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. 😊😊
Wow, Roland! The P-6 looks like a game changer. The combination of granular synthesis, the Elektron-ish sequencer and the sampling possibilities with a built-in mic in a portable device is Incredible. I'm already imagining the creative possibilities in the top of the hill creating music with that little beast!
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.
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 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.
@@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 🎶🙂🎶
Definitely a beginner sampling device, nice for the budget amateur, but I can’t take any of these ridiculously tiny machines seriously any more. I had a Volca Sample and Korg Kaossilator 2 back in my budget/learning phase and it was fun…for about two months. Took me a very short time to realize that I needed a lot more capabilities in my devices to make the music I was after. Larger surface areas with bigger buttons, knobs and screens while still being portable/rechargeable is something these companies need to focus on. There’s a sweet spot that some companies have gotten just right.
Great functionality, but horrendous UI... what a shame. Could have been a low-cost alternative to my Digitakt. At $220, I'd be happy to pay twice that for a decent screen, more buttons and encoders. Excellent review as always 🙏
I love Aira line, so compact yet big in sound and functions. Really enjoyable device, my gripe with Roland is always the screen. They shoudve introduced P-6 as new Gen Aira with OLED screen that takes out guess work on what word is on screen and referring to the manual every time.
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.
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. 🙏
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
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!
looks like a fun little box. Hopefully soon we’ll be done with 7-segment displays forever. It’s not as if small LCDs or OLED panels are expensive these days, and given how modal this device is, that’d probably help quite a bit with more complex operations. I’m sure it’s fine once you get the hang of it. The PC sample editor looks nice and simple. It’d be neat to see. phone version of that too, but I guess there are already quite a few good sample chopper apps to prepare stuff on mobile. Good on them for the audio interface functionality.
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.
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!
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
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.
Honestly, if aesthetically they made the thing look like a miniature boss-202, with the red and black, vertical layout, I would've bought this thing in a heartbeat.
@@GeorgeL909 I think they were going for a ton of functionality, stuffed into a tiny form factor, for as cheap as possible. I think they've succeeded. It's a shame they didn't make this part of the "SP" line...it's a worthy addition IMO. Future classic stuff
@@DurtyCardiologist thinking about it, I suppose it is a great deal for the price. And I will give Roland kudos for the granular engine, that does give it a an extra bit of uniqueness and identity. I think I just secretly want a reissue of the sp202 or 303 with modern amenities and I'm projecting. It's a very hipster desire, I'll admit, but whenever Roland develops a new sampler I'm reliably gonna be daydreaming about the reissuing the old stuff a little bit.
@@GeorgeL909 I, too, would love a reboot of the 202. In a form factor like this, with all the original specs + extras? I'd pay double. I mean this thing was so close...just needed the Time stretch, ring mod and the two lower sample rates. And yea, allocating total sample time to each pad as opposed to spreading it across all pads is a very frustrating choice by Roland. I don't understand why. But I suppose that's why I'm not a firmware developer. EDIT: I do think this is a modern upgrade to the 303 though. If only they used the 303 vinyl sim instead of the 404 :(
@@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.
SAY WHAT!!! 🤯 Compatible with my MX-1!? 🙌 I can get some use out of those dedicated ports 😅 (barring PC mode). Granular is peaking my interest most of all. 😮👍 Thanks for another great breakdown! ✌️✨
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.
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.
What an amazing creative device with fantastic features and really hands on usability for 1998. Roland should bring this as a new upgraded device in 2024, I will buy it immediately! 😈
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 have all 4 of the other Aira compacts, very happy with 3 of them,and I'd have gone to $300 if it had an SD card but as it is I think I'll stick with my Circuit Rhythm.
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!
My mc 101 buttons stick alot lately this thing wont replace it but i think i want it ....but i say that about anything with lights that uses batteries yum ...
Looks like lots of fun. I hope those batteries are replaceable - I wouldn't want it to die after a few years like the average cellphone. Also I wouldn't want the dead battery to expand and break the unit (I've seen what an expanding battery can do to a laptop).
Haha yeah I just got done installing the 1.0.1 firmware update for the MV-8800 sampler - the only update this big sampler ever got (in 2008) after its release in 2003. It's an extreme example but a good example nonetheless.
The SP-404 MK2 got massive updates since it was launched, many of which were "hopefully they'll fix" in my original video. I of course don't know if they plan to do the same here.
@@loopopthe 404mk2 I feel like is such a make or break for Roland that they couldn’t have ignored people’s demands with it specifically. That being said P6 looks immensely useful if you can get past the workflow. Easily looks to be the best of the compacts which is awesome in itself.
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.
Keeping it old school that sample time, eh roland? 😂😂. Never been a problem for me i just speed all my samples up anyway. No Pattern chaining is kinda wack but 64 steps and unquantized recording will hold me over til a firmware update drops addressing that. Resampling im super excited for. Ive been roland SP's for a long time. Some of the features remind me of those when it comes to sampling. And yoooo step-sampling is hilariously dope! What!? 😂. Maaan take my money roland!
I just wish there was a way to automate the head position of the grains. Like with an LFO, or just a speed, and make the grains and head position loop around.
Nice review/product : will resist buying it for now unless they do add the side chain feature they put in the T-8 Some guitar/vocal input FX from the SP404mk2 would be cool too, though then some overlap with the E4.
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
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.
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!
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
Can't beat a good Loopop Roland tutorial at breakfast !! Cheers mate, nice one !!
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
it's pretty crazy that there's also a whole granular engine in this little box, for this price
A modern SU10 ❤
Was exactly thinking the same ! And seems easy to use compared to a sp 808.
@@stephane406👍
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 :)
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.
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.
Wow, Roland! The P-6 looks like a game changer. The combination of granular synthesis, the Elektron-ish sequencer and the sampling possibilities with a built-in mic in a portable device is Incredible. I'm already imagining the creative possibilities in the top of the hill creating music with that little beast!
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.
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 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?
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
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
Definitely a beginner sampling device, nice for the budget amateur, but I can’t take any of these ridiculously tiny machines seriously any more. I had a Volca Sample and Korg Kaossilator 2 back in my budget/learning phase and it was fun…for about two months. Took me a very short time to realize that I needed a lot more capabilities in my devices to make the music I was after. Larger surface areas with bigger buttons, knobs and screens while still being portable/rechargeable is something these companies need to focus on. There’s a sweet spot that some companies have gotten just right.
Great functionality, but horrendous UI... what a shame. Could have been a low-cost alternative to my Digitakt. At $220, I'd be happy to pay twice that for a decent screen, more buttons and encoders.
Excellent review as always 🙏
48 samples sounds like an absurd limitation 😮
I love Aira line, so compact yet big in sound and functions. Really enjoyable device, my gripe with Roland is always the screen. They shoudve introduced P-6 as new Gen Aira with OLED screen that takes out guess work on what word is on screen and referring to the manual every time.
truly insane approach to design
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 ?
There is absolutely a granular synth at this price point. Nunomo Qun Mk2.
Excellent review as always. Thanks.
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
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
Even it is much more expensive, the Blackbox by 1010music is my favourite. Very intuitive user experience.
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
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!
Finally a well priced granular device!!
looks like a fun little box. Hopefully soon we’ll be done with 7-segment displays forever. It’s not as if small LCDs or OLED panels are expensive these days, and given how modal this device is, that’d probably help quite a bit with more complex operations. I’m sure it’s fine once you get the hang of it. The PC sample editor looks nice and simple. It’d be neat to see. phone version of that too, but I guess there are already quite a few good sample chopper apps to prepare stuff on mobile. Good on them for the audio interface functionality.
This is a cool bit of kit for the $. I'm super happy Roland is turning out gear in this price range. Nice video.
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.
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.
Polyphonic granular let’s gooo
Im replacing my Korg Volca Sample with this bad boy!
Modern compacted sp-404, seems more complex menú diving.
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!
Ok they NEED to add a granular effect based on this in the 404 mk2.
This will be my next purchase - if I can get my hands on one!
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 thing is actually pretty friggen cool. Good job Roland.
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.
I think someone at Roland loves Florian
If it had an SD card port then I’d be ordering one
Using the grainular mode on ambient instrumens would be really cool
A lot of cool options and possibilities. These look much nicer than the Korg ones imo
Loving the preset patterns on this. Reminds me of MTV's Amp from back in the day.
Another superb review, thank you so much. 👍
Digitakt II owners (me) are looking at the the granular features any the polyphonic sample playback and dying inside.
happy that they added alternate loop modes (back and forth), which is crucial imho.
I need to have this! Roland knows me so well😅
Hard to believe in 2024 they are still using screens from the 1980's. Did they find a stash in the abandoned Colecovision warehouse.
It's $200, dude.
@@jpm9628 You can get a 20 dollar toy with a better screen. $200 should be enough to put in a 2 line display.
Honestly, if aesthetically they made the thing look like a miniature boss-202, with the red and black, vertical layout, I would've bought this thing in a heartbeat.
Would that have improved its functionality?no.
@@DurtyCardiologist you're right. 128 steps and substantially more sample time would have, but I don't think that's what Roland's going for with this.
@@GeorgeL909 I think they were going for a ton of functionality, stuffed into a tiny form factor, for as cheap as possible.
I think they've succeeded.
It's a shame they didn't make this part of the "SP" line...it's a worthy addition IMO. Future classic stuff
@@DurtyCardiologist thinking about it, I suppose it is a great deal for the price. And I will give Roland kudos for the granular engine, that does give it a an extra bit of uniqueness and identity.
I think I just secretly want a reissue of the sp202 or 303 with modern amenities and I'm projecting. It's a very hipster desire, I'll admit, but whenever Roland develops a new sampler I'm reliably gonna be daydreaming about the reissuing the old stuff a little bit.
@@GeorgeL909 I, too, would love a reboot of the 202. In a form factor like this, with all the original specs + extras? I'd pay double.
I mean this thing was so close...just needed the Time stretch, ring mod and the two lower sample rates.
And yea, allocating total sample time to each pad as opposed to spreading it across all pads is a very frustrating choice by Roland. I don't understand why. But I suppose that's why I'm not a firmware developer.
EDIT: I do think this is a modern upgrade to the 303 though. If only they used the 303 vinyl sim instead of the 404 :(
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.
Roland has a warehouse filled to the brim with 7 segment displays and they won't stop using them until they're all gone
probably an instant classic and any drawbacks will be a feature of its style
SAY WHAT!!! 🤯 Compatible with my MX-1!? 🙌 I can get some use out of those dedicated ports 😅 (barring PC mode). Granular is peaking my interest most of all. 😮👍
Thanks for another great breakdown! ✌️✨
Reminds me of a small version of the Elektron Model Samples
Except this can sample 😭
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.
Finally we have an OP1 killer❤ take THAT TE!!!
What? lol
@@77polser 20 voices, 64 steps, granular, half price... and then it's Roland!
Well, considering it also has a sequencer with 16 dedicated buttons, it kills MPC too
@@fcfc Do you mean the KO2? OP1 is a whole different machine.
my bad.. P-6 can't challenge
Ok im sold. Just ordered one, but sorry I didn’t use your affiliate link. I wanted to order from sweetwudder to help out our boy bennn jordan
No worries you supported an excellent cause :)
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.
this looks fun!
Just bought mine
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.
I was waiting for it' 👍
Yep. I want one
gotta collect em all
I'm wondering about a sp404 update adding the modular engine
Mk3
What an amazing creative device with fantastic features and really hands on usability for 1998. Roland should bring this as a new upgraded device in 2024, I will buy it immediately! 😈
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 have all 4 of the other Aira compacts, very happy with 3 of them,and I'd have gone to $300 if it had an SD card but as it is I think I'll stick with my Circuit Rhythm.
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
This is everything the Volca should be but isn't.
Roland upstaging Korg for their entire existence.
awesome review, thanks
It’s a long time since the Volca line began. They set an important trend for cheap, fun, usable synths/samplers.
43:55 I'm sure Roland released that Japanese vocal sample on one of their disks for the S-50 back in the 90s!
I love it.
thanks for your work as always! fantastic video. It reminds me the Zoom ST224 sampler I had 24 years ago, but it's even cheaper!
This is great! I was not smiling before I saw this.
I love it
This thing is kinda neat. Think they 💩 the bed not having the same memory card as all the other aira stuff.
My mc 101 buttons stick alot lately this thing wont replace it but i think i want it ....but i say that about anything with lights that uses batteries yum ...
right there with you. tiny portable samplers are the best.
Nice piece of gear, could be a bit better if it was also a live looper for external audio source
Looks like lots of fun. I hope those batteries are replaceable - I wouldn't want it to die after a few years like the average cellphone. Also I wouldn't want the dead battery to expand and break the unit (I've seen what an expanding battery can do to a laptop).
Joke of the day: " things that hopefully Roland can or will fix or add in the future"
Haha yeah I just got done installing the 1.0.1 firmware update for the MV-8800 sampler - the only update this big sampler ever got (in 2008) after its release in 2003. It's an extreme example but a good example nonetheless.
The SP-404 MK2 got massive updates since it was launched, many of which were "hopefully they'll fix" in my original video. I of course don't know if they plan to do the same here.
@@loopopthe 404mk2 I feel like is such a make or break for Roland that they couldn’t have ignored people’s demands with it specifically. That being said P6 looks immensely useful if you can get past the workflow. Easily looks to be the best of the compacts which is awesome in itself.
@@loopop that is true but the problem with the Roland's feature update path is... now remember 8 different 3 button combo commands. 😢
For what it's worth, to date none of the Aira Compacts have had significant firmware updates, just very minor things
No -label Control knobs where you have no idea what you are adjusting? This Bad Gear episode simply writes itself.
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
Keeping it old school that sample time, eh roland? 😂😂. Never been a problem for me i just speed all my samples up anyway.
No Pattern chaining is kinda wack but 64 steps and unquantized recording will hold me over til a firmware update drops addressing that.
Resampling im super excited for.
Ive been roland SP's for a long time. Some of the features remind me of those when it comes to sampling.
And yoooo step-sampling is hilariously dope! What!? 😂.
Maaan take my money roland!
I’d like a comparison with the Teenage EP-133 K.O.II ……
Granular synthesis should be on sp 404 mk2 buy now
I believe the sonicware texture lab is in the same price range in terms of budget granular synthesizers
No time stretch or beat match. Rules out any mashing of samples together which is a great fun thing I like to do. So probably miss for me.
amazing
built in battery, YES!!!
Ohhh god oh god I thought I had beaten the need to buy small grooveboxes with the Woovebox. Why did this have to come out hhhhhhhhhhh.
Seems excellent ! And also seems that the screen is still the bad thing ... (got the s1 and t8).
I just wish there was a way to automate the head position of the grains. Like with an LFO, or just a speed, and make the grains and head position loop around.
Nice review/product : will resist buying it for now unless they do add the side chain feature they put in the T-8
Some guitar/vocal input FX from the SP404mk2 would be cool too, though then some overlap with the E4.