GEOSynths - Synth Show Reviews - Roland System 8 

I wish there was module/desktop version.

Another wonderful review video. I love what you did at the 20:00 point by adding the third oscillator! Awesome! Thank you! You making me seriously consider some of your patch collections... :)

Exceptional sound design skills on display! Great work Jamie, this is one of those synths I've wanted for a long while, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

This thing has a built in (just push a button) Jupiter 8 Juno 106 JX-3p On top of all its other features

"ring oscillator" :D Luvly! Excellent presentation of this underdog of a lovely synth :) Thank you sir!

I can hear I’m not alone in wanting a rack/desktop version! Sounds great!

Features - 1:35 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Workflow - 5:56 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Sound Design - 7:13 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Example Custom Patches 1 - 8:21 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Patch from Scratch - 12:15 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Performance Examples - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Versatility examples- 24:08 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html USP - 28:24 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Dislikes - 29:12 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Scoring - 29:54 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3cITzKuI-LU.html Score Board - bit.ly/2TAxdWN Features - 17 Workflow - 16 Sound Design - 16 Versatility - 15 Value For money - 14 Roland System 8 gets - 78/100

I love mine too. Being able to use the sequencer to motion sequence parameters makes up for the single LFO (unlike Prologue with no sequencer). I wish it had: - Aftertouch!! The JD-XA feels like the same keyboard but with aftertouch. Neither of them feel like great keybeds (compared to something like V-Synth), but oh well - D-beams (I miss them) - Parkable mod wheel like JD-XA - Really many more patch slots. It's 201X memory is virtually free for something tiny like a patch that isn't even using samples. Even sticking to the 8x8 thing they could have had 100 (or at least 10) selectable banks sets via the screen (that could be named) for 6400 patches per plugout, no limits no worries - Likewise having more than 4 plugouts onboard would be good in the long term, even if you could only select 4 hot ones - RGB LEDs so each plugout could have a different colour which would help you psychologically differentiate them by sight - I wish external audio in could be routed through the Juno 106 chorus - Everything with an external brick (and I can understand why they do that due to skipping power certification procedures) should have a screw on point on the rear for the inline wart with a socket for standard power cables to plug in - As always, a knobby rack version

Brilliant review! I agree the FM update was a huge game changer for this synth. I do wonder....with the discontinuation of Sequential’s Prophet 12 (which had linear FM) perhaps they might be the ones to do a knobby FM engine but run through analog filters....hmmm...Prophet FM?

Not bad and ive been using your Summit/Peak presets in Components! Cheers

Yes, the FM and Subtractive are a good pair. I don't own this synth. I love my original Gaia, same layout, except 3 layers deep. I have layered my Yamaha refaceDX 4 operator FM synth with the Gaia for a match made in heaven. I even have a stereo input with attenuator for the DX on the Gaia. The one advantage I have over the Sys8 is the enormous stereo fields I can build because Each layer of the Gaia can be panned. Between the panning and the 3 Gaia layers, I have amp and filter envelopes of different times intersecting across the field. And a FM synth in the middle now.

Well, I liked the ACB tech and sound, that price on a synth is out of my league. I consider the XD to be quite an adequate alternative and expect the competition to get interesting with future synth hybrid concepts, the summit is pretty killer!

I think you were thinking of the Arturia Origin. It was a short lived synth with a big touch screen that let you create and load synth engines. Probably too ahead of it's time to be successful.

I have a System 8 and love it true, omitting aftertouch was a fro-pas by Roland but that said you won't get a more versatile synth at it's current price point. With the addition of the FM engine adds to it's usability I don't see myself getting rid of it . There is no perfect synth but this one has a lot going for it . I think they could better it by updating it with a new "System 16" doubling it's voices and adding aftertouch . I have to admit I'm not a fan of the injected plastic moulding it detracts from it being a really good quality synth . They almost got it right but if there is a new model in the future they need to go back to building synths with a metal chasis .With the rise of Behringer synths the cat is out of the bag in terms of what can be achieved from a VFM point of view ,this synth has come down a bit in price but is still too expensive. I hope Roland continue down the ACB technology route but they need to offer more for the money. .Personally I love the user interface as Jamie points out it has a great workflow and faster to get around that other synths.

BUMP on the aftertouch !!

Love your videos Sir! I’m excited to get my hands on one.

I love my System 8 too. However, things I dislike: 49 non standard size keyboard without aftertouch, external power supply, only 8 voices. Roland, listen to me. There are still people out here need and require a PROFESSIONAL keyboard. Put a D-50 style 61 note keyboard with at least 16 note polyphony in a METAL chassis with an internal power supply and I'll pre-order today. I use my System 8 as my secondary keyboard in a live setup and it's cheapness scares me. My main controller is an A-50. How much more expensive can it be to build a solid board like this? I'll pay the difference.

It sounds pretty good to me! Doesn't sound like DSI, Moog or Oberheim either.

Another great review mate thanks. I do like the sounds this synth makes and might even get one in time but the ‘snot green’ appearance does put me off it a bit! Whilst I agree about sliders showing you visually the envelopes, that’s only true when you’re actively changing/designing a patch because when you load a saved patch up, they’re in the wrong positions anyway aren’t they? That’s the thing that I really like on my Pro2 - that shows the envelope shapes on screen and I find that really helpful :-)

Great video. Have you ever had the chance to play with the JD XA

Great review. Thank you.

Planning on getting this to use with my Roland DJ 808

Another great video, Jamie. But I think you're a bit light on the scoring. But I'm probably biased, because I love my System 8. Sure, there are some things that could be better, but I find it my favorite synth to spend an afternoon playing. Honestly, I think the price is right. Yes, I wish it wasn't made of plastic... but this offers 4 synth engines, (3 classic ones at that). Plus FM. This will be one that I never sell. You can just do so much with it.

I think it's the most accurate analog emulation i've ever heard. Do you agree? What do you think of the Jupiter 8 engine?

I read a comment on another System-8 video which defended against the criticism of the synth having only one LFO. The person said that you can make use of Osc 3 and the Sequencer in a manner like an LFO. Perhaps you could make a short video to demonstrate this, or share your thoughts. I'm interested to see what can be done with these two sources for LFO like behaviour.

have you played the integra? if so how are the jupiter strings on this compared to integra?

Any owners of both this and a Peak/Summit like to compare ease of use? Great vid as ever BTW. Thx.

What are the patches you used in this video. My Sys8 doesn't sound like this. Thanx

GEOsynths is a cool name! my name is George xP my RU-vid will now be GEOsynths2 jkjkjkjk

I have one and it's great, but why the fuck can't I load the SYS-8 engine into any of the three Plug-Out slots!? Idiotic design decision. Grrrr

Nice synth in overall but looks like a gaming pc :/ just like JDXI or XA

Nice review. But I've always felt that the System 8 is nothing more than a JP8000 rehashing. Aside from the "plug out" feature. It even looks a lot like it, with the same tiny, crappy display... Too expensive for what it offers, really. DSP modelling ? Been there, done that, nothing new, move on...

they ruined it with 8 voices. shoud have been at least 32!

no aftertouch .... no interest!!!