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.
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!!!
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.
@@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 love how you match your presentations with memes, that alone must take a grip of time to either collect and then organize/categorize within your video creation program. I think it's brilliant and hilarious. I'd even be intrigued to watch you do a full on story non-gear related talking about whatever just by you doing that. Aside from that though your musical talent and word articulation is always enjoyable to hear and watch, keep up the great work!
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.
"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 😉
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 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.
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
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
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.
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)
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. 🤷♀
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 love the channel for the memes and the shade thrown at the gear but honestly I haven't watched one episode of Bad Gear where the tracks you made weren't fire. The gear may be bad but the musician can def make up for whatever may be lacking, thanks so much for the content!!
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.
Awesome review! While I may not have the most bad gear that's been on this channel I think I'm definitely in the top 10%. Thanks for keeping me in the running (again)! I love this little box. I think the J-6 is the most fun and creative device in the Aira mini line. It's also really useful for quickly putting chord progressions into external gear or DAWs like Ableton. I like to use the J-6 to send basic legato chords into my DAW and then add the ChordPotion MIDI VST to these chord tracks to really add more spice and variety. It's a great combo.
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.
Since not all of us can afford a Juno-X at around $2,100, these smaller, less expensive Roland products are perfect for me. Not perfect for all, perfect for me. There are so many talented people out there that don't have the money so they don't get the chance to show their talents. These sub $200 products give them a chance. Also, love this channel! You have an amazing sense of humor!
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.
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.
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.
That meme, "no thanks, just eurorack for me" contains my first synth and case from Pittsburgh Modular. Hot damn, my gear really WILL end up on Bad Gear eventually!! HUZZAH!!
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.
i can't wait to use this with my Streichfett--glorious string chord changes without having to play the actual chords or create the patches from scratch aww yea
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 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. 🥰
Yesterday, we used the J6 sequencer to run an E-Mu Virtuoso 2000. I know, I know, but I'm trying to learn music theory while making the leap from power pop to prog.
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
I can't help feeling something bad happened at Roland in the mid 1990s, and they gave up creating actual musical instruments. Pretty much everything they've released starting with the MC-303 is dumbed down and frustrating :-(
I have one of these! It's great for progressive house and melodic house and techno. It's definitely the better of the three new Aira's. I was very underwhelmed by the T-8 though.
Audiopilz: Hi, Klangfarbe, can I borrow one of your new Roland Rolca Units? Klangfarbe: What for? Audiopilz: I'm going to say they suck on RU-vid painstakingly describing it's flaws and limitations. Klangfarbe: Here you go, have a good one, see you next week.
I've got one. i don't haven Roland sounds in in my setup so it's a nice addition. The sequencer is great and I use it with my Hydrasynth. For the price, I'm pleased with it.
Dang! What you showed me made me want it more. I want it for the sound engine. That Juno 60 model and 64 presets sounds good for the price. Just add it to the controller and give it a channel. My only complaint is it's not six note poly. But I can live with that for the price.
I was on the fence about getting a j6. It was the size and portability that interested me. But the tones would annoy me after a while. I'm glad I saw this. I will hold off for something else. I loved the " HOLD " meme and auto. Still laughing 🤣. Great video as usual.
As always, funny and fab video fella. Together, the j-6 and Blackbox are terrific travel companions. God bless multi-sample! BUT those barely readable buttons are a real bloody nightmare.
@@AudioPilz that’s my whole thing. I never get bad ideas. Dumb, impractical, sure. But never a bad one. Jokes aside, and to add to the idea, if you open up the selection process (with something like a user ranking that’s parallel to yours), that might drive a bunch of new users to the channel.
