Roland TR-808 & TR-909 - So it begins

2010

The TR-909 was introduced in 1983 and produced only to 1985. Its architecture is hybrid, analogue voices for most sounds but the first Roland drum machine to use samples, for the crash, ride and hi-hats. It sold poorly against competitors offering more realistic sampled drums, and the discontinued stock reaching the second-hand market cheap is what put it in the hands of producers who could not afford studio time.