Published
Wed, Apr 15, 2015, 09:30
- The SYSTEM-1m, four Eurorack-compatible effects modules and the SYSTEM-500 fully-analog synth bring the Japanese gear maker into the modular game.
AIRA has officially gone modular.
Following their recent "Start Patching" teaser, Roland have outlined their next set of releases for their AIRA line of electronic music production-focused gear. All of the new kit is Eurorack-compatible and uses 1/8-inch patch cables, meaning the devices can work into bespoke synths using the current modular standard.
The first release is the SYSTEM-1m, a 19-inch rackmount unit described as "semi-modular." Like the original AIRA SYSTEM-1, it's a "plug-out" synth, meaning other software synths, like Roland's SH-101 and PROMARS emulations, can be loaded in. It features a number of external inputs and CV/gate connections, for flexibility, customizability and integration into a wider synth setup that weren't available in the previously released keyboard version of the synth.
Next up are four modular effects units. Bitrazer is a bitcrusher; Demora is a delay effect; Scooper is a standalone version of the Scatter effect that's been a core component of AIRA devices so far; and Torcido is a distortion unit. All of the units are reprogrammable via an app for Mac, PC, iOS and Android, feature 96-kHz/24-bit audio interfaces and pack more than 16 million steps of resolution into their knobs. The devices will also link via USB to AIRA's MX-1 "mix performer" via USB.
The final part of the rollout only amounts to another tease, but it's a big one: Roland has a new, fully analog system on the way later this year. The SYSTEM-500 will be a fully modular and completely analog Eurorack system. Roland has a photo of the system on their just-launched AIRA Modular site, where you can also find information about today's other new releases.
You can get a taste for AIRA's new modular gear in the video below and read more about Roland in our recent feature about the company.