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Roland TR-808

Analog drum machine

The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is a programmable analog drum machine that Roland produced from 1980 to 1983. Its sounds are generated by analog circuitry rather than samples, giving it a distinctive booming kick, snappy snare, and sizzling cymbals and hi-hats. Commercially unsuccessful at launch, it became one of the most influential instruments in popular music, defining the low end of hip-hop, electro, and dance records and remaining a sought-after sound decades later.

Technical line drawing of Roland TR-808
Technical line drawing of Roland TR-808

Articles

  • Roland TR-808 Overview

    An overview of the Roland TR-808, the analog drum machine whose booming kick and distinctive voices reshaped hip-hop, electronic, and pop music.

Sources

Category

  • Drum Machines

    Programmable rhythm machines, drum synthesizers, and related beat-making instruments.

Made by

  • Roland

    Roland is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines such as the TR-808, and the JC-120 Jazz Chorus, a benchmark solid-state guitar amplifier known for its built-in stereo chorus and produced since 1975.

Part of series

  • Roland TR

    Japan

    The TR (Transistor Rhythm) series is Roland's long-running line of drum machines, several of which became foundational to electronic music. It includes the analog TR-808 and TR-909 along with the compact TR-606 and the sample-based TR-707.

Represents

  • Roland

    Roland is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines such as the TR-808, and the JC-120 Jazz Chorus, a benchmark solid-state guitar amplifier known for its built-in stereo chorus and produced since 1975.

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