808 (drum machine)

808 (drum machine)
Bryan Pocius from New York, USA · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	TR-808 Rhythm Composer
Manufacturer	Roland Corporation
Year	1980
Synthesis	Analog synthesis
Polyphony	Monophonic (per instrument)
Notable users	Afrika Bambaataa, Marvin Gaye, Kanye West, Phil Collins

808 (drum machine) is a programmable drum machine produced by Roland Corporation in 1980 and officially designated TR-808 Rhythm Composer. It was designed during the administrations of Akira Kondo at Roland Corporation and released into a market shaped by devices from Linn Electronics, Oberheim Electronics, and Korg, affecting artists such as Afrika Bambaataa, Marvin Gaye, and Arthur Baker.

History

The machine was developed by a team including Toru Iwatani, Satoshi Kanazawa, and Makoto Muroi at Roland Corporation with input from engineers familiar with projects at Yamaha Corporation and Korg, amid competition from Linn LM-1 and Oberheim DMX. Introduced in 1980 and commercially released in 1981 during a period marked by releases from Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson, early sales underperformed; retailers and studios preferred sampled units from Linn Electronics and digital instruments by Yamaha Corporation. Despite initial poor adoption, the device found grassroots acceptance in scenes centered around New York City, Detroit, and Chicago, driven by DJs and producers like Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Pierre, and Larry Levan.

Design and Features

The instrument features analog tone generation for instruments including bass drum, snare, toms, rimshot, clap, cowbell, cymbal, and hi-hats, designed alongside components used in products by Roland Corporation and rival designs from Korg. It offered a step-sequencer with 32-step patterns inspired in part by earlier sequencers used by Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder, and front-panel controls allowed tuning, decay, and level adjustments akin to interfaces from Moog Music and ARP Instruments. Housed in a molded case manufactured in facilities similar to those used by Yamaha Corporation, the machine included trigger outputs and DIN sync compatible with equipment from Roland Corporation and sequencers like those by Sequential Circuits.

Sound and Technology

The sound generation relied on analog circuitry—transistor-based oscillators, envelope generators, and white-noise sources—designed with techniques comparable to those in products from Moog Music, ARP Instruments, and EMS. The bass drum employed a tuned decay oscillator producing subsonic frequencies that became a signature in productions by Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Run-DMC; the cowbell and clap used shaped noise and bandpass filtering techniques resembling modules from Doepfer and Tom Oberheim. Its offbeat timbral character contrasted with sampling technology developed by E-mu Systems and Fairlight, creating a palette favored by producers such as Trevor Horn and Daniel Miller for records by Depeche Mode and New Order.

Cultural Impact and Influence

The device profoundly influenced genres and scenes including hip hop, electro, house music, techno, and pop music through its use by pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson. Its sonic footprint is audible in landmark releases associated with labels and collectives such as Tommy Boy Records, Sugar Hill Records, Warp Records, and Def Jam Recordings, and in tracks promoted by DJs like Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles, and Ron Hardy. The machine impacted production aesthetics adopted by artists including Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Dr. Dre, and Rick Rubin, and it influenced instrument designers at Roland Corporation, Native Instruments, and Akai Professional.

Notable Uses and Recordings

Iconic recordings featuring the machine include Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock", Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", and early electro and hip hop singles on Tommy Boy Records and Sugar Hill Records produced by Arthur Baker and John Robie. The machine appears on albums by Madonna, Beastie Boys, Kraftwerk-influenced projects, and productions by Phil Collins and Giorgio Moroder, while modern artists like Kanye West and Dr. Dre have sampled or emulated its parts on releases for Def Jam Recordings and GOOD Music.

Legacy and Modern Reproductions

After being discontinued, the instrument became a sought-after collector's item appearing in exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, and retrospective shows featuring artifacts alongside synths from Moog Music and samplers by Fairlight. Its popularity led to software emulations by companies like Native Instruments, Ableton, and Image-Line, and hardware reinterpretations by Roland Corporation in later products, boutique builders such as Behringer, and boutique labels influenced by Elektron and Teenage Engineering. The machine's aesthetic and engineering influenced subsequent drum machines and plugins used by generations of producers across Los Angeles, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.

Category:Drum machines