Drums and rhythm
808 vs 909 vs 303: the classic sounds explained
The 808 and the 909 are drum machines and the 303 is a bass synthesizer, all made by Roland in the early 1980s. The 808 is deep and boomy (hip-hop, electro), the 909 is punchy and bright (house, techno), and the 303 makes the squelchy basslines of acid house. EASY RAVE has free machines inspired by all three, so you can hear the difference in your browser.
Three machine numbers come up again and again in electronic music. They are not presets or plugins: they were real Roland instruments, and their sounds became so common that the numbers turned into words.
What is the difference between the 808 and the 909?
Both are drum machines. The difference is in how the drums sound and what music they ended up in.
| 808 | 909 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 1980 | 1983 |
| Kick | Deep and round, with a long booming tail | Short, punchy, with a hard click on top |
| Snare | Thin and snappy | Fatter, with more noise and crack |
| Hi-hats | Metallic, made by synthesis | Crisper and brighter, played from short samples |
| Famous extras | Cowbell, congas, handclap | Handclap, ride and crash cymbals |
| Classic genres | Hip-hop, electro, Miami bass, trap | House, techno, rave |
A simple way to hear it: the 808 kick is a low note you feel, the 909 kick is a punch you hear. Hip-hop producers loved the 808's long kick because it could double as the bass. Club producers loved the 909 because its kick cuts through a big sound system.
What is a 303?
The 303 (the TB-303 Bass Line) is not a drum machine. It is a small bass synthesizer with its own step sequencer, released in 1981.
What makes it special is the way its notes are programmed: each step can be accented (louder, with the filter opening further) and can slide into the next note. Add a resonant filter that whistles when you turn it up, and you get the squelchy, rubbery bassline of acid house. How to make acid house shows the sound being built step by step.
Which one should you use?
| You want to make | Start with |
|---|---|
| House or techno | 909 drums |
| Hip-hop, lo-fi or electro | 808 drums |
| Acid house or acid techno | 909 drums and a 303 bassline |
| 80s pop and funk | A sampled kit in the LinnDrum style |
You do not have to pick only one. Many classic tracks use an 808 kick under 909 hats, or layer the two claps.
How do you play 808, 909 and 303 sounds online for free?
EASY RAVE is a free groovebox that runs in your browser. Three of its machines are inspired by these instruments:
- HOUSE 909 (DRUMS 1): kick, snare, low tom, clap, closed and open hats, ride and crash. HEAVY KICK, DRIVE and a long KICK DECAY range let you push it toward techno.
- DEEP 808 (DRUMS 2): kick, snare, low tom, clap, cowbell, closed and open hats. Turn KICK DECAY up for the long boom, and COWBELL TUNE to move the most famous cowbell sound around.
- AC 303 (BASS): a resonant bass synth with an ACCENT lane and a SLIDE lane, a RANDOM acid line generator, and a SUB knob for extra low end.
They are original designs inspired by the classics, not copies of them, and EASY RAVE is not affiliated with Roland. What they share with the originals is the job each one does in a track.
All three play in time with each other, in the same key, with built-in effects. EASY RAVE also has a fourth drum machine style, LinnBeats, a sampled kit in the spirit of the 80s LinnDrum.
How do you hear the difference yourself?
- Open EASY RAVE and press play.
- On HOUSE 909, pick House from PRESETS.
- Click the DEEP 808 name to open it, pick House from its PRESETS too, then mute HOUSE 909 with its M button.
- Switch the M buttons back and forth while the loop plays. Same pattern, two different machines.
The difference you hear between the two kicks is the whole 808 vs 909 debate in 10 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 808 or 909 better for house music?
The 909 is the classic house and techno drum machine because its kick is short and punchy and its hats are bright. The 808 also appears in house, especially for claps, cowbells and deeper grooves, but the 909 is the usual starting point.
What does "808" mean in trap music?
In trap, an "808" usually means a long, deep bass drum tuned to notes so it plays the bassline. The name comes from the TR-808's bass drum, whose long decay made it possible.
Can you play the 808 kick as a bassline in EASY RAVE?
Not as tuned notes. DEEP 808's KICK DECAY makes the kick long and booming, but it stays at one pitch. For a tuned low end, use AC 303 with the SIN wave and the SUB knob, which play real notes in key.
Is EASY RAVE made by Roland?
No. EASY RAVE is an independent project with no connection to Roland. HOUSE 909, DEEP 808 and AC 303 are original machines inspired by the sound of the Roland classics, built to do the same job in a track.