I weirdly love the Rolca vocal processor. That thing is a sleeper classic processor. You can use it on anything. It’s crazy. I love that they have internal battery. 🥰
If you were thinking of doing a video on Korg Gadget 2 for any reason, Korg has the iOS app 50% off for the month, at least in the US. Seeing as how most of what you review is at least 3 digits of money bucks, it might be nice to have an episode about gear that the audience can pick up for $20 if they already have an iPad.
I also recognized this box has reached (downward direction) the usability of a software. (REASON Compact, Zenbeats, Gadget, Bandlab). Please tell us your opinion to which extent a sw can substite.
The sounds aren't really any _'better'_ than you could get from a free plugin but a suggestion box, like a portable Scaler 2 but with some dedicated hardware controls, is a pretty good idea. I feel like they could've spiced up the controls you get a bit more though, a little X/Y pad would've added a lot to the performance aspect of it and people are joking about D-Beam, but a tiny form factor device would be one of the best places for it I think. You could also just get that new Ableton note app on ipad as an alternative and then you could save and export all your ideas out with that. I feel like it's a much more cost effective way to do it though you lose the dedicated controls. Sick tracks as always dude :D Have fun with your TB-3's 🎧🎹🖥
Your videos are great, congrats! Question...could I use the roland j-6 sequencer also to sequence an external drum machine like a volca beats for example? Those 64 steps are really good!
Nice drum sounds on that last jam. What are those? Thanks for the videos man , I appreciate it. I was thinking about picking one of these up for the chord progression generator , but I should probably just bust out the old chord book.
For all the hell we gave Roland for the Aira line, they certainly have aged well as "reimaginations" of classic Roland gear compared to almost everything they've attempted to do again subsequently. You still squeeze great jams out of these toys though! I know you just dragged Korg through the mud twice consecutively, but I'm still waiting for you take on my first synth: the R3
Good video 👍. I don't think it's unfair to put it straight in Bad Gear - it seems to be one of those products that isn't as usable as it could be. I'm not against cut-down versions but they have to be complete within themselves and I'm not sure it meets that threshold for me.
Roland appear to have genetically engineered a hybrid droidlet from the decaying carcass of a tamagochi and a fragment of the Zengine they found down the back of the sofa.. Isn't technology wonderful? 200 magic beans would buy me a deadstock Falcon or Omnisphere license, which I'd be less likely to drunkenly snack on after a night on the razzle. These bland generic toys will doubtless end up in the Xmas toyboxes of a generation whose parents were informed that their brat wanted a synth for Krizzmuzz. And from there, fleabay, when they need a few bucks for that gap year holiday in Euromandyparadise
Don't know if you checked out doperobot's sysex hack on the TB 3 yet 😉 since you bought a second one (I did as well) but if the Tb 3 can be opened that way, surely this J-6 entrapment can be too! Gotta love those Finale's!!! Thank you!
Have you checked out the newer boutiques JD-08 and JX-08? I figured I would see them on your channel at some point. Since Roland made the sequencer and polyphony so much better and added a lot of effects, are they no longer bad gear? Haha
It's too bad your gimmick is to hate on everything that comes along. The J6 sounds great and looks very fun to experiment with. It could offer many people instant inspiration when inspiration is hard to find. It could offer an entry point to people who can't play music themselves, granting them a musical experience of their own. Joy in a joyless world, where all people choose to do is throw shade.
I’m amazed you and Alex Ball are such good friends considering his excellent work on Rolands history, building them up, while you tear them down again. Great vid as always btw.
I just bought this little thing. I understand your disappointment, but I kinda love this synth. I now use it regulary, and with some extra filters it sounds great, for what I'm doing. I just resently found you're channel, and I love it. It really hits the spot for me to extend my synth collection. Also your humor is a perfect fit for that format
yeah I have had it for a while and it is actually really fun - especially if you have the e-4 too because you can use the chords to midi control autotune with sequences/one key
Yep, I agree, I use it a lot. I have been sequencing mostly hardware for about 25 years. I can't play keyboard and don't care much for "music theory". So I move notes around in a grid until I like what I hear. The J6 adds some musical clichés (grown up chords and cheesy phrases) to a mix that I would not otherwise sequence. The contrast between preset clichés and acidy synth lines has been very useful. I can usually find a suitable sound from the limited preset patches (hey it's a juno) But for extra sound design, I use it to sequence my old Dave Smith Tetra. Any old poly synth will do.
Yep, I love my J-6 too. Works great with all my other synth/keyboard/drum machine hardware. Fun to run through effects too, like the Hologram Microcosm. Of course, I also love my T-8 🎶😁
For some reason I continue to believe that it's possible to simply listen to an episode of Bad Gear in the background while doing something else even tho I'm fully aware that it's impossible NOT to pause it every 2.7 seconds in order to read every single meme.
If you have troubles with finishing your tracks or turning loops into usable progressions, this box is a godsend. I'm always falling down the sound design rabbit hole, going to write music and ending up just building and tweaking crazy sounds for hours. I've started approaching writing from a macro level, buying gear with the right amount of limitations vs. creativity to keep you pushing forward with your tracks. Think of this as a sketch pad with amazing sounds for writing music. Get a rough arrangement down first on the J-6 (+ any other Aira Compact devices) then import your midi & audio into your DAW and you'll find yourself finishing tunes way quicker, way more often.
That extra ironic "Roland, we missed you" hit the spot. 😂 But thanks for giving the J-6 a spin as I so shamelessly requested a review of it to know if I (who can't play other cords than C, G and F) could have use of it in my dawless setup. Must say the LoFi tune was excellent. I just sit here and wonder what sounds are from the J-6. It sounds too good.❤ I'll keep the J-6 on my "If I find it cheap I'll grab it"-list! Congrats on the new addition to the family btw! I remember how much you hated on the TB3 in the beginning but you sure have warmed up to that one since you got another one to keep it company.
I really honestly want Roland to just release the sequencer as a stand-alone product. I'm an mid keys player but have a deep knowledge of theory and a teeny device with 2-4 tracks of that just spitting out midi into my daw would be an amazing workflow enhancer.
I kind of agree but I want one with a display that shows you all the chord names in a row so you can easily play along to it, and I don't think Roland has ever given a product a big enough display to show more than two chord names... if they made a tablet it would have a four-digit seven-segment display with multitouch.
"This is not the Pioneer Toraiz AS-1 you're looking for" I'm still eagerly awaiting episodes on the AS-1 and the SP-16! Both amazing bits of gear, but not everyone thinks so 😉
I bought the J-6 and I want to write one point about it - yes, it is a preset player with very limited synth params (filter cutoff/resonance, envelope attack/release and reverb/delay) but even with these and a little knowledge of making sounds you can make many more sounds on it than just the 64, I made nice pads out of plucks, nice plucks out of pads, new bass types, etc the one BIG issue with this synth is that there is no way to use automation to change even the limited params of the synth so come on Roland, in 2022 every hardware or software synth has midi cc to control the synth parameters, give us a firmware update that allows us to do the above. Otherwise AudioPilz is right that this is a joke
And there's that sick Volca Keys bass again. Bruh. You're REALLY making me want to buy a Volca Keys. (Already got a T-8 and J-6. My verdict on the J-6 isn't too far removed from yours.)
I recently obtained a new Roland TB-3 and absolutely love it! After seeing it featured in so many of your jams was what really solidified my decision to get one. It’s easier to program than the original (and the Behringer TD-3), plus it has extra sounds and effects to boot. I had the Behringer TD-3 and RD-6 and loved the sounds, but programming them took away from the creative flow. So, I sold ‘em. The Roland TB-3 is a breath of fresh air when it comes to a smooth, creative workflow. It has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of gear! Thank you for showcasing the TB-3 so often in your videos. There may be hate for it, but seriously I can’t understand why. The build quality is solid and the look actually appeals to me (to each their own). I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for an easy to program bass line synth. Happy Holidays!!!
The J6 is one of my favorite piece of gear in years. Its presets are barely tweakable but Roland knocks presets out of the park. I use it for indispensable tasks in my music. I think it is one of the craziest arps ever when you count the patterns.
I feel like a Juno is one of the least appropriate synths to turn into a preset machine. If it's a synth that requires konami keyboard shortcut menu diving ninjutsu like a DX7, then I get it. But with the Juno series, it's almost impossible to get a bad sound from it, so I dont see the need to lock it with presets.
I think this device is going to be a huge hit with non-keyboard players, as I think there are many producers, guitarists etc who'd love to get some synth chords into their songs without having to learn to play keys or find keyboard players. But I also have such mixed feelings about this unit. I own a Roland Juno-DS, which I really like for its massive layering capabilities and a friendly-enough UI, but it has so little in it from the Juno 60/Juno 106 series, that it doesn't really deserve to be named after them. I think Roland should have really included more of these sounds into the DS instead of loading it with hundreds of harsh EDM sounds and creating yet another little separate unit that doesn't even have proper DIN MIDI inputs and needs special 1/8" TRS to MIDI type A cables for it to collaborate with my DS. It might be worth a try, but I think I'd be better off with a refurbed Juno 60 instead of buying things peacemeal like this and dealing with serious limitations of such approach.
but i do like the idea of these little things but are roland just copying korg with the gadget low budget volca thing probably but i think its the future me a studio in a suitcase kind of thing rather then humping a load of synths around that are expensive and weigh a ton when you can in effet just have your studio in a slightly bigger then a laptop case and not have to carry all that around that i can see as definetely been the future iether korg or roland are gonna fill that market but will it be rolands minis well that remains to be seen i think korg are slightly better and more depth but we'll see
I love this show but I can't ever tell if he likes the gear or not 🤣 with his analogies and what not. I was able to discern that this was a thumbs down this time though.
@@AudioPilz lol. I just thought it was just me and my rudimentary music theory knowledge was suffering with using this device. I was hoping using it with an external midi control might expand it's abilities. That's yet to be determined.
I'll backtrack and freeze the screen so I can read the jokes, but PLEEZ give us more than one frame!! Unless this is some kind of meta commentary on the "minimalist" design of their interface? Hmmm... :)
You didn't get what this thing is for, Florian. This thing not supposed to do some sound design or solos. This thing is home organ accompaniment section in a box but reimagined for 21st centrury! You are supposed to play main melody and riffs and this thing is playing chords alongside of you.
I don’t own one of these, but have considered it. Your video only made me want it more :) I think its best use case hinges on: the ability to sequence a different arp pattern + chord on a per step basis and the fact that it can midi control other gear. That makes it an incredible tool for creating your own interesting samples to later mangle (which is my preferred way to make electronic music as opposed to straight up composing with synths)
Fabian- ever considered doing an episode on a Behringer 303 clone that sounds NOTHING like a 303? I know you say you like Uwe (sp?) but this is downright awful (forget bad)- ua-cam.com/video/CXMA2ZxsjzU/v-deo.html
But seriously, I make cool chords and sequences on a train, then it shows up as an audio interface on my iPad and plays my Moogs and Synthmasters in it, I LIKE
Cheers Florian, as a cut down cynical box ticking exercise in pillaging your own legacy it's spot on. What did we do to deserve this soylent green of a synth? Bah and indeed, humbug. Have a lovely weekend :)
@@treetopjones737 Ok, maybe not actually people, just the much picked over corpses of dead synths. Mostly I liked how the phrase sounded, 'soylent green of a synth' has a certain ring to it. I think as a cheap box with a nice set of sounds it's ok, just not amazing and a bit lazy. I expect more from Roland given their track record but at this stage it's starting to feel like they're punishing us for buying DX7s in preference to their 80s analogues. 🤷♀
If someone doesn't have your skillz, this thing falls short on sound. Maybe it's good to travel with to scratch up some ideas, but honestly it is limited. Thanks, as always.
Such a wasted opportunity. Can we get a simple fully tweakable synth module? Nah. We can get a children introduction into music theory but with less keys
Would probably be an interesting topic, but the infuriating, unintelligible manic voiceover, and the pointless dependence on stupid "memes" mean this is unwatchable.
Sounds good to me, and the hability to play chords on my own is a great plus. Junos are mostly used as a pad, synthbrass or bass machine. This one can do all.
Understand the hate but if it allows kids an affordable entry into the synth world why not but I’d steer them towards the volca line. Anyway cheers for the heads up on the pioneer as1 had missed that one Dave smith has the Midas touch!
Memes in this series are getting spicier Hmm, love it Finale was really refreshing for a change, we have gotten a lot of bangers so getting lofi for breeze is nice
i dont use mine for sounds, but as a chord generator for some ideas…I get so set in the same progressions even if its just two or three chords it works for me. I could use software but Im mostly hardware based and although I can play keys I still find this a really useful tool.
@@AudioPilz can we as a Patron community have one of your hairs just in case? 29 years of making your clone watch your videos sounds like enough preparation
I do enjoy the J-6. Despite the obvious sound design restrictions, it really is one big sweet spot. Having said that, I’m hoping someone finds a way to exploit the chip and get into those other parameters.
This thing is actually better than I suspected. A shame they hide the synth engine and lock so much away from the user. Roland just never figures out how to make people love them.
Rather have this, than those noisy wooden toys that think they are trying to be Danish Modern. Where's that dude with the horrid comb-over? he should be playing with those noisy Danish Modern Revival (Too soon) wooden things.
tRoland should stop dicking people around and just bring out a hardware controller for their cloud subscriptions. I haven't seen anything decent from tRoland in years, I had a few bits from them and all gone. MC707 was my last bit and that was a horrible bit to use live, 3 knobs per engine? Doesn't matter how good something sounds like, if it has a garbage UI, then to the curb it is.
@@AudioPilz Looking forwards to it, MC707 is everything that is wrong with tRoland. Good idea, really bad implementation. Their TR 8S is much betterererer and is easier to use imo. I had the non S and moved on due to samish sounds, work flow is excellent though.
You put it best here when you were pointing out that even with the lack of knobs here, the features in this box are still more than what most use on a regular basis. Roland since day one has been trying to simplify UX on their keyboards. Even the original Junos sort of ask "what if we could make our Jupiters more accessible to the average player". They achieved perfection there, and it looks like they once again tried to strip things back here. The sequencer looks interesting, and if it is capable of midi out could make this thing a sleeper hit. On the flip side, Korg has been UX focused as well, but with a different approach. The Univox K1 is a simplified synth that has access to all the parameters a knob tweaker would want. The Volcas, which originally were based off of this synth take the same approach. As a result they're a bigger success as they allow beginners to grow with them, and allow pros to find some use in them as well.
![[UA] Eternal Fire проти NAVI | EPL Season 20 Malta](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/chvlsDygrZM/mqdefault.jpg)
Sounds surprisingly better than I thought it would. Like synthwave in a box.
Agreed!
Yes, I love my J-6, even as a limited «Presetschleuder», the sounds are amazing. Fit perfect in a Synthwave mix.
The sound is a bit too bright for my tastes, but it is perfect for synthwave
It would be a great load of bang-for-the buck-fun when paired up with a Mininova!
It isn't a Friday if we don't gather around to ridicule a fine piece of Aira
You spelled "all of modern Roland" wrong.
The weekend can begin!!!
This and JHS Pedals show…ladies and gentlemen, the weekend.
@@AudioPilz hi, i wanna buy drum machine, but all what i like, you marked like "bad gear". What i can by for 500$?😔
@@sound_dept MPC One is a great choice around that price point 😊
So far the best exposition of J-6’ sonic possibilities!)) bravo!)
Thank you!!!
I weirdly love the Rolca vocal processor. That thing is a sleeper classic processor. You can use it on anything. It’s crazy. I love that they have internal battery. 🥰
I still need to pick that one up!
Recently gave it a try during the Patreon vocoder shoutout. It's quite similar to the VT-4/3 I guess...
4 voices, and yet they call it J-6…..
It's weird, I know...
Yamaha dx (4 operators)
As dx7 (6 operators) clone 😂😂😂
Because it's based on the sounds of the Juno-60. 😄
If you were thinking of doing a video on Korg Gadget 2 for any reason, Korg has the iOS app 50% off for the month, at least in the US. Seeing as how most of what you review is at least 3 digits of money bucks, it might be nice to have an episode about gear that the audience can pick up for $20 if they already have an iPad.
Great suggestion, thanks!!!
I also recognized this box has reached (downward direction) the usability of a software. (REASON Compact, Zenbeats, Gadget, Bandlab). Please tell us your opinion to which extent a sw can substite.
I don't understand any longer if your love for the TB3 is honest or ironic, sure it gets a lot of use in your videos!
I hook it up, it spits out stuff I like without any effort. Definitely love it but it has some flaws
The sounds aren't really any _'better'_ than you could get from a free plugin but a suggestion box, like a portable Scaler 2 but with some dedicated hardware controls, is a pretty good idea. I feel like they could've spiced up the controls you get a bit more though, a little X/Y pad would've added a lot to the performance aspect of it and people are joking about D-Beam, but a tiny form factor device would be one of the best places for it I think.
You could also just get that new Ableton note app on ipad as an alternative and then you could save and export all your ideas out with that. I feel like it's a much more cost effective way to do it though you lose the dedicated controls.
Sick tracks as always dude :D Have fun with your TB-3's 🎧🎹🖥
Thanks! An X/Y pad like on the D-2?;)
I hope Roland drops the the B-3 this year
Like an Aira Compact organ?
Nice! I have one… it is fun… which is often inspiring if you don’t use it too much :)
Nice!
Ok but can you use the midi out to drive some other synth module that only has an arp? i.e. Blofeld
Why didn't Roland make this a full blown auto harp? I would buy one right now.
Are these still a thing?;)
You mean those digital toy-like things, not an actual autoharp, I assume.
That’s the funniest verdict of any BG episode 😂
Thank you!!!
Your videos are great, congrats! Question...could I use the roland j-6 sequencer also to sequence an external drum machine like a volca beats for example? Those 64 steps are really good!
Thank you!!! Yeah, works great!
Really loved jams 2 and 3 in this one :o
Thank you!!!
Nice drum sounds on that last jam. What are those? Thanks for the videos man , I appreciate it. I was thinking about picking one of these up for the chord progression generator , but I should probably just bust out the old chord book.
Thanks!!! That's a semi legal break from a 90s sample CD;)
For all the hell we gave Roland for the Aira line, they certainly have aged well as "reimaginations" of classic Roland gear compared to almost everything they've attempted to do again subsequently. You still squeeze great jams out of these toys though!
I know you just dragged Korg through the mud twice consecutively, but I'm still waiting for you take on my first synth: the R3
Thanks!!! Still trying to find an R3 without breaking the bank...
Good video 👍. I don't think it's unfair to put it straight in Bad Gear - it seems to be one of those products that isn't as usable as it could be. I'm not against cut-down versions but they have to be complete within themselves and I'm not sure it meets that threshold for me.
Thank you!!! Yeah, direct-to-Bad Gear releases are controversial;)
7:45 yes, I'll have that please
😀
its a one trick pony, but what a ride!
Yesssss
I was waiting in the Lofi workout for Daft Punk to pop up and bring their vocoder magic...
😀😀😀Thanks😀😀😀
Did you work in Finance at some point? Asking regarding the "back office" comment.
I totally suck at finance;)
Roland appear to have genetically engineered a hybrid droidlet from the decaying carcass of a tamagochi and a fragment of the Zengine they found down the back of the sofa.. Isn't technology wonderful?
200 magic beans would buy me a deadstock Falcon or Omnisphere license, which I'd be less likely to drunkenly snack on after a night on the razzle.
These bland generic toys will doubtless end up in the Xmas toyboxes of a generation whose parents were informed that their brat wanted a synth for Krizzmuzz. And from there, fleabay, when they need a few bucks for that gap year holiday in Euromandyparadise
That sums it up nicely;)
Don't know if you checked out doperobot's sysex hack on the TB 3 yet 😉 since you bought a second one (I did as well) but if the Tb 3 can be opened that way, surely this J-6 entrapment can be too! Gotta love those Finale's!!! Thank you!
Recently installed the control surface for the TB3 on my laptop but I have yet to take a deep dive. Thanks!!!
Wish I could insert a gif here from the TB-3 episode of the part where you're saying "Just to be perfectly clear, I still don't like the TB-3!"
I should probably post that on insta;)
@@AudioPilz Haha, I just looked at your Insta post and saw that someone else in the comments had the same thought as I did.
Love it! 😂😂😂
😀😀😀
J-6: I can remember 64 steps
Volca Keys: Showoff
Lol
Look kids, if you get rid of knobs you can make you synth even smaller than a Volca.
...equals profit;)
the meme at 8:15
It's science
@@AudioPilz for sure
Have you checked out the newer boutiques JD-08 and JX-08? I figured I would see them on your channel at some point. Since Roland made the sequencer and polyphony so much better and added a lot of effects, are they no longer bad gear? Haha
Great suggestions, thanks!
I had to check if this was real and not your April's fool joke in December. Local store has five of these.
Direct-to-Bad Gear release;)
It's too bad your gimmick is to hate on everything that comes along. The J6 sounds great and looks very fun to experiment with. It could offer many people instant inspiration when inspiration is hard to find. It could offer an entry point to people who can't play music themselves, granting them a musical experience of their own. Joy in a joyless world, where all people choose to do is throw shade.
Thank you for the feedback
no not two tb3s your gonna be unstoppable x
My cryptonite - they're green;)
Yessir!
Yeah!!!
Is it really Friday without the Austrian guy on meth showing u a bunch of memes and yelling at plastic
That one literally made me lolz
No sidekick on a Volca…?!
Is the J6 that limited?
It's both, super powerful AND limited
I’m amazed you and Alex Ball are such good friends considering his excellent work on Rolands history, building them up, while you tear them down again. Great vid as always btw.
lol 😅
Taking the good cop bad cop approach
Thank you!!! I don't think that's a source of conflict in real life...
I love Alex Ball, but he shills hard for Roland. I would too if I could, and use the money to buy non-Roland gear.
@@AudioPilz Quite the opposite, i would guess 💕💕
I just bought this little thing. I understand your disappointment, but I kinda love this synth. I now use it regulary, and with some extra filters it sounds great, for what I'm doing. I just resently found you're channel, and I love it. It really hits the spot for me to extend my synth collection. Also your humor is a perfect fit for that format
Thank you!!! Happy to hear that it works for you!
yeah I have had it for a while and it is actually really fun - especially if you have the e-4 too because you can use the chords to midi control autotune with sequences/one key
Yep, I agree, I use it a lot. I have been sequencing mostly hardware for about 25 years. I can't play keyboard and don't care much for "music theory".
So I move notes around in a grid until I like what I hear.
The J6 adds some musical clichés (grown up chords and cheesy phrases) to a mix that I would not otherwise sequence.
The contrast between preset clichés and acidy synth lines has been very useful.
I can usually find a suitable sound from the limited preset patches (hey it's a juno)
But for extra sound design, I use it to sequence my old Dave Smith Tetra. Any old poly synth will do.
@@whormongrmuzik I have to get these. Hope I can level up my Setup by next year!
Yep, I love my J-6 too. Works great with all my other synth/keyboard/drum machine hardware. Fun to run through effects too, like the Hologram Microcosm.
Of course, I also love my T-8 🎶😁
Gotta appreciate Florian's dedication to the craft, the absolute madman bought not one, but two TB-3's!
❤️❤️❤️
"We all go a little mad sometimes." - Norman Bates
I had 2 too, like Desmond Tutu, sold both, hated them.
I absolutely burst out laughing at the pullout reveal, amazing
@@treetopjones737 “Oh, you can't help that; we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.” - Cheshire Cat
This episode contains the most accurate synth tech meme ever. 25 years messing around with this stuff and sysex still makes me cry. 😂
Same here! It can be so brutal!
For some reason I continue to believe that it's possible to simply listen to an episode of Bad Gear in the background while doing something else even tho I'm fully aware that it's impossible NOT to pause it every 2.7 seconds in order to read every single meme.
You just pause? I pause then hit back arrow and then fiddle with "," and "." (single frame step) until I've caught them all. Maybe.
I just hang out in the same meme groups and assume I've seen them already. Makes watching the episode less anxiety ridden
I do at least two views, one letting the vibes gently guide me along and a second where I'm lunging at pause like a madman
@@kimwjustice Wow! Didn't know you could do that frame stepping with "," and "."! That will be extremely useful for some videos!
Watching it twice is much recommended;)
One of my favorite Bad Gear ever!
I m not ashamed to say I own it and I love it!
😀😀😀
@@AudioPilz It helped me a lot
coming out with cool Chord progressions I wouldn't ever be able to come out with
@@BrancoArgenta Scaler 2 or Captain Chord are cheaper, though...
@@partirparlesarmoires I actually don't dislike the sounds either. Sometimes one just needs couple good presets!
@@partirparlesarmoires Just got a J-6 but I may return it to get one of these plugins, I had no idea they existed!
Get over 100 pro level chord progressions without any music theory!
I'd buy that for a $!!!
This series keeps me going each week, I haven’t looked forward to things in a long time. Love this show
Thank you so much!!!
If you have troubles with finishing your tracks or turning loops into usable progressions, this box is a godsend. I'm always falling down the sound design rabbit hole, going to write music and ending up just building and tweaking crazy sounds for hours. I've started approaching writing from a macro level, buying gear with the right amount of limitations vs. creativity to keep you pushing forward with your tracks. Think of this as a sketch pad with amazing sounds for writing music. Get a rough arrangement down first on the J-6 (+ any other Aira Compact devices) then import your midi & audio into your DAW and you'll find yourself finishing tunes way quicker, way more often.
That extra ironic "Roland, we missed you" hit the spot. 😂 But thanks for giving the J-6 a spin as I so shamelessly requested a review of it to know if I (who can't play other cords than C, G and F) could have use of it in my dawless setup. Must say the LoFi tune was excellent. I just sit here and wonder what sounds are from the J-6. It sounds too good.❤ I'll keep the J-6 on my "If I find it cheap I'll grab it"-list! Congrats on the new addition to the family btw! I remember how much you hated on the TB3 in the beginning but you sure have warmed up to that one since you got another one to keep it company.
Thanks! All sounds are J-6 except for the drum loop
Whoa! Then it does boast some great sounding synths. I'll swiftly move it to the top of the list. 🤩
I really honestly want Roland to just release the sequencer as a stand-alone product. I'm an mid keys player but have a deep knowledge of theory and a teeny device with 2-4 tracks of that just spitting out midi into my daw would be an amazing workflow enhancer.
I kind of agree but I want one with a display that shows you all the chord names in a row so you can easily play along to it, and I don't think Roland has ever given a product a big enough display to show more than two chord names... if they made a tablet it would have a four-digit seven-segment display with multitouch.
I think there are quite a few professional midi players from the 90s and zero years for that application that are far more powerful and less fiddly
@@AudioPilz Name and shame (or the opposite of that really) pls!
@@AudioPilz they got names? 👀
@@AudioPilz teach them Florian, teach them 📚
J-6 is legendary.... Minus the signature Roland not so reactive to touch pads lol
Hey Ave. Loved your vids about it!
"This is not the Pioneer Toraiz AS-1 you're looking for"
I'm still eagerly awaiting episodes on the AS-1 and the SP-16! Both amazing bits of gear, but not everyone thinks so 😉
Great suggestion, thanks!!! Trying to find one of these around here!
The AS-1 is real bad. More a midi problem gear🙂
We name it, Dave Sh#@ gear😂
I bought the J-6 and I want to write one point about it
- yes, it is a preset player with very limited synth params (filter cutoff/resonance, envelope attack/release and reverb/delay) but even with these and a little knowledge of making sounds you can make many more sounds on it than just the 64, I made nice pads out of plucks, nice plucks out of pads, new bass types, etc
the one BIG issue with this synth is that there is no way to use automation to change even the limited params of the synth
so come on Roland, in 2022 every hardware or software synth has midi cc to control the synth parameters, give us a firmware update that allows us to do the above.
Otherwise AudioPilz is right that this is a joke
Thanks for the heads up!
I don't really buy synths brand new, but this one I got as soon as i could. I love it
Nice!!!
I know the show is called Bad Gear, but you make everything sound good!
Thank you so much!!!
And there's that sick Volca Keys bass again. Bruh. You're REALLY making me want to buy a Volca Keys. (Already got a T-8 and J-6. My verdict on the J-6 isn't too far removed from yours.)
That one is really nice as a bass synth with the unison
I do like the J6 a lot. I use it mostly to help me sketch and write stuff. It is handy.
👍
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
I recently obtained a new Roland TB-3 and absolutely love it! After seeing it featured in so many of your jams was what really solidified my decision to get one.
It’s easier to program than the original (and the Behringer TD-3), plus it has extra sounds and effects to boot. I had the Behringer TD-3 and RD-6 and loved the sounds, but programming them took away from the creative flow. So, I sold ‘em.
The Roland TB-3 is a breath of fresh air when it comes to a smooth, creative workflow.
It has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of gear!
Thank you for showcasing the TB-3 so often in your videos. There may be hate for it, but seriously I can’t understand why. The build quality is solid and the look actually appeals to me (to each their own). I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for an easy to program bass line synth.
Happy Holidays!!!
TB-3 has become my go to mono synth!
The J6 is one of my favorite piece of gear in years. Its presets are barely tweakable but Roland knocks presets out of the park. I use it for indispensable tasks in my music.
I think it is one of the craziest arps ever when you count the patterns.
Arp section is pretty nice indeed!
agreed!
I feel like a Juno is one of the least appropriate synths to turn into a preset machine. If it's a synth that requires konami keyboard shortcut menu diving ninjutsu like a DX7, then I get it. But with the Juno series, it's almost impossible to get a bad sound from it, so I dont see the need to lock it with presets.
Agreed!
I think this device is going to be a huge hit with non-keyboard players, as I think there are many producers, guitarists etc who'd love to get some synth chords into their songs without having to learn to play keys or find keyboard players. But I also have such mixed feelings about this unit. I own a Roland Juno-DS, which I really like for its massive layering capabilities and a friendly-enough UI, but it has so little in it from the Juno 60/Juno 106 series, that it doesn't really deserve to be named after them. I think Roland should have really included more of these sounds into the DS instead of loading it with hundreds of harsh EDM sounds and creating yet another little separate unit that doesn't even have proper DIN MIDI inputs and needs special 1/8" TRS to MIDI type A cables for it to collaborate with my DS. It might be worth a try, but I think I'd be better off with a refurbed Juno 60 instead of buying things peacemeal like this and dealing with serious limitations of such approach.
Agreed!!!
It does sound good. Still continually impressed with your consistent and excellent work. Great job once again.
Thank you so much!!!
but i do like the idea of these little things but are roland just copying korg with the gadget low budget volca thing probably but i think its the future me a studio in a suitcase kind of thing rather then humping a load of synths around that are expensive and weigh a ton when you can in effet just have your studio in a slightly bigger then a laptop case and not have to carry all that around that i can see as definetely been the future iether korg or roland are gonna fill that market but will it be rolands minis well that remains to be seen i think korg are slightly better and more depth but we'll see
They were rather late to the Volca hype
Pretty happy with mine, though it’s definitely limited. Does the job for a dedicated chord stab machine 🙂
Chord stabs are what it's best at...
As an owner of multiple boutiques+volca-orba-microfreak-mc101-mininova... all I can say I have to have 'Aira J-6'!!!😊Roland did the math well 😊
It's science;)
I love this show but I can't ever tell if he likes the gear or not 🤣 with his analogies and what not. I was able to discern that this was a thumbs down this time though.
You might be correct in this case;)
@@AudioPilz lol. I just thought it was just me and my rudimentary music theory knowledge was suffering with using this device. I was hoping using it with an external midi control might expand it's abilities. That's yet to be determined.
This is one of my favorite pieces of gear. You can do so many things with it and the sounds are great.
👍
I'll backtrack and freeze the screen so I can read the jokes, but PLEEZ give us more than one frame!! Unless this is some kind of meta commentary on the "minimalist" design of their interface? Hmmm... :)
Thank you for the feedback!!!
I love this synth as I am too lazy to learn actual chords. Adds a nice touch to my acid set.
Nice!
loopop said it's a chord pack in a box - i had to buy it!
Loopop is always right!
You didn't get what this thing is for, Florian. This thing not supposed to do some sound design or solos.
This thing is home organ accompaniment section in a box but reimagined for 21st centrury! You are supposed to play main melody and riffs and this thing is playing chords alongside of you.
Thanks for the heads up
Another week of making bad gear sound great! You rock, man. Hope you're well.
Thank you so much!!!
I added the 666th like to this video. I want to believe that means something.
😈😈😈
I don’t own one of these, but have considered it. Your video only made me want it more :) I think its best use case hinges on: the ability to sequence a different arp pattern + chord on a per step basis and the fact that it can midi control other gear. That makes it an incredible tool for creating your own interesting samples to later mangle (which is my preferred way to make electronic music as opposed to straight up composing with synths)
Thanks! Nice approach!
Fabian- ever considered doing an episode on a Behringer 303 clone that sounds NOTHING like a 303?
I know you say you like Uwe (sp?) but this is downright awful (forget bad)-
ua-cam.com/video/CXMA2ZxsjzU/v-deo.html
Great suggestion, thanks!
But seriously, I make cool chords and sequences on a train, then it shows up as an audio interface on my iPad and plays my Moogs and Synthmasters in it, I LIKE
Nice technique!
Not making the synth engine editable via a pc editor rendered this synth to a gimmick that will go down as synth crapdome.
Cheers Florian, as a cut down cynical box ticking exercise in pillaging your own legacy it's spot on. What did we do to deserve this soylent green of a synth? Bah and indeed, humbug. Have a lovely weekend :)
It's made from PEOPLE? 😱
@@treetopjones737 Ok, maybe not actually people, just the much picked over corpses of dead synths. Mostly I liked how the phrase sounded, 'soylent green of a synth' has a certain ring to it. I think as a cheap box with a nice set of sounds it's ok, just not amazing and a bit lazy. I expect more from Roland given their track record but at this stage it's starting to feel like they're punishing us for buying DX7s in preference to their 80s analogues. 🤷♀
Thanks!!! J-6 is PEOPLE!!!
If someone doesn't have your skillz, this thing falls short on sound. Maybe it's good to travel with to scratch up some ideas, but honestly it is limited. Thanks, as always.
Thank you so much!!!
This is great piece of bad gear !
😀
I wanna get one of these for the sending midi to my SP404 MK2, I want something small and battery powered. the cheesy 80s presets are just a bonus
It's actually really nice for that!
2nd TB3 congrats!! Considering how good it is, the 2nd could be used for leads or wash fx!
Thanks! It's like Sci Fi Rebirth 338
Such a wasted opportunity. Can we get a simple fully tweakable synth module? Nah. We can get a children introduction into music theory but with less keys
True that!
That 80s cheese jam was amazing.
Thank you!!!
Would probably be an interesting topic, but the infuriating, unintelligible manic voiceover, and the pointless dependence on stupid "memes" mean this is unwatchable.
Thank you for the feedback
Sounds good to me, and the hability to play chords on my own is a great plus. Junos are mostly used as a pad, synthbrass or bass machine. This one can do all.
The synth engine is really nice!
Understand the hate but if it allows kids an affordable entry into the synth world why not but I’d steer them towards the volca line.
Anyway cheers for the heads up on the pioneer as1 had missed that one Dave smith has the Midas touch!
Agreed, Volcas are better for experimentation
I think this would be a fun box to keep on my desk at work
Certainly worth a try
Thank god it's Rolandy friday. This item is so questionable, even i can't find a good joke. Terrible.
Definitely not for me
Memes in this series are getting spicier
Hmm, love it
Finale was really refreshing for a change, we have gotten a lot of bangers so getting lofi for breeze is nice
Thank you!!!
i dont use mine for sounds, but as a chord generator for some ideas…I get so set in the same progressions even if its just two or three chords it works for me. I could use software but Im mostly hardware based and although I can play keys I still find this a really useful tool.
Nice technique!
exactly why i got one, never used the audio out, just the midi out for those chord progressions… works well.
Roland J6 or Korg Volca Sampler?
I'd probably go with the Volca
Some beautiful jams on this one - great work!
Thank you!!!
Good to see this man back and healthy. We can't afford to lose him.
Thanks but no worries❤️
@@AudioPilz can we as a Patron community have one of your hairs just in case? 29 years of making your clone watch your videos sounds like enough preparation
It’s fucking mental .. I love it’s horrors - unashamedly plasticy
😀😀😀
I do enjoy the J-6. Despite the obvious sound design restrictions, it really is one big sweet spot. Having said that, I’m hoping someone finds a way to exploit the chip and get into those other parameters.
@@ghostmall2421 lol!
I'm pretty sure Roland made that safer than Fort Knox
This thing is actually better than I suspected. A shame they hide the synth engine and lock so much away from the user. Roland just never figures out how to make people love them.
True that!
If it had at least 6 voices, I’d have bought it for trying/sketching ideas on the go …
These voice limits can be quite a PITA
1:27 that sequence was fire
Thank you!!!
Instant Jeff mills
@@neptune1411 didn't know who Jeff mills was before your post but you're right
Rather have this, than those noisy wooden toys that think they are trying to be Danish Modern. Where's that dude with the horrid comb-over? he should be playing with those noisy Danish Modern Revival (Too soon) wooden things.
Should I get a combover?🤔
@@AudioPilz😂 I only just saw this response! ....A J-6 will be here in my new studio today! Now I have the S-1, T-8, and J-6.
tRoland should stop dicking people around and just bring out a hardware controller for their cloud subscriptions.
I haven't seen anything decent from tRoland in years, I had a few bits from them and all gone.
MC707 was my last bit and that was a horrible bit to use live, 3 knobs per engine?
Doesn't matter how good something sounds like, if it has a garbage UI, then to the curb it is.
That one is long overdue!
@@AudioPilz Looking forwards to it, MC707 is everything that is wrong with tRoland. Good idea, really bad implementation.
Their TR 8S is much betterererer and is easier to use imo.
I had the non S and moved on due to samish sounds, work flow is excellent though.
You put it best here when you were pointing out that even with the lack of knobs here, the features in this box are still more than what most use on a regular basis. Roland since day one has been trying to simplify UX on their keyboards. Even the original Junos sort of ask "what if we could make our Jupiters more accessible to the average player". They achieved perfection there, and it looks like they once again tried to strip things back here. The sequencer looks interesting, and if it is capable of midi out could make this thing a sleeper hit.
On the flip side, Korg has been UX focused as well, but with a different approach. The Univox K1 is a simplified synth that has access to all the parameters a knob tweaker would want. The Volcas, which originally were based off of this synth take the same approach. As a result they're a bigger success as they allow beginners to grow with them, and allow pros to find some use in them as well.
True that!