Having owned the Roland TR8S for many years, I had only ever used it for drums as part of my Ableton productions. Recently, however, I have realized how awesome it is to create and perform entire live tracks with it. This is my second attempt at doing so. Details about the recording below:

TR8S Instruments:

BD: "Simple Kick" FM Bass Drum with a Bass Boost

SD: "Simple Kick" FM Bass Drum with a LPF, step based tuning

LT: FM Punch FM Tom Drum morphed and lightly high-passed

MT: 909 Ride symbol with Pan on the LFO

HT: Bit Crushed White Noise Sample with LFO and Envelopes changing high and low pass filters

RS: 909 Hand Clap with step based panning

HC: 808 Hand Clap with Compression and Drive

CH: Off beat 4th 909 Open Hat with high frequency boost

OH 16th note 909 Open Hat with high frequency boost

CC: "Sat Stab" Stock Roland TR8S FX Sample, step tuned across patterns to create a progression.

RC: 808 Rim Shot.

TR8S Reverb and Delay used across various tracks to add texture/depth.

Ableton Mastering Chain

TR8S Stereo out into Mono/Stereo Parametric EQ for an initial 30hz (mono) and 100hz (stereo) high pass > normal parametric EQ for some cuts/boosts > Glue Compressor > Ableton Limiter.

I would love some feedback, especially around any tips for mastering/getting a cleaner mix through this very simple setup.

Last track using the symetrix 501 on my bass lines its kinda ass 🙈 i didnt really love the compression style and you get a high pitched whine if you crank the limiter. Idk not for me

Ive been lurking on guitar center for a cheap dbx160a and I found one 😭😭 gonna be adding that to the rack to replace the symetrix

Might also be dropping the sde-1000 from the rack, its kinda antiquated to have effects in the rack since im working with a daw. But idk its got a really nice sound and very convenient. Its also fuckin huge tho.

Anyways, been sitting on this track for a week just released the vid for it yesterday, lmk what you think! Finding my way around the microwave xt a lot better now, wavetable synthesis is crazy.

Thanks for listening! Full vid is in the comments if you want

In this tutorial, we explore Graphic Motion Rec in Doom OS for the SP404 mk2: a powerful feature for recording and automating effect parameters in a visual, precise, and much more comprehensive way than the original firmware.

You’ll see how to create movement, transitions, and FX variations, perfect for live sets, resampling, techno, house, and sound design.

How would you use this feature in your SP-404 workflow?

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

I was very inspired after seeing the modular master Colin Benders in action last night at Format Toronto!

Thought I’d try and use some of the techniques I picked up on, biggest thing I’m working on is reducing the amount of melodic movement and instead focusing on grooves. I feel a lot of my live modular sets start sounding circus-y and I’m learning this is a big reason behind that.

Also pulled out the Electro Harmonix Big Muff and sent the BD909 kick through it, a classic combo that I haven’t used in ages. 🔊

Hope people enjoy it, always down to chat about the gear and musical techniques!

Feel free to check out my instagram: Cache & Release

Better with earphones for the sub!🎧

Working on new stuff for my live performances. Here some of the background percussion are loops launched on the SPD-SX PRO pad in front of me, and everything else is basically played in real time. The bassline is triggered by the bass drum as a sequence.

What genre would you call this by the way? Does it fit under the techno umbrella?

In this video I give a general overview of DOOM OS, the custom firmware for the Roland SP‑404MKII by Klangfeld Labs: what it is, how to access it, and the main features that change your workflow.

DOOM OS doesn’t replace Roland’s firmware, it adds a graphical step sequencer, a real time mixer with metering, pattern editing tools, FX automation, and custom shortcuts. Everything stock still works, so you can think of it as a powerful layer on top of the original OS

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

https://youtu.be/nNKinsdB09s

Is your arrangement feeling flat?

In this follow up video, I’ll show you how to manage the energy of your track with the SP-404MKII , from the intro to the drop.

We’ll look at how to create a dynamic flow by removing and introducing elements, managing transitions, and arranging different patterns without losing momentum

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

☣️☣️☣️ POISIONATE ☣️☣️☣️

●ROOTS-Techno Jam with Ableton Live & and a Modular Synth

It's the first time I’ve used my DAW (Ableton Live 12, in this case) together with my modular synthesizer.

The song is primarily driven by Ableton; the modular synth just plays two percussive synth shots.

Paired with my new mixer, this allows for some brilliant transitions. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.

#abletonlive #modularsynth #daw #midicontroller #sequencer

Its been a little while since I posted a jam wanted to share this clip from my last session! Virus is handling most sounds but mw is backing it up with that insane pad throughout. Been inspired to dive deeper into odder textures, lmk what you think! Full vid in the comments!

Struggling with messy transitions and random arrangements on the SP-404 MK2?

In this tutorial I show you how to use Energy Maps, a simple mental guide to plan your energy, transitions, and flow so your live sets always sound structured and pro.

You’ll learn how to turn chaotic jams into coherent tracks by following a clear energy map instead of guessing.

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

In this follow-up video, I’m covering what’s new: bug fixes and practical ways to get more out of the web app in both production and live performance.

I also share a few tips on creating effective snapshots, using LFOs to add movement to your effects, and organizing presets so you can recall your FX combinations quickly.

If you use the SP-404MKII and want faster, more hands-on control of your FX from a browser, for free, this one is for you.

Thanks to @Moahbeatlab for updating the webapp!

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

Hey all,

I've uploaded a new fully improvised modular liveset to YT.

I've tried to keep it deep, melodic at times, and most of all I explore the many possibilities that the Atlantix + Metroplix combo have to offer.

Had a lot of fun doing this liveset, if you have any questions regarding setup / patching I'd be happy to help.

Cheers!

“Does the Octatrack still make sense in 2026?”“Between Octatrack and SP‑404, which one should I choose?”

These are the two questions I get in the comments all the time. In this video I put them together and answer in a practical way, no fluff:

3 reasons why the Octatrack still makes sense in 2026 (and for who)

3 reasons why an SP‑404MKII might be the better choice (and for who)

This isn’t the a comparison, it’s a way to help you understand, based on how you produce and perform, which of the two machines you actually need.

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

I don’t know what kind of techno this is, but here’s how I play this kind of music live.