Roland System 8 synthesizer

Roland SYSTEM-8 Synthesizer Review : Overview, Feature and Sound

Roland System 8 synthesizer
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Aimed at merging the old with the new Roland have proclaimed their expandable synth with next-gen ACB technology, Direct-Access Controls and improved features. Strong and deep, the Roland System 8 furnishes an extensive palette of sounds motivated by more than 4 decades of legendary Roland synths. The state-of-the-art Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) machine operates an eight voice and monster of 3 oscillators containing awesome effects and filters, highly efficient LFOs including a large section of sliders and high-resolution knobs to manage all of it.

Compliance with a 3 Plug-Out synths means the System-8 can load spot-on recreations of various Roland classics. For instance, Jupiter-8 and Juno-106 Plug-Outs are also included in purchase. You can strike the integrated vocoder, arpeggiator, CV/Gate outs, and advanced polyphonic step sequencer to deliver innumerable creative explorations.

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List of Best Roland Synthesizer

Picture

Model

Keys

Feature

Roland JD XI Synthesizer e1500183972307

Roland JD-XI Synthesizer


37


Gooseneck mic w/built-in Vocoder & AutoPitch

Roland JUNO DS61 e1500184616235

Roland JUNO-DS61 Synthesizer


61


Eight-track pattern sequencer with non-stop recording

Roland JUNO DS88 88 key Synthesizer e1500184810936

Roland JUNO-DS88 Synthesizer

88


88-note Ivory Feel-G Keyboard

Roland SYSTEM 8 Plug Out Synthesizer e1500184967583

Roland SYSTEM-8 Synthesizer

49


PLUG-OUT synths; JUPITER-8 and JUNO-106 PLUG-OUTs

Roland GAIA SH 01 Synthesizer e1500185159428

Roland GAIA SH-01 Synthesizer

37


64-Voice Polyphony

The Main Features of the Roland System 8

The key features of the Roland System 8 include the following:

  • Versatile performance synthesizer with sophisticated ACB technology and 49 complete size keys
  • Internal sound engine offers classic analog tones and dynamic contemporary sounds with analog vibe
  • Hosts till 3 plug out synths including Jupiter-8 and Juno-106 plug outs
  • Advanced low pass, high pass and side band filters possessing high resolution controls
  • Huge real time control with dedicated knobs, sliders and buttons
  • Sequencer carrying polyphonic step and containing classic interface of TR-REC style
  • Memory functions for polyphonic chord besides Arpeggio and Vocoder
  • Vintage gear and modular synths interfacing utilizing CV or Gate outputs
  • Big selection of onboard effects carrying hands-on controls
  • USB audio/MIDI interface and control surface mode
  • 49 Key Keyboard with velocity sensitivity

In-depth Look At The Roland System 8

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKaZf3Ui2i0

The following features set the Roland System 8 apart from other similarly priced synthesizers:

Advanced Sound Engine

The internationally renowned Analog Circuit Behavior system of Roland precisely regenerates historic analog audio with forward moving technology. The Roland System 8 contains the most developed ACB engine to date, which provides 8 polyphony voices and 3 oscillators containing the choice of a sub oscillator, and velvety filters with over detailed resolution.

You can easily dial up warm pads, fat basses, expressive lead tones, all sustained by the lavish sonic character of the famed System series. Accessing beyond the retro vibe,  the versatile System-8 is effective in creating crisp, dynamic tones and evocative textures are perfect for latest sound designers.

Design

The latest flagship synthesizer from Roland is a joyfully multifaceted affair. On one hand, we view a big redesign of the previously viewed system 1/1m, incorporated into a 49 note keyboard, with evidently a lot more fascia real estate to perform with than previous models. This instantly makes it more attractive while maintaining a sensible footprint at the same time.

The size of the Roland System 8 is similar to the ancient JP-8000, primarily due to its 4 octaves, instead of the 5 displayed by its Roland-polysynth forerunners.

The layout appears beautifully identical, though somewhat repetitive. The stark-appearing white legend on the black background is clearly legible. However, it would be pleasant to distinguish between the different segments with little colour.

Plugging Out

Roland’s Plug-Out mechanism enables you to buy and import fresh engines inside the three sockets meant for Plugging-Out by your DAW. The slit for SD card  lets you collect extra patches also, but does not transfer the plug-outs. Such advanced synthesizer devices like Jupiter-8 plus Juno-106  actually have the leading inbuilt features found in the real synths.

The  imitation of Jupiter-8 is definitely an extremely effective synth, which resembles in sound quite similar to the real one, but the plug-out of Juno is prominent for its genuineness and feel. They both possess polyphony till 8 notes, equivalent to the actual Jupiter and developing also upon the authentic Juno.

The System-8’s MIDI-atunable plus ultra-precise LFO enters the audio frequency which can be dispatched to refine, amp and perceive sounds at the same time with 3 fixed dials. The single universal LFO, contains 2 different modes. Moreover, the Variation 2 mode inserts an additional stealth LFO that fine-tunes the first. Besides, the Variation 3 attaches a LFO with resonant pulse.

You also get 6 wave types, like random, sample-based waves or hold to let you obtain a lot from 1 modulating oscillator.

Oscillator Section

As regards the primary oscillators, the engine of the Roland S-8 system provides a functional setup effective for a big amplitude of tones. 3 ACB oscillators are present, with  1 & 2 Oscs remaining the same. However, the first carries cross-modulation, as against Osc 2’s ring amplitude modification and sync.

With Variation 1, every oscillator possess 6 common waveforms, – Saw, non-sinusoidal waves or Square wave, Tri, and the Super types of each. Moreover, Variation 2, comprises of a set of 6 more unnatural waves, involving NoiseSaw, Logic, Frequency Modulation plus Frequency Modulation+Sync, Vowel as well as Cowbell. Above all, each of them are mandatory inclusions in S-8’s sonic collection.

The Colour design dial (each oscillator) governs the particular character of every wave type which can be balanced with the help of the pitch or articulation of the filter by using envelopes either through Osc 3, else by the electronic signal LFO. This is a superb addition of sonic capacity, and that too without accessing any menu! Osc3 or Sub actually aids to combine and derive sounds (like it turns out to be the renowned sub-oscillator of Juno-106  on applying the Plug-Out of Juno), that also furnishes sine plus triangle waves on different pitches.

Filter Section

The filter mechanism of the Roland System 8 is likewise versatile and has 3 variations. It may sound quite like the analogue and future-digital types, but is always melodious. Variation 1 contains an auto-oscillating LPF or HPF. Such techniques provide excellent all round sound for pads, single voice or leads, basses, brass as well as mixing FX.

Variation 2 incorporates 6 filter alterations of Side Band that enables you to mark or eliminate area of the  sound. Dispatching the LFO towards the filter, followed by band-tweaking and resonance performance functions specially perfectly here.

System-1’s Pass Filter that is low is also available, besides keytracking leading to envelope, along with a distinct Pass Filter that is High. It offers a wide magnitude with regard to filtering to sink the teeth, and it is possible to obtain some really special textures, particularly those involving the filters regarding SideBand .

The Roland System 8 possesses amazing filters and effects, extremely versatile LFOs and a huge range of high resolution knobs and sliders
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Every synth contains envelopes, with the System 8’s being forceful and compact, that fit for everything whether for receding dimmer pads or animated drums. An ADSR is present regarding the filter plus the amp that are both velocity sensitive. Also included is pitch envelope that is 2 stage for elaborate time-oriented pitch-detailing.

Moreover, it might excellent to have a  modulation envelope that can be applied to alter the tonal effects of sound, but the sequencer also records the tweaking of knobs with or minus any notes.

Sequencer

The sequencer whether step which is best for generating drum loops as well as plain melodies or the real-time sequencer for real-time recording of musical notes, nonethess, it  is extremely spontaneous scratchpad besides being polyphonic. Thus, it is childsplay for the S-8 to record till 8 individual lines or combining chords plus single lines. There are different scale and musical notes alignment, first plus last step, shuffle, key allocated to trigger and random plus invert playback system besides, forward and reverse settings.

The Roland S-8 comprises a dual-part multitimbral instrument where-from you can generate 2 sounds simultaneously, either within or above MIDI, however, the Roland S-8 resembles a synthesizer, rather than a workstation. Certainly, it would be more perfect to have 4 parts that is one for each engine.

Finally, there are 3 blocks of easy but outstanding audio effects. The 1st block carries overdrive, modulation, metal plus fuzz and bitcrusher. The 2nd block contains extreme delay along with pitch effects like chorus and sound effect of flanging, and the 3rd highlights reverbs.

The overall impact leads to  superb feature and complete musical feel. You get a metallic reverb and at the same time can also register the FX tweaks inside the sequencer .

Pros and Cons of The Roland System 8

Pros

The advantages of the Roland System 8 are as follows:

  • Sounds stellar, covers great sonic territory with well-considered, hands on control
  • Incorporates Juno-106 and Jupiter-8 Plug-Outs, besides the capacity to purchase more
  • Solid sequencer onboard along with a lot of versatile FX, including the reputed Juno Chorus

Cons

The limitations of the Roland System 8 include the following:

  • Performance mode doesn’t collect edits
  • Basically a patch reference directory
  • Sequencer has no click-track
  • Arp does not have swing or gate modes

The Verdict On The Roland System 8

The Roland System 8 covers an extensive sonic territory with great flexibility, from vintage Roland tones to futuristic sounds, it certainly delivers.

Nevertheless, the Roland System 8 is an awesome value at $1,500. This should remind different keyboard builders that it’s not simply professional-quality products which could utilize few good old-fashioned knobs to construct user-friendly instruments. If you are seeking to advance your at-home productions or want to exercise additional caution while gigging, it’ll be a strong addition to your synth repertoire.

The inclusion of Juno, Jupiter, the audio interface/CV capacities, the sequencer, a nice vocoder (including audio inputs with dedicated FX) makes the Roland System 8 an impressive choice.

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