Roland TR-808 : the drum machine that revolutionised music

Roland TR-808 : the drum machine that revolutionised music

There are commercial failures that change the world. The Roland TR-808 is the finest example. Launched in 1980, this analog drum machine was a flop on release, judged too artificial by the musicians of the time. Forty years later, it is considered the most influential instrument in modern music: its endless kick makes clubs, stadiums and headphones shake all over the world, from hip-hop to trap, from house to pop. A look back at the extraordinary story of the machine nobody wanted, and that everyone imitates today.

History: the most influential commercial failure in music

1980, a machine ahead of its time

The TR-808, short for Transistor Rhythm, was launched by Roland in 1980. The design team, led by Ikutaro Kakehashi with engineer Don Lewis, wanted to offer a programmable drum machine capable of rivalling the sampling machines of the era. But Roland chose analog synthesis, which gave the 808 a deliberately synthetic sound, far removed from the real drums that studios were looking for at the time. Result: the machine sold poorly and Roland stopped production in 1983, after around 12,000 units. A failure, for what would become the cult instrument of the century.

An analog sound unique of its kind

The 808's kick, that long, deep bass explosion that stretches for almost a second, is the product of analog synthesis pushed to the extreme. The clap, snare, toms, hi-hats and cymbals all use analog circuits that produce synthetic sounds impossible to mistake. The machine offers sixteen programmable percussion sounds, a step sequencer and settings for the sound of each instrument. Its most famous feature remains the depth of its kick, capable of making the walls of a whole room vibrate.

Add to that the accent function, which highlights certain steps of the pattern, and you get an elastic groove, both mechanical and danceable. Roland's engineers considered these sounds youthful flaws. Electronic music producers saw in them, for their part, an entirely new musical language.

The rediscovery: from hip-hop to techno

Planet Rock and the birth of the electro sound

As early as 1982, Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force, produced by Arthur Baker, put the 808 sound centre stage on an electro groove inspired by Kraftwerk. The track became a worldwide hit and hip-hop seized the machine. In Miami, the 2 Live Crew label and producers like Mr. Mixx or Luther Campbell turned the 808 into a massive dance weapon with Miami bass, a style built entirely on the 808 kick. Available and affordable, the machine became the ideal tool for amateur studios and independent producers.

Marvin Gaye used it as early as 1982 on the planetary hit Sexual Healing, recorded with producer and sound engineer Gordon Banks. It is one of the first great pop songs to put the 808 groove centre stage. Phil Collins, New Order and many others followed the movement.

Chicago house and Detroit techno

In Chicago, the 808 sound became the backbone of the emerging house music. In Detroit, Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, the fathers of techno, built their first productions on Roland drum machines, including the 808 and its sister the TR-909. The 808 kick then spread through the hip-hop of the 1990s and 2000s: it can be heard on hundreds of thousands of tracks, from trap to reggaeton, via pop, R&B and afrobeat.

What makes the 808 sound

A few elements explain the unique power of this machine:

• An endless kick, which works both as percussion and as a bassline.
• A wide, metallic synthetic clap, which became a standard of electronic music.
• Long, gritty cymbals, typical of analog machines.
• The accent function, which gives the 808 groove its danceable sway.

The kick, a bass on its own

The 808's kick is unique: instead of disappearing quickly like an acoustic bass drum hit, it stretches for almost a second, with a very low fundamental frequency and a body that keeps descending. That is what allows the 808 to act as both percussion and bass. Trap producers even use it as a melodic instrument, tuning the pitch of the kick to the key of the track. It is impossible to imagine today's music without this deep bass.

The clap, the cymbals and the accent

The 808's clap, a wide and powerful synthetic handclap, has become an instantly recognisable sonic landmark. Its cymbals, long and gritty, bring a particular texture to patterns. As for the accent function, it gives that characteristic sway that makes people dance: the strong steps stand out, creating an elastic pulse that producers still recreate today, often with increasingly faithful software emulations.

The artists and styles that adopted the 808

It is faster to name the genres than the artists: hip-hop, electro, Miami bass, house, techno, trance, trap, reggaeton, afrobeat, pop... The 808 is everywhere. Besides Afrika Bambaataa and Marvin Gaye, let us mention Rick Rubin's productions for Run-DMC, the Detroit techno pioneers, trap producers like Lex Luger, Metro Boomin or Southside, and the pop giants who sample the 808 kick on millions of tracks. Kanye West even named his eighth studio album 808s & Heartbreak, a direct nod to the machine and its synthetic emotions.

The 808 sound also marked Afro-Latin music: reggaeton, born in Puerto Rico, rests entirely on the rhythm and kick of the 808. Dancehall, afrobeat and a good part of international pop owe it their groove. Even film and video game music today use the 808 sound to signify power and modernity.

The legacy: a cult machine and its emulations

The 808 was never reissued by Roland in its original version, which makes era units highly sought-after collector's items. Roland has nonetheless developed modern versions such as the TR-8 range, and offers the TR-808 in software versions. Many software and hardware emulations reproduce the 808 sound with impressive fidelity.

At Green Musicians, you will find everything you need to explore the 808 universe in all its forms. For purists, an original vintage Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is an exceptional piece, a slice of music history that you can plug in and play. For those who prefer the precision of software, D16 Nepheton is a renowned software emulation of the 808 sound, appreciated by producers for its fidelity and warm rendering. Finally, the MPC Beats Academy: creating lo-fi beats training course by Akai teaches you how to program drum and bass patterns with the techniques of today's producers.

The gear to produce with the 808 sound today

Do you want to make the bass vibrate like on your favourite tracks? Several paths are open to you. The most authentic consists of getting your hands on an original vintage TR-808, the cult machine of which every unit carries the history of hip-hop and house. For a studio-quality sound without space constraints, the D16 Nepheton emulation faithfully reproduces every element of the 808, from the endless kick to the gritty cymbals, and integrates into any sequencer. Finally, to learn how to build catchy patterns, the MPC Beats Academy: creating lo-fi beats training course introduces you to sampling, swing and kick selection. And to complete your studio, explore our selection of studio and recording gear: interfaces, controllers, monitors and headphones to hear and mix your 808s in the best conditions.

Why choose Green Musicians

At Green Musicians, electronic music is at the heart of our catalogue. Drum machines, software emulations, controllers, audio interfaces and monitors: everything is brought together to build the studio of your dreams, from verified sellers. New, refurbished, second-hand or short supply chain, the products suit all levels and all projects. Whether you are looking for the authentic sound of a vintage 808 or a modern emulation, you will find what you are looking for on our marketplace.

And there you have it! We hope this article has made you want to learn more about the world of music production. All that's left is to browse Green Musicians to find the gear of your dreams at the best price on the internet.

We offer a complete catalogue of music gear featuring brands from all over the world such as Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Ibanez and many more. Whether you are an amateur or professional musician, our marketplace is designed to offer you the best of music.

Green Musicians is also the music marketplace where everyone can sell or buy music gear with complete confidence: new, refurbished and second-hand instruments, but also software, plugins, sheet music and samples.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, or if you would like to suggest a topic for an article, feel free to leave a comment below.