Machine
DEEP 808: a free 808-style drum machine in your browser
DEEP 808 is DRUMS 2 in EASY RAVE, a free drum machine that runs in your browser. It is inspired by the 808 sound of hip-hop and electro: a deep kick with an adjustable boom, snare, low tom, clap, cowbell, closed and open hats, programmed on a 16-step grid, with 6 factory beats and a full effects rack.
What is DEEP 808?
DEEP 808 is the second drum machine in the EASY RAVE rack, labelled DRUMS 2. It is an original design inspired by the Roland TR-808, the drum machine released in 1980 whose deep kick, snappy snare and cowbell shaped hip-hop, electro and, later, trap.
DEEP 808 starts folded to save space. Click its name (or its logo screen) to open it.
What sounds does DEEP 808 have?
| Sound | Where it usually goes |
|---|---|
| BASS DRUM | The deep kick. Syncopated in hip-hop and electro, on every beat for house |
| SNARE | Beats 2 and 4 |
| LOW TOM | Fills and tom patterns |
| HAND CLAP | Beats 2 and 4, alone or on top of the snare |
| COWBELL | The famous 808 accent: a few hits per bar, tuned to the track |
| CLOSED HAT | 8th or 16th notes |
| OPEN HAT | Offbeats and the end of phrases |
Each row has its own volume knob, M (mute) and S (solo). Right-click a step, or use the ACC row, to accent it.
What do the sound controls do?
Open SOUND MODIFIERS above the grid:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| HEAVY KICK | Squashes and dirties the kick for a harder hit |
| KICK DECAY | How long the kick rings: a short thump at the bottom, the long 808 boom at the top |
| COWBELL TUNE | The pitch of the cowbell, the sound most worth moving |
| CLAP FLAM | One dry crack, or a looser slapback |
| OPEN HAT | How long the open hat rings |
| HAT TONE | Hats darker or brighter |
| CUTOFF | How bright the whole kit is |
| DRIVE | Saturates the kick and snare only, for a fatter low end |
| BIT CRUSHER | Lowers the resolution of the whole kit, for a gritty lo-fi sound |
How do you program an 808 beat?
- Click the DEEP 808 name to open it, then press CLEAR on its sequencer bar.
- Click steps to light them: each row is a sound, each column a 16th note.
- Press play (or Space) and adjust KICK DECAY until the kick has the length you want.
A starting point for hip-hop and electro, with the cowbell on top:
Electro beat on DEEP 808
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KICK | ||||||||||||||||
| CLAP | ||||||||||||||||
| HAT | ||||||||||||||||
| COWBELL |
Turn COWBELL TUNE until the cowbell sits in the key of your bassline. Drum patterns for beginners has 7 more beats to try.
Which presets come with it?
PRESETS holds 6 ready beats: Techno, House, Hip-hop, Breakbeat, Drum & bass and Electro. Hip-hop and Electro show off this kit best. Save your own versions with ＋ SET.
What effects does DEEP 808 have?
The same SOUND EFFECTS rack as every machine: DRIVE, COMPRESSOR, REVERB, EQ, PAN, SIDECHAIN and DELAY. For a long, booming kick, cut the EQ's BASS on the other machines rather than boosting the kick: the 808 has plenty of low end already. Audio effects explained covers each effect.
Frequently asked questions
Is DEEP 808 a real TR-808?
No. DEEP 808 is an original drum machine built for EASY RAVE and inspired by the sound of the TR-808. It is not a recreation of the Roland hardware, and EASY RAVE has no connection with Roland.
Can DEEP 808 play the kick as a bassline, like in trap?
Not as tuned notes. KICK DECAY makes the kick long and booming, but it stays at one pitch. For a tuned low end, pair it with the AC 303 bass using the SIN wave and the SUB knob, which play real notes in key.
Can I use DEEP 808 and HOUSE 909 together?
Yes. All 3 drum machines in EASY RAVE play at the same time, in sync. A common trick is an 808 kick with 909 hats and claps. 808 vs 909 explains what each one is good at.