out Assignable output level settings
EXT-IN Set external input as MONO or STEREO
Utility Pattern and Kit file management and backup
SD CARD SD Card Format
Information Firmware Version

Shift Operations

Press and hold the SHIFT button to use these functions.

SHIFT + Function
Turn Knob Current value shown in display
Move Fader Current value shown in display
CTRL-SELECT MIXER Level graphic appears in display
PTN-SELECT Pattern Settings Menu
KIT Kit Settings Menu
INST Instrument Settings Menu
SAMPLE Sample Settings Menu
WRITE Saves current Pattern and Kit
SUB STEP Toggles between FLAM and SUB STEP
MOTION ON Clear Motion data from Variations
PAD 1-16 Apply weak beat at selected PAD
INST Buttons When MUTE button is on, SOLOs the selected Instrument
AUTO FILL IN Fill-in edit screen
TEMPO Adjust Tuning in 0.1 steps
ENTER (x3) Tap Tempo
COPY Nudges note timing forward
UTILITY Nudges note timing backward
START-STOP Return to pattern beginning
Button A-H Return to beginning of selected variation
VALUE Knob Increase parameter values in steps of 10
VALUE Knob Change SAMPLE Category (when INST is active) or Parameter Group (in PTN or KIT Menu)

In addition, SHIFT can be used in Pattern, Kit and Sample Category naming and file Exporting

SHIFT + Function
COPY Erase character
UTILITY Insert character
VALUE Switch between lower/upper case and numerals

The current version of this doc can be found at http://airainfo.org/files/tr-8s_cheatsheet.pdf

 Roland TR-8S Cheatsheet by Nig@airainfo.org v1.3

Pattern Operations

Function Selector Controller Notes

Pattern Settings SHIFT (HOLD) PTN SELECT Enter the Pattern Settings Menu
Select Pattern Bank PTN SELECT (HOLD) PAD 1 - 8 Select on of 8 banks
Select Pattern PTN SELECT PAD 1 - 16 Press two or more Pads to play consecutively
Select Variation Button A-H Press two or more buttons to play consecutively
SAMPLE
Random Pattern PTN SELECT Press TR-REC
(TR-REC Flashes)
Copy Pattern COPY (HOLD) PTN SELECT Select source and destination in screen
Copy Variation COPY (HOLD) Button A-H Source Button A-H Destination
Copy INST Pattern PTN SELECT (HOLD) INST Select source and destination in screen
Delete Pattern PTN SELECT CLEAR (HOLD) Press the PAD corresponding to the pattern to be deleted
Delete Variation CLEAR (HOLD) Button A-H
Delete INST Pattern INS Button (HOLD) CLEAR Deletes all steps for selected Variation
Restart Pattern SHIFT START/STOP Will restart the current playing pattern from the beginning
Restart Variation SHIFT Button A-H Will restart the current playing variation from the beginning

Kit Operations

Function Selector Controller Notes

Kit Settings SHIFT (HOLD) KIT Enter the Kit Settings Menu
Select a Kit KIT VALUE Knob Press ENTER when desired kit is display on LCD screeen
Change Instrument INST VALUE Knob Use SHIFT and VALUE Knob to jump to instrument Category
Copy a Kit COPY (HOLD) KIT Select source and destination in screen
CTRL Assignment SHIFT (HOLD) CTRL SELECT Assigns CTRL knob function for all instruments.
INST Grouping SHIFT (HOLD) KIT Press and hold INS button to select Master instrument.

Instrument Operations

Function Selector Controller Notes

Instrument Settings SHIFT (HOLD) INS Enter the instrument settings menu
Use SHIFT and VALUE Knob to jump to instrument Category
Change Instrument INS VALUE Knob
Use ENTER and VALUE knob to increment in steps of 10
Copy Instrument COPY (HOLD) INST Select source and destination in screen
Lock Category INS ENTER Disables Category change
Mute Instrument MUTE INST Button Muted instruments' button goes dark

Effect Operations

Function Selector Controller Notes

Master FX SHIFT (HOLD) MASTER FX ON Use VALUE Knob to select effect
Set Reverb Type SHIFT (HOLD) KIT Use VALUE Knob to select REVERB, press ENTER
Set Delay Type SHIFT (HOLD) KIT Use VALUE Knob to select DELAY, press ENTER
INST Reverb Level INST (BD - RC) (HOLD) Reverb Level
INST DELAY Level INST (BD - RC) (HOLD) Delay Level
INST FX SHIFT (HOLD) INS Use VALUE Knob to select INST FX, press ENTER
Select Side Chain SHIFT (HOLD) KIT Use VALUE Knob to select EXT IN, press ENTER

Sample Operations

Item Parameter Values Notes

Sample Settings SHIFT SAMPLE Enter the Sample Edit Menu
VALUE Knob Sample is shown in display
Select Sample SAMPLE
Press INST (BD - RC) to select loading destination
UTILITY
Delete a Sample Select Cancel/OK
SAMPLE:Delete
UTILITY
Rename Category Select Category 01-32 Use cursor controls
SAMPLE:Category

The current version of this doc can be found at http://airainfo.org/files/tr-8s_cheatsheet.pdf

 Roland TR-8S Cheatsheet by Nig@airainfo.org v1.3

Step Recording

Function Selector Controller Notes

Pattern Length LAST INST Button (BD - RC) PAD 1 - 16 (Multiple Instruments can be selected)
Apply Accent ACCENT STEP PAD (1 - 16) Press PAD to apply Accent
Add Sub Steps SUB PAD (1 - 16) Adds sub steps for selected Instrument
Sub Step Division SUB (HOLD) VALUE KNOB
Play a Flam SHIFT (HOLD) SUB PAD 1 - 16 (Multiple PADs can be selected)
Play Weak Beat SHIFT (HOLD) PAD (1 - 16)
Play Alt Sounds INST (BD - RC) (HOLD) PAD (1 - 16) Plays alternate sounds for sounds with '/' in name
Delete Pattern Part CLEAR (HOLD) Instrument Button Steps are cleared whilst CLEAR button is pressed
Delete Instrument
INST (BD - RC) (HOLD) CLEAR
From Pattern
Play multiple Button A-H (HOLD)
Selected variations will play consecutively
variations Button A-H
Edit non-playing
TR-REC (HOLD) Button A-H
variation

RealTime Recording

Function Selector Controller Notes

INST-REC INST-REC Instrument Button Use PADS 1-11 to play and record notes
Apply Accent ACCENT STEP PAD (1 - 16) Press PAD to apply Accent
Add Sub Steps SUB PAD (1 - 16) Adds sub steps for selected Instrument
Sub Step Division SUB (HOLD) VALUE KNOB
Play a Flam SHIFT (HOLD) SUB PAD 1 - 16 (Multiple PADs can be selected)
Play Weak Beat SHIFT (HOLD) PAD (1 - 16)
Play Alt Sounds INST (BD - RC) (HOLD) PAD (1 - 16) Plays alternate sounds for sounds with '/' in name
Delete Pattern Part CLEAR (HOLD) Instrument Button Steps are cleared whilst CLEAR button is pressed
Delete Instrument
INST (BD - RC) (HOLD) CLEAR
From Pattern

Motion Recording

Function Selector Controller Notes

TUNE, DECAY, CRTL
Motion Record MOTION REC REVERB, DELAY, MASTER Knob values recorded in motion Sequence
FX CTRL
TUNE, DECAY, CRTL
Motion Record
MOTION REC (HOLD) REVERB, DELAY, MASTER Knob values recorded whilst REC button pressed
(Momentary)
FX CTRL
Motion Record
TR-REC PAD (1 -16) (HOLD) Set Knob to desired value
(STEP)
Motion Play MOTION ON Plays recorded knob movements
Clear Motion
SHIFT (HOLD) MOTION ON Button A- H, or VALUE knob to select ALL
(Any Variation)
Clear Motion
MOTION ON (HOLD) CLEAR Clear Motion data for selected variation
(Playing Variation)
Clear Motion
MOTION ON (HOLD) INST Button (BD - RC) Clear Motion data for selected variation
(Track)
Clear Motion
MOTION ON (HOLD) Operate Knob Clear Motion data for selected knob
(Knob)

The current version of this doc can be found at http://airainfo.org/files/tr-8s_cheatsheet.pdf

 Roland TR-8S Cheatsheet by Nig@airainfo.org v1.3

MIDI Controls

Control Change Function

9 SHUFFLE
12 EXTERNAL IN LEVEL
13 EXTERNAL IN SIDE CHAIN
14 AUTO FILL-IN ON
16 DELAY LEVEL
17 DELAY TIME
18 DELAY FEEDBACK
19 MASTER FX CTRL
20 BD TUNE
21 BD ATTACK
22 BD COMP
23 BD DECAY
24 BD LEVEL
25 SD TUNE
28 SD DECAY
29 SD LEVEL
46 LT TUNE
47 LT DECAY
48 LT LEVEL
49 MT TUNE
50 MT DECAY
51 MT LEVEL
52 HT TUNE
53 HT DECAY
54 HT LEVEL
55 RS TUNE
56 RS DECAY
57 RS LEVEL
58 HC TUNE
59 HC DECAY
60 HC LEVEL
61 CH TUNE
62 CH DECAY
63 CH LEVEL
70 AUTO FILL-IN MAN
71 ACCENT
80 OH TUNE
81 OH DECAY
82 OH LEVEL
83 CC TUNE
84 CC DECAY
85 CC LEVEL
86 RC TUNE
87 RC DECAY
88 RC LEVEL
91 REVERB LEVEL
96 BD CTRL
97 SD CTRL
102 LT CTRL
103 MT CTRL
104 HT CTRL
105 RS CTRL
106 HC CTRL
107 CH CTRL
108 OH CTRL
109 CC CTRL
110 RC CTRL

The current version of this doc can be found at http://airainfo.org/files/tr-8s_cheatsheet.pdf