The latest Sonic Lab video features an overview and demo of the new Roland GAIA 2 synthesizer.
The GAIA 2 offers a hybrid wavetable and virtual analog synth engine, intuitive sound design workflow, expressive control options, Model Expansion support and more.
Roland revives its 2010 synth with Gaia 2, a new hybrid wavetable and virtual analogue sound engine. The tweak-friendly instrument also offers Model Expansion support and has a built-in SH-101 emulation.
We were expecting Roland’s next release to be a successor to its 2010 Gaia SH-01 synth. Gaia 2 appears to be a significant step up from Gaia SH-01 synth, being based on a new hybrid sound engine that puts a wavetable oscillator alongside two virtual analogue ones.
Said wavetable oscillator is capable of morphing between multiple waveforms, with phase and shape modulation options being on hand to distort these waveforms and create complex overtones. The VA oscillators, meanwhile, are tasked with emulating classic synth tones and generating more contemporary ones.
Speaking of classic synths, Gaia 2 is compatible with Roland’s Model Expansions, which means that you can load it up with an instrument – the Jupiter-8 or Juno-106, for example – from the company’s illustrious back catalogue and play it on the 37-note full-size keyboard. One such Expansion, the SH-101, comes pre-installed.
The Gaia 2’s one-control-per-function interface is set against a white anodised aluminium panel, while the assignable X/Y Motional Pad enables real-time parameter morphing with a drag of your finger. These movements can be recorded, too.
Other features include a sequencer that offers random pattern generation, 50 ‘MFX’ effects, dedicated chorus and reverb/delay sections and class-compliant USB-C MIDI/audio interfacing with your computer, phone or tablet. There’s support for Roland Cloud Connect, too, meaning that you can access Roland Cloud content via your mobile device if you buy the requisite wireless adapter.
