Roland TR-808 And SH-101 Rebooted With Modern Upgrades

Roland has given two of its most iconic electronic musical instruments, the TR-808 drum machine and SH-101 synthesizers, a 21st century reboot. The Roland TR-08 and Roland SH-01A promise the same highly-recognizable sound of the originals, but with price tags that are a whole lot more affordable than trying to pick up classic hardware. It's part of the Roland Boutique range, a modern-day rebirth of some of the most coveted hardware in the company's back-catalog.

In the case of the TR-08, that means a rhythm composer that looks, at first glance, just like the 1980s original. Roland uses its Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology to model each of the analog components that helped make the TR-808 so distinctive to the ear, then puts it inside a shrunken-down enclosure. That has all of the physical controls of the TR-808, but simply smaller.

However, Roland also took the opportunity to add some features that simply weren't in existence when the TR-808 was first helping shape hip-hop, dance, and other genres. The sequencer now supports 16 sub-steps per step, for instance, and there's a track-selectable trigger out that can be used with external instruments. The LED screen makes applying tempo and shuffle settings easier.

Of course, there's also a USB port, handling audio and MIDI, and the TR-08 can send and receive MIDI control messages. The USB can also be used to power the drum machine, but there's the option to use batteries instead, while a built-in speaker allows for truly mobile use.

As for the SH-01A, that's a recreation of the SH-101 analog synth. Also iconic in the 80s, the SH-101's monophonic talents have been brought bang up to date with ACB modeling, and then wrapped in a period-matching – though smaller – casing. Roland also took the chance to make a few upgrades along the way.

So, the SH-01A now supports four voices and four modes: while in Mono mode it replicates the SH-101, Poly mode can combine four notes simultaneously, for pads and chords. Unison mode stacks four voices, while Chord mode layers four pitches in semitone steps. Like the original it's easy to get started making new sounds, but the SH-01A supports saving up to 64 patches for easier recall.

The 100-step sequencer is carried over, but up to 64 patterns can now be saved. It's also possible to use the sequencer to control modular synths and hardware modules, together with software plug-ins over the SH-01A's CV/Gate, MIDI, and USB connections. The USB port can power the synth, though there's also battery support and mobile speaker. Pair the whole thing with a Roland K-25m Keyboard Unit and you get a standalone 25-key synthesizer.

US pricing is yet to be confirmed, though both the TR-08 and the SH-01A are expected to be £339 ($449). They'll both go on sale in September.

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