BR-8 Quick Start Guide

Getting Connected

1. Plug guitar into the GUITAR/BASS INPUT on the rear of the BR-8.
2. Push the left INPUT SELECT button to activate the GUITAR/BASS input.
3. Adjust the left SENS knob (input sensitivity for GUITAR/BASS) until the red CLIP led light flashes occasionally when the guitar or bass is played at its loudest level.
4. Adjust the INPUT LEVEL knob until the IN level meter in the meter screen shows a level between 4 and 12.

1. Press the EFFECTS button to view the effects associated with the GUITAR/BASS INPUT.
2. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to choose the appropriate effect to be recorded. (NOTE: If no effect is desired, CURSOR to highlight BYPASS OFF, and use the TIME/VALUE dial to select BYPASS ON).

1. Press the ON/OFF button of the Rhythm Guide twice. A solid red light in the button will indicate that the Rhythm Guide is now playing.
2. Adjust the Rhythm Guide LEVEL knob to the desired listening level.
3. To change the tempo, tap repeatedly (4 taps minimum) on the TAP button and the tempo of the Rhythm Guide will change accordingly.
4. To change the pattern type of the Rhythm Guide, press the PATTERN button and use the TIME/VALUE dial to select the desired time signature and pattern, then press PATTERN again to exit.
5. Press the ON/OFF button to stop the Rhythm Guide, and one more time to place the Rhythm Guide into Auto start mode. (When PLAY or REC & PLAY is pressed, the Rhythm Guide will start automatically.)

Note: The performance of the Rhythm Guide patterns can be transmitted to a MIDI Sound Module or any General MIDI device via MIDI, and the sounds within the module can be used as an alternative to the rhythm sounds that are built into the BR-8. See your owner's manual (and chart on page 73).

Selecting/Playing Back Songs

1. Press UTILITY and use the CURSOR buttons to highlight the SONG icon. Press ENTER.
2. Use the CURSOR buttons to highlight the SELECT icon and press ENTER.
3. Use the CURSOR buttons to highlight either "Finders Kprs" or "Smokin' Blues," then press ENTER.
   
4. Press the PLAY button, and bring up the track faders and Master fader to listen to the song.

Recording a Song

In the following example, a guitarist can use the dedicated Guitar/Bass input and COSM effects to quickly and easily record tracks with the aid of the onboard Rhythm Guide.

Creating a New Song

1. Press UTILITY and use the CURSOR buttons to highlight the SONG icon, then press ENTER.
   
2. Use the CURSOR buttons to highlight the NEW icon and press ENTER.
   
3. CURSOR to the GO icon and press ENTER. A new song is created.

Track Recording

1. Choose and arm the recording track by pressing the round REC TRACK button (beneath fader) of the track to be recorded so it lights and blinks red. Verify the Input level and adjust if needed, using the procedure mentioned previously.
2. Press the REC and PLAY buttons to start recording. When finished recording, press the STOP button.
3. Press the ZERO button to instantly rewind to the start of the song, and press PLAY to listen to the track. Adjust the volume fader of the recorded track to the desired listening level.

Adjusting Reverb Type and Level

1. Press the REVERB button.
2. Use the CURSOR L/R buttons to highlight the Reverb Send knob icon for the recorded track.
3. Use the TIME/VALUE dial to apply more or less effect to the track.
4. To access the REVERB parameters, press the CURSOR down button, or press the REVERB button once again. Navigate to the various parameters using the CURSOR up/down buttons, and change values using the TIME/VALUE dial.

Note: Reverb can be added during recording or playback to the Input instrument and/or the Rhythm Guide if desired by using the CURSOR L/R buttons to select the IN or RHYTHM knob icons and the TIME/VALUE dial to increase the reverb level.

Recording Another Track

The Bass Simulator effect allows a guitar to sound like a bass. This example records a second track with the Bass Simulator:

1. Plug a guitar into the GUITAR/BASS input and press the L INPUT SELECT button.
2. Adjust the left SENS knob and INPUT LEVEL knobs as discussed already.
3. Press the EFFECTS button to view the effects window and choose a Bass Sim effect patch (i.e. Tight Bass) with the TIME/VALUE dial.
4. Choose and arm another recording track and record using the procedure mentioned above.

Bouncing Tracks/Mixing Down

Combining individual tracks to another track is called bouncing. In this example, we'll combine recorded tracks 1-6 with reverb to tracks 7 & 8 in stereo.

Adjusting the Mix

1. While in INPUT REC MODE, set the pan (L/R balance) of tracks 1-6 as desired by pressing the PAN button. Use the CURSOR buttons to select the PAN knob icons of 1-6 and TIME/VALUE dial to adjust the pan position.
2. Press PLAY to begin playback of the song, and use track faders 1-6 to adjust the volume balance of the tracks.
3. Press the REVERB button to apply or adjust the amount of reverb on tracks 1-6 using the method mentioned above.

Set the Record Mode

1. Press the REC MODE button to change from INPUT to BOUNCE recording mode. The BOUNCE indicator will light. The INPUT SELECT indicator will go out and track status buttons 7 & 8 will blink red indicating record-ready status. Track status buttons 1-6 will be lit solid green indicating playback status.
2. Press ZERO to return to the beginning of the song.

Mix and Bounce

1. Press the REC button then the PLAY button to begin bounce recording. Adjust track faders 1-6 if individual track volumes need to be altered in the mix.
2. Press the STOP button when finished recording.
3. Bring the track 1-6 faders all the way down, and the track 7 & 8 faders up, then press PLAY to listen to the newly recorded tracks.

Thanks to Roland for their Turbo Start guide, which was used as the basis for this page.