I must tell you that I think you have an unused or unappreiated gift for this! I've not yet gained so much from other demos as I have watching your own. I believe you should be hired by Roland, or other companies for this very purpose. And if nothing else I would appeal to you to give us more. Even if it's only more on the GAIA, which can be appleid to any other analog/virtual analog synth. Thank you for this sharing of your abilities and consider doing more for us, those of us who have seen this demo. I think the comments clearly state how important and awesome this has been to so many. I'm sure you are a very learned and experienced musican. I myself am in regard to you a novice/beginner. Only having turned to synthesis a year and a half ago. I love this side of music and love collecting as many as I can.
Mark Eubanks Thank you so much! I was thinking about a tutorial on the ring and sync oscillator section, but this is very advanced. So the next should be the ADSR envelops and key follow on the filter section.
Mark Eubanks Just posted another video on the Roland Gaia and subtractive synthesis. In making a sound of a windy day with wind chimes I teach how to use the filter alternatives to much used low pass, then included using filter envelopes and creating motion in the sound with the envelops, filters, and LFO all working together.
funnzie The only disappointment was the pad sound you started with at the very beginning. I never understood if you started with one you made with a single oscillator, or if it might have been a factory patch?
Mark Eubanks The pad sound (synth orchestra) at the beginning was the finished sound creation. I then deleted it on the video and started from the beginning with a single oscillator sawtooth with nothing done to it.
The Gaia is a great first synth, and this tutorial is an excellent introduction. Thank you, really enjoyed replicating the patch and learning as I went.
This is a fantastic tutorial, very step by step and explanatory, fills a massive need for those of us trying to learn and understand how to make sounds on these wonderful machines! I think this is the best one I've run across, head and shoulders above the rest!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you so much for this video. It really helped me understand how the GAIA works . I'm new to synthasis and this video has helped me more then anything else ive found on the internet. Thanks again!
Yay! years later your work is still creating happiness. I'm having a great time learning from you - and I feel like I'm getting a feel for the instrument after a very short time because of your excellent videos. I was able to reproduce the sounds that you created with just careful listening and watching - what a feeling! I really like the Roland a lot. I wish you more and more funn! Warmest thoughts Jennie
Thank you for your kindness. It is a great feeling when composing songs, and sound designing for a that specific song, it creates a much more personal connection, than just notes and lyrics.
Very well explained. The way you, sir, are building up a complex sound like this, makes everything very easy to understand. You, sir, brought sunshine in my 'sounds world". Now the whole sound creating process is much clearer to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Three times thank you, one for every synth engine Roland Gaia has. Keep up the good work!
You are welcome! Always wonderful to know that you are on the road to sound design and leaving the world of presets behind to build the perfect sound for your own music. Creation, isn't it fantastic!
I have been playing on my Roland Gaia for a minute now and I wanted to learn about my Gaia in greater depth. This tutorial was excellent. Thank you for your clear instructions and defining a lot of the functions on the Roland Gaia.
I first watched this video about five years ago and I just watched it again. Thanks for an amazingly complete tutorial on all the features of this nifty instrument!
@@funnzie I like the fact that it is so straightforward. I can visualize what is actually happening as I create a tone, run it through a filter, alter it with an LFO and so on. Many other keyboards just leave me lost. Now I gotta watch your other videos. Never got around to those before. :)
Many Many thanks. I just found out (after four years of ownership ;) ) that the builtin synthesizer of the Roland VR09 is basically the Gaia. The World of synth is new territory for me and your video was the perfect step to understand : )
+Eric Hall Thank you so much! I am happy to be providing my time and effort to the community as a thank you to all musicians who have graced me with their wonderful music.
Excellent tutorial on this neat little synth. I'll have to go through this again with my own Gaia. You spend a lot of time and did a great job. Thank you.
Thank you. Please see my video on adding a graphic equalizer to the Gaia. Since you are purchasing a Gaia soon it may be of help. Will the Gaia be your first synth or are you long time sound designer?
funnzie Hi friend Thank you so much for your reply.I will watch the video, sounds interesting.I have other synthesizers, but I practically know nothing about sound design but willing to learn. Your tutorials are amazing.Take care best wishes. Pete. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much!! I have an 9 video series of teaching with the Gaia, have you seen them? Playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLtrj7dkbby8XfXtbndeNQBD1DODyOFivU
I've been on the fence about finally pulling the trigger and getting a Gaia, but I think you've finally convinced me. Any synth that can get those kinds of tones is well worth the money. Nice job.
gfac2285 Thank you. This is a basic subtractive synthesizer times three. The reason I love this synth is because it is a teacher of sound. No menus, every control is visible so making new sound is just as fun to create as it is to play. I use this synth along side 3 other keyboards combining sounds as I wish. I have wanted this synth ever since the Roland JP-8080 came out some 20 years ago. A long time waiting, but glad I did because now I have 3 synths in one for the cost of a used JP on EBay. Software synths just don't compare to a hardware synth in creating sound.
Thank you so much! By the time you view all 7 tutorials you will be at the same level of sound design as I am. I am musician first, so sound design remains at a voluntary intermediate level with me.
Still coming back to watch this again years later to polish up on my technique with this wonderful little Gaia synth. If you would ever consider remaking this video with higher resolution ie 1080P so we can see the settings more clearly, that would be very helpful and so nice.
Fabulous tutorial. The great thing is you can apply very much of what you said to all types of synth tones - it helps you understand the architecture of making powerful sounds. I feel so more in control now. Thank you!
Awesome sound! Very Vangelis-like at parts. I've also discovered that the super-saw is a great waveform to get some nice, full analog-type and string-type sounds. Another trick -- you can use the peaking mode for the filter to really add some bite to the sound -- great for leads. Just be careful with it, because it can really cause some screeching sounds if set to excess!
Thank you. And thank you for the sharing your wisdom. One thing on the Gaia I have not done, but will begin on some patches is to use a very slow sine LFO on pitch with very little amount, and vary the rate and depth for each of the three oscillators so they drift ever so slightly in pitch.
OMG!!! Finaly aperson with synth knowledge making a great video on a very good product!! Keep the videos coming please, you are very helpful and knowledgeable!!
Thank you very much! I admit to being only an intermediate sound designer, there are synth gods out there much more knowledgeable. But I think my level is good for teaching and understanding. Happy programming!
The Gaia SH-01 is my go-to synth for creating nice polyphonic sounds. I now use my Roland JP-08 or JX-03 for solo synth creation. Still experimenting with FM and a DX7 and its place in a mix. Love the 3 of everything.
Yes, the Boutiques are limited editions, I wanted the JU-06 (Juno) but missed it. But the SH-01a is a good substitute, and also the Yamaha Reface CS is a great sub for the juno too. Could not come up with the money this year for that Reface CS, hope it is not discontinued.
I actually just recently ordered the Reface CS from Guitar Center. The price has recently lowered to about $280, and I got it even cheaper on the Memorial Day sale. The only catch is that it's back ordered. Their website says they're supposed to ship tomorrow, though a Guitar Center employee's computer said that it ships in December, so that's up in the air. They very well may discontinue the whole Reface by the end of the year unfortunately
Thank you. Many more videos in this series on subtractive synthesis education. Learn to sound design an be as creative in sound as the score you write.
i've had this synth for 5 years and didn't know you could pan the individual synths lol... this makes it so fat! and opens up a whole dimension of natural sounding tones.
Oh yes! I will not buy a synth that does not have panning of oscillators. The stereo field is extremely important to me and half the fun of sound design..for me. Effects can also create stereo fields but far more limited in creating an original stereo field. The last sound design I did on the Gaia was to begin the tone with one oscillator in the center, then delay the other two oscillators with the attack of the ADSRamp so to have a sound that transitions from center to far left / right....very kool.
That was great eh!, I dont usually stick around to see such lenghtly videos but this one was worth it for sure, the detail you put into explaining each part is essential for thy understanding. Ill look around your channel see what else I can learn, im interested in creating innovative arpeggiators with live variations, any hints?. Cheers!
Thank you. And thank you for letting everyone know I need real classroom time 30min to an hour to teach properly. Very few synths allow us to build our own arpeggiators, but phrase sequencers can double as an arpeggiator if they will transpose on the fly. My Casio XWP1 does allow me to build arpeggiators or combine with the phrase sequencer. On the Casio by playing a single root note the phrase sequencer and the step sequencer will transpose on the fly. On the Gaia, you can set up a phrase sequence from 1 to 8 measures long in the root key of your song....such as the key of "C". Then edit the pitch bend stick to; up to "F" and down to "G". Now you have a repeating phrase (arpeggiator) and a I, IV, V chord progression by bending the pitch lever.
funnzie I am blown away at the wealth of knowledge and experience you have displayed WOW YOU are a teacher please find it your hart to do a mind blowing complexed but simple from start piano patch from scratch oh great one
Terrence Mckenzy Maybe I'm a good teacher because I'm not an expert. I remain at the intermediate level with the rest of you. I just don't have the motivation to become an expert modular synth programmer, I am musician first and would rather spend my days making music. By layering samples, sample playback synths and acoustic piano and guitar there are enough colors in my pallet for my lifetime. Thank you Terrence.
Well done ! Brilliant . Cheers !😁 I found your channel by searching for demos of casio XW -p1 , but I stick around for your music . Very well done tutorials . Very well done .
You are welcome! Glad to help you create your "sound". I am always searching RU-vid for synth jams to hear a sound I never heard before...that's what synthesizers are all about.
This is an awesome tutorial! Impressive little synth, I have never really looked at the Gaia before. Have been wanting a JP8000, but I see now how this thing has a lot going for it. Might have to think about adding one of these instead of the older "how long before it breaks" JP8K. Thanks for the lesson!
Amazing, me too, kept looking for a JP8080 rack mount, but ebay prices were almost the same as new $600 is too much for a used 20 year old synth. So I bought the Gaia, and it became my favorite synth of all time. 3 or everything, panning of individual oscillators, great effects, plus lots of extras, 64 poly synth. I add a 10 graphic equalizer to this synth for more tone control...see the video on the EQ addition. Thank you.
Hey Martin thanks for the quick reply! I have watched tons of Gaia vids over the past couple days, and your tutorials rock! I really like the 3 "tones" approach on this synth. How do you find controlling this thing with Midi? I know its got some GM sounds on midi channels that can be turned off. Is it easy to use an external sequencer to drive it, and can it be sequenced and played at the same time? I haven't seen the EQ video, I will have to go look for it. Thanks!
Found the EQ video, that was pretty cool. What a big difference in sound. I may have one in storage from my old Kenwood rack stereo that could be used. I might just have to try this on my Juno 106 just to see.
64 notes of polyphony so sequencing from a remote clock and playing the Gaia at the same time no problem.....except....it is not multitimbral synth, so the same tone patch only. It is probably multitimbral with the GM 128, don't know for sure, never tested this feature. I use the external clock via MIDI in and then use the on-board phrase sequencer to sequence the Gaia. The Gaia's phrase sequencer can be 8 bars long and free of quatization.
Martin, thanks for the info. I knew it wasn't multitimbral, would be nice if it was. I think the Gaia is for me, I really like the layering 3 synth engines. I have really enjoyed all your videos on this instrument!
This was amazing, sir. I've been gaining understanding gradually, but I had no idea about the panning. Thanks so much. One question for you though. Is it possible to designate an arpeggiator to one specific tone as opposed to the arpeggiator having to be designated to all three? I noticed with some presets, that's the set up. But I can't figure out how to do it myself. Thanks again.
+dnoelproductions Here's an extra: The Gaia has sample tones built in, a complete MIDI capable general MIDI. You could then insert a MIDI cable and set a pattern (arpeggiator simulated by looping a pattern on your computer) in MIDI and transmit that to the Roland. You could then theoretically play the Roland over the top of the MIDI pattern coming into the general MIDI generator.
Hi there, I’ve been looking endlessly for some sort of Chorus effect built into the synth. I know it’s brother JP8000 has these better effects, and apparently the GAIA has the option of using the pitch shifter and shift button and it sort of resembles a “chorus “ effect. Is that the only option on the GAIA? Would appreciate any feedback from fellow synth players, thanks and stay safe!
Wow, great comment! I never thought about the Gaia's lack of a chorus effect....all those affects and missing a stereo chorus. Maybe I did not miss that chorus because of the panning option for each of the three oscillators. Detune and pan each oscillator across the stereo field, then add the panning delay effect with reverb and pitch shift. See if you come up with a great effect and post it on RU-vid for us all to hear. You are welcome to add the link in this comment section.. Thank you!
funnzie Should’ve mentioned this before, I’m looking into buying a GAIA, I own a Korg synth and a few digital synths but interested in buying this awesome Roland GAIA, would you happen to be able to do just that? Provide a video/tutorial on the GAIA chorus alternatives or options. The pitch shifter, detuning, panning etc.. it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Funnzie or anything who can contribute! Stay safe!
Excellent tutorial, and beautiful sound and example.s One question, in your tutorial, in ADSR you mention that D stands for Delay. I was taught that it meant Decay. But Delay makes sense as well. Was this intentional on your part? Also thank you very much for the insights about key follow and the cool doubling effect with the pitch shifter. In a future tutorial would you consider covering ring and sync features, something I have not figured out how to use yet?
You are correct, I mistakenly referred to the decay as delay which is wrong. I also kept calling the amplifier amplitude which is less accurate. Just boobo's on my part from a long tutorial which I didn't want to shoot over considering I side chained the recording to get the full sound of the Roland.
funnzie thank you very much for replying Martin! I think your tutorial is very inspiring, as well as very clear and helpful, and I don't mind the few minor terminology mistakes. :) I definitely learned a lot from your tutorial and I would consider myself to be an intermediate user of the gaia. It's really amazing how many features Roland has packed into this affordable and intuitive synth!
Danke für die herzliche Aufnahme. Habe 1974 mit dem SH 1000 von Roland angefangen, jetzt, mit fast 70 Jahren höre ich mit Roland GAIA auf...Ich liebe das "Schrauben" und hasse das Eintauchen in Submenues bei Displays, habe meine Novation Supernova deshalb verkauft. Bin halt vom "alten Schlag". Danke für Eu´re Hilfe!!!
Meine Mutter wurde in Hamburg geboren, also hat Deutschland einen besonderen Platz in meinem Herzen. Mögen die Liebesmusiker die Liebe sein, die unsere Völker verbindet.
A choir would be a challenge I have not attempted yet. I would guess the filter envelopes could give you the WAAA or OHHHH with just the right oscillator and filter type and slope. Also try the effects section "bit crush" there are options for this effect, some are human sounding.
This was really good up until the last few parts. You played around with the LFO, but didn't really describe what you were doing with the settings. That, I was at least able to figure out. However, when you got to the effects, I'm sorry but you didn't tell us how you were setting the delay or reverb at all. On a patch like this, those effects are very subtle and I could have used a little guidance, ie: "Turn control 1 to 4 o'clock" or something like that. Also, you assumed the viewer understood how to set the D-Beam's effect. I think I got it, but I had to dissect the video quite a bit. Please don't get me wrong, this is an awesome tutorial and I got a phenomenal patch out of it. But I'm just saying that I could have used some more talk about the dial settings. Thank you kindly.
Thank you for your comment. I think you misunderstood the purpose of the video. The video series is not for patch duplication, but how to use subtractive synthesis to design your own sounds. A synthesizer is designed for creativity, somewhere back at the beginning of sampled sounds (PCM) this got mixed up. The synth is a creative tool, there are better keyboards out there for playing presets than the Gaia, and thousands of soft synths for that too. So in this series each of the sounds I chose to design was only used to illustrate the teaching points of that particular video. Let your creativity flow :)
+marklh1 This sounds challenging, but I am finished with the Roland Gaia series of subtractive synthesis. 8 parts designed to help you understand how a subtractive synth functions with practical examples so you can now make your own sounds. If you have completed the 8 parts you should be ready now to make the sounds in your head, or whatever appears by moving controls. Thank you for the support.
I stay organized if I am use all three "tones" Roland entitles the 3 synths as tones. I first have a good idea in my head before beginning the sound design. I do the reset and move all controls to neutral like in the video. Then I use the first tone to create the most complex sound of the 3 tones. After finishing the first tone I copy the first tone to the second tone, this way all the controls are showing what you are hearing. Then after completing the second tone I copy it to the third tone, again all the controls will then show what you hear. I complete the third tone. Now I finish the sound design by switching between all 3 tones, but now if I want to make a filter change on tone 2 (for example) I will have the twist the knob until it "catches up" with the setting for tone 2. With so much control over each tone, it can be confusing when switching between all 3 tones and making adjustments because the physical position of the control will be wherever you last used it, and will have to be moved while you listen to the sound to make the adjustment you desire. The complex sounds the Gaia is capable of makes it more difficult to use than a synth with only one filter instead of the Gaia's three filters....and three of everything.
This synth will give you sound design possibilities only a few other synths can and in full polyphony of 64 notes and stereo panning of each oscillators. I think only higher end keyboards, and digital, can give you these features.
Always wanted a JP8080, but never spent the money, then looked for a used one after they went out of production but were too expensive. Then they introduced the Gaia some 15 years later and it was much superior to the JP's...IF...you added a cheap graphic equalizer to the Gaia and boosted all the octaves. See my other video on this Gaia: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rKIeGYED-Xc.htmlsi=OJzRzkPyeWF-nnrb you can do the same with poly patches as well. See my video on adding an equalizer to the Gaia at: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7HA7syhsJf8.htmlsi=cDSxqCmwFpGUyAkE I think this addition of an analog equalizer plus the massive advantage of the 3 layers of the Gaia supersaws, will out perform the JP8000 any day, and the Gaia is much newer with less fear of electronic problems of old keyboards.
Do you have any knowledge to help with combining keyboards and synths thru midi connections, and how to work them together? I have a roland gaia along with roland fa-08, and can use some help with how to combine them thru midi . Thank you
Yes, I have a video on it at : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PLKbCdE4Jic.html Please explore my playlists for more on keyboard tutorials.
+funnzie my pleasure! Great to see a fellow Gaia enthusiast, and thanks for sharing your expertise. I especially like the tip you gave about using the pitch shifter tuned to unison, to give a fatter sound.
I have seen all your videos as well, thank you. You are an amazing jazz pianist, would sure like to see some nicely recorded sessions with your band. Multi-tracked and post engineered.
+funnzie that's wonderful! Thanks so much. yes I recorded one studio album, it's available on Bandcamp "Quiet Night by Geoff Peters Trio" gpeters.bandcamp.com/album/quiet-night
When this video was shot some ten years ago, I had horrible video equipment, cheapest you could buy that was 10 years old then. Been living in poverty ever since my divorce.
IF you own a Gaia, the sound you make copying this video should be the same since we are working with a digital synth. But also synths are a creative instrument, even if you can't achieve a copy, what you end up with is original and maybe better. Designing a sound for the song you are composing is the most personal touch to a song that can be done except for the vocal.
Old electronics may not last long, depends on how the unit was cared for during ownership. I don't buy used equipment because I am not going to invest my valuable time in learning the instrument just to have it become a brick in a year or two. The reason I don't buy new Behringer synths is because of the 15 year track record I had with their other equipment; I would love to own lots of Behringer synths but just don't trust them. I (we) need rock solid synths that last at least 10 years before failing. Roland is a very solid brand of synths, but unless you have the history of the ownership you may be throwing your money away. I do not know how repairable any synth is, and having repair in your own town is unlikely. So now you shipping costs and risks of shipping damage just to send it to someone that may, or may not be able to repair it. Hardware and software synths are an expensive investment where we invest in the manufacturer with hopes of good reliability. Software looks inexpensive at first but after you buy a powerful computer to run them, and then upgrade OS or computer hardware, you have zero knowledge if the software business is going to update, or even be in business. Plus you have an undependable platform to run your synth on. 99% of people who own computers know almost nothing about them, and can't repair or troubleshoot when a problem occurs; and it is an absolute certainty there will be a problem. So every synth we buy is a risk in our time and money, so as soon as a manufacturer has proven to me to be undependable I don't buy a new synth from them, and buying a used synth is out of the question.
I wonder how the Gaia stacks up today, 2023? I've been thinking of getting one because it seems simple enough to be creative during live performances with my looper. Anybody?
For live performance the Roland System8 would be a better choice for digital with all the surface controls. The Gaia with its three layers is more powerful, but I would not want to design the 3 layers on stage. iF you want that 64 notes of polyphony the Gaia is the only tactile control synth offering that many voices, the Roland System8 only has eight. Maybe a Novation Summit too?
Roland just discontinued the Gaia SH-01, the replacement is the new Roland SH-4D, more powerful than the Gaia, more layers, sequencer, more oscillator options, same hands on control, but no keyboard and 60 voices instead of 64. MIDI access to the 5 layers on the SH-4D.
@@funnzie Thanks for the tip! I like the analogue style of knobs and sliders over a programming window. I'll look into the SH-4D. I've got the Roland/Boss RC 505 mk2 5 channel looper with effects, which allows for some fun, live, on the fly options for a single performer. (keeping a band together, not so easy) Have fun with it, Peace!
@@WmArthur You're welcome. Ha ha! Me too, solo piano performer, no band ever in my life, nor would I want one. But the stress of playing whatever piano is on the stage is forever a challenge.
Very difficult to produce any realistic acoustic sound on any synthesizer, if you want realistic reproductions of acoustic instruments a sample or modeling is far better than synthesis.
You are welcome! A synth like the Gaia can make all kinds of sounds that a sample playback keyboard cannot...and the sample playback keyboard can make sounds the Gaia could never do. So a dual keyboard of....say...the Gaia and a Yamaha MX49 makes a great combo, both keyboards for about $1100.00 US.
Love the GAIA sounds, and its capabilities, but its limited 3 octaves is a major drawback for me. I wish Roland would come out with a 61 key version, it would be a monstrous keyboard.
+Karim Nasser With the Gaia's simple MIDI port adding a keyboard is easy. For most performers or studio players, the Gaia would not be your one and only instrument. I can MIDI cable in from 61 or 88 keys within my studio. IF this is your only keyboard, make sure your next keyboard, such as an 88key piano has a MIDI port.
You mean to tell me that you can't go lower or higher in octaves, other than what is already on the keyboard? You got to be kidding me. This is a 600 dollar keyboard. No way. That is definitely enough for me to never, ever buy it. If I can't go up 3 octaves and down 3 octaves the whole way, it ain't happening.
@@natanunorthodox No, certainly not! They just mean that the physical keyboard is only 3 octaves. First of all, each oscillator has a 4 octave range. Then, any sound you make (and by "sound", I mean a complete sound or patch using up to all three available tones) can easily be shifted up or down up to 3 octaves, and then this octave shift can be stored as part of the overall patch. And then additionally, you can manually shift any sound you're playing up or down up to 3 octaves -- and this octave shift is a manual setting that will stay in place even if you change the sound from one preset/stored patch to another. So, you have all kinds of octave shifting capability on this synth.
+StepNines You are welcome. Hope you make a video on a new sound no one has heard of before. A synthesizer is an incredible instrument that makes imaginable and un-imaginable sounds. :)
@@funnzie done already! thank you for helping me learning this, i know it sounds too late, been keeping this beast for a long time, focusing another instrument.
Yes, this video is old and doesn't have high res camera or audio for voice, but the sound of the synth is recorded in high quality. Will be buying a new microphone for speech soon.
Yes, you are correct. As a recording engineer and sound designer, I had delay stuck in my head from too much DAW work that day, instead of the correct term, I think I called it decay once or twice...didn't I?? :)
Yes, that is the nature of speaking in a video for over 30 minutes, I make mistakes. I said delay, because I am an audio engineer and that was on my mind more than the proper name of the ADSR (D) decay :)
synths are what you program into them, and what effects are applied afterwards. The only difference is the source of the oscillators, and how they sound when filtered and enveloped. Since all synths on RU-vid are recorded digitally, it is difficult to compare sound quality. You must be present with the synth and have near field monitors or studio headphones to hear in all their sonic purity.
What is your listening source for this video? If you are not using high quality listening devices then everything will sound different than intended by the publisher. Neutral speakers and headphones like used in recording studios is a good start. If your speakers are passive then amplification becomes important too to keep transient peaks from distorting.
