Talking Synths, Episode 89: The Roland TR-808

Talking Synths is a bi-weekly podcast where Syntaur's crew chats about all manner of synthology. In this episode of Talking Synths, Sam and Lucas bring out the legendary Roland TR-808 analog drum machine to celebrate 808 day. Then they compare it with a newer Roland TR-8 to see the pros and cons a few decades can make. Grab all your synthesizer parts - new and vintage - at Syntaur.com!
Roland TR-808 Parts:
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[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

Great stuff, but the coffee right in the middle of the vintage gear 🙀

[@tekvax01]

I love the 808 and the 303 sound! So amazing and so 80s and 90s!

[@MysticFrequencies]

Time Base was used more in TV and video to help keep mechanical based sources such as VTR/VCR's synced. The mechanical aspect of videotape hardware (and other gear) makes them inherently inconsistent although not so noticeable by a person, the minute inconsistencies make syncing, especially video frame rates etc difficult. Time Base help keep things synced. An example: A TV station crossfading from one video source to another, today its nothing since a computer easily does this, but back in the day, you have 2 mechanical hardware sources with gears, bullies, spinning heads etc, Time Base kept them synths so you had smooth flicker free video transition since the frames are all lined up and synced together. This is just one example, there are many applications.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

DIN sync does in fact use all five pins in the connector. So if you have a cheap MIDI cable that is only passing through the three pins in use, it will not work for DIN sync.

[@-IFFTI-]

The 808 kick is a more addictive drug than cocaine. 😵‍💫

[@MysticFrequencies]

The Roland TR08 is not analog, it is digital and uses Roland's new ACB modelling engine (Analogue Circuit Behaviour). Basically it digitally re-creates the analog behavior of the original 808.

[@truthseeker3907]

Thank you Sam and Lucas!👍

[@destroythingsbeautiful]

I though the transistor story had been debunked a while back as there is different ones in some 808's and recent work by Din-Sync shows you can easily still acquire all the parts required.

[@klaasj7808]

No late 1983/early 84 changed alot in semiconductor world. Production quality became better

[@drstupid1]

Elektron gear (analog four etc) has a setting to translate MIDI to din sync that works perfectly

[@meneerjansen00]

Could you post a link to site where you explain how you made the 808 sounds on the Bass Staion synth? Or better: make a video on it! I wanna do that too.

[@eldjmasterfreddy4366]

Great Machine Lots of House Music & Hip Hop was created with it in Chicago and New York. Planet Rock (Africa Bambata) still an awesome 808 Beat. Chicago House TR 909, TB 303 Acid House and TR 808

[@Noise-Conductor]

Great video... But who else couldn't take their eyes off that cup in the middle of all that great gear. Cups & gear don't mix.

[@frilansspion]

What happened to Carlos??

[@group-music]

You guys should do your homework first. The TR-808 was released in 1980 not '81. The Roland TR-08 is not analogue, it uses ACB modelling and is very much digital. The SH-101 was released in 1981 not '80. The Roland CR-78 from 1978 was the first commercially available programmable drum machine. You can record a drum part into a pattern on the TR-808 using the "tap" button. The trigger outs on the TR-808 are Accent, Cowbell and Clap. You can also trigger things with some audio outs if they are loud and sharp, such as the rim shot. The Roland TR-8 does not replicate the 808 and 909 using samples. It also uses ACB analogue modelling technology, which is digital. You can't make an 808 cowbell on a Juno 106 because it has only one oscillator, not the two you say it has.

[@FLH3official]

8th of August, OK, great, but what about September 9th, May 5th, July 7th and June 6th? Any International Day Of X-0-X? I propose to chose one Thurday in decembeR to celebrate ALL-THE-TRs.

[@hazegreen1896]

the TR-808 has a tap button

[@ratmadness4858]

just ran a search for 808 in Reason 10 Reason sounds, found 21 references

[@LousyFacelift]

The new Roland boxes (TR 8, TR 8S, TR 6S, TR 08) are all digital. The Behringer remake RD 8 (MK II) is analog.

[@maikhock2847]

RD 8 is dope!

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

TR-08 AINT Analog ;)

[@tekvax01]

Maybe drink the coffee after the production is over, and keep the coffee off camera and off the desk... So unprofessional looking... I've repaired far too much coffee-damaged equipment over the years... :( Otherwise, please keep up the great work guys! Sorry, just feeling a bit triggered over here, when I see coffee on the desk...

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I was actually thinking the same thing, the constant drinking of coffee and water bottle on camera looks really unprofessional.

[@group-music]

Yes, I have had a synth ruined when my band's singer put his glass of whiskey on my synth and then knocked it over.

[@kid_missive]

What does analog really mean? If you are making a comparison with a vacuum tube, then a transistor is very much a digital thing.

[@DanielBull]

Whilst transistors are mostly associated with digital in recent times they can be used in both analogue and digital circuits. Think of an old school transistor radio, that is very much analog.