With roots in the very origins of electronic music, Roland’s new AIRA line is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern electronic musicians while offering throwback functionality inspired by classic equipment like the TR-808 and the TB-303.
U.S. director of channel management Robin Kelly says Roland engineers were thrilled at the chance to replicate those vintage electronic tones. A technology called Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) allows these tools to model functionality down to the old machines’ component level. “This means that not just every circuit, potentiometer, etc. is modeled but also the interaction between these components,” says Kelly. “Which gives the unique sound and character of each instrument.”
The first four products introduced in the AIRA series are the TR-8 Rhythm Performer, TB-3 Touch Bassline, VT-3 Voice Transformer, and SYSTEM-1 PLUG-OUT Synthesizer.
The TR-8 melds the legendary sound and vibe of the TR-808 and TR-909 with new features and functions. An ‘80s staple, the TR-808 and TR-909 produced some of the most influential drum sounds in modern music. The TR-8 adds new sound-tweaking capabilities and performance functions.
Based on the influential TB-303, the TB-3 Touch Bassline is a performance-ready bass synthesizer with authentic sound and intuitive controls engineered to play, including a pressure-sensitive touch pad that makes both playing and programming a total joy.
The VT-3 Voice Transformer is designed to smoothly alter Pitch and Formant and can introduce Vocoder, Synth, lo-fi and other heavily processed vocal sounds into studio tracks and live performances with little hassle.
The SYSTEM-1 PLUG-OUT Synthesizer harnesses the character associated with Roland synthesizers for years and adds innovative design with performance-ready controls, quality construction, and a wide array of lights, knobs and sliders. PLUG-OUT technology means the SYSTEM-1 can control – and even host – software recreations of classic Roland synthesizers.
“One of the driving forces behind the development of AIRA was to put the sounds back in the hands of musicians,” says Kelly. “This means hands-on live performance and control, with a focus of every parameter being on the top level and no need for multiple button pushes.”
The product’s looks are likely to turn as many heads as their vintage sounds. “The tabletop designs are not just visually appealing – they were built for the road, with metal tops and solid color throughout the product,” says Kelly. “For example, if you were to cut the green bezel of the instruments in half you would see a solid green color all the way through; this makes surviving the rigors of the road much easier.”
RolandUS.com/AIRA
