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Roland's TR-8S mashes all your favorite 80s drum machines together
In the 80s, Roland drum machines were at the epicenter of hip hop, house, techno, acid house and other music genres. The 808, 909, 707, and 606 helped create the beats of some of your favorite songs. But if you wanted to pick up any of these vintage drum machines today, you'd probably end up dropping thousands of dollars. Fortunately, Roland just made getting all those vintage drum sounds a lot easier and cheaper with its new TR-8S, drum machine.
'808' documentary details the rise of the legendary drum machine
Chances are you've heard Roland's iconic TR-808 drum machine at some point during your music streaming. While the name may not ring a bell, artists and producers have been using its trademark sounds since 1980. We're talking the likes of Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys and Kanye West. In fact, the piece of kit has amassed such a massive reputation that the company trotted out a new version last year. Now, the machine is getting a documentary that will chronicle its rise. Set to hit theaters in 2015, 808 details the music that got its sonic chops from Roland's device, including interviews from Rick Rubin, Phil Collins, Fatboy Slim, Questlove, Diplo and many more. Fans of the TR-808 recall that it was discontinued at the height of its popularity, and the film chats with Roland founder Ikutaro "Mr. K" Kakehashi to find out how that came to pass. The documentary is an effort from Atlantic Records' film arm, and is being directed by Alexander Dunn. Can't wait for it to hit the big screen? Catch the trailer just after the break.
