one of the main factors for me in this comparison is the difference between the AR’s multimode filter and that of the A4. i find the self oscillation on the AR filter to be much more useful for filter ping-based percussion than the A4’s. it’s just so much easier to dial in strong sinewave toms & kicks and get lots of oomph with the envelopes, in my experience at least.
i also find the noise machine on the AR to be stronger and more impactful than the noise gen on the A4, which makes noise-based percussion on the AR fantastic, especially if you use the filter and amp envelopes to get pseudo-LPG type thwacks. and of course, its hat & cymbal sounds just aren’t possible on the A4, or at least not at all easy to approximate.
meanwhile the A4 obviously has a greater degree of depth for sound design, so while it’s more limited with regards to harmonically rich hats/cymbals, taro’s soundsets have shown that it seriously excels in more complex FM/RM-based drum sounds when compared to the AR, especially hand percussion/wood sounds. and, as mentioned by someone already, i’ve found the A4 is a bit more capable of drum sounds that sit well in a mix without too much fiddling. there’s something in the synthesis engine, especially with the MKII, that has more clarity and definition in the high end.
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