Roland has introduced GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer, a software-based editor application for the GAIA SH-01 Synthesizer.
Compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X, the GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer allows users to access the GAIA synth’s entire set of sound parameters visually, via a computer.
Here’s an overview, via Roland, of GAIA Sound Designer:
Once the GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer is installed, all that is required is a USB connection between the GAIA synth and the PC. With the GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer’s interactive interface, users have complete control over sound creation. Every control for the GAIA’s three synthesizer engines is represented, while the unique Waveform Display shows the shape of the currently edited waveform in a virtual oscilloscope, providing a graphical representation of the sound.
The Action List feature allows users to record and play back every step of the sound-creation process. Additionally, the GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer comes with many sample Action Lists that detail the creation of common sounds such as synth bass and synth lead. This feature helps beginners understand basic synthesis and aids music educators teaching in synthesizer labs.
The GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer also provides a way for users to backup, organize, and store their custom GAIA sounds. Included with the GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer are a number of newly created patches, ready for loading into the GAIA Synthesizer.
The GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer is expected to be available in October with an MSRP of $99.00.
I have been considering buying one of these for some time. This weighs into the reasons for. Shame it costs extra though. It should be bundled with the Gaia.
Seems like you get be best of hardware and software with this combo. This has to be the way forward for digital hardware synths?
Interesting article. To me this proves once again that many "hardware" synthesizers are much closer to software then most people care to realize.
I have an editor like this for my Waldorf Pulse, which is purely analog and I garr-ahn-tee has nothing to do with software inside. An external editor that controls via CC and NRPN has nothing to do with the anatomy of the synthesizer. The Nord Modular, Arturia Origin, and Access Virus TI are closer to what you are inferring.
Wait, you have to pay for the editing software?
The SH-01 would have sold for $699 instead of $599 if the software were bundled, excluding a whole segment of custom that may not have had the extra $100 in their pocket when buying fever struck. TANSTAAFL
Yes, you pay extra to duplicate the exact same controls that are already on the front panel of the Gaia. I am at a loss as to why I would need this?
As above, i can't believe they are going to charge for this. I'm not sure I'll pick up a gaia, but i hope they come to their senses.
Mind blowing that they are charging for this. This hands down, should have been included with the keyboard. Absolutely can not believe they are charging for this…wow.
wow $99 is totally out of order….
sound tower editor for the tetra is £39 for example…. so $99 is just MAD!
if this editor just shows edits on screen then no thanks!….i needs to ADD multitimbral capability for each 'tone' or something like that before they'll see $99 dollars heading their way.
i think we'll see free editors arrive soon so this oddball idea of near £100 for what should be a a cheap or dare i say FREE [sh-201 has a FREE editor] spftware editor/lib will be loast and just gather dust.
for $99 they need to ship it with 500 presets and a editor not just 64…pur lazy money grabbing nonsense from Roland on this one.
If the whole point of the Gaia is that all the controls are laid out in front of you on the synth then what's the point of this supposed to be? Agree with the others, I wouldn't pay more than $9.99 for it and it really ought to be free. You don't make a synth for newcomers then stiff them with $100 unnecessary add-ons.
While an editor is a nice thing to have, i agree with the other commenters, that it should be free or reasonably priced. for a Synth that has physical control elements for most of its parametwers anyway, i don't see the added value here, if you have to pay 100 bucks and don't even get like 1000 additional presets…
there is no need to have the software editor: Roland Gaia is a very simplest synth but a powerful one. You can make a sound in few minutes. A good prove are the video examples [and the free patches] that I've made with Gaia…
I agree. I have the Gaia, and there is no need for software, at least for me.
To charge Gaia owners $99.00 for something that should have come with the unit, is an insult to it's customers.
Roland, bite me on this one.
completely agree. this doesn't look like very sophisticated software! just controlling the parameters! 99 bucks for that????
It came included qith my Junp-Di and that is a hell of alot more complex at a comparable price.
Guys, many of you seemed to miss this part:
"The GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer also provides a way for users to backup, organize, and store their custom GAIA sounds"
So it's a bit more than an editor, it's also a librarian.
That said, it's still outrageous to charge a C-note for it instead of bundling it with the board. I own an SH-101, and the editor/librarian software was included free.
Bad move, Roland.
Yours truly,
a (former?) Roland fan
ya not too legit Roland greediness is not very becoming my friend
I have seen dozens of reviews of this software but only one place in the UK selling it, and that was for £99. I agree with others that this should have come bundled with the Gaia. I certainly won't be parting with that sort of money for something so basic.
I aggree with all the above comments. I also own a SH 201 and Roland provide the editor / librarian free of charge straight from their website plus hundreds of free patches. I cannot understand why they are charging £99 which is a 5th of the cost of the Gaia. Really bad move and a great way of losing future custom. HAVE A RETHINK
arpeggiator editor (like the on in the FREE sh 201 editor software)????? i see nothing about it. lame. i have both synths (Gaia & 201) and i like them both. the Gaia certainly sounds better (although the 201 has a gritty quality that i like a lot)… really need a way to adjust the arpeggio's resolution (16ths/8ths etc). frustrated.
ROLAND: YOU ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY. THIS SHOULD BE FREE FOR SH-01 OWNERS. WE DON’T WANT $3500 WORKSTATIONS – WE WANT NEW PURIST VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTHS THAT COST LESS.. LIKE KORG IS DOING. WE WANT:
*A JUPITER-10 THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE JUPITER 6/8, 4-PART MULTI-TIMBRAL, 8-12 VOICES. ALL THE SH AND JUPITER 4, 6 & 8 CLASSIC PATCHES FOR $999
*A NEW 909 / 808 WITH 16 STEP BUTTONS AND ALL THE CONTROLS THE 909 HAD FOR $599
*A 6/8/10 VOICE SYSTEM-100 MODULAR FOR $999 COMPLETE
*CV OUT ON EVERYTHING
*THE JP-8000 WAS/IS SUPERB. BRING IT BACK. I LOVE MINE, NEEDS BETTER FX BUT NOT CHEESY.
A $1000 polyphonic modular system? OK, right after the wish fairy gives you a bigger member and a supermodel girlfriend and a racing car and a personal rocket. You just close your eyes and really concentrate. Don’t open them until we say.