Roland TR-808

The Roland TR-808 is the analogue drum machine introduced in 1980, and one of the most influential electronic instruments ever made. Its voices are generated by analogue circuits rather than samples, which gives it the deep, decaying bass drum, the snappy snare and the metallic, ringing cymbals and cowbell for which it became famous, together with a step sequencer for programming patterns. It was not a commercial success at the time, but its sounds were adopted by dance and hip hop producers in the following decade, and it has shaped the sound of popular music since.

Roland TR-808

See also