Behringer RD-8 MKII Classic Analog Drum Machine

The RD-8 MKII provides all the tools you need to become a master beat-maker, including: 16-drum sounds; a 64-step sequencer; Wave Designer and dual-mode filter for a full-fledged drum machine that'll shake the house! Whether you're new to drum programming or a seasoned pro looking to upgrade your setup, the RD-8 MKII has everything you need to step up to the big time.

Masterpiece Rejuvenated

Great care has been taken in designing the RD-8 MKII to achieve new possibilities in beat creation by reviving a timeless analog design from one of the most classic drum machines of yesteryear. By taking a fresh and modern approach on a classic drum machine, the RD-8 MKII gives you the power to harness the phenomenal sound of the 808 and tap into some new features as well. Now with a faithful reproduction of the legendary 662 OTA chip, you will have in your hands the most authentic sounds that you can create in a modern drum machine. Colossal bass drums through to sizzling hi-hats can be manipulated to elevate your rhythm performance to the next level. This is an analog beat-making monster!

Live Performance Beat Master

Built to enhance the way you perform, the RD-8 MKII boasts all-new features for live use in each of the sequencer modes including step repeat, note repeat, real-time triggering and live step-overdubbing. This makes it easy to enable recording in pattern launch mode so you can build song structures on the fly and switch back to manual mode at the touch of a button. Then you are free to add some excitement with the autofill feature and to introduce more variations. You can even cue up another song from memory without interrupting playback, allowing you to perform entire sets from start to finish just using your RD-8 MKII!

Powerful and Feature-Rich Sequencer

The RD-8 MKII features one of the most powerful step sequencers ever created, which provides much improved workflows over the original. The 64-step sequencer also includes storage for up to 256 patterns and 16 songs, allowing the creation of song arrangements ranging from ultra-simple to incredibly complex.

Wave Designer and Dual-Mode Filter

The integrated Wave Designer has individual attack and sustain controls that can be applied to individual voices to bring another dimension to your drum beats. This provides yet another way to control sounds to build virtually unlimited and awesome new tones. Additionally, the RD-8 MKII's highly flexible dual-mode 12 dB filter button toggles between LPF and HPF, allowing you to experiment with the cutoff frequency and resonance controls to create out of this world beats. Those fluid sweeps can even be recorded straight into the sequencer and further tweaked using the step editor.

Parameter Chaining

The RD-8 MKII's robust encoder lets you set separate chain preferences for each of your parameters, allowing them to function globally or to switch on when a song or pattern changes. Parameters include tempo, swing, flam, probability, independent track mutes/solos, FX bus assignments, filter modes and sweeps for enhanced real-time control. Patterns can be changed on the fly for further creative control when using the RD-8 MKII as the heart of your live setup.

USB Control

To bring the RD-8 MKII into the modern age, USB connectivity has been added for sync and MIDI triggering. This enables the RD-8 to be controlled by your DAW if desired, allowing songs and patterns to be swapped or individual sounds to be triggered.

The Numbers

The RD-8 MKII has 29 knobs, 5 switches and 59 buttons, all laid out in a highly intuitive format that puts the fun back into your beat creation. Input and output connections include: Phones; Mono audio; MIDI In, Out and Thru over USB and 5 pin MIDI ports; and 11 independent analog outputs for external processing or recording your rhythms as multitrack audio. With its 3 trigger outs, the RD-8 lets you control external synths and hardware sequencers to create songs without a digital audio workstation (DAW) in sight. The RD-8 can also send and receive clock information with highly accurate timing to sync it to the outside world.

Features* Amazing drum machine with authentic analog sound engine to create classic sound performance

* 16 original drum sounds with additional parameters and global accent capability

* Reproduction of legendary 662 OTA chip for ultimate sound authenticity

* Powerful 64-step drum sequencer supports poly-meter, step-repeat, note-repeat, real-time triggering, track-mute and track-solo

* 11 independent analog outputs for external processing or recording your rhythms as multi-track audio

* Integrated FX bus features Wave Designer and dual-mode Analog Filter with per voice assignment

* Live recording, editing and playback of analog filter cutoff via automation

* Storage of up to 16 songs and 256 patterns, all of which can be imported/exported during playback for unlimited songs and patterns

* Pattern Mode allows arrangement of patterns into full songs and setting number of repeats per song part

* Song Mode allows chaining songs together for live sets and expanded compositions

* Unique Auto Scroll feature enables improvisation in all modes

* Comprehensive MIDI In/Out/Thru plus USB implementation for synchronization and connection to external devices

* Sync options include USB, MIDI, Clock and Internal for maximum versatility

* Encoder for editing parameters such as Tempo, Swing, Probability, Flam and Random

* High-visibility LED display for easy editing of program parameters

* Powerful headphone and main outputs

SpecificationVoices

- Number of sounds: 16

- Type: Analog

- Number of simultaneous voices: 11 (12 including global accent)

- Accent: Level

- Bass drum: Level, tone, decay, tuning

- Snare drum: Level, tone, snappy

- Low, mid, hi conga / low, mid, hi tom: Level, tuning, voice selection

- Claves / rim shot: Level, voice selection

- Maracas / hand clap: Level, offset, voice selection

- Cow bell: Level

- Cymbal: Level, tone, decay

- Open hat: Level, tone, decay

- Closed hat: Level, tone

- Select buttons: 16 Voice select buttons

Connectivity

- Phones: 1 x 1/4" TRS, stereo, 8 Ω impedance

- Mono: 1 x 1/4" TRS, servo-balanced

- Voice out: 11 x 1/4" TS, unbalanced

- MIDI In, Out & Thru: 3 x 5-pin DIN

- Trigger outs: 3 x +5 V, 1 ms pulse

- Clock in / out: 2 x 1/8" TS

- USB: Class compliant USB 2.0, type B

- Supported operating systems: Windows 7 or higher Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher

- Volume controls: Master, phones

- Return (Input): 1 x 1/4" TRS, balanced

Wave Designer

- Bus: 11 voices, independently assignable

- Attack: -15 to +15 dB, adjustable

- Sustain: -24 to +24 dB, adjustable

- Send button: On/off, switchable

- Sig LED: Red

Analog Filter

- Type: State variable, 12 dB slope

- Cutoff: 10 Hz - 15 kHz, adjustable

- Resonance: 0 - 10, adjustable

- HPF button: LPF / HPF mode, switchable

- On button: On / off, switchable

Sync Section

- Mode selector: Internal / MIDI / USB / Clock, selectable

Sequencer Section

- Edit buttons: Save, copy, erase and dump

- Mode buttons: Song, pattern and step

- Control: Encoder for data editing

- Playback controls: Tap / hold, record, stop, play / pause

- Data mode: Tempo / swing / prob / flam, selectable

- Auto scroll: On / off, rewind, length (16 / 32 / 48 / 64, selectable), fast forward

- Trigger: On / off, repeat division (1 / 2 / 4 / 8, selectable), step repeat, note repeat

- Track: Mute / solo, selectable

- Step buttons: 16 step enter buttons

Settings

- Settings: Enter settings mode, use step buttons to select operation.

Autofill

- Autofill: Enter autofill selection mode

Songs / Storage

- Song mode: Chain any of the 16 songs together for full sets

Pattern / Storage

- Capacity: 16 songs, 16 patterns each

- Pattern mode: Up to 99 iterations per pattern/part

- Steps: 64 steps

Power Supply

- External power adapter: 18 V DC, 1000 mA

- Power consumption: 15 W typical

Environmental

- Operating temperature range: 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F)

Physical

- Dimensions (H x W x D): 77 x 498 x 265 mm (3.0 x 19.6 x 10.4")

- Weight: 3.0 kg (6.6 lbs)