More vintage Roland gear is bound for official plug-in versions. Here’s the surprise: the CR-78 gets the nicest, most detailed software rendition yet. We also round out those nice BOSS pedals. It could be just what you need for some extra classic Roland gear in the software rig.
CR-78 with Analog Circuit Behavior Modeling
Roland keeps digging into its back catalog to expand its software offerings, whether for Roland Cloud or as a Lifetime Key. But the words we’re looking for is the ACB edition with the best-sounding modeling.
The CR-78 was a natural, as we’d already seen the ACB model (sans UI, of course) as a free firmware update for the TR-8S. It’s now also on the flagship TR-1000. The plug-in version adds a bunch of extra features from the original hardware plus modern pattern editing. And if you’re not into subscriptions, it’s launching at an intro price of $49.
They really went all out with this one, and I’m honestly excited about it — ACB always sounded good, but only recently have we gotten desktop UIs that live up to the name. So you get quite a few features here:
- Wood panel and black vinyl skin options
- Direct-access pattern, sound, shuffle, fill, volume balance, fade in/out, and other controls from the original
- Dedicated Pattern view, including per-parameter tuning and decay control
- Kit screen with mixing options, panning, mute/solo, and main/sub output routing
That seems like a nice balance between the accurate original panel and some modern features. I do hope they bring this approach to more of the Roland Cloud library.
Pattern page — note that they even borrowed some of the look of the TR-1000:
Kit page:
Full specs, just because:
- Maximum Polyphony: 11 voices
- Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
- Step Sequencer: 11 instrument parts, 16 steps per 1 measure, 2 (A, B) variations per 1 pattern
- INST tones: BASS DRUM, SNARE DRUM, LOW CONGA, LOW/HIGH BONGO, COWBELL, RIM SHOT/CLAVES, MARACAS, HIHAT, CYMBAL, TAMBOURINE (1 and 2), GUIRO (1 and 2)
Check this from Roland:
And Lifetime Keys are available (no subscription) via Plugin Boutique, too:
Roland Plugins at Plugin Boutique
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I’ll test this one, because I still have a strange admiration for the CR-78 and its primitive pleasures. It’s hard to describe. It just makes me want to stare out a window, and do odd CR-78 dances.
And yeah, bonus points to Roland for the feature image.
BOSS pedals: DM-2, OD-2, DC-2
For Roland Cloud only, the selection of BOSS pedals gets its promised expansion. It’s a minor update in terms of total number — you go from 16 to 19 — but the three they add are really significant:
- DM-2 Delay: BBD delay with the possibility to self-oscillate (via Intensity).
- OB-2 TURBO OverDrive: Two overdrives in one, via standard and Turbo mode.
- DC-2 Dimension C: what happens if you to try to make a Roland SDD-320 Dimension D into a stomp pedal.
All of these have a stereo input option in addition to stereo output (see Pro Edit), meaning they’re useful whether or not you’re using them on guitars, bass, and other mono inputs. I wrote about the series before. And… honestly, I forgot about it, but the addition of these three now makes it worth opening again. From that detailed look:
And yes, that is OD-2, the follow-up to the OD-1. Here’s an explanation:
Now, none of this is going to calm the demands for reissues of some of these pedals! But I’m glad to have the software renditions meanwhile.
More Roland history
Want more Roland history? You know you do. Check out:
CR-78: The Whole Story – nice history by Adam Douglas for the official Roland Articles site
And of course…
INSPIRE THE MUSIC – 50 YEARS OF ROLAND HISTORY at Bjooks — or check the online subscription that includes these articles: https://www.patchandtweak.com/