Roland GAIA SH-01 Review
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2019
- Donald Jordan's review of Roland's GAIA SH-01.
All synth sounds and music in the video were created using the SH-01, with no external effects or processing.
For music made with the SH-01, watch this video - • Bloom_003
Intro - 0:09
Architecture - 1:52
Oscillator - 3:31
Filter - 8:12
Modulation - 11:12
Effects - 15:53
Multi-Timbrality - 19:11
Patches - 22:23
Conclusion - 24:13
For synth related content and hints about upcoming Bloom Music videos, follow me on Instagram: donald_bloommusic
If you enjoyed this review and want to see similar content in the future, please like and subscribe. 
Видеоклипы
I'm 2 min into the video!! THANK YOU!! this is the information i keep hoping to get in other videos.
Very thorough review, nice job!
The Gaia offers complex layering and processing which the original 1980's Juno and Jupiter struggle to achieve. But the Gaia doesn't offer the same rawness and note inconsistencies/ character as the original SH101.
Well I just discovered a fix that makes the Gaia superior to the original SH101 in rawness and boldness.
I ran the Gaia thru an Ibanez HD1000. This introduces a plethora of analog character and rawness, that with Gaia's complex layering makes this combo the ultimate virtual analog synth. Stronger, Faster, Bolder !
You explain it well and I love my GAIA. It's a keeper. Fits in with my Moog Old School.
This is a fantastic board I can see how it could be argued whether or not it’s the one to get if it’s your first and only keyboard you have if you have multiple boards in your rig this is what you absolutely have to put in there it’s awesome and in many cases I use a master to get to this one for a lot of different tones and it ends up being a “go to” board for more than I would have imagined!! It’s so versatile and it’s surprising the thick unique sound you can get out of this thing
This comment gave me cancer.
Hey man I appreciate the review. I just bought one and then watched this. I thought I might have been ripped off but you are right, aslong as you don't over due the layers, this thing can make some beautiful unique sounds. Cheers
This synth came out right before RUclips reviews stepped up their game, so it's cool to see it get modern look. I came to the same conclusion as you did about it when it came out.
There are tons of reviews for vintage synths, and then, of course, all the new stuff gets reviewed... But there's a good 10-15 year span of synths from the '90s and '00s that get overlooked, and videos are pretty limited. I hope to capture a lot of these on this channel.
Own both the gaia and the jd-xi - to me to use a painters analogy the gaia is good for pastels, the jd-xi for oils. Still best review I have seen of this instrument even if I don't agree with its conclusions. Keep up the great work!
I own a GAIA and like it a lot, in spite of all the limitations, which you pointed out nicely. Aside from the slightly bland oscillator sound, I think the fact that it's impossible to recall the knob settings for each layer is close to unforgivable. If anything stops me from spending hours of patch design with this thing, it's this. And it's really not that difficult to achieve. You don't need light up knobs, or anything complicated or costly, it really doesn't take more than a single set of little led nights, like in my super old creamware minimoog clone, that display how far you are from the last setting you used on that layer. Or even a single led that blinks when your knob or slider physically reaches the spot where it should be. Or am I missing something?
I don't own one of these so forgive me if I am wrong but to get around the knob recall problem there are two possible solutions that are easy. Firstly just take a photo of the board on a mobile phone will give you a rough picture. Also assuming that you do not need further editing then store it with Sysex using Midi ox which is something I se regularly and is a free download.I use the photo method with my MS 20 and Sherman Filterbank both of which have no displays or storage at all.
I just got this synth and the first time I held down a key, i got goosebumps. :)
Close your window. It's getting cold outside.
Lol ☠
Nice explanations, would enjoy your take on other synths.
Thanks. I have JX-03 and Super 8 reviews posted on my channel if you have not seen them, and I have many more in the pipeline!
Good review
There are two lfos. Hold shift and push the mod wheel up to access them for each tone.
dang, all these years and every single review mentions the single lfo. Nicely done if true.
@@raffitchakmakjian Shadows not Shade D
2 years ago
There are two lfos. Hold shift and push the mod wheel up to access them for each tone.
You summarized perfectly my experience with my Gaia. I got it at a very good price and like shaping new sounds with it. But the harsh high frequencies bums me out everytime I get to use it. I feel exactly as you described, always using the filter to save an otherwise horrible sound. I can get good sounds from it, I use it a lot, but it is always frustrating to have to work around it's flaws.
I was about to get one as a supersaw trance piano but not being able to choose the detune level of the superwave is a deal breaker unfortunately. I want to love this one so much. I'll probably save up for a System-8.
Yet in-spite all these limitations you point out. I have spotted the SH-01 in amongst many a pros rigs.
Jerry Casale of Devo used one live and it sounded fantastic. Thats a good enough endorsement for me.
Even the synth player's of lady gaga use the gaia in their rig😉
i have one amongst my friends electric.. it still a lot to offer . Dbeam is groovy
Great sounding VA synth.
@ghost mall Were they really samples? I heard people argue about that but I don't know what's true.
@ghost mall I've heard people say that too.
Great review. I owned this synth for a few years. It was my only synth at the time and I really wanted to enjoy it but the oscillators just sound wimpy and a bit lifeless. After I upgraded to something much more powerful (the Roland V-Synth) I realized how much I was actually missing. I still think the hate the Gaia gets online is waayy too much but it does have its flaws.
I too have a Gaia SH-01, I've had mine for years now, it was my first synthesizer and was good for learning on, I now have several other synths too but I still play with my SH-01 every single day. There are a few things I don't like about the SH-01 like there are no really fat bass sounds like you get in a lot of other synths, there's no aftertouch, there's no LED display, I find that the D Beam isn't very usable unless you want to try and sound like Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygene Part 2 then theres only so much you can do with it, also there's some patches which I just don't know what you would do with them, nothing is in order either and by that I mean all the organ sounds are NOT all together, neither are the the lead synthg sounds, they are all over the place and without an LED screen to view then it's difficult to find anything, I have all the user patches filled up so I now have 128 patches but just try finding a sound without an LED and unless you've got a fantastic memory for where things are stored then in my mind it's just all wrongly set up, I also don't like the way some patches go dull all of a sudden then a few seconds later it reappears, so making a tune can be somewhat tricky, and lastly there's no semiweighted keys ! The keys themselves feel a bit plasticky feeling and are far too light and lastly there's no step sequencer either
That all said......
It's a great little synth for learning on, its super lightweight, you can run it on batteries if you want to take it out (I never have done this though) everything is laid out neatly in order of the controls running left to right, first you have the Oscillator section, then next section is Filter followed by the Amp and then on to the Effects section, so from a learnability point of view its spot on, also theres a very usable Appeggio, and its also got Portomemento and a hold key too, it's spot on for the money I guess if you arejust starting out
Glen 👍
Great synth yet very light to carry. The hidden PCM presets (lots of them) also makes this synth interesting
Hi! I have a Roland gaia synth! Where are the hidden PCM patches? Thanks
@@marcoagius6926 Please see my video here: ruclips.net/video/MWAOU8UwAYM/видео.html
One thing about the resonance that’s cool is pushing the filter into being a key trackable oscillator.
How do I apply this in my Gaia?
Software and midi implementation would be a really good deep dive for the Gaia…
I still can’t map the whole synth out and it seems like it would be the PERfect synth midi controller…
Does the GAia meys are velociry sen sitive or aftertouch?
Does it have patch memoty ?
You're being a little harsh there. Gotta remember...beauty is within the ear of the beholder. All of the negatives you venomously mentioned, (not that you were totally wrong lol) are part of the Gaia's personality take it or leave it. It definitely was not designed to compete with a Moog System 55. Love your videos and thanks for the great watching.
HOLA ESTOY POR COMPRAR UNO Y VI TU VIDEO GRACIAS COLEGA SALUDOS
This was an extremely thorough and informative critique. As a relative beginner to synthesis I thought I really wanted a Roland GAIA. Now...I don't think I so. I would love to hear what your evaluation would be of the System-8.
I've never got to play a System-8, but I would love to! I love everything I've heard from it, but don't love the green interface... Maybe someday!
You can find them used on CL for very cheap, which def makes it worth it.
It looks like this system wouldn't be able to give me the soft sounds I'm looking for with my ambient composing. I want something along the lines of what you would hear in Steve Roach's Infinite Shore or Moment of Grace. This system isn't going to do it. I wonder if you'd happen to know of a system that would grant the soft sounds files I'm wanting?
It's been a long search for the right system...and I'm still on that search. SO many keyboards/systems have too much LFO wave patterns. The system I currently have has the ability to modify sounds, but I still can't get the wave pattern out. It's been a frustration because some really good pieces are often hindered by this effect. So my search continues on.
I listened to those two Steve Roach tracks. The majority of the sounds don't sound like subtractive synthesizers. I'm hearing a lot of samples and also some FM synth sounds. The few "normal" synthesizer sounds I'm hearing are not advanced or "special", and could be attained with pretty much any basic poly synth. As with a lot of ambient styles, most of the character of these sounds comes from the effects used, not the synthesizers themselves. You could try some RUclips searches for "ambient reverb" and "ambient delay" and see what you come up with. I think that will get you closer to this sound than looking for a specific synthesizer. Hope this helps!
@@Bloom_Music Thank you for the insight. I currently have a Roland Juno-DS keyboard that I'm using for ambient. Though it has some decent sounds, they all have a wave form pattern that I can't seem to get rid of. I'm still in the process of trying to modify the sounds, but so far, I've not hit that point. Maybe trying some effects would be my best bet.
My opinion summary of your review
+ you love the 3 stack sound
+ you like the LFO system
+ you like the PWM
- the effect was trash to you
- the d beam is a gimmick?
- you want to detune the super saw mode
Fair enough 3 plus 3 minus
Thanks for the excellent video. I got one so learn sound design. I notice there is no way to directly mix oscillators. Seems like it is a good opportunity to learn about programming at a very reasonable price as they are being replaced with a v2 version. 😊
I was overly harsh on the SH-01 back when I made this video, mostly because the sound didn't meet my expectations. But it has an incredible architecture and is an excellent teaching/learning synth. Enjoy!
A had a Gaia for years and this is the perfect review for it. You nailed it! It's not a bad synth but it has some odd things... and the sound... I do know. I can be good with a lot of fx like you sind. but i think a synth should be fun to use! And it almost got it. The layout its perfect... But the sound...
Oh and the FX... Jesus. They are REALLY BAD!
best gaia review in youtube. reveals truth
This channel is gonna grow big quick, wish I wasn't so lazy with my filming style.
I think it sounds good. I've watched this thing since it came out, and understandably it got flamed hard, partly because the boomers would always demo it with that disgusting hoover lead faux electric guitar sound. However, I like the sound shaping capabilities of having 3 timbres. I also like the look and formfactor. Wish it would come down in price a bit, I'd jump on it. Great review.
I had this synth years ago, and purchased it for the general looks of it. I like how everything is in place, grouped together, labeled straightforward.
Sold it after about 3 month of use for these reasons:
In vain it has 3 layers, it's nearly impossible to prodctively use it as a tool for sound designs, as you can't tell any of the layer parameters when switching between them. No led knob indicators, no motor faders, which are essential feedback components, if you have multi-purpose knobs and sliders. This fact almost renders the whole synth unusable if you want to design your own stuff on it.
The filter also sounds pretty shitty if you try to drive it "crazy", which - owning a korg monotron before - came in almost as dissapointing as the above fact with layer editing.
Also little facts like the LFO LED does not actually follow the LFO position helped me to shred some light on the SH-01 being a cheap and unusable yield of a fantastic (but probably too expensive) idea.
It's kinda claiming to see others to have similar complaints. I would never get this synth again, but still waiting on a real successor for it.
i dont know its sound better than minilogue xd, do u have some synth to advise at the same prize, for make soundscape, pad for chill music and big bass.
@@kaafaa5944 moog sub phatty looks interesting, but also overly complicated..
@@zZzZUPER i found some synth ( but i didnt bought it) Deepmind12, and recently korg Wavestate but this gaia attract me, its sound funky :o but none like it, but i saw professional use it in live
@@kaafaa5944 its strange this concept of sound creation hasnt caught on.. the gaia is 10 years old and still seems like the best choice in a modern synth? whats up with that.. i would love to see three signals, that are ALL physical controls, running the length of the keyboard.. : ] then you could see your settings!
I’m stuck between this and the Roland JD-XI
Go for JD-XI if mini keys don't bother you but that's the main reason why I didn't buy it.
i went ang got both
@@brothacaim yea I've got both and still don't know how to use either of them 😂
I’d get a MicroKorg S, before either of those … unless you really need a drum machine, in which case the JD-Xi is good for that if nothing else (don’t get it for the analog voice though, ‘cause it sucks …).
@@johnglennon6504 looool...you's a fool
You lost me at can't detune the supersaw waves.
There's dedicated VST's for supersaw. Consider it a bonus on this synth, not necessarily a feature.
I love the 2001 Space Odyssey look of this synth.
I hate the way it sounds like a mosquito playing a kazoo.
why am I looking at your head for 80% of the vid?
I don’t know… Are you stupid?
Not stupid enough to think people want to look at my stupid head during a synth review@@Bloom_Music
Mmmm! Ok, firstly this is a great great synth. O right you have limits, But I don,t. this is a nice easy board quick to program now the GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer software turns the heat up. Having a visual display make's a hell of a difference, then if you out put the signal to a processor. bland it ain't. My work follow has increase, and up loading and saving patches frigging A, you just need to turn the juice up,
sample based synth... not VA
The beauty of this synth is not layering. Layering makes mud. This synth can't be programmed like other synths. If you approach the tones as kotsu (hammer knock, initial attack), steady state tone, and evolution, incredible possibilities open up. This is not your father's Oldsmobile, and if you approach it as such, you'll expose everything that's mediocre about it. If you turn up your nose at that point, instead of approaching this synth on its own terms, it's your loss.
I love my Gaia. So many weird happy accidents.
the dbeam sucks. The usb audio interface sucks. The drivers on windows and mac os suck.
The pc editor is unobtainable.
Half the controls have no midi CC mapping making this a shitty controller.
The mod stick is much more useful than the dbeam.
The phrase recorder is awesome.
Add a tape delay and an eq guitar pedal and be happy.
I am gonna go plug this shitty sounding synth into my shitty pedals and get insane and awesome results.
This is the way. I'm a huge nerd and making videos obsessing over details is fun to me, but it's easy to lose the priority in the weeds - MAKING MUSIC! Thanks.
This is a big cluster F$#& by Roland. Millions of Gaia SH-01 owners across all continents and no Sound Designer s/w to be found anywhere ! WTF ? !
There is, tho’ …
Personally I think it's too damn pricey. Almost 700 dollars
$700!
i bought mine from thomann about a year ago for €544!
Why a close-up? I don't want you speaking right in my face about synths (or anything else) lol. Step back and show me the star of this presentation. Or is it you?
Why don't you step back from your monitor? Was your safe space violated?
@@raffitchakmakjian "was your safe space violated" good god man, they're just expressing their opinion. don't get so "triggered"
@@flower5185 "good god man, don't get so triggered" triggered atheist and/or cultist reflecting.
@ghost mall Right?! Lol
How rude.
If you add an oscilloscope instead of zooming in on your zits so damn much I guarantee you will get more subs.
This is genius advice. If only I had started doing exactly this years ago.
The Gaia is the greatest digital poly of all time that doesn't have a menu. For the recording studio, 64 voices layered 3 deep with each layer containing a full subtractive synth, and then panning of each oscillator. Between the panning and running 3 different amp envelopes, and 3 filter envelopes, and 3 LFOs all reacting in different times mixing is the stereo field. Add to this big two handed chords with long releases of the ADSR means no note dropouts. Gaia is a unicorn, no other synth like it in history. This synth does the job of 2 analog synths, and no digital has all the tactile front panel control for very fast sound design. After designing on the Gaia for 10 years now, I find all other synths darn boring, and all analog synths don't have a true stereo field, only effects to simulate stereo. Big difference between a true stereo field and a typical boring effects stereo field. IF you want to hear what this synth is capable of in the hands of a deep user go to: the 30-minute location: ruclips.net/video/DnB5d6SFfkQ/видео.html my other YT channel where I have many tutorials on this synth.
That is… a bold claim, lol. 64 voices of grating, high frequency sizzle, baby! The architecture and interface ARE amazing, I just wish they would update the Gaia with a sound engine worthy of them!