SPAZZOID I've played numerous REAL analogue synths and there really isn't a MASSIVE difference between them and the Gaia. And once you have the synth in a mix with other instruments you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference.
This "synth-snobbery" really does my head in. The Gaia is what it is - an affordable, very tweakable, well bulit, great sounding little VA synth.
@pictobug omg, thank you. All I ever hear is how "this synth doesn't sound like a moog (and don't forget to pronounce it correctly!>:()".. sheesh.....
@pictobug IDK what spazzoid said, but none of my VAs and VSTs can emulate the sexiness that is a true analogue slim phatty, nvm the higher up Moogs. But I have never tried the Gaia in person, so I can't speak about it specifically.
Anything like that can only be attributed to a lack of programming skills.
all ION's that i've played and recorded with have more than delivered the goods. Worth it's weight in gold, and is much more versatile than any other VA in it's price range.
1. First you said about the "raw oscillators and filters" and now you're talking about "programming skills"? Very funny. On Dr.Squ website there is an interesting "filter comparisons" section. Alesis Micron (=ION) performs quite poorly in the higher octaves and it can be heard.
2. ION cost about 50% more $ than Roland SH-201 (or GAIA).
Nice try, but you missed much of the mark. If you had added some resonance while demonstrating the filters it would give first time users a MUCH better idea of exactly how the filter can shape the sound. Simply adjusting the cutoff only shows SOME of the filter properties.
@SPAZZOID100 My comparisons are just between the SH-01 and SH-201. I don't have any of the Alesis, Virus, etc. I'm sure they are much better in many respects as price will often dictate. Many agree that the SH-01 and SH-201 are low budget or beginner synthesizers. Others will debate based on their experience. The Gaia is pretty new though and the stock sounds may obviously promote the thin and sterile sounds as often seen in presets. We'll see.
You are a typical ION owner: "my dick is longer than Access Viruss, Nord Lead and Jupiter-6". 14 of that 17 filters are dull. Delay is weak and there is no reverb.
Most of the filters in the ION are useless and boring. You need to have your ears checked.
Furthermore, so called "warmth" is not necessary on a synth (Korg Wavestation sounds cold, remember).
The only important thing is that bunch of artists & producers choose Nords, Viruses and V-Synths over the IONs and their 17 "fantastic" filters & two mod wheels.
@SPAZZOID100 Although you sound a little blunt, I know that in reality you are just being passionate. Something that comes to real AVID Synthesists! You are correct of course. I have a Dismal SH-201. And Apart from the 2nd Phatest SuperSaw Oscillator (Next to Moog Little Phatty!) & a rather quirky & useless Pitch Envelope, it's near to pathetic! This new Synth has less features, looks beguiling but when it comes to sound Quality the ION wipes the Floor with Roland! It's a shame they R Rare now.
Yes! Passionate for GOOD, quality instruments the way Roland and the other big japanese companies USED TO design. Not anymore though, as roland and the others seem to only want to re-hash cheap and plastic sounding components as they design these new "synths".
the SH-201 is pathetic, and the GAIA even moreso...terrible filter and overall timbre.
I have an ION, and it's amazingly warm, phat, and LUSH sounding.
@SPAZZOID100 Not to add fuel to the fire here, but as an SH-201 owner myself, I simply love it for what it is. I can sit down with it for hours at a time and just crank out awesome pads, leads and bass patches. Granted, I do have a DP/4 it's running through for some better reverb, as well as an EHX Small Stone Phaser. While I am not a "top notch" artist or musician, or I don't credit myself as such, I do find the SH-201 extremely inspiring. Cheers.
Ranks low to who? To you? Ranks high to me, and I love this synth a lot! Just saying. The build is alright, it has excelled for what I have used it for. The sound is fantastic, I have made the most thick, lush pads out of this thing. It definitely ranks highly with me. :)
it ranks LOW to anyone that has used far better synths, myself included.
If this is your only reference for a synth, I'm sure it must seem great to you. But if you've used anything like an ION, or virus, nord, etc...then you'd know.
As for real analogs, this thing doesn't even get a look in
@SPAZZOID100 Doesn't rank that low with me, actually. (and to qualify myself /with you,/ leaning against various places here is my nord mod g2, a nord mod g1, a virus indy2... and formerly actually owned a ton of gear, now thankfully gone, SH101, andromeda, etc.) ... When I first played on one this week I was frankly impressed with the ease of use, and yes even the sound. Compared to flying with my G2 I'm considering grabbing one as a cheap international synth for a gig in Romania this summer.
@SPAZZOID100 So then don't buy one, and forget it even exists? The fact that you're using the ION as the reference grade (in this thread) is puzzling. In a context with other instruments, live, nothing you're complaining about would be an issue. That is the context into which I would bring one, not as a solo instrument. But hey, I'll check out the ion too since you bring it up. (i just don't want to check my normal controller.)
@SPAZZOID100 have you compared or do you know whether the engine in the MICRON is the same as the ION? (I'm thinking yes). MICRON looks very interesting for international travel, plus there must be a ton of ION patches out there from the last (almost) decade.
@SPAZZOID100 You're probably right. Why is this though? I myself have always wanted an ARP Oddessey MK II or III because it's just such a Quality sound with a Very effective Setup. But they are SO Expensive now! But now? You Barely see Analog. WTF?
The SH-201 ( with the exception of the 3 tone layers ) is better than the Roland SH-01 Gaia for several reasons. (1) SH-201 has an additional octave, (2) SH-201 has a split keyboard, (3) SH-201 has two tone multi timbral ability, (4) SH-201 has user programmable arpeggiator, ( 5) SH-201 has a complete software editor which also shows you how the patches were created. The knob setting info is all there. Finally (6), The SH-201 sounds similar to the SH-01. The SH-201 is the BETTER deal!
@JimAtwood Thanks for the info! I was looking for an affordable va synth with quick access real time controls to compliment my other synths, and couldn't decide beteen the gaia and the old sh201 but having read your assesment , I guess I should go for the sh201. If I need 3 oscillators, I'll simply stick with my good old trusty alesis micron.
Uh, synthesis is creation of sounds, I can make lots with my GAIA, I can make lots with my analogs. shh nao.
TheLynxie 1 year ago
my ears ..
dopemcee 1 year ago
SPAZZOID I've played numerous REAL analogue synths and there really isn't a MASSIVE difference between them and the Gaia. And once you have the synth in a mix with other instruments you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference.
This "synth-snobbery" really does my head in. The Gaia is what it is - an affordable, very tweakable, well bulit, great sounding little VA synth.
Kindly dismount your high horse.
pictobug 1 year ago 11
@pictobug omg, thank you. All I ever hear is how "this synth doesn't sound like a moog (and don't forget to pronounce it correctly!>:()".. sheesh.....
electronicexposure 1 year ago
@pictobug IDK what spazzoid said, but none of my VAs and VSTs can emulate the sexiness that is a true analogue slim phatty, nvm the higher up Moogs. But I have never tried the Gaia in person, so I can't speak about it specifically.
drakeishfyre 11 months ago
@pictobug
If you've played real analogs, and think the gaia is comparable, you have a bit of ear wax build up...see a doctor about this.
The gaia's sounds are as plastic as it's chassis...very harsh filter, thin sounding oscillators, and no warmth at all.
Typical for roland to keep recycling cheap VA technology. The alesis ION is a VA that can eat the gaia for lunch.
SPAZZOID100 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100
ION sounds very thin & dull on higher octaves.
MaxZorin8 9 months ago
@MaxZorin8
Anything like that can only be attributed to a lack of programming skills.
all ION's that i've played and recorded with have more than delivered the goods. Worth it's weight in gold, and is much more versatile than any other VA in it's price range.
SPAZZOID100 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100
1. First you said about the "raw oscillators and filters" and now you're talking about "programming skills"? Very funny. On Dr.Squ website there is an interesting "filter comparisons" section. Alesis Micron (=ION) performs quite poorly in the higher octaves and it can be heard.
2. ION cost about 50% more $ than Roland SH-201 (or GAIA).
MaxZorin8 9 months ago
Nice try, but you missed much of the mark. If you had added some resonance while demonstrating the filters it would give first time users a MUCH better idea of exactly how the filter can shape the sound. Simply adjusting the cutoff only shows SOME of the filter properties.
calyx93 1 year ago 5
Massive flaming?
What about all the other features of the Gaia SH-01?
mw2xboxplayer 1 year ago
That filter is horrid. Sorry Roland, you need to try again.
ikazlar 1 year ago
what a GIMMICKY piece of plastic krap
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100 My comparisons are just between the SH-01 and SH-201. I don't have any of the Alesis, Virus, etc. I'm sure they are much better in many respects as price will often dictate. Many agree that the SH-01 and SH-201 are low budget or beginner synthesizers. Others will debate based on their experience. The Gaia is pretty new though and the stock sounds may obviously promote the thin and sterile sounds as often seen in presets. We'll see.
JimAtwood 1 year ago
Dan - can the GAIA reproduce the sound of the classic analog synths like the OBX or should we look for something else to fulfill this need?
moretacos1 1 year ago
@moretacos1
are you kidding? how can it do that when it sounds so sterile and thin?
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@moretacos1
not even close....this synth is plastic, like most of roland's new synths
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
Bullshit. You can reproduce the sound of "Jump", etc. on SH-201. And it will sound better than on ION.
MaxZorin8 1 year ago
@MaxZorin8
You know nothinG. The ION is the best VA synth around, especially for analoG types of sounds.
The ION has 17 filters...and the sh has one, and not a very warm one at that.
I replaced a jupiter-6 with my ION and that says a lot.
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
You are a typical ION owner: "my dick is longer than Access Viruss, Nord Lead and Jupiter-6". 14 of that 17 filters are dull. Delay is weak and there is no reverb.
MaxZorin8 1 year ago
@MaxZorin8
ALL the filers in the ION are fantastic. you need to have your ears checked.
Furthermore, effects are not at all necessary on a synth, so reverb and delay are irrelevant. (the prophet 5 had no effects, remember)
The only important thing is the sound, and the ION more than delivers, and has an excellent mod matrix, and TWO mod wheels.
No other synth in it's price range can compete.
And yes...the jupiter 6 is not very warm. I owned one and sold it.
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
Most of the filters in the ION are useless and boring. You need to have your ears checked.
Furthermore, so called "warmth" is not necessary on a synth (Korg Wavestation sounds cold, remember).
The only important thing is that bunch of artists & producers choose Nords, Viruses and V-Synths over the IONs and their 17 "fantastic" filters & two mod wheels.
MaxZorin8 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
you are an IDIOT....
The ION is a far better synth than the nords & viruses, and sounds much warmer
The only thing those other synths have more of is polyphony, but that becomes irrelevant when you simply overdub parts during multitrack recording.
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
YOU are an idiot.
The ION sounds flat & dull in higher octaves, and there is A LOTS of aliasing especially in osc sync mode.
MaxZorin8 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100 Although you sound a little blunt, I know that in reality you are just being passionate. Something that comes to real AVID Synthesists! You are correct of course. I have a Dismal SH-201. And Apart from the 2nd Phatest SuperSaw Oscillator (Next to Moog Little Phatty!) & a rather quirky & useless Pitch Envelope, it's near to pathetic! This new Synth has less features, looks beguiling but when it comes to sound Quality the ION wipes the Floor with Roland! It's a shame they R Rare now.
therealKINDLE 1 year ago
@therealKINDLE
Yes! Passionate for GOOD, quality instruments the way Roland and the other big japanese companies USED TO design. Not anymore though, as roland and the others seem to only want to re-hash cheap and plastic sounding components as they design these new "synths".
the SH-201 is pathetic, and the GAIA even moreso...terrible filter and overall timbre.
I have an ION, and it's amazingly warm, phat, and LUSH sounding.
And 16 glorious filters to choose from!!
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100 Not to add fuel to the fire here, but as an SH-201 owner myself, I simply love it for what it is. I can sit down with it for hours at a time and just crank out awesome pads, leads and bass patches. Granted, I do have a DP/4 it's running through for some better reverb, as well as an EHX Small Stone Phaser. While I am not a "top notch" artist or musician, or I don't credit myself as such, I do find the SH-201 extremely inspiring. Cheers.
Luckexe 1 year ago 2
@Luckexe
Fair enough, but just understand that this ranks pretty low as an "analog" synth both in sound and build quality
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
Ranks low to who? To you? Ranks high to me, and I love this synth a lot! Just saying. The build is alright, it has excelled for what I have used it for. The sound is fantastic, I have made the most thick, lush pads out of this thing. It definitely ranks highly with me. :)
Luckexe 1 year ago
@Luckexe
it ranks LOW to anyone that has used far better synths, myself included.
If this is your only reference for a synth, I'm sure it must seem great to you. But if you've used anything like an ION, or virus, nord, etc...then you'd know.
As for real analogs, this thing doesn't even get a look in
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100 Doesn't rank that low with me, actually. (and to qualify myself /with you,/ leaning against various places here is my nord mod g2, a nord mod g1, a virus indy2... and formerly actually owned a ton of gear, now thankfully gone, SH101, andromeda, etc.) ... When I first played on one this week I was frankly impressed with the ease of use, and yes even the sound. Compared to flying with my G2 I'm considering grabbing one as a cheap international synth for a gig in Romania this summer.
proteron 9 months ago
@proteron
It's plastic chassis is a perfect match for it's plastic sound.
Garbage
SPAZZOID100 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100 So then don't buy one, and forget it even exists? The fact that you're using the ION as the reference grade (in this thread) is puzzling. In a context with other instruments, live, nothing you're complaining about would be an issue. That is the context into which I would bring one, not as a solo instrument. But hey, I'll check out the ion too since you bring it up. (i just don't want to check my normal controller.)
proteron 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100 have you compared or do you know whether the engine in the MICRON is the same as the ION? (I'm thinking yes). MICRON looks very interesting for international travel, plus there must be a ton of ION patches out there from the last (almost) decade.
proteron 9 months ago
@Luckexe
Ignorance is bliss.....go play a prophet 5 and get back to me
SPAZZOID100 9 months ago
@therealKINDLE
Roland's last great synth was the JD-800.
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100 You're probably right. Why is this though? I myself have always wanted an ARP Oddessey MK II or III because it's just such a Quality sound with a Very effective Setup. But they are SO Expensive now! But now? You Barely see Analog. WTF?
therealKINDLE 1 year ago
@therealKINDLE
I think it's just the components used back then, being descrete components, they just had more of an organic nature to them.
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@MaxZorin8
Synths don't need built in effects..you do that during mixdown
SPAZZOID100 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100
Fortunately Access, Roland, Korg, Yamaha and even Clavia do not share your opinion.
MaxZorin8 9 months ago
@MaxZorin8
Built in effects on synths was a concept created to pander to idiots in music stores who are impressed when they hear a thin sound drenched in reverb.
For me, the only test of a synth is dry.
SPAZZOID100 9 months ago
@SPAZZOID100
What wrong with that when people like things which you don't like?
MaxZorin8 9 months ago
The SH-201 ( with the exception of the 3 tone layers ) is better than the Roland SH-01 Gaia for several reasons. (1) SH-201 has an additional octave, (2) SH-201 has a split keyboard, (3) SH-201 has two tone multi timbral ability, (4) SH-201 has user programmable arpeggiator, ( 5) SH-201 has a complete software editor which also shows you how the patches were created. The knob setting info is all there. Finally (6), The SH-201 sounds similar to the SH-01. The SH-201 is the BETTER deal!
JimAtwood 1 year ago
@JimAtwood Thanks for the info! I was looking for an affordable va synth with quick access real time controls to compliment my other synths, and couldn't decide beteen the gaia and the old sh201 but having read your assesment , I guess I should go for the sh201. If I need 3 oscillators, I'll simply stick with my good old trusty alesis micron.
dudewhosaysarrh 1 year ago
@JimAtwood
the alesis ION blows em both away
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
@SPAZZOID100
I have SH-201 and Alesis Micron (ION's brother). Micron sounds cold and sterile to me, especially pads. I prefer SH-201.
MaxZorin8 1 year ago
@MaxZorin8
that couldn't be further from the truth, seriously.
My ION sounds warmer and punchier than the jupiter 6 I replaced it with.
The ION's filters are better than anythin roland has put out since 1990
SPAZZOID100 1 year ago
whats the diffrene between this one and the sh 201?
rnbsmooth1 1 year ago