The Roland TR-909 and TR-808 are the canonical drum machines of techno — cheap when released, later highly collectible

Detroit techno’s founding producers used the Roland TR-808 and TR-909 as primary rhythmic instruments, along with the TB-303, SH-101, Yamaha DX7, and DX100. The TR-808 became the hip-hop staple, while the TR-909 found its home in house and techno — ‘the pioneers of Detroit techno [who] were making the 909 the rhythmic basis of their sound.’ By the mid-1990s both had achieved legendary status: a 909 that sold for under £200 in 1988 fetched £900–£1,100 by 1996. The TR-808 lacked MIDI (using DIN sync), so early sequencing required hardware sequencers like the Korg SQD1 and Roland MC-50. Despite the mythology, Derrick May insisted there is no drum machine that makes the best techno.

Examples

Derrick May’s ‘Nude Photo’ (1987) used a Yamaha DX100, not an 808 or 909 — a caution against equating a sound with a single box.

Assessment

Explain why a drum machine that failed commercially in the mid-1980s became the most sought-after instrument in techno by the mid-1990s. What cultural and sonic factors drove this reversal?