Bad Gear - Roland Aira J-6
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- čas přidán 6. 06. 2024
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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland Aira Compact J-6. Is this preset synth version of Rolands classic Juno emulation usable for professional music production and why did they put in a chord sequencer that seems like the lovechild of an 80s Casiotone accompaniment section and a Unison Midi Chord Pack? Is it better than a Korg Volca?
Thanks to Klangfarbe for a J-6 from their shopfloor:
www.klangfarbe.com/
/ klangfarbewien
Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:09 Overview Roland Aira J-6
01:35 Presets
01:48 Synth Engine, Filter, Envelope
02:20 Limitations, Lack of Midi Control
02:33 FX (Reverb, Delay)
03:00 Chord Sequencer
03:21 Enter your own Chords
03:31 Chord Mode
03:57 Styles/Variations (Arpeggiator, Rhythmic Patterns, Phrases)
04:24 What else???
04:57 Thanks!!!
05:03 Hate
05:25 Jam 1 (Dance Chords)
06:13 Jam 2 (80s Cheese)
07:14 Finale (Lofi Beats)
07:47 Verdict - Hudba
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.
You just pause? I pause then hit back arrow and then fiddle with "," and "." (single frame step) until I've caught them all. Maybe.
I just hang out in the same meme groups and assume I've seen them already. Makes watching the episode less anxiety ridden
I do at least two views, one letting the vibes gently guide me along and a second where I'm lunging at pause like a madman
@@kimwjustice Wow! Didn't know you could do that frame stepping with "," and "."! That will be extremely useful for some videos!
Watching it twice is much recommended;)
Gotta appreciate Florian's dedication to the craft, the absolute madman bought not one, but two TB-3's!
❤️❤️❤️
"We all go a little mad sometimes." - Norman Bates
I had 2 too, like Desmond Tutu, sold both, hated them.
I absolutely burst out laughing at the pullout reveal, amazing
@@treetopjones737 “Oh, you can't help that; we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.” - Cheshire Cat
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.
lol 😅
Taking the good cop bad cop approach
Thank you!!! I don't think that's a source of conflict in real life...
I love Alex Ball, but he shills hard for Roland. I would too if I could, and use the money to buy non-Roland gear.
@@AudioPilz Quite the opposite, i would guess 💕💕
It isn't a Friday if we don't gather around to ridicule a fine piece of Aira
You spelled "all of modern Roland" wrong.
The weekend can begin!!!
This and JHS Pedals show…ladies and gentlemen, the weekend.
@@AudioPilz hi, i wanna buy drum machine, but all what i like, you marked like "bad gear". What i can by for 500$?😔
@@sound_dept MPC One is a great choice around that price point 😊
This episode contains the most accurate synth tech meme ever. 25 years messing around with this stuff and sysex still makes me cry. 😂
Same here! It can be so brutal!
This series keeps me going each week, I haven’t looked forward to things in a long time. Love this show
Thank you so much!!!
Sounds surprisingly better than I thought it would. Like synthwave in a box.
Agreed!
Yes, I love my J-6, even as a limited «Presetschleuder», the sounds are amazing. Fit perfect in a Synthwave mix.
The sound is a bit too bright for my tastes, but it is perfect for synthwave
It would be a great load of bang-for-the buck-fun when paired up with a Mininova!
I don't really buy synths brand new, but this one I got as soon as i could. I love it
Nice!!!
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
Thank you!!! Happy to hear that it works for you!
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.
@@whormongrmuzik I have to get these. Hope I can level up my Setup by next year!
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 🎶😁
It does sound good. Still continually impressed with your consistent and excellent work. Great job once again.
Thank you so much!!!
One of my favorite Bad Gear ever!
I m not ashamed to say I own it and I love it!
😀😀😀
@@AudioPilz It helped me a lot
coming out with cool Chord progressions I wouldn't ever be able to come out with
@@BrancoArgenta Scaler 2 or Captain Chord are cheaper, though...
@@partirparlesarmoires I actually don't dislike the sounds either. Sometimes one just needs couple good presets!
Some beautiful jams on this one - great work!
Thank you!!!
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!!!
TB-3 has become my go to mono synth!
Another week of making bad gear sound great! You rock, man. Hope you're well.
Thank you so much!!!
It always amazes me what you do with these cheezy synths. You make them sound so goood 🎹
Thank you so much!!!
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!
Great input, thanks!!!
This is one of my favorite pieces of gear. You can do so many things with it and the sounds are great.
👍
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
Ok but seriously why do I want one of these so bad? On today's episode of awesome gear! Thanks for another great vid!
Thank you!!!
I know the show is called Bad Gear, but you make everything sound good!
Thank you so much!!!
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.
Thanks! All sounds are J-6 except for the drum loop
Whoa! Then it does boast some great sounding synths. I'll swiftly move it to the top of the list. 🤩
This is great piece of bad gear !
😀
Legitimately good jam demos 👏
Thank you!!!
Jedes mal . Es ist mir eine Freude deiner Ausführung zu folgen.
Vielen herzlichen Dank!!!
I love this synth as I am too lazy to learn actual chords. Adds a nice touch to my acid set.
Nice!
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.
Arp section is pretty nice indeed!
agreed!
This Show always makes me happy
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So far the best exposition of J-6’ sonic possibilities!)) bravo!)
Thank you!!!
Good to see this man back and healthy. We can't afford to lose him.
Thanks but no worries❤️
@@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 think this would be a fun box to keep on my desk at work
Certainly worth a try
Florian you’ve done it again.
Feels good seeing people in the comments saying they are just now getting to meet you.
Thank you!!!
What a coincidence! I bought it online during my lunch break today at work and now I see this episode! 😅 Can’t wait to get my hands on it! 😊
Nice!!!
"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 😉
Great suggestion, thanks!!! Trying to find one of these around here!
The AS-1 is real bad. More a midi problem gear🙂
We name it, Dave Sh#@ gear😂
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.
I think there are quite a few professional midi players from the 90s and zero years for that application that are far more powerful and less fiddly
@@AudioPilz Name and shame (or the opposite of that really) pls!
@@AudioPilz they got names? 👀
@@AudioPilz teach them Florian, teach them 📚
Super nice rewiew always ,funny ,directly and for everyone xD
Thank you!!!
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.
Thank you!!!
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)
Thanks! Nice approach!
I do like the J6 a lot. I use it mostly to help me sketch and write stuff. It is handy.
👍
Love all the synth youtube guys in the opening!
Thank you!!!
I wouldn't have even considered this synth before your video ! This is the correct way to build bad gear, Roland. It sounds good.
They had a digital synth engine lying around;)
loopop said it's a chord pack in a box - i had to buy it!
Loopop is always right!
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 :)
It's made from PEOPLE? 😱
@@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. 🤷♀
Thanks!!! J-6 is PEOPLE!!!
TB-3 love. Love it more than my TD-3. great vid
Thank you!
Happy Friday Florian!! Another great video!
Still waiting for the EMU "Planet Phatt"
Oh.. You have two TB-3s as well? I thought I was the only Aira geek to have two of them. Lolz
Thanks!!! Still hunting for one of these!
@@AudioPilz I have one. I'd let you borrow it, but I'm in the states. Shipping it to Austria just to loan out for a week would be crazy expensive.
Pretty happy with mine, though it’s definitely limited. Does the job for a dedicated chord stab machine 🙂
Chord stabs are what it's best at...
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
Thanks for the heads up!
1:07 made my day
Thank you Florian
Thank you!!!
Another ROLAND BAD GEAR! CANT GET ENOUGH !
❤️❤️❤️
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.)
That one is really nice as a bass synth with the unison
As an owner of multiple boutiques+volca-orba-microfreak-mc101-mininova... all I can say I have to have 'Aira J-6'!!!😊Roland did the math well 😊
It's science;)
Great song! Hugs from Brasil!
Obrigado!!!
and again....its friday....and i really enjoyed the episode....👍
Thanks, have a nice one!
2nd TB3 congrats!! Considering how good it is, the 2nd could be used for leads or wash fx!
Thanks! It's like Sci Fi Rebirth 338
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.
Nice technique!
exactly why i got one, never used the audio out, just the midi out for those chord progressions… works well.
You make me smile again ☺
I can automate my messages to you now 🤖
❤️❤️❤️
Love it!....just bought it!
Still 433hz minimum or??
@@BEZLOLKA I'm not that technical about it, but it's fun, still learning...Create your own chord sequence and it is fantastic with plugins...it's worth the cost and not a penny more.I recommend for studio recording,some LIVE programmed jams unless you are just a whiz at these sort of things.
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
Thank you!!!
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.
@@ghostmall2421 lol!
I'm pretty sure Roland made that safer than Fort Knox
Alright I can die happy knowing that you notice my comment on the airia compact announcement video
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Great video.
Thanks!!!
ok, i'm going to buy it, thank 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!!
Thank you so much!!!
1:27 that sequence was fire
Thank you!!!
Instant Jeff mills
@@neptune1411 didn't know who Jeff mills was before your post but you're right
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.
Great suggestion, thanks!!!
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.
Another great video, thank you! I'd love to see the Alesis Quadrasynth on this show in the future! Cheers! 🙌✌️🎹🖖
Thanks!!! Great suggestion!!!
Really loved jams 2 and 3 in this one :o
Thank you!!!
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.
Agreed!!!
Get over 100 pro level chord progressions without any music theory!
I'd buy that for a $!!!
Friday ritual of Bad Gear episode is done. It is a good friday
Thanks! Have a nice one!!!
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.
Thank you so much!!! Mmmmh, Blackbox...
@@AudioPilz 😂
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.
Thank you so much!!!
I don't understand any longer if your love for the TB3 is honest or ironic, sure it gets a lot of use in your videos!
I hook it up, it spits out stuff I like without any effort. Definitely love it but it has some flaws
love your second TB3 😁
❤️❤️❤️
Subscribed after watching a bunch of videos. Love the style, no BS and lovely musical snippets using the gear.
My first ‘synth’ was an Yamaha SY85 all the way back in ‘93 costing me a whopping £1,000! I still have it and I loved it, but I’m sure most hated the thing. I’d love to see if you think it’s faired in 2022 and what you can do with one.
Thanks, stick around!!! Great suggestion!
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.
True that!
Why didn't Roland make this a full blown auto harp? I would buy one right now.
Are these still a thing?;)
You mean those digital toy-like things, not an actual autoharp, I assume.
"Not Half Bad" Hilariously Hilarious! 😂 I Love The Cutaways
Nice drum sounds on that last jam. What are those? Thanks for the videos man , I appreciate it. I was thinking about picking one of these up for the chord progression generator , but I should probably just bust out the old chord book.
Thanks!!! That's a semi legal break from a 90s sample CD;)
its a one trick pony, but what a ride!
Yesssss
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
That sums it up nicely;)
Most Bad Gear episodes make me want to try the gear in question.
This one is an exception.
Not a keeper for me either
Under 230 this week! Wooo...Never fancied the Aira but your demo makes it a little more desirable.
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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 :-(
Yeah, something changed back then
Don't forget when they released the tr-303 it was a flop too. That it is now so popular was just a lucky accident.
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.
Thanks!!!
Roland have squandered a fine legacy to make themselves the Fisher Price of the synth world, haven't they?
Definitely not the Roland of the 80s
Even thought the specs sound terrible, You made the jams sound pretty good.
Watching your show, I am starting to think I should have kept the tb-3.
Thanks! TB-3s are super affordable atm
Your videos are great, congrats! Question...could I use the roland j-6 sequencer also to sequence an external drum machine like a volca beats for example? Those 64 steps are really good!
Thank you!!! Yeah, works great!
I just bought one. Wish me luck learning the sequencer.
All the best;)
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.
The synth engine is really nice!
Nice one once again! 😃 Admittedly, I never read the fine print, but I was always under the impression that the J-6 was based on the Jupiter 8 and not the Jüno 6/60. Either way, it sounds grand, but the lack of tweakability would deter most...
Thanks!!! True that!
another great episode :)
also it brings back memories of klangfarbe. my brother used to work at gasometer, so a few times i went to see him and spent some time at klangfarbe. a real synth/musical instruments paradise :)
also the gasometer itself is a great place. and wien in general. i sometimes listen to falco. he was a real wiener blut :)
and congrats to your second tibi. it's a hungarian name (tibor) :)
Like Amy Winehouse, Falco did himself in. #Addiction
Thanks!!! Gasometer has such a rich history!!! James Bond, Techno,...
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.
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. 🥰
I still need to pick that one up!
Recently gave it a try during the Patreon vocoder shoutout. It's quite similar to the VT-4/3 I guess...
I don't know why, but the cameo from Mileena and Kitana made my day.
So wholesome!!!
Has your opinion softened on the TB-3? Or is it a go-to because it's relatively simple and easy to make sound good?
This one has totally turbocharged my workflow. Never judge a book by its cover;)
Nice!
😀😀😀
Sexta-feira feliz. Bad Gear !!
❤️❤️❤️
I just bought one yesterday!
Nice!!!
I’ve heard that Roland are working on a new drum machine that contains 606, 707, 808 and 909 drum sounds. Can’t wait!!!
Do you mean the MC-303?;)
Great!
😀