What is Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB)?
Everything You Need to Know
ACB Analog Circuit Behavior
Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) is the technology behind the authentic sound and responsive behavior of the AIRA products. It faithfully captures the sound and feel of some Roland’s most revered classics, using original design specs, consultation with original engineers, and a detailed, part-by-part analysis of each analog circuit in our own pristine units.
Stabilizing Instability…
Analog electronic musical instruments consist of various analog components including resistors, capacitors, and transistors. The unique sound of analog instruments is due to the distinctive characteristics of the individual analog components. So-called “vintage” instruments, in particular, show extremely distinctive sound and behavior due to the variable instability of the electronic components.
Rhythm machines and synthesizers such as the TR-808, TR-909, TB-303, and SH-101 (Classic Roland Synths) enjoy entrenched popularity to this very day even though they first appeared more than 30 years ago. This is because musicians around the globe have recognized their unique sound and used them to forge entirely new genres of electronic music.
Digitizing Analog Circuitry…
To produce the new AIRA products, we aimed to pick up where these analog classics left off and to develop a completely new technology which models the traditional analog circuits, right down to their behavioral levels.
ACB is drastically different from conventional methods of modeling, and reproduces each analog component by thoroughly analyzing each detail of the original design drawings. By combining the analyzed components in exactly the same manner as the original analog components, detailed characteristics of the original musical instruments emerge and can be reproduced completely.
Going Beyond Mere Re-Creation…
This analysis requires knowledge of the design and development processes of the original analog instruments. It is not possible to reproduce the original sounds just by logically analyzing the analog circuits. This is because the original engineers used a design approach which maximized the capabilities of the analog components. Throughout the development of ACB, we cooperated with the original engineers who designed and developed these iconic instruments. With their expertise, we could ensure that we fully reproduced the ideal state of their creations.
Utilizing the enormous calculation power of state-of-the-art DSP, ACB not only precisely emulates the analog-specific characteristics or our classic gear, but also delves into areas the original engineers tried to go but ultimately abandoned.
ACB empowers AIRA products to go beyond mere re-creation. It allows us to make instruments that inspire – that respond to your creativity – and make producing and performing electronic music fun again.
ACB – Analog Circuit Behavior
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May 17, 2014 @ 7:49 am
I have a TB-3 love the tones. In the manual it states that the ENV MOD button is supposed to control the mod and decay of the tones. But it sounds to me while playing the env mod is controlling the cutoff and resonance not the decay and modulation. How do I change this to affect: x-axis-mod and y-axis decay?
May 20, 2014 @ 11:03 am
Hi Tony,
Glad you’re enjoying the TB-3! The TB-3’s ENV MOD assignments vary from patch to patch. Most commonly, it effects the filter shape and depth. In some cases it adjusts effect or detune levels. The assignments cannot be changed. The Effects knob and the pressure sensitive touchpad control discrete effects as well, varying from reverb to envelope decay. Experimenting with the different patches and parameters is a great way to get to know the unit, and you’ll soon discover new and exciting sounds not immediately apparent upon first listen.
Hope this helps!
February 17, 2014 @ 3:36 am
Well, as for the TB, when ACB should have taken care of every aspect of the TB-303 synthesis engine and behaviour, why ist it so that the accumulating accent is not there on the TB-3? Also, in what way does it make sense to cripple the number of parameter knobs on the TB-3 when exactly these are essential to the experience of playing an original TB-303. Decay and EnvMod are absolutely essential to realtime manipulating and even Tune always was great for a sudden pitch down effect or just tuning the fat oscillator sound. I really really hope that Roland will bring us an updated TB-3 with full realtime controls on top, this is the most important thing on a TB, it always was. Apart from that I really appreciate Rolands move towards the ‘4 on the floor’ crowd. Maybe we can hope for a new JP8000 with updated sound engine in 96k 32bit, now that would be great!!!
Thanks
el-folie
March 31, 2014 @ 2:20 pm
Hi el-folie,
Filter envelopes on the TB-3 can be accessed on the touchpad under ENV MOD. This mode gives you touchpad control over the shape of your filter envelope, enabling you to create and evolve any desired shape! You can also switch to XY PLAY for manual pitch bending.
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Best Regards,
Product Support
Roland Corp. U.S.
February 15, 2014 @ 1:34 pm
While I’m rather excited by the TR-8 and the other Aira devices, I would hope that if this line is successful it leads to some MK2 devices down the road. I, for one, would be interested in more on-board outputs, not just the stereo pair plus 2 assignables the current unit has, per instrument accents, more control over the swing/shuffle. etc. Hopefully a MK2 unit would elevate these drum boxes over older competitors units that begin with E and put them much closer to the status of the older Roland units that now command huge price tags.
February 15, 2014 @ 12:46 pm
..or how to say nothing with a lot of words.
February 15, 2014 @ 11:49 am
TR-8: So far I’m impressed! Will def get one of these.