I attended a lecture by the designer of the TR-808 (Patreon)

In December 2021, there was a musical instrument event in Hamamatsu City, Roland's home base.

There was a lecture by Tadao Kikumoto, the designer of the TR-808 and the former president of Roland Corporation.

He started out working for an electronics manufacturer. 

Then, privately, he obtained a patent for a guitar-shaped synthesizer.

Incidentally, that manufacturer is now called "Denso Ten", a company with excellent technology that develops engine control unit for TOYOTA.

This led to a career change at Roland, where he worked on the design of the TR808.

I learned a lot about his focus on the development of analog circuits and input interfaces, his commitment to the sound creation of the "KICK", and his experiences as a manager after he became the president of the company.