Why I'm Selling my Roland J6 Compact

[@butteo]

Of course, you could always read the manual!

[@Pulse2AM]

Exactly!

[@80iesDude45]

I'd say RTFM ;-) The J-6 is a beast in a small box!

[@davelordy]

I think - very simply - you don't know how to use it . . . the fact that you are saying things like "they're all in C" sorta' underlines that, lol : ) You can of course put your own chords in, your own patterns, you can turn 'chord' off and play melodies, you can switch up the variations on the patterns . . . and a load of other things you don't appear to be doing, you have basically got it locked in chord mode, in C, in a preset pattern and preset variation. . . . EDIT: hate to say it (after watching another few minutes) but you really don't know how to use it, you probably know this yourself, so it's strange that you'd feel you were in a position to put out a video about this bit of gear ?

[@jmoffitt36]

I can relate. It does a ton of stuff and great when you take the time to figure it out. It kinda sucks if you don’t use it regularly. If the display was better it would be perfect. Something like the Microfreak. It’s to clumsy to use on the fly. Though I really like the Arpeggiator and patterns. That does work well. Overall it still good and I don’t plan on selling it anytime soon and don’t regret the purchase. Like most Roland stuff once get down it shines.

[@GullySyde28]

Do you have any tips that could help him?

[@davelordy]

@@GullySyde28 Probably read the manual, it's all in there - I'd also (without wanting to sound needlessly patronising) apply a little common-sense when approaching these things - which company would put out a device that only played in C ? I suspect most people could figure out - using common-sense alone (no need to read the manual) - that of course it's not only going to work in C, and then do a little more digging before putting out a video telling the world that one of the reasons you're selling a device is because it only operates in one key.

[@mcgritty8842]

To be fair, the title is “why I’ selling x.” Other people don’t want to be bothered getting hands on… I’m all in with my gear, but not everyone is like us

[@DrFawke]

I cant find out how to do completely free live records on the j6.. :/

[@RaquelFoster]

The J-6 is a box of Juno presets with a VERY good arp. I almost got rid of mine because the sequencer is so weird. But if you get the hang of it, that's amazing, too. You can make patterns up to 128 bars, and you can have different arp settings on each step. If you don't want to use the arp, there's no point in having a J-6. It's a little clunky if you're just looking for a half-price JU-06a. The sequencer is made for playing around with chords! The biggest limitation is that you can't change presets with Program Changes and none of the engine's parameters are CC addressable. This is blatantly something Roland did because they didn't want to give people an ACB Juno emulation for half the price of a Boutique Juno. But all the sound parameters get saved with the pattern, and you have 64 patterns. If you want to play the J-6 externally, you just need to make a bank of empty patterns to put your settings in. Then you can use Program Changes to change presets. The arp can translate monophonic MIDI into 100 different chord sets and arpeggiate it 108 ways. Half of that is percussive stuff which isn't exactly an arpeggio, but that's why they're called phrases/variations. You can play all your synths like a DFAM if you put a J-6 together with a Korg SQ-1. Or you can take the MIDI from any monosynth and turn it into an arp or a chord. I have my J-6 chained after two SQ-1s and a TB-3, so it turns that into chords, then other synths can play the chords or arp them themselves. You can really do amazing things by stacking different arps if you put the J-6 in the middle. I use a Launchkey MK3 which has a good arp, and most people have a KeyStep with an arp, so you can do cool stuff by playing a chord into the keyboard's arp (with it running a really slow arpeggio), then the J-6 turns each note into new chords. There's a million different really interesting ways to connect the J-6 to other things. The problem is that there's no really good video I've found explaining the sequencer, and the manual isn't great. It's not that complicated. It's just different. You can have four notes on each step. Those notes get saved to the step. All the arp settings also get saved with each step. Even if you're playing in chord mode and just pressing one key to generate the chord, it still saves all the individual notes to the step. So you can't just change which chord set you're using and have it rewrite the entire pattern. You just need to preview the chord sets by playing notes on the keyboard. If you're not doing normal arp stuff, you can basically turn each step into four steps because of the way the arp phrases let you put mini patterns of four 16th notes on a single step. You really just need to play with it while you're looking at the phrase list chart from the manual. It's a really interesting way of doing things. But it's really weird, and I never would've played with it long enough to get the hang of the sequencer if I hadn't been playing with it a lot just as basically a MIDI translator to take a bassline and turn it into chords. It would certainly be nice if you could transpose higher, but ... I have a Conductive MRCC that I use to transpose incoming MIDI for it. Most of Roland's best stuff is pretty under the radar because people don't even know what it's good at. All the videos on the J-6 are just really bad unboxing videos by people who don't have any idea how to use the thing.

[@brimans3092]

You should do a video then. You seem to have sussed it.. 😊

[@cyb]

Yes make a video! Im interested!

[@RaquelFoster]

Well, the Conductive MRCC turned out to be a TOTAL POS. It crashes all the time, and its arp features were useless. So I'm using a Mio XM/XL, but those can't transpose. The J-6 has a pretty ridiculous bug where external MIDI triggering the arp gets transposed down super low, so you need something to transpose it back up. But I'll try to think of something more fun than just noodling around on an SQ-1 plugged into a J-6. I could plug the J-6 into an XV-5050 and transpose it anywhere. Hmm...

[@Eulenspiegel1977]

I never read the manual but every time I do it feels great...

[@schmapps1]

To be honest it sounded pretty cool. Felt like maybe you just weren't familiar enough with how to use it, and over the course of the video you were realizing that haha. Just gotta build that muscle memory! It's not the most intuitive device but don't forget that you can also play in your own chords using the keys. (or an external keyboard). This would eliminate the searching around for chord banks that fit. Or - why not start building your tracks with the J6 chord bank, and then build the other elements around that instead? Or at least, integrate the J6 sounds a bit earlier into the process so that you aren't just trying to shoehorn-in chord progressions at the very end. Just my thoughts, cheers

[@GyuBeats]

Yeah all good points, although if I was making my own chords I could just use my MC707 which has a more intuitive (to me) sequencer. Yeah it sounds cool and is cool but I had a fairly specific use case that I wanted it for and it just wasn't quite right for that.

[@mcgritty8842]

@@GyuBeatsso why make a 10 minute video discussing why you’re returning it VS just returning it and moving on without posting a video to the internet? Lol

[@Reeceline]

@@mcgritty8842 I think the video is valid. I just bought one and have similar thoughts. Im sure we all agree that the workflow is a bit clunky. So its a bit tricky for live performance unless you just let a pre-programmed pattern roll that's all.

[@olivergroves2007]

I use the J6 with mc 707 it’s amazing! Using the J6 to create chords with the 707 sounds is great and game changing for me. Also J6 works with software to create cool patterns. I love it.

[@GyuBeats]

Yeah fair enough and I'm glad to hear someone sticking up for it!

[@jaysire]

I also use my J6 and MC-101 together. I do find it a bit disappointing that I can’t easily have different lengths per step. It’s quite common you have sequence of two whole bar chords followed by two half bar chords. And if I want that, I just have to have step length 2 for all steps and duplicate the first steps… not to mention when I want the last bar to be 3 + 1. I’m keeping mine though. Love the fat Juno sounds in a small form factor.

[@michael7018]

😅 I will never understand why people waste other people’s time to let them know why they are getting rid of a product 😅😅😅 is your life so empty. Worse of all, you are putting down a little instrument that is very very capable in the right hands.

[@__nullpointer__exception8605]

i own one. I think you can change the number of pulses per bar in the menu. i agree its not very intuitive and it bothered me too, but now after that setting it opens up nicely.

[@benbold]

I’m really enjoying mine, though I’ve not really got my head around the chord progressions included and been mostly entering my own chords using single notes and hold. I bought a Sp 404 Mk 2 sampler and been using it to accompany that. Plus sampling some chords. My little set ups limited size is a definite bonus.

[@GyuBeats]

Nice 🙂👍

[@Jarah]

I had the same problem and thought it was me. It’s just not the nirvana you think it would be. I thought it would be much easier than it is. Thanks for helping me realise it’s not me!

[@Yosser70]

It’s definitely you! lol I haven’t got one and know he’s using it all wrong! Read the manual dude 🙄

[@Geert890]

I bought mine 30 minutes ago, I even checked your channel 90 minutes ago for an upload with J6 in it's title. What a coincidence!

[@GyuBeats]

I hope I haven't put you off it!

[@Geert890]

@@GyuBeats I had one and I shipped it back. I thought it was horrible (for me)

[@russisaac813]

Two years later and I wonder if you sold it or decided to read the manual and learn to use this amazing machine?

[@Drop2-G]

I know this is 2 years ago, however the Chord set you are using is P.001, which is a pop style of chords, which goes Caad9, C#M9/C, Dm7, Cadd9/E, FM9, Dadd9/F#, Em7/G, Fm6/G, FM/A, Gm/A#, G/B. This is why you are getting so much dissonance with your other melodic sounds, the key of C is number P.017. Always read the manual first.

[@robertcopeland2536]

Is this some kind of reverse marketing? If so, very effective. I'm sold.

[@GyuBeats]

You mean I made you want it? Cool!

[@tinnturps]

so out of everything you've tried for doing cords which one worked best for you? eg. was the 707 better for jamming live?

[@yodigak8810]

The flaw is in you not the instrument.

[@FilippoBuscemi93]

for real this guys annoyed me already with this dumb title. the j 6 is a music making inspiration machine I use it with Keyscape etc.

[@TrevorDBEYDAG]

You are selling it because you didn’t understand the whole point 🤣 I’m going to buy one and never sell

[@Drumsdude123]

Thanks! What do you think is it possible to re-create J6 chord progression tool in MC707?

[@alexwestconsulting]

0:58 do you not hear that? you had it for about a second and then lost it. you had a banger right there.

[@dpalaoro]

Yeah, sounded dope

[@carlosrm9362]

Damn!! with all that amount of gear, you must gig every summer festival...where can I found your tracks?

[@GyuBeats]

I wish!! I'm hoping to get more gigs this year

[@bernardwilliams9099]

Can you use this piece to remake Larry heard can you feel it

[@mattcero1]

Have you tried the S-1? If you had to have one, which would you buy if you had none.

[@matthewgaines10]

Getting the T-8 to accompany my J-6. For $200, the price is right for occasional use.

[@leewightman8619]

I just got one today about an hour ago I want to use it with the circuit rhythm just had a little jam with it synced up to the t8 and the nts1 and the timberwolf it actually sounded amazing I'm not really one for jams I usually record one track at a time and keep layering it with the multitrack and mix it down at the end But I request enjoyed the live jamming so might keep doing it

[@mattwest8642]

Might be better off with a Novation Circuit , if going into the DAW is cool with you?

[@GyuBeats]

Yeah I have had one and they are very cool but my live setup is pretty full so I really want something that will work over USB with my Roland MX-1. Tbh I never really got into programming the circuit with the computer

[@ColonelForkEyes]

circuit has nothing at all to assist with chords.

[@SLEEP-236]

Was looking at that mixer of yours whilst watching your latest live jam. I Don't own any other aira gear so it's putting me off buying one. Do you or anyone else have any recommendations? Give that little chord maker to one of your subs x

[@GyuBeats]

🤔 not sure. There's one but I can't remember what it's called.

[@Gainn]

Tascam Model 12 (or 16/24 if you have more gear). Most of the time I use a Roland MC-707 as my mixer unless I'm doing something with a load of stereo sources. The MX comes into it's own if you have Aira gear, otherwise it's a bit wasted.

[@SLEEP-236]

@@Gainn thanks I'll look at that. There seems to be a shortage of mixers designed for live synth jams. Or maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

[@Gainn]

@@SLEEP-236 There really is. Some DJ style mixers have 8 channels and built in effects, so those might be an option for some setups. If I'm doing an acid/techno set, then I just use a Moukey MAMX3 or a Behringer MX1602 line mixer. The 1602 is useful because it's got an effects send. Neither are exactly 'performance friendly' though.

[@SLEEP-236]

@@Gainn lack of easily accessible effects per channel and portability. Roland might be the best option after all. I dunno. Just feel mugged off having channels that are only compatible with their gear.

[@brianmi40]

"that's quite nice" contradicts entire video premise 2 minutes in.

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

I got two, arps make a great metronome kind of thing with two it’s much easier to form complex arrangements. The easiest way to learn it is to have playable and in front of you watch loop ops videos on them! I must admit all 5 are time consuming, two j6, s1 t8 and the Sh4D it’s not really part of the Aria group but it’s Juno engine is perfect for the set!

[@marcusdekker]

Mine, all three of them, are comming in this week (i hope). Can you not edit these parameters through computer? These will be my first physical synths, all i use up to now are soft synts and a midi keyboard (and a guitar, well some, drums, percusion, voice, bass drum), so well see how this will work out! All the best mate!

[@GyuBeats]

I don't think you can edit on computer. I think having all three will be great fun. Enjoy!

[@ChromatestJPantsmaker]

What are you using for your master clock? Are you just using USB 3 on the MX-1 or something else?

[@GyuBeats]

Toraiz SP16 is master clock, yes using USB 4 on the MX1

[@desoakley7760]

I think your expectations are slightly skewed…I imagine this would be a dream partner for the Verselab or MC 707

[@GyuBeats]

Yeah I had quite a specific use case that I wanted it for and it just didn't fit my setup. Doesn't mean it's not great

[@larrymonteleone1789]

transpose = shift octive - or +, then select key. not difficult mate

[@Nima3434]

100 agree, I got the same issue, sounds great it’s in own but very different sound to mix it with other drummachine!! And its not worth it €200

[@tonylyons7711]

The chords are lovely on the j6.. maybe get the guts of the idea with j6 first with nice chords and drums then build the track & other instruments around it but i write songs so i would like the chords first .. i think there are effects in it.🤔.Ive just bought a prothet rev 2 and ive realised ive got alot to learn . 😁..best of luck.👍..

[@BenSnapeUK]

I’m sending mine back too. Can’t get my head around it either

[@GyuBeats]

I'm going to try the E4 instead

[@BenSnapeUK]

@@GyuBeats I’m exchanging it for the Beringer TD-3

[@wyldbylli4047]

@@BenSnapeUK good luck wrapping your head around that lol

[@thekitchensynth]

Did you connect J6 straight into MX1 …usb connection is different …or did you do something else ?

[@GyuBeats]

Yes I did. I used the USB C to USB A cable that comes with it. There is a setting you need to change to make it work though.

[@thekitchensynth]

@@GyuBeats thanks …will check that out 👍

[@hataproofrecords]

Have you sold? I’m in the market. PayPal ready.

[@jaysire]

I kind of miss an arpeggiator in the J-6 to make your own variations.

[@davelordy]

It has an arpeggiater.

[@djkanyon]

To be honest bro i can't even find it at retail.... it seems like it's already out of stock.

[@googlepigs7027]

Thanks. You sold me. I'am getting one. Always remember.... You have to *completely* master any device before you can really judge it.

[@amelie2292]

Sounds good to me.

[@KeirMurphy]

If you have plenty of cash to splash, look at the newer devices in the Akai MPC line or the Force as you'll get all the chord and sequencing stuff and much much more.

[@GyuBeats]

Well I don't! 😂 Tbh I'm very happy with my setup, plenty of capabilities there. Akai stuff looks great though

[@jobyosman8440]

Sounds good. Fiddly but might be worth keeping!

[@GyuBeats]

Yeah but it's already gone 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jobyosman8440]

@@GyuBeats ah well

[@rorz999]

Ah well, we've got the S-1 now which is superior to the J-6 in every way 🙂

[@RaquelFoster]

LOL the S-1 is nothing like the J-6. The S-1 is an SH-01a with a much worse interface and some questionable extra features. The J-6 is a box of Juno presets with a 128-bar sequencer, a really good arp that can do a lot of percussive things, and the ability to translate monophonic MIDI into chords and send it to other synths or arp it.

[@theallmightyanalog]

How much?

[@GyuBeats]

Already gone I'm afraid

[@qv7774]

Did you sell it?

[@GyuBeats]

Yes. I bought the E4 voice thing instead. I still haven't had the chance to get to grips with it but I think it'll be great for live stuff

[@harrietHHH]

I agree. The sequencing is so hard to figure out. Strange design. Frustrating.

[@leftovernoise]

The manual shows you step by step how to sequence with it. Have you not read the manual?

[@harrietHHH]

@@leftovernoise

[@harrietHHH]

Yes. I find the design does not gel with me. Raquel’s comments talks about that more.

[@trioxidetheidiot86]

1:46 call me immature but on the little screen it says poo

[@Cinematic_Compose]

You don’t know what u missing dude

[@brunociaccafava]

yet another RTFM demo... thanks for showing that you don't know how to operate this box. I don't even want to know about the other pieces of gear in your room. :))) Adios

[@guywilliamson4074]

Disco Evangelists De Nero !!!

[@waveguider]

I think the problem is too much ROLAND!!!!!!!

[@GyuBeats]

LOL! You might be right

[@sethwaldo]

I think it's a case of 'does not play well with others' perhaps?

[@GyuBeats]

Yeah in my case. Just didn't quite gel

[@AlexLaptschenko]

But If it coud be well driven by MIDI I d buy it.

[@russisaac813]

Major point with the J-6 is that you really have to study the chord sheets, and know your music theory and scales.

[@jackburtoncantsavelopan]

Got this and right before I opened the box I discovered scaler 2 so I'm returning it.

[@alinpetrisorsavu4450]

when you change the sound, the parameters from the potentiometers are no longer the same and you can't make the connection from one sound to another.....all the new range has this handicap , no one asked for the rotary potentiometers, but still you can't get over that serious problem.... it's a joke from Roland

[@Studio_4to1]

Very weird video. Just RTFM and you’ll be good to go. Clickbait is what it is.

[@pinatacolada7986]

Skill issues.

[@lordvespatron]

Embarassing. At least spend a couple of hours learning how to use it before posting a video.

[@kafkawilde4604]

What a whinger.....😢

[@devondetroit2529]

HERPES

[@edwardferry8247]

They only cost £150, if you need to sell it perhaps you have the wrong hobby 😂

[@therealone1288]

nobody cares