For the next year, one of electronic music’s most storied drum machines will live behind glass in Berlin. Paul van Dyk has loaned his personal Roland TR-808 to the Synthesizer Museum Berlin—a machine that not only helped define an era, but also powered van Dyk’s earliest breakthroughs.
The 808 is woven through van Dyk’s discography, beginning with his breakout classic “For An Angel.” First released in 1994 and later reimagined in 1998 as the “E-Work Remix” (a nod to the Berlin club where he held an early residency), the track’s pulse and precision reflect the drum machine’s signature character. Across countless productions since, that same hardware became synonymous with his clean, emotive, and floor-ready sound.
Reflecting on the loan, van Dyk shared: “This Roland 808 has been with me since the early days; it’s more than just a machine, it’s a part of my musical journey. From ‘For An Angel’ to countless other tracks, its beat helped shape my sound. I’m proud to lend it to Synthesizer Museum Berlin, where it can inspire the next generation of producers just like it inspired me.”
The announcement lands in the afterglow of 808 Day (August 8), the annual celebration of Roland’s landmark instrument. This year, the company marked the occasion with special promotions, including reduced pricing on its TR-808 software plugin—another reminder that the instrument’s influence stretches from vintage circuitry to modern DAWs.
By placing his own 808 on public view, van Dyk underscores the drum machine’s cultural staying power—an artifact of techno’s formative years and a living tool that continues to inspire producers worldwide. If you’re in Berlin, this is more than museum nostalgia; it’s a chance to stand in front of a device that literally set the tempo for a generation.
