With Winter NAMM 2018 taking over Anaheim, CA, this week, there’s been an avalanche of awesome product announcements for every instrument category. Perhaps the most interesting one for electronic-music producers is news of Roland Virtual Sonics introducing software versions of their coveted TR-808 and TR-909 Rhythm Composers as VST and AU plugins through Roland Cloud. Roland also unveiled the new SRX Orchestra, an SRX expansion library to be made available as individual virtual instruments.
As any Big Shot reader will know, the 808 and 909 played a pivotal role in helping underground producers in the ’80s and ’90s forge musical genres such as electro, house, techno and rap.
Related: Producers pay homage to Roland’s TR-909
Obligatory press release gush from Roland Virtual Sonics Co-Director Jeremy Soule: “The team at Roland Virtual Sonics is honored to bring the legendary Roland TR-808, TR-909, and SRX Orchestra virtual instruments to our growing community of members. While it is humbling for us to look back on the music that has flowed from the 808 and 909 over the last 25 years, we are filled with anticipation for the music new producers will create with these additions to Roland Cloud in the future.”
All three instruments will be released via Roland Cloud service starting in February and continuing through early spring.