The GAIA 2 from Roland is a very versatile digital synthesizer that feels at home in almost all genres of electronic music and of course also delivers furthermore exciting sounds for new streams of pop culture. The live and performance suitability is underlined by all sound-relevant parameters in direct access as well as the velocity-sensitive 37-key keyboard. The virtual analog synthesis covers an incredibly wide range of sounds, most of which are based on historical models without deliberately imitating them. A highlight of the sound generation is the option to load model expansions from the Roland Cloud into the GAIA 2. The classic synthesizer SH-101 is pre-installed ex works. The polyphony is a maximum of 22 voices and varies depending on the loaded model expansion and/or certain sound settings. Fortunately, Roland has implemented the voice modes Poly, Mono, Legato, Unison and Chord; thus, the GAIA 2 also covers basslines, dub chords and mainstage solos in one go. A total of 768 sounds are available for playing, distributed over 512 User and 256 Factory sounds each. As an alternative to the memory slots, there is the Manual Mode; if this is used, what is heard corresponds to the settings on the panel. Of course, the arpeggiator is not missing either. Programmable with different playback patterns and octave positions, it delivers basslines and meandering solos right off the bat. The patterns of the step sequencer can be up to 64 steps long, with up to eight notes and four parameters recorded per step. Recording is done in real time or in step/TR mode; the random function generates patterns independently if desired. The Motional Pad, which controls any two parameters at once with the swipe of a finger, is absolutely performance-capable.
Wavetable & VA synthesis under one roof
The digital sound generation of the GAIA 2 follows the classic signal path Oscillators > Mixer > Filter > VCA and some modulation around it. The GAIA 2 uses a mixture of awavetable osc illator and two similar oscillators with classic waveforms. The Wavetable oscillator uses 63 waveforms that can be modulated extensively. The other two oscillators each handle the common waveforms sine, triangle, sawtooth, square (with PWM), SuperSaw and five noise types. The SuperSaw waveform is known and loved since the JP-8000 synthesizer, which has become an integral part of many productions, especially for trance and rave sounds. In addition, between the oscillators 2 and 3 Hardsync or ring modulation switchable and cross modulation is offered. Between mixer and filter Roland has given the GAIA 2 the Drive parameter, which can roughen the oscillator mix properly if necessary. The resonant multimode filter masters the three modes lowpass, Bandpass and Highpass with a slope of 12, 18 or 24 dB which covers a large part of known and popular analog sounds.
A magic box for lively sounds
With the GAIA 2 Roland goes partly new ways concerning the modulation possibilities. The filter and the following VCA each have their own ADSR envelope. The oscillator section is equipped with an A/D envelope that can be applied to pitch, waveform and other parameters. Two LFOs synchronizable to Clock are addressable to almost any knob or fader; but that's not all, up to four parameters can be assigned to each LFO simultaneously. Besides the usual waveforms, the LFOs also handle Random and Sample & Hold as well as a self-programmable waveform. The sixth modulation source is the motion pad which controls two parameters of the wavetable oscillator or can be assigned to two other parameters.
Effects - a little goes a long way
The last element in the signal path is the effects processor, which provides delay or reverb with 7 variants, 3 chorus types and a whopping 53 multi-effect algorithms like eg. Distortion, Flanger or Phaser. furthermore the order of the three effect blocks is freely definable. A master EQ and compressor form the conclusion.
Integrated USB audio interface
The GAIA 2 is equipped with a full-fledged audio interface. The instrument sends its sounds directly into a DAW via the USB connection; this eliminates the need for an external USB interface or USB mixer when recording. Conversely, it is also possible to use the GAIA 2 as an audio interface for music output to laptops and computers (PC/Mac). Especially small setups can benefit from this flexibility! Not only audio, but MIDI data is exchanged with the DAW via the USB port. Therefore, the GAIA 2 is also a good choice as a master keyboard in computer-based setups.
