"RC-808 is a drum synth that can do the rap all by itself. In another words, we will go back to the days of the talking drums. It would be great if you could have a listen to the files.
Giving articulation ability to drum sequencers was actually a part of the Roland history ever since Don Lewis connected an expression pedal to add volume level accent to give variation to a primitive preset patterned rhythm box. This lead Mr Kakehashi to implement "Accent" as a parameter of rhythm machines.
When Mr Kikumoto designed programmable drum sequencers and MIDI protocols, he wondered why the sequencers onboard drum machines don't have any pitch nor duration parameters. Because they are non-tuned percussion? But then synths can provide frequency and envelope curves to match your needs and tastes. Isn't this lack of these parameters result of prejudices or stereo types that still confines the drum sound expressions to a certain notion only?
This is the reason why the RC-808 Standalone edition has a small piano roll style sequencer.
With full fledged general purpose 8 partial synth engines per instruments, you can create both tuned and sustained sounds that can be used for percussive purposes. For instance, this offers "open and close" sound variation to not just hi-hats but to any other instrument you can imagine, like "open and close bass drum" you hear on the demo files here.
Recently, as Kikumoto san was reviewing HipHop and Rap music, he found rappers' rhyme and flow concept somewhat resembling his RC-808 concept of providing further expression to drum sounds.
Inspired with the rhyme and flow concept, he is thinking of expanding this scheme to shed new light to drum sound expression, not just to hiphop and rap, but to all kinds of music genre, with a concept of Drum Rap like MC talking drum so to say."
Featured above are some sound demos from an interview with the Analog Mafia on the RC-808 in Dommune Setouchi 2019. You can find the full hour and 45 minute interview below. The Analog Mafia are the creators of the original Roland x0x series. RC-808 is a newer project which just got an update you can find at https://rc-808.com/download. You can find additional posts featuring the RC-808 here. The first post with some history is here. They are also a supporting member of the site.
Description for the video above:
"Tadao Kikumoto, together with DJ Hisashi Saito, and galcid Lena, demonstrates how the RC-808 Re-Create the 808 software Drum Synthesizer sounds like.
Tadao is the leader of Analog Mafia who are the original R&D team who developed the MId-O Series like TR-808, TR-909, TR-606, and TB-303. The RC-808 was developed to express full respect and gratitude to all the fans of the Mid-O Series, and also to show how actually the Analog Mafia wanted the 808 to be.
Find out more details such as development episodes, secrets behind the Mid-O Series, and download the RC-808 on Re-Create the 808 website, the only resource from the true originators themselves!! https://vector808.jimdofree.com"
And the full interview:
RC-808 in Dommune Setouchi 2019
video upload by vector criterion
"Tadao Kikumoto gets interviewed from DJ Hisashi Saito, and galcid Lena, about how he and his R&D team tried to develop the legendary TR-808.
Then they delve deep into the RC-808 Re-Create the 808 drum synthesizer to actually see, hear, and experience the real original intention behind developing the TR-808.
This was originally live streamed as a part of Dommune Synthesizer Academy Part 5 on Aug 22, 2019 from below channel.
Big thanks to Naohiro Ukawa from Dommune for providing us the video, together with DJ Hisashi Saito and glacid Lena for the awesome interview, to let our memeh spread through the wold wide web.
Find out more details such as development episodes, secrets behind the Mid-O Series, and download the RC-808 on Re-Create the 808 website, the only resource from the true originators themselves!! https://vector808.jimdofree.com"
The RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” Windows and Mac VST/AU plug-in, from the creators of the original Roland x0x series mentioned in this post, is now available for download at https://rc-808.com/download/.
Some details from the page for the archives:
"The RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” emulates the original TR-808 sound with analog manner synthesis. As the name implies, it is with respect to the original 808 sounds which is a criterion for sound synthesis as a vintage. Starting from this criterion, explore the multiverse of sounds, stretch out your vectors, to find out new criterion of your own. Yes, it can take you to the new sonic worlds that are completely different and yet so close and familiar to you.
Hence it is not a drum machine but is a drum synthesizer. No samples nor effects processing are being used, just genuine synthesis only, all in analog manner.
The sound source employs DCO which is in this case Down Chirp Oscillator, combined with a noise source that outputs various kinds of noises including metallic noises. There is also a infinite point wave shaper, a variable filter bank, infinite point envelope generators etc. With maximum 8 partials per voice, it allows sound designing in subtractive synthesis manner which is familiar to all, and yet still with vast outer space beckoning to be discovered.
Thanks to this flexible architecture, all instruments can have Open and Close variations just like Hi-Hats or cymbal choke performance. Coupled with piano-roll sequencer utility this brings new expressions with gate time programming, that you don’t see on a drum sequencer.
However, please note that this is a conceptual model.
We fully understand that, although we continue developing and updating this conceptual offspring of ours, it is still in its very preliminary phase, and thus is full of bugs. Then why we are releasing it globally? Because it is our hope to spread our original intention on making the TR-808 to everybody in the world, to be shared by everybody in the world, and have our memes to be passed on through ages to come. Even if it is not perfect yet, the essence of our spirit will expand its horizon and will exist ubiquitously throughout this planet.
Therefore, please note that because the RC-808 “Re-Create the 808” is merely a conceptual model to show the originally intended architecture of the TR-808, it is not fully developed as an instrument for actual usage. We do not bear any responsibility for any possible inconvenience or damages caused by this. We cannot answer to any inquiries for this product as well.
Finally, please allow us to mention that we are independent from Roland Corporation, and therefore they also cannot answer to any inquiries.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding on above all. Thank you again, indeed."
RC-808 Re-Create has a new home with some updates at https://rc-808.com. Click through for the new site. Note RC-808 Re-Create is from the original developers of the Roland TR-808 & x0x series. See this post for a pic of the "Analog Mafia" as they are known, along with some initial details on the project.
"At the moment we are busy developing the VST / AU plug-in versions on Win / Mac environments. We are a very small entity with very much limited workforce, centered around Tadao Kikumoto, the project leader of the vintage TR-808. The sheer amount of parameters derived from the vast 8 partial architecture makes it a tough challenge to realize automation on DAW. Yet still, we will bring the plug-in edition to you very soon.
Again, because we are interested only in distributing our own vision of what we actually wanted the original 808 to be, and as the token of our deepest gratitude to all of our great beautiful fans of the 808, we are providing this as free of charge, still even now, as it was from the beginning of this endeavor.
The 808 is only the beginning. Create your own sonic universe, and voyage across the gulf of sound space from here.
Thank you so much for your patience.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay cool, and please please do take good care of yourself."
You might remember the RC-808 from the makers of the original Roland X0X series. Above a few new demos from Kyos330 featuring kits by Hisashi Saito. Below you'll find a list of updates over the past two months. You can find the project at https://vector808.jimdofree.com. Recent updates include the Mac version of the RC-808, and the reference manual.
RC-808 Demo Play / 909 Vintage Kit by Hisashi Saito
RC-808 Demo Play / Modified 909 Kit by Hisashi Saito
RC-808 Demo Play / 808 Vintage Kit by Hisashi Saito
RC-808 Mac Ver. Demo Preview PWEBDSDBS1
RC-808 Demo Song Preview GateAction_2_0907
RC-808 DemoPlay 190808
What"s New
10. 01. 2019 - Mac version RC-808, plus more sounds, more sequences, more demos, and Reference Manual uploaded.
09. 09. 2019 - The Second Mid-O Day. More demos available on the 808 Media webpage. We tried hard to release the Mac version though.
09. 01. 2019 - Dommune interview and RC-808 review archive video edited and uploaded on 808 Media webpage!
08. 22. 2019 - 19:00 JST / UTC +0900 - Tadao Kikumoto with RC-808 on Streaming Channel "Dommune". Thank you so much for watching!
08. 22. 2019 - The contents of the Quick Start that comes with the RC-808 is now also shown on the RC-808 Download page.
08. 20. 2019 - 808 Media page added. We appreciate all of your kind support to us!
08. 08. 2019 - 21:00 JST / UTC +0900 - The First Mid-O Day. This website launched when the entire planet Earth was supposedly in 808 Day.
First we have a new software model of the TR-808 from the original developers of the 808:
"The RC-808 'Re-Create the 808' emulates the original TR-808 sound with analog manner synthesis. As the name implies, it is with respect to the original 808 sounds which is a criterion for sound synthesis as a vintage. Starting from this criterion, explore the multiverse of sounds, stretch out your vectors, to find out new criterion of your own. Yes, it can take you to the new sonic worlds that are completely different and yet so close and familiar to you.
Hence it is not a drum machine but is a drum synthesizer. No samples nor effects processing are being used, just genuine synthesis only, all in analog manner.
The sound source employs DCO which is in this case Down Chirp Oscillator, combined with a noise source that outputs various kinds of noises including metallic noises. There is also a infinite point wave shaper, a variable filter bank, infinite point envelope generators etc. With maximum 8 partials per voice, it allows sound designing in subtractive synthesis manner which is familiar to all and yet still with vast space beckoning to be discovered.
Thanks to this flexible architecture, all instruments can have Open and Close variations just like Hi-Hats or cymbal choke performance. Coupled with piano-roll sequencer utility this brings new expressions with gate time programming, that you don’t see on a drum sequencer..."
Second, the following is some info on the people behind the RC-808 (pictured above) via Vector808:
"We the Analog Mafia, lead by Tadao Kikumoto, is the original R&D staffs who developed the Mid-O Series from Roland Corporation. We would like to express full gratitude and respect to all the people who were in Roland, and supported us at that time.
In above photo, from left to right, we the Analog Mafia are:
Jun-ichi Kadoya: Roland 1977 - 1983, Mid-O Series software / hardware engineer, still is a programmer
Hisanori Matsuoka: Roland 1979 - 1995, Mid-O Series software / hardware engineer, still is an engineer
Kyokazu Fujiwara: Roland 1978 - 1981, Mid-O Series sound source, now a general manager of a software maker
Tadao Kikumoto: Roland 1977 - 2009, Mid-O and V-Series R&D, now Silent Street Music concept maker and promotion
Yoshiro O-e: Roland 1978 - 1988, System-700 and Mid-O Series R&D, now operating a chemical company
Also are:
Hiro Nakamura: Roland 1975 - 2000, CR-68, CR-78, TR-808 sound sources, engineer
Atsushi Hoshiai: Roland 1982 - present, sampling for TR-909, engineer
We all are still analog manias ;)
Because we are independent from Roland Corporation, they nor we can not answer to any kind of inquiries about us and our deliverables including this website. Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation for everything.
Tadao Kikumoto is currently also working busy on another equally innovative project, called SSM - Silent Street Music. It is multi-channel concurrent streaming and listening technology that allows zapping through multiple music or lecture sources instantly. Join us on its exclusive introduction website (at the moment the website is only in Japanese language)"
Third, vector808 has a fascinating historical account covering the development of the Roland TR-808 starting with the x0x series, or as the original Roland developers referred to them, "The Mid-O" series. The following are three excerpts followed by a link to the full article. Note how they perceived the TR-808 was a failure compared to the LinnDrum in the second excerpt.
One:
"The Beginning
In 1983, a number of instruments were released with MIDI, the standard that I was involved in. After the tough times with all the difficulties of development, Roland launched the TR-909 the successor model of TR-808. Yamaha made debut of the ground breaking DX7, a serious digital synthesizer and again with MIDI. It was the opening of the new chapter in the electronic musical instruments, the dawn of full digital synthesis.
Roland then was still a new emerging enterprise, and did not have enough resources to pursue digital technology. To combat the situation, the Fundamental Research and Development Department was established."
Two:
"To meet the low target price, I employed oscillation technique of pulse wave modulating the simple T-network bandpass filter. By short circuiting the resistors in the T-type network for the certain initial duration with transistors, it was possible to raise the frequency. This allowed us to enforce the attack sound compared with conventional rhythm boxes.
But the initial reputation of the 808 was nothing but crippled as it was compared with the Linn products. Furthermore, the sound had insufficient impact or punch at the beginning, which resulted to have pronounced fundamental frequency 60 Hz. But then again, it was this prominent fundamental which attracted the attention of later time hip-hop and EDM artists, and they gave a name to it as “Deep Decay”. This led to the rediscovery of Mid-O Series. The long decay sound was made possible by decay parameter that I added to show at least as a sign or as an evidence of the 808 being a synthesizer. Even inside the company this was regarded as going too far, but later it became one of vital identities of the 808.“
Three:
"If you liken it in the picture art world, the TR-808 sounds are simple line drawings and illustrations so to speak. It puts more weight on showing essence simply rather than realistic photography. The traditional painting of Japan known as Ukiyo-e is a pictorial method and manner that is primarily made of outlines derived from specification of printing and paints. This manner has its own limits, and hence is a vector of criterion. Katsushika-Hokusai, famous for his Mr Fuji pictures, created The Great Wave off Kanagawa（神奈川南沖浪浦 Kanagawa Minami Oki Nami Ura）. In that piece of work, he threw off the photographic details into abstraction that boldly enhanced the great waves by outlines, and made contrast with a pointed Mt Fuji. This manner derived from its own limits is something impossible with realistic paintings that put priorities on details.
The inventor of the bass drum must have done trial and errors like enlarging the diameter or making the membrane thicker to produce fat low sound. Large portion of the beater strike energy to the skin however must have been consumed by uneven fractional vibration or parasite vibrations, resulting unwanted muddy sound. Also, the drummer spends a long time doing a lot of work on damping with blankets and else in order to suppress the unnecessary resonance with the body or with other drums. But once adequately used, this dirt will become important part of the sound, its identity, reality, and criterion.
The TR-808 bass drum was without the reality of the drums but was like an enhanced great wave depicted in the Hokusai’s picture. It is with abstraction of the details, but then again, also with dynamic and ideal low sound. It lacks with the attack impact and the release decay of sampling drum reality, but the artists chose its ideality."
