IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

Very interesting comparing this to Rebirth RB-338, which was my intro to "the 808" - I never realized how much work Propellerheads had put in to streamline and simplify the programming interface.

Also, I really love the little linear scales that come up when you drag over a rotary control: very sweet way to show the user that they should drag up/down to control the value. The added functionality (that I only found on experimenting) of changing the scale size on horizontal drag is brilliant, although IMO when you drag horizontally the scale should preserve the value you're currently on, rather than changing it.

Small nitpicks: the multi-position switches (instrument select, pre-scale, variation, etc) feel like they should be draggable - but they only respond to clicks.

Really nice work :)

Re: IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

#5

Post by S_A_P » Tue, Aug 09, 2016, 12:33 PM UTC

Former 808 owner here, the UI is pretty good, and well done. The sound is, well not an 808. I know this is more of a look what can be done sorta project, and maybe 100% fidelity wasnt your goal, but I would almost prefer the rebirth approach to emulating an 808 by using samples at various settings to match the knob values. In some ways I think you made a decent CR-8000 emulation with the sounds(the cowbell and hat remind me of that)

Anyway, dont want to take away from what was obviously a lot of work. I just want it to sound more like an 808 :)

Re: IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

#6

Post by jarmitage » Tue, Aug 09, 2016, 1:06 PM UTC

The pop-up slider visualisers are interesting, anyone seen those before?

Do they have a name?

Re: IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

#7

Post by vincentriemer » Tue, Aug 09, 2016, 1:16 PM UTC

jarmitage wrote: post #6

The pop-up slider visualisers are interesting, anyone seen those before? Do they have a name?

Creator here: I don't know if they have a name but I based the design of that interaction off of Propellerhead's Thor iOS app which is the only other example of that overlay that I could find.

Re: IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

#8

Post by vincentriemer » Tue, Aug 09, 2016, 1:26 PM UTC

S_A_P wrote: post #5

Former 808 owner here, the UI is pretty good, and well done. The sound is, well not an 808. I know this is more of a look what can be done sorta project, and maybe 100% fidelity wasnt your goal, but I would almost prefer the rebirth approach to emulating an 808 by using samples at various settings to match the knob values. In some ways I think you made a decent CR-8000 emulation with the sounds(the cowbell and hat re…

Thanks for the feedback. My goal for this project was to make a recreation (maybe homage is a better word) completely in the browser. Also I was of the opinion that if I made this sample based the page size would skyrocket and I don't really see people wanting to download an entire 808 sample library just to fool around in a website.

Re: IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

#9

Post by nix0n » Tue, Aug 09, 2016, 1:46 PM UTC

For anyone who sees this and is inspired to get ReBirth RB-338 going, know that modern versions of Windows no longer have support for 16-bit software... but it works great in Wine.

Re: IO-808: A Web-Based TR-808 Drum Machine Using React, Redux, and Web Audio API

#10

Post by errozero » Tue, Aug 09, 2016, 1:51 PM UTC

nix0n wrote: post #9

For anyone who sees this and is inspired to get ReBirth RB-338 going, know that modern versions of Windows no longer have support for 16-bit software... but it works great in Wine.

I'm working on a web-audio app at the moment that allows you to import ReBirth files. Emulates 2 303's and the two drum machines. - Will be released as version 2 of this: http://errozero.co.uk/acid-machine/