808 FAQ in draft. I will need to add more links to useful posts as they are suggested or I discover them. Edits and suggestions are welcome. Thanks FP!
What is an 808?
808 is the common name for The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, a programmable drum machine. You can read about it on wikipedia or just watch a short video on synthtopia.
Roland TR-808 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roland TR808
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/04/27/the-history-of-the-roland-tr-808/
Does Roland still make the Tr-808?
The Roland corporation has replaced the TR-808 with the TR-8 Rhythm performer.
TR-8 :: Products :: Roland
What about an 808 VST?
A lot of producers just use 808 drum samples but there are 808 VST emulators for example:
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/ts_808_by_tactile_sounds
D16 Group Audio Software - Beyond Perfection - Nepheton
I just found an original 808 in my Aunts attic! How do I use this thing?
Here is an 808 manual PDF. Hope it still works!
http://media.rolandus.com/manuals/TR-808_OM.pdf
No, no no what is that kick drum that goes like "boooooom" you know like in pop, rap and R&B?
In colloquial terms any kick drum followed by a sustained bass note ringing at an identifiable musical pitch has been referred to as an "808". Producers have used other combinations of tools to fulfill the role of the sustained 808 kick including but not limited to:
A synthesizer patch consisting of a sine wave (or other waveform filtered to remove the high harmonics) with a sharp pitch bend envelope to provide punch.
a kick drum layered or side chained with a sine wave (or other wave filtered to remove the high harmonics).
So how was the original 808 sound generated?
I will refer you to Sound on Sound's excellent synth secrets series.
First read this:
SYNTH SECRETS
Then read this:
SYNTH SECRETS
Wow that seems complicated! I thought you said I could do this on my trusty generic synth vst?
You can. Check this out:
How to create punchy hip-hop 808 bass | 808 bass | Tech Tuition | MusicRadar
I don't understand anything you just said what does ________ mean can you explain it to me?
For vocabulary questions and defintion questions head over to the Getting Started Forum and read through the stickied posts.
If you want to find something specific use the search function. Then if you are still stuck post your question in that forum.
https://www.futureproducers.com/forums/production-techniques/getting-started/
Where can I get some free 808 kick samples to put in my DAW?
Try searching through the Free Drum Kit section on Future Producers.
https://www.futureproducers.com/for...digging/post-your-free-drum-kits-here-340407/
Also just try googling free 808 samples you will find some.
Ok, I found an 808 kick sample I loaded it in my daw but it sounds wrong with my soul sample/synth melody somehow.
The pitch of your 808 kick may be causing some dissonance when played against your melody or sample. Try adjusting the pitch up or down by a semitone at a time to find something suitable to your ears. Producers often tune 808 kicks to the tonic or tonal center (the pitch upon which all other pitches of a piece of music are hierarchically referenced).
My 808 Kick sample says "808 60hz" what note is that on my keyboard?
For equal-tempered scale, A4 = 440 Hz its about B1. You may need to fine tune your 808 sample to an actual musical note.
If you are curious, here is a chart comparing frequency in hertz to its equivalent musical note.
Frequencies of Musical Notes, A4 = 440 Hz
What about in trap music where 808's change pitch all the time what's going on there?
The 808's are playing the bass line of the song. They are often playing a note of the current chord usually the root note. Also search the forums for trap music theory there are several excellent posts by Bandcoach.
I don't understand What's a root note/tonic/chord/hertz/scale etc.?
Read this and come back when you have looked some stuff up.
https://www.futureproducers.com/for...esign/tutorial-learning-scales-chords-261787/
If you still have questions post them in the music theory forum here at Future Producers.
https://www.futureproducers.com/forums/production-techniques/theory-composing-sound-design/
Ok my 808 is sounding good with my synth melody or sample but when I try to do a 808 kick roll it sounds awful!
Make sure your 808 Sample is set to cut itself. If it is not set to cut itself the tail of one 808 may overlap with the attack of the next creating a muddy sounding mess. Refer to the section on cut groups in the manual of your sampler.
My 808 tails are too long its ruining my groove!
Adjust the Attack Sustain Decay and Release ("ADSR") of your 808 sample in your sampler. If you are not sure what this is read this post:
https://www.futureproducers.com/for...inners-guide-synth-foundation-builder-477281/
My 808 tail is not long enough its ruining my groove!
You will need to set some loop points in your 808 kick sample or pick a different 808 kick sample.
Make sure you set loop points at zero crossing explained here:
https://www.futureproducers.com/for...sound-design/loop-points-454255/#post49682788
For technical instructions in setting loop points refer to the manual for your sampler or do a search in the forums or find some 808 samples with loop point information already embedded (they exist).
I also recommend checking out this link to the direct wave manual even if you do not use fl studio. Read the section entitled, "NOTE:looping instrument samples is an Art"
DirectWave - Sample Tab
My 808 is sounding good with my synth melody or sample and grooving just right but it lacks punch (i can't hear it when i switch on my laptop speakers) what do i do now?
1) Choose a different 808 Sample with the punch your require.
2) Eq the original 808 sample to bring out more punch. Maybe around 200hz. Experiment.
3) Layer the 808 with kick that has the punch your require adjust the samplers ADSR and eq the layered kick sample to taste. Also compare the the phase of the kick to the 808 adjusting the pitch of the layered kick up or down and moving the layered kick forward or backward a few midi ticks may fix any phase issues.
4) Try a version of parallel or new york compression. Take two copies of the 808 compress one to bring out the attack and the other to bring out the sustain and layer them together experimenting with the volume balance between them.
5) Eq other instruments out of the way of 808 give it more space in the frequency spectrum.
6) A frankenstein like combination of the above techniques.
Check out this Article from the Pro Audio Files by Matthew Weiss. There are videos at the bottom of the page.
How to Mix 808's to Hit HARD [Free Samples]
The Pro Audio Files Youtube Channel is also great.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVdU3CMnJ-edC4FeCXK4b3Q
What is compression/Parallel Compression/EQ/Phase etc?
Read through the stickied posts here.
https://www.futureproducers.com/forums/production-techniques/recording-mixing-mastering/
Then do a search on the forums. If you are still stuck post your questions in the getting started forum.
https://www.futureproducers.com/forums/production-techniques/theory-composing-sound-design/
My 808 is sounding good with my synth melody or sample and grooving just right but I can't hear the tail or top end very well (i can't hear it
when i switch on my laptop speakers) what do i do now?
1) choose a different 808 sample.
2) try using saturation, bitcrushing, distortion, saturation and multiband compression or bass enhancers like maxxbass.
Check out this Article from the Pro Audio Files by Matthew Weiss. There are videos at the bottom of the page.
How to Mix 808's to Hit HARD [Free Samples]
The Pro Audio Files Youtube Channel is also great.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVdU3CMnJ-edC4FeCXK4b3Q
Good Luck!