TR-808 History // WHY SO EXPENSIVE!? + Blindfold Test w/ TR-6S

WHY SO EXPENSIVE!?

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CONTENT OF THE VIDEO:

0:00 Intro
1:57 What to expect in this video
2:43 Pricing
4:14 Why so expensive!?
4:45 Design + Workflow
8:49 Exporting Options
9:55 Analog Circuitry Behaviour
12:04 BLINDFOLD TEST!
14:14 My DIstroKid streaming stats
15:02 Outro

Roland TR-808 famous patterns:

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TR-808 // WHY SO EXPENSIVE!? History + Blindfold Test w/ TR-6S

Let's explore some 808 history and why this thing is so damn expensive as well as a blindfold test comparison with one of Roland's current and cheapest models, the TR-6S. Think you'll be able to tell the difference?

Shoutout to (at) alliebrowniest (Instagram) for the animations!

#808 #drummachine #roland #tutorial

[LiamKillen]

Interested in purchasing the TR-6S/8S? Help keep this channel going while you're at it with the
Perfect Circuit affiliate links listed below! I make a small commission at no additional cost to you:

[Lex_Juno]

In all those blind tests I always like the TR-6s better 😀 So now I got one one!

[kvmoore]

I have an original TR808 and have once owned a Roland TR-8 so it was fairly easy for me to pick out the original 808 in the blind test. One thing that clearly gave it away was the sound of the hihats. I like the hihats on the TR808 better.

[cooloutbeats]

Nice video. Here's a couple of additions and corrections.
1. Although the TR-808 was pre-midi, it used Roland's Sync-24 protocol that also had the same 5-pin DIN plug. Plenty of later devices had BOTH din sync-24 and midi to bridge between the two types of sync like the TR-909, 707, 727, Roland's SBX sync boxes and even some MPCs. I have fond memories of jamming with friends using an TR-808, with a 909, 707, or 727 providing the master clock, and MIDI syncing a newer Yamaha or Korg machine. Everyone on separate drum machines like an electronic drum circle.
2. The TR-808 can shift the scale to triplet shuffle, which gives you an ultra-swinging beat. Think swing stuck cranked all the way up.
3. If you want the retro experience, Roland still makes a Boutique version of the 808, the TR-08, which has the ACB tech, but works nearly exactly like an original TR-808. It's larger the 6S, but still 1/3 the size of the original TR-808.

[patrickhowes]

Super interesting. Thanks for this. And yes, more info on ACB would also be interesting!

[MRGOOSE]

This was a great video. I guess I had always wondered what a "REAL" 808 sounds like but never thought the comparison would be possible

[MrJonBertsch]

Wonder if fpga chips can be used to reproduce these vintage circuits?

[savnac]

I would grab a TR-8S, but I just love my Digitakt too much :’)

I can feel the analog character on the 808 only some times, but it’s so slight. Getting the 808 today should be more for its collectors value than its functionality since it’s clear what it does is done good enough by other machines. :)

[Ashfaq]

Great video. Had an original 808 back in the 80’s & early 90’s but sold it. Replaced it with rebirth 338 software vst back in 1996. Wouldn’t pay ridiculous hyped up money for it today as you can easily get a good 808 sound from the much cheaper TR8s & Roland’s I cloud versions.

[Georg]

I liked the TR6S more in the first two examples. I'm going to buy one. 🙂

[waziammm]

I got it right in all 7 tests, and I'm definitely not lying!!

[SwiftDreamer]

as someone who owns the tr6s, its low rumble was a dead giveaway for me! also, the OG 808 in this vid seems to have a higher tonality than the tr6s

[totalSLACK]

thanks for the video... i finally replaced my dr-202 once i heard the 6s had those "real" 627 sounds as well as the classic roland stuff. thanks!

[helio]

I could definitely tell the which drum machine was which but not because of sound quality but mostly behavior, but I actually liked the TR-6S better.

[kathleencoveny]

Yikes .. not giving this one away ... thanks for all the coverage and comparisons .. well done .. cheers !

[christophervincent]

Blindfold test: Got it right each time and I liked the 6s better each time. Guess I'm not stuck in the past... ?

[e]

i liked the TR-6s in the blindfold test evertime

[technodrone]

i love taking the 6s to the park or whatever. that with the microfreak you can run both on usb batteries. my favorite combo right now.

[jtonhor]

Really interesting comparison. I picked the 808 out as sounding /better/ each time, but I think I was just picking the brighter sounding one, so I was actually surprised that it was the 808

[RealityShiftUK]

Wow you could almost buy a mini moog for that price