The?Boom,?Snap,?and?Sizzle?of the?Most Famous Drum Machine Ever—Now?in?Your?DAW? The most famous drum machine ever, now in your DAW.? The TR-808 Software Synthesizer?is a?detailed?replica of the legendary TR-808—one of the most revered and sought-after electronic music?instruments of all time.?The plug-in version offers the sound and behavior of the original plus?new features that virtually modify the hardware for more sound choices and faster, more fluid programming.? ? “It’s almost impossible to imagine the modern musical landscape without the distinctive sounds of the Roland TR-808 drum machine.”—Rolling Stone?? ? A Legend in the Making? In 1980, the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was released?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, they utilized unique transistors, creating a one-of-a-kind?sound?that set the 808 in its own sonic universe.?However, it didn’t?exactly deliver “traditional” or "realistic" drum sounds,?leading to it being dismissed by?many at the time, with only about 12,000 units?ever?made.?? The Thing That Goes Boom? Once a?few adventurous musicians and producers got their hands on the TR-808 and started tweaking those knobs,?the world?began to?(literally)?feel?the impact it would leave on music forever. For decades since, the sizzling hi-hats and snappy snare, the clicky rim shot, the unmistakable cowbell, and yes—that booming bass drum—have been heard on worldwide hits and underground classics. That 8 Oh 8? Increasingly revered by musicians and producers around the globe, the TR-808’s influence only continues to grow. New musical genres make heavy use of the 808?sound, with some utilizing it as the main instrument and defining sound of the style. Its influence is so deep that it’s been name-dropped in famous songs, had albums dedicated to it,?had?bands named after it, and even?been?the subject of a feature-length documentary film.?For?some younger music fans, the 808 is no oddity—it’s simply “what drums sound like.”? ? Plug?In?Your Own TR-808? Original TR-808 units sell for?huge sums?on the used market,?and?its?sound is?often imitated with sample-packs?and knockoffs. But the 808 is a complex beast and far more than the sum of its parts.?Using our proprietary?Analog Circuit Behavior technology, we’ve painstakingly recreated the original analog circuits that are the essence of the TR-808’s sound.?Our?TR-808?plug-in?sounds identical to the original—with?all?its?nuance and detail—while?adding?some?groundbreaking?new?features:? Tuning and decay on each instrument and the ability to overdrive the internal circuitry update?the 808 for?modern?sounds? The classic 808 step sequencer?expands?with?lanes?for each?sound,?so you can program faster and more fluidly? Each pattern has eight variations?for?evolving sequences that keep things interesting? Drag and drop audio or MIDI patterns?directly from the 808 into a?project? Adjustable flams,?sub-steps, and soft hits?create detailed fills and ratcheted?sequences? Each instrument has its own “last step” and shuffle settings so you can play with timing, experiment with?complex meters, and dial in just the right groove?? ? Hardware?Integration? Our?TR-808?software instrument?integrates seamlessly with?our?TR-8S Rhythm Performer?and TR-08?Roland Boutique?hardware.?Transfer?TR-8S patterns directly?into the TR-808 plug-in or create beats on the go and send them back to the hardware.?Or?you can use the TR-8S or TR-08?for?direct hands-on control?of the plug-in.? ? Join?Roland Cloud?today?for?the famous boom and sizzle of the 808 along with a host of other?legendary Roland?instruments.?Curious to hear what came after the 808? Check out its?equally?influential?sibling?and a dance music staple: the?TR-909.??