{"id":3271,"date":"2023-04-07T11:28:24","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T11:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maffez.com\/?page_id=3271"},"modified":"2023-08-22T15:09:18","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T15:09:18","slug":"behringer-rd8-mk2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/maffez.com\/?page_id=3271","title":{"rendered":"Behringer RD8 MK2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Apologies for not providing any further updates\/ or pending mod descriptions for this project any longer. I describe many mods here (more than the classic mods for the original), including mistakes and spelling glitches, and feel I rather want to spend time on other synth modding\/development projects. <\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intro<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Originally, this MK2 move made me a bit concerned – synths as fast fashion or something… this didn’t come from some “vintage rules” or “replification istead of clonisization” angle, but simply made me feel that I had to balance my joy over the democratisation of music making against the affective and ecological dynamics of a business model of high sales with small margins. Treehugger much? Yep, baby, cats and cuddles instead of car and kids! As for other MK2s or Mk1s for that matter, I’ll go more with a “let’s wait and see first” attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyhow… below you find some comparison between revisions<\/strong>, some thoughts on the clap<\/strong> circuit, and, of course, very soon, mods for the MK2<\/strong> and some suggestions for tweaking the MK1 towards MK2<\/strong> sounds. The differences are not huge, anyways. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Comparison MK1\/MK2<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Around a year ago I checked out the MK2 against the background of being familiar with the MK1 <\/a>circuits: https:\/\/www.amazona.de\/test-behringer-rd-8-mkii-tr-808-klon-2022\/<\/a>. There weren’t many A\/B clips in that report, so first of all, here is some more decided MK1\/MK2 testing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both machines were recorded via a MOTU828ES into Logic with the same gain from the phones out<\/strong> (going for same signal polarity, which is inverted on the MK1’s main out). Sound settings on both machines were identical. When you hear slight differences of pitch, that’s on account of general (minor) tuning differences in both machines. For instance, the two snare oscillators on that MK2 I recorded were more detuned than those on the MK1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first hit in each recording is always the MK1, followed by MK2 (then alternating betwen 1 and 2). For the BD clip I used some panning (Mk1 left, MK2 right) to make the difference clearer as there are some staccato hits for the legendary “kick buildup” effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bass Drum<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CL\/RS (MNK1 is a “Rimzilla” version, see my RD8<\/a> page)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports on my Clap have been exaggerated<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The pitch differences in both claps are apparent but these are on account of a different resistor value that sets the cutoff of the noise body lower on the MK1. Deep88 got in touch with me immediately when A\/B-ing his and I helped them modding their MK2 to go lower: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZKWyWKOwUr8<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what the retromodded (lol) MK2 clap sounds like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Modifications<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ATM you will only find some mods here, so best also check my MK1 modding page<\/a>. There I describe the basic circuits (which are the same here, except improved instrument summing) and link a range of sources with further 808-style mods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s kick off with some extreme FX tweaks…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bass Drum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Extended Decay<\/strong>: This mod extends the longest possible decay of the bass drum and can\/should be done as a fixed tweak as it basically just alters the long range of your BD decay knob. Simply wire a 1,5M-1M (more ohm = less maximum decay) across R435<\/strong> (47k). This increases feedback of the T-bridge and makes your kick ring longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example with 1.5M resistor across R435<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n