The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was a drum machine manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1980 and 1983. It was one of the first drum machines to allow users to program rhythms instead of using preset patterns. Launched when electronic music had yet to become mainstream, the 808 received mixed reviews for its unrealistic drum sounds. It attracted a cult following among underground musicians for its affordability on the used market, ease of use, and idiosyncratic sounds. The 808 was eventually used on more hit records than any other drum machine.
About Roland TR-808 in brief
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was a drum machine manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1980 and 1983. It was one of the first drum machines to allow users to program rhythms instead of using preset patterns. Launched when electronic music had yet to become mainstream, the 808 received mixed reviews for its unrealistic drum sounds and was a commercial failure. It attracted a cult following among underground musicians for its affordability on the used market, ease of use, and idiosyncratic sounds. The 808 was eventually used on more hit records than any other drum machine. Its sounds are included with music software and modern drum machines, and it has inspired numerous clones. The machine was discontinued in 1983 after its semiconductors became impossible to restock. It has been compared to the Fender Stratocaster in terms of its influence on rock music. The TR in TR- 808 stands for “Transistor Rhythm”; the TR in the TR-909 stands for the “Roland TR-8 Microcomposer”; and the 808 is the name of the drum machine used in the Ableton Live music software. It is also known as the “Rhythm Composer” or “Rhythmic Composer”, and was the name given to a similar drum machine by Roland in the 1970s. It can synchronize with synthesizers and other equipment with three trigger output devices.
Its sound resembles that of a kit from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop more than a real drum kit. It also has a unique time signature, including unusual signatures such as 54 and 78. Users can program up to 32 patterns using the step sequencer, chain up to 768 measures, and place accents on individual beats. It includes volume knobs for each voice, numerous audio outputs, and a DIN sync port to synchronize other devices with other devices, such as the Roland DIN DIN-1 and the Roland MC-8 DIN. It produces sounds in imitation of acoustic percussion: the bass drum, snare, toms, conga, rimshot, claves, handclap, maraca, cowbell, cymbal, and hi-hat. Rather than playing samples, the machine generates sounds using analog synthesis; the TR stands for ‘Transistors Rhythm’ The 808’s sounds do not resemble real percussion, and have been described as ‘robotic’ and ‘toy-like’ The drum machine can complete a track from beginning to end, with a complete tempo and tempo signature, and can also set the time signature for breaks and rolls. It’s the only drum machine with which users can program a complete track from start to end.
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This page is based on the article Roland TR-808 published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 05, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
