The only connection I see between this and the SK and VS is the short sample memory and onboard mic, which isn’t enough for me to consider this as some sort of homage product. P6 is also missing a couple of my favorite functions from those-- an arp and glide/portamento. For me, those are the fun bits!
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Not in spirit. But in functionality?
Mic, short lofi sample memory, chromatic playback, and non velocity “keyboard”.
Functionally it can do just that. And if that’s all, it’s about as good an alternative as op-1 or chompy
Workflow wise, I’m interested to see if sample over USB and record over USB are as well implemented as the SP404mkii. If so, something along the lines of the Marlow Digs-style hybrid approach could work really well, especially if the lower sampling rates add character.
So basically, I’m thinking:
(1) One USB cable to your computer to quickly sample in your sounds using threshold sampling, unless you want to use the companion app. (No need to worry about companion app abandonment this way)
(2) Take the P6 with you to arrange something.
(3) One cable to computer to record your patterns back track by track (I’m not someone that needs all my individual drum hits separate so no need to do a million passes)
(4) Use the power of the DAW to quickly arrange stuff (copy/paste, drop stuff out, bring stuff in).
Kind of the best of both worlds in terms of lofi sample rates, being able to mess around with ideas on the couch or in bed or wherever, and then power of the DAW for visually arranging your song. Plus, just one cable. No messing around with cards to get stuff on and off your machine. No dealing with other audio interfaces to record.
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Lofi sample rates, mic, looping back and forward, ADSR, effects, polyphonic sample playback
Plus, if being used like a VS it would probably be better to midi up a keyboard for velocity and a lot of midi keyboards have arp.
Anyway, YMMV. I have yet to try one of course so time will tell if it can do what I want, but looks promising to me.
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Well, ordered one after watching some tutorials on Youtube…
I’m tempted to pair it with a Mother 32 and a shortwave radio to make some early 90’s-inspired ambient like Biosphere !
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I’m just glad Roland listened to people like me who want cheaper, fun, small, portable, throw away cute little samplers to jam on when I’m away from my professional flagship mega sampler production work stations.
Haha just playing, but I will have one in my hot little hands by Wednesday evening and the first plans are an iPad mini/P6/usb audio setup, and also a mini BlackBox/P6 setup to see if I can resample BB through the Roland fx.
I’m also going to sit in a field of baby horses with it and try to make a jam at sunset like a frickin’ hip hop granola hippie.
I think some little laminated cheat cards will be needed. Can’t wait!
Update - I have been informed by Sweetwater that my shipment is arriving two days early on Monday. It’s like we were meant to be together.
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I got mine the day it dropped. Didn’t get a chance to play it until today. So far it’s quite the fun little sampler. Paired it with the S-1. Sampled some one shots from the TR-6S in different LoFi rates. As well as the VolcaKick. Also didn’t notice the usual noise from USB power.
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do these exist for any of the Roland compacts? I printed out tiny little 1/2 size sheets of the shortcuts for the T-8 but theyre a pain to read. There are a ton of shortcuts for the S-1 and i dont really wanna hunt and make my own cheatsheet. wondering if someone already did that somewhere. Specifically a tiny one that’s about the same size as the S-1 so i can stick it in its case, not some big 8.5x11 size sheet.
Nothing I know of. I’ll start with just sticking post-it notes all over the wall at my desk while I’m learning it.
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I’m still trying to wrap my head around what the idea behind Bus A and Bus B is. They are not effect buses, and affect volume only. The interview with the developer linked earlier mentioned the crossfading of those buses was added as an experimental feature at the last minute. I’m just wondering what the practical application would be of assigning things to different volumes independent of the volume you have set, and, based on the interview, I’m assuming having the volumes of stuff assigned to A and B cross faded and mixed with your stuff going through the effect bus.
Also, I’m guessing no, but can the restore pattern or sequence feature be engaged while the pattern is playing to do the restore all Digitakt performance trick?
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That would be pretty wild if maybe with some update a crossfade is implemented as an FX or something. Imagine half the pads being their own pattern and being able to mix them with the other half.
That’d be really squeezing the little thing!
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Or like having the samples in Pattern 1 assigned to Bus A, and different samples in Pattern 2 assigned to Bus B, so when you shift patterns it does a volume crossfade? Almost sounds like a DJ mode. No idea though. Just thinking out loud.
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Yo thanks for the shout and sorry didnt have a chance for a proper reply on my days off. Finally got a chance to watch a couple videos.
Been talking about this little swiss army knife with a bunch of my sp friends. Bunch of them are super interested.
I am out of the sampler buying game for a bit after just picking up a 202. Restoring 404OG and getting the 303 RCAS INS/OUTS fixed.
I have been snatching up all the relics of my past on some mid life crisis ish.
But back to the topic at hand!
This thing is super intriguing. I have a feeling that if this came out back in my early days i never would have found Elektron.
Couple other buddies referred to it as a pocket Korg ESX (Another one of my fav samplers ever) Which was my main buddy for my Sps when i started out.
I think it would an awesome addition to a last gen SP setup or for those that dont want to replace an OG/303 ETC with the MKII. It is so powerful and would bring a lot of new functionality, but has a decent amount of overlap with my MKII.
The very low amount of sample time is pretty rare for the SP Line, so stand alone it would be pretty tough to do what i like to do using resample method etc.
But happy they brought back the different sample rates, and lo-fi button.
+But real Pitch
- Granular mode
+usb rechargeable - keyboard mode
+ASDR
+panning
Looks kinda menu divey
I am weird but i don’t like how clean/different the new MKII style effects sound and is a big reason what i have been going back the last gen stuff, but it could be another case of a a painter blaming the lack of talent on the supplies being used haha
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In the mixer mode,
I wonder if holding shift+turning the level knob does anything, because the shift + the other knobs controls the bus levels.
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The sound of the mkII was one of the reasons I let it go. Prefer the older SPs, as well.
This seems to focus on a lo-fi aethtic tho, so I’m pumped to check it out. Kinda like mkII lo-fi mini.
+1 for pitch, adsr, panning, usb audio. All things I was looking forward to on the mkII.
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As far as midlife crises go, that’s not too bad at all! Sounds pretty fun! I agree MKII is pretty hi-fi sounding compared to the old machines.
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Whats the difference between sampling at different rates and the ‘lofi’ button? Does it add aliassing?
Do you need to use it in battery mode or can you leave the usb c plugged in at all times? Will it explode? 
It would be cool if theyd add manual chops and adjustable loop points. Maybe by holding a knob and moving the knobs!
For now Id probably use it a soundcoloring device, and also create some weird loopingish granular stuff. Sampling this into the digitakt. If this works out I could get rid of my old clunky bigass 19" samplers
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PC: Roland has a rich history of producing legendary instruments. Do you find it thrilling or intimidating to contribute to a legacy filled with incredible products like the TR-808, SP-404, and countless other devices? What do you think (or hope) the world will think of the P-6 in 10, 20, 50 years from now?
HN: This time, it might be better to be friendly than legendary. I would be happy if synths or samplers became more casual for people everywhere with AIRA Compact.
If someone enters this world with the P-6, I would be very pleased.
I love this. Friendly not legendary
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Nice turn of phrase! I want a “Hip hop granola hippie” t-shirt. 
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We will be in good company
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