Roland has introduced Drum Machine Collection, a bundle of five circuit-modeled virtual instruments, based on five of the most iconic drum machines of all time.
The collection features plug-in versions of the TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, TR-707, and TR-727 drum machines, each based on Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology.
The collection also offers deep integration with the Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer. You can adjust the software instrument controls in real time using the array of knobs and sliders on the TR-8S, and instantly send your patterns back and forth between the hardware and the plug-ins.
Features:
- Five genre-defining Roland rhythm instruments in one value-priced collection
- Authentic recreations of the TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, TR-707, and TR-727
- Detailed resizeable interfaces give the feel of working with the vintage hardware
- Powered by Roland’s ACB circuit modeling technology, enhanced with new sound-shaping options
- Extended parameters and onboard effects to shape and modernize your sound
- Advanced sequencers for complex patterns and intricate grooves
- All the original factory patches plus new sounds for contemporary music
- VST3, AU, and AAX compatibility and native support for Apple silicon
- Hands-on control and pattern transfer with the TR-8S Rhythm Performer
Pricing and Availability
Roland Drum Machine Collection is available now, priced at $499.99 USD.
We need more classic drum machine emulations. There simply are not enough options out there, especially in software
$500 for classic emulations on top of the drum machine itself? How many more times is Roland going to relaunch its product line from the 1980s? If they really want people to be excited abut their ‘Analog Circuit Behavior’ technology then maybe they should open source it so that people can experiment with it, the ‘virtual analog’ DSP revolution started 25 years ago. If they prefer to keep it in-house and pure that’s their right, but it really feels like marketing has been in charge of product for the last decade.
What next? Some people might have enjoyed the earlier implementations of ACB, maybe they can release a Sapphire edition that helps you recapture the sounds of these classic early implementations of these classic machines, so you can recreate the classic marketing video soundtracks by superstar DJ Steve Aoki ™.
Well I guess I better hold on tooo my (the) discrepancably underated TR-505 then¡ thanx folks
And there go Roland, being Roland.
Just when you thought they couldn’t Roland any harder, they go full Roland and do this.
Thanks for the memories Roland, but now you really, really suck. Hard.
Brilliant! Why nobody tried to emulate the TR909 until now?
I’m not sure why people are whining about this release. They appear to be extremely good software recreations of drum machines that are iconic in many music styles. I believe they are available as part of Roland Cloud, too, which is a solid deal.
For years I said “no subscriptions”. No way no how. Then I did the math… $200 x 10 years = $2k. I spent more than that on my Jupiter 80 (which I never use much anymore). Plus I could be dead in 10 years lol. 2k to access everything Roland… ok, So I did the mega-duper Roland cloud thingy subscription and am super happy. Tons and tons of Roland sonic stuff that I use and mangle and twist and have fun with everyday. Now my old beloved XV-5080 is boxed and in storage along with about 10 of my other old hardware modules.
The only thing that doesn’t make sense here you can buy TR 6S cheaper which has all of these models inside it and sampling and fm and also has a great software editor – not to mention it’s hardware you can take with you and an audio interface… these are great plug-ins. The price seems about two times higher than it should be based on alternatives from Roland themselves.
Exactly this.
I have the MC-707 which has all these kits and a lot more (it’s actually quite a good bit of gear, not perfect, but pretty decent).
I personally just don’t get why Roland have priced this so high when there are so many alternatives out there.
hardware have it’s benefits but the tr6s is only 6 voices, you can’t run multiple instances, recall with the editor is not always working, plugins make it easier to work on multiple projects, automations are much easier, much more precise timing (no midi limitation, important with drums), direct out are only from the usb, you need to record audio or inject audio from the usb (with it’s own limitations), larger screen, easier to control, more profound updates (usually) and so on… also most will think the tr6s is very ugly 🙂
100$ for a plugin is not that high but you can wait for a price drop…
I like my rebirth still 🙂
D16 makes fantastic emulations of the 909, 808, and 606 for about $100, or $50 when on sale. That leaves the 7XX boxes, but those are sample based and I’m sure you can find packs for free or cheap if you need those sounds. Plus none of those options will require some iLok bs like Roland does with their Cloud.
OOH. I’ve never seen the D16 808/909. They look great, will wait until they’re not 100 EUR each and grab ’em.
Try the demos, they’re great VST’s. The 303 clone is also incredible and I can highly recommend it as well. I don’t own the 101 clone but that, too, was also really good when I tested it out.
You would think that by now literally *everybody* has these sounds of these particular boxes somewhere in their (software-) samplers! Innovation it is not…
The magic of the 808 and 909 is that the sounds can be manipulated in real time (and that some of the sounds are analog and don’t pitch up/down like samples). My kit won’t be tuned like yours, and that makes a huge difference. The pattern programming method also has a huge impact on the way they’re played. A bunch of samples and a step sequencer only partially captures the essence of these machines.
Fair point. Alas these have been fair points for as long as the original hardware has been used. But you’ve said it yourself – they are digital software recreations. And my point stands: The sounds itself are available in abundance. Rebirth had recreations way back since 25 odd years. It is just the same old concept.
Yes, but these are software. To manipulate them in real time you’d need a midi controller or similar which adds more to the cost.
If that’s what you want something similar to the Arturia Drumbrute Impact has analogue sounds with hands on control, plus if you tire of it you can always sell it.
In my opinion this only makes sense if you absolutely HAVE to have the Roland name. And even then I think the TR-8 or MC-707 is a better choice. Or all the other countless software versions of these classic drum machines.
Just my opinion of course.
compering hardware to software don’t make any sense
unless you have the hardware and try to protect the rightness of your decision
software is a completely different experience, for better and worse.
Stupidly overpriced is all I can say!
I bought a second-hand TR-8 that contains all of the ACB drum engines. It sounds excellent and gives me hands-on control, and I can remote-control it from Live with a M4L device if I need to. Cost me half of what Roland charges for the software bundle. The only thing that could replace my TR-8 are the DinSync replicas, they are the real deal.
you comparing a second hand hardware price to plugins.. right 🙂
btw, tr-8 doesn’t sound like the real instruments. the 808 kick is a joke and it can easily win in the most ugly musical instrument ever
Paying top dollar for fake. Some are even writing that they’re boxing their old Roland gear for this.
I mean I’ve tried most of it and nothing has the character as the old Roland gear.
You can buy a secondhand Behringer RD-8 and RD-9 for that money which are much closer to the original 808 & 909. (and I say this as one of the biggest Behringer bashers on this site). They’re at least a 100 times more fun as well.
its seems to me software does better job replicating the sound of the original more than any analog clones or cheap copies. it’s just one shot drums…
and if by fun you also mean “production”, hardware is kinda a pain in the ass, i love the sound of analog synthesizers but for me it’s not that fun to use.
Thanks Roland, but as soon as Behringer releases their LM drum machine for using with 707/727 samples, I’m good. Already use their RD6/8/9, Sold my TR boutiques. Besides, you’ll come up with ACB 2.0 soon enough, and try to sell me these yet again ?
like beringer trying to sell you the rd8 mkii?
when will you people understand, compering hardware to software is nonsense, just because you decide to invest in hardware doesn’t means it does.
Exactly all 5 of the TR-8 drums in a package deal
Why no integration with the TR-8 ?
Lifetime $500 is almost for free, based on years left in life it is just about $10 per year. (as long as there is 50 years Mac/Windows OS support)
I’d personally rather have a hardware TR-8s but I guess this is good if you are 100% ITB.