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. 😊😊
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.
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!
@@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 🎶🙂🎶
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 🙏
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.
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.
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!
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. 🙏
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.
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
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.
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 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! 😈
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!
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.
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?
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 ...
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.
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).
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 really needs to step up their game when it comes to design. These synths are starting to look more like toys than professional instruments, and it’s not doing anyone any favors. They should focus on creating gear that looks as good as it sounds.
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
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.
