Roland S-1 Tweak Synth

It was hard to believe how much functionality was packed into such a compact unit, especially at that price. The sound was excellent—clean, with no noise. It’s not analog, but you wouldn’t guess it from listening. The engine was that convincing. The filter stood out as well: expressive, and with just the right amount of bite when pushed.

It wasn’t perfect, of course. I personally preferred the Volca-style keyboard, which felt more immediate. The built-in effects were serviceable, but nothing groundbreaking. And the interface could be a bit confusing at first—definitely something that took a bit of time to get used to.

Even though I sold it, I still recommend the S-1. It’s a clever, well-designed little synth that sounded far better than its size suggests.