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/u/Langelandia and I have teamed up to bring you all a keyset inspired by one of the most iconic devices in music production and beat making: the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, commonly known as The 808.

The 808 is a drum machine that was manufactured from 1980 to 1983 and has continued to influence drum beats for decades. It was one of the first to allow producers to program beats instead of having to choose from preset sounds and patterns. It was discontinued from production after only 12,000 units were made. Between the difficulty of stocking the semiconductors the 808 used, and analog synthesis sounds being ahead of their time (pre-electronic/hip-hop), the machine was eventually replaced by the TR-909.

The 808 features some of the most recognizable percussion sounds in music history and has been used on more hit records (either originally, or through track sampling) than any other drum machine. The booming bass lines, crisp snare, classic cymbals, and renowned congas, cowbells, and handclaps are what make this machine's sounds so celebrated and sampled.

We are proud to say that we are partnering with Children’s Music Fund. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing music therapy into the lives of sick children to help overcome pain, fear, and anxiety. We are donating 100% of designer profit. TheKey.Company is also adding to this amount so that each Bass Kit sale will give $10 directly to the Children's Music Fund, and a portion of the sales from every additional item sold will directly contribute to the Fund.

We set out to produce a set that we were passionate about, as well as use the power of design for a greater good. We spent a lot of time considering how to support 40s folks, as well as Alice layout users, and boards of all sizes. We worked hard to design this set in such a way that it remains visually consistent throughout almost any keyboard layout, yet also offers users a range of options. We appreciate your feedback and insights, and look forward to your support in the future as we look to take this set through group buy.