An 808 is a type of electronic percussion sample that originates from the Roland TR-808 drum machine. It is characterized by a punchy low-end subby-ness that is easily tunable to different pitches. The 808 is one of the most iconic sounds in modern music and is probably as important as the Fender Stratocaster is to rock and roll. The original TR-808 comprised programmable kick, snare, low tom, mid tom, hi-hat, and cymbal sounds. However, in modern music terminology, when people say 808, they are typically referring to the 808 bass sound.
The 808 is widely used in many genres of music, including trap, pop, and most other forms of electronic music. It is sought after by producers because of its unique sound and versatility. The 808 bass sound can be manipulated in various ways to create different effects, such as compression, distortion, and transient manipulation.
In summary, an 808 is a type of electronic percussion sample that originates from the Roland TR-808 drum machine. It is characterized by a punchy low-end subby-ness that is easily tunable to different pitches and is widely used in many genres of music.
