Bad Gear - GAIA II

[@ChumpyDumps]

At this rate in a few months we’re gonna have synths announced on this channel lol

[@AudioPilz]

This only depends on Roland's marketing dept;)

[@djdarksidejungle559]

@@AudioPilz ha ha spot on there

[@i_never_asked_for_an_alias]

xD

[@errorkit]

that's what she said....no wait...that's what I thought at first

[@Seiti]

Bad gear straight from the oven

[@jacobwhite9159]

when i saw roland was making a GAIA 2 for some reason my immediate thought was "i wonder what audiopilz will say about this"

[@AudioPilz]

None too soon;)

[@jugglerj0e]

😅😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bitley]

As someone diving deeply into the gear I hate complaints in general. The Gaia 2 is an absolutely lovely synth and I got it because the JX8P I bought was broken, so I traded it back to the store and got the new one instead. I am blown away by how much it can do.

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

A new record for straight to bad gear? We need a Bad Gear total show timeline episode with guests and a "BAD TIER".

[@AudioPilz]

Great ideas, thanks!!!

[@treetopjones737]

There were YTer guests for the special roast episode the other month.

[@lundsweden]

Bad tier or baaaad tier?!

[@mrstumpyninja]

My first synth was a Roland XP-50 Workstation. Wish you could get your hands on one and review it. The manual was epic. It was like someone strapped you into a Space Shuttle then handed you a copy of the Daily Mail, expecting you to get to the moon.

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@claudionapoles3388]

​@@AudioPilz if reviewing the xp-50, you could tie in the xp-60 and 80 as well (xp-80 my first synth/workstation). Great vid as usual!

[@jarsamo]

I was SO jealous to my friend who got XP-50 in the beginning of the 90s whereas I only had a shitty JV-35. I got to sample the XP50 sounds with my Amiga and used the samples with Protracker a LOT. Few years ago I finally got my hands on a cheap XP-30 (150€ or so) and I am still loving it and using it a lot.

[@sonic2000gr]

XP-60 was my first real synth too (had arrangers before). And yes, the manual was "an impossible mission". The keybed was amazing though. I would love to see it on Bad Gear.

[@mrz80]

@@claudionapoles3388 The XPs are basically JVs at heart, with added sequencing and so forth, modulo some differences in how they squished the samples to fit in the ROMs. Florian's covered the JV-1080 (and yes, it made me twitchy to buy one :) ).

[@nathanpohl]

At the rate you put out these episodes, I don't care how similar your jams are. Always impressed with how much you get done in a week!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Existence_denied]

Gaia2 is Roland's attempt to make an access virus but with micro transactions

[@AudioPilz]

😂😂😂

[@LocaliLLocano]

Bingo ! By the time you’re done you could have bought a Jupiter xm or system 8.

[@Jason75913]

🤣🤣🤣

[@voltijuice8576]

They're offering Team Fortress 2 hats for the display

[@jugglerj0e]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@ecclesoul]

Despite what people may say about this synth, I still like the tone of this thing.

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@mrz80]

I like the tone; I just wish they could've hit a price point somewhat lower than 900ish clams?

[@brunodadivore9606]

True! Roland stays Roland as a great sound maker and the first in the modern synths history

[@stevekelly7084]

@@mrz80I know you commented 7 months ago but this unit is everywhere now for $750. To me it seems a good deal.

[@williambrown319]

Its something i could see myself using heavily, but not till it hits the secondary market.

[@AudioPilz]

Even for half the money it would still be rather costly...

[@homeworldmusic]

That actually sounds really nice, good demo!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@mastaboog749]

Im loving it! Love when you get new gear pretty fast, this was super fast! Honestly i might pick this synth up! You rule

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@uly1981]

ahh seeing the gaia 2 so soon on your channel brings tears of joy to my eyes

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️

[@sonic2000gr]

I actually like this one, to the point of considering buying one. Your amazing session with it makes it even more desirable :D

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@el_chingon_brian]

I bought one about a month ago and I love it. I lose hours playing with it

[@sonic2000gr]

@@el_chingon_brian I bought it too actually, after the price in Europe dropped. It's amazing.

[@gerdokurt]

The verdict brought the Amadeus movie to my mind, when the priest wheels the fictional old Salieri in a wheelchair through the Asylum and Salieri repeats "mediocrities everywhere...I absolve you" in the finishing scene. that would be an awesome montage for this channel :D

[@AudioPilz]

...it also happened in my home town;)

[@tomadeney8860]

Mozart!

[@mrz80]

Ego ta absolvo en nomini Jupiter, et ACB, et Zencore!

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Ah Florian, you and your channel owe such a huge debt to Roland . . . their bad gear assembly plants just keep cranking it out! 😎

[@AudioPilz]

So true!!!

[@MichaelDowComposer]

😂

[@mrz80]

Gotta divvy up the bad gear labor. After all, The Cult of Uli™ can't do EVERYthing :D

[@TokyoScarab]

This has to be the newest piece of gear to ever be featured on this show 😂 (great vid, as always! :D)

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@LarryJanca]

I bought one and love it, very different sounding from the many synths I have.

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@Dudderlyful]

2004 VST plugin, savage! It's certainly not deserving of the price tag though, no aftertouch or midi thru made me laugh. What planet are they on?? Great jam at the end too, excellent work Mr Pilz. With Largo 2 coming out hopefully we can have a Blofeld 2! Straight to bad gear? One can only hope. HAPPY FRIDAY!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Looking forward to a new Blo too!!!

[@treetopjones737]

@@AudioPilz That's what HE said.

[@voltijuice8576]

Oh, come on, let's be charitable. 2010 VST plugin!

[@joep-jams]

Haven't seen a demo of this instrument that impressed me. Only today Anderton's made a somewhat okay demo with Andy. Have to says AudioPilz's jams with the Gaia 2 impressed me the most so far. So yes agree with the mediocrity part. Shame... at first glance it seemed to be ticking all the boxes 🤣(honestly my favorite line of every video).

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@mrz80]

It really didn't seem to add enough extra value given advances in base technological capability vs. the original to warrant the hefty increase in the price. The high dollar hit equals a hard pass for me. Still too many used Blofelds out there for under 400 fiat currency units. :D

[@jonrichards333]

@@mrz80 yeah, Blofeld all day long. I'm considering getting a 2nd one for that Blofeld wall of sound.

[@treetopjones737]

If you want to experiment with wavetables and such, the Microfreak is inexpensive, or invest in the Mini version if you want a real keyboard ( though unlike Micro, Mini doesn't at least yet have an update for importing samples ).

[@UrbanoModa]

it's a great synth and tool for work and projects, the first version is also epic. Its just about the creator and the creativity, not spending your life online looking for funny movie or jpeg clips to overhaul your videos. As a rule i always skip to 6:00 or 7:00 minutes as the first 6-7 minutes are full of nothing to do with the product details. Talented guy though, helpful channel , educational. Lets face it , Avria and Tuvan, Armin Van Buuren made music made with these synths over the last 14 Years and they get 100's of millions of views. Its the tool maker with the tools, in any form of creativity.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you for the feedback

[@mrz80]

It's definitely the user as much or more than the tool. Heck, Florian's own videos demonstrate that week after week, punching out top tier bangers on some of the weirdest stuff ever to walk out of a music shop. :D

[@oliverpilatiz5533]

Every episode is a piece of Art…❤

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@fredericfarr9663]

Wow, that was an immediate review after the synth`s release! Thanks for your take on this "innovation"👍 I will stick to my original Gaia and my minilogue XD 😊

[@AudioPilz]

I really started to appreciate the original GAIA after reviewing this one;)

[@Aetila]

So far nothing can beat the Minilogue XD...despite being an analogue synth it has a broad sonic palette...all that with easy motion seq. and an extra digital engine.

[@mrz80]

SH-01 for the sound and Minilogue for the look :D :D :D :D

[@djkanyon]

@@AudioPilz same here, original sounded poor but is sounded like Roland. This one is not even Roland-like.

[@user82938]

If this synth came with all the possible plugins unlocked, it might be interesting. It's so stupid to lock that stuff behind a paywall. Where will this synth be in 20 years when you can't buy or activate those things anymore?

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@bassguitar2709]

probably the fastest a "new" synth has been awarded with a review a this channel 😂 Great deconstruction! Please include the # of days since gear was first shipped until it makes it here

[@AudioPilz]

Great idea, thanks!!!

[@treetopjones737]

Roland doesn't have him on the YTer early review list for some reason...

[@eebangpromotions]

Another youtuber said this should go straight to Bad Gear and it has! Hahaha! ABSOLUTE SCENES! ❤❤❤

[@AudioPilz]

Lol, really? Who?

[@laurentgonzalez]

Very interesting. As I hesitate between the Gaia2, the Asm hydrasynth and the brand new Korg multi/poly, I would want your point of view on this last one.thanks

[@AudioPilz]

I dearly want one of these for the show!

[@napotronix]

It does have a nice crispy clear sound, and I really like the clean look of the front panel design and the elaborate interface, but I hear what you mean about the plasticky character of the sound. It lacks depth and doesn't really feel 'alive', if that even makes sense. Not a hidden gem (like the Aira compacts) it seems.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@voltijuice8576]

My M-Audio Venom feels seen! It fills the place in my heart from having missed the Quasimidi gear when it was affordable.

[@AudioPilz]

Future classic!!!

[@voltijuice8576]

@@AudioPilz Designer Taiho Yamada also devised the Waverazor plugin, which is IMO fun and quite under-rated.

[@jon_gee]

Love your work!! Still thinking Korg Karma would be great.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Great suggestion!!!

[@seeyouintheeighties]

200k subs on the horizon now so should speed up now and well deserved! Please do the korg prologue, the flagship that is never talked about. I love my prologue whilst many hate it. Any chance you'll do it? I did a couple vids of recreated 80s and 90s song favourites on my channel

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@seeyouintheeighties]

please be kind, or at least explore it fully @@AudioPilz

[@rorz999]

"Oh great, another zen-core instrument, my favourite synth engine technology!" said nobody ever 😂 This looks better than the SH-4D at least...

[@AudioPilz]

😂😂😂

[@Nik.leonard]

The worst thing is neither the SH-4D nor the Gaia 2 have the zenology sound set. Because of that I prefer the MC-101. It can do synth stuff but also has the Integra-like sound set

[@0e0]

I legit love Zenology Pro lol

[@EarmonkeyMusic]

It’s not Zencore though

[@partirparlesarmoires]

The SH-4D sounds very good in my opinion, especially the drums. This one, not so much... I find it sounds lame and horrible, to say the truth...

[@jeffryarchambeau5441]

It's satisfyingly appropriate that your second jam has so much in common with the first since the Guy Et Tu is so common

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@djkanyon]

As a suggestion, if you will ever stumble on King Korg it would be nice to see it on the channel!

[@TimesOfTheSines.official]

Yeah it's truly royalty amongst all hardware VA synths... & I don't imagine many folks realise it's bi- timbral too. When I realise it was myself, then It doubled my interest in seriously getting one... Now the band owns 2 of them... It's similar to the classic Z1, but a fare bit simpler to program... & thankfully Korg didn't cut corners on just how good their modelling should always sound... If they keep the cpu processors in their gear effective enough to properly generate the hi res for their modelling algorithms...?

[@djkanyon]

@@TimesOfTheSines.official I miss King Korg, i wish there were desktop modules/slim version today. I loved the idea of synth sound being created like a guitar processor. At first i was skeptical but then i heard it and was blown away. It's sad that it was abandoned so soon.

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@helisoma]

apologies aside, the finale jam was ace as usual 😎👌🏻 ...thanks for the shoutout 🤗

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much for the support!!!

[@FloridaHiker619]

I'm impressed. Another mind blowing Roland synthesizer. It will be in every professional studio.

[@AudioPilz]

Maybe;)

[@stopmikeandjim3196]

This was my first time hearing about the GAIA-2, so I Googled it. And already this Bad Gear episode was the first video result for "Roland gaia-2"! I'd imagine that can't be great for sales

[@AudioPilz]

Usually it doesn't hurt sales but it would be interesting to do more research on that

[@unclemick-synths]

Florian's jams are so good at selling these products, if I was Roland I would ship him products on the sly and tell him to wait a couple of weeks after launch day.

[@musicxtn]

Gonna buy it. The keys matter too. 37 great keys for controller and inspiration.

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@Grinfingrz5]

I have to stop watching Bad Gear while I'm eating! Where do you get all these images? ....and "sink"??!! Caught me off guard...AGAIN! All of it, just amazing. I don't know how you come up with all of these episodes so quickly. Thanks for always taking me out of any bad mindset I may be in. Well done!

[@novalogue]

The chasis has the same color as the Minilogue - but if you look at the Minilogue and the System 1 you can see that the Minilogue has a pretty similiar but less advanced synth architecture (apart the sequencer)

[@AudioPilz]

True that!

[@novalogue]

People say the Minilogue is such a good synth - and to be honest - it was also not good at bass But people bash on the Gaia mainly because its a digital Roland even thought it offers you much more - the synth community is the biggest mystery of today haha @@AudioPilz

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@novalogue it's less about what it's capable of doing, as evidenced here the wave shaper and wave table modulations are pretty flexible, and more about what they're charging for it - the Monologue and Minilogue at least used an analogue signal chain which understandably pushed the price up. Roland is asking basically the same price for digital versions, and afaict it's all DSP rather than something like high-frequency FPGA. Don't get me wrong, I like what this can do, but most of it is just a VA synth (with subscription stuff added on top) rather than reaaalllly leaning-into its digital nature. Not 100% regular VA, but mostly. And indeed the reprogrammable digital "oscillator" in the newer Minilogue can do a lot of the digital-hybrid sounding stuff too.

[@novalogue]

I think its the other way around - they charge way to much for an unflexible analog synth that can be recreated by digital engines which are way more powerful - watch the Prophet 5 comparsion with the guy sitting on the floor - the difference what analog should do cant be accounted - the only one that cares if its analog or not is that guy in our mind talking about needing an analog synth for good bread and butter sounds - no one cares out there only we synth nerds that have to pin point a difference between analog/digital with a huge magnifying glass haha - the gaia doesnt sound like a Minilogue of course because its not modeled after one it has its one character but much more of everything and is a thing that lets you be more creative and not slamming the same old saw patch over and over again that cant even be modulated properly or be played with only up to 4 voices The digital oscillitar in the XD is a Menu dive oscillator - a pain in the ass to dial in if you dont only want to use basically 2 parameters on this Analog synths if they arent cheap and innovative are basically a retrovibe - a feeling -not a rational thing at least in terms of making music with a synthesizer and not only leave them untouched on your desk

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@novalogue it’s totally valid to decide that you get no value from analogue circuits, but they objectively cost more than the digital ones nowadays. That’s what I’m discussing about the price, at least there’s a material reason for it. And it’s not just Roland, people said the same to Korg about the Wavestate and Opsix - “why are we paying 100% extra over the cost of a plugin and MIDI controller?” I feel similarly about the Minilogue XD oscillator, I knew I’d never have the patience for the menus. But you can undeniably load up many other software models, made by indie programmers and sold one-off instead of a centrally-curated subscription. That’s an obvious consumer friendliness advantage over monthly subscriptions. Korg is a much smaller company than Roland too, so they have less overhead, but it understandably makes people perceive Roland as greedy. If we’re focusing purely on the sound, after all, why spend £800 on this when you could do it all with software synths? People are looking for something unique to justify being in hardware. For some, the envelope sliders and touchpad are enough of a USP. For many, they take the opinion “if I’m paying for hardware, there’d better be some actual hardware inside of it”.

[@dk101likeu]

Loved the title of the final jam!...You never disappoint my man!...Great work

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@universalvibe72]

While I did appreciate my hands on time with G2 in the showroom at the local Music store, I couldn’t help but understand truly what this is. It is a money making mechanism for Roland. It’s almost a disingenuous offering when you realize it’s the ROLAND scraps of everything that was already existing on the market. And then they took all the scraps and had a brilliant idea, let’s come out with the GAIA2 ! It makes me wonder if this is the same philosophy that they used when they put out the G1. It is a great beginner synth. Or an excellent performance controller with a built-in sound engine, including a shopping cart for prepaid plastic plug-ins PPP - 😮 Thank you for watching and ‘are you really giving me an NFR unit, for free?’ “No!”….. ‘ See you next time ‘ ❤

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️

[@mrz80]

This game is called "How many different shapes and sizes of gear can we stuff with a Zencore engine before everyone figures out we've been scamming 'em all this time?" Innovation? What's that? Bang-for-the-buck? Surely you jest!

[@universalvibe72]

@@mrz80 is it ZenCore.. or ‘NOT ZenCore’. ROLAND make up your mind! Pseudo ZenCore? Maybe ZenCore? ZenCore minus? ZenCore LITE. #ALMOSTACB 🙈

[@alexandrosroussos]

Thanks ! Was a no go for me because of the absence of MIC-in, hence no compatibility to expect for my preferred Roland model expansion so far : Vocal Designer 😉

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, no vocoder is weird

[@packetpupper]

Since you continue to hit all the newer Roland stuff, might as well go for the Verselab MV-1 :)

[@AudioPilz]

Great idea, thanks!!!

[@Dombevi]

can you tell us what is a good gear set, not hated, synthesizers, drumbox, groovebox, sampler ? Because when I was 15 my only option with the poor money I had was a DX100, TR505 and an atari with pro24. Finally I found this synth awesome for a teenager who want to have a first cool synthesizer. My currently gear = Sequential REV2, Pro one, Roland Juppiter X, Summit, Bass station 2, MPC one, SR18, Drumbrute, TR6S, MC101, JUNO G, MiniBRute 1, Moog Minitaur, Drumbrute impact, EMU XK-6, Deepmind 6, Volca Nu Bass, Korg KR55, Arturia Beatstep pro black, Arturia beat step, Roland FA06 for sequencing, Tascam DP-24 SD, Alesis usb mix 16, Behringer Xenyx X2222USB, AKAI MPK 261, and lots of effect and rack compressor and equalizer and a Lexicon multi effect. I saw lots of my gear in your video, so I ask You again what is a good setup gear ? Dawless of course, no computer ?

[@AudioPilz]

Great setup!!! Maybe add something proudly digital like a Hydrasynth?

[@Dombevi]

@@AudioPilz it’s exactly my next purchase.

[@ScoopexUs]

It can't be the most hated, simply because it hasn't been out long. It has five times the knobs of the Minilogue, plus a big display and touch pad. I don't think it's pricey for 750 EUR. It was very strange to hear you talk the synth down while demonstrating how good it sounds :)

[@AudioPilz]

Roland is famous for direct-to-Bad Gear stuff;)

[@ScoopexUs]

@@AudioPilz this guy thought "another Zen core release", but will keep it as a better Gaia. Which I believe is what sequels are about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3XFY5p9fa58rtE

[@unclemick-synths]

As ever your jams flatter the products you review. 👍

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@clarkrogers7789]

you’re so musically talented i seriously love your jams they’re my favorite part every time

[@clarkrogers7789]

well okay my favorite part is the memes BUT…!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@germansnowman]

Anyone else notice the typo in the display at 03:05? FITLER ENV

[@djkanyon]

PLEASE PIN THIS COMMENT!!!

[@AEDan71]

Fitler at 03:14.

[@AudioPilz]

I shouldn't make jokes about that as an Austrian...

[@dstarling61]

As an Austrian you should demand an apology for that and for ZenCore.

[@mishazinoviev6563]

Hopefully you will release Jam 2s as an album, sir, as they vibe just amazing.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@d00mhound]

the melody lead for the electro demo is just JAMMIN'!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@ironinquisitor3656]

The video I've been hoping would come out! Disappointed they went with the same boring recycled Zencore with this synth. The touchpad and wavetable additions are cool though.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Agreed!!!

[@Gainn]

There's something seriously welcoming and cosy about the sound of the GaiaLogue. If it goes on offer then I can see myself grabbing one.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!!

[@mrz80]

There's one used on Reverb for under $600US at the moment. That kinda says something all by itself don't it?

[@yasunakaikumi]

This new minilogue looks nice, but I still love the Minilogue XD

[@AudioPilz]

Lol, shots fired;)

[@swid_swid_swid]

I actually just returned a Minilogue XD because I loved it so much it made me buy a Prologue. I still actually really want a Gaiaorg, though!

[@thedonal]

"Business at the front and Toys-R-Us at the back". Genius!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@torino1138]

Still waiting for the most commercially expensive bad gear product review yet: Moog One

[@AudioPilz]

Soooooo hard to get hold of one...

[@torino1138]

@@AudioPilzLmao considering you’re the absolute universally beloved KZbin synthmaster I would assume a loaner from a fan or a fellow YT’er would not be out of the question

[@dirkluchtmeijer3937]

😂 great review 😂 btw Love the Gaia2 adding some atmosphere into my songs

[@soundvapor]

Still ticks all my boxes. Getting one.😅🎉

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@CaidicusProductions]

The transition from Jam2 to the main piece was excellent.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@XHALE303]

Ah Roland again?😁They must be your biggest fan. Marketing team: What's the fasted way to be featured at Bad Gear to stay in 1st place?

[@AudioPilz]

They don't answer my calls;)

[@XHALE303]

lol at 1st glance it didn't tick all boxes, the Gaia2 still didn't.@@AudioPilz

[@helisoma]

i'm confused...why does this have two LFOs and the System 8 only one 🤔

[@stevewoywitka3258]

I can't lie if I was gifted this, I would be happy

[@AudioPilz]

👍

[@JGlassy]

Ha! No apologies needed for the Jam 2 similarities.. awesome job on this video all around!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@davidjazay9248]

No touchpad should ever be in the middle of the panel. Awkward position. Korg got it right with the Z1, and that was in 1997.

[@AudioPilz]

Word!!!

[@VirtuosicFantasies]

You are the most down to earth youtuber ever ✨

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@mozkuthehermit5909]

Sound engine sounds amazing and i have been eying for this And get to see what it can be capable off For few years what i have been doodling with different synths They all have their achilles heel yet some have good positives what you use to emphasis on different synths Good jams on this weeks video And recommending Bad Gear I recommend go and look info about Behringer Odyssey, there is a alot of hate to that synth because it basically copies ARP almost perfectly and improves few things but it isnt perfect synth

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@brunodadivore9606]

Hi very fast gunner! You were prompt to shot on this new comer. Well done. On a musician point of view would Gaia2 not an évolution of JDXA rather SH01?

[@AudioPilz]

Doesn't the JDXA have some analog engines too?

[@brunodadivore9606]

@@AudioPilz Mmmmh true, it is an hydrid...

[@Jason75913]

I think it is derived from the n/zyme wavetable synth Roland made for use in the flagship Fantom. Zen-core is the evolution of JD-XA/Jupiter-80 (combined with the JV1080).

[@trainer368-t9g]

No surprise to see this on Bad Gear. Literally none.

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, it asked for it

[@heribertopinzon882]

Bro delivered! Lets go!!!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Timecop1983]

Roland: we're not releasing any synths you want. We're not chasing ghosts. Also Roland: *Releases Jupiter-x, Juno-x, boutiques, TB's, etc. Synth nerds: 🧐🥺

[@AudioPilz]

Word!!!

[@sjfarrell2.0]

I really like the sound of it and think it is a great beginner synth. What I dont like is the price and the low polyphony. If it was retailing between £600 - £625 I would have already bought one.

[@AudioPilz]

👍

[@mrz80]

Yeah, I'm right with you on the low polyphony. And the lack of multitimbrality (is that a word? It should be). Cameron over on Venus Theory hammered on that point some time back when he was doing his evals of the Blofeld. Heck, Roland's own history is littered with high-voice-count monsters. It's not about chasing ghosts, Roland, it's about resurrecting the heroes of old! 😛

[@lordflatworm]

If Korg would make a Minilogue XD with a small modulation matrix, nobody would have to make new synths anymore.

[@AudioPilz]

I'd love to see that one!!!

[@Jason75913]

I would have bought a Minilogue XD if it had a mod matrix and more waveforms for the oscillators. Their popular workstation keyboards have tons of mod options, including mod options rarely found in hardware and software digital synths, I was bewildered how they left all that out of the Minilogues and Prologue. I love the Minilogue XD's sound, but it is way too basic.

[@lordflatworm]

@@Jason75913 You can get a ton of free stuff for the digital oscillator including new wave forms. You can even make your own. This was nothing against the Minilogue. I think everyone should have one. I just wish it had a couple more modulation destinations.

[@voltijuice8576]

@@Jason75913 - Really? The XD multiengine slots allow for for pretty much infinite oscillator variety. I do agree about the limited modulation options. I would go nuts for a Korg multiengine workstation, although it doesn't seem too likely.

[@Jason75913]

@@voltijuice8576 I couldn't care less about how theoretically versatile the middling digital oscillator can be, does it have the "infinite variety" right now? Or will that happen in 35 years? Screw the theoretical. And it cannot make up for the lack of mod options. The filter doesn't even have high-pass or band-pass modes either, aside from its numerous other limitations. My awesome Novation Peak I have now isn't theoretical by far, but also fittingly in a different price league, and a purchase opportunity that presented itself a few years later.

[@mcstabba]

Love it when you say "Althooo". Great vid as always.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@sparabo3780]

*** Breaking news: Roland is producing synths exclusively for Bad Gear. Stay tuned, more just after these messages… ***

[@AudioPilz]

😂😂😂

[@LCDouglas]

In your welcome segment, that synth looks incredibly lit. 😮

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@arcanics1971]

It's better than the Gaia 1, but then so is a mains-powered pangolin.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice analogy!!!😂😂😂

[@mrz80]

"...a mains-powered pangolin." Have you a recording you can share with us? I wanna sample that!

[@Eyepatchfilms]

Can't wait for the 61 key version at double the price with even smaller wheels and lack of velocity.

[@AudioPilz]

That's what I call innovation;)

[@ggoty]

It’s like Roland did their research (watched your videos on their gear) before designing this synth!

[@AudioPilz]

...and doing the exact opposite of what I consider to be a great synth design;)

[@treetopjones737]

One right thing they did: G. 2 doesn't have the stupid joystick thing for p. bend and modulation.

[@Eisenwald64]

Sounds nice, but I see some logistical problems ahead. It may have been better to have interoperable and/or intercompatible variants of one major synth engines (like ACB, superNATURAL, ZEN-Core or the VA engine used before) than what we see here; it’s more like reinventing the wheel. If Roland is going the proprietary environment route, the Gaia 2's approach could complicate the whole thing more than it has to unless it could bring something to the table not yet seen. Also, if i wanted to lend you my Alesis Fusion from the US, what would go into that?

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed and thanks for the offer, I'd love to put that one on the show but getting big keyboards over is a total sh*tshow

[@Eisenwald64]

@@AudioPilz Just so you know when and if you do review it, the Alesis Fusion has super cheap screws that round off too easily, especially when adding RAM.

[@Jason75913]

For SuperNatural, there's already the JD-Xi and Integra-7, or get a used Jupiter80, Jupiter50, or FA-06.

[@Eisenwald64]

@@Jason75913 Exactly! It seems like they are replacing it with ZEN-Core to fit a business model. Always wanted an FA-08

[@almightyEsquilax]

Fun fact: Florian's middle finger is bandaged because he overused it gesturing at this synth.

[@AudioPilz]

Lol

[@JoeKis]

Great review as always! Please make a review of the new Akai APC64, it really looks tempting as a standalone step sequencer.

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thank you!!!

[@Gyrbae]

You know how Asylum Films make movies that go straight to dvd? Well Roland makes synths that go straight to Bad Gear. It's as if they're in on the meme and release this stuff for the lulz.

[@AudioPilz]

Straight-to-Bad Gear is a thing!!!

[@mrz80]

@@AudioPilz I'm gonna print up a bunch of "Direct to Bad Gear" stickers and surreptitiously stick 'em on synths at my local music gear merchant's :D

[@treetopjones737]

@@mrz80 They'll ban you at Guitar Center ( though that's not really a bad thing ).

[@ladyapp-titude]

Wow, already? This must be a new record!

[@AudioPilz]

Probably;)

[@shonjones7231]

Wow, at least with the opsix and wavestate you have a somewhat unique sound engine. At that price point I would rather have a 88 key controller with a decent vst.

[@AudioPilz]

So true!!!

[@NukleoNMusik]

Also, what happened to Access? No native Windows 11 support for USB? MacOS is apparently lacking support too for the latest OS. I'm looking for a replacement for the TI2 Polar but I'm not sure Gaia 2 is it.

[@enochroot9438]

In defence of Gaia2 I would say it is pretty cheap...er, I mean cheap sounding! Good to see a channel plunge a stake of honest facts through the heart of this mediocre monster after the massive shilling launch campaign it had from the sinister Synthfluencer cabal!...

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@ChrisSmout]

Good lord, the Gaia 2 only just came out, you monster, give it a chance! :)

[@AudioPilz]

It had it;)

[@crunchyfrog555]

3:04 Seriously Roland, can't you learn to spell Filter correctly on your own menu? That's embarrassing. Anywho, I'm kind of mixed abvout Roland's latest direction. While they do generally have that clean Roland sound (and the Gaia 2 is no exception) is it 800 Euros worth of sound and would I really use it? I somehow doubt it. When I look at certain synths that I use as backbone or fillers - such as a Juno or even the JD-08 - I don't really think it's enough for me. It's nice and all but there's so much else out there that makes this lost in the crowd. And that's the main thing that puzzles me about Roland these days. I don't think they're keeping up, when you consider what people like Korg are doing.

[@AudioPilz]

Especially as I, an Austrian, shouldn't make jokes about that way of spelling it...

[@crunchyfrog555]

@@AudioPilz Ah now, was it you who changed it? Or was it indeed a Roland fuck up? I should have perhaps considered you were being tricksy ;)

[@novalogue]

Fitler... Aaaa ...doesnt matter

[@crunchyfrog555]

@@novalogue Well does this mean that when you get to use the High pass fitler, they get to check your papers?

[@onar3d]

OOOOh that anime in the last jam looks awesome, what movie is it?

[@AudioPilz]

Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01

[@onar3d]

🤩@@AudioPilz

[@Kuronoichig01]

Releasing a 20 year-old synth like it's new is not outside the realm of Rolands possibilities 😅

[@AudioPilz]

😂😂😂

[@soepil]

@Kuronoichig01: If only Roland would release some 40-years old synths instead ... ;-)

[@treetopjones737]

You're joking, but the wavetable stuff wasn't there 20 years ago.

[@the_jACK_Ripper]

For real, I got the mks-50 in now I gotta get the pg-300, but I've been looking at something I had a while ago, the EMX-1. When you gonna do my pseudo-daw the mc-909?

[@AudioPilz]

I REALLY want one of those!!!

[@the_jACK_Ripper]

​@@AudioPilzholy cow batman, I plugged my mks-50 into my mc-909 and the midi from tracks a I already made added a layer from the mks-50 and it's beautiful!

[@Aetila]

Why is it on the show? I sounds like a great...free VST synth! 😄

[@AudioPilz]

😂😂😂

[@GerenM63]

Pretty much nailed it! The things I also missed are the independent LFO, filter, and vca, with independent envelopes for each oscillator. And at this price, really, there needs to be at least channel aftertouch. The Minilogue [xd] comparison is really quite appropriate. Cheers!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Jason75913]

"independent LFO, filter, and VCA, with independent envelopes for each" Standard ROMpler features? Tons of better sounding alternatives to the Gaia1 out there from Korg, Roland, and Yamaha. From modern gear to stuff going back to the '90s.

[@GerenM63]

@@Jason75913 Having actually /owned and used/ some of them, I'll take the GAIA over most of them any day (and sorta wish I had). Most of the Korgs user interfaces were horrible to the point of being useless, unless you just wanted to use the presets. Same goes for Yamaha to a very slightly lesser extent. Roland had some winners, but not at the price point.

[@GerenM63]

@@Jason75913 The /point/ though has nothing do to with comparing GAIA 1 to other old synths. The comparison is to FUNCTIONALITY between GAIA 1 and GAIA 2. Roland /took away/ sound design capability in the newer model.

[@Jason75913]

@@GerenM63 the newer machine isn't a ROMpler as well like the Gaia1 and sounds 10x better I've got a Juno-DS and JD-Xi which each slaughter the old Gaia1 while sounding far better. Gaia1 users got shafted by buying that overpriced old thing at all. Gaia2 is also overpriced for what it is, so that much is the same.

[@benitoe.4878]

Actually it’s not a clone of a Korg Minilogue but of a Korg Modwave.

[@Jason75913]

A clone with some less features but then seasoned with Roland Cloud™

[@benitoe.4878]

@@Jason75913 My thoughts exactly. They even copied the touchpad. The faders are a nice addition, though.

[@Jason75913]

@@benitoe.4878 faders for the EGs are classic for Roland. Last Roland synths with them have been the JD-XA, System-8 and 1, and SH-201

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@djthedarksider]

Zero Years Bond Villain :-) - Love the Blofeld Description :-)

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@synthlord2368]

You can always pick out the "Zencore" synth engine in Roland's gear whether it's this synth, the AX Edge, or the MC707. It always has that same "electricy" edge to it. Almost like the chimey sound of a DX7. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@C.K.MillerPoet_Extraordinaire]

Hey audiopilz, will you do the Microfreak by Arturia? I'd love to hear your meme'd review of it. Keep up the great work!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for the suggestion but already had that one on the show

[@apolloc.vermouth5672]

This is what Alex Ball would call a 'Yes, but no' synth.

[@AudioPilz]

Lol, so true

[@voltijuice8576]

Classic LOLand

[@NoName-o5q1l]

When I tried this GAIA 2 at the showroom, seemed like the oscillators were forced to share filters whereas in the original GAIA the oscillators had independent filters.

[@Jason75913]

The original Gaia is like 'discount JD-800' of sorts. If you could do with heavy menu diving, Juno-Di was a massive upgrade for roughly similar price, a multitimbral Gaia on a hell of a lot of steroids. Juno-DS is the upgraded successor of the Juno-Di and now there is a Zen-Core based Juno-D replacing the DS. Gaia2 is more of a semi-ordinary wavetable synth, no independent layers like any pro ROMpler and Gaia1, and has a motion pad gimmick that looks inspired by the Kaoss physics pad of the Korg Modwave, Wavestate, and Multi/Poly. Jupiter-X is the current keyboard that is a ROMpler type with independent layers per patch just like the Gaia, and with a lot of sound design controls on the front panel. But it is a far more capable instrument, too. There is also the JD-XA, but its synth engine is simpler, it has an analogue synth built in, and the aftertouch of the keybed is the worst and will also give you early arthritis.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for the heads up!!!

[@gekkonier]

It's common knowledge, you can make even a plastic bag sound proper. I think this synth is too expensive (looking at hydra, freaks & co)

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@carlosaguilar9091]

I need to know the name of the anime on finale @8:06