Best 808 VST’s

Last updated on August 19th, 2021

Ever since around 1983, 808s and electronic drum beats have been taking over the rap/hip hop scene. So much of the energy and mood of the song is set by the 808 establishing the beat and presence of the percussion. To make your beats and mixes sound like the ones being used by the pros out there, you want to make sure you have the best sounds available.

Top 808 VST’s to Add to Your Projects

• Punchbox
• 808 Bloodline VST
• TR-808
• BD-808-Pro
• Thump

What To Look For When Choosing an 808 VST

Here are the key components we look for when we consider any plugins and VSTs. 

Pricing

The pricing for an 808 VST varies based on what all you will be getting. Like with anything else, a package deal will cost you a bit more than any single item. We will have both options represented at least once in this list for you to compare the differences in pricing. 

Compatibility – System Requirements

You will want to make sure you have your computer updated and fully functional prior to the installation of your VST. 

DAW Compatibility

Without your DAW being able to function with your plugins, it becomes completely pointless to use. That is why it is important to keep your DAWs updated as well as the plugins themselves. This should keep everything operating smoothly. 

Frequency of Use

If you are pushing to be a producer and full time beat maker, you will want a tool that you can use over and over again with minimal edits needed. 

If you are wanting to regularly change and experiment with new sounds, you could always look into a subscription with Splice where you can get new sounds every month.

Skill Level

If you are new to producing beats, a synthesizer where you make the sounds from scratch might not be your best first choice.

That being said there are many great ways to learn new methods to create those sounds. But many of the options in our list of the best 808 VSTs are easy to approach and use for beginners. 

5 Best 808 VSTs

Here, in no particular order, is our selection of the best 808 VSTs.

1. Punchbox – D16 Group

Punchbox is a combination of kick sounds from 808’s to samples that you can use and stack on your tracks. This allows for all sorts of creative combinations to make the best 808 sound for your next beat.

• Who’s it for? Experienced and above
• Price:
  • Subscription – $5.99 per month for 15 months
  • Total – $80.19
• DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, good for Ableton

System Requirements: 

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM8 GB recommended	4 GB RAM8 GB recommended
Operating System	10.7 – 10.14	Windows 7, 8, or 10

2. 808 Bloodline VST – Angelicvibes

This is a really simple layout with a straightforward approach. Not only does it have amazing editing options, but it has 75 808 samples that you can choose from to tweak.

• Who’s it for? Beginners and above
• Price: $49.95
• DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, good for Cubase

System Requirements: 

	Mac	Windows
Memory	4 GB RAM	4 GB RAM
Operating System	10.8.5 -10.15	Windows 7 64 bit – 10

3. TR- 808 – Roland

Have you ever heard someone say they want a classic sounding beat? Well it cannot get much more classic than this. Roland created a VST of their classic TR- 808, which was one of the first beat machines to create that808 sound.

• Who’s it for? Intermediate and above
• Price: Roland Pro Cloud Plan – $99 per year or $9.99 per month
• DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, good for FL Studio

System Requirements: 

	Mac	Windows
Memory	2 GB RAM or more	2 GB RAM or more
Operating System	10.11 or later	Windows 7, 8, 10

4. BD-808-Pro – Synsonic Instruments

The BD-808 is the perfect combination of simplicity as well as technical prowess. The user interface allows for easy understanding and is perfect for someone wanting to learn the ins and outs of 808s.

• Who’s it for? Beginners and above
• Price: $29
• DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, good for Reason

System Requirements: 

	Mac	Windows
Memory	2 GB RAM	2 GB RAM
Operating System	10.8.5 -10.15	Windows 7 64 bit – 10

5. Thump – Angelicvibes

Thump has almost every tool you could need to create the best sounding 808 possible. As a very visual person, one of my favorite aspects is the waveform image that will change, as you apply your edits, to match your actions.

• Who’s it for? Intermediate and above
• Price: $29
• DAW Support: All popular DAWs supported, good for Logic

System Requirements:

	Mac	Windows
Memory	2 GB RAM	2 GB RAM
Operating System	10.8.5 -10.15	Windows 7 64 bit – 10

Know When to Stop

One of the biggest issues of producers is knowing when to stop tweaking. So many people will sit and try to focus on little details that will never be heard.

The biggest fact to remember is that you need to worry about finishing rather than perfecting. Of course, you want to make sure you have a final product that the client is happy with, but you don’t want to get lost in the details exploring for a “new sound” when you already have one that fits the song perfectly. 

I hope all of this was helpful in your search for an 808. If you would like to learn more about plugins and software, see what we have to say here.