Really is the perfect synth to compliment the current analog polys of today. There’s something about embracing its digital character and FM sounds as opposed to using it to try and emulate older Roland synths. It finds its own voice alongside an OB6 or Prologue and I think that’s why I have my eye on it. Depending on what Sequential release this year, if its not a new incarnation of the Prophet VS or something wavetables or FM based, then the Roland System 8 is going to find its way next to my Prophet X and Prophet 6.
The System-8 engine is quite versatile, especially with the hands-on FM capabilities. I really enjoyed its tonal palette. It will be interesting to see what's next in the synth game, it seems like there's a never ending supply of cool gear coming out lately!
EverettDudgeon138 This is a good point. I wouldn’t have it as my main poly but would love it along side my Prologue. I ultimately went with the new Argon8 for my digital poly sounds, but the System8 was a close contender. If only it were a bit cheaper.
I think the System 8 sounds amazing but it’s in tough competition. In that price range, and less, you have the Slegde, Blofeld, Peak, Rev2, Prologue (which I own), Hydrasynth, Argon8, and for just a few hundred more the Ob-6 and P-6 modules and the Summit. I think the System 8 is a perfect compliment to any of those analog poly synths but I don’t think I would pick it as my only poly. There are simply just more synths I want in that price range. I can totally see why someone would pick this. You made it sound amazing here. Very expressive playing.
Thanks... indeed, there are a lot of synths competing at that price point these days. It doesn't change the fact that System-8 sounds great in its own right and has lots to offer. I really like the sideband filter and with the FM update it gives some great hands-on control for filtered FM tones.
I have the rev 2 and the system 8 and honestly I prefer the system 8. The rev 2 does have some sounds my system 8 cant recreate cause of the lfo situation but other than that it slam dunks everything. I get a little more grit from my rev 2 but my system 8 idk it just comes easy to make sounds on it. I feel I have to go thru a lot to make good sounds on my rev 2 but maybe its cause I havent dedicated enough time to it.
You don't buy a system 8 because you're after the bells and whistles. It comes loaded with the Roland legendary classics for a reason. If there was some other modernized synth layout that offered the same synth models, then those would be competition. Just because something is in the same price range doesn't automatically make it 'competition'. They each fulfill different market needs, whether or not at the same price-point or range.
The system-8 sounds great but I wish it had more poly than 8 voices. I have a Vsynth GT with 10 voices that sounds similar but I am always running out of poly when playing long pads. 12 Voice is minimum for me anymore.
I had the original Novation Supernova and that had 16 and then the new software increased that to 20 and keyboard versions had 32....As much as i really want a System 8 i feel they could have done a little more on the polyphony side.
I agree due to the ability to stack presets with Performance mode. The System 8 is a very simple synth really (except for the sideband filter and vocoder) and is best for the type of "ambient" musings shown here when layered in Performance mode. No aftertouch really sucks though.
Do you still own this? What are your thoughts on it these days, if so? I picked one up and I think it sounds really good, but I think it's super ugly. I'm not sure if I'll ever get past that. Also, it doesn't feel like a unified system. It feels like 4 different synths in one, which is what it's supposed to feel like, but I'm not sure I like that. That's the cool thing about most synths, like the Polysix - I like that it's basic. Makes it feel like a unified synth. The System 8 feels like a tool. Still, I find no faults with its sound.
Also - I thought you had a Jupiter 8... It'd be cool to see a comparison between the two synths for the J8 Plug-out. There's basically nothing out there to compare them. A few basic waveform comparisons.
I don't own either synth. I like the System 8 mode as it has some cool functionality (sideband filters, FM mode etc) and it sounds very nice. The Jupiter 8 I've tried at synth shops and Synth Palace, it sounds amazing of course and would be my go-to choice for the JP8 sound if it were possible.
@@synth4ever When I heard comparisons (blind) online between S8 and JP8... and in every comparison, I preferred the S8, so I don't know how much of it is bias - but it would be hard to deny the beauty of the JP8.
@@MIDERA Yea, I tend to prefer the original synth if its possible, not emulation of it. That said, the S8 ACB modeling is excellent, and its great at what it does. WIth JP8 prices out of reach, its probably the closest emulation avail these days.
Si mon motif Xs sonnait aussi bien que ce synthé qui joui de technologie VST, je l'aurais revendu quoique non? car j'aurai sans doute pas acheté. En revanche, si tous ses faders sont de bonnes qualités et tous assignable et son clavier de bonne facture, il peut présenté un réel intérêt de coté là.
I think the System8 sounds amazing but for the money, I’d rather buy the Sledge you have underneath it. 2 more LFOs, wavetables, and sample capability.
Not really impressed by the sound of this unit. I bought a Korg Wavestate, which has a way better sound than this unit imo. Albeit they are completely different types of synthesis. I would rather grab up a Argon8 and a Novation Peak - which are next on my list.
One of my best hybrid synth forever
Really is the perfect synth to compliment the current analog polys of today. There’s something about embracing its digital character and FM sounds as opposed to using it to try and emulate older Roland synths. It finds its own voice alongside an OB6 or Prologue and I think that’s why I have my eye on it. Depending on what Sequential release this year, if its not a new incarnation of the Prophet VS or something wavetables or FM based, then the Roland System 8 is going to find its way next to my Prophet X and Prophet 6.
The System-8 engine is quite versatile, especially with the hands-on FM capabilities. I really enjoyed its tonal palette. It will be interesting to see what's next in the synth game, it seems like there's a never ending supply of cool gear coming out lately!
EverettDudgeon138 This is a good point. I wouldn’t have it as my main poly but would love it along side my Prologue. I ultimately went with the new Argon8 for my digital poly sounds, but the System8 was a close contender. If only it were a bit cheaper.
I think the System 8 sounds amazing but it’s in tough competition. In that price range, and less, you have the Slegde, Blofeld, Peak, Rev2, Prologue (which I own), Hydrasynth, Argon8, and for just a few hundred more the Ob-6 and P-6 modules and the Summit. I think the System 8 is a perfect compliment to any of those analog poly synths but I don’t think I would pick it as my only poly. There are simply just more synths I want in that price range. I can totally see why someone would pick this. You made it sound amazing here. Very expressive playing.
Thanks... indeed, there are a lot of synths competing at that price point these days. It doesn't change the fact that System-8 sounds great in its own right and has lots to offer. I really like the sideband filter and with the FM update it gives some great hands-on control for filtered FM tones.
I have the rev 2 and the system 8 and honestly I prefer the system 8. The rev 2 does have some sounds my system 8 cant recreate cause of the lfo situation but other than that it slam dunks everything. I get a little more grit from my rev 2 but my system 8 idk it just comes easy to make sounds on it. I feel I have to go thru a lot to make good sounds on my rev 2 but maybe its cause I havent dedicated enough time to it.
You don't buy a system 8 because you're after the bells and whistles. It comes loaded with the Roland legendary classics for a reason. If there was some other modernized synth layout that offered the same synth models, then those would be competition. Just because something is in the same price range doesn't automatically make it 'competition'. They each fulfill different market needs, whether or not at the same price-point or range.
Makes a perfect controller for omnisphere too..
The hardware integration in Omnisphere is such a game changer.
Agree!
Nice Synth System-8 and veri nice demo :-)
Thank you my friend!
Hi,...very interesting demo of a synth that seems very versatile to me,...thanks.
Thank you Helmut... System-8 is definitely a versatile synth and can create many types of sounds!
The system-8 sounds great but I wish it had more poly than 8 voices. I have a Vsynth GT with 10 voices that sounds similar but I am always running out of poly when playing long pads. 12 Voice is minimum for me anymore.
I had the original Novation Supernova and that had 16 and then the new software increased that to 20 and keyboard versions had 32....As much as i really want a System 8 i feel they could have done a little more on the polyphony side.
I agree due to the ability to stack presets with Performance mode. The System 8 is a very simple synth really (except for the sideband filter and vocoder) and is best for the type of "ambient" musings shown here when layered in Performance mode. No aftertouch really sucks though.
Perhaps a System-16 or System-32 down the line...
How many fingers do you have?
Can someone tell me if it can be used as a midi controller with ableton?
Excellent demo!
Thank you!
Do you still own this? What are your thoughts on it these days, if so?
I picked one up and I think it sounds really good, but I think it's super ugly. I'm not sure if I'll ever get past that. Also, it doesn't feel like a unified system. It feels like 4 different synths in one, which is what it's supposed to feel like, but I'm not sure I like that. That's the cool thing about most synths, like the Polysix - I like that it's basic. Makes it feel like a unified synth. The System 8 feels like a tool.
Still, I find no faults with its sound.
Also - I thought you had a Jupiter 8... It'd be cool to see a comparison between the two synths for the J8 Plug-out. There's basically nothing out there to compare them. A few basic waveform comparisons.
I don't own either synth. I like the System 8 mode as it has some cool functionality (sideband filters, FM mode etc) and it sounds very nice. The Jupiter 8 I've tried at synth shops and Synth Palace, it sounds amazing of course and would be my go-to choice for the JP8 sound if it were possible.
@@synth4ever When I heard comparisons (blind) online between S8 and JP8... and in every comparison, I preferred the S8, so I don't know how much of it is bias - but it would be hard to deny the beauty of the JP8.
@@MIDERA Yea, I tend to prefer the original synth if its possible, not emulation of it. That said, the S8 ACB modeling is excellent, and its great at what it does. WIth JP8 prices out of reach, its probably the closest emulation avail these days.
What do you call that @8:21 patch? So good!
Don't recall the preset, but it comes with the synth
@@synth4ever appreciated 👍🏻
Si mon motif Xs sonnait aussi bien que ce synthé qui joui de technologie VST, je l'aurais revendu quoique non? car j'aurai sans doute pas acheté. En revanche, si tous ses faders sont de bonnes qualités et tous assignable et son clavier de bonne facture, il peut présenté un réel intérêt de coté là.
jun13rs uses preset synths edge
I think the System8 sounds amazing but for the money, I’d rather buy the Sledge you have underneath it. 2 more LFOs, wavetables, and sample capability.
Can someone tell me if it can be used as a midi controller with ableton?
Cruz yes
Any synth with midi out can do this.
Which synth lies underneath it?
Studiologic Sledge
Which do you prrefer?
@@synth4ever
@@htechdanceI only tried System 8 at a store so haven't used the Sledge. But I enjoyed the S8 for sure.
Not really impressed by the sound of this unit. I bought a Korg Wavestate, which has a way better sound than this unit imo. Albeit they are completely different types of synthesis. I would rather grab up a Argon8 and a Novation Peak - which are next on my list.