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Description
Dive into the world of electronic percussion with the Roland Octapad Pad-8, a pioneering piece of gear that has become a staple for drummers and percussionists seeking versatility and performance. Originally launched in the 1980s, the Octapad Pad-8 remains a timeless tool, renowned for its intuitive design and reliability. This electronic drum pad offers a unique, user-friendly interface that appeals to both seasoned professionals and aspiring musicians.
The Roland Octapad Pad-8 is engineered with eight responsive pads, providing a dynamic range of expression and control. The robust construction ensures durability, making it ideal for both studio sessions and live performances. Each pad is designed to be sensitive to your touch, allowing for nuanced performances that are sure to impress.
The Octapad Pad-8’s versatility is further enhanced by its compatibility with a wide array of sound modules and MIDI devices. This allows musicians to customize their setup and explore an expansive universe of sounds and musical possibilities. Whether you're using it as a standalone device or integrating it into a larger system, this electronic pad offers unparalleled flexibility.
Key Features:
- Eight responsive and durable pads for dynamic performance
- Seamless integration with MIDI devices and sound modules
- User-friendly interface suitable for musicians of all levels
- Reliable construction ideal for both studio and live use
- Timeless design that remains a staple in electronic percussion
Explore the endless possibilities with the Roland Octapad Pad-8 and take your percussion skills to new heights.
Product specs
| Brand | Roland |
| Model | Pad-8 Octapad |
| Finish | White |
| Year | 1980s |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Percussion Pad Controllers |
FAQs
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What sounds can I trigger with the Roland Octapad Pad-8?
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The Roland Octapad Pad-8 allows you to trigger a variety of electronic percussion sounds, making it versatile for different musical styles and performances.
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Is the Roland Octapad Pad-8 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Roland Octapad Pad-8 is designed for live performances, offering reliable pad sensitivity and a wide range of sounds to enhance your stage setup.
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How many pads does the Roland Octapad Pad-8 have?
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The Roland Octapad Pad-8 features eight touch-sensitive pads, allowing for dynamic and expressive playing.
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Can the Roland Octapad Pad-8 be used with other drum kits?
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Yes, the Roland Octapad Pad-8 can be integrated with other electronic or acoustic drum kits, providing additional sound options and flexibility.
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Does the Roland Octapad Pad-8 require an external power source?
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Yes, the Roland Octapad Pad-8 requires an external power source to operate, ensuring consistent performance during use.
Videos
Electric Denim Studios
Roland Octapad Pad 8 Review & Tutorial
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland Octapad Pad-8.
Features and functionality
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The Roland Octapad Pad-8 lacks onboard sound, necessitating external sound sources for functionality.
Source
Use cases and applications
Critic Reviews
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Based on 0 Reviews and 4 Ratings
Artist usage
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you can see Svein drumming on an Octapad Pad-8 and Pad-80 thoughout this video (8 is the right one from Svein and 80 the left one the way the back is laid out gives it away)
This Roland Newslink article mentions Mike Rutherford being an Octapad user as well as Phil Collins, using sticks to program rhythm machines and lines.
In this live video from 1985, Morris has an Octapad-8 mounted above his hi-hat. A clear shot is available at the 4:10 mark when a stage light sweeps across the device's face, reveealing the "Octapad" logo in the upper-right (distinguishing it from other iterations that would follow).
"A lot of the drum parts are played in via a Roland Octapad so that I have the sensation of hitting something. I'll set up my old kit in the new studio and get back to hitting skins again."
According to this Musician magazine article, George Michael used a Roland Octapad on the Faith album.
Mastelotto isn't shy with electronics. He used "a fair amount of samples" for composite snare sounds, including three alone for "King for a Day," played on a Roland Octopad, and the overtone of "a very ringy Ludwig similar to a tube-lug snare" sampled on an Akai S900. The drummer and his tech Paul Mitchell bent the samples with a warp function "to a note that sounded good" for each track. Tabourine-shaker, congas, tablas and other oriental percussion came from Casio FZ-1 samplers. A Yamaha RX5 drum machine crops up on the fade of "Hold Me My Daddy"; elsewhere Mastelotto used an MX8 MIDI patch bay to increase the velocity of a LinnDrum fed into a Yamaha QX2 program. An old Simmons SD55's kicks and snares are on "Chalkhills and Children" and "Poor Skeleton Steps Out." There's a Pearl SC-40 on "Cynical Days" -- "similar to a tambourine but more of a bongo" -- and "Garden of Earthly Delights," "for a low kick that bends up like a tabla." "Garden" also employs a Roland TR727 drum loop. And Mastelotto still uses sticks: Pro-Mark 5Bs or 909s, "butt-end."
In this Instagram video showing their performance on SNL, Will can be seen with a Roland Octapad Pad-8.
When Darren's not cajoling the crowd and telling them how "absolutely fuckin' marvellous" they are, he drops in samples and plays ambient fills with a collection of records and a couple of Technics SL1200s. He also reinforces the rhythm track with congas, timbale and a Roland Octapad triggering an Alesis SR16 and S1000.
"We have a Yamaha RX11 drum machine but I'm a bit disappointed with that. For a start the memory is a bit limited, and because a drum machine is used like a sketchpad, it's very frustrating if you can't get enough bars into it. We use a LinnDrum with standard chips - our producer has some alternative sound chips too - and a Roland TR707 and 727 which are really good. They're amazing for the money, and we've just got an Octapad (Roland's MIDI drum pad set) which allows you to record drum patterns through MIDI onto the QX1."
Album Usage
The Roland Octapad Pad-8 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland Octapad Pad-8, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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