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Library / Drum machines / Entry

Illustration of the TR-808 on a red surface

Roland
TR-808

Analog drum machine · 1980 · Illustration, not a photo

Spec sheet

Maker
Roland1
Released
198021Roland's support spec sheet is headed 1981–19833
Successor
TR-909 (1983)4
Sound
Analog synthesis1
Sequencer
16 steps316 step keys; a measure can run to 32 steps
Voices
16 instruments3Five pairs share a channel and a switch picks one: conga or tom (three pairs), claves or rim shot, maracas or clap
Outputs
Master + 11 individual3Master out (high and low level), 11 multi outs, 3 trigger outs
Sync
DIN sync in/out3Start/stop, ground and clock on a DIN socket; no MIDI, which reached Roland's drum machines with the TR-9094

Hear it

Samples recorded by XLR · to be made
  • Kick
  • Snare
  • Clap
  • Cowbell
  • Closed hat
  • Open hat
  • Tom
  • Cymbal

Roland released the TR-808 in 19802 and followed it with the TR-909 in 19834. The sections below cover its sounds and its panel; the full story is being written.

Draft · the Library script writes this section

The story · How it was made · Who played it · Why it sounds the way it does. Each claim cites its source; the editor checks before it goes live.

Illustration of the TR-808 with numbered callouts

Anatomy

  1. 1

    Step buttons

    Sixteen keys, one per step of the bar.31

  2. 2

    Instrument controls

    A level for each voice; tone, tuning, decay or snappy on some.3

  3. 3

    Tempo & master

    Tempo with a fine control, and the master volume.3

  4. 4

    Mode & pattern

    Write, play and chain patterns into rhythm tracks.3

Callout positions are approximate, on an illustration

808 in the news

From the live feed

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Relatives

Compare TR-808 with TR-909 →
19815TR-606
19834TR-909
19856TR-707
CourseLearn: writing music

Sources

  1. The TR-808 Story, Roland Corporation1980; analog synthesis; a row of 16 step buttons · checked 2026-10-07
  2. Our History, Roland CorporationFounded in Osaka, 1972; TR-808, 1980 · checked 2026-10-07
  3. TR-808: Technical Specifications, Roland Supportinstruments, step keys, outputs, DIN sync. Read through the Internet Archive copy of 2026-09-03; the live page refuses automated readers · checked 2026-10-07
  4. The TR-909 Story, Roland Corporationsuccessor to the TR-808, 1983; analog drums with digital hi-hats and cymbals; Roland's first drum machine with MIDI; 16-step sequencer · checked 2026-10-07
  5. TR-606 (Roland Cloud), Roland Corporationprogrammable drum machine released in 1981 · checked 2026-10-07
  6. TR-707 (Roland Cloud), Roland Corporationreleased 1985; uses the original TR-707 sample ROM · checked 2026-10-07