Roland has released the Aira Compact P-6, a battery-powered sampler with a built-in mic for quickly capturing ideas. It also has a USB-C port and analog inputs, allowing you to plug in a high-end microphone, smartphone, or actual computer for even more sampling. Roland calls it a “mobile recorder,” which is likely because it’s small enough to fit in your pocket.
The P-6 is divided into eight banks of six pads and can store up to 48 samples simultaneously. Four sampling rates are available to suit various tastes, but the internal memory is on the small side. The keyboard not only lets you play samples polyphonically, but also chop and trigger these samples on the fly.
Like many modern musical devices, the Aira Compact P-6 is a multi-functional device. Sampling is its main function, of course, but the device also features a granular synthesis engine and a 64-step sequencer. The sequencer is well-featured and offers many useful options, such as off-grid sequencing, sub-stepping and micro-timing. You can also manipulate samples in real time while sequencing for improvisation purposes.
There’s also a wide range of effects available to personalize each sample, including a vinyl simulator, looper, phaser, resonator, lo-fi emulator and more. A granular synthesis engine lets you detune samples and adjust grain shape for even more “subtle sound design.”
Roland
If manipulating samples on a small device is too tedious, Roland offers a dedicated software suite called SampleTool, which adds even more functionality, including downsampling, click removal, and precise editing.
The battery lasts for about 3 hours on a single charge, so make sure to bring a charger with you when you’re out and about. The Aira Compact P-6 is priced at $220 and is available now. As the name suggests, this sampler is a sibling to the rest of the Aira Compact series, which are all pretty small gadgets. It features a drum machine, synthesizer, vocoder, and more.
