Four Decades, One Sound
Celebrating 40 years of the TR-808 Drum Machine
It’s hard to believe that a drum machine introduced in 1980 would still be celebrated today by
lovers of culture, music, and design. Thank you to the people who ‘got’ the original 808, the
artists who took it to another level and most importantly, everyone who loves the music that
the Roland TR-808 inspired. Welcome to the continuing story of the most boombastic drum
machine of all time–forty years on, still going strong.
Building the Beat: Inside Legendary TR-808 Tracks
Watch Arthur Baker, A Guy Called Gerald, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri, the Avila Brothers,
Cozmo D, and Carl Craig discuss mainstream hits and underground classics from their discographies.
THE ORIGIN
LATE 1970S, JAPAN
In the late 1970s, the idea of a ‘drum machine’ was unusual. Although people made music at home, it
was typically with a piano, organ or guitar. And since most households didn’t own an acoustic drum kit, an electronic drum machine
would give families an easy and enjoyable way to include rhythm in their music making. It was at this point that Roland started work on
developing a rhythm machine for the masses...
CR-78: THE
FORERUNNER
Launched in 1978, the CompuRhythm CR-78 was Roland’s
first drum machine that created and stored patterns. Even
though it was meant as a rhythm accompaniment device
for organs—hence the abundance of waltz and bossa
nova patterns—it became fairly popular with established
musicians, including Phil Collins who used it several
years later on ‘In the Air Tonight’.
THE
ENGINEER’S
DILEMMA
Tasked with producing the CR-78’s successor, a young
team of Roland engineers sat down to exchange ideas.
Working under Tadao Kikumoto (seen here with an early
prototype), Hiro Nakamura was asked to develop the
analog voice circuits for the unnamed product, which
was intended to help pro-musicians create demos. But
there was a problem: late ‘70s analog technology wasn’t
very good at creating realistic drum sounds.
THE
SOUND
The goal for the new machine, now called the TR-808,
was to include realistic-sounding drums. Memory chips
(needed to play back sampled recordings of ‘real’ drum
sounds) were too expensive, so the engineers used
analog synthesis to recreate the sounds—initially on
Roland’s System-700 modular system before recreating
the parameters on the TR-808’s analog circuitry. Although a
simple choice born of necessity, choosing analog over
digital technology would have a profound impact on
music in the years to come.
THE SECRET
WEAPON
Transistors which had been rejected as ‘out of
specification’ were purchased by Roland and used
as part of the TR-808’s sound generating capability.
Although they weren’t faulty, they did exhibit some
very particular qualities that helped give the 808 its
distinctive sizzling sound. In fact, this tiny component,
also known as an 2SC828-R, was so important to the
final sound, that once supplies were used up, the TR-808
was discontinued. It’s also partly why most modern
analog takes on the TR-808 don’t really stand up to
scrutiny.
THE
SEQUENCER
Look at the front panel of a Roland TR-808 and you’ll
see the words ‘Rhythm Composer’—a reminder of
the designers’ original intention. Through a row of
16 distinctively colored buttons, people could easily
program (and store) their own beats which meant that the
TR-808 became an accessible and creative instrument in
its own right. It was also the first appearance of Roland’s
‘TR-REC’ method of creating a drum beat—which is still
in use today.
808: THE
SPEAKER
KILLER
Since the 808 sound was analog, many tonal
adjustments were possible—less sizzle in the hi-hats,
extra snappiness in the snare and, critically, more
punch in the kick drum. Being able to extend the
decay of the kick drum to reveal more of that warm
analog tone, gave the TR-808 something very special
indeed—the power to make people move. Much to
the delight of speaker manufacturers, a cranked-up
808 track would regularly blow out speaker cones.
PRODUCTION
1980-1982
The Roland TR-808 was officially in production for just two years—from 1980 to 1982. Around 12,000 units
were manufactured and although it received support from early adopters like Japan’s Yellow Magic Orchestra,
it wasn’t considered a commercial success. In 1982, the competitor LinnDrum was launched, helping shift the
trend away from analog and towards digital sample-based drum machines. The TR-808 started to look like its
time had come and gone...but ironically, its premature demise was merely the beginning.
THE CREATOR
TADAO KIKUMOTO
Forty years after the original TR-808 was launched, Tadao Kikumoto looks back on his most
famous creation—and talks about his current projects, including a return to the 808 concept.
READ MORE
CROSSOVER
MID-1980’S ONWARDS - ACCESS ALL AREAS
Once the TR-808 was discontinued, a familiar story unfolded when units started to appear in
second-hand shops, swiftly acquired by younger artists with a penchant for risk-taking and rulebreaking.
From the mid-eighties, the 808 sound would become deeply embedded within a variety
of electronic music scenes that had one thing in common—the music appealed to those who loved
to party. From Chicago to Detroit, Manchester to Miami, here are some of the people and the music
who helped make it happen.
THE 40-YEAR PLAYLIST
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF AMAZING MUSIC, MADE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE TR-808.
MADE ON 808
GOING INSIDE THE MUSIC
Electro, pop, soul, hip hop, techno, house, trap, Miami bass and beyond; you know something
unusual is happening when the same drums are heard across a variety of different music genres.
The TR-808 has been at the heart of some truly amazing tracks over the years, spanning an
equally amazing variety of musical genres. Dive into some 808-powered classics and find out
what made them tick.
New Limited Edition New Balance Tiago Lemos NM808 x Roland
Tiago Lemos, pro street skateboarder and passionate music fan, turns to hip hop as the soundtrack for his skating, with the 808 at the heart of many hip hop classics. In collaboration with New Balance to commemorate #808DAY in 2024, the Tiago Lemos NM808 x Roland pays homage to the legendary drum machine with a design that intersects music, skateboarding, and street style.
We recently caught up with Tiago and renowned DJ and producer Cut Chemist, to talk hip-hop, kick drums and kick flips in a studio that can only be described as a cavern of sonic treasures.
The Limited Edition Tiago Lemos NM808 x Roland is available at newbalance.com and select dealers worldwide.
Get Your NM808
808 Live: 24-Hour Live Stream on Twitch
To keep the good vibes rolling, we have partnered with Twitch—as part of their Twitch DJ program launch—to bring an exclusive 8-hour programming track featuring an all-star lineup of DJs.
“808 Live” is part of a worldwide 24-hour live stream event where raids will move from city to city, that includes a Roland Los Angeles stream that will feature appearances by legendary artists such as Grandmaster Flash, Skratch Bastid, DJ Melo-D, DJ Bella Hue, DJ Roueche and more.
Find out more about the Twitch DJ program here or join the event live on #808DAY on the button below.
Watch 808 Live
New patches for your Roland TR-808 Software on #808DAY
What better way to celebrate #808DAY than by creating your own beat on the 808!
Owners of the Roland TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer can download an inspiring new collection of 32 patches and 32 patterns crafted by A Guy Called Gerald, a founding member of 808 State and UK dance music icon.
Don’t have the software yet? Try it for free with a 30-day Ultimate trial at Roland Cloud. Click the link below to access Roland Cloud.
Get Your Patch Collection Start Your Free Trial
LEGENDARY SOUND.
ICONIC GEAR.
Attention 808 fanatics: Wear your love for the drum machine. The TR-808 collection of tees, hats, and jackets is made for music makers and rule breakers.
READ MORE
JOIN THE 808 CELEBRATION
Post your 808 stories and memories with the #808day hashtag and we’ll feature the best below.