Roland Aira report
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 7:06 pm
Not a vintage synth of course, but I just attended the launch in Sydney of the Roland Aira range for those who may be interested. I had heard good reports about the TR-8 and wanted to hear it first hand, along with the other devices in the family. I have to say that I was completely impressed. It's the first time that I have heard a digital modelled version of a classic that I think matches and exceeds the original. It blew me away. I won't go into the features as there are plenty of videos on the web, but to hear the TR-8 through a big PA with no EQ or compression side by side with an original TR-909 was what I had been waiting for, and the TR-8 nailed it. And it will be cheap to boot.
I actually think that owners of original TR-808's and 909's will buy this machine to take out live so that they can leave their classics safely at home. Totally worth checking out once they hit the stores. I am happy to give Roland a plug here because they have come out of left field and come up with a digital device that is better in my opinion than the analogue original, their engineers deserve kudos for something this unexpected, I think that they have a really interesting new technology here. The other devices (TB-3, VT-3 and a prototype System-1) also were seriously impressive. I don't know the exact street price but the numbers I heard mentioned were crazy cheap, not too far above the little analog boxes that Korg have been making such a killing with. This is a great time to be into electronic music hardware, there is so much sub-$600.00 cool gear coming out, it's a nice change from being tethered to a laptop.
I actually think that owners of original TR-808's and 909's will buy this machine to take out live so that they can leave their classics safely at home. Totally worth checking out once they hit the stores. I am happy to give Roland a plug here because they have come out of left field and come up with a digital device that is better in my opinion than the analogue original, their engineers deserve kudos for something this unexpected, I think that they have a really interesting new technology here. The other devices (TB-3, VT-3 and a prototype System-1) also were seriously impressive. I don't know the exact street price but the numbers I heard mentioned were crazy cheap, not too far above the little analog boxes that Korg have been making such a killing with. This is a great time to be into electronic music hardware, there is so much sub-$600.00 cool gear coming out, it's a nice change from being tethered to a laptop.