AIRA TR-8 Rhythm Performer

As is the case with nearly every imaginable category of electronic music creation, Roland was at the forefront of the development of rhythm composers. The Roland TR-8 is at once a look back at two of the seminal machines that gave birth to a new way of making music and a look forward to the possibilities of what can be done when those classic sounds are fused with modern functionality.

It would not be absurd to make the bold claim that the TR-808 and TR-909 rhythm composers have more to do with modern drum sounds than any other human or mechanical influence. The 808 and 909 sounds have appeared on thousands of popular dance tracks and have more or less set the standard for drum sounds within hip-hop, techno and house music.

But Roland has not been sitting on their hands waiting idly by for the TR-808 and TR-909 to have their resurgence. Much of what Rolands research and development teams have been discovering for the thirty years since these machines were introduced has been incorporated into this comprehensive revisiting of the sounds that moved a generation.

The TR-8 features 16 drum kits with up to 11 instrument types, including impeccable recreations of the famous TR-909 and TR-808 sounds, but unlike the original TR-808 and TR-909, there are numerous modern control components that make the TR-8 more versatile by an order of magnitude. The Tap Tempo, Fine and Shuffle knobs, the Scatter function and randomization are just a few of the technical improvements that make the TR-8 the preferred way to use those classic tones.

The feel, the sound and function of the machine reestablish Roland as the king of the hill in rhythm programming technology.