Yamaha
RX8
Digital Rhythm Programmer
The RX8 is a typical PCM-based, late '80s digital drum machine - that followed the footsteps of the granddaddy RX5. The RX8 features 43 PCM voices in its ROM, sampled at an impressive - for the time - 16bit, and a generous amount of buttons for programming it.
There are 12 rubberized pads on the front panel, and even though they don't respond to velocity, they are pleasantly comfortably to play. There are also some (basic) effects, such as detune, expand, and reverse.
The character of this drum machine is typical of the 1980s, with the obligatory "big" snares, DX7 brass hits and slap bass, quirky percussion, "cannon" toms, etc.
These are the two factory song demos on the Yamaha RX8:
00 PIRATES. ....... a very happy tune, expertly programmed
01 DOWNBEAT .... powerful number, with cool bass action
And this is the factory pattern demo of a few classic pop, rock and Latin patterns obtainable on this machine:
00 SAMPLPTN ..... a selection of powerful rock, pop, Latin and funk patterns.
Here's a list of all 43 waveforms available in the RX8's ROM:
| Name | Yamaha Description | My description |
| BD1 | Bass drum | |
| BD2 | Bass drum | |
| BD3 | Bass drum | |
| BD4 | Bass drum | |
| BD5 | Bass drum | |
| SD1 | Snare drum | |
| SD2 | Snare drum | |
| SD3 | Snare drum | |
| SD4 | Snare drum | |
| SD5 | Snare drum | |
| Rim | Snare Rimshot | |
| Tom 1 | 1st tom | |
| Tom 2 | 2nd tom | |
| Tom 3 | 3rd tom | |
| Tom 4 | 4th tom | |
| Tom 5 | 5th tom | |
| Tom 6 | 6th tom | |
| Tom 7 | 7th tom | |
| Tom 8 | 8th tom | |
| HHclos | Closed hi-hat | |
| HHopen | Open hi-hat | |
| Cup | Ride cymbal (bell/cup) | |
| Edge | Ride cymbal (edge) | |
| Crash | Crash cymbal | |
| Bass 1 | Bass guitar (slap) | |
| Bass 2 | Bass guitar (pull) | |
| Marimb | DX marimba voice | |
| DXorch | DX orchestral hit | |
| Claps | Handclaps | |
| Cowbel | Cowbell | |
| Tambrn | Tambourine | |
| Shaker | Shaker | |
| CgaHMT | High muted conga | |
| CgaHOP | High open conga | |
| Cga LO | Low conga | |
| Bgo HI | High bongo | |
| Bgo LO | Low bongo | |
| TimblH | High timbale | |
| TimblL | Low timbale | |
| Ago HI | High agogo | |
| Ago LO | Low agogo | |
| Cuica | Cuica | |
| Whstl | Whistle |
Yamaha RX8 drum samples (44.1MHz, stereo, .wav files)
Available at www.yamaha.com
Initialize - Initializing the Yamaha RX8
Power up while keeping the "STOP/CONTINUE", the "-1/NO" and the "+1/YES" buttons pressed at the same time: the display will show "Initialize R X 8!" - release the buttons.
You can also load the factory song and pattern demos by pressing the "ACCENT" button while powering up.
| Features at a glance | |
| Year of release: | 1989 |
| Polyphony: | |
| Display: | yes, backlit green |
| Preset Patterns: | 100 patterns, 20 songs |
| Pads: | 12 |
| Pads respond to velocity: | no |
| Pads respond to aftertouch | no |
| Sound generation method: | PCM |
| MIDI: | in, out |
| Sound expansion capabilities: | only memory via card |
| Outputs: | two stereo sets |
| Effects: | yes |
| Controls: | buttons, two rotary knobs |
| Pedal controls: | no |
| Tape Sync: | no |
| Dimensions: | |
| Weight: | |
Links
| SITE | Type of resource | DESCRIPTION |