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Few instruments have left a bigger impact on music than the Roland TR-808. Known for its signature boom, snap, and sizzle, the 808 helped define the sound of entire genres, from hip-hop, trap, and pop to house, techno, and electro. What started as a commercial flop has since become one of the most iconic drum machines of all time, inspiring generations of producers, beatmakers, and engineers.
With only about 12,000 units ever produced, original Roland TR-808s are often hard to find and cost upwards of $5,000. So in honor of August 8th, better known to music-lovers as 808 Day, we’re rounding up the best 808-style drum machines on the market today. But first, let’s take a quick look at the history of the legendary TR-808 drum machine.
In 1980, the drum machine world split into two distinct paths. On one side, premium units like the Linn LM-1 and Oberheim DMX used digital samples of real drums; a cutting-edge approach that came with a hefty $5,000 price tag. On the other hand, Roland's TR-808 took a different route entirely, using analog synthesis to create drum-like sounds at a fraction of the cost.
What seemed like a budget compromise would ultimately become the machine's greatest strength. Its "out-of-spec" transistors gave its sounds a gritty, unpredictable character (even inspiring the "TR" for Transistor Rhythm). Yet these same quirks led to its demise: as transistor quality improved, Roland couldn’t source enough "flawed" ones to keep production going, discontinuing the TR-808 in 1983.
Check out the full history of the Roland TR-808 on our blog.
At its core, the Roland TR-808 was deceptively simple—an analog drum machine with 16 distinct drum sounds, including bass drum, snare, claps, hi-hats, cymbals, and toms. Its 32-step pattern sequencer allowed users to program grooves with precision and store up to 32 user patterns, providing a surprisingly flexible canvas for building tracks.
There are a lot of 808-style drum machines on the market today, but if you’re searching for the most authentic recreation, look no further than the originators themselves. Roland offers a number of 808-inspired devices, from faithful replicas of the original to modern reinterpretations with new features.
The Roland TR-08 is the closest thing you’ll find to a vintage TR-808 on the market today. This ultra-compact recreation nails the sound, feel, and hands-on workflow of the original, while adding modern upgrades like compressor, gain, tuning, and pan controls on select instruments.
The 16-step sequencer features 16 sub-steps for intricate patterns and rapid-fire rolls, adding new functionality to the original design. Plus, with 10 separate outputs via USB, MIDI I/O for connecting with your favorite devices, and a powerful built-in speaker, the TR-08 is equally at home in a studio, onstage, or on the go.
If you’re looking for a feature-packed drum machine that includes sounds from some of Roland's most popular devices, check out the TR-8S. Part of Roland’s TR series, this Rhythm Performer is packed with the most authentic collection of TR drum machines ever, including meticulously modeled versions of the 808, 606, 909, 707, and 727, plus a few custom mods.
With advanced sequencing capabilities, extensive sound shaping controls, and built-in effects including reverb, delay, compression, and distortion, the TR-8s has everything you need to start making music right out of the box.
Don’t let its compact size fool you, the TR-6S packs the iconic punch of Roland's classic drum machines into a portable, six-track format that’s perfect for making beats on the go. You still get legendary sounds from the 808, 909, 707, and 606, plus custom samples, FM tones, and onboard effects, all at a more accessible price point.
For producers who want to build complete tracks, the MC-707 is a powerful all-in-one creative hub. This versatile groovebox combines the iconic sounds of the TR-808, TR-909, TB-303, JUNO-106, and SH-101 with an advanced synthesis engine, onboard sampling, and eight tracks of clip-based sequencing. It's essentially an entire studio in a single unit, complete with studio-grade effects and a curated library of loops and phrases to jumpstart your creativity.
A smaller, more portable version of the MC-707, the MC-101 is packed with the same signature sounds found in its larger sibling, including the TR-808, TR-909, JUNO-106, and SH-101. While it's slimmed down to four tracks, the MC-101 still delivers pro-grade sequencing, sampling, and effects in a package that fits in your backpack.
Roland’s most compact and affordable 808-style drum machine yet, the AIRA T-8 Beat Machine gives you Roland's "greatest hits" in a portable, performance-ready format. With six drum tracks based on sounds from the TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, and one bass track drawn from the TB-303, it's like having your own personal digital rhythm section in your bag.
While they are the originators, Roland isn’t the only brand out here making drum machines inspired by the legendary TR-808.
Behringer's RD-8 MKII delivers a modern twist on the classic 808 formula while staying true to its analog soul. At its core is a faithful reproduction of the 662 OTA chip, delivering the signature boom, snap, and sizzle that made the original famous.
With 16 punchy drum sounds, a powerful 64-step sequencer, a Wave Designer for shaping dynamics, and a dual-mode filter for sweeping, hands-on control, the RD-8 captures the essence of the original TR-808 for just over $300.
While it's technically not a direct 808 clone, Korg’s Volca Beats wears its inspiration on its sleeve. Korg's clever hybrid approach pairs six essential analog voices (kick, snare, toms, and hats) with lo-fi PCM samples for claps and crashes, nailing that gritty '80s drum machine character.
For all of our synth heads out there, Tiptop Audio offers a series of 808-inspired Eurorack modules that allow you to create your own custom drum machine by mixing and matching modules.
The crown jewel of any 808-inspired setup, this module nails that iconic sub-shaking boom with authentic analog circuitry.
This module delivers the signature 808 snare with adjustable snappy attack, tonal body, and that signature white noise sizzle that cuts through any mix.
From tight, closed ticks to washy, open sizzles, this module perfectly captures the 808's metallic hat character with voltage-controlled decay for dynamic rhythmic expression.
The unsung hero of the 808 family, this module delivers both the woody rimshot knock and those percussive clav tones that add organic texture to electronic beats.
Complete your 808 percussion section with this module's authentic analog recreation of those shaker and maraca sounds that add crucial high-end movement to grooves.
Roland’s official TR-808 plug-in nails the sound, look, and feel of the original. It’s a real-deal 808, rebuilt in software form with modern workflow enhancements like DAW integration, pattern chaining, and MIDI drag-and-drop.
The TR-808 Software Rhythm Composer is also available as part of the Roland Drum Machine Collection, which includes the TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, TR-707, and TR-727.
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