Roland expands Boutique and AIRA Lines with TR-08 Rhythm Composer, SH-01A Synthesizer and SP-404A Linear Wave Sampler
9th August 2017
Roland has announced the expansion of the Boutique and AIRA lines with the introduction of three products that are all debuting on "808 Day."
The TR-08 Rhythm Composer is a new Roland Boutique recreation of the TR-808, the world's most famous drum machine. The SH-01A Synthesizer recreates the iconic SH-101 synth from the 1980s in the compact Roland Boutique format. The Roland AIRA Line now includes the SP-404A Linear Wave Sampler, a compact performance sampler based on Roland's popular SP-404SX.
TR-08 Rhythm Composer is a compact recreation of Roland's classic TR-808, one of the most influential drum machines ever made. Built with attention to detail, the TR-08 combines the sound, look, and feel of the TR-808 with enhanced features and modern reliability.
Produced by Roland in the early 1980s, the TR-808 Rhythm Composer is one of the most revered and sought-after electronic musical instruments of all time. While only modestly successful when first released, adventurous musicians and producers of the era slowly began to embrace the instrument's distinctive all-analog voice and creative hands-on interface, fueling the emergence of multiple music styles. The TR-808's sounds helped shape and define the hip-hop, electronic, and dance genres, and the instrument's vast influence on popular music continues to this day.
The TR-08 accurately recreates all the ingredients that make the TR-808 so special. Roland's Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology fully realizes all the sonic details and quirks of the original hardware, modeling each analog circuit right down to the component level. And the interface, though scaled-down in size, is 100-percent authentic, with all the buttons, knobs, and switches found on the TR-808.
The TR-08 also adds some modern enhancements to the classic TR-808 formula. The sequencer has 16 sub-steps per step, enabling users to create detailed snare fills and intricate, rolling hi-hats. There's also a track-selectable trigger out for working with external instruments and modular gear. An LED display enables finer control of tempo and shuffle, and it's now possible to step-program or tap-in parts in real time without stopping to change modes. In addition, the TR-08 sends and receives MIDI control messages and supports audio and MIDI over USB.
Like all Roland Boutique modules, the TR-08 is portable and runs on USB bus power or batteries. It also includes a built-in speaker for monitoring the sound in mobile situations and comes with a DK-01 Boutique Dock that allows users to adjust the panel's viewing angle.
YouTube.com/watch?v=O5qVbJeranI
SH-01A Synthesizer is a compact reproduction of the Roland SH-101, one of the most popular analog synthesizers from the 1980s. Building on the iconic sounds and creative immediacy of the original, the SH-01A offers new polyphonic capabilities and new performance features.
In comparison with more complex instruments available at the time, the SH-101 was a seemingly unremarkable monophonic synthesizer when first launched in 1982. However, it quickly became prized for its rich, musical sound and simple-to-program synth structure. Legions of artists found it quick and easy to create fat basses, edgy leads, and exciting sound effects with the SH-101, and these hallmark sounds continue to be revered by electronic musicians over 30 years later.
The SH-01A recreates the oscillator, filter, and envelope behaviors of the vintage SH-101 with accuracy. Roland's Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology fully realizes all the sonic details and quirks of the SH-101, modeling each analog circuit right down to the component level. And though scaled-down in size, the panel interface offers all the hands-on controls found on the original hardware.
Expanding on the SH-101's huge monophonic voice, the SH-01A supports four voices and four modes for more sound-creation possibilities. Mono mode produces the classic SH-101 sound, while Poly mode allows four notes to be played simultaneously, making SH-101 sounds available for pads and other chordal work. Unison mode stacks four voices for super-fat basses and leads, and Chord mode layers any four pitches together for playing in semitone steps. The SH-01A also offers 64 patch memories for storing sounds, a feature not available on the SH-101.
The SH-01A is equipped with an intuitive 100-step sequencer like the one found on the SH-101, but now adds the ability to save and recall 64 sequence patterns for any performance situation. The sequencer can also be used to control modular synths, hardware modules, and software plug-ins via CV/Gate, MIDI, and USB.
Like all Roland Boutique modules, the SH-01A is portable, runs on USB bus power or batteries, and includes a built-in speaker for monitoring the sound in mobile situations. When mounted in the optional K-25m Keyboard Unit, the SH-01A can be used as a compact, all-in-one synth with 25 velocity-sensitive keys.
YouTube.com/watch?v=gr3xSdsFlPw
SP-404A Linear Wave Sampler expands the sounds of the Roland AIRA TR-8 Rhythm Performer for a combination of sample and percussive synthesis. It also functions as a portable standalone sampler with a built-in mic and battery-powered operation. Offering a fast, hands-on approach, the SP-404A is a perfect fit for the rhythmic effects and step-sequencer of the TR-8.
The SP-404A is based on Roland's SP-404SX, a long-time sampling favorite of DJs and music producers. All of the functions and features of the SP-404SX are contained in the SP-404A, including 16-bit linear sampling, 29 onboard DSP effects, smooth FX switching, 12 professional performance pads, and an onboard pattern sequencer.
The SP-404A can be triggered from the TR-8 Rhythm Performer via MIDI for integrated beat and sample production. Users can incorporate samples from the SP-404A and use them in conjunction with drum patterns, and each of the TR-8's 11 tracks can trigger a sample on the SP-404A, play a TR-8 sound, or both.
In addition, the TR-8 can be used as an audio sub-mixer and processor for the SP-404A. In this configuration, all samples played on the SP-404A can be effected using the TR-8's Scatter feature to reverse, glitch, gate, truncate, stutter, and perform all types of rhythmic variations in perfect sync. Samples can also be controlled by the TR-8's per-step Side Chain function for rhythmic ducking and gating effects.
To get users started with sample looping, the SP-404A comes with an SD card loaded with a library of new sounds created by Loopmasters, a leading sample developer. The samples in the library have been designed specifically to complement the TR-8, but also work well in standalone applications.
YouTube.com/watch?v=wmxfD0GiW5U
Release dates are set for September / October 2017 with UK pricing £339 each for the TR-08 and SH-01A and £419 for the SP-404A.
KVR Audio, Inc.
www.kvraudio.com