But I know y'all wanted that 808
August 8, 2017 8:49 AM Subscribe
Roland has brought back the TR-808 as the TR-08. Compacter, lighter, portable, and most importantly much cheaper than second hand versions of the original. The new variant is slated to hit the shelves with a USB interface to slot into a modern setup and for only $349, about a third of the typical asking price of an original 808 on eBay.
Now everyone will be able to have authentic drum lines for their Marvin Gaye covers!
Yung Daniel in the 80s: I am so excited for the glorious synth future
2017: Here is yet another digitally emulated version of something from the 80s, but twist, your body is 2x bigger now so we made the knobs smaller
posted by thedaniel at 8:54 AM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
2017: Here is yet another digitally emulated version of something from the 80s, but twist, your body is 2x bigger now so we made the knobs smaller
posted by thedaniel at 8:54 AM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
Everyone -- well, Roland and Korg -- has brought back "compacter" versions of damn near everything. You can get a new little 909. You can get a new Korg MS-20 with minikeys. You can get a new ARP Odyssey standalone module.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:59 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by Sys Rq at 8:59 AM on August 8, 2017
Is this the thread where we post our favorite 808 tracks? Hello, Brooklyn!
They also just announced the SH-01, which will be their little SH-101.
I don't know, I don't like how everything is so small these days. It feels like a dumb thing to complain about when there's this great selection of relatively affordable stuff (and I have a small apartment, so you'd think I'd prefer small stuff), but I'm not keen on fiddling with tiny little sliders and stuff. I won't be able to afford any new instruments for a very long time, but there's other stuff I'd buy before getting one of these.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:05 AM on August 8, 2017
They also just announced the SH-01, which will be their little SH-101.
I don't know, I don't like how everything is so small these days. It feels like a dumb thing to complain about when there's this great selection of relatively affordable stuff (and I have a small apartment, so you'd think I'd prefer small stuff), but I'm not keen on fiddling with tiny little sliders and stuff. I won't be able to afford any new instruments for a very long time, but there's other stuff I'd buy before getting one of these.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:05 AM on August 8, 2017
Not to totally crap on this Front Page Press Release, but Roland recently cracked down on other emulations of it's hardware, most notably Propellerheads' beloved ReBirth, even though Rebirth had been around in one form or another since 1999.
posted by Catblack at 9:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Catblack at 9:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
"Wee ore the aite-oh-aite,
Wee ore the central shaft
And we are here to let you
Take advantage of
Our lack of craft "
(Looking for a certain ratioh-oh-oh . . . )
posted by Herodios at 9:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Wee ore the central shaft
And we are here to let you
Take advantage of
Our lack of craft "
(Looking for a certain ratioh-oh-oh . . . )
posted by Herodios at 9:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Catblack, wow, that sucks. I can't say Roland is morally wrong here, but that stuff was fun.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:17 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:17 AM on August 8, 2017
I know it's a front page press release but for me the 808 has always been about the democratizing effect that it had on music. This is especially so in the hip-hop communities where scraping together twelve hundred bucks for a 909 was utterly impossible. Being able to pull an 808 from a pawn shop fairly cheaply gave voice and creativity in a world where technology wasn't as nearly as ubiquitous as it is today.
posted by Talez at 9:18 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by Talez at 9:18 AM on August 8, 2017
We used to have two budgies named Korg and Alesis. I don't know why the name Roland didn't occur to us.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:18 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:18 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a musical gear shop near where I'm currently working. I have so far managed to resist buying the TB-03 (the same deal, only for the TB-303, the silver acid-bassline box)...
posted by acb at 9:20 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by acb at 9:20 AM on August 8, 2017
Not to totally crap on this Front Page Press Release, but Roland recently cracked down on other emulations of it's hardware, most notably Propellerheads' beloved ReBirth, even though Rebirth had been around in one form or another since 1999.
If they come after TAL I fucking swear...
posted by atoxyl at 9:28 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
If they come after TAL I fucking swear...
posted by atoxyl at 9:28 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a musical gear shop near where I'm currently working. I have so far managed to resist buying the TB-03 (the same deal, only for the TB-303, the silver acid-bassline box)...
posted by acb at 9:20 AM on August 8
Eponyemulation
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:32 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by acb at 9:20 AM on August 8
Eponyemulation
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 9:32 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
/puts on "Planet Rock"
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:33 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:33 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Aww yeah. Looking forward to this.
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:47 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:47 AM on August 8, 2017
If they come after TAL I fucking swear...
Ira Glass will unleash his fury upon the knock-offs
posted by Beardman at 10:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Ira Glass will unleash his fury upon the knock-offs
posted by Beardman at 10:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
non-music-gear-nerd question, is this thing just a bunch of knobs with a hopped up version of SPICE under the hood?
posted by Dr. Twist at 10:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 10:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder what IP Roland is accusing ReBirth of infringing? It can't be the electronic design and there are no samples in the original. I don't know enough about the architecture of the original, but even if it has code in it it wouldn't be applicable to, or necessary for, an emulator. So I can only think that it's the physical layout of the controls. Which would be trivial to change (and if you were feeling snarky enough, you could create a skinnable interface so people could just slap the original graphics back on again.)
So my strong suspicion is that this is not a genuine IP infringement, but rather the ever-popular you'd-win-but-you'd-be-bankrupt card. Which is always a jerk move, but doubly so in this case because ReBirth and its ilk have done decades of free marketing for Roland, which it has been happy to accept.
posted by Devonian at 10:22 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
So my strong suspicion is that this is not a genuine IP infringement, but rather the ever-popular you'd-win-but-you'd-be-bankrupt card. Which is always a jerk move, but doubly so in this case because ReBirth and its ilk have done decades of free marketing for Roland, which it has been happy to accept.
posted by Devonian at 10:22 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Where is the price? I don't see it on Roland's site.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:36 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:36 AM on August 8, 2017
I meant this TAL, by the way (a small developer with very solid pure Juno-60 and SH-101 emus). I'm not sure what the legal precedents are concerning this, either - I'm guessing it's the appearance and use of the name that are most legitimately an issue. I know some plugin devs prefer to play a bit coy with one or both when they're treading near a big player like Roland or Korg.
posted by atoxyl at 10:47 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by atoxyl at 10:47 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've got Rebirth for iOS, but I'd much rather Propellerhead spend their software department energy fiiiiiinally updating the could-be-world-beating Thor app instead of beating that very, very so very tired old #0# horse.
posted by sonascope at 10:57 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sonascope at 10:57 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Or I mean - I don't know what the law is concerning software derived from reverse-engineering hardware, but you have some plausible deniability if you don't use the name. Especially because Juno/101-era stuff uses third-party ICs for some functionality.
posted by atoxyl at 11:06 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by atoxyl at 11:06 AM on August 8, 2017
I almost want to get one to play with along with the x0xb0x I built (bonus: not small), but it would probably just give it company sitting in the back of the closet.
posted by exogenous at 11:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by exogenous at 11:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
The boutiques are tiny little packages of pure joy. They look well built when I saw them a few weeks ago. And they seem pretty good sounding from what I've heard so far.
posted by symbioid at 11:43 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by symbioid at 11:43 AM on August 8, 2017
Oh, man, I want the TR-08 and SH-01A, but I don't have the scratch, and even if I did, it would just join the pile of music hardware and software I don't use except just to make various weird noises since I can't actually play anything.
posted by SansPoint at 12:38 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 12:38 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Still waiting for the CR-78 CompuRhythm to come back. Love that thing.
Also I'd like Novation to resurrect the Wasp, given that they keep boasting how their head synth designer worked on that in the late 70s. It's even been showing up on their booths at trade shows and god knows where they are finding working Wasps if they aren't making them on the sly.
posted by w0mbat at 12:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also I'd like Novation to resurrect the Wasp, given that they keep boasting how their head synth designer worked on that in the late 70s. It's even been showing up on their booths at trade shows and god knows where they are finding working Wasps if they aren't making them on the sly.
posted by w0mbat at 12:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Behringer, which seems to be one step behind Roland and Korg at all times these days, is teasing a more limited but somehow more failthful SH-101 clone.
posted by w0mbat at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by w0mbat at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
w0mbat: If they make a new Wasp, I hope it's a bit more water-tight. Allegedly, Devo's shorted itself out after sweat got under the touch-sensitive keyboard and it began to play itself.
posted by SansPoint at 1:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by SansPoint at 1:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I used to have a Jupiter 8, and then it went away.
Imagine being in the condition of once having a Jupiter 8, and not having one now.
My heart is heavy.
posted by Devonian at 1:41 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Imagine being in the condition of once having a Jupiter 8, and not having one now.
My heart is heavy.
posted by Devonian at 1:41 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
SansPoint
It's more that the Wasp touch keyboard is prone to that when there are big changes in heat or humidity. There's a sensitivity knob by the keys you can tweak to find the sweet spot between some notes not working and it playing itself. My Wasp is beyond tweaking now though and just has a section of dead keys.
posted by w0mbat at 1:43 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's more that the Wasp touch keyboard is prone to that when there are big changes in heat or humidity. There's a sensitivity knob by the keys you can tweak to find the sweet spot between some notes not working and it playing itself. My Wasp is beyond tweaking now though and just has a section of dead keys.
posted by w0mbat at 1:43 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
"that they keep boasting how their head synth designer worked on"
How dare you. Chris Huggett is a synth engineer god who deserves to be up there with the big ones (who egotistically stamped their names on their instruments), who designed the Wasp (to a sadly mid-seventies trademark British low build standard, but remember, it was the era when the Triumph TR7 was a thing), before going on to co-design the monster monosynth, OSCar, write the OS for the world-changing Akai S1000, and design the synth that pretty much single-handedly launched the analogue revival in 1993.
Worked on? Sheesh.
posted by sonascope at 2:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
How dare you. Chris Huggett is a synth engineer god who deserves to be up there with the big ones (who egotistically stamped their names on their instruments), who designed the Wasp (to a sadly mid-seventies trademark British low build standard, but remember, it was the era when the Triumph TR7 was a thing), before going on to co-design the monster monosynth, OSCar, write the OS for the world-changing Akai S1000, and design the synth that pretty much single-handedly launched the analogue revival in 1993.
Worked on? Sheesh.
posted by sonascope at 2:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
@ w0mbat; check out the TT78 if you want a CR78 re-issue. I've had the original and am happier with the TT. It's much easier to use in a modern setup and while it isn't an exact clone it's closer to a CR78 in spirit than the TR8 or TR08 will be to an 808.
posted by Kosmob0t at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by Kosmob0t at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017
Not to totally crap on this Front Page Press Release…
Too late.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:17 PM on August 8, 2017
Too late.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:17 PM on August 8, 2017
It looks like Roland's legal department hasn't yet gotten around to taking down Limor “LadyAda” Fried's x0xb0x page. Quick: download the PCB files and bill of materials before they notice!
(There is no 808 clone, presumably at least partly due to the unavailability of the right kind of defective transistors.)
posted by acb at 4:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
(There is no 808 clone, presumably at least partly due to the unavailability of the right kind of defective transistors.)
posted by acb at 4:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
"everyone will be able to have authentic drum lines"
Maybe I'll get back here after I try to digest that thought.
I bet that with the right shopping chops, an authentic drum kit could be had used for less. What with soundfonts & all ...
Or maybe just muddle through without. Like Shadow and Endtroducing.
posted by Twang at 6:18 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe I'll get back here after I try to digest that thought.
I bet that with the right shopping chops, an authentic drum kit could be had used for less. What with soundfonts & all ...
Or maybe just muddle through without. Like Shadow and Endtroducing.
posted by Twang at 6:18 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe I'll get back here after I try to digest that thought.
try the end of it? "....for their Marvin Gaye covers"
posted by thelonius at 6:33 PM on August 8, 2017
try the end of it? "....for their Marvin Gaye covers"
posted by thelonius at 6:33 PM on August 8, 2017
I am a prooooooud SH101 owner, a red one with the original modgrip, but... patch memories? 4-voice poly? That's some tasty business right there. I mean, the A$ RRP will be in the $5-600 zone, but that's still some nice synthesis for the money.
posted by prismatic7 at 6:36 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by prismatic7 at 6:36 PM on August 8, 2017
w0mbat: Hm. In this interview, Mark blames it on the stage lights. Can't find the interview where Jerry blamed the sweat, but either way, it's interesting!
posted by SansPoint at 6:52 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by SansPoint at 6:52 PM on August 8, 2017
Behringer, which seems to be one step behind Roland and Korg at all times these days
Behringer are unlikely to care about being late. Their deal is making whatever things people are looking for half to one third cheaper at the expense of not being built as well, cutting out minor features, and not being exact replicas, but still close enough for people to use it without giving it much thought.
posted by lmfsilva at 8:50 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Behringer are unlikely to care about being late. Their deal is making whatever things people are looking for half to one third cheaper at the expense of not being built as well, cutting out minor features, and not being exact replicas, but still close enough for people to use it without giving it much thought.
posted by lmfsilva at 8:50 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Via a post in the (private) Synth Memes fb group:
What is my purpose?
posted by thedaniel at 5:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
What is my purpose?
posted by thedaniel at 5:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't know, I don't like how everything is so small these days...
My back is sore, just gimme the mini-keys.
posted by ovvl at 4:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
My back is sore, just gimme the mini-keys.
posted by ovvl at 4:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
My back is sore, just gimme the mini-keys.
I heralded the advent of the QuNexus with giddy dancing and maraca-like shaking of my bottle of ibuprofen.
posted by sonascope at 3:12 PM on August 11, 2017
I heralded the advent of the QuNexus with giddy dancing and maraca-like shaking of my bottle of ibuprofen.
posted by sonascope at 3:12 PM on August 11, 2017
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posted by Talez at 8:49 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]