Why was the Roland TR-808 drum machine so important?

Unlike most drum machines at the time, the 808 gave musicians remarkable freedom: You weren’t limited to pre-programmed rhythms or orchestrations, which meant you could fashion sounds and stack them on top of one another until you’d created something that had never been heard before.

Where did the 808 come from?

The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, commonly known as the 808, is a drum machine manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1980 and 1983. It was one of the first drum machines to allow users to program rhythms instead of using preset patterns.

Who discovered the 808?

Ikutaro Kakehashi
I want to mark the passing of a genius who changed the soundscape of popular music in the 1980’s. Ikutaro Kakehashi (1930-2017) died earlier this month at the age of 87.

What drum machine did Rick Rubin use?

808
The twenty-year-old Rick Rubin tried to replicate the experience of a hip-hop club on the T La Rock single “It’s Yours” by using an 808 in his NYU dorm room. He tweaked the bass-drum setting to widen the tone and stretch the decay, creating a new reference point for 808 users ever since.

Do people still use 808s?

When the Japanese electronics company Roland started releasing the 808 in the Eighties, the device quickly became indispensable within the burgeoning genres of hip-hop and dance music, while also adding a new texture to the world of R&B. Today, the sound of the 808 is everywhere.

Did Kanye popularize 808s?

Juice WRLD, Travis Scott, Drake and so on have all cited Kanye as a major influence for their style of music, Juice in particular, named 808s to be one of his favorite albums.

What does the number 808 mean spiritually?

In terms of romantic relationships, the 808 Angel Number means the relationship you are in or are heading towards is one that is destined to be. It is likely a highly spiritual connection that will bring great purpose and abundance with it, but we have to understand that it will require us to end a previous cycle.

When did the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer come out?

“It’s almost impossible to imagine the modern musical landscape without the distinctive sounds of the Roland TR-808 drum machine.” In 1980, the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was released as a quick and easy songwriting tool for musicians.

Who are the descendants of the Roland TR-808?

The Atlanta production duo and trap originators 808 Mafia are so reliant on the TR-808’s sound that they even named themselves after it. Their sonic heirs, including Metro Boomin and Sonny Digital, all lean on the TR-808 for platinum-selling hits.

When did Marvin Gaye use the Roland TR-808?

The TR-808’s first major use came from Japanese synthpop group Yellow Magic Orchestra, who featured the TR-808 on their 1981 record “BGM,” initially performing live with it the year prior. In 1982, Marvin Gaye was staying in Ostend, Belgium, without a band but with access to a studio of synthesizers and drum machines, including a TR-808.

What was the most popular sound of the Roland 808?

Perhaps the most important of the 808’s sounds for the emerging electronic crowd was the bass drum. This low frequency boom had nothing in common with the sound of an acoustic bass drum, but its adaptability and evocative low-end coverage have made it hugely popular in many different electronic genres.