Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer

TR-808 in a Boutique Series Module
Roland's TR-08 reimagines the world's most famous drum machine as a Boutique Series module. Fire it up, and you'll experience the same sizzling hi-hats, snappy snare, clicky rimshot, and unmistakable cowbell as the original. And yes — the legendary bass drum is in there in all its booming glory. But the TR-08 is more than a simple retread of a vintage 808. It also adds modern touches to the classic formula, like a sequencer with 16 sub-steps per step, a track-selectable trigger out, an unobtrusive LED display, and USB-MIDI. The TR-08 is the perfect blend of obsessive attention to detail, respect for legacy, and modern performance.


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The TR-808 — legendary boom and sizzle
For the TR-08, Roland modeled their legendary TR-808 right down to the component level using their proprietary Analog Circuit Behavior technology. The TR-808 was originally introduced in 1980 as an easy-to-program drum machine. Unfortunately, its unrealistic drum sounds were a bit more than the establishment could handle, and the 808 was discontinued in 1983. But then hip-hop crawled out from the underground, and the TR-808's robotic rhythms and speaker-blowing bass drum were elevated to mythical status. After it hit the mainstream, the 808 was featured prominently in recordings made by artists such as Marvin Gaye ("Sexual Healing") and Afrika Bambaataa ("Planet Rock"). These days, the TR-808 is a staple in electronic, dance, and hip-hop genres.

The original Roland TR-808.

A vintage drum machine for modern beat makers
The original TR-808 is a classic, but its limited feature set restricts its usefulness — especially for modern music production. The TR-08 expands on the original's performance with practical modern touches. Its 16-step sequencer has 16 sub-steps, allowing you to create detailed snare fills and intricate hi-hat rolls. A track-selectable trigger out makes integrating the TR-08 with your other electronic instruments easy. An unobtrusive LED display yields fine control over tempo and shuffle. You also have compression, gain, tune, and pan for selected instruments and can step-program or tap in your parts in real time without changing modes. At Sweetwater, we especially appreciate how the TR-08 sends and receives MIDI control messages for everything. There's even USB-MIDI!


The original TR-808 has been used by:

Marvin Gaye
Yellow Magic Orchestra
The Monitors
Plastics
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force
Beastie Boys
Run-D.M.C.
LL Cool J
Public Enemy
The Bomb Squad
Strafe
Shannon
Whitney Houston
Rick Rubin
Phil Collins
Nine Inch Nails
Kanye West
Damon Albam
Diplo
Fatboy Slim
Talking Heads
David Guetta
New Order
Lil Wayne


Roland TR-08 Features:

Re-creation of the classic TR-808 drum machine using proprietary Analog Circuit Behavior technology
Provides hands-on control over tone, level, tuning, and decay
Compression, gain, tune, and pan for selected instruments
Step-program or tap in parts in real time without changing modes
16-step sequencer with 16 sub-steps for creating detailed patterns and rolls
LED display yields fine control over tempo and shuffle
10 separate audio outputs over USB and USB-MIDI
Track-selectable trigger out for easy integration with your other electronic instruments
Includes a DK-01 Boutique Dock for multiple-angle viewing
Highly portable with durable metal front panel
Built-in powered mini-speaker for mobile listening
Compatible with Roland Boutique Series accessories (sold separately)


Tech Specs

Type
Drum Composer/Sequencer


Sounds
Bass drum, Snare, Low conga/tom, Mid conga/tom, Hi conga/tom, Claves, Rim shot, Maracas, Hand clap, Cow bell, Cymbal, Hi-ht


Patterns
16 banks (12 x 16 patterns, 4 x 16 intro/fills


Sequencer
16-steps, 16 sub-steps


Effects Types
Compression


Pads
16 x trigger buttons


Analog Inputs
1 x 1/8" (mix in)


Analog Outputs
1 x 1/8" (output), 1 x 1/8" (headphones)


MIDI I/O
In/Out


Other I/O
1 x 1/8" (trigger out)


USB
1 x Type Micro-B


Power
4 x AA bateries / USB bus power


Height
2.06"


Depth
5.12"


Width
12.12"


Weight
2 lbs. 14 oz.


Manufacturer Part Number
TR-08


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