Roland TR-808 Versus TR-08 Here's a comparison video between the Roland TR-808 and the TR-08. Please have a good listen and leave your opinions below. Take care, Sam.
Hey Sam, thanks for the demo. Here are my thoughts/opinons: They both sound really nice. They both sound unique at times, and nearly identical at other times. I'm perfectly happy with my TR-8.
Thanks for stopping by Michael. I appreciate it. Yes, I love the TR-8 as well. I think the main reason I bought the 08 was the cuteness factor and portability. :) Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
The TR-08 sounds thinner and more crisp. I get that that's perhaps exactly what Roland was after, but wish they put some of the digital processing into loudness/dirtying the sound. Some processing in the DAW will no doubt help.
wow that 808 has some mighty physical presence compared to the boutique. they sound close enough not to matter, but I think I can guess which is more fun to operate. but since real 808s are ridiculously expensive then 08 is a great alternative nevertheless.
Agreed. I love the raw sounds of the 808, but I'm very impressed with the 08's sounds. The 08 is much easier to move around too. Thanks for stopping by. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
I've seen/heard many comparison videos, including the infamous Egyptian Lover demo. At least on these earbuds on my LG cellphone, the TR-08 sounds warmer overall and the TR-808 has a crisper high end, funny enough!
The difference is a lot more apparent than I would have thought. You'd think that digitally modeling such a simple unit would be easy to do accurately. Comparing price and functionality however there is no arguing that the 08 is a better deal.
Thank you for this, I am going to get the TR-08 for sure. I am going to run it thru an ANALOG HEAT to add more vintage 808 warmth & flavor. A+++ video!!!
Just bought a TR-08. I love it. So much flexibility with the sounds! That is what is missing from these comparison videos. You have a lot of options for beefing up the sounds on the 08 that you didn’t have with the 808. I listen to this video and the sounds are sooo close - those who would say there “is no comparison” are really just analog-biased. The comparison is in, and both machines are very much alike in almost every way. Roland and their engineers took a huge amount of time and effort to get this right - and for the anal-loggers to poo all over the 08 is just silly and pointless. The differences are so slight as to be indistinguishable in blind tests with good listening environments. In a mix with proper EQ you would never, ever tell the difference. With any instrument it is more how you use it and mix it than just how it sounds. The OG 808s had issues! They weren’t all alike! They had noise problems. They were prone to breakdowns. And the one thing that anal-loggers want to point to so much about timing and how the analog machine had some funky timing vibe that made it great? Yeah, actual timing tests show that is just BS too. They are machine-lock solid, not drift or ‘funkiness’ to them at all. In other words, that is just another excuse to try to tear down any remake, and one that really doesn’t fly. Overall, Roland has worked really hard to live up to the original with this remake, and they have done an excellent job. It sounds amazing, it is more flexible than the original, and the interface lets you create in the same exact way you would with the original. It is also so inexpensive as to be disposable! So seriously... get off the damn high horse and make some music with this thang. Because in the end, whether you use an 808 or an 08, the real challenge is what it was 30+ years ago and hasn’t changed... you gotta make great beats. And you can do that in spades with either one of these machines.
People saying the 08 is a toy make me laugh. All instruments are toys. At one point the tr-808 was intended to be a rhythm box for practicing and demos. It took someone to use it professionally to start the beginning of a new sound. IMHO the 08 is great for 350 bucks. No way is paying 4 -5 grand going to result in you making classic records. That comes from creative talent which comes from having fun and not worrying about the technicalities. You can own the 808 but if you suck, some kid can out do you with his palms, a table and a pencil.
Comments say that something is a toy, is sometimes elitism. Plenty of creative individuals can not throw 4 or 5k at their hobby. Jealousy that the cheaper option sounds and can do the same thing in capable hands.
Why are you so Salty!!! The 08 is a modern remake smaller form factor on desks and coffin racks ECT. I have both and I only use the 08 because of the better output quality to the laptop and my 808 has a bad compacitor i think. And I have many mini pianos ,but why do people bitch!!
I am actually shocked at how much difference there is in the two. Seems like the 808 has a lot more dynamics than the 08. To my ears the 08 sounds brickwalled like its running through a heavy limiter. I will probably pick one up anyways, thanks for the demo.
I hear that too. I actually had to turn up the gain on the TR-08 to get it to match the volume level of the TR-808. I do like it though. It has way more features that the original. :) Take care, Sam.
I love Miami Bass as well. :) My favorite is Techmaster P.E.B. though. He really knows how to get those speakers moving! :) Take care and thanks for watching. Sam.
You can't tell the difference. Only reason people nit pick is because they can see them. If they heard them none of these yappers could even tell and why is that? Because for decades nearly every 808 used in a song has been a digital sample.
Good A/B. TR-08 sounds to me thinner, obviously digital. It's crazy that some guy nextdoor can make an analog TR-808 clone, while Roland insists on this reused dsp algorithms.
Hey nuerobits, to be fair most of the individual drum sounds of the TR-08 can be tuned to closer match a particular TR-808 model. When you do that, it comes REALLY close to the original. Running the TR-08 through a good tube preamp also reveals more transients and warms the tone up nicely. No, it’s not analog, but on a good system the TR-08 still sounds amazing!
its easy to add warmth to TR08,just send it trough an analog mixer subtract some highs from the eq,add more mids and you're good to go.If recording,just slam an analog modeling plugin and be done with it.And I won't waste my time with Behrninger clones.
Most sounds are close enough, but from 4:42 the Open Hihat of the TR-08 is clearly different - the 808 has much more "metal" to my ears, but is also lower tuned. Then, from 5:42 the Cymbal is lower on the TB-03, but seems generally closer to the original. I wonder if those are a fixed differences, which we have to live with, or, if the TB-03 could be brought closer somehow (especially the Open Hihat, the Cymbal should be tunable as I remember from my 808-times) ?
Both machines are great. I ran into one of my high school buds who has one since jr high and never really used it. I just ran into his aunt just recent. he still has it in storage and I will finally be getting his out of all these years of waiting. I will definitely be getting the TR 08 by the end of this year.
A bit pointless to me, no two tr-808 have the same sound. They all sound a bit different, sometimes even more than the sound difference you hear in this video. I had three 808s and the difference was much bigger than in this demo.
I have a TR-08 and I've also used an actual TR808. Far as drum machines over the years this little tr808 is the only one that's really close to the exact
Excellent! I'm glad you love it. It's such an amazing instrument and I'm very glad Roland added the TR-09 style of song programming to it. That was a nice bonus! :) Take care and enjoy your TR-08! :) Sam.
Sam what are your opinions on the TR-O8 vs the 808 emulation in the TR8? Is there a noticeable difference? And are you planning on doing a video? I think a lot of people would be keen to hear that. Me included..... Great vid mate :)
I believe the features are far superior in the TR-08. The TR-8 has some great 808 sounds, but it's just not very useful when it comes to making songs like I do...dawless.. The TR-808 made it possible to put together a song. That's what's it's all about to me. The TR-08 does the same and much much more. I think it'll be in many of my tunes. Perhaps I should do a video with all 3. Thanks for your kind words and stopping by the channel. Take care and have a wonderful week. :) Sam.
Thank you for doing this. I guess what I’m looking for in a side-by-side demo is how closely a $350 modeling unit can emulate an analog 808. I have no expectation that the modeling unit would sound “as good out of the box.” As a musician, I want to know how close I can expect to come to an analog 808. I own two other vintage analog Roland synths and a Fender Rhodes, so I definitely understand the visceral difference between the organic sound of analog and modeled. What I’m wanting to understand is whether the 808-emulating modelers like this one are even worth bothering with. Your demo is super-helpful, and at the same time I still wish I were there with adjusting the sound.
First glance; the free running analog oscillators (TR-808 hi-hat for example) vs. the steady transient/texture of the DSP one. Also the analog trigger pulse driving the clock of the original is so unsteady and varies between every PPQN = "naturally" funky.
there's one thing that not much people talks about, is the timing / clock. 808 timing has a very steady clock and is also known for that... to my ears it seems that the 08 introduces a little bit more jitter in the timing... but with ++ years of making beats in the studio, i may be very sensitive to beat induction and to very little tempo changes and randomness... of course you can always slave your 08 to a 808 clock ;)
Nice vid man! the only problem I have with the TR08 is the size and incompatibility such as individual outputs. It does sound good. Sadly I don't think I can justify a 3.5K purchase of a TR-808 so I'll have to wait for Behringer to drop de bomb
Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it. I spent a lot on the TR-808, but I'm very happy I did. I use it in almost all my tunes since then. There's definitely something magical about it. Programming it is a pain in the behind, but once you understand how it works it makes life that much better. The TR-08 is great as well. I'm very happy you can program it like the original and the 909 style, which is far easier. I'll definitely be checking out the Behringer as well. Take care, Sam.
The two main things I notice... snare is louder on new one? (why not turn down?) And tempos were off, sometimes even after adjustment. Also, doesn't new one have built in compression? Why not plug old one into a similar compressor too?
the real 808 seems to hit sonically deeper. In the TR-08 you can go in and tune each instrument individually to give a closer comparison of the 2. I still want to grab one of these lil 08s though.
A second question, I remember that the TR-808 provided the possibility to define the number of steps for a pattern, but I do not remember if for A/B the number had to be identical or could be different (say, 12 steps in A and 6 steps in B). From a TB-08 manual I know that A and B must be identical. Is the emulation correct in this case or were the guys at Roland just sloppy ?
I know you can change the amount of steps for the 808. You can choose how many steps in both, I believe. I'll have to look that up too. :( Sorry I couldn't help. Thanks, Sam.
True. I love both of them. They both have pros and cons. It's nice to use them to make tunes none the less. :) Take care and thanks for stopping by. Sam.
Machiwoomiapoo Oh I think you don't understand what I mean. The tempo of the pattern before 2:00 was pretty much the same for both the 808 and the 08. Then you go to the next pattern and turn up the tempo on the 808 while turning it down on the 08. And again the tempo is about same on both machines... How's that possible?
Maybe through a compressor with gain up it would sound a lot closer to the real thing? Also would like to have heard longer sustain on the kick for that real low end to compare the two. Roland could have made the kick analogue and the rest digital which would have been good enough to satisfy the diehards and it wouldn't have cost that much more. Sounds good though.
Yes, I thought the same thing. I should have turned up that decay for the BOOM effect. I agree with you about the analogue kick. Take care and thanks for stopping by the channel. I appreciate it. :) Sam.
@Caner Eser I suggest you buy it new, try it out, and if isn't what you like send it back. I love how easy it is to use and now the song mode is just like the TR-909. My original TR-808 is a pain to program for the song mode. But the amazing sounds make up for it. Good luck! I know you'll enjoy it. Take care, Sam.
I'm sure you're already aware of this but 2 TR-808s won't even sound like each other much less an ACB emulation of one nearly 40 years later. I played the vintage gear game and, frankly, it stressed me out. I am jelly of your OG 808 but just fine with the $349 for my own chance to play. Thanks for the comparison. It was much more thorough and accurate than Egyptian Lover's
Great. Thanks for this. What is obvious to me, at least from this particular demonstration, is that the new iteration is punchier, with a much "snappier" snare. Overall the pitch of all the drums appears to be higher in the TR08, and the 808 sounds muddier. I don't know if it is because they are at different settings, or that's just the nature of them. These ears enjoyed the 08 much more than the original, bulkier and prohibitively-expensive item. Out with the old....in with the new.
i believe what makes a lot of difference and almost no one seems to be mentioning, is the amp-output-line out . Well we all remember the old cassette walkman`s and their headphone output. They sounded more "beefy" than todays mp3 players etc. I can imagine that the same is the case with these two here. I bet that the 08 has a lot weaker and also less saturated output . So in a mix you can make the 08 sound like the 808 but not the other way around. And despite what people say "but it doesn`t sound like the real thing..." i will agree and trust more Egyptian Lover when he says that the 08 is spot on.
I wanted to add something if i may. I felt that something is off between the two machines. Tuning wise. And this is not the first video i notice that they are being compared but not tuned into each other. So i did some testing-spectrum analysing off the audio on this video. Example i used is the sequences between 1:25-1:58 The Tr-808 kick at sequence at 1:26 is about 52-53 hz which is a G#, The Tom at 164hz which is a E2. The Open Hihat peaks at about 7khz which is around A7 (and is spread around there so it covers more than one note but you get the idea) . At 1:32 the Tr-08 starts : Kick is at around 50ish Hz which is G which means it`s 1 semitone lower so less boomy. The Tom is about the same and the HiHat at around 8.3Khz which is a C8. What i want to say with that is that in my experience in producing it is hard or even impossible to compare two machines that play different key and say "this one is-sounds better than the other one". Cause i do this all the time. An 808 can sound "better" even in itself. When you tune the kick to your track :-)
thanks for that! i totally noticed the pitch difference as well- thank you for analysing it and giving us the exact measurements. a neutral and fair comparison of the two instruments requires that they be tuned identically- and that the tempos match when the sequence begins
Thanks for taking the time to do this but the instrument tuning is way off. Therefore making this comparison pointless. Well done for at least getting the volume levels right though
If ur setup is identical 4 both machines, the original Tr-808’s definitely more musical with a wider dynamic range. The Tr08 is noticeably “tinnier” in higher frequencies. Both nice but i prefer the original. Again I’m assuming identical settings on both machines. Previous reviews spruiked (that Aussie 4 “promoted”) recreation of original sounds. Thx 4 demo-ing them both. I appreciate the reissue’s a fraction the price/footprint. Am mulling choice between Tr08 reissue & more natural-sounding Alesis SR-16 (cheaper/smaller still)🙏
Yes we all know the tr-08 is digital. Yes we all (should) know the tr-808 is analog. They will never sound the same. This is physics. The tr-08 , if it was in a track by itself, could not be distinguished from a tr-808. We are all LOOKING at this EXPECTING to hear differences. In a track with other instruments, you could not tell. The tr-08 on its OWN, sounds fantastic. Just like the tr-09 does. No one should ever expect the tr-08 to sound like a tr-808. Heck even two tr-808s dont sound the same.
The TR-08 is great toy for novices and kiddies who crave the 808 experience but don't have or want to spend $3000-$5000 for the real deal. It's also helped bring prices down on the 808 second hand market. They have gone from the $5000 range back down to a reasonable $2500-$3500 average. Most people get the 08 and see that the 808 is actually quite simple, unlike their expectations of it being a magic box that will instantly make them a genius producer overnight upon acquiring the real article. The Trap/Rap producers were largely the ones driving up 808 prices, and many of them are opting for the 08 because it has MIDI, USB audio and extra features like 32nd note in 4/4 mode, all sounds playable via MIDI, compression on the kick and snare, tuning of sounds, etc. That's great in my book. Let those guys buy TR-08's and let the real heads have access to affordable 808's again.
Sounds pretty diffrerent to me! I am not a technical expert but I do not understand why Roland is not able to recreate it's own sounds?! Thanx for the comparison
I actually like both, the TR08 has infinitely more tricks when run via usb, total midi control and near endless sonic possibilities with the audio. The classic unmodded 808 is an amazing machine but requires a lot more work to get it fully integrated into a modern DAW workflow. I have both and the tr-08 with the extended decay kick mode and compression is a monster
Yeah, I should've done that. The funny thing is my SBX-1 is in the bottom of the picture. I think I didn't use it because I would have to mute each drum machine every time I switched it. Thank you for your idea. Sam.
I find it funny that people takes a piss on the boutiques that they sound different. If you take two analogue 808s they wont sound the same either! And I bet my butt on that if you take an 08s and two 808 most would guess wrong in a blind test
The TR-808 circuitry is well defined and you can hear the maturity of the device from years of use. Not taking away from the Boutique, it has a very snappy sound but models the TR-808 impressively. Both are excellent instruments and both have five stars in my book. Thanks for the video.
Apart from the original sounding a little more punchier, there's not a lot in it for me, the TR-08 is definitely worth a purchase, though I've just bought a TR-09, so I don't think I'll be picking one of these up anytime soon, but good demo Sam.
Thanks for stopping by! I love the TR-909 and the TR-09. My 909 needs to be repaired. The clap starting making a swish sound instead of a clap. :( I'm sure you will make more great music with the TR-09. I look forward to it. :) Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
Machiwoomiapoo oh , I thought the sound engine of the cymbal is a bit out of tune. So can you come really close to the 808? Can you make a comparison with the single drums.
wow the original is way more punchy and beefy and sounds compressed and in your face while the 08 sounds like it needs compression to get it to sound big. i would just put the 08 through some slate digital tape machine and call it a day. But honestly by then u might as well use already processed samples or even the Wave Alchemy Revolution plug in haahha. still a really cool toy. thanks
damn whats wrong with the hats :( thats not a recreation .. sounds more MFB'ish to me but kick and toms aswell as the other percs sound good to me and will solve any needs :) ! - will purchase it soon too i think
Yeah, in this case if you want to save money go for the TR-08; although, if you want a little better sound I'd get a used TR-8 for about the same price or the TR-8S for a little more. :) Take care, Sam.
The 08 is just playing samples, samples that are too bright in my opinion. Never mind, vintage just means turning down the top with a shelf at 10K. Don't bother, stick to your samples and midi patterns.
The only sound that they got right is the kick drum on the TR-08. Everything else is different from the real thing, especially the lack of sizzle (or high frequency content) on the hi-hats and cymbal. Damn anti-aliasing-filtered digital crap. Are Roland engineers deaf or what ? Thanks for the demo.
finally i can replace the rhythm wolf's kick with something that does a lot more than a volca kick would... the "sizzle" could be re-added by external things.
The 808 definitely sounds better, which is really annoying because I have just bought an 08 and was hoping it was going to make be rich and famous! D'oh
If all the drums were pitched the same & same volume, I think you'd have a harder time than you think with a blind test. The difference is very small if any.
So I got an 08 myself and really like it (and the cymbal). I also learned how hard it is to "tune" two units to make a Versus video. I made a tr-08 vs Novation Drumstation vid.
Tr-08 sounds like crisp mid-rangey terrible toy. You wont get that punch, fat and warmth out of a VST in a box. And its not even that cheap. Obviously you wont be able to afford a real 808, so why not use samples then? There are so many sample libs. It'll sound better
The big one sounds exactly like an 808. Sold.
Best comparison video so far! Thank you so much! And a very funky shirt you got there. :D
Thanks! Yeah, I love that shirt. :)
Hey Sam, thanks for the demo. Here are my thoughts/opinons:
They both sound really nice.
They both sound unique at times, and nearly identical at other times.
I'm perfectly happy with my TR-8.
Thanks for stopping by Michael. I appreciate it. Yes, I love the TR-8 as well. I think the main reason I bought the 08 was the cuteness factor and portability. :) Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
The TR-08 sounds thinner and more crisp. I get that that's perhaps exactly what Roland was after, but wish they put some of the digital processing into loudness/dirtying the sound. Some processing in the DAW will no doubt help.
wow that 808 has some mighty physical presence compared to the boutique. they sound close enough not to matter, but I think I can guess which is more fun to operate. but since real 808s are ridiculously expensive then 08 is a great alternative nevertheless.
Agreed. I love the raw sounds of the 808, but I'm very impressed with the 08's sounds. The 08 is much easier to move around too. Thanks for stopping by. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
Woody Piano Shack ..x sure!! think the same
I've seen/heard many comparison videos, including the infamous Egyptian Lover demo. At least on these earbuds on my LG cellphone, the TR-08 sounds warmer overall and the TR-808 has a crisper high end, funny enough!
Still it has tinier knobs than the -08 :D
Jeff ... Midi
The difference is a lot more apparent than I would have thought. You'd think that digitally modeling such a simple unit would be easy to do accurately. Comparing price and functionality however there is no arguing that the 08 is a better deal.
Thank you for this, I am going to get the TR-08 for sure. I am going to run it thru an ANALOG HEAT to add more vintage 808 warmth & flavor. A+++ video!!!
I need to do some research on the ANALOG HEAT. :) Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it. Take care, Sam.
So you can also tell the warmth is lacking ... I thought i was the only one lol
I found a trick to warm your tr-08, turn all the gains in the menu to 200, add Accent to all steps and slowly turn up each drum level to taste.
good idea. the EQ on the 08 just aint right
Just bought a TR-08. I love it. So much flexibility with the sounds! That is what is missing from these comparison videos. You have a lot of options for beefing up the sounds on the 08 that you didn’t have with the 808. I listen to this video and the sounds are sooo close - those who would say there “is no comparison” are really just analog-biased. The comparison is in, and both machines are very much alike in almost every way. Roland and their engineers took a huge amount of time and effort to get this right - and for the anal-loggers to poo all over the 08 is just silly and pointless. The differences are so slight as to be indistinguishable in blind tests with good listening environments. In a mix with proper EQ you would never, ever tell the difference. With any instrument it is more how you use it and mix it than just how it sounds. The OG 808s had issues! They weren’t all alike! They had noise problems. They were prone to breakdowns. And the one thing that anal-loggers want to point to so much about timing and how the analog machine had some funky timing vibe that made it great? Yeah, actual timing tests show that is just BS too. They are machine-lock solid, not drift or ‘funkiness’ to them at all. In other words, that is just another excuse to try to tear down any remake, and one that really doesn’t fly.
Overall, Roland has worked really hard to live up to the original with this remake, and they have done an excellent job. It sounds amazing, it is more flexible than the original, and the interface lets you create in the same exact way you would with the original. It is also so inexpensive as to be disposable! So seriously... get off the damn high horse and make some music with this thang. Because in the end, whether you use an 808 or an 08, the real challenge is what it was 30+ years ago and hasn’t changed... you gotta make great beats. And you can do that in spades with either one of these machines.
Thanks for your feedback. Yes, both these machines are awesome. I love them both. Thanks for watching. Take care, Sam.
Wow that comment was long winded but probably spot on
People saying the 08 is a toy make me laugh. All instruments are toys. At one point the tr-808 was intended to be a rhythm box for practicing and demos. It took someone to use it professionally to start the beginning of a new sound. IMHO the 08 is great for 350 bucks. No way is paying 4 -5 grand going to result in you making classic records. That comes from creative talent which comes from having fun and not worrying about the technicalities. You can own the 808 but if you suck, some kid can out do you with his palms, a table and a pencil.
Comments say that something is a toy, is sometimes elitism. Plenty of creative individuals can not throw 4 or 5k at their hobby. Jealousy that the cheaper option sounds and can do the same thing in capable hands.
Why are you so Salty!!! The 08 is a modern remake smaller form factor on desks and coffin racks ECT. I have both and I only use the 08 because of the better output quality to the laptop and my 808 has a bad compacitor i think. And I have many mini pianos ,but why do people bitch!!
Hell yeah jay
Best comparison vid of these 2 so far. Thank you for doing this. :)
Thank you very much! You have made my day. Take care and have a wonderful weekend. :) Sam.
I am actually shocked at how much difference there is in the two. Seems like the 808 has a lot more dynamics than the 08. To my ears the 08 sounds brickwalled like its running through a heavy limiter. I will probably pick one up anyways, thanks for the demo.
I hear that too. I actually had to turn up the gain on the TR-08 to get it to match the volume level of the TR-808. I do like it though. It has way more features that the original. :) Take care, Sam.
thank you for the demo! an interesting demo would also be some legendary miami bass patterns, a genre that made the 808 famous..
I love Miami Bass as well. :) My favorite is Techmaster P.E.B. though. He really knows how to get those speakers moving! :) Take care and thanks for watching. Sam.
You can't tell the difference. Only reason people nit pick is because they can see them. If they heard them none of these yappers could even tell and why is that? Because for decades nearly every 808 used in a song has been a digital sample.
All my tunes are using either the TR-8, TR-08, or TR-808. :) Thanks for stopping by my channel. Take care, Sam.
Better than 90% the sound for less than 10% the cost. Amazing value.
Good A/B. TR-08 sounds to me thinner, obviously digital. It's crazy that some guy nextdoor can make an analog TR-808 clone, while Roland insists on this reused dsp algorithms.
True. Thanks for stopping by. :)
totally hit the nail on the head neuro. Crazy why Roland are still asleep at the analog wheel
Hey nuerobits, to be fair most of the individual drum sounds of the TR-08 can be tuned to closer match a particular TR-808 model. When you do that, it comes REALLY close to the original. Running the TR-08 through a good tube preamp also reveals more transients and warms the tone up nicely. No, it’s not analog, but on a good system the TR-08 still sounds amazing!
its easy to add warmth to TR08,just send it trough an analog mixer subtract some highs from the eq,add more mids and you're good to go.If recording,just slam an analog modeling plugin and be done with it.And I won't waste my time with Behrninger clones.
Most sounds are close enough, but from 4:42 the Open Hihat of the TR-08 is clearly different - the 808 has much more "metal" to my ears, but is also lower tuned. Then, from 5:42 the Cymbal is lower on the TB-03, but seems generally closer to the original. I wonder if those are a fixed differences, which we have to live with, or, if the TB-03 could be brought closer somehow (especially the Open Hihat, the Cymbal should be tunable as I remember from my 808-times) ?
True. Thanks for stopping by. Take care, Sam.
The major difference is the dedicated 1/4" outputs for each channel!
True. Thanks for watching! :) Sam.
Can these be frequency tuned? The TR-08 Is like a whole step or more higher, so the responses don't surprise me, even ignoring confirmation bias :)
Yes, it can be tuned. I found this out later. Thanks for watching! :)
Both machines are great. I ran into one of my high school buds who has one since jr high and never really used it. I just ran into his aunt just recent. he still has it in storage and I will finally be getting his out of all these years of waiting. I will definitely be getting the TR 08 by the end of this year.
Great news! I hope you get the machine of your dreams. Take care, Sam.
Awesome video! Thank you for taking the time to actually do a proper comparison. Great job
@Devon Dicker Thanks for your kind words! Take care, Sam.
I actually thought that they would sound more similar. The 808 takes it for me by far. So much more magic.
I agree. It's very magical. :) Thanks for watching. Take care, Sam.
A bit pointless to me, no two tr-808 have the same sound. They all sound a bit different, sometimes even more than the sound difference you hear in this video. I had three 808s and the difference was much bigger than in this demo.
True. Take care and thanks for watching. Sam.
I have a TR-08 and I've also used an actual TR808. Far as drum machines over the years this little tr808 is the only one that's really close to the exact
@DJ SonnyMotto I agree. Take care, Sam.
love how tr08 sounds,just ordered one.
Excellent! I'm glad you love it. It's such an amazing instrument and I'm very glad Roland added the TR-09 style of song programming to it. That was a nice bonus! :) Take care and enjoy your TR-08! :) Sam.
@@machiwoomiapoo Thank You!Wating also for Reface CS to arrive too at the same time with the TR08.Will be jaming around in the house :)
Gj mate! Interesting comparison for sure
Thanks for watching! :)
Sam what are your opinions on the TR-O8 vs the 808 emulation in the TR8? Is there a noticeable difference? And are you planning on doing a video? I think a lot of people would be keen to hear that. Me included..... Great vid mate :)
I believe the features are far superior in the TR-08. The TR-8 has some great 808 sounds, but it's just not very useful when it comes to making songs like I do...dawless.. The TR-808 made it possible to put together a song. That's what's it's all about to me. The TR-08 does the same and much much more. I think it'll be in many of my tunes. Perhaps I should do a video with all 3. Thanks for your kind words and stopping by the channel. Take care and have a wonderful week. :) Sam.
Thanks for that info Sam.... Yeah i think a vid with the TR8, TR-8 and 808 would be intriguing. If you do one tag me in it :)
Will do. :)
Thank you for doing this. I guess what I’m looking for in a side-by-side demo is how closely a $350 modeling unit can emulate an analog 808. I have no expectation that the modeling unit would sound “as good out of the box.” As a musician, I want to know how close I can expect to come to an analog 808. I own two other vintage analog Roland synths and a Fender Rhodes, so I definitely understand the visceral difference between the organic sound of analog and modeled. What I’m wanting to understand is whether the 808-emulating modelers like this one are even worth bothering with. Your demo is super-helpful, and at the same time I still wish I were there with adjusting the sound.
Thank you!
uaaall!! So close!! perfect demo!!!
Thank you! :) Take care, Sam.
First glance; the free running analog oscillators (TR-808 hi-hat for example) vs. the steady transient/texture of the DSP one.
Also the analog trigger pulse driving the clock of the original is so unsteady and varies between every PPQN = "naturally" funky.
there's one thing that not much people talks about, is the timing / clock. 808 timing has a very steady clock and is also known for that... to my ears it seems that the 08 introduces a little bit more jitter in the timing... but with ++ years of making beats in the studio, i may be very sensitive to beat induction and to very little tempo changes and randomness... of course you can always slave your 08 to a 808 clock ;)
True. Thanks for watching. :)
Nice vid man! the only problem I have with the TR08 is the size and incompatibility such as individual outputs. It does sound good. Sadly I don't think I can justify a 3.5K purchase of a TR-808 so I'll have to wait for Behringer to drop de bomb
Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it. I spent a lot on the TR-808, but I'm very happy I did. I use it in almost all my tunes since then. There's definitely something magical about it. Programming it is a pain in the behind, but once you understand how it works it makes life that much better. The TR-08 is great as well. I'm very happy you can program it like the original and the 909 style, which is far easier. I'll definitely be checking out the Behringer as well. Take care, Sam.
Thank you for posting this! Getting my TR 08 soon (:
My pleasure. Thank YOU for watching! That means the world to me. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam from the machiwoomiapoo channel. :)
Sounds really close, you think having the TR-8 is good enough? Or should I pick up the TR-08 as well?
I love the TR-08 because you can program an entire tune. Also, it's just so damn cute. :)
You can never have too many drum machines! ;-)
The two main things I notice... snare is louder on new one? (why not turn down?) And tempos were off, sometimes even after adjustment. Also, doesn't new one have built in compression? Why not plug old one into a similar compressor too?
Valid point. Thanks for watching! :)
the real 808 seems to hit sonically deeper. In the TR-08 you can go in and tune each instrument individually to give a closer comparison of the 2. I still want to grab one of these lil 08s though.
I still need to learn all the features of the TR-08. Thanks for watching. Take care, Sam.
A second question, I remember that the TR-808 provided the possibility to define the number of steps for a pattern, but I do not remember if for A/B the number had to be identical or could be different (say, 12 steps in A and 6 steps in B). From a TB-08 manual I know that A and B must be identical. Is the emulation correct in this case or were the guys at Roland just sloppy ?
I know you can change the amount of steps for the 808. You can choose how many steps in both, I believe. I'll have to look that up too. :( Sorry I couldn't help. Thanks, Sam.
There is 30 years between them and original is always going to be original.... But the TR8 is very cool indeed.
True. I love both of them. They both have pros and cons. It's nice to use them to make tunes none the less. :) Take care and thanks for stopping by. Sam.
Nice! Will be treating myself a tr-08 for my bday in a few weeks;)
Thank you! Enjoy it. It's amazing! :)
That's it I'm sold sounds Amazing similar!
I agree. Take care and have a wonderful week. :)
At 2:00 you turn up the speed for the 808 but you turn it down on the 08 for the same pattern. How come?
Sorry, I was actually trying to match the tempo. Oh well, thanks for watching anyway. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
Machiwoomiapoo Oh I think you don't understand what I mean.
The tempo of the pattern before 2:00 was pretty much the same for both the 808 and the 08.
Then you go to the next pattern and turn up the tempo on the 808 while turning it down on the 08. And again the tempo is about same on both machines... How's that possible?
Ni5ei okay
Nice size nice price... Winner TR-08 you can beef up the sound on your mixer or another device
Maybe through a compressor with gain up it would sound a lot closer to the real thing? Also would like to have heard longer sustain on the kick for that real low end to compare the two. Roland could have made the kick analogue and the rest digital which would have been good enough to satisfy the diehards and it wouldn't have cost that much more. Sounds good though.
Yes, I thought the same thing. I should have turned up that decay for the BOOM effect. I agree with you about the analogue kick. Take care and thanks for stopping by the channel. I appreciate it. :) Sam.
the 808 has aa fuller sound. But I still like both.They each have a place in electronic music.
I agree. Thanks for watching! :)
Should i buy ? Is it worth it? I do not have such a device at all. What are the benefits for me? (TR-08) I am making music production. THANKS...
@Caner Eser I suggest you buy it new, try it out, and if isn't what you like send it back. I love how easy it is to use and now the song mode is just like the TR-909. My original TR-808 is a pain to program for the song mode. But the amazing sounds make up for it. Good luck! I know you'll enjoy it. Take care, Sam.
I'm sure you're already aware of this but 2 TR-808s won't even sound like each other much less an ACB emulation of one nearly 40 years later. I played the vintage gear game and, frankly, it stressed me out. I am jelly of your OG 808 but just fine with the $349 for my own chance to play. Thanks for the comparison. It was much more thorough and accurate than Egyptian Lover's
Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate it. Take care, Sam.
Great Demo !!
Thank you! :)
Linn need to start doing this.
You read my mind. I'm still looking for a Linn Drum. :)
If the Behringer 'leak' has any substance you might be in luck. And a DMX too :o
Is TR-08 analog or not? :) Did not get it from specs.
It's not analog, but it sounds really close. Take care, Sam.
Great. Thanks for this. What is obvious to me, at least from this particular demonstration, is that the new iteration is punchier, with a much "snappier" snare. Overall the pitch of all the drums appears to be higher in the TR08, and the 808 sounds muddier. I don't know if it is because they are at different settings, or that's just the nature of them. These ears enjoyed the 08 much more than the original, bulkier and prohibitively-expensive item. Out with the old....in with the new.
I love them both, but everyone has their own opinion. Thanks for listening. I appreciate it. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
you have the snare on the tr08 but not the 808 at times
Oops. Thanks for watching. :)
Very different when you hear them next to each other but in the mix I am not sure you'd hear that much difference.
Thanks for watching! Take care, Sam.
i believe what makes a lot of difference and almost no one seems to be mentioning, is the amp-output-line out . Well we all remember the old cassette walkman`s and their headphone output. They sounded more "beefy" than todays mp3 players etc. I can imagine that the same is the case with these two here. I bet that the 08 has a lot weaker and also less saturated output . So in a mix you can make the 08 sound like the 808 but not the other way around. And despite what people say "but it doesn`t sound like the real thing..." i will agree and trust more Egyptian Lover when he says that the 08 is spot on.
Well put. Thanks for listening. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
I wanted to add something if i may. I felt that something is off between the two machines. Tuning wise. And this is not the first video i notice that they are being compared but not tuned into each other. So i did some testing-spectrum analysing off the audio on this video. Example i used is the sequences between 1:25-1:58 The Tr-808 kick at sequence at 1:26 is about 52-53 hz which is a G#, The Tom at 164hz which is a E2. The Open Hihat peaks at about 7khz which is around A7 (and is spread around there so it covers more than one note but you get the idea) . At 1:32 the Tr-08 starts : Kick is at around 50ish Hz which is G which means it`s 1 semitone lower so less boomy. The Tom is about the same and the HiHat at around 8.3Khz which is a C8. What i want to say with that is that in my experience in producing it is hard or even impossible to compare two machines that play different key and say "this one is-sounds better than the other one". Cause i do this all the time. An 808 can sound "better" even in itself. When you tune the kick to your track :-)
thanks for that! i totally noticed the pitch difference as well- thank you for analysing it and giving us the exact measurements.
a neutral and fair comparison of the two instruments requires that they be tuned identically- and that the tempos match when the sequence begins
How about a TR 808 v Tr 08 V tr 8 shoot out ?
Sounds like a good idea! :)
The new one is higher pitched, no?
Yes, some of the drums are pitched differently. You can change the pitch though. Thanks for watching. Take care, Sam.
Thanks for taking the time to do this but the instrument tuning is way off. Therefore making this comparison pointless. Well done for at
least getting the volume levels right though
Yes, I know. Thanks for watching. :) Sam.
If ur setup is identical 4 both machines, the original Tr-808’s definitely more musical with a wider dynamic range. The Tr08 is noticeably “tinnier” in higher frequencies. Both nice but i prefer the original. Again I’m assuming identical settings on both machines. Previous reviews spruiked (that Aussie 4 “promoted”) recreation of original sounds. Thx 4 demo-ing them both. I appreciate the reissue’s a fraction the price/footprint. Am mulling choice between Tr08 reissue & more natural-sounding Alesis SR-16 (cheaper/smaller still)🙏
Very nice comparison!
Thanks you! :)
Yes we all know the tr-08 is digital. Yes we all (should) know the tr-808 is analog. They will never sound the same. This is physics. The tr-08 , if it was in a track by itself, could not be distinguished from a tr-808. We are all LOOKING at this EXPECTING to hear differences. In a track with other instruments, you could not tell.
The tr-08 on its OWN, sounds fantastic. Just like the tr-09 does. No one should ever expect the tr-08 to sound like a tr-808. Heck even two tr-808s dont sound the same.
Thanks for watching. I agree to some degree. :)
They both sound great but only one is readily available.
True. :) I paid a small fortune for the TR-808. It's my favorite drum machine. :) Thanks for watching. Sam.
Can you use the TR-08 with sequencing software such as Cubase?
Probably. I don't use a DAW though. :( Thanks for watching, Sam.
The paatern at 2:48 reveals a lot to me..
Thanks for stopping by. :)
hmm, thanks! So, maybe the snare is a lil misty and relaxing/nice on the OG and more snappy and in your face on new one perhaps.
I agree. :) Thanks for watching! Sam.
The TR-808 sounds so much better and fuller ! there's a big difference in sounds.
Thanks for watching! :)
08 is good but too small... why Roland don't try to make 100% analog and full sized re-808?????? I don't get it....
The TR-08 is great toy for novices and kiddies who crave the 808 experience but don't have or want to spend $3000-$5000 for the real deal. It's also helped bring prices down on the 808 second hand market. They have gone from the $5000 range back down to a reasonable $2500-$3500 average. Most people get the 08 and see that the 808 is actually quite simple, unlike their expectations of it being a magic box that will instantly make them a genius producer overnight upon acquiring the real article. The Trap/Rap producers were largely the ones driving up 808 prices, and many of them are opting for the 08 because it has MIDI, USB audio and extra features like 32nd note in 4/4 mode, all sounds playable via MIDI, compression on the kick and snare, tuning of sounds, etc. That's great in my book. Let those guys buy TR-08's and let the real heads have access to affordable 808's again.
I imagine the engineers at Roland comparing the two and saying "Damn we can't get it to sound like the old one, but most people won't notice it"
Lol.
The tr-08 is the new kid on the block, it's a true 21 first century rebirth of the OG, it got my vote.
Me too! :)
You can tune and change the sounds in the menu to match your 808 better. Nice video tho. I will by one.
Yeah, I know now. I'm still learning how to use it. Thanks for watching the video. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
Sounds pretty diffrerent to me!
I am not a technical expert but I do not understand why Roland is not able to recreate it's own sounds?!
Thanx for the comparison
You are welcome! :) Take care, Sam.
At 3 minutes we can clearly hear much difference between the two machines..
Why don't they simply produce the exact same machine?
I actually like both, the TR08 has infinitely more tricks when run via usb, total midi control and near endless sonic possibilities with the audio.
The classic unmodded 808 is an amazing machine but requires a lot more work to get it fully integrated into a modern DAW workflow. I have both and the tr-08 with the extended decay kick mode and compression is a monster
That is true! I love the 808 and TR-08. They are both so amazing. Thanks for stopping by the channel. Take care, Sam.
I bet if you had one controlling the opposite via midi, the comments would remain the same.
Yeah, I should've done that. The funny thing is my SBX-1 is in the bottom of the picture. I think I didn't use it because I would have to mute each drum machine every time I switched it. Thank you for your idea. Sam.
勉強になります
ビデオを見てくれてありがとうございます。じゃあ、またね。サム。
no clap ??? that’s what all the other ‘copies’ failed to reproduce correctly ...anyway thanks and keep up the good work ! i need the clap :(
wth are you talking about? it has a clap.
I find it funny that people takes a piss on the boutiques that they sound different. If you take two analogue 808s they wont sound the same either! And I bet my butt on that if you take an 08s and two 808 most would guess wrong in a blind test
no cowbell? :(
Oh yeah. Sorry about that. I'm sure I used it in one of my tunes. :) Take care, Sam.
It's "smaller" ..best not keep the original around when using the new one.
The TR-808 circuitry is well defined and you can hear the maturity of the device from years of use. Not taking away from the Boutique, it has a very snappy sound but models the TR-808 impressively. Both are excellent instruments and both have five stars in my book. Thanks for the video.
My pleasure! :)
They both siund the same
Don't like either one .. prefer a Linn Drum .. good video though 👍
Oh yeah, the Linn Drum is on my wish list too! :) Someday. Thanks for stopping by. Take care, Sam.
The Original is warmer! The copy is nice & is close!
True. Thanks for watching. Take care, Sam.
Funny how this video is 7:07 minutes :)
I thought the same thing. :) Nice. :)
Yeah ... it's saying, "For that money, get a REAL 707 ... :P"
Apart from the original sounding a little more punchier, there's not a lot in it for me, the TR-08 is definitely worth a purchase, though I've just bought a TR-09, so I don't think I'll be picking one of these up anytime soon, but good demo Sam.
Thanks for stopping by! I love the TR-909 and the TR-09. My 909 needs to be repaired. The clap starting making a swish sound instead of a clap. :( I'm sure you will make more great music with the TR-09. I look forward to it. :) Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
Original more Beef 😍
Where's the beef? Wendy's Commercial from back in the day. Thanks for stopping by. Sam.
the op hi and the cymbal are detuned on the tr 08
Yeah, sorry about that. Thanks for watching. :)
Machiwoomiapoo oh , I thought the sound engine of the cymbal is a bit out of tune. So can you come really close to the 808? Can you make a comparison with the single drums.
Possibly. My next versus video will probably be the TR-8/TR-08/TR-808. :) Thanks for stopping by. :) Sam.
wow the original is way more punchy and beefy and sounds compressed and in your face while the 08 sounds like it needs compression to get it to sound big. i would just put the 08 through some slate digital tape machine and call it a day. But honestly by then u might as well use already processed samples or even the Wave Alchemy Revolution plug in haahha. still a really cool toy. thanks
damn whats wrong with the hats :( thats not a recreation .. sounds more MFB'ish to me
but kick and toms aswell as the other percs sound good to me and will solve any needs :) ! - will purchase it soon too i think
hmm after a few minutes ... i like the sound of the tr 08 a little bit more :D
I didn't tune it to match the original. I didn't know how. Thanks for watching though. BTW, both machines are amazing regardless. :) Sam.
808 by a long shot, all the 08 cymbals and toms are higher pitched
This is a easy one...$300 or $4000
Yeah, in this case if you want to save money go for the TR-08; although, if you want a little better sound I'd get a used TR-8 for about the same price or the TR-8S for a little more. :) Take care, Sam.
The metal sounds are better with more timbre on the original
Nice. Take care, Sam.
interesting...
Graci! :) Sam.
Nice, but you gotta redo it with the toms
Yeah, I know. :) Take care, Sam.
Starting at 5:43 there's some tom action - ruclips.net/video/J5si0OiPR_s/видео.html
Time to sell my 808 then and put the funds towards a moog one.
Lol. :)
The 08 is just playing samples, samples that are too bright in my opinion. Never mind, vintage just means turning down the top with a shelf at 10K. Don't bother, stick to your samples and midi patterns.
The only sound that they got right is the kick drum on the TR-08. Everything else is different from the real thing, especially the lack of sizzle (or high frequency content) on the hi-hats and cymbal. Damn anti-aliasing-filtered digital crap. Are Roland engineers deaf or what ? Thanks for the demo.
finally i can replace the rhythm wolf's kick with something that does a lot more than a volca kick would... the "sizzle" could be re-added by external things.
The 808 definitely sounds better, which is really annoying because I have just bought an 08 and was hoping it was going to make be rich and famous! D'oh
Even by listening with the smartphone the difference is so clear! The 808 is boom, the 08 is a toy. Thanks for this great comparison Sam !
Thank you for watching! I appreciate it. Yes, the 808 boom is wonderful. Take care and have a wonderful week. Sam.
If all the drums were pitched the same & same volume, I think you'd have a harder time than you think with a blind test. The difference is very small if any.
Tr808 better.
Cool! Sam.
0:22
Thanks again. :)
Wow that cymbal on the 08 is really bad.
That's actually pretty close to the original sound. :) Take care, Sam.
So I got an 08 myself and really like it (and the cymbal). I also learned how hard it is to "tune" two units to make a Versus video. I made a tr-08 vs Novation Drumstation vid.
Tr-08 sounds like crisp mid-rangey terrible toy. You wont get that punch, fat and warmth out of a VST in a box. And its not even that cheap. Obviously you wont be able to afford a real 808, so why not use samples then? There are so many sample libs. It'll sound better
Thanks for watching. Take care, Sam.