drums from “planet rock” by afrika bambaataa & soulsonic force | ToneDB
planet rock
afrika bambaataa & soulsonic force
drums
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A heavily processed and synthesized drum machine sound, characterized by its punchy, electronic, and futuristic vibe. The drums are crisp, robotic, and designed for maximum impact on the dance floor.
Gear
- Roland TR-808instrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plusprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
- AMS RMX16 Reverbprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
The iconic drums on "Planet Rock" were built around the Roland TR-808 drum machine, with producer Arthur Baker and engineer Bob Blank recorded at Unique Recording Studios in New York. The TR-808's individual drum sounds, particularly the snare and hi-hats, were processed through a Roland VP-330 vocoder to create the distinctive robotic textures. An AMS RMX16 reverb was used to add spatial depth while maintaining the punchy, electronic character that became foundational to hip-hop and electro music.
Production Credits
Producer: Arthur Baker
Engineer: Bob Blank
Recorded at: Unique Recording Studios, NYC
Signal Chain
Instrument: Roland TR-808
Processing: Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus, AMS RMX16 Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with the raw sounds of a Roland TR-808 drum machine.
- Experiment with vocoding the individual drum sounds, particularly the snare and hi-hats, using a vocoder like the Roland VP-330.
- Apply a short, bright reverb to add space and character without washing out the punchiness.
Original Gear
- Roland TR-808(drums)
- Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus(synth)
- AMS RMX16 Reverb(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Roland TR-808
Hardware recreation with authentic TR-808 samples plus modern sequencing and individual outputs for processing
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Roland TR-808
Analog drum machine with classic 808-style sounds and built-in distortion for that punchy electro character
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Roland VP-330 Vocoder
Affordable vocoder pedal that can process drum machine outputs to recreate those robotic snare and hi-hat textures
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: AMS RMX16 Reverb
High-end reverb pedal with digital algorithms that can recreate the bright, spacious reverb character of the RMX16
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Roland TR-808 + VP-330 + RMX16
Includes software versions of the TR-808, VP-330 vocoder, and vintage reverbs for complete in-the-box recreation
ReverbSweetwaterSources
Frequently Asked Questions
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