Roland Boutique TR-08 Rhythm Composer Drum Machine

The classic sound of an 808 in a little miniature box. This is a fun little drum machine for those looking to get a retro feel of using an 808. Everything about this boutique is styled in its likeness from it's interface to of course its sounds. The funny thing is that every sound from the 808 has been used so much and so often it doesn't exactly make your jaw drop but the fun of the unit is the experience of playing it as it is more retro than modern with it's features. It's interesting to see just how much Roland crammed into a tiny little unit. The draw back though is that the size of it does make programming it feel a bit "crowded" as you navigate trough the buttons but it's sound is rather massive. You really cannot go wrong if you want authentic Roland 808 ... MoreThe classic sound of an 808 in a little miniature box. This is a fun little drum machine for those looking to get a retro feel of using an 808. Everything about this boutique is styled in its likeness from it's interface to of course its sounds. The funny thing is that every sound from the 808 has been used so much and so often it doesn't exactly make your jaw drop but the fun of the unit is the experience of playing it as it is more retro than modern with it's features. It's interesting to see just how much Roland crammed into a tiny little unit. The draw back though is that the size of it does make programming it feel a bit "crowded" as you navigate trough the buttons but it's sound is rather massive. You really cannot go wrong if you want authentic Roland 808 sounds in a budget box.

Beautiful Drum Synth for the classic 808 sounds.

The TR-08 is nicely built, robust and with its nostalgic 80s look it's a beauty. The sounds are the ones you expect from an 808, programming it is not the most straightforward thing, but there's a myriad of online tutorials on it. An extra cool feature (that other similar devices like the Korg Volcas lack) is its mix input, which allows you to route through your lead/bass synth and hear them through the headphones or the built-in speaker. But even better than that is that when connecting through USB, it works as a USB sound card and you can record all the TR-08 instruments separately PLUS the mix input, so you can use the TR-08 to record your synths to Ableton or whichever DAW you use. I wasn't aware of this feature when I bought it, but now I use it all the ... MoreThe TR-08 is nicely built, robust and with its nostalgic 80s look it's a beauty. The sounds are the ones you expect from an 808, programming it is not the most straightforward thing, but there's a myriad of online tutorials on it. An extra cool feature (that other similar devices like the Korg Volcas lack) is its mix input, which allows you to route through your lead/bass synth and hear them through the headphones or the built-in speaker. But even better than that is that when connecting through USB, it works as a USB sound card and you can record all the TR-08 instruments separately PLUS the mix input, so you can use the TR-08 to record your synths to Ableton or whichever DAW you use. I wasn't aware of this feature when I bought it, but now I use it all the time.I'd recommend the TR-08 to anyone looking for 808 sounds and it's ok with the small form factor (I haven't had problem with the small knobs). Other people prefer the TR-8 or the TR-8s, but in my opinion, looks also matter and the 808 design looks much better than the ARIA line of products from Roland. Moreover, it seems like the Boutique products are limited runs, so the TR-08 will probably become a collector item soon, like it happened with the TR-09, which I don't think it will happen with the TR-8 and TR-8s units. All in all, a cool composer, I'm happy with my purchase, and the shopping experience with Sam Ash was smooth and problem free. #sweepstakes

Classic 808 sounds great drum machine but...

If you are looking for those old-school 1980s beats this is the drum machine that started it all. and one third of the price of the original you could own this classic beatbox machine but it doesn't come with instructions or how to use it. I guess Roland was thinking that everybody knows how the program this machine but if you're like me and you would just eight years old when the original one came out you don't know how to program it. Go to YouTube and watch some tutorials on how to program this machine. Roland drop the ball all the instruction manual they really should have included it but it is still worth owning

Classic drum machine but way overpriced

If you like that classic drum machine sound from the 1980s look no further. This is a excellent drum machine but the only problem is the sounds are very dated of course it is a reproduction of the classic but they are asking too much money for these old sounds. Roland it's pretty much robbing people when they asking $380 for this drum machine that came out around 1981 or 82. If this drum machine was priced at maybe $100 then it would be worth it. oh by the way it comes with no manual so you going to have to go to YouTube to learn how to program this headache of a beast

Get your 80s clothes out of the closet

This thing is great. The onboard speaker is a really nice addition. It doesn't have the greatest sound quality but it's more than worth the trade off for the portability. Pick one up and make some sick beats.

Not designed for Rock and Roll

Works as intended but it is just not designed for hard rock and roll. This drum machine is designed more specifically for Dance Music, Hip Hop, Rap, R & B or other soft genres of music. I play hard rock, and this is just too soft for hard rock.

Pretty close to the real thing

As a previous TR-808 owner, I can say that this captures the spirit of it. Very inspiring to use with the authentic sound and layout. The only downsides are there are no individual outs (the TR-808 has them), and the cymbals are a little harsh (because they're digital) sounding compared to the TR-808. The overall sound is a little more hi-fi (bright) than the 808, and a little less gutsy in the mids/lowmids. EQ can and does fix that. Add mid/low-mids, reduce highs and you're 95% of an 808, for 10% of the price of a vintage 808.

So Much Fun - Thank You Roland!

Love it, as I do all the Boutique gear I've purchased. The build quality is great, the sounds are great, and it's so much more fun to play with a physical instrument than to be tied to my computer screen. There seems to be much internet debate over the Boutique line, many people complain about the sound, or the small size, or the fact that they can get a used vintage version or a VST plug-in version...that's fine, folks - go do that. Roland releasing these products does not hinder you in any way. For those of us with fewer (or different) hang-ups, the Boutique series are fun, great-sounding portable instruments with which we can make music - which is, after all, the whole point! If this looks like fun to you, I would heartily recommend purchasing one - I've been ... MoreLove it, as I do all the Boutique gear I've purchased. The build quality is great, the sounds are great, and it's so much more fun to play with a physical instrument than to be tied to my computer screen. There seems to be much internet debate over the Boutique line, many people complain about the sound, or the small size, or the fact that they can get a used vintage version or a VST plug-in version...that's fine, folks - go do that. Roland releasing these products does not hinder you in any way. For those of us with fewer (or different) hang-ups, the Boutique series are fun, great-sounding portable instruments with which we can make music - which is, after all, the whole point! If this looks like fun to you, I would heartily recommend purchasing one - I've been having a blast with mine!

THIS DRUM MACHINE IS FANTASTIC!

The Roland TR-08 Rhythm composer is a exceptional, creative tool for musicians and recording engineers. This drum machine was designed to keep the original 808 feel but has the style of Roland's Boutique series. It features unrivaled sounds and creative possibility with features like adjustment of gain, decay, EQing and more! The TR-08 is also customizable and can be programmed to display different light and EQ effects. All in all a Great drum machine and worth every penny.

The 08 is Great!

This little machine is very easy to work with and truly sounds great. This product feels extremely well-made and durable with still maintaining the classic aesthetic of vintage drum machines.I really like how Roland gives you the set up options of having the machine either flat, angled, or a steeper angle for ultimate conformability. The rubber pads on the bottom are very grippy so you can feel comfortable to put this on nearly any surface, or other tool without concern. Every single sound that comes out of the TR-08 sounds rich, solid, and real. Great job by Roland, especially in this price range.