Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Completely new to synth/drum machines/midi setup...


I recently purchased a Roland Gaia synthesizer and I have a Roland TR-8 drum machine in the mail. What are my options for syncing these instruments together for live jamming and playing around listening through headphones?

I'm looking for a super basic setup that does not require a computer (and hopefully no more additional gear), syncs the tempo of the Gaia synth to the TR-8, and if possible, I can use one audio out jack to listen through headphones or plug into an amp.


Thanks for any help!

Two great machines to get you started.

Both the SH-01 and TR-8 have external audio inputs, so you could daisy chain both units to listen through one set of speakers or headphones.

You can run the SH-01 into the TR-8's external input and take advantage of the TR-8's scatter feature which not only affects the TR-8's internal sounds, but the external audio as well. A standard pair of 1/4" (phone) to 1/4" instrument cables is all that is required for that set up.

If you don't want to affect the synths sounds with SCATTER, then you can run the TR-8's audio outs into the 3.5mm stereo EXT IN jack in the upper right corner of the Gaia. You would need a cable with 2 1/4" phone plugs on one end and a stereo 3.5mm plug on the other.

Don't forget a MIDI cable to sync the Gaia's LFO and digital delay to the TR-8's rhythm.

Thanks for the help!

Should the MIDI cable be going IN or OUT of the SH-01?

If I want to use the phrase recorder on the SH-01 will that be in sync with the tempo set on the TR-8?

Daniel wrote:Thanks for the help!

Should the MIDI cable be going IN or OUT of the SH-01?

If I want to use the phrase recorder on the SH-01 will that be in sync with the tempo set on the TR-8?

TR 8 OUT to Gaia IN. You could make it bi-directional, if you want to play drum sounds from the keyboard. Just check the MIDI settings on both machines so you aren't echoing MIDI from either.