Roland AIRA Compact S-1: A mighty little synth // vs SH-101, other compacts // Review & Tutorial
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- čas přidán 12. 05. 2024
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Here's my review of the other compacts:
► • Roland AIRA Compact T-...
Thanks very much to Isak from MOE for lending me his SH-101!!
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:20 vs Compacts
2:40 Overview
3:45 Workflow
5:15 Build & I/O
6:10 OSC vs 101
10:00 LFO vs 101
11:40 Filter vs 101
14:30 Env vs 101
17:05 Draw
18:40 Mult & sync
19:35 Chop
21:05 Comb
21:35 Riser
23:50 Effects
26:15 Sequencer
26:35 Live rec
26:55 Motion seq
28:00 Step seq
29:15 Ratchets
29:35 Probability
30:10 Step preview
31:20 Transpose
31:40 Step loop
32:05 Shuffle
32:25 Reload
32:45 Arp
34:00 Poly/Chord
35:10 D-Motion
36:40 Pros & cons
39:40 Outros & presets
Submit review and video ideas here (sorry I don’t offer 1x1 sessions/setup/purchasing advice):
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links to stores like Amazon, Sweetwater, Thomann and others. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
The 101 was a smallish synth at its time, now it looks giant.
It looked pretty big on me with a guitar strap. But i was 14 at the time so that’s not a huge surprise.
@@sub-jec-tiv compared to the synths of that age, it was one of the smallest... Think of a Jupiter-8, obxa, cs80, etc
And SMT vs thru-hole is (mostly) why
Yet another superb showcase.
Be opportune to combine all these compact units for a mad jam
well this came out of nowhere... awesome video, and im a big fan of what roland is doing with these
Great sounding little box! 👍🏻
The tones you opened the video with brought be back 7 years to when I fell in love with the OG s1
What an amazing video! Thanks for all the time you put into this!
Superb review as always 👌❤
I have the T-8 and love it! I bought it as a souvenir from my visit to LA and Perfect Circuit - and played with it on the plane for 5 hours, barely looking up at all. It's THAT fun. I highly recommend these little boxes of enjoyment!!
@bill Vincent I love the T-8 too. Only thing that bugs me a little is no empty patterns- always have to erase a factory pattern to save one of my patterns. Have you found a workaround for that?
@@lawrencedb Go to any pattern hit (Shift + A#) and it will clear the pattern.
I echo this love the T-8. Easy way to create nice Bass Lines.
I had no idea this little guy was in the works, and I have one on order now... it's just too nice and now when I travel for work I will have a perfect companion for my Digitakt!
One thing I like about a lot of Roland gear is making audio available over USB - saves a couple of inputs on your audio interface.
I know, I don't know why it hasn't really caught on in the wider synth industry, it's so handy it actually effects my buying decisions now!
Idd, they realy thought about how their Compact & Boutique synths fit in a modern & mobile workflow.
Gets overlooked & the nay-sayers complaining about other stuff like "euuuuuh it's not analog" are missing the point of these devices.
@@martin_the_artist_ it doesn't catch on quickly (enough for you, anyway) because
Designers and manufacturers try to meet the most pertinent desires of their current customer/user baser first. Audio over USB is one among hundreds of design variables that may or may not be important to those users.
As a company grows it can better afford to play more on the edges of what is viable, and what was once a 'wild idea' (ideas that a smaller company cannot afford to pursue for long and still turn a profit from their "steady sellers") can become the norm or tradition within a few years of market success.
@@shaft9000 did ChatGPT write that reply lol
I think with roland gear there was an issue with the driver which has meant anyone with more than one piece of roland gear has had to use the generic ASIO4ALL driver.
I dont know all the ins and outs but it doesnt seem like theres a standard way to deliver USB audio so that any device with this capability can deliver audio via, say any ASIO driver
13:21 I like the way the wave shape matches the shape of the output cable in the SH-101
Great video as always! TY
!
couldnt believe my local SweetGuitarWaterCenter had them in stock, bought immediately and way impressed!
Hopefully we'll be getting a new mx-1 to go along with all love this aira gear
or at least something better than the volca mix, LoL
A matchbox sized miniature mx-1!
That riser noise thing is such a good idea
I love the AIRA compact series. Have the drum and chord sequencer, and think this would round out the collection nicely.
Built in battery, and audio pass through (so no need for a separate mixer), are a big plus.
A few of these on a coffe table and you are ready to jam 🎶🌎☮❤
Thank you for your vid’s. A real treat.
Sold! Wow!
EDIT: Bought it last night and got it today.
Watched this video last night, played with S1 for a while today, then watched the video again. You answered all my questions and prepped me well for my initial exploration.😂 Thanks again for not only selling me on this thing, but also making it painless to learn!
@loopop! I found your songs from 2020 and they're amazing, i love Sun Machine One! Thanks for the great content!
My pleasure and thanks very much!
Thanks. I love this small boxes.
Thanks for the video ! This would've been an instant buy if I didn't get an SH01a a few months ago (better form factor and love the vintage look and feel). The effect section is such a nice addition.
Everyone say bad about Roland boutiques.
But the true is that a lot of people has big fingers..and don't would say about the sound that is so close to the original models.
Today for more people is better a software synth..instead spend money for an hardware machine.
(I am DAWLESS 😊)
@@Sandelec-gm2cl Totally love my Boutique SH01a ! I could've go for a software rendition, way cheaper but the fact that everything is up there to touch, experiment with, physically, to make happy accidents, to fail ; there's no equivalence. (yeah you could MIDI learn, etc... not the same to me)
Maybe it's the way I'm wired but hardware brings me so much joy compared to any "in the box" composition.
(I agree that's a privileged stance though, hardware could be very expensive)
@@Oyasoom I need the instant gratification of the hardware interface. Even if it's the same synth engine.
This would be an excellent synth for touring / gigging musicians. Wish i had any reason to buy one, but like the SH-4d, i already have a lot of gear to do these types of sounds. The market for basic subtractive synthesizers is very saturated. Maybe over saturated. So i only buy new gear if it does something very new and unique; which is not this at all. But there are loads of people buying their first synth, or just need a new bass synth.. or, just want the dopamine rush of buying a new synth, for only $200.
Still, great sounding tiny synth, and i might go so far as to say it is definitely a contender for anyone thinking about a Volca. I’m also glad Roland is making this tech available at a lower price point.
The original SH-101 was a lot of fun with the MC-202 sequencer and built in synth. I modded a Dr. Rhythm to sync to the sequencer. These units bring all that back!
I had an MC-202 it was a great acid machine.
First of all: Your presentations are terrific! Learned a lot... Thank you!
Just an idea: what about starting with giving info about the weight of the gear you dive us into ?
Could be very useful for musicians.
Thanks and noted. I try to do that when there’s a discrepancy between what something looks like it should weigh, and what it does…
Wow, this is amazing!
Man, I LOVE it when these new things come out!
Oh, no, I don't mean the synth. I mean new Loopop videos! :D
By the way, Loop, I was able to sign up to your patreon (months ago), and I've been enjoying your growing book on synthesis. What a fantastic resource.
Thank you!
Thanks very much 🙌🏻🙏🏻
I've only played the instruments, I've never played the Loopop so I guess I'm more interested by the new synth 😀
FYI some of the features you show need the 1.02 firmware update to work. It comes shipped with 1.01 so some things like step preview for instance do not work without the update on the site. Great video!!
Thanks for the info! Ten minutes later, and I'm all set!😊
Luckily mine shipped with the 1.02 firmware preinstalled.
Crazy observation on filter sweeps, I hear the high freqs because of the spectrascope, and notice the low freq buzz thanks to the oscilloscope
I owned an original SH 101 so many years ago 😊 the Korg MS20 and SH were my first synths I owned and learned on. There’s obviously a sentimental attachment to the SH here I guess so I have to buy one of these. It really sounds like one. Great review thanks.
Roland Volca Keys 2.0, I think I am in love.....
@@oneraksakal yeah, he knows. We all know. What's your point?
I am glad I live in the timeline where this man decided he was going to start a CZcams channel. You make some of my favorite music and theyre literally just jams. God bless you and your talent
They put ACB in there? So it is a real boutique SH01? That's crazy. A no brainer! And as always a great in depth video and great musical jams 🔥👍
I got the t8 few days ago im getting the S1 next month cant wait
This is an amazing little synth. They put ACB in it, a fun sequencer and poly mode?! What’s not to love? It even has MIDI and audio over usb type C!!! I ordered one immediately. No regrets
An extra 2 notes of additional polyphony wouldn't have gone a miss.
@@juxty3102 No doubt, my friend! That would have made this little guy a must-have for literally any musician with ears. Right now it's a strong 9/10 but two extra notes polyphony would have made it an 11/10
@@EVILJAMARR Yes, it would have made it perfect. Still a great piece of kit.
I thought Roland would stopped the AIRA Compact series but this one made me excited for the another one! 😂
Wow, they really nailed those OSCs.
not quite on the rectangle, it misses some of the SH's harmonic 'girth' from 30-60% PW
Cool seeing the 2 side by side
Whoa! We had a Roland SH-1000 at home when I was a kid; the first synth I ever played on. How wonderful is the evolution of this device’s lineup!
Still have my original SH1000 from the 1970's, but i'd get the brand new rolands too.
I love my j6… don’t use it all the time, but enough to keep it. Think I’ll grab this one too.
Man it sucks that you can't even sweep a ding dang filter without some bot thinking they own it!
Could Def use one of these in my box,can’t beat the price and features,on top of the sound to boot.⚡️
filter-sweeps are the back-bone of the universe. and... the S-1 sounds fantastic(!) and looks pretty fun... Cheers!
I don’t understand why they don’t make these things for like you to do a weird shift trick where each knob could have multiple parameters below it but it engages a thing where every time you hit the button whatever the button would be that it would very easily just go right through the perimeter so even if you wanted to be random and just keep hitting the button and turn in all of you can decide random variations, and just keep scrolling through the parameters very quickly. And that would be really cool to be able to do that on a step sequencer as well. You can just keep scrolling through different variables or whatever and just keep screwing up the timing or whatever, etc.
the reverb sounds sweet
I bought s J-6 not too long ago, I can’t wait to play with this new Aira.
Roland: "we don't chase ghosts and we will never re-release what everyone wants like remakes of our old analogs, but yet we keep producing toys which are inspired by the gear everyone wants."
Behringer is forcing it on them lol. I wonder if this was their response to the MS-1 mkii
I don't like old analog limited synth's. Welcome to 2023 boomer.
I'm completely sold on the S-1. It's pretty interesting really, how many features these AIRAs all share with the Sonicware Livens, even as different as every one of these from Roland, and Sonicware are. One thing the Livens have, these AIRAs don't have, even though some effects for the Livens still need some refining, is the ability to process external signals with each units effects. Changing delay times while a sequence is playing, actually sounds wonderful too. Very musical sounding, while changing delay timings on the fly.
Liven boxes are similar enough to my elektron boxes that it was easy to jump into them without too much manual diving. I now have XFM, Texture, Lofi-6 and Bass&Beats. I'm interested to see what they come out with next.
I love my 8BW, and XFM! @@djangofett4879
Hi Loopop. Big fan of you channel and gear reviews. Just wondering if you give private gear tutorials?
Thanks very much! Sorry no I don’t
Hi Loopop that res filter sweep actually forms part of the end of a song - there was a section of that sweep that was uncanny when I heard it. When I find it, I'll post the name.
I like that the video ID in the URL ends with 'Gas'
Thanks a lot, watched this tutorial twice! :D now i can use S-1 much more easier haha. You're, really, really great tutorial-ist, respect to you dude.
Was thinking about getting a Bass Station 2 but I think this will scratch my itch as I have the T8 and Voice Tweaker...Excellent!
Hello how are you doing 😊
@Helena Russo to be honest I could do with a good SCRUFF.
Copyright for filter sweeps? Damn 😂
As far as the comparison goes, I was really impressed with how similar they sound and function.
Great sound⚡⚡
Great... Now I have to buy this!
I'm still amazed at Roland's ACB engine, years later. Sounds so good for a digital engine! I really don't notice any difference with the oscillators. Behringer is killing right now with the affordable gear, but this is a great deal as well!
Im sure its been updated over time...
We really are living in a golden era for the new synth head.
really i just see another episode of bad gear coming.
@@knallbertkrach9263 most of the stuff he covers on bad gear these days is just "gear" 🤣
@@aikighostagree, it’s just shock value naming. Lots of great gear on his channel.
@@aikighost It's not every day that a rhythm wolf comes out😅
wtf is a 'the new synth head'
and do you really want to know
Interestingly, in the English manual on pages 3 and 4, there is randomization for sound and pattern instead of Portamento controls. Wish they would have given us that feature instead.
This device is a future classic for sure! Cannot wait to get one
I think Roland did a brilliant job on this new Roland Compact Synth.
Pattern chain would be nice of course!
Q. do you get 64 synth presets by the way? or is it a blank canvas sound patch wise?
so the seq has 64 steps ..
could be nice if the T-8 got an update to match the number or steps for it's bass section also.
You do get 64 presets, yes
The first 16 patterns are presets. 17-64 are empty
I came here to rip the notion of Roland re-making more of the same but this thing seems stunningly useful for even in a proper studio. Waveform editing, effects, chords, poly, and sonically near identical to an OG SH-101. This just rendered the boutique SH-01a kinda useless. Great review.
I have all the Boutiques, and I alwasy tought the SH-01 A is the best one. Compared to my original SH 101 the SH-01A performes really well. So I'm not surprised with the excellent ACB emulation showed in this great video.
What I havent' got so far: why Roland never thought of a MC 202 and 707 Boutique version?
Last thing: I'm problably getting the Aira S-1, but I'm not loving the KNOB on the SH-101 panel. I'm so accostumed to a slider setting. Thank you again for this video.
Thanks! You know, sliders are the classy look, but personally, I find knobs much easier to control precisely.
@@loopop Knobs are more precise, sliders are better for speed
@@annother3350 true
It is a mystery to me why there's no 707/727 boutique
Roland have been hitting their market with this kind of package offering hard for old timers like me to get too excited but perfect for youngsters or people with some disposable income looking to create on a budget with a great representation of the legends of old👍
Idk why you wouldn't just get a midi controller and a couple vsts. If it's all DSP any way. Its not like this thing is very good as a controller.
@@reecedeyoung6595 because many people have zero interest in vsts. Myself included.
@@d3tuned378 this thing is hardware controller over a DSP sound engine. The same as a hardware midi controller and vst.
@@reecedeyoung6595 if you have a great powerful laptop or computer yes. I use cubase but I can switch on gear like this and play. How many of us wasted time with stuff not working setting up. Then when ready to jam. Give up
@@reecedeyoung6595 I am chained to a computer all day. Consequently computers have very little mojo for me. I only use the computer for final mix and mastering. Also IME controllers are always a compromise.
I like how the 7 segment display tries to display letters. I'm a big fan of the "k"
I think it's cool to enter the era of full VA synths of this size, moving smaller from the microkorg size synths of last era. Now it remains to offer good controls for them.
"Good controls" are defeated by the smaller size. Funny how that goes, eh?
Corner-cutting is the name of the game - and the whole deal here.
i.e. tiny audio jacks, no proper MIDI i/o jacks, tiny knobs and buttons with low resolution and on and on.
The main virtues of the original were it's a) immediacy and b) flexibility in interfacing -
both of which go way down here for the sake of a) portability and b) the ever-elusive goal of moving more units at a lower price.
And it wouldn't cost Roland diddly to manufacture these with real VCO-VCF-VCA in there (no more than it costs Korg or anyone else). But they are obviously set on streamlining production by putting it all into one FPGA or whatever DSP - and that's that.
@@shaft9000 really you think four voice polyphony in a box that small would be trivial to produce AND not spike the production cost at all? interesting take lol
Super excited for this!
Very nice. I wish this one had CV Gate so it would go nicely with my eurorack sequencers.
Mayby this one can be modded? So CV Gate can be added.
@@kosmikmusa Wirth a kenton converter
That outro @ 40 mins reminds me of a Deadmau5 or Kascade song. Love it! Ive been looking for a cheap portable synth and i think Ive found it. Im a newbie to synth but not music per se. Think Im going to grab one of these today! =P Thanks
Somebody at Roland really thought boutiques weren't small enough
They think they are getting in on the volca market 🤣
I swear those Japanese guys get tinier hands everytime they develop a new synth.
@@reecedeyoung6595 64 step sequencer not only gets "in' on the Volca market but already tops it.
@@_itattracts Thats the least of the selling points for me
MC-202
I was surprised and excited to see your video this morning that Roland is making these. I always wanted a SH101 but at the time I was too involved with my DX7. When I was ready to get one, Roland discontinued them. Then if you could find a new one the prices for them jumped up and doubled. The beauty of this synth at the time, aside from the sound it was capable of, was the low comparative price. Now on the used market they are ridiculously overpriced. So to be able to get one at this price is amazing, I couldn’t resist. I just ordered one. I particularly like the small size and that it runs on a rechargeable battery. I’ll be taking this magic machine with me when I travel and it won’t take up any space in my current setup, for me a win, win. Thanks again for your great reviews!
Id really like to see your review of the mm fuqt filter
This and some nice modular sequencer would sound great as a layer.
"We thought D-Beam wasn't useful enough, so we created D-Motion which sounds even cooler without being useful at all."
Who the fudge is gonna pick up a synth plugged into a bunch of cables and move it around? Oops, moved too much in the club, out comes the power cord...
People will use it in clever ways I’m sure
I like that the S1 supports CC messages unlike the J6.
wow. amazing review. want
Espen Kraft is going to LOVE this!!
"That's a 'W' there" made me laugh for some reason. Great stuff as always.
Hello Daniel how are you doing 😊
This and a T8 would be absolutely killer for a live set. And both would fit in a small backpack!
Yes sir you know it - Good to see you! 🙏
Live set? A poor joke indeed. J.I. Joe and Barby would have a hard time playing these dolls toys
+ the Behringer Hirotribe!!
@@sturdyblock Tb303 got a lot of hate too.
@@gadblatz4841 The SE02 is a beautiful sounding instrument hamstrung by the boutique format curse.
Gary Numan used the SH101 when he recorded Are Friends Electric? for the main synth riff.
No, minimoog
This looks very cool just because of the draw and chop function but id really love to know if there is a way to backup individual waveforms/patches to a computer and load them back later?
Yes, but I have not checked it. Please have a look at the manual there’s a chapter that talks about it.
@@loopop Thanks, will do.
Hi Loopop, great video, thanks. What oscilloscope are you using to view synth output ? It looks very useful when playing with comb functions etc
Hi, I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionally I’ll use scopes by VCV
I know the UI isn't good, but this tech was all but unreachable not that long ago. If I was just starting out, this might not be a bad first synth. The price point reduces the UI pain.
Do you have a link where i can purchase the leads, cables and connectors you use? they look really well made.
Thanks in advance.😊
I absolutely can't tell the og and the S-1 apart with my eyes closed, I'm beyond impressed
What happened to those 4 Roland effects devices? And what was the Roland synth that came out right after the Roland fantom S, it had like some kind of warping effect?
I recently started looking into good affordable synths to start playing around with and this was a super convincing video! I just ordered one and am excited to play around with it.
Enjoy! it's a great place to start
Was deciding on this then ended up with the Roland SH-4d instead, but the Aira would definitely have been more portable and lighter lol.
Can it do sequencer or arp step advance by clock sync like the SH-101?
Good review, is there any online software that you can use with for the parameters etc
Love it
they sound different imo but the s1 is a very very great sounding synth. unblievable for its size and price. despite being a modula junkie with lots of expensive stuff i really fell in love with these series especially the s1. the j6 not that much, but its still a fun devixce.aira did a good job.
Great video. As a total beginner (bar messing around on the old Techno Box app, lol), would it be worth me picking up one of these to start learning with? The price point makes it so accessible to something I’ve been interested in for a long time now.
Yes, I think this is quite a good beginner synth
Nice little box, but I'd take the bigger grey one ;-)
Couldn't find stock, but have bought one which should be shipped late next week. Not a fan of the phrase no-brainer, but this absolutely is one.
Very well done Roland, their ACB works super fine here. As always, amazing unbeatable review!
Gracias Roland por poner estas herramientas a las manos de todos❤
Tasty Chips GR-Mega review and tutorial please!!!
It would be so much better if they fix the lack of modulation issues.
Other than that, it really is a great synth.
how can i cancel the point next to the pattern??
and return to the previous state?
Can you use key tranpose on arpeggiated chords? You said to be careful when playing new chords or else the clock starts again, but how does it behave using the key transpose function? Does it keep the clock/sync?