Even for a System 1/1m user, this video is very helpful. It's nice to see the actual shape of the waveforms. The tips using the cross mod and ring mod should be esp helpful to many.
This is by far the best run through on the S8 ! Im so glad you went through the oscillators, waveforms and variations (color) and without FX ....Im a little late on getting interested in the S8, but now since I have a good understanding of the S8 engine and the "plugouts" Im selling a few synths to get me one ! Thanks again friend😊
Thank you so much for putting this content out. I hot a sys 8 a year ago, but since I was very busy in my main job, I did not use it much. But I had an intuition that this instrument matches my structured approach to learn stuff. I want to learn this and this video gave me the understanding and an easy entry. I am still very busy in my main job, but I got some time elsewhere…and not the time has come, I look forward to work with your videos very hands on. Take care & all the best!
I'm so very glad you are featuring this synth in a series of videos. This is a very interesting in depth exploration. Thank you for sharing your experience and opinions.
I love this video. I am definitely buying one now.. I have been a Roland fan since the late 80's. Most of the gear in your background is Roland.. Awesome!
This has been the most insightful video that I have been able to learn from. I have just purchased a System 8 and am learning synthesis. Thanks for the simple to follow demonstration for my noobness! I look forward to more of your videos. you earned a new sub :)
I saw other videos just pushing the Jupiter / Juno VST half of this synth and I thought it was pretty boring. Your focus on the actual System 8 sound engine sold me on it. Just had to rearrange 21 synths in the studio to try to fit this thing in there.
I done a lot of research before purchasing the S8, your videos confirmed to me it was the right synth to get and I'm not disappointed,, cheers! I'm now looking at getting the TR-8S and it would be amazing if you could do a video on syncing\using the two together. Thanks again @Roland
Thanks for the video. You got me inspired to explore the System-8 engine again (I usually stick to the plugouts). Just made a cool sound with the logic oscillator.
Still enjoying your channel content since a couple of years, great work! Are you still using the Roland go mixer for your videos or are you using some other stuff?
Hi Joakim, I’m not recording my videos with a Sony a6000 camera Andy Roland Mx-1 mixer straight into the software QuickTime on my MAC. I can record 18 separate tracks in sync with the video.
Are there any rumors about a new system-8? i would love for them to make a 16 voice version, with the new aria look, as found in tr-8s/mc707/mc101. Great video, i sold mine two years ago but actually do regret it.
I did heard any rumours about that. I do know that all companies have a shortage of parts right now. So they are prioritizing product for them to sells quickly and keep the flow. I’m guessing less new stuff from all makers for the next 6 months.
The hipsters and gearslutz dropped the ball on this one. I purchased it relatively cheap from someone who got seduced by the REV2 beautiful looking enclosure and spec sheet. Lol! I love it! I was lucky cause it’s hard to get this synth cheap on the used market.
I think the JD-XA and system 8 are some of the most under rated synths I’ve owned. The system 8 is truly amazing. One of my all time favorite polysynths. The Novation summit is much more powerful but for raw bass and lead power? System 8. I love them both for different reasons. I own a Waldorf Iridium keyboard and it is an inexhaustible synth. It cost me a paycheck or two but I still reach for my system 8 all the time. It is deceptively deep. The “cheap plastic”? 90% of all car bodies. I see it as “easy to carry to gigs” The green lights? Why the hate? I use this synth live and people always end up hearing AND SEEING the synth. How many synths have that kind of stage presence? I cannot imagine parting with my 8. Unless they make a system 16 with PURPLE lights
I've got the System 1M. Stupidly underrecognized lineup. On one hand you have people knocking Roland, on the other they are buying up boutiques like hotcakes. The Aira System synths are where the magic is.
@@st0rmchild yup it's the modular aspect that sold me. digital synth with modular patching. beautiful. I swear if it wasn't green it would have sold like hotcakes.
so even though this has an internal sound engine if you record into your DAW it's all midi anyway? can you connect midi out of the system 8 into your interface to record into DAW? if you are just using usb any difference? or do you have to rent/buy VSTs regardless to record into your DAW (so system 8 is just a controller to the VST) or what are the options for recording that sound best ..
The System-8 is an hardware synth running the Roland ACB technology. The same ACB runs in the VST version. Same sound. You can exchange patches between them. Run the VSt and studio on your laptop them play live with the hardware System-8 and get the same syntehsis. The hardware System-8 can generate MIDI (over 5 pin dins or USB) informations (keys played, knob and faders moved) and audio. The audio is analog (via the 1/4 audio outs) and also digital up to 96K (via USB audio). Depending of your choices and the way you work, you can record MIDI or audio or both.
Hi, I had to double check, but I can't find any way to pan separately the 2 oscillators. Only the patch has panning. But you can layer 2 patches in perform mode and them pan each patches on one side. Not exactly what you were looking for for.
Square waves never look exactly square in analog synths, and this one - while not analog - is virtual analog. I believe the basic waveforms in the System-8 engine are taken directly from the Jupiter-8 emulation. They look identical on the scope in the Sonic State review.
@@st0rmchild Sonic State review of the System-8 shows a more 'squary' wave (see ua-cam.com/video/Rd3fx7vZm6w/v-deo.html). The scope in Nu-Trix's video (@ 6:10) shows nothing like a square, hence my remark. I get it that 'square' is debatable, but I'd think in this case (video above) there might be something else going on. Could be that the AD (of the soundcard) brings in it's flavour...
@@jorisroling2130 Most likely the filter wasn't all the way open. AD/DA converters have almost no effect on how things sound anymore. Certainly nothing that significant.
Even for a System 1/1m user, this video is very helpful. It's nice to see the actual shape of the waveforms. The tips using the cross mod and ring mod should be esp helpful to many.
This is by far the best run through on the S8 ! Im so glad you went through the oscillators, waveforms and variations (color) and without FX ....Im a little late on getting interested in the S8, but now since I have a good understanding of the S8 engine and the "plugouts" Im selling a few synths to get me one ! Thanks again friend😊
So glad you’re making System 8 videos. Please keep them coming
Loved this... and found out a lot more about my S8 that I didn't know...keep these S8 vids coming !! and yes you can call it a "Beast" !
Thank you so much for putting this content out. I hot a sys 8 a year ago, but since I was very busy in my main job, I did not use it much. But I had an intuition that this instrument matches my structured approach to learn stuff. I want to learn this and this video gave me the understanding and an easy entry. I am still very busy in my main job, but I got some time elsewhere…and not the time has come, I look forward to work with your videos very hands on. Take care & all the best!
I'm so very glad you are featuring this synth in a series of videos. This is a very interesting in depth exploration. Thank you for sharing your experience and opinions.
Yes, I've needed this video. Thank you so much.
I love this video. I am definitely buying one now.. I have been a Roland fan since the late 80's. Most of the gear in your background is Roland.. Awesome!
This has been the most insightful video that I have been able to learn from. I have just purchased a System 8 and am learning synthesis. Thanks for the simple to follow demonstration for my noobness! I look forward to more of your videos. you earned a new sub :)
I saw other videos just pushing the Jupiter / Juno VST half of this synth and I thought it was pretty boring. Your focus on the actual System 8 sound engine sold me on it. Just had to rearrange 21 synths in the studio to try to fit this thing in there.
Great it’s really useful to me and my s8. Please keep them coming as 80s man said. Thank you.
Amazing vid..love the content on the s8 and yes it's a beast of a synth..👍👍👍
My favorite synth. I bought it for the classic synth emulations but the System-8 engine itself is great too.
I done a lot of research before purchasing the S8, your videos confirmed to me it was the right synth to get and I'm not disappointed,, cheers! I'm now looking at getting the TR-8S and it would be amazing if you could do a video on syncing\using the two together.
Thanks again
@Roland
I’ll put that on the TO DO list. 😎
11:37 hooooolly molly!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🤯🤯🤯
Thanks for the video. You got me inspired to explore the System-8 engine again (I usually stick to the plugouts). Just made a cool sound with the logic oscillator.
Just got a System *, loving it, and loving your videos. Do you know of a decent manual for the synth? The Roland ones are pretty minimal.
No manual to suggest. Just my YT playlist
Still enjoying your channel content since a couple of years, great work! Are you still using the Roland go mixer for your videos or are you using some other stuff?
Hi Joakim, I’m not recording my videos with a Sony a6000 camera Andy Roland Mx-1 mixer straight into the software QuickTime on my MAC. I can record 18 separate tracks in sync with the video.
Are there any rumors about a new system-8? i would love for them to make a 16 voice version, with the new aria look, as found in tr-8s/mc707/mc101. Great video, i sold mine two years ago but actually do regret it.
I did heard any rumours about that. I do know that all companies have a shortage of parts right now. So they are prioritizing product for them to sells quickly and keep the flow. I’m guessing less new stuff from all makers for the next 6 months.
The hipsters and gearslutz dropped the ball on this one. I purchased it relatively cheap from someone who got seduced by the REV2 beautiful looking enclosure and spec sheet. Lol! I love it! I was lucky cause it’s hard to get this synth cheap on the used market.
Still waiting for a video on the FX, Luc!
I know but I can only do one vid per week. It’s in the todo pile. The short todo pile 😀
At 11:10 my teeth almost fell out, that was too much for me, but other than that I do like what the System-8 can do.
I like to show how you can push the envelope.
So in theory I can make my own wavetable out of this and import it into serum or my waldorf iridium?
In this logic you can make a wavetable from any oscillator from any synth.
I think the JD-XA and system 8 are some of the most under rated synths I’ve owned. The system 8 is truly amazing. One of my all time favorite polysynths. The Novation summit is much more powerful but for raw bass and lead power? System 8.
I love them both for different reasons.
I own a Waldorf Iridium keyboard and it is an inexhaustible synth. It cost me a paycheck or two but I still reach for my system 8 all the time. It is deceptively deep.
The “cheap plastic”? 90% of all car bodies.
I see it as “easy to carry to gigs”
The green lights? Why the hate? I use this synth live and people always end up hearing AND SEEING the synth. How many synths have that kind of stage presence?
I cannot imagine parting with my 8.
Unless they make a system 16 with PURPLE lights
I've got the System 1M. Stupidly underrecognized lineup. On one hand you have people knocking Roland, on the other they are buying up boutiques like hotcakes. The Aira System synths are where the magic is.
The 1M looks fun. I see a lot of them in people's modular setups.
@@st0rmchild yup it's the modular aspect that sold me. digital synth with modular patching. beautiful. I swear if it wasn't green it would have sold like hotcakes.
so even though this has an internal sound engine if you record into your DAW it's all midi anyway? can you connect midi out of the system 8 into your interface to record into DAW? if you are just using usb any difference? or do you have to rent/buy VSTs regardless to record into your DAW (so system 8 is just a controller to the VST) or what are the options for recording that sound best ..
The System-8 is an hardware synth running the Roland ACB technology. The same ACB runs in the VST version. Same sound. You can exchange patches between them. Run the VSt and studio on your laptop them play live with the hardware System-8 and get the same syntehsis.
The hardware System-8 can generate MIDI (over 5 pin dins or USB) informations (keys played, knob and faders moved) and audio. The audio is analog (via the 1/4 audio outs) and also digital up to 96K (via USB audio). Depending of your choices and the way you work, you can record MIDI or audio or both.
@@Nu-trix thank you very much for the info, just got this thing
Does the system-8 have the same scatter/arpeggio that that system-1 does (either via on-board knob or midi cc)?
I have not seen anything like the Scatter in the system-8.
@@Nu-trix Thanks.
i see the latest version or update apparently has 2 LFO's? Is this correct?
No, still only one LFO but the step sequencer can be a motion sequencer and become a complex LFO.
Is there a way to pan osc 1 to the left channel and osc 2 to the right channel at the same time
Hi, I had to double check, but I can't find any way to pan separately the 2 oscillators. Only the patch has panning. But you can layer 2 patches in perform mode and them pan each patches on one side. Not exactly what you were looking for for.
Why is the square wave not looking so 'square' on the scope?
Square wave are not all square. But I’ll do more testing.
Square waves never look exactly square in analog synths, and this one - while not analog - is virtual analog. I believe the basic waveforms in the System-8 engine are taken directly from the Jupiter-8 emulation. They look identical on the scope in the Sonic State review.
@@st0rmchild Sonic State review of the System-8 shows a more 'squary' wave (see ua-cam.com/video/Rd3fx7vZm6w/v-deo.html). The scope in Nu-Trix's video (@ 6:10) shows nothing like a square, hence my remark. I get it that 'square' is debatable, but I'd think in this case (video above) there might be something else going on. Could be that the AD (of the soundcard) brings in it's flavour...
@@jorisroling2130 Most likely the filter wasn't all the way open. AD/DA converters have almost no effect on how things sound anymore. Certainly nothing that significant.
@@st0rmchild my thoughts to. Or some EQ in the line.
just say it's a beast.. lol
Why not…it is!
IT’S A BEAST!!!!!!