The BD808 is more than just a punchy, iconic kick drum—it's a flexible Eurorack sound source and processor that really shines when combined with other modules. Drawing on the tips from the manual and adding my own patching experience, here are some inspiring techniques and combinations to get more from your BD808:
Modules: Distortion (e.g., Erica Synths Fusion Tube VCA, Intellijel µFold, WMD Geiger Counter), Wavefolders
Patch Idea:
Crank the BD808’s LEVEL and ACCENT to max, driving downstream distortion or wavefolding modules to explore tearing, aggressive timbres. The output can go directly into a distortion/wavefolder, or hit a characterful VCA first for amplitude dynamics.
Modules: Gate sequencers (e.g., Intellijel Steppy, Mutable Instruments Grids)
Patch Idea:
Patch independent and creatively sequenced gates into the ACCENT IN of the BD808 to emphasize offbeats or trigger double-kicks. This dual-trigger system lets you program nuanced, humanized patterns easily—far more dynamic than typical drum machines.
Modules: Multi-mode filter (e.g., Mutable Instruments Ripples, Make Noise QPAS), LFOs, Envelopes
Patch Idea:
Route BD808 into an analog filter, then modulate the filter cutoff with an envelope or LFO. For even wilder results, patch another drum’s output (e.g., a hat module like Tiptop HATS808) into the filter’s CV input for percussive, frequency-modulated filtering, syncing sonics between drum voices.
Modules: Pitch or function generators (e.g., Make Noise Maths, Expert Sleepers Disting), Pitch-to-gate converters
Patch Idea:
Trigger the BD808 at audio rates or with very tight pulse trains to create heavy, pseudo-melodic basslines. With decay extended, and careful tuning of gate intervals, you can sculpt sub bass pulses that step well outside traditional drum timbres.
Modules: VCAs, Ring Modulators (e.g., Doepfer A-132, ALM Busy Circuits Tangle Quartet)
Patch Idea:
Run the BD808 and another drum or synth voice through a VCA or ring modulator, modulating one with the other for amplitude-modulated percussive effects. This technique adds movement and grit, great for techno rhythms or experimental textures.
Modules: Bitcrushers, Samplers, Effects Processors (e.g., Tiptop Audio Z-DSP, Gamechanger Audio Plasma Drive, ALM MFX)
Patch Idea:
Send the BD808 signal into a bitcrusher or sampler with very low bit-depth/rate for lo-fi, glitched percussion. A granular sampler can stretch out kick decays, or layer kicks for polyrhythmic results.
Modules: Feedback loops (via mixers, VCAs, or custom routing)
Patch Idea:
Push the DECAY until the BD808 begins to self-oscillate—then route its output back into itself via a VCA or mixer for howling, bassy drones, or rhythmically gated mad-science effects. Experiment with feedback topology for new sounds.
Modules: CV sources, random generators, sequencers (e.g., Mutable Instruments Marbles, Make Noise René)
Patch Idea:
Use a precision CV-to-plug drone to automate the LEVEL, TONE, DECAY, or ACCENT parameters (with external CV-volume adders or motorized pots, if supported by expanders or third-party adders). This can morph the kick sound per step for ever-evolving percussion.
The BD808, when integrated with classic and experimental modules, becomes a launchpad for sonic exploration—use it for everything from standard kicks to sculpted, otherworldly textures. Don't just use it as a kick—think of it as a powerful analog sound source for a world of processing and modulation.