MR-808 Is A Mechanical Version Of The Most Famous Drum Machine

Anyone who has listened to any music from the 80s has heard the percussive effects of the infamous TR-808 drum machine. To the modern ear, it sounds like an antique. Being the most popular drum machine of all time means it must have some redeeming qualities, right?

[Moritz Simon Geist] decided he wanted nothing to do with the wimpy computer-based emulations of a TR-808. Instead, he chose a more mechanical version that puts robots inside a gigantic 808 enclosure to play snares, high hats, cowbells, and drums in time with any MIDI drum track.

[Moritz] calls his build the MR-808 and puts a real-life bass drum, snares, hats, toms, claps, and a ride into a 3.3 x 1.7 meter ( 10.8 x 5.5 foot) case. The sound triggers are handled by Max/Msp communicating with a pair of Arduinos to handle the solenoids and light effects. You can read more about the hardware setup in [Moritz]’ behind the scenes look.

After the break you can see the MR-808 in action, both alone and by providing the percussion for [Moritz]’ band. A very cool build that now cries out for an Arduinofied bassist placed into an overgrown TB-303 enclosure.

27 thoughts on “MR-808 Is A Mechanical Version Of The Most Famous Drum Machine

  1. I cant seem to get the audio to play past 33 seconds on 2 computers and 3 different browsers , HTML5 or Flash. Anyone else having the same problem?
    The video kinda hiccups and then no audio. Bummer.

    1. Vimeo is garbage for me altogether. I have never owned a computer with which it works correctly, even across operating systems. On this particular embed it just remains a black square with no markings whatsoever.

  2. This is absolutely awesome!

    In the words of the Beastie Boys “nothing sounds quite like an 808.” I was hoping to hear that really naughty slow decay sub-bass kick sound. You can get from a really low-tuned tom.

    Now run that kit through some distortion and bitcrushing :D

  3. I made a midi controlled electromechanical bass rig a few years ago but it didn’t work out.

    It was always bumming cigarettes and constantly late for practice, if it showed up at all.

    ba-da-boom

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