The 808 day, the perfect opportunity to get RC-808-PLG, an authentic TR-808 emulation as a free VST/AU plugin created by the makers of the Roland TR-808.
On the 808 day, there was not only a SuperColider based 808 emulation but also another recreation. Analog Mafia, the developers of the Mid-O series from Roland has today released RC-808, a new free VST/AU drum machine inspired by the Roland TR-808.
However, the RC-808-PLG is not a classic TR-808 emulation, but rather a 16 channel drum Synthesizer based on the legendary 808 engine that was never released. According to the developers, the original TR-808/909/TB-606 was created as a drum Synthesizer, not as a drum machine. In the final, this big engine never got into the final product, but a very slimmed-down one version with very shaping limitations. Even without this, the 808 became a legend.
Overview
The RC-808-PLG is a free drum machine/Synthesizer plugin based on this initial engine that allows you to modify every instrument in detail. With one click on the drum trigger, you get access to a huge synthesis engine that gives you everything in your hands for designing own drum sounds. The sound source of RC-808-PLG employs DCO which is in this case Down Chirp Oscillator, combined with a noise source that outputs various kinds of noises including metallic noises. There is also an infinite point waveshaper, a variable filter bank, infinite point envelope generators etc.
With a maximum 8 partials per voice, it allows sound designing in subtractive synthesis manner which is familiar to all, and yet still with vast outer space beckoning to be discovered. Each of its 16 instruments to have a synthesizing power equivalent of that of a System-700 modular synth – all that magnitude just for one single instrument. Multiply that by 16, and you’ll get the idea about the scale of the original intention by the engineers. The RC-808 doesn’t use samples at all, it’s all pure synthesis magic.
It looks like the former developers of the TR series have developed a nice free plugin here. A kind of Roland Cloud TR-808 alternative but free and even more authentic because it comes from original developers who worked on the devices at the time. I think it’s nice that you can now play and experiment with the actual engine of the TR-808 yourself. To all developers who develop TR-808 clones, please think a little further and bring one with this power. This could be the next-gen hardware 808.
Analog Mafia is:
- Jun-ichi Kadoya: Roland 1977 – 1983, Mid-O Series software/hardware engineer, still is a programmer
- Hisanori Matsuoka: Roland 1979 – 1995, Mid-O Series software/hardware engineer, still is an engineer
- Kiyokazu Fujiwara: Roland 1978 – 1981, Mid-O Series sound source, now a general manager of a software maker
- Tadao Kikumoto: Roland 1977 – 2009, Mid-O and V-Series R&D, now Silent Street Music concept maker and promotion
- Yoshiro O-e: Roland 1978 – 1988, System-700 and Mid-O Series R&D, now operating a chemical company
- Hiro Nakamura: Roland 1975 – 2000, CR-68, CR-78, TR-808 sound sources, engineer
- Atsushi Hoshiai: Roland 1982 – present, sampling for the TR-909, engineer
Because we are independent from Roland Corporation, they nor we can not answer to any kind of inquiries about us and our deliverables including this website. Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation for everything.
Analog Mafia RC-808-PLG is available now as a free download for PC & Mac (VST/AU). Don’t forget to download the Refill Sounds to get the ready-to-use presets. Thanks guys for this development!
More information here: AM
just saying: it’s Analog Mania, quite a difference 😉
check the bottom of the developer website, they write Analog Mafia and they described the group also as an Analog Mafia 😉
strange thing… sounds great and all, but awfull installing and preset loading experience. Whatch out, the default setting will break your hear. Sometimes it’s written analog MAFIA, sometimes MANIA. The manual recommands to set the vst file into “steinbUrg/vst”. And crash reaper after deeper editting…
Haha, I saw that later, thanks 😉 The VST is amazing, I hope they iron out the bugs and add separate audio outs. That would make this the best 808/909 by far!