Hasta La Gadget!

This week Roland has brought on a new “ARIA” collection of devices for the electronic music masters amongst us. First up is the new Roland TR-8, a device that the … Continue reading

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Roland’s TR-808 drum machine managed to attain legendary status. Due to its unique sound, many were able to identify in songs whether or not the TR-808 had been used. The sound and effects of the TR-808 have since been incorporated into keyboards and software, but after more than 30 years, it looks like Roland has decided that a true successor was needed in order to better meet the needs and demands of musicians today, whom they claim are on the lookout for new and exciting things to experiment with. Given the state of music these days, we can agree with those sentiments.  (more…)

Roland’s AIRA Teased As The TR-808′s Successor original content from Ubergizmo.

The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is the most famous drum machine ever made. It remains a staple of modern production despite being more than 30 years old. Roland just posted a video teasing for a new product called the Aira TR-08, which it’s positioning as a modern version of the 808. I have no idea what that means, but I might still freak out.

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At the start of NAMM 2013, Roland announced two new models in its Cube line and an iOS app to complete the trio. Both the Cube Lite and Cube Lite Monitor are on display in all of their dual-connecting glory, but we’re far more interested in the former for its guitar amp wares. The 10W compact unit touts built-in JC Clean, Crunch and Extreme tones alongside Chorus and Reverb controls. We were pleasantly surprised with how well these on-board sounds came across at the strings of a Stratocaster during the booth demos we witnessed. Usually included presets can be really hit or miss, but these are quite serviceable — especially in a portable unit. As you might expect, all of the usual controls are here including volume, treble, bass and drive and the requisite 1/4-inch input graces the backside. That’s all quite nice, but the real story here is the iOS software and aux connectivity.

That iOS app, Cube Jam, allows you to record and play along with tunes from your iDevice and connects via the i-Cube Link stereo auxiliary input from the headphone jack of a slate or handset. We were a bit disappointed that the connection didn’t come at the hands of a 30-pin jack or Lightning port, but overall the unit worked quite nicely in our limited time with it. The separate volume control for the aux port is quite nice and allows the user to adjust levels of the amp and the accompanying track independently to keep things just so. We’d surmize that you’d be able to connect an Android, BB10 or WP8 device for playback, if you’re willing give up the Cube Jam software. Cube Lite also requires a tethered power supply and doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity like we saw on the iLoud from IK Multimedia. If you don’t have a need for the guitar functionality, the Cube Lite Monitor wields the same 1/8-inch input, but offers stereo 1/4-inch jacks instead and tosses the in-built tones. Head on past the break for a quick tour and a closer look awaits in the gallery just below.

James Trew contributed to this report.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: Roland, iTunes

The Roland TB-303 bass sequencer is one of electronic music’s founding fathers, which had its heyday in the early 1980s, and later became the backbeat to just about every piece of house and rave music ever recorded, and is still popular with musicians today. And while Roland is no longer making this seminal synthesizer, at least you can now eat one. Say what?

What you’re looking at here isn’t a synthesizer at all, but a delicious Japanese sushi dish, prepared to look like a TB-303.

I’m not sure what all of the ingredients are, but there’s definitely plenty of rice, and some salty salmon roe in place of the LEDs. In the immortal words of Blondie, Eat to the Beat!

[via Ableton Live School via Wired Italy]