Tr 808
Author: t | 2025-04-25
One of the best 808 VST plugins of 2025 9. TR-808 Roland. The TR-808 Roland Software Synthesizer is a precise digital replica of the legendary TR-808, an iconic electronic music instrument sought after by musicians and producers globally. Comprehensive Roland TR-808 sample archive with patches and kits mapped for the Reason 5 Kong Drum Designer. Approximately 500 raw TR-808 samples and 300 processed TR-808
What Is an 808? Unleashing the Power of the Legendary TR-808
Drop patterns created within the instrument as MIDI or audio directly to your DAW timeline. And it fits perfectly into your production environment with a freely resizable UI, support for VST3, AAX, and AU formats, and native compatibility with Apple silicon. Feed your creativity. The TR-808 plug-in comes with classic kits and patterns to get you started, and it's incredibly easy to program custom beats and tweak your own kits. But that's only the beginning. Roland Cloud offers a wealth of new patches and patterns from artists and expert sound designers to inspire your music. Hardware integration. The TR-808 software instrument integrates seamlessly with our TR-8S Rhythm Performer and TR-08 Roland Boutique hardware. Import TR-8S patterns into the TR-808 plug-in and create beats in your DAW and send them back to the hardware. You can even use the hands-on panel controls on the TR-8S or TR-08 for direct operation of the plug-in. Try the TR-808 today. The TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer is available with Roland Cloud Pro (via Pro Selector) and Ultimate memberships or a Lifetime Key purchase. Roland Cloud is also home to software versions of other vintage Roland instruments plus ZENOLOGY, ZENOLOGY FX, Zenbeats, and other inspiring music tools to back your creative journeys. Join Roland Cloud Try the TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer for free with a Roland Cloud 30-day trial membership. Specifications Maximum Polyphony 11 voices Sampling Frequency 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Step Sequencer 11 instrument parts 16 steps per 1 measure 8 (A - H) variations per 1 pattern INST tone BASS DRUM SNARE DRUM LOW TOM / LO CONGA MID TOM / MID CONGA HI TOM / HI CONGA RIM SHOT / CLAVES HAND CLAP / MARACAS COWBELL CYMBAL OPEN HI-HAT CLOSED HI-HAT * Slashed instruments are
What is an 808? Exploring the Roland TR-808 drum
Adventurous creators discovered the TR-808's untapped potential, and the music world changed forever. Emerging genres made heavy use of the 808 sound, with some utilizing it as the sonic signature of the style. The sizzling hi-hats and snappy snare, clicky rim shot, distinctive cowbell, and booming bass drum have been heard on an endless stream of worldwide hits and underground classics. And more continue to arrive every day. The TR-808's influence is so deep that it's been name-dropped in famous songs, had albums dedicated to it and bands named after it, and it's even the subject of a feature-length documentary film. Classic tracks featuring the TR-808 ▼ Our proprietary circuit modeling technology brings the complete TR-808 sound experience to life in your DAW. The ACB process involves carefully analyzing original hardware units, circuit diagrams, and other historical data. We then use this information to recreate the unique architecture and authentic circuit behaviors of the vintage instrument. This gives the TR-808 plug-in its ultra-realistic sound that leaps from the speakers. Authentic experience. And more. While developing the TR-808 plug-in, we took the opportunity to improve on the original hardware while keeping the authentic experience intact. Workflow enhancements include an advanced multi-lane sequencer for faster programming, individual pan and gain controls for space and punch, and the ability to tune the bass drum and cowbell. A step forward. Opening the sophisticated Edit view gives you independent step sequencer lanes per drum instrument, each with its own mute, solo, shuffle, and last-step settings. There are also per-step articulations, including weak hits, nine types of flams, and three types of sub steps for super-intricate patterns. Modern living. While the TR-808 plug-in carefully models an instrument from the past, the implementation is thoroughly modern. The sequencer conveniently syncs to tempo, and you can drag andFull TR-808 (sound) emulation: NTR-808
Different to dedicated MIDI drum pads. If you’re looking for a controller to use solely for MIDI sequencing, consider looking into MIDI pad controllers.The Best Drum Machines 2022 – Our Top Picks1. Roland TR-08Best suited for: Producers looking for a lightweight drum machine with a classic, vintage feel.There is no question, the Roland TR-808 is the most influential drum machine of all time. In light of this, Roland have treated us with a gorgeous recreation of the classic hardware: the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer.This new and improved version remains extremely faithful to it’s iconic counterpart, but with several new, modernized features. Best of all, they are significantly more affordable than the original TR-808.The Roland TR-08 perfectly captures the tone and sonic character that made the original so successful. It also retains the lightweight design and portability of it’s predecessor.New additions include the ability to create random drum patterns, add swing to your beats and also sub-step sequencing. Furthermore, the digital menu now includes pitch, decay and compression options.It’s also worth noting this drum machine has full MIDI integration, something the original definitely didn’t have.❁ PROS❁ CONS➭ Affordable➭ Lack of multiple analogue outputs➭ Very lightweight and portable➭ The smaller drum pads can be harder to play➭ Tons of classic sounds with modern features2. Arturia DrumBrute ImpactBest suited for: Producers looking for an affordable drum machine with a mix of vintage and modern sounds, presented with a intuitive design.I’m personally a huge Arturia fan, particularly their collection of soft synthesizer emulations and MIDI keyboard controllers. Unsurprisingly, Arturia’s DrumBrute series is another triumph.The Drumbrute Impact is an analog drum machine with a rich, authentic tone. It’s also packed with additional controls for customizing the drum sounds, for example adding color / distorting specific drum sounds. While it may not have the versatility of. One of the best 808 VST plugins of 2025 9. TR-808 Roland. The TR-808 Roland Software Synthesizer is a precise digital replica of the legendary TR-808, an iconic electronic music instrument sought after by musicians and producers globally. Comprehensive Roland TR-808 sample archive with patches and kits mapped for the Reason 5 Kong Drum Designer. Approximately 500 raw TR-808 samples and 300 processed TR-808The TR-808 Story - Roland
An authentic recreation of the most famous drum machine ever made—inside your DAW. The TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer is a detailed replica of the legendary TR-808—one of the most revered and sought-after electronic musical instruments of all time. Our plug-in recreation delivers all the boom, snap, and sizzle of the original hardware, plus modern enhancements for more sound design choices and faster beatmaking. + Highlights Authentic recreation of the TR-808 Rhythm Composer using ACB technology Detailed interface gives the feel of working with the vintage hardware Individual instrument gain lets you overdrive the internal circuitry for different flavors and styles Classic TR-REC sequencer expanded with individual drum instrument lanes and additional articulations Adjustable flams, sub steps, and soft hits create detailed fills and ratcheted sequences Per-instrument last step and shuffle settings for intricate timing and complex meters Eight variations per pattern for interesting sequences and easy arranging Drag and drop audio or MIDI patterns directly from the plug-in to your DAW VST3, AU, and AAX compatibility and native support for Apple silicon Included with Roland Cloud Pro (via Pro Selector) and Ultimate memberships Also available as a Lifetime Key purchase A legend in the making. In 1980, Roland introduced the TR-808 Rhythm Composer as a quick and easy songwriting tool for musicians. At the time, the high cost of memory drove Roland engineers to use analog synthesis instead of samples for its sounds. Through a series of happy accidents—including unique transistor choices—they created a one-of-a-kind instrument that set the 808 in its own sonic universe. But like many legends to be, it was dismissed by many at the time. In a market looking for "traditional" or "realistic" sampled drum sounds, only about 12,000 units were made before the TR-808 was discontinued in 1983. 1980 Sonic boom. Later in the 1980s,Roland - The TR-808 Story
Expensive➭ Incredible sample bank➭ Impressive sequencer feature4. Behringer RD-8 Drum MachineBest suited for: Producers looking for an affordable drum machine that faithfully recreates Roland’s iconic TR-808.The fact that there are two industry-leading, modern drum machines that aim to recreate the TR-808 is simply a testament to how influential and iconic the original 808 really was.Behringer’s RD-8 drum machine is arguably even more faithful a recreation that Roland’s own attempt: the TR-08, particularly in terms in design. The sounds have a tantalizing, authentic tone, and as you’d expect the 808 bass drum is absolutely stunning.The original Roland TR-808 (via: Tone Tweakers)The RD-8 retains almost everything from the original design, which does limit some of the sonic flexibility. The faithfulness of the design also results in a steep learning curve, and it has to be said this thing is VERY confusing at first. However, Behringer have added a few updated features on this classic design. It is significantly easier to edit patterns mid-performance, as you have access to real-time triggering, step-overdub, and a handful of other cool modern functions.❁ PROS❁ CONS➭ Affordable➭ Quite a steep learning curve➭ Near-perfect recreation of a classic➭ No auto-fill feature➭ Incredible bass drum sound5. Korg Volca DrumBest suited for: Producers looking for a tiny, surprisingly powerful drum machine at a ridiculously low price.From the day the Korg Volca Drum arrived at my door, it’s held a special place in my heart.This drum machine is efficient, incredibly intuitive and well designed. At first glance, this device may seem “toy-ish” given how tiny it is, but the Korg Volca Drum really packs a punch. Firstly, the sounds themselves are clean, crisp and impactful, and the wide palette of samples is really impressive given the price of this device.Speaking of the price, this has to be one of, if notA Spotlight on the Roland TR-808
Autodafe has released XoX Drums, a free sample-based drum machine instrument for Native Instruments Kontakt (full version required).XoX Drums comes with five drum slots (bass drum, snare/clap, hats, cymbals, toms), each loaded with a number of sounds from Roland’s TR-606, TR-707, TR-808, and TR-909 drum machines. The user can combine the included drum hits freely, meaning that it’s possible to load, say, an 808 kick, a 909 snare, and a 606 cymbal in different slots and use them simultaneously. Each drum slot comes with a number of sound editing controls like panning, level, pitch, transient control (attack/release), filter, distortion, and reverb. The amount of sample tweaking functionality on offer is simply fantastic for a free product. XoX Drums also includes a step sequencer and supports multi-out routing for users who want to map each drum to a different audio channel in their DAW.The sample content that XoX Drums is based on is public domain, meaning that the drums weren’t sampled specifically for use in Autodafe’s virtual drum machine. There aren’t any round robin variations included, but the included samples do sound fine. The samples aren’t provided in WAV format and the instrument will work for 15 minutes only in the free Kontakt Player.One thing that needs to be pointed out here is that I’d like to see a list of websites from which these public domain samples were downloaded in the first place. Even though the samples are public domain, it’s common courtesy to credit the original sample creators on. One of the best 808 VST plugins of 2025 9. TR-808 Roland. The TR-808 Roland Software Synthesizer is a precise digital replica of the legendary TR-808, an iconic electronic music instrument sought after by musicians and producers globally. Comprehensive Roland TR-808 sample archive with patches and kits mapped for the Reason 5 Kong Drum Designer. Approximately 500 raw TR-808 samples and 300 processed TR-808Comments
Drop patterns created within the instrument as MIDI or audio directly to your DAW timeline. And it fits perfectly into your production environment with a freely resizable UI, support for VST3, AAX, and AU formats, and native compatibility with Apple silicon. Feed your creativity. The TR-808 plug-in comes with classic kits and patterns to get you started, and it's incredibly easy to program custom beats and tweak your own kits. But that's only the beginning. Roland Cloud offers a wealth of new patches and patterns from artists and expert sound designers to inspire your music. Hardware integration. The TR-808 software instrument integrates seamlessly with our TR-8S Rhythm Performer and TR-08 Roland Boutique hardware. Import TR-8S patterns into the TR-808 plug-in and create beats in your DAW and send them back to the hardware. You can even use the hands-on panel controls on the TR-8S or TR-08 for direct operation of the plug-in. Try the TR-808 today. The TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer is available with Roland Cloud Pro (via Pro Selector) and Ultimate memberships or a Lifetime Key purchase. Roland Cloud is also home to software versions of other vintage Roland instruments plus ZENOLOGY, ZENOLOGY FX, Zenbeats, and other inspiring music tools to back your creative journeys. Join Roland Cloud Try the TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer for free with a Roland Cloud 30-day trial membership. Specifications Maximum Polyphony 11 voices Sampling Frequency 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Step Sequencer 11 instrument parts 16 steps per 1 measure 8 (A - H) variations per 1 pattern INST tone BASS DRUM SNARE DRUM LOW TOM / LO CONGA MID TOM / MID CONGA HI TOM / HI CONGA RIM SHOT / CLAVES HAND CLAP / MARACAS COWBELL CYMBAL OPEN HI-HAT CLOSED HI-HAT * Slashed instruments are
2025-04-02Adventurous creators discovered the TR-808's untapped potential, and the music world changed forever. Emerging genres made heavy use of the 808 sound, with some utilizing it as the sonic signature of the style. The sizzling hi-hats and snappy snare, clicky rim shot, distinctive cowbell, and booming bass drum have been heard on an endless stream of worldwide hits and underground classics. And more continue to arrive every day. The TR-808's influence is so deep that it's been name-dropped in famous songs, had albums dedicated to it and bands named after it, and it's even the subject of a feature-length documentary film. Classic tracks featuring the TR-808 ▼ Our proprietary circuit modeling technology brings the complete TR-808 sound experience to life in your DAW. The ACB process involves carefully analyzing original hardware units, circuit diagrams, and other historical data. We then use this information to recreate the unique architecture and authentic circuit behaviors of the vintage instrument. This gives the TR-808 plug-in its ultra-realistic sound that leaps from the speakers. Authentic experience. And more. While developing the TR-808 plug-in, we took the opportunity to improve on the original hardware while keeping the authentic experience intact. Workflow enhancements include an advanced multi-lane sequencer for faster programming, individual pan and gain controls for space and punch, and the ability to tune the bass drum and cowbell. A step forward. Opening the sophisticated Edit view gives you independent step sequencer lanes per drum instrument, each with its own mute, solo, shuffle, and last-step settings. There are also per-step articulations, including weak hits, nine types of flams, and three types of sub steps for super-intricate patterns. Modern living. While the TR-808 plug-in carefully models an instrument from the past, the implementation is thoroughly modern. The sequencer conveniently syncs to tempo, and you can drag and
2025-04-19An authentic recreation of the most famous drum machine ever made—inside your DAW. The TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer is a detailed replica of the legendary TR-808—one of the most revered and sought-after electronic musical instruments of all time. Our plug-in recreation delivers all the boom, snap, and sizzle of the original hardware, plus modern enhancements for more sound design choices and faster beatmaking. + Highlights Authentic recreation of the TR-808 Rhythm Composer using ACB technology Detailed interface gives the feel of working with the vintage hardware Individual instrument gain lets you overdrive the internal circuitry for different flavors and styles Classic TR-REC sequencer expanded with individual drum instrument lanes and additional articulations Adjustable flams, sub steps, and soft hits create detailed fills and ratcheted sequences Per-instrument last step and shuffle settings for intricate timing and complex meters Eight variations per pattern for interesting sequences and easy arranging Drag and drop audio or MIDI patterns directly from the plug-in to your DAW VST3, AU, and AAX compatibility and native support for Apple silicon Included with Roland Cloud Pro (via Pro Selector) and Ultimate memberships Also available as a Lifetime Key purchase A legend in the making. In 1980, Roland introduced the TR-808 Rhythm Composer as a quick and easy songwriting tool for musicians. At the time, the high cost of memory drove Roland engineers to use analog synthesis instead of samples for its sounds. Through a series of happy accidents—including unique transistor choices—they created a one-of-a-kind instrument that set the 808 in its own sonic universe. But like many legends to be, it was dismissed by many at the time. In a market looking for "traditional" or "realistic" sampled drum sounds, only about 12,000 units were made before the TR-808 was discontinued in 1983. 1980 Sonic boom. Later in the 1980s,
2025-04-02Expensive➭ Incredible sample bank➭ Impressive sequencer feature4. Behringer RD-8 Drum MachineBest suited for: Producers looking for an affordable drum machine that faithfully recreates Roland’s iconic TR-808.The fact that there are two industry-leading, modern drum machines that aim to recreate the TR-808 is simply a testament to how influential and iconic the original 808 really was.Behringer’s RD-8 drum machine is arguably even more faithful a recreation that Roland’s own attempt: the TR-08, particularly in terms in design. The sounds have a tantalizing, authentic tone, and as you’d expect the 808 bass drum is absolutely stunning.The original Roland TR-808 (via: Tone Tweakers)The RD-8 retains almost everything from the original design, which does limit some of the sonic flexibility. The faithfulness of the design also results in a steep learning curve, and it has to be said this thing is VERY confusing at first. However, Behringer have added a few updated features on this classic design. It is significantly easier to edit patterns mid-performance, as you have access to real-time triggering, step-overdub, and a handful of other cool modern functions.❁ PROS❁ CONS➭ Affordable➭ Quite a steep learning curve➭ Near-perfect recreation of a classic➭ No auto-fill feature➭ Incredible bass drum sound5. Korg Volca DrumBest suited for: Producers looking for a tiny, surprisingly powerful drum machine at a ridiculously low price.From the day the Korg Volca Drum arrived at my door, it’s held a special place in my heart.This drum machine is efficient, incredibly intuitive and well designed. At first glance, this device may seem “toy-ish” given how tiny it is, but the Korg Volca Drum really packs a punch. Firstly, the sounds themselves are clean, crisp and impactful, and the wide palette of samples is really impressive given the price of this device.Speaking of the price, this has to be one of, if not
2025-04-14With Roland, and the future of music: the kids.Read more… Careers in Music: Steve Levine on Scoring for Video Games The legendary producer shares details about his workflow, describes the differences between working on games and albums, and offers tips for young composers.Read more… Listening Guide: Sounds of the JX-3P One of the most distinctive polys of the ’80s, the JX-3P is the secret sauce on tracks from movie themes to quirky indie cuts.Read more… Careers in Music: Jeff Rona on Composing for Film, TV, and Video Games The legendary composer reflects on lessons he’s learned in scoring, seminal moments in musical technology, and what makes a powerful cinematic theme.Read more… A Few Minutes with Junior Simba From Africa to the United Kingdom, eclectic dance star Junior Simba shares his passion for infusing ethnic sounds into his songcraft.Read more… Nothing Sounds Quite Like an 808: Analyzing the Sound That Changed Music Few modern electronic musical instruments have had as wide and deep an impact as the TR-808. Learn how it changed what bass can be.Read more… Hands-On: Foundations of Live Electronic Music Performance Live electronic music performance creates a unique interaction between performer and listener. Discover how it is both exciting and transformative.Read more… Scene Report: Reykjavik’s Live Electronic Performers A group of eclectic Icelandic artists offer unique perspectives on electronic music performance, their home country, and more.Read more… The TR-808 Story Welcome to the continuing story of the Roland TR-808—the most popular drum machine of all time.Read more… Sound Behind the Song: “White Eagle” by Tangerine Dream At the heart of Tangerine Dream’s hypnotic “White Eagle” lies a secret—one kept between the band and a pair of JUPITER-8s.Read more… Listening Guide: Essential Women in Hip-Hop Before hip-hop was the world's most dominant musical genre, several groundbreaking women blazed a
2025-03-27