TR-808

The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is an analog drum machine that produces its sounds from electronic circuitry rather than from recorded samples, and it was manufactured by Roland in the early 1980s. Patterns are programmed on a built-in step sequencer, and front-panel knobs adjust parameters such as tuning and decay on several of the voices; the unit has no MIDI, using Roland's DIN sync and trigger connections instead. Its long-decaying bass drum, along with sounds such as the snare, handclap and cowbell, became characteristic of hip-hop, electro, house and other electronic dance music.