KVR Audio

Famous Last Words · Post by **Famous Last Words** » Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:59 pm

chk071 wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:37 pm Like most of Roland's digital synths post 2000, it has a bit of "distanced sound", not really in your face. If you know what I mean. Dunno why that is really. Already noticed that heavily on GAIA 1. Could have to do a bit with lack of bass, saturation, and also a bit of lacking in brightness. Not sure.

That's what is so great about the Nord Lead 1 and 2. They are both totally "in your face," super punchy, and have ultra snappy envelopes. Yeah, the resonance gets almost unlistenable when you crank it way up. But at lower levels it sounds good and even a bit "squelchy" (although not in a more modern, saturated sort of way like the Virus).

That "in your face" quality" is really why I prefer a Nord Lead 2 or Nord Rack 2 over the Gaia 2. But I can definitely appreciate the Gaia's appeal, especially if you don't already own another hardware wavetable synth.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:02 pm

Famous Last Words wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:59 pm
chk071 wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 7:37 pm Like most of Roland's digital synths post 2000, it has a bit of "distanced sound", not really in your face. If you know what I mean. Dunno why that is really. Already noticed that heavily on GAIA 1. Could have to do a bit with lack of bass, saturation, and also a bit of lacking in brightness. Not sure.
That's what is so great about the Nord Lead 1 and 2. They are both totally "in your face," super punchy, and have ultra snappy envelopes.

I like that.

I think a lot of music I listen to, and used to listen was done partly on Nords. And also on Roland JP-8000 (I hear that a lot on older Good Looking Records releases).

Lectropunk aka influx808 · Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:20 pm

I used to have a roland system keyboard that was a cool midi controller but I sold it ,
Can I use this keyboard with synths with midi learn?

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:28 pm

Yeah.

Lectropunk aka influx808 · Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:29 pm

Thanks man for this

Jkdbjj · Post by **Jkdbjj** » Tue Nov 28, 2023 1:29 am

I’ve watched couple reviews say it is a new engine called Gaia 2 engine

And the model SH is a watered version of zen core

Can anyone confirm gaia2 is a new engine entirely? Called Gaia 2?

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Tue Nov 28, 2023 1:41 am

Pretty sure the zen-core models loaded into the Gaia 2 will sound the same as when loaded into the System-8. The idea of it being watered down may be because oscillators 2 and 3 are derived from the zen-core engine and aren't exactly one of the zen-core models.

Fantom, OTOH:

egbert101 · Post by **egbert101** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 6:12 pm

System-8 is not Zen-Core but ACB.

Didn't you say this before? I am having Deja vu moment.

roman.i · Post by **roman.i** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:05 pm

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:05 pm

egbert101 wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 6:12 pm System-8 is not Zen-Core but ACB.

Didn't you say this before? I am having Deja vu moment.

I'm so confused.

egbert101 · Post by **egbert101** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:22 pm

If Roland made a modern full analog version of the Juno-106, people would still complain.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:32 pm

I wish Starsky had spent more time comparing synths he had. The SH-101 comparisons are fantastic. Really didn't expect the Fantom EX to sound that close.

Roland GAIA 2