Roland AIRA Compact P-6: capable mini sampler & basic granular synth // REVIEW + Tips & Tricks

CHECK P-6 PRICES HERE

ALTERNATIVE SAMPLERS TO CHECK OUT
Liven Lofi 12 (its great fun!)

TE K.O 2 has solid poly sample playback & time stretching

1010music Lemondrop is a good granular synth/sampler

Affiliate links to stores support the channel regardless of what you buy

CONTENT
00:00 What is the Aira Compact P-6?
03:45 How to make music with it
12:57 Sampling explained
17:25 Using a midi keyboard with it is fun!
21:13 Tips & Tricks for making music
28:56 Granular Sampler/Synth
31:56 A brief look at FX
32:48 Final thoughts & alternative samplers to buy

SYNTH MERCH

PRESETS & SAMPLES

SOCIAL MEDIA

COMMUNITY

GEAR I USE (affiliate)

BUSINESS INQUIRY

#rolandCompactP6 #bobeats #sampler

[BoBeats]

Minor thing: I forgot to mention it can resample (works the same way as regular sampling) And if you want to buy one or check alternative samplers use my links & support the channel in the process:

Compact P-6

ALTERNATIVE SAMPLERS TO CHECK OUT
Liven Lofi 12 (its great fun!)

TE K.O 2 has solid poly sample playback & time stretching

1010music Lemondrop is a good granular synth/sampler

Affiliate links to stores support the channel regardless of what you buy

[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!

[treschlet]

This is absolutely nuts. Also, the granular has complete MIDI CC control, so it can basically act like a whole standalone hardware synth in combination with a MIDI controller with a bunch of knobs. Though, it's pretty disappointing that there's almost no MIDI CC for any of the sampler and effects stack stuff. Only the reverb and delay

[Tuvalu]

I personally turned away from smaller samplers, saving up some money for the SP404... Nevertheless: Man, that small machine seems quite powerful, especially given the sampling and resampling, 16 note polyphony, granular synth, micro-timing, ratchets etc... Some or many of the afore-mentioned are usually discarded in smaller units.

[jeremystaples]

Reminds me of the Model:Samples but with that Roland touch! 🔥

[AboundSound]

Dang, Bo! I'm only 12 minutes in, and the improvised track you've built with mostly onboard samples is very cool.

[lapage]

Thank you for this video, always great quality 🎉 As I already have the SP404, the Polyend Tracker+ and Play+, I tell myself that this P-6 would not bring much added value. But as I also have Aira equipment (MX-1, DJ-808...) I think the immediate connectivity could be interesting! You give me food for thought😅😊

[jumpstar]

I have an SP-404 mk2 which is awesome, but this seems a very different thing to me. Having the sequencer and chromatic pads separate from the main pad bank opens up a lot and makes it easier to use for quick jams. The granular stuff on top is really awesome. I'm definitely going to get one, it looks very easy to use and a lot of creative fun.

[unclemick-synths]

As much as this is instantly on my wishlist and my T-8 is such great fun, I really hope those batteries can be replaced once they stop holding charge (or at least dead ones removed before they damage the unit).

[tubeMonger]

Thank you for the review. We, as consumers, can now decide whether or not we want to purchase this device. 

I think the devices that have shortcuts and a limited screen are a turn off. I mean... even after switching the screen to Deluge I just cannot seem to get back to the shortcut-based user interface with a small screen especially when it comes to sample editing (cutting, slicing etc.).

In fact, I think it is time to sell Deluge to a dawless aficionado with the rest of the shortcut-based devices.


Thanks for the thought-provoking review.... really got me thinking.

[brumd]

Thank you for the review, Bo. My take: probably, if you intend to use this device on a very regular basis, it's probably not a problem to get used to the cryptic messages on the 4-digit 7 segment display (I would not use the word "screen" here).
I have a few "travel devices" that I like using when taking a trip, but thing is: that is only a few times per year. And then it *does* become a problem that it doesn't have a proper screen that is more explanatory, because the chance that I remember all functions after months is not very high. And that - for me - would be the main reason to not buy this (if I were in the market for one: I am happy with my EP-133, even though it's a bit fragile to travel with)

[scottnelle]

Wow! That's an extremely powerful little sampler. What a feature set! Thanks for the thorough walkthrough, as always!

[damelos]

Great video. Appreciate teh honesty about shortcomings. I have the j-6 and the s-1 and the voice tweaker already. This doesn't excite me like those did.

[NoiseCommanderDS]

Would like to see a comparison table between this, the liven sampler and the po-133.
Which is best for live jamming? Probably the po-133?
And what's the battery runtime?

[I.O.M.]

Might need to get it just for the granular synth. Running it through the 404 MKII might produce some interesting things.

[treschlet]

Can you sample without stopping playback?

[pascalferriot]

Very well thought out and useful video to discover this machine, and choose it or not, thank you very much :-) Any point of view regarding the sound quality (DAC quality) ?

[sailingstar]

Such a complex feature set, with such a basic screen, and no way to save and restore the entire memory. These are serious limitations. But as a go-anywhere budget stereo sampler, it's got a lot to like. As usual with Roland, they throw too many features in the box, so it's difficult to judge it based on whether it does the basics well. And without a global save/restore (ideally to SD card), I'm kind of a "no". My favourite feature is the ability to set a sequence step to trigger only on specific loop repeats, that will save a lot of copying and editing of patterns, to get generative-stye grooves. It does things the SP-404 mk2 should do, like the sample filter, and effects sends per sample. It doesn't do as much as the MC-101 groovebox, though, even just for raw sample playback capability.

[RhymePractice]

In terms of sampling, how would it compare to the immediacy and sampling capability of the Koala sampler?

[jello-tarzan]

Thanks Bo(b) !
Interesting product but, with X-MAS season coming soon, I'll wait to see if anything new is coming on the Novation circuit Rhythm side.
Great budget gear, though. Tak!