
What is an 808? A Guide for Modern Metal Producers
Nail The Mix Staff
You hear them everywhere. From trap bangers to the seismic breakdowns in a Falling in Reverse or Spiritbox track. The term "808" has become shorthand for that deep, resonant bass sound that shakes the entire room. But what is it, really? And more importantly, why should you, a metal producer, care about it?
If you’re just looking for a quick definition: an 808 is a synthesized bass sound that originates from the kick drum of the iconic Roland TR-808 drum machine. Today, it refers to any deep, sustained sub-bass note used as a melodic or percussive element.
But we’re not just here for a history lesson. We’re here to break down how this sound has infiltrated modern metal, and how you can use it to make your productions sound absolutely massive—without turning your low end into a muddy disaster.
The 808's Journey from Hip-Hop to Metalcore
The original Roland TR-808 was a commercial flop in the early ‘80s, but producers in hip-hop and electronic music discovered its unique, powerful low-end. The kick drum, with its long decay, could be tuned and used as a bass instrument. It became the foundation of entire genres.
Fast forward to today. The lines between genres have completely blurred. Bands are pulling influences from everything, and that includes the production techniques of hip-hop and pop. The modern metal audience expects highly polished production, and the 808—or “bass drop“—is a tool that delivers that low-end impact listeners are now accustomed to hearing.
From the genre-bending chaos of bands like PeelingFlesh to the polished production of Architects, the 808 has become a key part of the modern metal sound palette. It's a way to add a different texture and weight that a traditional bass guitar sometimes can't.
Why Use an 808 When You Have a Bass Guitar?
This is the big question. With 8-string guitars and 5-string basses, isn't the low end covered? Yes and no. An 808 serves a different purpose.
Filling a Specific Sonic Hole
Your bass guitar, even a heavily distorted one, is a complex instrument with a fundamental note and a ton of harmonic overtones. An 808 is much simpler, often a pure sine wave or a heavily filtered square wave. This allows it to sit cleanly in the absolute lowest sub-frequency range (think 30-60Hz) without fighting the bass guitar's mid-range harmonics. It adds weight, not mud.
Creating Dynamic Impact
Instead of having your bass guitar chug along constantly, you can use an 808 to create massive dynamic shifts. Think about using it only in a breakdown, an intro, or under a clean guitar part. When that 808 hits, it creates a sudden, powerful change in the track's energy. It’s a production choice that makes a specific moment feel bigger than life.
Mixing 808s in a Dense Metal Track: The Challenges
Okay, so you’re sold on the idea. You drop an 808 sample into your breakdown, and… it sounds like a mess. That’s because making an 808 work in a busy metal mix is all about control. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.
The Battle for the Low End: 808 vs. Kick Drum
This is the classic conflict. Your kick drum and your 808 both want to own the same sub-frequency space, and when they hit at the same time, you get a phasey, distorted mess that just sounds weak.
Solution 1: Sidechain Compression
This is your most powerful weapon. Sidechain compression uses one track to control the volume of another. You’ll use your kick drum to momentarily “duck” the 808 out of the way every time the kick hits.
- How to do it: Put a compressor like FabFilter Pro-C 2 or your stock DAW compressor on your 808 track. Enable the sidechain input and select your kick drum track as the source.
- Settings: Go for a very fast attack (0.1ms – 1ms) so the ducking is immediate. Time the release so the 808’s volume swells back in rhythm with the song (a good starting point is around 50-100ms). Aim for just 3-6dB of gain reduction—enough to create space without being an obvious pumping effect.
Solution 2: Surgical EQ
Give each element its own home. Use an EQ like FabFilter Pro-Q 3 to find the kick drum’s fundamental “thump” (usually 60-80Hz) and give it a slight boost. Then, make a corresponding cut at that same frequency on your 808. Let the 808 own the deep sub range (30-50Hz) and let the kick own the punch. Using a dynamic EQ for this is even better, as it will only make the cut when the kick is actually playing.
Making the 808 Audible on Small Speakers
The biggest problem with pure sub-bass is that it disappears on laptops, earbuds, and phone speakers. If your 808 is just a sine wave, nobody will hear it without a subwoofer.
The Solution: Saturation
You need to create harmonic overtones in the midrange so the character of the 808 can be heard, even if the fundamental frequency can't.
- How to do it: Use a saturation plugin like Soundtoys Decapitator, FabFilter Saturn 2, or even a stock guitar amp sim. Don't go crazy—you just want to add some grit and harmonics that translate to smaller speakers.
- Pro Tip: Use a multi-band saturator. This allows you to keep the sub-bass (below ~150Hz) clean and pure while adding distortion and character to the low-mids and midrange. This is the key to getting an 808 that feels massive on a big system and is still present on a phone.
Taming the Unruly Tail
An 808 sample can have a long, sustained tail. In a fast metal track, that tail can bleed into the next riff, muddying up the transient of the next downbeat and killing your track's tightness.
The Solution: Shape Your Sample
You need to make the 808’s length fit the song perfectly.
- Inside a Sampler: If you’re using a sampler like Kontakt or your DAW’s built-in one, simply adjust the ADSR envelope. Shorten the sustain and decay so the note ends exactly where you want it to, often right before the next kick or snare hit.
- With an Audio File: If you’re using a raw audio sample, you can either manually add a fade at the end of each note or use a noise gate with the threshold set to catch the tail and the release timed to the song.
Ready to Make It Hit?
The 808 is more than just a hip-hop sound; it's a powerful production tool that can add modern weight and impact to your metal mixes. By understanding its purpose and learning how to control it with sidechain compression, EQ, and saturation, you can make it a secret weapon in your arsenal.
Knowing what to do is one thing, but seeing a pro actually dial in these sounds in a real session is a game-changer. It's one thing to read about sidechaining an 808, and another to watch a producer like Joey Sturgis or Will Putney do it on a track from a massive band, explaining every decision along the way.
If you’re ready to see how the pros tackle these modern mixing challenges and get your hands on actual multitracks from bands that use these exact techniques, check out Nail The Mix. You'll see firsthand how to make your low end punchier, your mixes wider, and your productions sound more professional. Unlock your sound and see how it’s done.
Get a new set of multi-tracks every month from a world-class artist, a livestream with the producer who mixed it, 100+ tutorials, our exclusive plugins and more
Get Started for $1