I love how they put a second filter in there just for the riser feature 😁 It's a total no-brainer. Best compact synth release so far this year. Mine arrived 2 weeks ago. Can't stop jamming around with it 🔥🎶
The internal battery actually isn't hard to replace. It's a separate item in the device and uses a reasonably standard connector and capacity. It's very similar to what people put in small robots.
I have the T-8 and E-4 and am not concerned about the battery. If they fail, I will try to replace. If that doesn't work, it looks like they can still run on AC power.
I appreciate that info! Rechargeable gear is normally a deal breaker for me, but I must admit it's convenient! Roland has my respect if they made it repairable (vs. disposable)🙏👍💯
An important finding, if you’re a Logic Pro user. Since Roland doesn’t seem to know this (May 2024), I will post this through my favourite electronica RU-vidrs. Having owned the S-1 for about 5 minutes I began thinking about how I could integrate it into my UA/Logic Pro set up. USB-C connection to the Mac. First try resulted in the S-1 taking over completely, no access to UA. The Roland “support” site said that it wasn’t possible to use it with multiple audio interfaces! Accepting the challenge I created an Aggregate Device in the the Mac’s Audio MIDI set up, with the UA as master device. Let there be audio! The MIDI part was a brain twister though. Audio still working fine when I started the S-1’s internal sequencer. But no MIDI triggering the S-1. Double checking the MIDI setting on the S-1 revealed that I had adjusted the chorus, Cho, mistaking the o for a zero. The correct parameter is called CH. Why it wasn’t already set to channel 1 is anybody’s guess. Cool box, lousy support site, as usual. Roland, please fix your extremely slow and unhelpful site Thank you for sharing a helpful video.
The S1, along with the SE-02, are my budget killer-synths from Roland over the past years. No need to spend tons of money on a Juno X or Jupiter X if you can have this much character from a small device. but maybe thats just my opinion…
@lefthandedpolack I got the DJ808 for work and I love it. Now I'm looking at the Aira line for my home studio workflow. All of those seem like they should be higher priority purchases than their retro synth modules, which I'd just waste tons of hours turning knobs on without really writing anything or getting any gigs... but damn, I want them more than anything lol
I got this from the London Roland shop the day after the release. It’s an amazing bit of kit and for the price it’s a no brainer! I really hope they release a sampler next in this series.
This is one big little box. The oscillator shenanigans are very interesting alone. When loopop, nick, and daniel f. All rave about this , as Florian would say: 'rolca', i may have to check it out. Did I drop enough names? Heh.
Just got one myself,really great fun. Splitting new patches into half crafted patches for midi,and half for internal seq fun.⚡️🤘🏻⚡️ Thanks for the great reviews as always!✨
Great little synth and review. I use a riser on almost every song and I don't make straight up EDM and I'm no kid! I use it tucked low in the mix to build into a chorus or bridge.
Wonderful review as always Nick, thank you! Will have to pick one of these up to go with my E-4... oh these are gonna turn in to Pokemon cards for nerds arnt they... 🙂
You weren't wrong when you said keep watching. Wowed at times during this, especially chorus & random triangle. Can the sequencer play at different keys rather than just be a static playback?
Complete review, as always! Nice to be able to jam on top of playing sequences. Wish I had this as my "first synth". Why did they hide the Chorus behind menu-diving??? Chorus is such a common option with Roland synths. 🤔 Do the MIDI types (A or B?) match between the S1 and Arturia's Keysteps?
Will Roland provide an update for the software defect of the lack of MIDI Volume (CC07)? CC07 has been normal in MIDI products for 40 years! How did they mess this up? Roland - get it together!
What am I missing - I can’t get mine to record a sequence. Do I first need to erase demo sequences and how do I erase them all at once? Anyone? I’m an absolute synth beginner.
I got the t8 last week and im getting the s1 in a few weeks...kinda wish the power source was different as having it plugged in while using it you sometimes get usb c buzzing
As a long time fan of SH, sure I want one but as others have questioned, should I sell my SH-01a that cost 2x? My original thinking was to pass over the new Roland "Volcas" that I already have covered with other Aira or Boutique gear i.e. TR-8, TR-08, VT-3 and again the SH-01a... This line of thought lead me to purchasing only the J6 since I somehow skipped over the others. Running into the same dilemma when considering the SH-4d when I think about the fact that I've basically got everything in it, just in multiple boxes. Also that I've already got an Elektron Syntakt...
It’s Akai’s best mini keyboard ever. The most useable. Similar to the M-Audio Oxygen Pro Mini as far as functionality but it adds a sequencer, a few extra keys, and full sized MIDI ins and outs.
Is there some industrial designer working for Roland who really loves green? I can’t figure out why that specific shade keeps popping up on so many of their devices. This thing seems cool though.
The J6 just doesn’t have enough knobs to make it more tweakable. It would have to have a lot of menu diving and extra shift functions. Maybe if they made it compatible with a software editor, it would be doable.. and maybe nominate what you want the knobs to control on each patch kind of like a Novation Circuit. 🤷♂️ .. I don’t know… just spitballing.
Question: Give the choice between buying one of these or a Behringer MS-1, which one would you choose and why? Note: I have a Keystep 37 so the S-1 keyboard isn't part of the equation for me.
Im on the same dilemma. I guess the s-1 is the more sane choice given the specs. The ms is more of a purist choice being analog and having the form factor, otherwise i think the s1 can handle the emulating job just fine, it sounds great.
Once you have recorded a sequence already, can you press record again and 'overdub' polyphonically? Or do the notes you play on the 2nd pass 'replace' the original ones?
@@schmapps1 I just checked the manual but unfortunately in typical Roland fashion, it doesn't say. 🤔 But I'd still be willing to bet on it being possible. Maybe ask one of the smaller, more responsive RU-vidrs.
No they don’t in poly mode -once you hit 4 notes on a step it tells you it’s “full” on that step but if you then go into step mode you can edit the note/s
Microkey 61, this and a few other tiny modules, some carbon fiber and jb weld, or however you want to put it all together. You could do all Aira modules and a MX1, or whatever....some creative planning would be required. Or you could get an "Ax Edge" but the name doesn't match the sounds - I expected like, Viking metal sounds, but it's a lot of 80s leads and basses and typical Roland sounds on that thing.
@@GizzyDillespee haha, I'd be lying if I said I haven't built a few keytars in my head, usually involving the integration of a seaboard and plasma pedal. The Ax looks like it was designed by someone based on memories of metal album covers, mine would look like Nicola Tesla hooked up with the Borg
This video displays exactly why i immediately sent mines back....its hard to use it without it moving around on the table, and for a livesetup its not gonna work without taping it to the table. and with the menu diving for live use it just became irritating, despite its great sounding engine. The SH4D arrived instead and blew me away.
Sure you haven't heard or owned a Ppg in the flesh , a farce to compare it this way , hey a Dacia sandero drives like a Bentley to you know after bottles of wine
@@cnfuzz Obviously, it's not exactly the same. Point stands though. It makes a remarkably good sound for the price. Perfectly legitimate to express a critical opinion with a little exaggeration :-* #futureclassic
the reason sh101 is great is because of it's form factor and playability, sure cool it's great about the 4 voice poly and other new stuff, but you're missing the point of the original synth with this miniature bs. Here comes the barrage of hate comments:
Totally agree! I thought the boutiques were too small already. I like their sound. But the form factor and the cheap polyphony are deal breakers for me sadly.
fair point. I ordered a S1 but changed my mind and returned it . Got a SH-01A instead (which I actually owned previously and sold about two years ago). Couple of reasons: SH-01A is more sexy to look at. More hands on control, tho still small, less menu-diving. More true to the OG 101 in terms of the range of sounds, which for me is a good thing.
@@VNDM-MUSIC HA! I literally did the same thing today ;) i mean ive got the SH01A, if it's good enough for Sebastian Mullaert its more than great for me. I also want behringer one too but waiting for mk2 to come out
More of the same? Meanwhile, you missed reviewing the Korg Modwave... hope you do one on the Wavestate v2 :) Regards the Roland... we really have heard it all before: glorified subtractive. The market is crowded. By now these things should be available on the NHS. LOL.
Disappointing it's only 4 voice polyphonic (should be at least 6). Also disappointing that there's no modulation matrix nor way to link the many control parameters to an LFO. Other than that, seems pretty good.
Dude I cannot get my midi controller to work on this thing, really don’t know what’s going on as I’ve figured out how to do it with so much other gear. Not a fan of the sound…really bummed
@@sonicstate yea I noticed such and tried doing so many different things to make it work. It doesn’t seem to want to receive any sort of midi unless it’s over USB which isn’t what I want
