For a specific style of electronic music, the TR-808 is the only drum machine that really works well within that context (think Tangerine Dream "Logos" or "Poland"). Itīs just one organic-sounding beast with a wonderful timing. To some extent, the same can be said about the CR-78, and Iīm happy to have both

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I tried the mighty Linn LM-1 Drum Computer (which I used to own for many years), just to find out it didnīt work for me -- it always made me sound like either Kraftwerk, Moroder, or Prince -- but that wasnīt where or what I wanted to be. Same thing with the Oberheim D(M)X (although I found it nicer than the Linn). As soon as TD started using those early digital units, their rigid timing did the feel of the music no good.
Never liked techno or house, though, and anytime I hear an RīnīB or Hip Hop track using the 808 to death I find myself thinking "now, this would a good point for selling the 808". The first ten minutes of "Poland" is the best argument for keeping the 808, though

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Stephen