Skip to main content

Roland reissues legendary TR-808 drum machine in a pint-sized package

Roland Boutique TR-08 Rhythm Composer
Acclaimed instrument manufacturer Roland announced plans to reissue its iconic TR-808 drum machine in a new, smaller form factor as the TR-08, a move that has musicians and producers across the globe downright giddy.
Recommended Videos

The TR-808, often referred to as simply the “808”, was originally released in 1980, and has slowly become the most important drum machine in history over the past 37 years, having been prominently used on some of the world’s best-selling recordings. Artists who have employed its classic bass drum, snare drum, and hi-hat sounds include Marvin Gaye, who famously used the machine on his early-1980s hit Sexual Healing, and Kanye West, who named an entire album, 808s and Heartbreaks, after the machine. In production circles, it is often said that no dance music album is complete without at least one 808 sound. It is a sound so ubiquitous that there is even a mobile game called TR-REC built around playing it in time.

The new TR-08 is unlike the original in that it isn’t a completely analog audio device, but it does feature what Roland calls Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology, which models each component of the analog circuit and allows the digital machine to emulate the sound of the original TR-808 with astonishing accuracy. Because it is not analog, the new drum machine features a much smaller form factor than the original, allowing producers and performers to more easily take it with them on the go.

In addition, the new TR-08 also features a built-in LED display, MIDI integration, and allows 16 sub-steps per step, offering beat-makers even more sonic possibilities.

The new 808 machine runs on four AA batteries and comes with an angled dock/stand/case for optimum comfort when programming. Another big plus is that the TR-08 will retail for $350, where original TR-808s can sell for more than $4,000 on the used instrument market. That is a far cry from the prices they fetched when it was discontinued in 1983, when original TR-808s could be had for around $100.

This is not the first time that Roland has re-released a classic piece of its drum machine history. In 2016, the company released the TR-09 in a similarly shrunk-down form factor. Roland has also reissued versions of its TB-303 bass synthesizer and VP-330 Vocoder Plus. The company has also recently expanded into the world of audio consumption, with Roland buying headphone and speaker manufacturer V-Moda a year ago.

Those interested in learning more about the new TR-08 can check out Roland’s website.

Parker Hall
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…
What is spatial audio? The 3D sound experience fully explained
Person listening to spatial audio using Apple AirPods Max headphones.

Since Apple added “spatial audio” to the Apple Music streaming service and the AirPods family of wireless earbuds and headphones in 2021, it feels like you can’t read about new audio products or services without running into that term. And just a few short years later, it’s seemingly everywhere.

This has led to a lot of misconceptions about what spatial audio is, how it works, and why you need to hear it for yourself. People often ask, “If Apple created spatial audio, why are other companies claiming they do it, too?” The answer is that Apple didn’t create it, and you certainly don’t need to own its products to experience spatial audio.

Read more
How to download music from SoundCloud on desktop and mobile
Soundcloud Interface on a Macbook.

If you’re a huge music fan, you’ve probably combed through the many playlists, artists, and albums of your Spotify or Apple Music subscription. But what about all the indie artists of the world? Some music-streaming platforms are better than others at celebrating the
‘unsung gem’ acts, but one of the most reliable forums for new, off-the-grid tunes is SoundCloud.

Founded in 2007, SoundCloud has always prioritized music that’s a bit under the radar. With over 320 million tracks in its library, the platform will even let you download a majority of its songs and albums.

Read more
The best kids headphones of 2024: for fun, safety, and sound
Two kids using the Puro Sound PuroQuiet Plus to watch something on a tablet.

Kid-friendly consumer tech is all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise that there’s an entire market of headphones designed exclusively for young ones. But when we think “kid-friendly,” sometimes we imagine products that are built to be a bit more throwaway than their adult counterparts. That’s not the case with the products on our list of the best headphones for kids, though.

We want our child-tailored headphones to include parental-controlled volume limiters, to ensure our children aren’t harming their eardrums. Pretty much every entry on our list checks this vital box, but we also wanted to point you and yours toward products that offer exceptional noise-canceling, built-in mics for phone and video calls, and long-lasting batteries for schooldays or a long flight.

Read more