I guess they’re following the RD 8 in having only a mono mix output. If you want to pan the instruments you’d use the individual outs via a desk. Same as with the OG machines. Looking at the schematics for the 909 it’s ‘stereo’ output is just derived from the individual mono outs.
I’ve had the TR8S for half a year now (got it second hand for a nice price) and it’s my second go-to, right after the Rytm.
It’s absolutely capable of sounding warm and clear, but some settings and sounds (using FX, LFOs and Motion) might make it feel uncanny or cold, compared to a “vanilla” analog drum machine.
All in all, I’m very happy with the 909 sounds of the TR8S.
But if hadn’t recently bought it, I certainly would be considering the RD-9.
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Nothing here you couldn’t do with ease operating a TR-8S.
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yeah the OG didn’t have any panning facility. it did have stereo outs but that was just “dual mono.” and actually some of them apparently had a fault where plugging both cables in meant only the left output got a signal. most of the 909 sounds you’ve heard on records were likely recorded individually and heavily processed. so you want those individual outs. and likely a mixer and all sorts of other shit. or… you know… samples and an OT. (said as someone who does own a 909 clone. I just love the immediacy of it.)
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That’s interesting… the individual mono drum outputs feed the individual out sockets then two lines go from the normalled jack via an input resistor each to a pair of summing op amp stages (not shown in the pic) then to the two mix outputs. The interesting thing is that for some instruments the two resistors are different values, while for others they’re the same. That would indicate some of the instruments have some hard wired panning as the different values at that point in the circuit would give different volume levels between left and right outputs. If you check out the ‘jacks board’ bit of the schematic you’ll see the different values
So maybe it’s a crude form of stereo (for those voices at least)
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First time I got my Yocto 808 I was disappointed at the raw 808 sound. It didn’t growl as much as I thought since I was using 808 libraries that went through so many mixing desks and compressors that the raw signal was disappointing. The only thing I really appreciate from using an 808/ 909 clone is the work flow of step programming the beats and hearing the slight nuanced variation of the same drum sound at difference levels.
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Really been itching to get a TR8S lately for some reason.
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It’s someone who’s excited to get one early putting something on the net , I doubt it’s someone who thinks they’re Jeff mills posting a new ground breaking drum pattern.
YouTube will fill up with good/bad videos in the coming months.
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That guy has several decades experience live and in the studio…acid house, techno…iirc he started his first label in 1994.
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That’s the thing at the end of the day it’s just an instrument. It’s up to the performer to make magic.
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I really crave that they turn up the level of that BD in these demos 
I know that they really play up the “it’s not tiny” vibe in the release videos, to pit it against the Roland TR-09. but it’s pretty damn big. I wonder how many people will just go the TR-8s route instead of trying to find room for the RD-8, RD-9, and RD-6 (and LmDrum eventually) in their studios. just based upon the size. well, and I guess price… no, it’s not analog. but it sounds tremendous, and for similar money you get all of the TR machines in one box, plus sampling and effects, and it’s a much more manageable size versus three machines.
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Plus FM!
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Not an RD9 though.
Yeah, I was kind of gassing over this, and then I saw how big it is. I sold a TR-8s because I found it just too big, but I liked the engine (I don’t care much about the samples because I have an MPC, Ableton, etc.). So in the end I bought a TR-6s instead which should have me covered for classic Roland sounds in a much smaller footprint…
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Behringer caught my interest with the RD-9 and, formerly released, RD-8 drum machines. However, as an Roland TR-8S owner, I remain uncertain whether its worth purchasing them. The main selling points for me are individual outputs, song mode, and simplified workflow.
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