Korg Forums

skuppy · Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:41 am Post subject:

the r3 is awesome but the menu/settings system drives me crazy
not the quickest way to tweak
I let mine go for the gaia , I dont know lots to debate
sometimes nice to have individual knobs right in front of you to tweak away at ease and visualise

soflames · Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Posts: 25 Location: 99

HOWS KORG X50 Compared to Roland GAIA
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SOURAV'S X50, Motif ES-7

skuppy · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 6:24 am Post subject:

the korg x50 is more of a work station
where the gaia is a VA synth

depends what you want to do and what music you want to create

Green Radagast · Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 2

I also own an R3 and have bought the Gaia.

Let's not forget that it's a budget priced 'Analogue Modelled' synth. That means it should operate the same as an analogue, but with the convenience of digital. In this respect it succeeds very well.

It would have been better however, if there was a small LCD screen so you could name your patches, and catch/jump on the rotary controls etc. But it 'is' an analogue model'.

The case would look better if it was black, but white's OK and I don't think it looks like a toy. The control panel looks good, but I don't like the silver caps on the rotary's. I might swap these.

The manual is more like a quick guide, and doesn't explain things too well. I'm still trying to figure out how to get audio through the USB. For now I'll have to use the audio out for now I suppose.

I like the three oscilators. They sound prety good (although not as good as the R3).
I would also have preferred to be able to program the ARP. It does offer 64 different modes, but being a synth, you want to tweak.

64 note polyphony - great!!!

I'm not too impressed with the 'D' beam, but it does add an extra mod source, which is good.
A mod seq would have been handy as well.

The one big issue I have however, is that they want me to 'BUY' the sound designer software!!!!! In Australia it costs $169.00!!!!
Come on Roland, you can give it to us for free!!!!!

Some of you may disagree, but overall I thnk the Roland Gaia is well worth the money. And for a little more, they could have made it a classic.

DaniH · Full Member Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Posts: 183 Location: Tampa

Re-Member · Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 321

The GAIA uses a sample based engine like the SH-32, whereas the SH-201 evolved from the JP-8000/V-Synth VA engine. I messed with the GAIA a bit looking to replace my SH-201 at one point and the pulse width has this weird stacked sound to it, plus there's no modulation control for the Supersaw. Another thing the GAIA fails at is the lack of split patches. While it's got some great effects, loads of knobs and the D-Beam, 64 note polyphony is totally pointless since you're technically only playing a single 3-OSC timbre.

The R3 is a clear winner. Better effects, deeper engine, plus if you want more knobs, you can use something like a Behringer BCR2000 since every parameter can be assigned a MIDI CC number.

Dimitrije001 · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject:

Morshu · Senior Member Joined: 04 Aug 2011 Posts: 299

This is a late response to one of the earlier posts you guys posted:

The best roland is the E-30 hands down. <_< lol

Green Radagast · Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 2

OK. I've had the Gaia for a few months now. Annoying that there is no LCD screen so I can name my patches. Annoying that there is no memory function for the rotary's and sliders. But I am getting great 70's sounding solo sounds and some great pads for my chords (careful with the super saw).

Over all, I quite like it. Not as good as the R3, but none the less, quite good. Not really suitable for gigging, but great for using at home studio.

Not so easy to use MIDI, so I just use analog.

After all, it's an Analog modelled synth!!!!!