RX8

Back in 1989, this drum machine broke ground as Yamaha's first to pack 16-bit PCM samples, delivering punchy, high-fidelity drums at a budget price that undercut pricier rivals like the RX5.

It runs on 43 tunable PCM voices—from booming kicks and snares to quirky toms, hi-hats, Latin percussion like timbales and cuicas, even bass guitars and orchestral hits—loaded into ROM with options for detune, expand, and full reverse playback. Program up to 99 patterns and 20 songs across 8 tracks using 12 responsive rubber pads (non-velocity sensitive, but it captures incoming MIDI velocity from external pads or keys), 26 function buttons, and dual knobs for volume and tempo. A backlit green LCD guides you, while the compact chassis offers MIDI In/Out, stereo/mono outs plus two individual jacks, headphones, cassette backup, and RAM card expansion for extra storage.

Vintage enthusiasts dig its bold '80s character—those massive snares and cannon toms shine in rock, funk, or retro electronic tracks—though some note the pads lack built-in dynamics and the interface feels button-heavy for deep edits.