Genre-Defining Sounds
Build beats with the boom, pop, and sizzle of sounds from the TR-808, TR-909, and TR-606 drum machines, paired with the shapeshifting low end of the dynamic TB-303 Bass Line. The T-8 exudes classic Roland character, thanks to the same Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) tech found in the TR-8S, TB-3, and other high-end AIRA gear.
7 Tracks of Inspiration
The T-8 features six drum tracks and one bass track brought together with a friendly interface for fast recording and hands-on tweaks. Capture and fire off 64 patterns with up to 32 steps each, shape sounds, and control parts as you go with an array of dedicated knobs and buttons.
Beat Central
Loaded with comprehensive I/O, the T-8 is ready to be the rhythmic centerpiece of any electronic music setup. Connect and sync with other AIRA Compacts like the J-6 Chord Synthesizer and E-4 Voice Tweaker. Or interface with a computer DAW, mobile music apps, and hardware instruments via USB-C or MIDI.
Classic Workflow, Modernized
Backed by the TR-REC step sequencer loved by beatmakers since the 1980s, the T-8 makes it simple to develop ideas without ever stopping the action. Realtime recording, sub steps, and velocity further expand the programming power at your fingers. And with deep features like step loop, pattern shift, and probability, it’s easy to deliver dynamic performances with constantly evolving grooves.
303-Style Bass Sounds
The T-8 delivers an authentic TB-303 bass experience, including the tactile power to squeeze, squelch, and mangle sounds in the moment. Record notes, accents, and slides with traditional step-based input, or play in parts live with the bottom-row buttons or an external MIDI keyboard.
Spicy Effects
Create grit, space, and vibe with the T-8’s high-quality effects. Dirty up rhythms and bass with some meaty overdrive, and keep the beats pumping with sidechain compression. And with dedicated delay and reverb knobs, you can add all sorts of spatial colors to grooves as you perform.
Everywhere at Once
Instilling big sound in an ultracompact instrument, the T-8 lets you play and perform wherever and whenever you please. The lithium-ion battery keeps you going for up to 4.5 hours per charge, and the rugged build quality and high-quality rubber pads will fuel beatmaking adventures for years to come.
Robert –
These little Aira compacts are kind of amazing, especially the S-1 and the T-8. The drum sounds in this one are good, but there’s very little you can change about them.
The 303 emulation is fantastic though, and you have all the controls you’d get on an old-school 303 (but with a much better sequencer). You can even just use it as a sound module thanks to USB MIDI and audio, just be aware that there’s no MIDI control over the 303’s parameters (only notes). Still, totally worth it for the hands-on control and sound.
Robert –
Maciek –
I can of course make better rhythm tracks on my DAW (Ableton), but this just brings me immediate joy. I sometimes twiddle mindlessly with this (hooked up to the S-1 and the J-6) on the side as I’m working at my regular desk job.
One noteworthy feature that brings this up to 5 starts for me: The patterns only retain the rhythm (for drums) and note (for bass track) information, NOT any of the sound settings (such as bass filter cutoff or resonance). This means that I can switch patterns for rhythmic variety while keeping the same overall sound of the mix. I only wish the other AIRAs did the same… (or at least, had two independent sets of preset banks – one for sequences and the other for sound settings).
On the downside, diving into the unnecessarily cryptic menus is required for advanced settings, but that’s an unfortunate given for the AIRA series. I mostly avoid the menus in practice.
Maciek –