A hybrid machine
Roland released the TR-909 Rhythm Composer in 1983 as a follow-up to the 808. It was one of the first drum machines to use samples: its hi-hats and cymbals were stored as short digital recordings, while the rest of the kit came from analogue circuits with knobs for tuning, attack and decay. It was also one of the first with MIDI, which made it easy to sequence.
Like the 808, it was a commercial disappointment that found its audience second-hand, in Chicago and Detroit, where producers built house and techno around its kick, clap and bright hats.
Using 909 samples
A 909 kick works best with its attack intact: shorten its decay to tighten the low end, and add saturation for drive. The open hat and ride are short, gritty recordings, so they cut through without much EQ. Sample sets differ in the settings used to record them, so audition several kicks before you pick. Licences on community banks vary; the verdict on each card tells you whether you can release with it.