Roland’s forthcoming line of AIRA products understandably has music producers very interested indeed.

Initially billed as including updated versions of the legendary TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines and the TB-303 bassline synthesizer, it seemed to be the answer to many fans’ prayers – a way of securing those unmistakable, classic sounds without having to re-mortgage your parents’ house.

Now we know a little more solid information – the AIRA line will definitely consist of four separate units. From the new teaser video it looks as if the TR-808 clone TR-08 will be joined by a small but brightly lit TB-303 clone, rumored to be a touch-screen device similar to Korg’s KAOSS pad (on the right side of the picture above), a proper synthesizer with keyboard (at the top, looking not a million miles away from Roland’s popular JP-8000/8080) and the VT-3 Vocal Transformer, an effects unit “intended for the human voice.”

This might upset purists hoping for robust circuit-for-circuit clones of the much sought after original boxes, but all is not lost. Roland have now explained the technology at the core of AIRA’s development – ACB, or Analogue Circuit Behavior.

ACB is Roland’s attempt to accurately clone the behavior of each component in their original drum machines and synthesizers. In the brand new video below, scientists are shown playing a simple bassline from an original TB-303 and then mimicking the sound near-perfectly from the new box. It might not be the real thing, and it might not be analogue, but you have to admit they do at least seem to be trying to get the sound as close as they possibly can.

FACT put together a list of everything you wanted to know about the TR-808 but were afraid to ask, and you can investigate it here.