Roland TR-808

[The End]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_TR-808

This is today's (Oct. 17, 2017) Featured Article. I'm curious has to Eric's opinion on this since this the article's subject is in his area of expertise.

[ericbarbour]

I've seen far better FAs--this is pathetic.

The 808 is so damn hot that original ones in excellent shape can sell for upwards of $7500. And despite being a really primitive drumbox, there are companies today making clones of its drum circuits. It's one of the most ripped-off devices ever made. All because early hip-hop and "acid" hits used it. This is only a PARTIAL list of the clones, and doesn't even mention the dozens of software emulations:

http://www.tiptopaudio.com/bd808.php
http://www.tiptopaudio.com/sd808.php
http://www.tiptopaudio.com/ht808.php
http://www.tiptopaudio.com/cb808.php
http://www.tiptopaudio.com/rs808.php
http://www.tiptopaudio.com/ma808.php
http://www.doepfer.de/a117.htm
https://delptronics.com/ldb1e.php
https://mutable-instruments.net/modules/peaks/
https://www.errorinstruments.com/a-4707 ... onic-drum/
http://www.hexinverter.net/mutant-drums/
http://www.acidlab.de/

Roland themselves introduced a bad imitation, based on a DSP chip -- it is selling like hotcakes anyway.
https://www.roland.com/us/products/tr-8/

The TB-303 is receiving similar "treatment".

[Graaf Statler]

As far I can see it's build up with quite simple parts like opamps, pnp and npn transistors, and some components like diodes, resistors, etc. It looks to me as a few sinus generators. (By the way, I love opamps.) What makes this so special, Eric?

[ericbarbour]

As far I can see it's build up with quite simple parts like opamps, pnp and npn transistors, and some components like diodes, resistors, etc. It looks to me as a few sinus generators. (By the way, I love opamps.) What makes this so special, Eric?

There really isn't anything "special" to it except for one thing. Roland themselves no longer has any interest in making real analog synths. All their recent products have been "virtual analog" emulations using cheap DSPs. None of them are really exact emulations, but the companies figure most of the customers are too stupid to notice, and usually they are right. But that has fueled a booming subculture of "real analog" manufacturers. Hundreds of them.

It is purely a financial consideration. When Roland reintroduced some of their old analog modules (due to popular demand), they had to hire a subcontractor to build the stuff. Korg and Yamaha are also playing that "game". In-house products are most-or-all digital and the "analog stuff" their customers actually want are usually made outside. Pathetic.
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2015/ ... ystem-500/

The big Japanese firms in every field are starting to feel the pinch of Chinese manufacturers who can beat them pricewise. It's almost killed Japan's consumer electronics and pro-audio manufacturing and now the Chinese are going after the specialist businesses. Japan used to be a major maker of test equipment and that's dying; next up will be the industrial robot market.

[Graaf Statler]

It was the perfect building quality what made this kind of equipment special. I my time a roady in Germany I have repaired many equipment like this. Many It was the same problem. Transistors and elco's in this kind of equipment, EL34's and elco's in the Fender tube amplifiers of the guitarists, and plugs. Yes, in that time it was the work of the roady's, to get the machines on working. And I also have replaced many broken springs (transport) and loops in echo machines. We just cuts a piece of normal tape for a loop, worked exacte one concert. Roady's were half technicians and sound engineers. Yes, those were the days, my friend! It was all improvisation.

In this way I came in the stand building, after I have been a short time sound recording technician. Yeh, it was a strange life.