For all those who complained that Roland should remake their TR-808, TR-909 and TB-303 here it is: http://www.musictech.net/2014/02/aira-1/

NAMM 2014 report about Aira: http://www.musictech.net/2014/01/namm-2014-roland-aira-weve-seen-it/

I haven't read it yet, so I'm not yet sure what to say about these puppies. I'm a fan of both 808 and 909. They are my staple rhythm machines. They also released something called System-1 that looks like it could be a remake of SH-101 perhaps and a vocal processor called VT-3 that looks like it could be a vocoder [SVC-350 remake?]. You can see what they look like in the second photo.









Great Sonicstate reviews of TR-8 and TB-3 on YT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYujlzVDTkI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOa9VTAc73Q

Cheers!

 

Well, after watching the reviews and looking at the detailed specs on the Roland website: http://www.roland.com/products/en/goPrd.cfm?sSrchBy=sGrou&gRcid=0000002871 I'm sorry to say that not that thrilled any more. But keep in mind that I'm extremely picky when it comes to software or hardware. I don't care about the usability so much, either, just the quality of sound and I love reasonable to extreme "twekability" - flexibility, some unique features worth separating myself from money that could possibly be used better for something else. If I was judging only according to usability all these 4 thingies would get at least 9, especially if you have all of them.

Having said that, I dig System-1 the most because it seems the most complete feature wise of all 4 Aira devices and most useful. Having downloadable Roland synth models for it like SH-1 and who knows what other Roland synths in the future kinda sold me the most. Also, even though they don't specify it in the detailed specs on Roland website, USB can carry 96kHz audio and that means it's compatible with my studio. I don't want to deal with 48kHz to 96kHz digital upsamplers and the least with having to drop the whole studio to 48kHz just because some "profoundly clever" guys thought that 48kHz is enough at this day and age [read all Korgs with digital out]. So anyway, I think it's a pretty good synth, pretty complete and tweakable. I might go for it especially because I don't own any Roland outboard gear nor even software "gear". Arturia synths are a bit crappy IMO and the only decent Roland emus I have is TAL Juno-60 [that I find a bit boring but sometimes it's just what the doctor ordered] and SH-101 [love this one], so this synth would broaden my choice of Roland synths that sound good.

Regarding TR-8, after listening to it and looking at the specs I'm a little underwhelmed. What genius has put a compressor on every channel?? As if we don't have 10000 different compressor plugins. Fuck! I could *really* use a pitch envelope +- there instead like I have on D16 Drumazon which I adore. I make so many cool sounds with the pitch envelope. I think it's essential to have pitch envelope on a rhythm machine for *every* sound or at least kick, snare, toms and "laser". If it only had that, I would be sold because all other features are rather cool. I like the design, too. Very futuristic, acidic, neon-ish, whatever. Cool. I like the design of all 4 devices.

TB-3? I think it's spot on and if I was a fan of 303 sound I would definitely go for it. Since I find that synth utterly boring and unusable for what I do, it's of no use for me. However, I owned the real deal and I'd always rather have this new one than the old one. TB-3 will be a hit, I tell you. The price is very tempting even you're not a fan of the 303 sound.

VT-3? Only this: I thought this little thingie was uber-cool until I found out that it doesn't have MIDI-in either through real MIDI in or USB MIDI in so you can't use it as a proper vocoder. Neither it has audio in for a synth so you could use some other synth as a modulator. IMO, not having MIDI IN and modulator audio in makes it a toy for kids [or DJs, same thing]. Shame. So no, I'm not sold on that one, either.

Cheers!

 

I lost all interest when I heard about their glorious "analog modelling". I so hoped for a real new all analog 303.

All sounds are already covered with tons of samples and very good VSTs, those things are shiny toys for people who like colourful and stylish boxes for their youtube vids.

I'd rather buy me a couple of Volcas, or the new MS-20, or the coming Arp Odyssee re-release than some 'analog modelling' boxes.

 

Yet to hear them properly compared to the real thing, all I hear is crap drum patterns and wrongly pitched drums. When I hear the real 808 it sounds incredibly punchy, not sure I can hear that in the Tr8 but maybe someone will sort out a proper comparison.

 

It's amazing these old machines are still so sought after and still being copied.

I bought the classic acid set-up (101, 202, 303, 808 and 909) back in 1994 and then shortly afterwards Novation brought out the BassStation which I loved as much as the 303. That Roland MC-303 thing later on in the 90's was terrible though!

Personally the the last thing I want to hear in my studio these days are 303, 808, 909 sounds....but if thats your thing then these machines look cool and the prices are superb.

 

I like 808 and 909 because they are great synthetic rhythm machines, but you're absolutely right about their sounds being used and overused, Retroboy. However, I find those sounds really great as drum sound source and when you process them in some way you can get a vast variety of different sounds. I don't quite know any other rhythm machines that are as usable as these when it comes to synthetic drum sounds. I'm speaking of D16 808 and 909, of course. I sold all of my hardware babies in the late 90s and beginning of 00s. I wouldn't like to have the real ones agai, really. Too complicated to get them synced, automated and recorded into the DAW. I find D16 machines just brilliant! Especially because there are additional parameters that the original hardware doesn't have.

But speaking of drum machines, I would like to see more good synthetic [as opposed to sample playing] emulations. I like Drumatic 2-3-4, DKS Pro, Drumaxx and Attack, for instance. I would like to see an emulation of Simmons SDS-V or SD-8 drum machine. They're cool. ;)

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peL2fTp8xTM

Fucked heavens! I found a SDS-V VSTi! http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=1028 I forgot about Marvin VSTs, they're all great!