Roland TR-808 Gets New Firmware After Over 45 Years, Adding Ratcheting, Probability + More
Happy 808 Day!
The classic Roland TR-808 Computer-Controlled Rhythm Composer is getting a new lease on life, after 46 years, with a third-party, open source firmware update.
SuperOS-808 is a free alternative firmware for the TR-808 that adds a wide range of capabilities, including:
- Patterns extended from 32 to 64 steps (four sections instead of two). Sections 3 and 4 default to zero length, so stock-written patterns behave identically.
- Per-step probability and ratchet, per-instrument loop length and polymeter, swing, play direction, live reslice, arp, pattern generate, copy/paste, transform, mute.
- MIDI in/out: drum notes (velocity 100 asserts accent), program change for pattern selection, clock sync as slave or master, soft thru.
- A web editor over SysEx for pattern editing, panel calibration, and firmware/program-image upload.
*Note: The new firmware for the Roland TR-808 runs on an AT90USB1286 CPU replacement board in the µPD650C socket (Teensy++ 2.0 class).
This firmware works on the Michigan Synth Works Vox DEI, which is coming soon with an updated version to support the TR-808.
It is available now via Github. Visit the SuperOS-808 manual for details.
