~/log/audio-and-wearables/superos-808
SuperOS-808
Roland TR-808 drum machine (1980 to 1983)
open repo ↗ github.com
- ai
- claude (press report)
- evidence
- public
- reviewed
The 808’s mask-ROM CPU is a single point of failure with no MIDI. SuperOS-808 runs on a small AVR board that sits in the original CPU socket and adds MIDI in, out and clock, 64-step patterns with probability and ratchets, and a browser editor over SysEx. A combined build can also boot the owner’s own dump of the 1981 program for stock behaviour. Nicholas Michalek’s OS-303 does the same job for the TB-303.
- ai
- Synth Anatomy reports that Bjorn Lustic developed the firmware with help from Claude. The README and changelog do not say so, so the credit rests on the press report.
- caveats
- Version 0.4. A CPU replacement in a 45-year-old machine; the analog voices are untouched. Needs an ISP programmer for a fresh board, and the rotary controls need calibrating per machine. Stock behaviour needs a program dump from your own CPU. No licence file.
- evidence
- Public code, about 15 stars, first commit August 2026. The sibling OS-303 for the TB-303 is MIT, about 50 stars.
- github
- 14 stars, last commit 2026-10-15. As of 2026-11-15. Stars show interest, not safety.
Code or detailed materials are published. Says nothing about safety, quality or maintenance. Not tested by unshittify. Added by unshittify. Wrong or out of date? Send a correction.