Is the Roland Aira S-1 the Ultimate Ambient Drone Synth?
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- čas přidán 11. 05. 2024
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Can the Roland Aira S-1 be the ultimate gateway to Ambient Cinematic Soundscapes?
This video explores the S-1 synthesizer's surprising potential for creating ambient drone and cinematic music. Join us as we unlock the sonic power of this versatile synth, perfect for crafting swirling soundscapes and evolving textures.
We'll delve into the Aira S-1's features that make it an ambient composer's dream, from its hands-on controls for real-time manipulation to its high-quality effects. Discover how the Hold note function empowers you to create those signature sustained notes that define ambient drone.
We'll guide you through setting up the synth for optimal ambient soundscapes, followed by a live demonstration packed with practical tips.
So get ready to be immersed in the world of ambient cinematic music with the Roland Aira S-1!
If you resonate with my creations, your support means the world to me. Consider leaving a like and subscribing to my channel - every interaction fuels my passion to keep creating. Thank you for joining me on this sonic odyssey!
___
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allow me to introduce myself - I'm Electro / Magnetic, the mind behind the ethereal realms of Ambient and Drone Music.
What awaits you on this channel:
- Master the magic of synths: Learn sound design techniques, explore ambient textures, and unlock the potential of your gear - all with clear explanations and actionable tips.
- Unlock the secrets of evolving drones: Craft atmospheric soundscapes that take your listeners on a voyage.
- Jam alongside: Witness the creation process firsthand and glean valuable insights from intimate synth jams with detailed breakdowns.
- Curated sounds for every mood: Discover a collection of ambient compositions ideal for relaxation, focus, or even setting the perfect scene for your adventures.
Whether you're a seasoned ambient producer or just starting your sonic voyage, Electro / Magnetic is your guide to crafting immersive and evocative music.
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#ambient #ambientmusic #ambientdrone #dronemusic #RolandAiraS1 #cinematicmusic #dronesynth #synthscapes #soundscapes #sounddesign #getinspired #synth #tutorial
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Nicely done. Thanks for the walk through and the way you explained the control of the sound!
Glad you found it useful
Exactly what I was hoping to do with my S-1! Thanks for this clear tutorial!
Happy to help
Mine arrives tomorrow. This will be where I start possibly adding some Streichfett...
Well done!
Roland's S-1 is a little gem of a synthesizer. Everyone seems to be forgetting the D-motion function which allows it to respond to your psychedelic dancing
I use It sometimes but I haven't put it in a video yet. Maybe I'll show it in a new video!
Love it! Thank you.
What a cute little gizmo!
Great thanks for sharing ❤
Thank you for this journey! Pls make more videos like this with the s1.
Thank you for the feedback, I'll definitely do some more videos
Great demonstration of the S-1's many capabilities thanks again 👌
Thanks for the feedback!
Roland always with the great gear and sounds
Thanks for sharing 👍
thank you i watched the video to the end and left but then i came back because i think you deserve a comment and thumbs up for this professional and cool vid ..many thanks!
Thank you very much for taking the extra time, I really appreciate and helps me a lot to keep on growing
As someone who is just beginning his musical journey, videos like this are so incredibly inspiring. Please... keep creating content like this.
Thank you , I'll try to keep up with more inspiring videos!
Cool video, what a great drone synth!😊
Thank you! Cheers
It’s a fun travel synth, makes your fellow passengers curious as to what you’re enjoying so much. This, Circuit, and IK Uno all travel well…
Fantastic!
Wow you really make it sing ... sounds amazing... as it slowly changes
Glad you enjoyed!
That was very cool.
BRAVO!!!!! ❤.
Thanks for sharing. I am happy that ambient drones are getting a more creative following.
Me too. Thanks for the feedback!
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic BTW, inspired by your video and another person's video, I did get an S-1 and am adding it to my ambient music. Thank you.
@@Raku777 Roland should start paying me for the good advertising 😆
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic I hope they read this post and get inspired to do this!
Fantastic 🎶🚀✨
Lovely! Thanks for the inspiration to jump back on that little wonder :)
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback
Great Tutorial! I had no idea you could make sounds like this on the S1! I might need to get one.
For the price it's a lot of fun
Roland really should have S-1, J-6 and T-8 in one box. Those three amigos could be a very good groovebox module!
Woah that could be quite complicated to control though
Is it not the sh4d?
I think it’s called mc-101 or mc-707
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic i think that even Roland themselves kinda intended it to be and play this way... you know three synced together... i just wish all the cables was inside the box and had one power cable to charge it...
@@andywatts8654 SH4D sounds incredibly bland for my ears since it's a Zen Core (which i don't like at all)
Thank you very much for this video, you made me get s1 back from the closet❤ please make more videos for s1 along the same lines, thank you!🙂
I'll definitely do more
Great video, subscribed 👍
Thanks, glad you enjoyed
Really enjoyed the video. Time to try this out with mine 🐳🐳
Wow I tried this and the result is same as in your video. Unworldly indeed, I’m mesmerized, I love the drone, especially when I keep just the SUB oscillator and add some LFO. Increasing ATTACK from 0 to say 140 allowed me to make smoother note transitions.
Thanks for the tutorial. It’s put me on a new creative path.
I'm very glad it works as I showed! Have fun 😊
Thanks for the video. I learned something tonight! I did not think to use my S-1 in this fashion. This makes for a great sleep-aid too using a touch of pink noise, etc. I've let it run for about 10 minutes just now and I'm amazed. The drone just seems to float on smoothly with no end. ✅Subscribed! 🦊
Great! Thank you for the feedback
Echoes of David Parsons! Great review!
Thank you!
i pull this out in those ambie moods
wow, awesome insight dude. I was going to pick up the stylophone DS 2 when it comes out but this looks like fun instead
I think the stylophone is going to be amazing !
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic Have you seen the Alt from Cyma Forma? that is another ambient machine I'm considering
Yeah, love the little S1, instant hit in my book. The wave draw is amazing fun. Filter can be a little harsh but you just need to control your fingers a bit. Very capable drone machine, add a mini kaoss pad or monotron and you have a lot of power in your pocket. Subbed.
Exactly!!!!!
Great demo. This wasn't really on my radar but I think it might be now.
Joint took me to Arrakis. 😂👏🏾👍🏾
nice trip!
❤️🔥
I enjoyed this video and i think I'm going to try drone stuff on my s-1 when i get home. I use my volca keys for drones but this filter is far superior to that of the volca keys
They are different beasts in my opinion. Volca Keys is still my favourite synth!
There’s a couple of interesting chorus options if you dive into the menu
Yeah thank you , I'm actually using chorus here but I didn't mention it didn't fit in the video
LFO on the slowest speed with a sample and hold waveform with a really low modulation setting to pitch and filter can offer some interesting effects too for a drone composition .
I'll check this setting thanks
I was playing with exactly this technique in VCVRack today. Also good for varying percussion sounds.
Hi. Very cool, thanks for the video. The sales info for this unit says its like an sh101 but I didn't know these kind of drones were possible with a 101 or sh01? Is that possible? This sounds nothing like those units
Well the effects play a big role, also this unit is based on the 101 but it has extra features and it's more versatile
tough crowd lol. i think it was a good demo. i have been thinking about this 'rolca' for a while. question: do those motion modulations work if you slowly move the s1 around? i know it does crazy things when moved quickly, but a slow filter or something . also, just how slow can the lfo's go? i'm just wondering if there are other mod possibilities for this drone idea. thx.
Thanks for the feedback! Yes it has the motion feature but I haven't really fully tested yet. The lfo is tempo synced so if you set everyting at the minimum it can go quite slow. Bit I still prefer to do the modulations manually
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I thought it was a good demo too. It's a £150 4 voice synth with some interesting features. I think it offers pretty good value for money.
motion you get to set two parameters for it to change with X and Y rotation! seems intersting, not common on a synth
Ok that’s a funny little thing( I ve got one ) but the E4 voice tweaker is also a cracy instrumentals both together, wahhhh!!!!
The Dreadbox Typhon is a REALLY good one for drones. Check it out some time.
Thank you! I know about it, but never tried one. The Erebus seems great too, but they are already in another price range compared to the S-1. If my channel gets very successful maybe one day I'll be able to afford all of them XD
The Thing/Halloween III
Amazing demo, really tempted to buy one straight away 🙃 Rookie question: assuming its mix out being mono, is the Aira S-1 usable for hybrid performance during an ambient set, so layering it with records and/or digital tracks for example? Let's say the club has a classic xone:92, can I enter the mixer straight away from the S-1 mix out or I need a soundcard as mid man? Thanks for any answer/suggestion ✌
It's out is stereo because it has stereo effects. You can go straight into any mixer with a regular Y cable.
I think this synth is easy to be used in any setup since it's very versatile. Thanks for the feedback!
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic oh wow, even better than expected, all noted and thanks for the answer 🙂
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic I bought it and it's here, some tests done already 🤟 Have you ever seen the "charge" indicator turning on? The manual gives green and orange options but mine has been always off so far, even when plugged with the provided cable to a power source 🙄
@@matteomanzini__ congratulations! Yes the charge light should definitely turn on when plugged in. are you sure everything was properly connected?
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic mystery solved, it was plugged but the socket was off, welcome to UK, so I was using the battery without being aware of it 🤦♀ All good, looking forward to using it properly, thanks again for the assistance 🤝
Sounds Carpenter like.
The THING lol
Just sent my one back to the shop. It sounds great, yes !! But the UI is not like using an analogue synth with a knob per function. For $%^& sake, I work in Serum ( A virtual synth) and it's 10 times easier to program than the S1, and I loath programming virtual synths. This got to me after a while, and I thought, ok this is not a synth I enjoy programming at all. But if you're into hidden functions and menu diving, go for it, it really has amazingly good sound and FX. If you're thinking I'm some old fart who doesn't know how to even plug in a synth, I built my first Moog clone at 16, and owned quite a few well known synths like Juno's Yamaha DX7, Ensoniq, and recently a Hydrasynth deluxe (which is totally digital and has menus - But has a very intuitive workflow which I love). The S1 is totally digital, and if you're aiming for deep powerful bass, good luck with that. I have a Behringer D and it utterly destroys the S1 as a bass synth. I tried substituting the S1 for the D part, in a piece ambient music, and basically the S1 bass got lost somewhere in the mix. It doesn't have the raw smooth power of an analogue synth, and ends up sounding very raspy, even with the sub oscillator on. But for the immediate Wow factor the S1 destroys the D because of the great effects engine. It it's a matter of taste, and function in the end. Have fun making music, and at least try the S1 out, you might end up loving it.
Thank you for the accurate feedback. I agree that bass is not the strongest point of the S-1. I think that it works great with mid range sounds, and if you need fat deep basses you have to look somewhere else, as you do. I don't feel like it's too unfriendly to program, but i guess that's kind of subjective. Anyway, of course as any other machine, it has strong and weak sides, but it's surprising to me how much you con do with just one synth alone. Cheers!
Very far from being "the ultimate" but for it's price, it's pretty good!
You got me there with the title! XD
Reminds me of the Half Life soundtracks
Do you have any experience with the Behringer Crave?
I don't have one, I find it really appealing, maybe I'll get one one day
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic I'm getting one next month. It's really thanks to this channel that I'm starting my journey with a synth and some pedals. Thanks for all the inspiring content you make. ✌
@@marzao.404 Wow thank you very much for the kind words my friend. It really helps me to stay motivated. I wish you good luck and a lot of fun for your music journey!
Confused is the "Attack" all the way to the left of right?
To the right, to make it the smoothest possible
Do you know if it will midi slave tempo?
I haven't tested the midi in and out yet, but my guess is that it does, it's very versatile, it would be really weird if it can't do it.
It slaves to incoming midi clock without any problems.
Nice video! But Roland and their software emulations of their own hardware can suck it.
They are really trying to squeeze the maximum out of their products
Nothing beats monotrons.
Even though I really enjoy the S-1, I have to agree.
Wow. I have a drone synth 😂
Just like that
The Ultimate drone synth will always be the lyra-8
They are in two different leagues I think 😉
At nearly 4x the cost though.
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic well then this is the "ultimate budget ambient drone synth" only ;)
@@VII89 😉
4 me it looks like a small TOY sry
It definitely looks like that and feels also a bit too delicate. But it actually sounds good and it's versatile. Let's remember it's a budget pocket synth.
Plug a midi keyboard into it. It becomes velocity sensitive, mod and pitch wheels work. 4 voices isn't a lot, but honestly in a weird way I prefer this thing over my mini Logue xd. Something about the sound resonates with me, and that 64 step sequencer is gold.
for freaks and normalos!
I could feel my hands cramping up just watching you do slow sweeps on those tiny pegs. Definitely not for me.
I understand. I have small hands so it's not so bad 😆 I even enjoy the tiny knobs, but that's really subjective
Put some caps on the knobs, or hook up a midi controller.
Looks like a copy of another well known company.
Somebody calls it "Rolca" XD - it's clearly a competitor, but it's a different beast in the end.
The delay is a joke. Its mono and totally useless.
Definitely not the best delay, but the reverb is quite interesting.
The delay has a few modes. Did you try playing around with it?
I've had absolutely phenomenal results with delay. Sounds great.
dont forget it has a lot of options beyond time and feedback. dive into those menus!
@@pascaljean2333 I haven't fully explored it yet.
Hmm. Well thanks anyway!
I guess I didn't help Roland to sell one more 😆
Слава Україні! 🇺🇦
Obviously hand syncing and way off. Anyway...on with the show.
Tempo? No thanks 😆
Way off of what??! Hand syncing??!... What the heck are you talking about? It's a standalone sound, it's not syncing to anything 😆
Nope. Tried it, looks and feels like a plastic toy. Microfreak with an FX pedal is much more fun. Or add a little bit $ and get an Hydra Explorer, that thing is just pure gold for ambient and sound design.
I agree that it feels a bit too light and toyish. For sure there are better synths around, but in this price range it hardbto beat. I'll check the hydra explorer, thanks.
Disagree. The build quality is tough enough for the limited synth it is. The real selling point of this synth is amazing sounds it offers. It expands on the SH101 by adding polyphony and the two effects which are really nice. The sequencer is easy to use and timing is tight. I love the USB C and not a cheap USB minijack. Also has the ACB tech so it emulates analog nicely. This synth is an unassuming beast. I love that it's cheap but doesn't sound cheap in any way. You missed out on a good one, man.
@@ElectroMagnetic_AmbientMusic oops forgot to tag you. Hopefully you'll grab another one some day and keep it in your back pocket 😊
The first dissenting voice I’ve seen about the S1.
@@EVILJAMARR i suppose this answer wasn't for me but for the guy who made comment in the first place
No. It’s not a synth, it’s a program on a chip.
Is that a bad thing?
It's digital but it's still a kind of subtractive synth. As opposed to something digital like a sample player, where you can't alter the parameters. The argument is a bit like arguing that an electric guitar is not a guitar and that only acoustic guitars are real guitars. Maybe some leap of logic can convince someone of that, but a musician is going to treat these as the instruments that they are most similar too, without worrying too much about what's under the hood.
Back to the dictionary with you
So it's a soft synth. You're welcome.
@@MIkeGazzarusothat would imply no hardware, which this is
Fantastic!