What drum machine does iO-808 recreate?

iO-808 recreates the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, the classic analog drum machine. According to the site's own description, it is "a fully recreated web-based TR-808 drum machine using React, Redux, and the Web Audio API" — so the goal is to reproduce both the sound and the operating feel of the original hardware in a browser.

What the TR-808 is known for

The TR-808 is famous for its analog drum sounds, which is why it still shapes genres from hip-hop and electro to house and modern pop. Its voice set is the reason producers seek it out:

• Bass drum (kick) — a deep, long-decay thump
• Snare drum — a tight, slightly papery crack
• Hi-hats — closed and open, with a metallic character
• Other signature voices — toms, congas, claves, cowbell, rimshot, handclap, and cymbal

These are the sounds people mean when they say something sounds "808."

How iO-808 approaches the recreation

Because it is built on the Web Audio API, iO-808 generates its drum sounds in the browser rather than playing back samples of the original machine. Combined with React and Redux for the interface and state, this lets it mirror the TR-808's step-sequencer workflow — the same pattern-based way of programming beats the hardware uses.

In practice, that means you get the TR-808's characteristic voice set and sequencing style without needing the physical unit. If you want to know whether any setup is required before you start, that is covered separately in the question about installing iO-808.