Well glad to see this. I dig the compact series. All bits of gear are very solid. The menu dive isn't complicated once you know what is what and the sound quality is very nice.
44:24 is such a Burial beat (space apes?)! Dig the micro timings. I haven’t bought any hardware gear in a while but if I did…it’d be this. And because of this video ;) Fun watch either way!
Korg sold their last Volca Sample the day before this came out. This is an incredible unit for the size and price. Remember that with boxes like these, you only need to go as deep as you need to. Many basic functions seem to be close to the surface. This will be an excellent tool for my little Volca rig or for creating on the go.
Thank You for another wonderful tutorial. I own all the previous Aira Compacts and overall found them quite intuitive to jump in and use. I must confess I personally found this unit has a steeper learning curve and your video has provided immeasurable assistance in understanding the nuances of it. As always thank you for a job well done.
Now that ya had them all any favorites out the line? I wanted to get this but got the t-8 j-6 for their immediacy to get drums,bass,chords somewhat synth in two boxes seems powerful
You made great choices. The T8 is my goto for drum and base. The J6 is fantastic with those lush chord sequences. The P6 has wild possibilities but I must admit a bit intimidating with all its deep sample features.
Wonderful piece of gear, does an amazing amount of stuff for the price tag. Worth the price for the granular engine alone. Workflow really is'nt all that bad, quite intuitive really, once you get the way this machine is designed. I had great stuff going on the day it arrived. Roland writes really decent manuals nowadays. Why people can't be arsed to read them is beyond me. For those of us who've been working with hardware a bit longer, all this great, cheap hardware that's been coming out for the last 10 years or so is truly a blessing. Take your time with it, consult the well written manual and have fun creating. Highly recommended!
Great review! Finally got around to playing with mine that I bought a few weeks ago. Here are my thoughts - this excels when sampling across the usb cable, you can sample directly from whatever is playing on your PC (youtube, media player e.t.c.) directly into each sample pad. That one single feature makes it amazing for quick ideas. The actual sample PC software sucks - it's clunky and requires a P-6 reboot (which takes time) every new sample. They need to memory map the flash ram - so there's none of this silly max sampling time per pad, each pad should have access to entire free memory rather than fixed slot sizes (5.9x2x44100x48 = 24mb of flash ram I think) - it's 2024 ffs - not 1990. Wish it had more sample pad buttons - that would be great as well. But it's still a great device for quick ideas and it's so much damn fun when ur sampling youtube audio quickly.
@@thegreatsiberianitch True, and that would be useful for some applications, But I would miss being able to use the Volca sequencer/arpegiator, and the knobs/buttons to shape the sound in real time. On the other hand, sampling brings it's own set of tools, to the equation. So I must have both 🎶🙂🎶
Love this video review……after watching this, I’m definitely getting this. At first I wasn’t interested in another sampler. The work flow is pretty easy.
Nice 1 fella. As always, an excellent review/tutorial. I bought one last week and am very impressed with what Roland have squeezed into that tiny box. Keeping the price low was obviously a primary concern when designing the P6, but speaking personally, I would have very happily spent a bit more (like 50 bucks?) to have had a better screen and a metal rather than plastic box. P6 MK2...?
HOT TIP: If you own a MPC Live 2 on a stand and own a Decksaver for it, this (and All Aira compacts) fit in that indentation on the Decksaver perfectly. Got my P6 today. Feels great
I truly wish Roland hadn't gone with the calculator screen though. I do like this series and this sampler looks great, buuutt I have the S-1 (again an excellent mini Synth) and the screen really spoils it. I could happily accept the menu diving as a compromise for the form factor but the calculator screen makes it kinda mind numbing to understand what's on those menus.
Yeh should have taken note from Synthstrom. The new OLED screen on the Deluge is a massive improvement over that crappy calculator screen. You can see waveforms and loads of other info. In this day and age the calculator screen is only needed on one thing. Calculators.
Thanks for this excellent review, as always. You rundown the essantials, so helpful. Honestly for the price this thing is incredible. I wish Roland would release a Deluxe version, full size, with knobs, filters, properl screen. I'd be all over it.
Thank you for your review. I have seen you explain many different products and your explanations are very clear. For this uint I see that for me the display would be a big issue for me. But what's inside this unit is very impressive. Thank you again
I really like it. Sometimes the 404 can be too much and this thing fits a nice sweet spot for features, portability, possibilities and price. The display doesn't really bother me having used the J-6 and T-8 for a few years, you quickly get used to it, and it isn't every day you need to access every single parameter. I think it is quite a cool little unit and a nice addition to a modular setup.
I'm dunno, that screen - oled screens are so cheap, how they rationalise STILL using calculator screens in 2024 is beyond me. Literally every Roland product I've every owned with a screen has been awful because of it and quickly sold.
@@robinr22 You are certainly right about the price, maybe even the LED displays like that are even more expensive than small OLEDs at this point. I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps they were going for a Teenage Engineering aesthetic I don't know. I guess my thing is from what I have seen how you use it, watching the various videos, and knowing how to use the J-6 and T-8, going menu diving is a lot less of a thing than is being speculated. Everything seems to be shift + some button for the most part. If you get into deep sound design it does look like that isn't the case though. I would prefer an OLED too but for a casual device like this it won't stop me getting one for some fun.
@@jumpstar9000 that's true, I'm sure it's workable of you get to know it. But it still sucks that you have to work around it - it's enough to put me off. I think companies forget that hands on control is only one side of the coin - easy visualization of what's happening is just as important. If I forget what's going on, there's no real way to find out.
What a great sketchpad! The only downsides for me is the display (can we just have the SP404mk2 display instead?) and the lack of memory card ... Still a great machine for 220 bucks, incredible for travelling, just bouncing the finished stuff onto the field recorder. I can finally leave my SP404mk2 at home time to time. Thank you for an amazing review as usual!
Thanks for sharing. I do appreciate your in depth look at the synths you review and go over. I had gotten a Texture Lab and have found tooling around the keyboard to be not so intuitive and am thinking of recycling it as a used item. I have really enjoyed the AIRA compact series and already have two S-1 synths that I have used a lot and have a good workflow with. I can tell by your review that the P-6 has a similar intuitive navigation as the S-1 and the keyboard layout is very similar. What I am learning is that some synths really speak to one's own learning curve and fit how one actually generates music. I gather this is very personal and hard to explain. Your video overviews go over so much and I have found it useful to determine whether a synth fits this. Of course, even this is not the same as testing it for oneself.
I made the leap and traded my Texture Lab for a Roland P-6 and am happy with the new synth. I have already composed something on the P-6 and will probably post it on YT soon. Thanks again for this excellent video. I will probably be studying it a lot as I learn how to utilize the full capability of this synth.
Excellent review. Thx as always. My only complaint here is why does this channel only have 239K subs. That is CRIMINAL. You're a legend in the community. 😊😊
Almost a groovebox. I’m in for the compact size, stereo, battery, and editor. Only thing it’s one track device with 48 sounds fixed. Is there a pattern chain or song mode? TNX!
Great video. Super helpful. You didn't mention anything about pattern chaining or a song mode, does it have that feature. If not, can you select a pattern while another one is playing? If so, woll it wait for the previous pattern to finish?
Thanks! No pattern chaining or song mode, but yes, you can select a different pattern while playing and it will be in sync when it moves to the next one
The Rolca series? Definitely reminds me of my Korg Volca Sample, although I think this is definitely better. My Volca Sample (it's the mk2 model, which I bought new, has a terribly annoying problem where the memory becomes corrupted over time.
First thought: mixed bag for sure, destined for Florian to cover at Bad Gear for sure. It gives off an overlap vibe into the old MC-101. I’ll stay with my ‘big’ old SP404mk2 for now and see what upgrades are in future.
picked up one of these at the Roland store in Tokyo and have to say there is some sort of immediacy with the P-6 that i haven't had with other similar devices (Polyend Tracker, Dirty Wave M8). might be because it comes off as simpler / less powerful than those devices, but your video showed me that there is a lot more that this little box can do!
I wonder... With the way they integrated Koala sampler with the Sp-404mkII, if they could do that with this box? I could see a nice little back and forth sample mangling, portable setup with P-6 and Koala Sampler running off your phone.
Well I don’t think proper integration will be implemented because of its niche but you can actually use koala and this over USB because the whole line has audio over USB
The S-1 is good but I have never used the deeper menu options.... Very cryptic LCD sometimes! You cannot turn off velocity over midi which is super annoying
Hi, i appreciate you making these comprehensive gear reviews, they are the best ones on youtube! I am trying to find out can i power this unit by leaving it connected to my computer at all times via usb without messing up the battery? Or via wall outlet with a phone charger?
Thanks for the kind words. Re best practices for battery life, I suggest asking the company to make sure, I have no idea and don't recall seeing anything about that in the manual. Please let us know back here if you find out!
this is exactly what im looking for from a hardware sampler, my entire workflow is sample based but i wholey buy into the best sampler being a computer and an audio onterface, but as a littl eideas pad this isick
👍 Great indepth tutorial & review. There's a surprisingly huge amount of things to do & settings to adjust for such a small cheap priced sampler. How long did it take you to learn all of this? I just got all of the Aira Compact instruments and have been feeling a little overwhelmed with how much I have to learn so be able to do everything to get the full potential of what these devices are capable of. I think I'll be spending a very long time learning to get to that point but I know it will be worth it.
Thanks! It takes me about 2 days to learn it, but it's not fair, I'm familiar with this line of products and they share many features, and with synths overall. Indeed don't worry about it, take your time :)
Great video as usual! In everyone's opinion, in 2024 for a standalone groovebox/noisemaker, is this or Volca Sample 2 the winner for dawless, easy use?
TL is fixed at 6 seconds stereo and not really a groovebox. The granular engine is extremely well specified on the TL, can be sequenced with parameter locks and be applied to outside signals, with or without the sequencer running. It also sounds fantastic imo. The TL only has a shimmer reverb and the file transfer is via SysEx (aargh). I’d say for rhythmic stuff the Roland is ahead, for ambient and soundscapes I’d prefer the TextureLab.
Nice walkthrough! I honestly think Roland are just trolling us now with their screens. Does it passive aggressively tell us to “P.Off” when we switch it off like the boutiques?
I wish they weren’t so big. Tr8s is amazing and I have the verselab aswell which the size is brilliant. The mc101 and tr6s are too small but I wish they’d invent verselab sized fully functional systems. I’d love the mc707 but I have no clue where to put it
@@mikemeengs5720 SP404 is not my kind of sampler, and I already have the koala app on my ipad, but a 16 track full sized granular sampler would be cool.
I would have one of these in my cart except for that insane 7-segment display. It's 2024 and a tiny OLED display would actually be cheaper in their BOM. Handicapping a device like this with a four character display is sadism.
Is it better than volca sample 2? I'm thinking about getting one of those. Does the volca sample let you record in chromatic mode? Like dunno, load some rave stabs and record the riff, or I'll have to pitch every note separately?
Why do they keep putting the jack sockets on the main panel (on top) i don`t quite get. Real estate is so precious on the top face of the synth. Nice synth range. I am curious if they will bring out a poly in these series. Or maybe one day introduce a „between aira and boutique“ size. Amazing what can be done with such small enclosures. The whole mini aira series are sweet
@@Eli_B3000 I would prefer everything on the back. When the phones are on the front panel you either have a hanging cable from your head to the device or you use an extension in order to have more jig so you have more movement freedom in which case The socket might as well be at the back. For me, but I only speak for me personally,, it doesn’t make a big difference if it’s one cable or five cables in the wrong place-in the way. If it was modular or 500 series, I would understand the sockets at the front. If a device is not in these two categories, then I don’t understand it however. Maybe also because the synth is so small that if you have a cable on the front , it will always be in the way
@@saardean4481 Yeah, I was thinking one on each, I have no problem with it only being on the back too. Many other small synths I have are made that way, it's never been an issue, but it does keep the cables out of the way on a table, etc. for me.
Roland has kicked this right out of the park. !!! Was worth the wait IMO. !! Could have made the 4 Sample Bank colours different. , say Red, Blue Green and white, which should reflect on the 6 MAIN SAMPLE COLOUR PADS. ✌️
As a SP202/303 user, this looks great for me, despite my aversion to new gear, as it does everything I wish the 303 did (proper speed-type pitching being the main one!). However, none of the reviews have said how it SOUNDS. If I feed it a fat drum break, will it remain fat? Or be made weedy due to modern day digitisation processes a la the latest MPCs?
Thanks for making another great video! Wish it had a companion app like Seqtrak instead of the 4 character display. Seems like a great companion to the S1.
Hey Roland, you should make an AIRA virtual reel to reel tape recorder with knobs to control the motors and adjust the head and tape quality, azimuth and all that. Throw in a looper mode that can do frippertronics and tape delay. Would be amazing. 🙏
When using the chop function, is it possible to adjust the start and end points of the individual chops? If so, can you go beyond a chop's predefined start and end points?
Looks very cool and clicksa lot of boxes.. I was wondering if you can sequence external midi devices with this since it has midi out and a step sequencer.
What other samplers are available in the $500 range? It's hard to properly find samplers because sample players all get lumped into the same category, and I'm specifically looking for something with line input that can live record my other synths.
@@SVSV-s8z I’d love a documentary series following the Roland and Korg design teams progress...their decision making in product design must come from some logic or financial constraints but I’m unclear on both :)
@@Farold_Haltermeyerit’s absolutely a traditional Japanese engineering thing. Those screens will never die = less returns / repairs. Pulling up the PDF while using the unit for quick reference helps a lot
I disagree. At least this doesn’t require an overlay to do something as simple as pitching and trimming a sample. My lofi-12 sits in the box. I’m definitely selling it and getting one of these. Much better UI.
Got one today. Watching this for a head start when I power it up tonight 👍🏼
this is the first mini roland device that really looks interesting to me as a sketchpad!
Same, I had very little interest in the previous products like this.
@@seanp2k617 S-1 is phenomenal
@@seanp2k617 You're missing out... the S-1 Tweak Synthesizer is awesome!
Can't beat a good Loopop Roland tutorial at breakfast !! Cheers mate, nice one !!
Your videos are honestly the very best, like THE CREAM of the reviews and tutorials. Thank you, truly.
idk about cream butt, but yeah
Well glad to see this. I dig the compact series. All bits of gear are very solid. The menu dive isn't complicated once you know what is what and the sound quality is very nice.
it's pretty crazy that there's also a whole granular engine in this little box, for this price
factory patterns 1-3 & 1-4 are the absolute best factory patterns ive ever heard on any hardware
This is a huge step up from the Volca Sample.
Agreed it’s what the V Sample should have been !!!
@@mattierenton701and then some! Tbr despite my misgivings about the screen, this is a super cool sampler for the package. 😎
yep, almost 10 years have passed
10 years have passed and Korg still hasn’t produced a Volca that can save more than 16 1-bar patterns. Pathetic.
Yeh cant argue with that, this device really hits that need for a small less expensive sampler that is actually really capable
44:24 is such a Burial beat (space apes?)! Dig the micro timings. I haven’t bought any hardware gear in a while but if I did…it’d be this. And because of this video ;) Fun watch either way!
Korg sold their last Volca Sample the day before this came out. This is an incredible unit for the size and price. Remember that with boxes like these, you only need to go as deep as you need to. Many basic functions seem to be close to the surface. This will be an excellent tool for my little Volca rig or for creating on the go.
20 voices and 64 step sequencer sounds pretty good!
i'm going to guess NO pattern chaining though..mind you there is the ''every other loop'' = elektron type feature to change stuff up
For real, at first I was like maybe I'll replace my texture lab with this thing. Now I'm like maybe I'll replace my polyend play.
@@cresshead the second half of your comment didnt make any sense
@@d3tuned378 fixed i should have checked my typin!
Thank You for another wonderful tutorial. I own all the previous Aira Compacts and overall found them quite intuitive to jump in and use. I must confess I personally found this unit has a steeper learning curve and your video has provided immeasurable assistance in understanding the nuances of it. As always thank you for a job well done.
My pleasure, thanks for taking the time to write
Now that ya had them all any favorites out the line? I wanted to get this but got the t-8 j-6 for their immediacy to get drums,bass,chords somewhat synth in two boxes seems powerful
You made great choices. The T8 is my goto for drum and base. The J6 is fantastic with those lush chord sequences. The P6 has wild possibilities but I must admit a bit intimidating with all its deep sample features.
@@delmeteor717 yeah I wish the granular was a little more intuitive
Wonderful piece of gear, does an amazing amount of stuff for the price tag. Worth the price for the granular engine alone. Workflow really is'nt all that bad, quite intuitive really, once you get the way this machine is designed. I had great stuff going on the day it arrived. Roland writes really decent manuals nowadays. Why people can't be arsed to read them is beyond me. For those of us who've been working with hardware a bit longer, all this great, cheap hardware that's been coming out for the last 10 years or so is truly a blessing. Take your time with it, consult the well written manual and have fun creating. Highly recommended!
Great review! Finally got around to playing with mine that I bought a few weeks ago. Here are my thoughts - this excels when sampling across the usb cable, you can sample directly from whatever is playing on your PC (youtube, media player e.t.c.) directly into each sample pad. That one single feature makes it amazing for quick ideas. The actual sample PC software sucks - it's clunky and requires a P-6 reboot (which takes time) every new sample. They need to memory map the flash ram - so there's none of this silly max sampling time per pad, each pad should have access to entire free memory rather than fixed slot sizes (5.9x2x44100x48 = 24mb of flash ram I think) - it's 2024 ffs - not 1990. Wish it had more sample pad buttons - that would be great as well. But it's still a great device for quick ideas and it's so much damn fun when ur sampling youtube audio quickly.
This is a cool bit of kit for the $. I'm super happy Roland is turning out gear in this price range. Nice video.
Digitakt II owners (me) are looking at the the granular features any the polyphonic sample playback and dying inside.
Finally something portable that can sample audio directly but isn't as basic as the PO KO!
@@gavinpeters9531 you've been sleeping on Sonicware. Zzzzzzz
There is also the Dirtywave M8 which came out a few years ago
And liven series Sonicware
It seems like a great little unit.
What a shame they went with a horrid 7 segment display rather than a $2 OLED screen though ☹️
This! So pathetic in 2024
That’s exactly what I thought
It will never break.
They overstocked in the 1980's and need to get rid of them somehow 😜
I absolutely agree.
I have two of the Roland Compact devices, and I like the form factor, better than my Volca stuff. Still I love my Volca FM2.
They are great sizes. I have such huge gear and it’s slightly annoying.
@@wakinglife7065 me too. I love being able to grab a few, an play with on the couch :-)
U can sample ur Volca 🎉
@@thegreatsiberianitch True, and that would be useful for some applications,
But I would miss being able to use the Volca sequencer/arpegiator, and the knobs/buttons to shape the sound in real time.
On the other hand, sampling brings it's own set of tools, to the equation.
So I must have both 🎶🙂🎶
@@TheScreamingFrog916 okie dokie
Love this video review……after watching this, I’m definitely getting this. At first I wasn’t interested in another sampler. The work flow is pretty easy.
Nice 1 fella. As always, an excellent review/tutorial. I bought one last week and am very impressed with what Roland have squeezed into that tiny box. Keeping the price low was obviously a primary concern when designing the P6, but speaking personally, I would have very happily spent a bit more (like 50 bucks?) to have had a better screen and a metal rather than plastic box. P6 MK2...?
HOT TIP: If you own a MPC Live 2 on a stand and own a Decksaver for it, this (and All Aira compacts) fit in that indentation on the Decksaver perfectly. Got my P6 today. Feels great
This video answered so many of my questions. I make grime/drill beats on a po-33. Thinking this will be a massive upgrade for my beat making. Thanks
I truly wish Roland hadn't gone with the calculator screen though. I do like this series and this sampler looks great, buuutt I have the S-1 (again an excellent mini Synth) and the screen really spoils it. I could happily accept the menu diving as a compromise for the form factor but the calculator screen makes it kinda mind numbing to understand what's on those menus.
Yeah, the 7 segment screen is hell annoying compared to a nice little $2 OLED screen 🫤
But that would be like a computer, just tiny...
@@SimpleTraxwelcome to the 21st century pal.
Yeh should have taken note from Synthstrom. The new OLED screen on the Deluge is a massive improvement over that crappy calculator screen. You can see waveforms and loads of other info. In this day and age the calculator screen is only needed on one thing. Calculators.
@@edwardfletcher7790 how so ?
Thanks for this excellent review, as always. You rundown the essantials, so helpful.
Honestly for the price this thing is incredible.
I wish Roland would release a Deluxe version, full size, with knobs, filters, properl screen.
I'd be all over it.
Finally a well priced granular device!!
Excellent review as always. Thanks.
Awesome ! I’ll get one for sure to bring to the steel mill in these long working weekends , it will make my time less boring
Sample some industrial sounds.
Thank you for your review. I have seen you explain many different products and your explanations are very clear. For this uint I see that for me the display would be a big issue for me. But what's inside this unit is very impressive. Thank you again
This is ticking all the boxes for a Bad Gear episode
Get your tweezers out 🤣
It's a pity that it has no proper display...where you can see what you're doing, lol.
This is the most low-cost compact series of comments.
well if it was teenage enginering i wouldnt even open the video
but roland quirky maschines are fun
I really like it. Sometimes the 404 can be too much and this thing fits a nice sweet spot for features, portability, possibilities and price. The display doesn't really bother me having used the J-6 and T-8 for a few years, you quickly get used to it, and it isn't every day you need to access every single parameter. I think it is quite a cool little unit and a nice addition to a modular setup.
Fits in any gig bag! Chuck a few samples in at rehearsal!
I'm dunno, that screen - oled screens are so cheap, how they rationalise STILL using calculator screens in 2024 is beyond me. Literally every Roland product I've every owned with a screen has been awful because of it and quickly sold.
@@robinr22 yeah, even a 2-line display would have been a massive improvement over this 7 segment one
@@robinr22 You are certainly right about the price, maybe even the LED displays like that are even more expensive than small OLEDs at this point. I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps they were going for a Teenage Engineering aesthetic I don't know. I guess my thing is from what I have seen how you use it, watching the various videos, and knowing how to use the J-6 and T-8, going menu diving is a lot less of a thing than is being speculated. Everything seems to be shift + some button for the most part. If you get into deep sound design it does look like that isn't the case though. I would prefer an OLED too but for a casual device like this it won't stop me getting one for some fun.
@@jumpstar9000 that's true, I'm sure it's workable of you get to know it. But it still sucks that you have to work around it - it's enough to put me off. I think companies forget that hands on control is only one side of the coin - easy visualization of what's happening is just as important. If I forget what's going on, there's no real way to find out.
Hopefully Momo will bring out his usual high standard VST editor.
@@sturdyblock i get that it is handy, but isn’t that a bit going against the whole philosophy of these tiny boxes?
@@osiris5315no because you don't have to use it all the time, if at all
For the longest time I thought "the compact series only needs a sampler" and now we're here. Very interesting.
That’s what I was saying. It was the only thing left.
Solid bass synth with 2 osc-s and reverb :)
Roland has a warehouse filled to the brim with 7 segment displays and they won't stop using them until they're all gone
Is it next to Korg's warehouse of micro-USB connectors?
Yeah they’re cooler
Left over from the MC303? Still gutted I sold mine when I started buying "pro" gear...
Considering the amount I use the E4 and T8 (S1 also really), I think I'll be getting this before the end of the year.
A modern SU10 ❤
Was exactly thinking the same ! And seems easy to use compared to a sp 808.
@@stephane406👍
What a great sketchpad! The only downsides for me is the display (can we just have the SP404mk2 display instead?) and the lack of memory card ... Still a great machine for 220 bucks, incredible for travelling, just bouncing the finished stuff onto the field recorder. I can finally leave my SP404mk2 at home time to time. Thank you for an amazing review as usual!
This looks pretty amazing tbh
Thanks for sharing. I do appreciate your in depth look at the synths you review and go over. I had gotten a Texture Lab and have found tooling around the keyboard to be not so intuitive and am thinking of recycling it as a used item. I have really enjoyed the AIRA compact series and already have two S-1 synths that I have used a lot and have a good workflow with. I can tell by your review that the P-6 has a similar intuitive navigation as the S-1 and the keyboard layout is very similar. What I am learning is that some synths really speak to one's own learning curve and fit how one actually generates music. I gather this is very personal and hard to explain. Your video overviews go over so much and I have found it useful to determine whether a synth fits this. Of course, even this is not the same as testing it for oneself.
I made the leap and traded my Texture Lab for a Roland P-6 and am happy with the new synth. I have already composed something on the P-6 and will probably post it on YT soon. Thanks again for this excellent video. I will probably be studying it a lot as I learn how to utilize the full capability of this synth.
just got mine today - its a bit overwhelming , i must admit ,- thanx for the lowdown
Excellent review. Thx as always. My only complaint here is why does this channel only have 239K subs. That is CRIMINAL. You're a legend in the community. 😊😊
239K plus one now
music making geeks are not a gigantic population
What are you talking about. He got the whole community.
Whats criminal is that he is an apartheid supporter
Nice review, thanks. Apologies if I missed it, but how’s the quality and feel of the buttons? Are they clicky? Spongy? Along the lines of Digitakt?
Thanks! I'd say somewhat spongy, not like the Digitakt, not clicky
There is absolutely a granular synth at this price point. Nunomo Qun Mk2.
Modern compacted sp-404, seems more complex menú diving.
thank you for this. saved me a lot of reading
Another superb review, thank you so much. 👍
Almost a groovebox. I’m in for the compact size, stereo, battery, and editor.
Only thing it’s one track device with 48 sounds fixed. Is there a pattern chain or song mode? TNX!
Not that I saw, though pattern changes are quantized in time and you can set the reverb and delay to be global for smooth transitions
Great video. Super helpful. You didn't mention anything about pattern chaining or a song mode, does it have that feature. If not, can you select a pattern while another one is playing? If so, woll it wait for the previous pattern to finish?
Thanks! No pattern chaining or song mode, but yes, you can select a different pattern while playing and it will be in sync when it moves to the next one
Can you export MIDI patterns or audio so you can arrange them in a DAW afterwards?
Wonderfully explained... demonstrated
The Rolca series? Definitely reminds me of my Korg Volca Sample, although I think this is definitely better. My Volca Sample (it's the mk2 model, which I bought new, has a terribly annoying problem where the memory becomes corrupted over time.
You also can’t actually sample into it. 🤷🏾♂️
@@jjbing3 Oh yeah, the Korg does have that limitation.
First thought: mixed bag for sure, destined for Florian to cover at Bad Gear for sure. It gives off an overlap vibe into the old MC-101. I’ll stay with my ‘big’ old SP404mk2 for now and see what upgrades are in future.
picked up one of these at the Roland store in Tokyo and have to say there is some sort of immediacy with the P-6 that i haven't had with other similar devices (Polyend Tracker, Dirty Wave M8). might be because it comes off as simpler / less powerful than those devices, but your video showed me that there is a lot more that this little box can do!
Im replacing my Korg Volca Sample with this bad boy!
Polyphonic granular let’s gooo
I wonder... With the way they integrated Koala sampler with the Sp-404mkII, if they could do that with this box? I could see a nice little back and forth sample mangling, portable setup with P-6 and Koala Sampler running off your phone.
Well I don’t think proper integration will be implemented because of its niche but you can actually use koala and this over USB because the whole line has audio over USB
I'm just at 15:00 and already blown away by all the functionality this thing has. Are all the compact Roland devices packed like that?
I have the J-8 and T-8 and those have quite a lot of cool features and sound very good
Yea they are. They all have a ton of features, but because of the size most of them are accessed via menu diving or button combos
The S-1 is good but I have never used the deeper menu options.... Very cryptic LCD sometimes!
You cannot turn off velocity over midi which is super annoying
48 samples sounds like an absurd limitation 😮
Hi, i appreciate you making these comprehensive gear reviews, they are the best ones on youtube!
I am trying to find out can i power this unit by leaving it connected to my computer at all times via usb without messing up the battery? Or via wall outlet with a phone charger?
Thanks for the kind words. Re best practices for battery life, I suggest asking the company to make sure, I have no idea and don't recall seeing anything about that in the manual. Please let us know back here if you find out!
this is exactly what im looking for from a hardware sampler, my entire workflow is sample based but i wholey buy into the best sampler being a computer and an audio onterface, but as a littl eideas pad this isick
This will be my next purchase - if I can get my hands on one!
Could you please suggest how to copy samples and swap locations?
Hello Florian?☎️”Do you have anything lined up for this Friday?”😂🤣
At least we have to wait past the end of September since the unit isn't available in stores until then in Germany and Austria.
This thing is actually pretty friggen cool. Good job Roland.
Even it is much more expensive, the Blackbox by 1010music is my favourite. Very intuitive user experience.
Lack of FX on it is a bummer this has all the sp 404 fx’s
👍 Great indepth tutorial & review. There's a surprisingly huge amount of things to do & settings to adjust for such a small cheap priced sampler. How long did it take you to learn all of this? I just got all of the Aira Compact instruments and have been feeling a little overwhelmed with how much I have to learn so be able to do everything to get the full potential of what these devices are capable of. I think I'll be spending a very long time learning to get to that point but I know it will be worth it.
Thanks! It takes me about 2 days to learn it, but it's not fair, I'm familiar with this line of products and they share many features, and with synths overall. Indeed don't worry about it, take your time :)
Using the grainular mode on ambient instrumens would be really cool
Ok they NEED to add a granular effect based on this in the 404 mk2.
I think someone at Roland loves Florian
I'm wondering about a sp404 update adding the granular engine
Mk3
Loving the preset patterns on this. Reminds me of MTV's Amp from back in the day.
Great content as usual. This thing sounds amazing, could this be controlled by the Arturia Keystep Pro as the drum track?
Thanks! I didn't try it but it should work!
Great video as usual! In everyone's opinion, in 2024 for a standalone groovebox/noisemaker, is this or Volca Sample 2 the winner for dawless, easy use?
So, for a cheap sampling/granular device, which is better in terms of sampling/sound quality....Roland P-6 or the Sonicware Liven Texture Lab?
I've not explored the Texture Lab in depth yet, perhaps someone else will comment
Texture Lab is waaaay more capable in terms of granular sampling and sound design in general
TL is fixed at 6 seconds stereo and not really a groovebox. The granular engine is extremely well specified on the TL, can be sequenced with parameter locks and be applied to outside signals, with or without the sequencer running. It also sounds fantastic imo. The TL only has a shimmer reverb and the file transfer is via SysEx (aargh). I’d say for rhythmic stuff the Roland is ahead, for ambient and soundscapes I’d prefer the TextureLab.
@@magicpigdetectiveI agree but the p6 is smaller and has rechargeable battery
@jjbing3 plus thr P6 is stereo. That was the killer for me with the Texture Lab sadly given its mono 🫤
Nice walkthrough! I honestly think Roland are just trolling us now with their screens. Does it passive aggressively tell us to “P.Off” when we switch it off like the boutiques?
i got a question, can be used to sync tempo a modular synth like the moog DFAM?
I wonder if this means we can expect an AIRA line full sized sampler/granular synth to go along with MC707 TR8s etc?
I wish they weren’t so big. Tr8s is amazing and I have the verselab aswell which the size is brilliant. The mc101 and tr6s are too small but I wish they’d invent verselab sized fully functional systems. I’d love the mc707 but I have no clue where to put it
I think that's the SP-404mk2.
@@mikemeengs5720 SP404 is not my kind of sampler, and I already have the koala app on my ipad, but a 16 track full sized granular sampler would be cool.
This is giving me Roland MS-1 nostalgia vibes (although even that had a better screen). Great review as usual. Will you be reviewing the Ableton Move?
Thanks! Yes I will!
@@loopop Good stuff. I will wait to see it before deciding between the two.
I was waiting for it' 👍
happy that they added alternate loop modes (back and forth), which is crucial imho.
Hi, I didn't understand how much I can sample each kind of sampling step. I like your job and explaining too. Thanks
per pad, at the highest quality (44k), 3 seconds stereo, 6 mono, double that for 22k, double that for 11k etc
I would have one of these in my cart except for that insane 7-segment display. It's 2024 and a tiny OLED display would actually be cheaper in their BOM. Handicapping a device like this with a four character display is sadism.
Is it better than volca sample 2?
I'm thinking about getting one of those.
Does the volca sample let you record in chromatic mode? Like dunno, load some rave stabs and record the riff, or I'll have to pitch every note separately?
Why do they keep putting the jack sockets on the main panel (on top) i don`t quite get.
Real estate is so precious on the top face of the synth.
Nice synth range. I am curious if they will bring out a poly in these series. Or maybe one day introduce a „between aira and boutique“ size.
Amazing what can be done with such small enclosures. The whole mini aira series are sweet
I don't mind a headphone jack on the front, but everything else should be on the back for cable management.
@@Eli_B3000 I would prefer everything on the back. When the phones are on the front panel you either have a hanging cable from your head to the device or you use an extension in order to have more jig so you have more movement freedom in which case
The socket might as well be at the back. For me, but I only speak for me personally,, it doesn’t make a big difference if it’s one cable or five cables in the wrong place-in the way. If it was modular or 500 series, I would understand the sockets at the front. If a device is not in these two categories, then I don’t understand it however. Maybe also because the synth is so small that if you have a cable on the front , it will always be in the way
@@saardean4481 Yeah, I was thinking one on each, I have no problem with it only being on the back too. Many other small synths I have are made that way, it's never been an issue, but it does keep the cables out of the way on a table, etc. for me.
- 9 reboots to back up the whole thing wtf
No pattern chain?
no
@@loopop Thanks Ziv, and thank you for another awesome video!
Roland has kicked this right out of the park. !!! Was worth the wait IMO. !!
Could have made the 4 Sample Bank colours different. , say Red, Blue Green and white, which should reflect on the 6 MAIN SAMPLE COLOUR PADS.
✌️
Good idea 👍
neat little box , can be used standalone but also play along and be useful in any Dawless setup , but that small screen and menus look daunting.
If it had an SD card port then I’d be ordering one
probably an instant classic and any drawbacks will be a feature of its style
As a SP202/303 user, this looks great for me, despite my aversion to new gear, as it does everything I wish the 303 did (proper speed-type pitching being the main one!). However, none of the reviews have said how it SOUNDS. If I feed it a fat drum break, will it remain fat? Or be made weedy due to modern day digitisation processes a la the latest MPCs?
Thanks for making another great video! Wish it had a companion app like Seqtrak instead of the 4 character display. Seems like a great companion to the S1.
I’m guessing it doesn’t apply effects to external audio sources like the 404, right?
It does!
You might have covered it, but I am not sure, does it allow for pattern chaining?
no it doesn't
@@loopop wow! That’s a big omission.
Reminds me of a small version of the Elektron Model Samples
Except this can sample 😭
Hey Roland, you should make an AIRA virtual reel to reel tape recorder with knobs to control the motors and adjust the head and tape quality, azimuth and all that. Throw in a looper mode that can do frippertronics and tape delay. Would be amazing. 🙏
@@jumpstar9000 with a mixer and 6 inputs. ✌️
@@christianthompson1473 Ooh yeah 👍😆❤😎 They are going to need to do something to tie all these cute little modules together nicely.
Something tells this isn’t quite roland’s style, but I want this so bad
When using the chop function, is it possible to adjust the start and end points of the individual chops? If so, can you go beyond a chop's predefined start and end points?
Looks very cool and clicksa lot of boxes.. I was wondering if you can sequence external midi devices with this since it has midi out and a step sequencer.
What other samplers are available in the $500 range? It's hard to properly find samplers because sample players all get lumped into the same category, and I'm specifically looking for something with line input that can live record my other synths.
In that price range I'd recommend the Roland SP-404 MK2
. Definitely
Second hand MPC One
Teenage Engineering KO II and Ableton Move are two recent ones.
Do looper and scatter work smoothly with audio input, to be used as a fx unit?
That screen and the hidden parameters...Sonicware has this beaten already
I guess it would kill Roland to put a decent mini OLED screen
@@SVSV-s8z I’d love a documentary series following the Roland and Korg design teams progress...their decision making in product design must come from some logic or financial constraints but I’m unclear on both :)
@@Farold_Haltermeyerit’s absolutely a traditional Japanese engineering thing. Those screens will never die = less returns / repairs. Pulling up the PDF while using the unit for quick reference helps a lot
@@Wild_Dthe screens might not die, but the internal batteries will
I disagree. At least this doesn’t require an overlay to do something as simple as pitching and trimming a sample. My lofi-12 sits in the box. I’m definitely selling it and getting one of these. Much better UI.
I need to have this! Roland knows me so well😅