New Roland "DANCE" hardware- AIRA TR-8, TB-3, VT-3, SYSTEM-1

[MFXxx]

so no user memories is that correct?

This machine needs presets about as much as the original TB-303 needs presets. It's a simple performance synth with just 5 tone controls. Presets aren't needed.

There are 134 waveforms, which are 132 more than the TB-303 had. THAT is what they mean by "presets," BTW.

I was trying to establish if you can save the sound and pattern you are working with when tweaked, can be recalled at a later session when implemented in a project, I guess I used the term preset out of context? I imagine it's fine in a daw as data and sequenced save externally. Not pulling it apart here, just getting my head around the practicalities.

[DJMaytag]

I was trying to establish if you can save the sound and pattern you are working with when tweaked, can be recalled at a later session when implemented in a project, I guess I used the term preset out of context? I imagine it's fine in a daw as data and sequenced save externally. Not pulling it apart here, just getting my head around the practicalities.

The patterns are saved separately, as far as I can tell, and this is how it should be. There really isn't much need to save the sound, as the synth engine is so simple that there's no need. If there were 100+ parameters available, then I could see a reason why you'd want to save a patch.

The TB-3 has 3 knobs, an XY controller for the 2 env controls (decay and env amount), and a waveform select (via the 4 banks.) It's not rocket science. A VSTi like Audiorealism's ABL has the ability to save the knob and waveform settings with a pattern, but it's overkill if you ask me.

[meldavid]

Another video. Don't know if it's been posted here yet.

http://vimeo.com/86651105

[bungle]

Audiorealism's ABL has the ability to save the knob and waveform settings with a pattern, but it's overkill if you ask me.

It is not overkill, it is called total recall, and is one of the selling points of any digital system.
What's next, shall we have digital CPU that stop working because the emulated caps have burst, no, so why not take full advantage of everything digital has to offer, it is not overkill, it is simply finishing your design.

[Jim Y]

More important for me than presets with anything digital, is that it should return to the last used state after a power cycle. Just like analogue. Since nearly everything digital contains some flash memory, there's no excuse to not do this - yet many devices default to program 01 on switch on.

"Ready just as you left it" is one important advantage hardware can have over working in a DAW.

[DJMaytag]

It is not overkill, it is called total recall

If 6 parameters are too hard for you to remember, quit playing with synthesizers. Seriously.

[awol9000]

It's all good for me…I LOVE digital.

Me too, very excited!!

Can't wait to give them a go... £245 TB3 - if it sounds good enough and is more versatile - fantastic new toy Had a play with the Korg mini series, the Rolands look like they may smash them out of the ball park in terms of end user integration and ergo's. :

Volca what?

I really hope they also bring back the 606, 707 and 727 sounds in there somewhere.

I would buy a 727 ASAP.

Finally hardware gear is getting exciting again. The offerings were weak for the past bit.

Seems like I can get the whole bunch for $1500. That or buy one Elektron machine...hmmm not a hard choice.

[NEOREV]

Two things...

How come no one has used that famous 808 cowbell sound yet?
I haven't heard it yet skipping through all of these videos posted.
Think it would be an important sound to include since t's such an iconic sound.
Haven't heard it used yet and I wanna hear how close this digital replication is.
Any one find a vid with it used?

Also, with all of these 303 videos... everyone is doing the usual high tweaky 303 riffs but haven't really heard a video where they utilize the bass end of the 303. The 303 does some great sub bass riffs as well rather than the usual squelchy stuff. So let's hear some of the low end stuff, where is it? I wanna see how perfect this replication really is. If it was pure analog like the original, the low end would sound flipping amazing. But I wanna hear the digital version of the 303's bassline.

I'm not 100% impressed... some cool features... but not entirely sold just yet.
I noticed Sweetwater didn't even have a video for the System 1. They had vids for each piece on its own, but not the synth. I want to see something that dives a bit more into the synth because so far what has been shown hasn't been that exciting sound-wise.

[codec_spurt]

Let's face it.

They can't sound any worse than the originals.
But they glow in the dark.

f**k, they are even cheaper!

Give me one of each, on a stand, a nice little digital recorder a la the Yammy 16 track CD mixer thing.

I will give you an album to do battle with Robert Hood, Jeff Mills, Drexciya.

Or would I?

More than if I just hooked up my 808, 909, 303. Chuck in a bit of 202 plus 101 for fun?

Apart from getting lucky in a flea market, these machines, whilst over priced and under powered are the closest most of us are going to get.

Pity I won't ever be able to afford them either. Oh well. Back to all my wonderful VSTs that do it just as well. Oh for an affordable controller - more sensitive than what Novation offer, cheaper than what Push offers. Maybe in the middle - a couple of hundred quid - but something with everything. I will still be dreaming in ten years. There will still be sub par midi controllers and over priced proprietary shit.

I'd buy the Roland stuff though, just to light up my bedroom.

[kangul]

It is not overkill, it is called total recall

If 6 parameters are too hard for you to remember, quit playing with synthesizers. Seriously.

The abilities of human brain is simply not an excuse for cutting down standard features of modern digital synth.

[MFXxx]

It is not overkill, it is called total recall

If 6 parameters are too hard for you to remember, quit playing with synthesizers. Seriously.

The abilities of human brain is simply not an excuse for cutting down standard features of modern digital synth.

It's more to having an instant recall state for tracks when switching between projects or songs. That simple. Whilst it's always a good idea to retune a guitar between sessions, you wouldn't want to have to do it in it's entirety between each take. Anyway. It's just an observation and I am sure in the daw all the parameters are recoverable.

Let's see what happens when it gets released and demoed.

In regards to the TB-3, whilst more expensive, I am interested to hear, see comparisons between the existing XOBOX's and Cyclone Analogic TT303 units.

[kangul]

It's more to having an instant recall state for tracks when switching between projects or songs.

Well, yes, I meant - in addition to absolutely necessary total recall feature, there's absolutely no reason to cut down essential digital synth capabilities.

Anyway, with proper midi output TB-3 may be also interesting as hardware sequencer for basic techno tracks.

[MFXxx]

It's more to having an instant recall state for tracks when switching between projects or songs.

Well, yes, I meant - in addition to absolutely necessary total recall feature, there's absolutely no reason to cut down essential digital synth capabilities.

Anyway, with proper midi output TB-3 may be also interesting as hardware sequencer for basic techno tracks.

im hoping the sync and midi functions prove versatile. goinh to . get one regardless will be fun

[spacecult]

so no user memories is that correct?

It's a simple performance synth with just 5 tone controls.

Wow, that's 2 more tone controls than my bass amp. That thing is gonna be awesome with the 2 extra tone controls!

[kmonkey]

Two things...

How come no one has used that famous 808 cowbell sound yet?

I've heard it and it's spot on. Sorry can't know which video was it since i looked plenty of them but don't worry it's there..