Roland AIRA Compact S-1: A mighty little synth // vs SH-101, other compacts // Review & Tutorial

Reverb seems nicer than on the other Aira Compacts … where it seemed to be more of a noise control, than a reverb control … 😏

this is not a lot of synth for $300 Canadian literally the korg nts-1 has more going on, literally a 300$ laptop with linux and ardour has more going on, all about that dawless setup huh...

I don´t quite get it. Although this little synth has all the SH-101 elements, most sounds presented have nothing to do with the original anymore. But could you also reproduce all the sounds of the original as well? I mean, are all the internal routings of the 101 the same in the S-1 or reproducible?

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!

Hello,
A question for the experts.
*How do I connect devices with built-in sounds
Directly to a control keyboard that has no sounds?
*Which cables do I need? And what is the friend why?
- I have: launchkey 25 mk Novation control keyboard
and want to connect it for example:
to CIRCUIT TRACKS.
Or - for the Roland device / Roland Aira S-1
and use their sounds.


Many thanks to the helpers.

If a "cheap" Casio has 128 notes of polyphony, how come so many "legit synths" only have 4?

How do you change scales?

Why no SH01a comparisons. Its like it does not exist )

10 second + filter sweeps copyright infringement ?? Totally ridiculous. Makes me want to compose an entirely filter swept song just to see it flagged.

Weird question – is it any chance to replace these little knobs with bigger ones? ;)

The tones you opened the video with brought be back 7 years to when I fell in love with the OG s1

As somebody who can't afford an OG SH this machine does it all..

I would have loved to see you using an external keyboard. I think most people would use it that way.

wow...YT is really a pos company

Its just the price that holds this back for me. At $200 i feel like you can get a full size/full feature synth, or for not much more get a groove box that does it all. They should have tried to keep this at $150 and under to compete with volca.
It does seem like it has alot packed into it.

Sliders beats knobs in imho.

Gary Numan used the SH101 when he recorded Are Friends Electric? for the main synth riff.

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.

I just got mine yesterday for some reason when I turn on arpeggiator no sounds comes out... Any idea as to why... Thank you

How did you manage to get the transpose to work? I can only transpose with the value knob. Itonly mentions the using the value knob in the manual.

Do these little compact aira go usb c to the4 usb inputs on the mx1, so the sync and audio goes via the one usb channel same as the original aira and boutique stuff does?

I really want an S 1. I currently jam with a ju06a and a monologue which I’m enjoying. Would anyone recommend selling the monologue and ju06a to get the S1 and the compact version of the ju06a, the J6?

I’m loving my ju06a at the mobutithink I’ll much prefer the 64 step synth in stead of just being limited to 16 steps. I’m pretty new to Dawless so struggling to make up my mind. I deffo want the S1, I just don’t know wether to sell what I have, or to get in in addition to what I have.I don’t want to get more than I need and make it all to confusing.
I really do like the sound of this s1.

What an amazing video! Thanks for all the time you put into this!

can you help me understand the maximum length of sequence you can generate in the roland J6 - manual is vague and there is confusion between steps notes, bars pages etc

Definitely the best synth for the price

I got the t8 few days ago im getting the S1 next month cant wait

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.

have any of you experienced humming-hissing when connecting the S1 via USB to an MPC Live ii or to a Maschine+?

I wish they would just make a large groovebox keyboard or at least an MC909 remake in new ACB format.

Wow this is a really cool synth. Too bad i cant afford it.

Ah well... thats that and this is this.

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.

Mine will be here in 2 days. My T-8 and J-6 have been waiting for a buddy to play with. :)

AS usual =, great video, but another version of the SH 101,....there'd be nothing else to do but endlessly reissue the same equipment. What's the real difference with the SH 01 a?

If only Roland had these out with a companion software to ease the menu diving…

I like how the 7 segment display tries to display letters. I'm a big fan of the "k"

Do you always need to hold down D-MOTION to work? No shift function to make it stay in place? And can it be recorded into the seq? Thanks! :)

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.

Hardly any difference at all in the sounds....wow!!

I bought an sh-09 and an sh-101 when they came out in the 1980's. I kick myself that I sold them in the 1990's ! Woof. S-1 appears to be a very capable machine.

Do you know if with the incorporated rechargeable battery, and the unit plugged, the system still uses the battery power, and filter out possible transformer loop or inherent noise? What is the noise level on this Synth? This is a somewhat minor reviewed feature, but actually a really big concern for most musicians: power supply design and noise levels... please dive into it loopop, it will bring you on another level if you do it. (You might as well want to show us the PCB, that would be also next level, looking for possible patch points is great added value to many Synths these days, especially with the advent of virtualisation tech, ACB being a big one). All Volcas suffer from wall noise, and so does many Usb only synths, with poor power design...

That riser noise thing is such a good idea

S1 and SH 101 produce toy sounds and gimmicks compared to the JU-06 /JX-08 synth remakes.

Which angled audio cable are you using? Gotta get one for my S-1!

Korg was too strong. Roland has serious Volca envy. Enter the Rolca line.

Is it possible, to have the comments in german language?

$225 USD is not cheap ! Should be $80 tops like Behringer would price it !

What kind of medication bowl works on the Roland S1? My BMIDI – 1–35 is not doing the trick.