Sound and technology
MIDI, samplers and drum machines made precise synchronization and recall central to production.
ERA · KNOWLEDGE GUIDE
1980s
Explore 1980s through technology, music industries, regional scenes and representative recordings—and hear why this decade differs from those around it.
- Recordings
- 311
- Albums and releases
- 144
- Regions
- 10
THE DECADE IN CONTEXT
What happened in this decade?
MTV, digital instruments, drum machines, samplers and independent scenes accelerated the circulation of both sound and image.
People and circulation
Music video, cassette culture and independent networks joined sound to new visual identities.
Listen by comparing
Compare programmed and live rhythm sections, listening for timing, repetition and changes in velocity.
MIDI and digital synthesis spreadHip-hop recording developed rapidlyHouse and techno took shape
The decade's key question
How did digital tools change musicians' work?
MIDI synchronized devices, drum machines and samplers stored and rearranged rhythm, and digital synthesizers made recallable sounds widely available. Individuals and small studios could now build arrangements that once required a large facility.
MAJOR GENRES
Major genres of the decade
Subgenre · HIP-HOP
Old School Hip-Hop
Subgenre · TRADITIONAL / REGIONAL MUSIC
West African Traditional Music
Subgenre · SOUTHEAST ASIAN POPULAR MUSIC
Luk Thung
Genre
Pop
Genre
Jazz
Subgenre · EXPERIMENTAL / AVANT-GARDE
Free Improvisation
Subgenre · ELECTRONIC
Electro
Subgenre · LATIN
Cumbia
Subgenre · JAZZ
Modal Jazz
AROUND THE WORLD
Sounds from different regions
Latin AmericaExplore local scenes and recordingsBrazilExplore local scenes and recordingsSoutheast AsiaExplore local scenes and recordingsIndonesiaExplore local scenes and recordingsNorth AmericaExplore local scenes and recordingsUnited StatesExplore local scenes and recordingsThailandExplore local scenes and recordingsEuropeExplore local scenes and recordingsContinental EuropeExplore local scenes and recordingsNew York CityExplore local scenes and recordings
ARTISTS
Representative artists
LISTENING PATH
Hear the decade through these recordings
REFINE THIS VIEWFilter recordings from the 1980s
Genre and region are combined; only options with recordings from the 1980s are shown.
ALBUMS
Representative albums and releases
DECADE GRAPH
View relationship graph1980s relationship map
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