Introducing Roland AIRA Compact P-6 Creative Sampler

[@BigCore-]

This was the best $200 I’ve ever spent on gear. I had a little learning curve and have a couple of other things to learn but I love the P-6. I hope they make a modestly updated version that accepts a storage card that allows you to store more samples and songs, and has a song mode. I only need that!

[@SonicVision]

First hardware intstrument/sampler that has enticed me in long long time.

[@NoisyMachines]

Wow, Roland! The P-6 looks like a game changer. The combination of granular synthesis, the Elektron-ish sequencer and the sampling possibilities with a built-in mic in a portable device is Incredible. I'm already imagining the creative possibilities in the top of the hill creating music with that little beast!

[@artephank]

@@NoisyMachines yeah, especially for the price. The memory time could be a bit better but it is what it is. They are competing here with volca sample and volca has no chance imho. For a bit more is model samples and novation rythm, that are bigger which is both pro and con. I predict a Roland’s win here

[@dancoffeyuk]

This looks like so much fun! I have owned a Volca Sample twice now and it has never quite filled the sample play-back gap in my setup. This looks like it would fill that gap as well as enabling fun on the fly sampling and much more. Sold!

[@user82938]

Wow, this is actually an impressive amount of functionality for a tiny budget device. Might have to trade my Volca Sample for this one.

[@contaloop]

Sold my Volca a while ago and I sure do miss it, but I agree!

[@Wild_D]

I knew you were going to announce something when I got a random email today to get into the Arias. I love my compact units

[@dandawson1982]

Roland saw how Korg was killing it in this market and responded! I like it!

[@jftruthseeker989]

Whatever what people can say of the screen, this machine for the price is awesome , an affordable functionalities packed sampler you can bring everywhere and that i’ll bring on my long weekends of work at the steel mill and it will make my time more enjoyable! A machine that i will sync with my j-6 and my Moog synthesizers via clock sync simplicity!

[@Hhyperspace]

I finally got my hands on an EP-133 then this drops! I already enjoyed the T8 and this answers to my fustrations and wishes from using the EP.

[@stefevr]

my ep 133 arrived broken and after getting refunded i got this instead, i love it

[@Han_Moz]

I JUST FINISHED COLLECTING THE FIRST 4 A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, TIME TO SAVE FOR A NEW ONE

[@mysigniscancer]

Good to see Will Forte branch into different industries

[@zardozjones]

Looks great - esp for DnB - I'm buying this!! But Roland need to print laminated cheat sheets the same size as the Aria - usually tons of menu diving options that are hard to remember - esp with a 4 digit LED from the 70's lol

[@ruffiankick]

Pattern Chaining in a future update please ! Otherwise. Really dope product. Cant wait for mine to come in.

[@myautobiographyafanfic1413]

Chromatic and polyphonic are the key words here. Finally a Casio sk1 for the 2020s.

[@blakecasimir]

Oh Roland. Roland never changes. Genuinely good sounding, deep sound architecture, immediate interface, but married to a screen from the 1980s. FFS.

[@Winter-zv1dv]

If you want to focus on tactile controls and your ears, buy these. If you want to focus on visual feedback and your eyes, use a phone or iPad. If you want both, use a computer and midi controllers.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

@@Winter-zv1dvRoland fanboy cope. Seriously, a $200 smartphone has a full color high res display. They could afford to put a better display on this. The¥ ju$t don’t. I wonder€r wh¥?

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Look at the displays on even their flagship synths. JD-XA, single-line alphanumeric display, and no jog wheel to help navigate their horrible menu diving. For $2k. Shameful in 2024.

[@yourzippersuntied]

Subjective. Staring at LED screens for long periods of time hurts my eyes. That's kind of one of the main reasons I went DAWless a few years ago, and is also why I much prefer these old school displays.

[@satyanpatel6403]

1010 Music Blackbox.

[@GenocidePanda]

sheeesshh so sick. looks like a mini sp

[@KingzofRhythm]

Roland rocks again

[@IsshmanGarcia]

Its been confirmed (by me) , this little beast is fun to make beats with.

[@ZenithMusicNet]

Great stuff, I can't wait to SNPL!

[@eaman11]

And don't forget the unlimited menu diving fun with a 4 character vintage display!

[@n.shafarich]

and micro knobs

[@IsshmanGarcia]

After using P6 for 3 days, Any "menu diving" is quickly put into memory. C'mon, ya'll know this already, but just looking for something to complain about- as usual.

[@RealJohnnyHash]

Show us your Jupiter X ..

[@RealJohnnyHash]

@@IsshmanGarcia They can't afford it so it's insta-hate.

[@MyNameJeff..]

@@IsshmanGarcianah man, their menu diving sucks.

[@GUNJACKOFFICIAL]

I quite like this! Well done guys!

[@soulfulandnice]

It's so small but has so many possibilities! To those of you that bought this already, have you had any finger cramping or has it been easy to push the buttons as you're making a mini jam?

[@VTOLKits]

A little beast....

[@clintt5266]

I like this guy's toque.

[@jumpstar9000]

Very very cool ❤

[@ionianechoes]

Please Roland add some of these features like per cycle conditions on triggers to the mc707. Give your flagship and mature products some love.

[@cookedaudio]

That looks super rad

[@RitonMachelard]

Ordered 😬 i'm so weak

[@primorelf8277]

Me too

[@arunasvadeisa3181]

me2

[@PRODUCEDBYLILDOUG]

Awesome drop Roland. Option for sampling down to 11khz bit rate for lofi? Resampling? Sample in with effects running? Screen with availability to tune to exact parameters and not have to do it by ear. Nothing available in the market touches that at that price for a standalone unit.

[@rjbush7955]

Amazing how we've come from the Fairlight CMI to this.

[@andrewstanworth529]

Damnit! Need. now do a 6 voice Jupiter. 😁

[@dr.x6987]

I want this in tr8s or mc707 format faders n all

[@stefankuster5183]

I dont post to KZbin video often but: you cant get everything in one box for 200 bucks. But we do get a lot for a cheap price. If you wish for something else then move on and buy another sampler. - No oled screen means its rechargeable and can be used without power source. No manual chopping means that you might want to consider the sp404mk2. A lot of menu diving means that it has a ton of features. If you dont like what you see/hear then dont buy it :) Im just glad there are companies like Roland who make fun gadgets for us. Appreciate what you have/get and if you dont like it buy something else or make it yourself.

[@chriswoolner2573]

Looks really interesting. Can it pattern chain?

[@nigredo14]

No

[@Zeal808]

So good! 🧡

[@JazMystic1]

This thing looks really bloody cool!

[@azagedon]

I normally see hardware samplers and think they are cool but I'll never learn how to use one, but this one seems surprisingly easy to understand and pick up?

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

This is a win.

[@reovoltvonk6937]

Looks like an enormous amount of features in a tiny box. I doubt it will be intuitive to work with all the button combos, but I might be wrong.

[@MaterialMike]

Roland button combos 😂 #sp404

[@sub-jec-tiv]

I wouldn’t mind button combos if the display wasn’t garbage.

[@Way_Out]

Get ready to menu dive.

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

i have mpc's . . . but this looks FUN

[@jm6734]

Great job Roland 👍🏼 Now here’s an idea for ya: Next time why don’t you just drop the alarm clock altogether and chuck some crayons in the box.

[@icygaming6422]

That's that and this is this.

[@Laze-Mz]

looks cool

[@rickycaceda]

Me acabo de enamorar 🤩

[@BlackSnowD20]

Super

[@hesher2301]

Will be great to have such device but bigger 😅

[@pilleater]

Hell yeah

[@gru_day]

Im going to sell all my samplers for this little beast.

[@MarkCranerium]

Take that, Teenage Engineering.

[@samothrace2106]

And it doesn't even cost $2,999!

[@VJFranzK]

2:17 oh, interesting. You can use a laptop style 1/8th headset / mic as an audio in? for vocalists etc. Can delay FX be applied to this? (But, this is the only? output, so you could not use the headphones and send sound out to a PA, without a cable splitter)

[@T_E_music_playlists]

🤔 Does Roland sell the the rack holding all the other Aira Compact devices on the desk shoewn in this video? I would buy it if you do. If yes how can I buy one?

[@raytube9314]

Very informative video Thank you! But I have one question. How do I open the P-6 Sample toll software/app? For windows.

[@joshuamessamore3652]

Hey Dustin, where did you get your AIRA rack?

[@visisydandthevoid]

Why not create apps to operate as the screens of these devices?

[@digitalcomplexity]

Wow, a deep sampler giving a 1400 dollar Octatrack a run for its money for 300 bucks 😳 👏 im in

[@ricknorris1466]

Thanks for NOT explaining the Save process. I kept losing all of my Edits until I watched Bo Beats video who did your job by explaining it.

[@liquidmanic]

🤘👽🤘

[@mikamulperi]

digitakt killer :D

[@RaquelFoster]

I keep saying the best AIRA Compact they could make would be either a new SP-303 or a new TB-3 that looks like a J-6 with 16 step lights. And I appreciate that it looks like they actually worked on a good interface instead of just seeing how many Volca knobs they could fit in the form factor. But this is a mini-SP-404MK2 with all the menu-diving done on a 4-digit segmented display, and that doesn't look fun. The average customer would gladly pay an extra $50 for a model with a 1.3" OLED like the Model:Samples, and a 1.3" OLED is a $2 part. Or else make something more like a Volca that isn't trying to do EVERYTHING so you're not spending all your time menu-diving on a 4-digit display. Even the J-6 with it's really simple interface is frustrating because of all the chord charts and phrase charts you need to refer to in the manual because the screen is so limited.

[@BruceBelafonte]

The TB-303 is in the T-8

[@RaquelFoster]

@@BruceBelafonte Yeah, and so is a drum machine, and it's in a box smaller than a Volca with more Volca knobs than any Volca. Nobody would choose to make 303 sounds with a T-8 if they had anything else that could do the job.

[@BruceBelafonte]

@@RaquelFoster opinions vs facts.

[@RaquelFoster]

@@BruceBelafonte The fact is that I really wanted to love the T-8. It has a good sequencer and an ACB 303. But the Aira Compacts are buggy, and they all have super-limited MIDI - probably because Roland doesn't want to take sales away from the Boutiques with the same engines. And Roland doesn't update/fix the Aira Compacts. If you have a TR-6S you've seen several awesome updates, but the T-8 will never get an update. Instead of working out the kinks they apparently spent all their time thinking of new features to hide under tedious menus you need to navigate on that terrible 4-digit display. It's just unpleasant to use. Usually when something has a bad interface you can mitigate some of that with MIDI, but not on the Aira Compacts. The only notable positive things about it are that at least the MIDI is class-compliant and it doesn't have a Micro-B connector like most of the Boutiques.

[@BruceBelafonte]

@@RaquelFoster I sent my T-8 back because it inspired me to get a MC-707. But now I want the T-8 again on the side just because of the way it works by itself.

[@djofortunato5799]

This might easily replace my RC 202 &/ or Volca Sample II portion of my studio setup.

[@primitivepatterns]

Kinda crazy that there are vapes with nicer displays than this

[@loubang100]

Can we get the firmware update for the MV1 and SH4D?

[@deductivereasoning4257]

Is it powered by 4 triple A batteries that will corrode in no time at all?

[@lesavdesabonnes]

Lithium battery man ~3 to 4 hours

[@petro5]

Wait can we get Granular on the SP 404 MKII?

[@godshous]

where can i get a wooden stand like this one?

[@kisho2679]

Can it do stem separation with an update?

[@carlosp.1846]

The app should be a plugin in the DAW to import samples and play in sync

[@VJFranzK]

There isn't a dedicated MUTE or SOLO button for the pads, we often like to have this. Is there a key combo to Mute pads? (Also, it would be nice to be able to use 6 knobs to fade the volumes of 6 pads, as with the T8)

[@wiwmusic1]

How much more are you willing to pay for the larger OLED screen and more knob per function??

[@satyanpatel6403]

1010 Music Blackbox. I know it costs a bit more, but the possibilities are almost endless especially for granular synthesis.

[@recloose2041]

Cool box but P-6 does so much more…

[@gctechs]

Blackbox costs 3 times this

[@Daniel-19]

Next we need the JP-8000

[@Paulsmusik28237]

Ok shit the Granular mode sounds good

[@VJFranzK]

5:00 Grains of Sound are Good : : : : : : : :

[@artephank]

Seems really fun, but how did Roland came up with the product name? Somehow it is long and non-descriptive and cryptic in the same time. With no hint to the fact that it’s a sampler.

[@kierenmoore3236]

Huh? “P-6 Creative Sampler” … ?

[@Han_Moz]

The J-6 is based on the Juno six, and I think all the Aira names are taken from the product that inspired them. I can't say what this one might be tho.

[@rorz999]

I'm guessing the 'P' is for pads

[@artephank]

@@kierenmoore3236 ok. Aira Compact P-6 Creative Sampler. They literally need description for their cryptic name to make sense:)

[@Han_Moz]

@@rorz999 I'm actually thinking maybe SP-606, but I barely know anything about samplers, so there could be a glaring reference I'm missing

[@delmeteor717]

I tried sampling a kalimba and it remains on standby mode. What settings did you use to sample it?

[@achook9474]

Does it have glide or portamento between the note in keyboard mode? Where I can change the speed to where it suits me? To be able to make wires and bass glides?

[@milkmannheim]

what about time stretching ? does it have it?

[@obamax8230]

The Roland P-6 is equip with built-in speakers?

[@viktorplevnes9958]

Can I use this with my Roland TR6s? I also have a Arturia MicroFreak which I connect via midi cable to the 6s, I wonder how I can add this babe in the mix

[@RIP-B_71]

I need one. 😅

[@DemMusel]

what is the maximum sample time in total at highest rate?

[@rorz999]

Across the whole machine? 144 seconds in stereo I believe

[@MarkLoweLowebrau]

@@rorz999 From the Roland website: 44.1 kHz, Mono : 5.9 seconds 22.05 kHz, Mono : 11.8 seconds 14.7 kHz, Mono : 17.8 seconds 11.025 kHz, Mono : 23.7 seconds * For stereo samples, the time is half. It's a toy

[@salmon_tag]

@@MarkLoweLowebrau those are the max lengths of individual samples, not the maximum sample time across the whole device.

[@DemMusel]

​@@MarkLoweLowebrau thx a lot- i could not find the info. 5,9 s in mono at "highest" sample rate of 44,1 means half of it for stereo.. :-( What is this the early 90s ? Absolute deal breaker for me as this seriously limits the use cases and cripples an otherwise very well designed product. One could expect them to do beta testing or use case validation..

[@DelainoBarris]

😮I want it but do I need it

[@123yespapa]

i've insta-buy

[@NicoHolloman]

Hi Roland, please give microtiming and unquantized recording to the TR-8S!

[@spectralknights2]

This should be what volca sample 2 is. A real sampler with fx, not a sample player. There's no more reason to buy that specially the overpriced Kaoss Replay

[@MaterialMike]

Love how Roland makes a sampler that is easier to use to the sp404 but with way less memory. I can do all this on Koala sampler on my iPhone. So Roland now have 2 hardware samplers on the market that suck in their own ways. All you need to do is make 1 great sampler with a screen to chop samples.

[@jumpstar9000]

I prefer this over Koala, but each to their own. Sometimes it is nice to have a hardware user interface, plus this does a hell of a lot more than Koala as good as it is. Why do you have to complain so much, I don't get it.

[@BrockDavisson]

Hardware always feels better than a stupid phone.

[@MaterialMike]

@@BrockDavisson your phone is hardware

[@Synthysynthsynth]

And yet here you are to comment on it!

[@jumpstar9000]

@@Synthysynthsynth is there a problem?

[@DooyDoDoom]

help me understand how to record into a pad not the entire track and the microphone, but only the microphone... while still allowing other pads to play

[@lesavdesabonnes]

I've got one, but they like to make 95% of the job! I will pay 500$ for the same machine with velocity key control, stretch sample, SD card for long sampling, E-ink screen, and a kaosspad on the right side where you can put any Fx on axis.

[@Rafix-drummer]

Question for the experts? How do I restore all the sounds, samplers, patterns that came with the ROLAND AIRA COMPACT P-6 from the factory? I tried downloading a file to my computer and installing it on the AIRA P-6, but it says there is not enough memory. Is it possible to free up space on the AIRA P-6?

[@NathanChisholm041]

Reset it!

[@leetshi927]

Oh! But what an interesting sampler! I just gave away my SamplTrek, here is a little machine that seems much more live oriented and that would be well suited to complement my op-z and my volca modular! What about a v2 with an OLED screen, for parameter visuals (better with that lil'knobs ! ) ?!

[@MarkCranerium]

My wallet just burst into flame. I can hear my wife leaving me.

[@dandimusc]

but It's a shame for Roland to make this model with granular and not update the SP-404MKII to have this and other features.

[@rorz999]

Patience

[@musically-assureddestructi8843]

What’s the difference with this and the SP404?

[@christoroppolo8742]

What about an auto multi sample function to capture munchkin free or troll free samples that play perfectly up and down the keyboard like sample robot does it? 👽

[@swantons1119]

Release date?

[@rorz999]

2-3 weeks from now

[@s.gharavi1614]

Why abandon the boutique series for another one?

[@TheSoundspot]

Nice one, but I really hope they continue the boutique series synths as well, waiting for a JP8000 reborn

[@channelite]

Looks like a good black friday buy. Current price, I think is too expensive.

[@d-zone]

creative as long as it's a sample that's less than 5.9s @ 44.1k. why no SD card to back up projects (or even USB backup using usb-c). Too many corners cut on this product......It's a drum (hit) sampler, that's all.

[@djkanyon]

Hi Roland team! I have a question... The manual says: "The specifications for the (imported) sample files - Sample rate: Max. 96 kHz. Bit rate: 8, 16, 24, 32-bit linear". How come it's only 16 bits in specs? I don't understand.

[@MarkLoweLowebrau]

96 khz??? lol no From the Roland website: 44.1 kHz, Mono : 5.9 seconds 22.05 kHz, Mono : 11.8 seconds 14.7 kHz, Mono : 17.8 seconds 11.025 kHz, Mono : 23.7 seconds * For stereo samples, the time is half.

[@djkanyon]

@@MarkLoweLowebrau read the PDF manual on the same site, totally different numbers, that's why i'm asking... conflicting data

[@FairchlldMusic1]

I think they’re referring to the unit’s. ability as an audio interface, as it can act as an audio in/out device with a computer/phone/tablet at those bit depths and rates. What goes on the pads is limited to 44.1/16.

[@djkanyon]

@@FairchlldMusic1 it was written exactly in the sampling section of the manual so it was like WHAT?... Or maybe it means that the device can eat 24\48 files and convert them to 16\44.1 automatically? Have no idea, Roland's manuals are so cryptic nowadays

[@DemMusel]

@@djkanyon they'll likely do rate conversion for imported data with higher sample rates/bit depth

[@M1k1haus]

👀👀👀