This past days we have been treated with two new exciting updates – one from Reason Studios and one from Roland. Reason 12 had a big goal of upgrading the Rack experience. It comes with a redesigned Combinator that is more customizable that allows the user to change the panel size, knobs, faders, buttons and graphics. For Roland, there quest to make Roland Cloud your music production go-to place continues with two exciting additions the TR-707 and TR-727.

REASON 12
Reason Studios has announced the availability of Reason 12, an update to the music production software featuring a new version of the most popular Reason device: The Combinator.

Earlier this year Reason Studios announced the release of Reason 12. Since then, users of the subscription service Reason+ have been given early access to some of the new features.

The all-new Combinator allows users to combine several Reason devices and package them up into one single device that can be saved and shared as a reusable preset. The Combinator is now highly customizable and lets the user change panel size, knobs, faders, buttons, and graphics to build the perfect patch—powered by Reason’s synths and effects inside.

“Updating the Combinator is one of our top feature requests ever, for good reason. Whether you love designing powerful device-like patches or just want more sounds, this update really levels up the Reason Rack. We have already seen some super creative patches from the Reason community, and I can’t wait to see more,” says Mattias Häggström Gerdt, Product Manager at Reason Studios.

Together with an updated browser, high resolution graphics (including every third-party Rack Extension add-on) and the Mimic Creative Sampler, the new Combinator completes the release of Reason 12.

Reason 12 features

• Powerful virtual instrument rack plugin and standalone music production software.
• Runs in any DAW as a VST, AU, and AAX Plugin.
• 18 premium instruments.
• 29 audio effects.
• 12 MIDI effects and utilities.
• Sound Bank with tens of thousands of device presets, loops and samples.
• Expandable Rack of instruments and effects with third-party Rack Extension devices.
• Easy to get started, yet as deep as you want to go. Reason quickly gets the sound you need but lets you go deep in building your own multi-instrument and effect dream creations.
• With Reason’s custom cabling on the back of the Rack and its advanced Combinator device, you are free to explore, tweak and sound like you.

Reason 12 is available for purchase at Reason Studios and from distributor Plugin Boutique, priced $399 USD (upgrades from $129 USD). Reason+ subscribers can download it in the Reason+ Companion app.

ROLAND CLOUD
Roland has announced new additions to the Legendary series of software-based Roland instruments available through Roland Cloud.

Brought to life with Roland’s advanced Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology, the TR-707 and TR-727 Software Rhythm Composers plugin instruments bring the authentic sound and experience of the influential mid-1980s TR-707 and TR-727 Rhythm Composers to computer-based music production and performance workflows.

In 1985, Roland introduced the now-famous TR-707 and TR-727, the company’s first drum machines with all sounds based around PCM samples. The TR-707, with its orange livery, had the most advanced pattern sequencing capabilities to date and included 15 punchy drum sounds covering all the basics, from kick and snare to toms and cymbals. Its sibling, the blue-highlighted TR-727, was an all-out percussion powerhouse with 15 Latin-inspired sounds that could take any groove to new heights. Each unit was formidable on its own, but together they were unstoppable.

Taking their rightful places next to other classics in the Roland TR series, this dynamic duo of drums and percussion has appeared on hit tracks in many genres through the years, including synth-pop, acid house, industrial, electro, indie, alternative, and more. The software-based recreations reproduce their sound and behavior with 100-percent authenticity, coupled with modern upgrades that take them into all-new creative territory.

The playback engines in the TR-707 and TR-727 were primitive by today’s standards, with 25 kHz sample rates and 8-bit resolution (and even 6-bit for some tones). To optimize performance, Roland engineers used short PCM waveforms with decay introduced later in the analog circuitry. But this early hybrid approach had its limitations, with deviations in the digital clock and analog circuitry causing variances in the pitch and decay characteristics. This combination of factors strongly contributes to the charm of the TR-707 and TR-727 and their unique and pleasing lo-fi punch. To replicate these behaviors in software, Roland started with the original PCM wave data from the hardware. Next, ACB technology was used to recreate the interaction between the PCM engine and analog output stages, carefully including all its quirks and instabilities.

The software-based TR-707 and TR-727 also include many updated features inspired by popular aftermarket modifications. Users have deep levels of sound control unavailable with stock hardware units, including attack, decay, and tuning for individual sounds, the ability to overdrive the internal circuitry, and much more. Additionally, the sequencer features include numerous modern enhancements for infusing grooves with added detail and nuance.

The TR-707 and TR-727 Software Rhythm Composers are available to purchase now from Roland Cloud as a Roland Lifetime Key for $149 USD each, and are included with the Roland Cloud Ultimate membership. Both plugins are VST3, AAX, and AU compatible and have native support for Apple silicon.

More information: Roland Cloud