snoking's Reviews

The best old school broadcast headphones

These things are heavy. They were made for broadcasting and dual purpose with a headset mic attachment. Overall the nicest sounding smooth 70's frequency response geared towards that time and vinyl records and you can hear it. I keep a pair for reference. This is very important when Mastering your sound.

The best synth controller/synth unit for the budget studio

The AIRA line was meant for DJ's and Live performances, but that doesn't mean it can't be adapted... or rather... just at home... in the studio. It's the perfect companion because it's not just a synth, its 3 different distinct major products (and then some) and contains hundreds of features that could easily replace every single midi controller in your home or mobile rig. Those are some pretty big claims... I can hear you all groaning "B#$#$S$#!: And you will be partially wrong and right and then a lot of wrong... lol...

No Aftertouch, pressure/velocity that dang waterfall keyboard… yeah.. and no CV??? that’s a big one for me but I pushed forward..

Most studios are either Mobile, Fixed, or a mixture and small and light is where its at. With Roland ACB technology that allows you to “plug-in” a synth and use like such with all the sweet sound right from this lil plastic machine. Think about it…you can carry around 2 full synths with complete for the most part analog control. Lets move on….

2 physical Oscillators can be used with 12 waveform types each

SUPER-SAW, SUPER-SQUARE AND SUPER-TRIANGLE, SAW, SQUARE and TRIANGLE, NOISE SAW,LOGIC OPERATION (OR, AND, NAND, XOR.. and more), Frequency Modulation (FM), FM+SYNC, VOWEL, COWBELL

..12 oscillator types that are matched identical to a hardware ancestors configuration through measurements in development of the unit. That's fantastic for us now because we can have a $10k synth in a small affordable unit… 2 of them… the System-1 itself is modeled after its predecessors (SYSTEM-100, SYSTEM-100M and SYSTEM-700) which was the first Modular outing for Roland and has been coveted by many fine artists and labels. If you opt for the System-1M its modular brethren, they skip adding the keyboard and leave the top row of the PCB board with all its outboard goodness. CV galore and that folks is the best particular model for building a base of grades synthesis at the helm. Why that one….

Well it's just that in that lil space, you have everything to integrate so many old and new products that it just works. And its Roland… it works well and lasts.

With 2 synths in one you get a total of 128 customizable patches with 1000’s more to download on the Internet. Check out more here: https://rolandcorp.com.au/blog/ultimate-guide-aira-system-1-plug-synthesizer

What is really, really awesome about this synth is that it is a controller.. a full blown customizable MIDI controller palette.

I have mine configured for all the Korg and Roland VSTs and AU soft synth plugins using the learn feature available in most DAWs.

To activate the controller only feature Press both MODEL buttons System-1 and PLUG-OUT and while pressing both buttons turn the bender wheel so it lets up 3 instead of 2. 2 is full synth and sound… the selection of 3 is for a MIDI controller with no sound. Get to mapping and once done, you have can use all your synths as if they were hardware… almost…

It's great use of all the knobs so when you want the CUTOFF you can map it to the CUTOFF Knob… it's so convenient… most synths don’t have this mapping feature completely setup as a controller. Rolands System-1 was designed as a controller as well… Each Patch button can represent not only a patch, but a different Synth configuration via Mapping. This lends itself to being a toolbox for everything in your DAW… think about that for a second. This synth also has a variation of the Roland MKS Digital Reverb technology programmed in that is amazing; with real-time manipulation of time, so that you can automate that pitch effects and time together… you can record all the modulation movements of all the sliders and pots.. That's something I have not seen anyone drive home yet…and demonstrate. It was exciting to make songs with this instrument. Check out my YouTube Channel for a System-1 overview and deep-dive into using one for production…. AND HOW-TO! Coming Soon! I love the Roland System-1!

I like it but...

Well to be honest and I'm not being cliche' its just... Its knobs (at least on my unit) seem to suck... but it could be me (possible PEBKAC). I am in love with the joystick though. Its my favorite part and I use it with a wavetable synth with Vocant waves and literally draw my sound out of the speakers. It's so wicked on the iOS MiniMoog by Moog. Yes, this is a great controller, the "mondo" best iOS controller and a value just for Wobble alone. !! I still don't understand the MPC workflow, nor do I understand the MPC Essentials as everytime I load a sample it doesn't really seem to be in sync... no worries I'm a musical idiot stuck in my Sonic Foundry workflows...

Analog Magic

Many decades ago... a small company with huge aspirations began making incredible add on filters and components for the booming organ industry of the late 50,60,and 70s. This unit came with my Technics organ and its legendary woodwind filters make sound much more organic. Now jump ahead to the present day and you can plug any synth into this and filter the incoming audio through some serious old filter tech.

Love my Arty

Arturia is my main dudes and dudettes. I have everything except a MatrixBrute... but... lol... soon... This is simply the best melodic sequencer for the rest of us. strap 2 or 3 on and you got nirvana. Its magic watch people like Sam Battle (Look Mum No Computer) use and push the Beatstep Pros to its limit.

Comes from good stock and referal

You name them, they use it. Its truely not a secret but it sort of is the secret best of the free bunch...

The best...

The Swiss Army wish they had a tool so complete. Took me 3 years to save up to buy it. But now... wow... worth the wait...

Old and New

This titan is always in my stable. Its got the spice that others want. get it..

A staple of EDM

If your not using this synth... well.... so be it. I still love you though.

Yeah its good

Its a lil bit of sunshine when you want to get lofi on the fly... its a great lil monster

lil bugger broke my Korg iS40

Its a love hate relationship here in the beginning. I'm sure loving this synth, but it needs more Volca freindly integration along with all the others.

The Korg 303

THis should be called the K303 its really so close to being a Roland TB-303 its so juicy with bass and wobble. yet its so much more. Its so good you should have 5 of them.

Need more Cowbell

DONG I wish. I bought a metal cowbel and smapled it with the VOlca Sample... did the trick and then some.

Another OMG moment

Modular synths are exciting and the Texture synth "Clouds" by Mutable Insturments is so dense with diversity and sonic appeal... I might take this one to my grave..

Its a beast, a monster, a new type of Flagship..

This is so new I have not delved too much into it yet. The sequencer is the highlight along with the patchbay... The sequencer is a new type that allows for things... I have only read about but soon I will sample the goods.

Updated .. So far ....

Ok, Sorry for the delay. I was just reading some of the earlier reviews. Ouch... some harsh. Well this is not the Radius of course... it's missing all of those wonderful twiddly knobs. But, yes it has the actual real-life Radius just half the voices, but the Korg Editor provides the ability to swap out a variety of patches now.. I can't speak to years ago, but the" synth revival -Reneissiance" that is occuring, albeit pushed harder and farther ahead by the lockdowns that occured and are still occurring as of this writing. Reverb has become a ghost town for certain types of synths. The R3 is still far down the list of most popular, but good luck finding an abundance of them because they are coveted. The Vocant/Vocoder recorder and "first gen" Motion Sequencer" that is essential the same that is in Volcas. I certainly can't tell the difference other than the Volca's version is much more mature and made very easy by the fingerboard.

The R3 is just crazy easy to use with 4 knobs. It reminds me in a way of the Moog LilSubFatty desktop synth the way the menus are used to select parameters. Its not to some peoples liking, but for performance... this is perfect.

Thanks to Korg for making all the MS2000 series and MicroKorg series patch sets available for the R3. Nice touch hav ing all those original vocoder patches. Using the coder over a Wurly is incredible. You can router any of the 128 patches into our thru(with) the vocoder mics, and yes you can have from 1 to 100(utilizing a mixer.. of course) and any other sound device you can think of ... modular, Kaossilator (oh yeah!), Ableton, and seriously just anything. Its a serious F'n fun synth unlike any other. The routable matrix is the hidden genius. Its a 12v system... Yes... it has a 3.3 and 5 v sub system as well. great for patching and bending. The audio input and output is a 24bit A/D converter so you're going to get really pristine quality from the XLR and Line jack input.

The 4 Midi ports via USB surprised the likes of me.. so it has MIDI in and out but it also provide "RS SOUND" Midi Out which is great for using it with the iPad Pro as its modulated and remodulated sound is recordable in GarageBand for iOS or any Android or iOS App supporting USB Audio which is just about everyone. More to come...

Original Post:

The Korg R3 is by far a secret weapon. In capable hands you have a portable magic black box follow me on this. It has the Radius Engine, it has a Vocoder, a "Vocant" Formant Motion recorder to record Vocant waves\env motion, I kid you not... oh boy am I going to have fun with this... more to come. (im busy mapping all my VSTs the controller is both a Host controller and synth too. THe knobs can be mapped to any MIDI CC/ control # or LBS and more oh my!

(First Entry) It hasn't arrived yet... but I have read the user manual cover to cover... The R3 contains the Radius Engine which is what I wanted for my studio. Not all the features of the Radius engine are in the 3 Octave R3 version but enough was brought over to let this EDM cowboy VOcate this S#$t out of my music.... Hellop Kraftwerk!!! and David Gilmore. lol let the growls begin lol Korg has 2 packs that were customized for the R3. All of the MS2000, MS2000R and MS2000B all available for free to enhance the R3... want an MS2000 just patch it. The modular routing is the magic that allows for

The details I wanted (Wikipedia) A dual filter, which not only allows you to use two filters in various configurations for each timbre, but also to "morph" different filter types.

Formant Motion Record allows you to record spoken phrases and then trigger them with the keyboard using Vocoder function. (think Volca Motion Sequence capture)

Modulation Sequencer, a "virtual analog sequencer" that mimics analog sequencing, 3 * 16 step. (again Volca got it from this tech)

Virtual Patching, originally developed on the Korg MS2000, six "virtual patches" allow any of 15 modulation sources to be routed to any of 15 modulateable parameters. (think holy sh$t badd ass)

Ill update when I get it next Tuesday ...

RIP.... Damn you Korg Kaossilator 2S!!!

SO in a nutshell my wonderful Korg iS40 died a few weeks ago when I plugged in my new Korg Kaossilator 2S from the headphone port to the input port on the back of the iS40. It honked really loud then nothing but silence. I think it blew out the amp circuit because gibberish is all that remains on the LCD display. Still works as a controller. Which I had a broken one ot fix this with. ANyone got a broken one? I'llpay for shipping!! an iS50 will also work. Same board!

The Best so far!

This has given a new life and purpose for my JV880. Now I twiddle knobs with my custom synth from my iPad and play it like a Synth with any controller ! LOVE IT!

Excellent

No matter how you look at it, this is the biggest steal in the history of music instrument history. No wonder most APC’s are collecting dust... some got smart and decided to learn what this incredible powerhouse can do. Just watch the Korg videos and pay attention to the layering, this is an incredible tool. Yes you can upload you own samples with both desktop and mobile. This is indispensable and I may buy 4 more. IMHO.

The A-30 is a legendary simple stage and home studio controller.

Roland created a classic controller when they built the A series controllers. These were stage and studio controllers for the modern era of computer and multi-synth modules such as the JV-1080 Rack Synth from Roland. They go hand in hand. Designed for the professional, the A-30, 76-key has:

Keyboard: 76 semi weighted

Control: 2 Separate Sections (Upper / Lower), Programmable split point, programmable transpose, 32 User Patches, MIDI Soft Thru

Front Panel Master Controls: Data Entry Fader, Data Entry Assign, Transpose, Start / Stop, Modulation / Bender / After Touch Lever. Patch Mode On / Off, Variation CC 00, Variation CC 32, Capital Program Change, Patch 1 / 16, 17 / 32, Patch Recall (16), 10 Numerical Buttons, Enter, Write, MIDI / Param, Octave Down, Octave Up, Upper Section On / Off, Lower Section On / Off, Edit Upper / Lower, Chorus On / Off, Reverb On / Off.

Rear Panel Switches and Outputs: Sustain Switch, MIDI (In, Out, Thru), DC In, Power On / Off.

Power: Battery (MN 1500 x 6 pcs) or option AC Adaptor

Dimensions: 1195 x 270 x 105 mm

Weight: Kg. 8,1.

Accessories Supplied: MIDI Cable (1 meter long). Music Rest. Also supplied with your A – 30 are 6 alkaline batteries type MN 1500. These will be found in the package (Batteries life expectance = approx. 25 hours.)

Optional: AC / DC Adaptor (ACA), Sustain Foot Switch (DP2 / DP6 / FS5U).