The is one thing that really kills me about some of Roland's newer synths. The sound modeling system they use is called Zenology. You can use this this with any DAW for $20 a month. Essentially this makes purchasing a $1500 Usd keyboard pointless.
Im looking to sell my Waldorf Micro-Q. Could you please make an episode about that? You kinda drove up the prices on the oberheim I was looking at, so it would be fair ;)
Hallo Audiopilz, ich schreibe 😊 hier auf Deutsch, da mein Englisch is Not very good😅. Verfolge deinen Kanal, fast seit dem Anfang und wollte Dir mal ein Riesenlob für den Kanal aussprechen. Niemand sonst hier, auf UA-cam schafft es Hardware, Humor und tolle Sounds zu einem so stimmigen und unterhaltsamen Ganzen zu zaubern. Ich hoffe du knackst bald die 100000 Abos und bringst und dann ein 12 Stunden Set, mit allen jemals getesten Geräten. Liebe Grüße vom Kaiserstuhl
This synth is being used by touring musicians everywhere. Howard Jones has three of them on stage. Heaven 17 has used it on stage for years. Jean Michel Jarre uses one extensively. Among MANY others...so it can't be all that bad. Sure wish it had more patch storage though.
@ghost mall I agree. I love the sound of it, but there are some boneheaded Roland design choices (particularly in its ridiculous MIDI implementation) that make me wish for...well, more.
I absolutely love the System 8. Fell in love with it on Roland Cloud. Superb sounding synth. I'm also one of the three people in the world who likes Roland's Aira green and black vibe.
I truly believe the System-8 was the peak of the Aira franchise, not in terms of sucess but rather wasted potential. Their train of thought was: "Let's bring our classics synths back in a new, flashy way" > "People are unimpressed?! Why?? Well, let's give them "authentic" feel with the Boutiques!" > "What?! People wanted full-size, 8-voice synths all along? Ugh, fine." > "Whatever, just release the Jupiter-X"
Jupiter X is a failure in its own way, you should never have to menu dive if you have a proper surface control, this is where the X falls down hard. ACB is better than Zencore in some ways too. In both instances, tRoland got both interfaces wrong, yet again.
If only they had released the Jupiter-X w/ ACB instead of ABM or came out with a System 8 that was five octave and of a more professional look + construction. or ACB boutiques that were maybe a bit larger with quarter-outs and the number of voices it says in the damn name. or made more original great sounding synths that aren't always somewhere on the spectrum between do it all workstation and toys cashing in on nostalgia for the past. they really know not what they are doing with their synth line.
I've had my System 8 for about 3 months and i love it. I'm no expert in this field but i've had a few synths. I started with a Yamaha Motif XS6 which sounded great but was very complicated to program. The system 8 is very straight forward and it's easy to create very complex sounds. I've made some truly amazing sounding patches, sounds that i have never heard before which i find exiting. The only downside for me is saving your patches over writes the pre-sets. No big deal as long as you back up everything to SD card. Also i would have liked a built in Drum kit and a large colour screen. Apart from that it is a very capable and addictive machine. I would recommend it to anyone beginner or pro.
Would the loss of the presets be that big a deal? One thing Roland has been notorious for is having presets that by and large do nothing to showcase what you can wring out of the instrument.
A lot of the sounds you are getting out of this synth are absolutely incredible and surpass the greatness of more expensive and more world-renowned synths. Fucking legend
Nice one as always, bro! (You are reaching a next level of meme madness & GIF swiftness 😂) I love the System-8 as its Jupiter-8 emulation is sonically definitely the closest to the sound of the OG, currently on the market (or in recent years at least) imo….However, I think the Jupiter-X is very DOPE as well….Anyway: GOOD VIBES, mayne!! Have a great weekend.
I'll be so happy once you hit 100k subs, you deserved it way sooner with how much work you've put into all these videos. It's definitely my favorite series on YT for music hardware :)
Roland's greatest hits in one plasticky box - super versatile and can sound fantastic if you get away from the factory patches and the lousy Reverb. The System 8 engine sounds like modern sequel to the JP-8000 at times - if you turn the Condition knob into the negatives it does indeed sound like a JP-8000 (which is handy). The SBF Filters are from the V-Synth. Filter #3 -18dB is the TB303 filter. The Vintage filters are impressive, and allow for fanciful scenarios like JP-8000 SuperSaws through a Juno filter + Chorus. The updated FM engine does the DX7 greatest hits. You can use the Motion Sequencer as a 2nd LFO. The FX section can do some wild stuff, if you dig into the hidden parameters in the menus. And you get the all 3 FX lanes for both Layers, with 4 notes of polyphony! And most of all, with the latest ACB Circuit Mod firmware, it has a far more realistic Juno than that 'flagship' Zencore-based Juno-X. Not to mention the other PlugOuts - the Juno 60 and Jupiter 4 are outstanding. Just a pity about the build quality, looks, 49 keys, weird shape (which means it doesn't fit in common road-cases), and some bugs with Performance Mode, all of which make me reluctant to use it on gigs these days. C'mon Roland, give us a proper System 16!
This is the truth. I never really thought about it, but he really goes deep quick, and I feel balanced and honest with the pros and cons. A lot of the time, I feel the show should be called "It Could Have Been Better Gear". Not very catchy though.
Another space filled on my "My Bad Gear" bingo card. I love owning things from this list. A good keybed with aftertouch would have taken this one from great to awesome.
I honestly think this thing just gets hated on because it's so hideously ugly. It always sounds pretty damn good to me, and I'm a mostly-pointlessly-analog-purist these days...
@@ericpeters0n I can't go with "hideously ugly." I'll take the Aira-esque Matrix-meets-modern-music black and green over the JD-Xa's all hands to action stations we're under attack red :P.
Here's an idea for a Patreon perk: include a meme pack featured in the episode. ( Because they flash so fast that one must rewatch and pause for full effect)
I love my System 8, especially because of the ACB plug outs. Your criticisms are on point. I wish Roland would make a version 2 of this thing with better build quality and more expansive ACB capabilities. The ZenCore stuff is fine but not as sonically interesting as their ACB stuff.
@@AudioPilz Yep, pretty much everything coming out of Roland nowadays is "How many different ways can we neuter the ZEN code base and how many different sizes and shapes of boxes can we hide it in before they stop spending their money here?" :|
Yay! My Omni Man arpeggiator meme was featured in an episode of Bad Gear. Finally, a life achievement that tops my Masters Thesis! I'm over the moon right now.
Oh man! You finally got one of my pieces of gear! I was able to land a used System 8 in excellent condition for a great price, and I bought it primarily for the plug outs. I figured that’s the closest I’d be able to get to a Jupiter 8. It has a 106 and a JX3P on board too, and I was happy. What made me happier was several months after my acquisition, Roland released a Juno 60 plug out. I couldn’t download it faster! Replaced the 106 and now finally have that J60 sound back in my rig. I sold my J60 decades ago and regretted it since about 3 weeks later. So the ACB version is a good substitute. I actually don’t like the Aira sound engine, but after watching this, I might get into it more. Thanks!
Everyone who sold a Juno back when analogs were getting dumped deeply regrets it, as do all of us who didn't take advantage and *buy* one when they were pennies on the dollar :D
I love anything Roland ACB. I own the TB-03, TR-08, T-8 and J-6 and they are all at near analog strength in the mix. At one point the synth community seemed aghast to learn that ACB was actually software, but I guess Roland just owned it with the Plug-Out trademark--they know how to roll with the punches. Yesterday's "computer controlled" lead to today's plug-outs. Another great show! Thanks!
I was skeptical when the TR-8 and ACB came out but after hearing it live, I was convinced it captured some of the magic of the originals. As an owner of the 606 and 707/727, the expansion pack for TR-8 seemed to get things right, within expected unit variation. I honestly think the Aira line will be considered its own vintage in another decade or two...
Initially I used to have three pieces of JU-06 boutique then traded them in for System-8. Apart from they aren't patch compatible I wasn't able to reproduce accurately some specific Juno-106 sounds with JU-06 for some reason. But System-8's Juno-106 plug-in/out reproduces that patch just spot on. I believe it happens due to boutiques aren't the same as System 8 in terms of ACB implementation. The fact is that System-8 is the most advanced synthesizer Roland ever produced so far. It's got tree times more powerful hardware than Jupiter-X (3 BMC processors vs 1)
@@MSM5500 I wouldn't be surprised if the boutique units are stripped-down or otherwise "optimized" even if they are based on the same core designs. The polyphony on the JP-08 is hobbled, for instance. I wonder if anyone's done a multi-way compare between the roland cloud VSTs, system-8 plug-outs, boutiques, and originals?
Great video again, and fantastic arrangements showing off your talent!! The System 8, despite it's flaws, is the one I would first turn on in my studio when I want to be inspired, it sounds so great and the one-knob-per-function makes it so immediate and fun. It isn't quite as organic as my JX-8P, but it still sounds/feels like a real instrument to me. I do wish though it had an extra octave of keys, and more plug in slots.
@@cosmicaddress7851 PG-8X kinda healed a gaping hole in my brain. I let the 90s slide by without jumping on a JX-8P when people were selling 'em cheap, and always regretted it. I'm eagerly anticipating Martin's upcoming rewrite, which should squish some anomalies I've noticed using the plugin on my linux box.
The System-8 was my first "real" synth, and I never regretted buying it. If people can only look at the material and "green LED" and judge it only on that, well. It is not cheap, but there is actually quite a lot of tech inside, ACB is not something really efficient en term of computational power, just have a look at the ACB VSTs how much CPU they use..
This is my first hardware synthesizer also. I sometimes have questioned if the price was worth it, but with all its possibilities even though some limitations, I don’t regret it.
@9:00 again not only a perfectly polished and enjoyable review but another magical finale...your energy is really an inspiration for me to push my own creative boundaries 👍🏻🙏🏻
Really like the System 8 concept. Wish they would have added some of those basic features and a few more voices. But, as mentioned, this sounds really great.
OK, I was with you on all the Roland Boutique stuff, but I have to take this one personally! The System-8 is versatile, reasonably easy to use and sounds absolutely incredible, especially in the hands of someone like Gattobus (or yourself). Like all hardware it has a few limitations, but I actually love this thing overall. Personally I've gone for the Juno-X instead, but I certainly wouldn't be ashamed to have a System-8 in my rig! :)
I don't know how you keep making great music on bad gear with new hilarious video backgrounds every week. Amazing. And yes, this Roland would be bad gear even if it didn't have the green lights. But the sub oscillator is very good!
Only Werner Herzog could come close to trying decipher the corporate psyche of Roland. They haven’t put out anything that caught my attention in several years, with maybe the exception of the boutique D-50 because I was looking for that board’s soundset at that exact time.
Sounds great (still after six years), a bit expensive, has limitations. It has competition but it's still a powerful and useful bit of kit that works well in its ecosystem.
@@AudioPilz I've had mine now for about 3 years and even though it has limitations there's so much I've been able to do with the production wise. Being able to simulate classic Roland synthesizers have saved me a bundle of money and time trying to track down old hardware that might need to be fixed up.
It does sound good! I have a JP-8000, and honestly, the System 8 seems to kinda blow it outta the water. The JP-8k has achieved sort of legendary status - but it's pretty thin sounding. And this has significantly more features.
@@slipknotboy555 thank you for that. I have a System 8 and love it, and a Virus, but as a VA-Head, I've always wanted a JP-80x0, it calls to me, and I have to remember that I just don't need it.
It’s just unfortunate that we never got a system 16 with a proper 61 key keyboard with aftertouch. ACB is the best VA engine Roland ever made. It sounds much better than the newer Zen-Core.
@@hut48 I'm on the Android UA-cam app... ok, so, when you tap the screen and the red progress bar appears, I'm holding my finger on the red dot (which indicates how far into the video you are) and sliding up. That action pulls up a "frame view" on the bottom which allows you to shuttle backwards and forwards more precisely. No more spending 40 seconds at a time trying to catch a meme! Good luck! 👍👍
Your timing is impeccable. Just this week I was offered one of these in trade for a vintage Korg I'm selling. Like offering a Kia for a used Porsche lol. Thanks for posting this!
The plug out idea was awesome. Wish more companies did such a thing but it’s not the best move if you are a synth company trying to squeeze as much money out of people as possible.
@@AudioPilz I think you are talking about the Arturia Origin? It loads in components of an ancient version of V Collection. It sounds like it'd be crap but actually it's an amazing sounding synth.. you can also build your own synth architectures in there by combining and routing components from one synth to components from another. There are also "templates" which are less heavy to run than the modular system, so you get more polyphony. They only did Minimoog and Jupiter-8 templates for it though. A CS-80 template was promised, but never came. You can just build your own with the modular system still.. but you get less polyphony that way
yeah thankfully the keybed on the Sys-8 may be crap, but at least it doesn't break. Sys-1m fixes that.. then you need to get scatter back with the Roland AIRA Scooper eurorack module
Ich glaube, es gibt kaum eine Begebenheit, und weiss allerdings mit Sicherheit, das bei ähnlich strukturierten Inhalten mein folgender Kommentar unmöglich, selbst in der kompletten Geschichte des youtube Kommentierens, mit einer solchen Überzeugung, Leidenschaft und Genugtuung ausgesprochen werden konnte. Irgendwie ist die Welt um mich herum gerade ein Stückchen ruhiger, gerechter aber vor allem nachvollziehbarer geworden! Und dieser Kommentar lautet: DANKE!!!!!
Never used one but i always found this to be a cool value for someone needing those sounds. The panel sends full ccs so it would make an amazing controller for other vsts too
Im leaning towards a deepmind 12. Apparently a Roland sound while retaining analog for 1/2 the price ish. And queakable in differnt ways. I like how S8 has an array of knobs, and it has all botiques in one box, great for at home, not so much while on the go. But if you get one, it will likely retain its value for resale, so thats a plus and really no risk to try it out. ♦️🔺️❤️🔺️♦️
Deepmind 12 uses the Juno 106 voice architecture, however without the same chorus circuit. Its real strength is all the built in effects.. and an 8 slot mod matrix where you can modulate the parameters of those effects. Something the Moog One still can't do. The System-8 sounds great, though. Nails the Juno and Jupiter sound way more accurately than the later Jupiter-X/Juno-X releases.. which come in nicer cases but don't have much brains
@@mrz80 oscillator 2 on the Deepmind is a square wave, exactly the same as the sub-oscillator on the Juno 106. It's just been enhanced with some more advanced shaping options
2:12 Epic! :D Thanks for the show. Master BadGear this time! Ive recently buy the Novation mk2 midi synth, should not be a bad gear. But i actually realize Novation is now focusrite right? Huhu 😶🌫
6:06 oooo I'm gonna have to remember that lick. would slot right into the sorts of augmented chords that are occupying my mind this week 10:14 DON'T SHOOT THE CUTE LEOPARD
You nailed the drawbacks. But even with all of them, it’s obvious you found out what makes the System 8 so good: how musical it is. It’s just really easy to jump in and start making stuff with it. As many downsides as it has, it’s still a go-to synth for me.
I have a system 8 and its lovely , I also have a JDXA and it is also lovely. I paid considerably less for them than probably anyone ever but that’s just my luck. 🎉 the System 8 emulates older Roland analogs extremely well. I have many old Roland analogs to compare them. I bring up the JDXA because it came out several years before the AIRA line and it often gets a bad rap but Im telling you its a damn cool synth. Both are damn cool. I use them constantly they don’t let me down on projects, they sound and look retro futuristic.
@@AudioPilz yes the filter on the system 8 is Roland’s best analog emulated filter, I think its the same as the one on the slightly older Fantom 06/07/08 line. Those used the super natural engine also. That super natural synth engine was Rolands best until Zen core. The XA also used the super natural engine or some version of it but it actually has an analog filter hence it beats all the emulations anyways.
Considering the System 8 is primarily a flexible container for vintage synths, if they had made the look of the board more of a vintage styling, they probably would have sold five times as many units.
just in case anyone is in the same boat as me and is deciding (if they really wanna choose haha) between the jupiter-x and the system-8, i've found reviews from other videos (including this one) pretty much always agreeing that the ACB technology is more accurate to the originals compared to ABM. despite the fact you "only" get 8-voice polyphony (more than the originals with the addition of two extra notes) in comparison to the x's i think 256(?) as well as not being able to put the latest/future zencore models in a system-8, this synth is a better bang for your buck especially if you're trying to closely emulate the synths it clones whatever money you would've saved to make up the full 3 grand it takes to get the jupiter-x is better spent on getting this synth alongside a moog (be it the sub25, sub37, phatty, grandmother, etc) or sequential rev2. or you could just avoid roland's higher-priced synths entire lol. anyways, excellent vid as always, audiopilz!
In reality you will never get 256 "voices" out of a Jupiter-X.. this is referring to partials.. it's more like a single oscillator instead of a full voice. The System-8's ACB is indeed way more accurate at simulating old synths. It simulates the original circuits. The way the Zen Core synths simulate an old synth is called "ABM".. all it is, is a parameter template of restrictions around the general Zen Core VA engine telling it what filter types it can use, what oscillator shapes it can use.. then some scaling macros for the controls. So ABM templates are simply subsets of Zen Core that make it a bit more like the target synth. I would get the System-8 every time over the Jupiter-X
@@Wagoo imagine my reaction when i listened to hours upon hours of comparison videos and reviews and came to the conclusion that the jupiter-x is honestly kinda worthless with this thing around lol. the system-8's looks take some time getting used to, but the imitation/accuracy and the knob-per-function of just about every parameter (jupiter-x has pmw in menu dive selection??) makes this is a solid deal regardless that and its cheap price means i can take this to live shows too and not worry about the thing being damaged or too costly to repair. thank christ i didn't stick w the jupiter-x ...
My next "big" synth. But, I've waylaid myself by preordering an Edge or two, and getting a Yamaha vss-200 this week. I am in the minoroty, I love the Aira green glow.
Took delivery of a Jupiter Xm today. No other comment really... just wanted to say I took delivery of a Jupiter Xm today. beans on toast for the rest of the year
Did you have to stretch yourself over years with Volcas then moving up to Boutiques, then a Mininova.. before you were finally ready to take delivery of an Xm? It's impressive, but I worry for the shape of your stools
Your jams are always badass! Thank you for always brightening our day and giving us our synth fix with your great videos. Might I suggest the Roland Juno DS61 to be featured on the awesomeness that is your show, Bad Gear.
This is a synth that I still have my eye on. I have no interest in the Jupiter or Juno emulations but the System 8 engine itself has such a unique sound to it. It’s both cold and warm at the same time. It’s distinctly digital but still feels organic. The build quality isn’t great and the limited memory is unfortunate but the FM oscillators themselves are worth the price of admission. I actually think I would take this over the HydraSynth or Novation Summit. While those two are more feature rich and sound great I find they sonically don’t have a distinctive voice but rather are chameleons. I think the System 8 really has its own identity and I wish Roland would have just embraced the System 8 engine and its versatility on its own rather than pushing for digital emulations of their older analog gear.
@@palindromial Same engine with 4 voices vs. 8. Otherwise pretty much the same. No onboard sequencer (or ARP on the 1m) but the midi implementation overall is good so really those are not major drawbacks. One thing to keep in mind: the encoders seem to be very high resolution and therefore more prone to getting flaky over time. There's a VST version of the system 1 and 8 on roland cloud if you want to hear the sound for yourself before buying. Fairly CPU intensive VSTs but they do sound practically identical to the hardware as far as I can tell.
@@palindromial System-1 polyphony 4 vs 8 on the System-8. And the plugouts on System-1 are monophonic. System-8 has more effects, a sequencer, vocoder etc. But I very much recommend to try the System-1. I loved it back in the days before I upgraded to S8.
I was looking online for VA synths lately and have ended up with a Novation X-Station which I really like. But while searching I also found out about the Korg R3. Despite seemingly being an answer to some of the problems with the MicroKorg and XL, as it has full size keys and patches organised by type instead of genre, and it has the RADIAS engine it seems like it's not very common, so maybe it disappeared without a trace! You should check that one out, you'd probably love it.
@@AudioPilz Even better, the KingKorg! If it only had more knobs (and a better keybed) it would be legendary status. Such a great sounding, flexible engine yet so underrated. I have one and I also have a System 8... the sonic palette of 10+ vintage synths in one dual-tier stand! Haha
Finally, your review that doesn't make me buy a new Roland Aira Gear. Yeah, ok, that's only because I already have System-8. Honestly though, it's so much fun to play, all those knobs and sliders to twiddle with are really fun! I only wish it had the System-1 scatter knob. Then again, that's what I can use MX-1 for :D Now I'm only waiting for MC-707 review to drop and push me into buying it and the cycle will be complete.
Roland Cloud. I got a free trial when I bought the TR-8s and think I used it twice since. I really like electronic sounds but something about DAWs and Cloud synths, no matter how great they sound, lack the playability of my myriad of keyboard synths- Take 5, Kross 2, Jd-Xi, MicroKorg-S, Minilogue XD, MicroKorg XL+, Ultranova, Gaia, Bass Station 2 and System 1.
The pro version of the Roland Boutiques. The System 8 sounds great but I wish it had 61 keys. Was hoping this would appear one day on this channel for ticking all the boxes at first glance.
@@AudioPilz I sure hope Roland also makes a Jupiter-4 Boutique for a future review on your channel considering they released the ACB emulation for Cloud and the System-8 last year.
As much as I'd love to see some more practical ACB plug outs like a D-50, I'd think it would be fun to get something like a RS-202, for the sheer fact it's old and rare. That's one of the charms of ACB, I can now say I've heard weird synths like the ProMars, which I've never heard of before getting a System 8
@@SlaserX well D-50 is digital so doesn't work with ACB.. ACB simulates analogue circuits. D-50 also already exists in "DCB" form as the D-05 boutique (and probably a Roland Clod plugin).. DCB is more like an emulator that runs the code from the original synth RS-505 would be even better.. but I think they have problems with "divide down" circuits and ACB. At least they did when they last tried to do it with the VP-03 boutique, which is supposed to be a simulation of the VP-330. But it sounds vastly worse on strings/choirs than the original (or the Behringer analogue clone, VC340).. with the vocoder they kind of get away with it.. that sounds okay. But very noticeable on the strings/choirs
Haha the neutrik cartoon was great! :D I would've loved to hear Jam 2 only with Amen break drums ;) But great episode, I almost thought of buying one of these :D
Roland for the win I have to admit I played with a system 8 and I like it 😱 Green disco lights are a bit too much And when it goes into demo mode it is embarrassing Genius as always Cheers
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
The is one thing that really kills me about some of Roland's newer synths. The sound modeling system they use is called Zenology. You can use this this with any DAW for $20 a month. Essentially this makes purchasing a $1500 Usd keyboard pointless.
Im looking to sell my Waldorf Micro-Q. Could you please make an episode about that? You kinda drove up the prices on the oberheim I was looking at, so it would be fair ;)
I don't think he "checked all the boxes" in this demo.
Love your work...quite the tunesmith also.
Hallo Audiopilz, ich schreibe 😊 hier auf Deutsch, da mein Englisch is Not very good😅. Verfolge deinen Kanal, fast seit dem Anfang und wollte Dir mal ein Riesenlob für den Kanal aussprechen.
Niemand sonst hier, auf UA-cam schafft es Hardware, Humor und tolle Sounds zu einem so stimmigen und unterhaltsamen Ganzen zu zaubern.
Ich hoffe du knackst bald die 100000 Abos und bringst und dann ein 12 Stunden Set, mit allen jemals getesten Geräten.
Liebe Grüße vom Kaiserstuhl
Can u have a look at the JT-4000m & the Access Virus please
I love how every time the show starts you got that huge ear to ear smile. Because who can't smile when a new fun weird synth is in front of you!
So happy to hear that, thanks!!!
I really dig your inspiring jams on the "bad" gear. Thank You!
Hey, thank you so much for the support!!!
I like the increased jams in the episode . Despite the downsides it seems that you had fun exploring it . Great show 😊
Thank you so much!!!
This synth is being used by touring musicians everywhere. Howard Jones has three of them on stage. Heaven 17 has used it on stage for years. Jean Michel Jarre uses one extensively. Among MANY others...so it can't be all that bad.
Sure wish it had more patch storage though.
Yeah, 64 slots aren't that much...
@ghost mall I agree. I love the sound of it, but there are some boneheaded Roland design choices (particularly in its ridiculous MIDI implementation) that make me wish for...well, more.
@@AudioPilz At least with an SD card it is quite fast at banking them in/out, but yeah it is limite :'(
I lent a keyboard and synth to a member of heaven 17 once, she helped inspire me to start using them again.
Many of those Roland Artists are called that for a reason tho, and the synths' premium pricing helps support that system (which is fine with me).
System 8 is the most underrated Roland synth ever. It's a beast and keep receiving updates from Roland.
👍👍👍
What updates has it gotten? No snark, legitimately curious as I’ve almost gone for one of these several different times
@@CatmanJimbopretty sure the (pseudo) FM update was the biggest update to the engine to date.
Does it have channel aftertouch now?
@@Ambientnauts 99% sure it does not. The closest thing you get is an expression pedal input that can only control volume
I absolutely love the System 8. Fell in love with it on Roland Cloud. Superb sounding synth. I'm also one of the three people in the world who likes Roland's Aira green and black vibe.
I've grown accustomed to the green by now too;)
I've loved cheesy black and bright green since I was a kid. My aspie brain would love the whole world to look like that
4 people ;)
I quite like it now. Its not too bad when you own it in real life.
I have a system 1
I have the system 1….. would love the 8 as well. Is the keybed more synthy than the system 1? Keys are horrible on that.
I truly believe the System-8 was the peak of the Aira franchise, not in terms of sucess but rather wasted potential. Their train of thought was: "Let's bring our classics synths back in a new, flashy way" > "People are unimpressed?! Why?? Well, let's give them "authentic" feel with the Boutiques!" > "What?! People wanted full-size, 8-voice synths all along? Ugh, fine." > "Whatever, just release the Jupiter-X"
True that!!!
‘We need to male sure the structure of patches is completely insane though, because if it were easy to use it might be fun.’
I actually think it would look pretty cool if it was just RGB instead of all green. The plastic case sucks for a "flagship" synth though.
Jupiter X is a failure in its own way, you should never have to menu dive if you have a proper surface control, this is where the X falls down hard.
ACB is better than Zencore in some ways too.
In both instances, tRoland got both interfaces wrong, yet again.
If only they had released the Jupiter-X w/ ACB instead of ABM or came out with a System 8 that was five octave and of a more professional look + construction.
or ACB boutiques that were maybe a bit larger with quarter-outs and the number of voices it says in the damn name.
or made more original great sounding synths that aren't always somewhere on the spectrum between do it all workstation and toys cashing in on nostalgia for the past.
they really know not what they are doing with their synth line.
Finally, the best synthesizer in the world on Bad Gear
Bald claim;)
Walk tall, speak the truth.
I've had my System 8 for about 3 months and i love it. I'm no expert in this field but i've had a few synths. I started with a Yamaha Motif XS6 which sounded great but was very complicated to program. The system 8 is very straight forward and it's easy to create very complex sounds.
I've made some truly amazing sounding patches, sounds that i have never heard before which i find exiting.
The only downside for me is saving your patches over writes the pre-sets. No big deal as long as you back up everything to SD card.
Also i would have liked a built in Drum kit and a large colour screen.
Apart from that it is a very capable and addictive machine. I would recommend it to anyone beginner or pro.
👍👍👍
Would the loss of the presets be that big a deal? One thing Roland has been notorious for is having presets that by and large do nothing to showcase what you can wring out of the instrument.
A lot of the sounds you are getting out of this synth are absolutely incredible and surpass the greatness of more expensive and more world-renowned synths. Fucking legend
Thank you so much!!!
Nice one as always, bro! (You are reaching a next level of meme madness & GIF swiftness 😂) I love the System-8 as its Jupiter-8 emulation is sonically definitely the closest to the sound of the OG, currently on the market (or in recent years at least) imo….However, I think the Jupiter-X is very DOPE as well….Anyway: GOOD VIBES, mayne!! Have a great weekend.
Have a nice one too!!!
I'll be so happy once you hit 100k subs, you deserved it way sooner with how much work you've put into all these videos. It's definitely my favorite series on YT for music hardware :)
Thank you so much!!! Working on it!!!
there with you...get the word out and let's get this channel the love it deserves 😎👍🏻
Absolutely agree. Fantastic channel that ticks all the right boxes.
Roland's greatest hits in one plasticky box - super versatile and can sound fantastic if you get away from the factory patches and the lousy Reverb. The System 8 engine sounds like modern sequel to the JP-8000 at times - if you turn the Condition knob into the negatives it does indeed sound like a JP-8000 (which is handy). The SBF Filters are from the V-Synth. Filter #3 -18dB is the TB303 filter. The Vintage filters are impressive, and allow for fanciful scenarios like JP-8000 SuperSaws through a Juno filter + Chorus. The updated FM engine does the DX7 greatest hits. You can use the Motion Sequencer as a 2nd LFO. The FX section can do some wild stuff, if you dig into the hidden parameters in the menus. And you get the all 3 FX lanes for both Layers, with 4 notes of polyphony! And most of all, with the latest ACB Circuit Mod firmware, it has a far more realistic Juno than that 'flagship' Zencore-based Juno-X. Not to mention the other PlugOuts - the Juno 60 and Jupiter 4 are outstanding. Just a pity about the build quality, looks, 49 keys, weird shape (which means it doesn't fit in common road-cases), and some bugs with Performance Mode, all of which make me reluctant to use it on gigs these days. C'mon Roland, give us a proper System 16!
Reminded me of the JP-8K too!!!
System - X
LOL. Roland should be paying you. The System 8 popularity just went through the roof. Love your videos... best quick gear demo/reviews on the Web.
Thank you so much!!!
This is the truth. I never really thought about it, but he really goes deep quick, and I feel balanced and honest with the pros and cons. A lot of the time, I feel the show should be called "It Could Have Been Better Gear". Not very catchy though.
Another space filled on my "My Bad Gear" bingo card. I love owning things from this list. A good keybed with aftertouch would have taken this one from great to awesome.
Congrats!!!
I honestly think this thing just gets hated on because it's so hideously ugly. It always sounds pretty damn good to me, and I'm a mostly-pointlessly-analog-purist these days...
Aftertouch, and a lower price on the used-gear-vulture marketplace :D
@@ericpeters0n I can't go with "hideously ugly." I'll take the Aira-esque Matrix-meets-modern-music black and green over the JD-Xa's all hands to action stations we're under attack red :P.
The most paused videos on the internet
😀😀😀
Came here most for the memes but those are so quick that I have to pause the video all the time.
I could live with this piece of gear and be happy for a long time. Great video brother!!! 🔥👊🧡👍🔥
Thank you!!!
Agreed! That thing sounds amazing (and was played amazingly).
The only YT channel I watch on my laptop with my finger hovering over the space bar so I cant stop the video to see all the added pics. 😁
😀😀😀
Wow, this thing sounds good! And I love the 100% knob per function. 😍
😀😀😀
Here's an idea for a Patreon perk: include a meme pack featured in the episode. ( Because they flash so fast that one must rewatch and pause for full effect)
Great idea, thanks!!!
Pleeeeease make this. The jams are dope, but most of us are living for those memes ❤
@@SlaserX agreed. These memes are perfectly usable elsewhere with minor lazy modifications.
Super idea!
Omg this is gold. Pleeeeeease
I love my System 8, especially because of the ACB plug outs. Your criticisms are on point. I wish Roland would make a version 2 of this thing with better build quality and more expansive ACB capabilities. The ZenCore stuff is fine but not as sonically interesting as their ACB stuff.
Thank you! I'm afraid the focus is on ZEN now
100%, with more keys, after touch, and more plug outs at least.
To my ears ZenCore is inferior to ACB.
@@AudioPilz Yep, pretty much everything coming out of Roland nowadays is "How many different ways can we neuter the ZEN code base and how many different sizes and shapes of boxes can we hide it in before they stop spending their money here?" :|
Yay! My Omni Man arpeggiator meme was featured in an episode of Bad Gear. Finally, a life achievement that tops my Masters Thesis! I'm over the moon right now.
Nice one, thanks!!!
Absolutely LOVE my System-8. ACB kicks the crap out of ZEN-Core any day.
ACB 4 life!!!
@@AudioPilz ACB: crap for rookies. Modern Roland: TRolland.
Wow I caught it on time! You are doing the lord's work keeping us appreciating the gear we own so we can feed our pets
Thank you!!!
Oh man! You finally got one of my pieces of gear! I was able to land a used System 8 in excellent condition for a great price, and I bought it primarily for the plug outs. I figured that’s the closest I’d be able to get to a Jupiter 8. It has a 106 and a JX3P on board too, and I was happy. What made me happier was several months after my acquisition, Roland released a Juno 60 plug out. I couldn’t download it faster! Replaced the 106 and now finally have that J60 sound back in my rig. I sold my J60 decades ago and regretted it since about 3 weeks later. So the ACB version is a good substitute. I actually don’t like the Aira sound engine, but after watching this, I might get into it more. Thanks!
Big ACB fan here!!!
Everyone who sold a Juno back when analogs were getting dumped deeply regrets it, as do all of us who didn't take advantage and *buy* one when they were pennies on the dollar :D
I love anything Roland ACB. I own the TB-03, TR-08, T-8 and J-6 and they are all at near analog strength in the mix. At one point the synth community seemed aghast to learn that ACB was actually software, but I guess Roland just owned it with the Plug-Out trademark--they know how to roll with the punches. Yesterday's "computer controlled" lead to today's plug-outs. Another great show! Thanks!
Big ACB fan here too
I was skeptical when the TR-8 and ACB came out but after hearing it live, I was convinced it captured some of the magic of the originals. As an owner of the 606 and 707/727, the expansion pack for TR-8 seemed to get things right, within expected unit variation. I honestly think the Aira line will be considered its own vintage in another decade or two...
ACB is still the best sounding VA I've heard. I'm glad the synth community at large recognises its brilliance now
Initially I used to have three pieces of JU-06 boutique then traded them in for System-8. Apart from they aren't patch compatible I wasn't able to reproduce accurately some specific Juno-106 sounds with JU-06 for some reason. But System-8's Juno-106 plug-in/out reproduces that patch just spot on. I believe it happens due to boutiques aren't the same as System 8 in terms of ACB implementation. The fact is that System-8 is the most advanced synthesizer Roland ever produced so far. It's got tree times more powerful hardware than Jupiter-X (3 BMC processors vs 1)
@@MSM5500 I wouldn't be surprised if the boutique units are stripped-down or otherwise "optimized" even if they are based on the same core designs. The polyphony on the JP-08 is hobbled, for instance.
I wonder if anyone's done a multi-way compare between the roland cloud VSTs, system-8 plug-outs, boutiques, and originals?
Great video again, and fantastic arrangements showing off your talent!! The System 8, despite it's flaws, is the one I would first turn on in my studio when I want to be inspired, it sounds so great and the one-knob-per-function makes it so immediate and fun. It isn't quite as organic as my JX-8P, but it still sounds/feels like a real instrument to me. I do wish though it had an extra octave of keys, and more plug in slots.
Roland should have made a proper ACB JX-8P plugout, instead of that poxy fake template wrapping around Zen Core they made with ABM for JX-08 etc.
@@Wagoo I agree! if only we could load the PG-8X as a plugout :)
Thank you! That sums it up nicely
@@cosmicaddress7851 PG-8X kinda healed a gaping hole in my brain. I let the 90s slide by without jumping on a JX-8P when people were selling 'em cheap, and always regretted it. I'm eagerly anticipating Martin's upcoming rewrite, which should squish some anomalies I've noticed using the plugin on my linux box.
Consistently throwing down and delivering the goods. Your vids are soooooo good.
Thank you so much!!!
amazing video man, impressive amount of work and effort you put into this, quality content.
Thank you so much!!!
The System-8 was my first "real" synth, and I never regretted buying it. If people can only look at the material and "green LED" and judge it only on that, well.
It is not cheap, but there is actually quite a lot of tech inside, ACB is not something really efficient en term of computational power, just have a look at the ACB VSTs how much CPU they use..
Interesting! Never tried them in VST form. Thanks for posting!
@@AudioPilz they are the "legends" series or whatever in Roland Clod
This is my first hardware synthesizer also. I sometimes have questioned if the price was worth it, but with all its possibilities even though some limitations, I don’t regret it.
I always go to like these videos at the end but then scroll down to realise that I already have while it was playing. Great content as always :)
Thank you!!!
"(...) a pricing strategy deeply rooted in denial of reality." Writing doesn't get better than this. Thanks again for the great content.
Thank you so much!!!
How could anyone hate on the design, the green lights looks sick, especially in a room with some LEDs, can't wait to get mine.
Thank God it’s Friday!! Awesome episode! Now I want a system 8! 😅
Thanks! Have a nice weekend!!!
Me too
Get one, you physically can not get bored of one unless you hate the cream of the 80s Roland analog crop
@9:00 again not only a perfectly polished and enjoyable review but another magical finale...your energy is really an inspiration for me to push my own creative boundaries 👍🏻🙏🏻
Happy to hear that!!! Thanks!!!
Really like the System 8 concept. Wish they would have added some of those basic features and a few more voices. But, as mentioned, this sounds really great.
Agreed!!!
80'S synthesizers didn't have much more than 8 voices.
Excellent sounding synth!
👍
OK, I was with you on all the Roland Boutique stuff, but I have to take this one personally! The System-8 is versatile, reasonably easy to use and sounds absolutely incredible, especially in the hands of someone like Gattobus (or yourself). Like all hardware it has a few limitations, but I actually love this thing overall. Personally I've gone for the Juno-X instead, but I certainly wouldn't be ashamed to have a System-8 in my rig! :)
👍👍👍
incredible? what Synths did you play in the Past?
Man, your jams are amazing.
His mother's honey is even better.
Oh no I di ant!!
Thank you!!!
@@AudioPilz cmon, I was pretty funny too, jams and honey!!!
MEME ME!!!!
lol
This will be considered a vintage classic in 10 years
That's probably right!
I don't know how you keep making great music on bad gear with new hilarious video backgrounds every week. Amazing. And yes, this Roland would be bad gear even if it didn't have the green lights. But the sub oscillator is very good!
Thank you!!! I try not to mess around too much;)
Only Werner Herzog could come close to trying decipher the corporate psyche of Roland. They haven’t put out anything that caught my attention in several years, with maybe the exception of the boutique D-50 because I was looking for that board’s soundset at that exact time.
True that!!!
@@AudioPilz Have enough people said enough bad things about the D-05 for you to give it the treatment?
Sounds great (still after six years), a bit expensive, has limitations. It has competition but it's still a powerful and useful bit of kit that works well in its ecosystem.
That sums it up nicely!
As an owner of a System 8 I knew this day would come. Time to watch someone call my baby ugly 😅
I'd never!!!
@@AudioPilz I've had mine now for about 3 years and even though it has limitations there's so much I've been able to do with the production wise. Being able to simulate classic Roland synthesizers have saved me a bundle of money and time trying to track down old hardware that might need to be fixed up.
YESSS. The trifecta is complete, all of my roland toys have been given their time.
Bad Gear Bingo!!!
Great video. I still think this is the best VA synth Roland manufactured until today!
Thanks!!! I like the System engine quite a bit!
It does sound good! I have a JP-8000, and honestly, the System 8 seems to kinda blow it outta the water. The JP-8k has achieved sort of legendary status - but it's pretty thin sounding. And this has significantly more features.
@@slipknotboy555 thank you for that. I have a System 8 and love it, and a Virus, but as a VA-Head, I've always wanted a JP-80x0, it calls to me, and I have to remember that I just don't need it.
Not as versatile, but the tiny S1 sounds smokin' to me as well!
It’s just unfortunate that we never got a system 16 with a proper 61 key keyboard with aftertouch. ACB is the best VA engine Roland ever made. It sounds much better than the newer Zen-Core.
System 16 for 1 MILLION DOLLARS;)
Surprisingly good sounding and versatile! Great episode, Flo :)
Thank you!!!
SUCH a sick sequence in that first jam! 💯💯 ...AND I FINALLY figured out how to rewind less than 10-seconds!🕺🕺
Thanks Rocco!!!
Please share how 🤣
@@hut48 I'm on the Android UA-cam app... ok, so, when you tap the screen and the red progress bar appears, I'm holding my finger on the red dot (which indicates how far into the video you are) and sliding up. That action pulls up a "frame view" on the bottom which allows you to shuttle backwards and forwards more precisely. No more spending 40 seconds at a time trying to catch a meme! Good luck! 👍👍
@@Rompler_Rocco thanks for the tip. Works on my iPhone, too
Nice one. It takes me about a half hour to watch a 10-minute Bad Gear episode as I rewind and freeze-frame on the memes.
just got the roland SH-4d would love to see it on the show and hear your thoughts, great ep as always !
Thank you! Great suggestion!!!
Out the back with a beer catching the rays and totally forgot the most awesome video was released today. Yassssss!
Nice!!! Have a great weekend!!!
@@AudioPilz you too have a good one. Last two songs are excellent 👌
I totally saw the video. This comment is not for the algorithm.
#truth
The algorithm knows...
@@iancain6647 I always wondered how algae make these rithms, but when I ask all I hear is a voice shouting back “Science, bitch!”
I’ve never seen a “survey” for a comment before today… I told UA-cam this comment is 1. “Excellent” & 2 “Shows support to the creator” 😂
Wieder tolles Video, du hast mir den System-8 jetzt doch fast verkauft.... Zum Glück bin ich in den Ferien.👍👍
Danke!!! Gerade noch einmal davon gekommen;)
Roland really knows how to do the "gamer hardware" design for synthezisers.
😂😂😂
Having seen the Roland Gaia on your show (which I own and enjoy), I am now tempted to get the system 8 😅
I have plenty of wish list improvements for the version 2 they’ll never make, but even with its flaws, the System-8 is awesome.
Yeah, V2 would be great!
Your timing is impeccable. Just this week I was offered one of these in trade for a vintage Korg I'm selling. Like offering a Kia for a used Porsche lol. Thanks for posting this!
Thanks! There are some Kias I would definitely prefer to some Porsches;)
Another very well done episode! I heard the Juno 60 is cool
yes it sounds great just like the rest of the plugouts for this thing. ACB rocks imo. Sold my juno 106 when I got my system 8 and never looked back.
@@voodoohex72 oh really?!?!??! Nice!
Thank you!!!
2:19 Does anyone know what are all of the synthesizers that have a cowbell oscillator? Let me know.
Schmidt Synth for 20K certainly has one;)
@@AudioPilz 20k!? Nah screw that bro. Im just going to get the system 1 VSTi haha
The only thing I hate about the SYSTEM 8 is the plastic body. But other than that, it's one of the best synthesizer I have ever own.
👍👍👍
I missed this System 8 review.
I love this one too 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks !
Great episode!! You nailed it!! 😊
Thank you so much!!!
the HULK of Synths for 3L3K7RO fanbois / great episode - loved it
Thank you, Anthony!!!
The plug out idea was awesome. Wish more companies did such a thing but it’s not the best move if you are a synth company trying to squeeze as much money out of people as possible.
Didn't Arturia do something like that?
@@AudioPilz I don’t know. Did they?
@@AudioPilz I think you are talking about the Arturia Origin? It loads in components of an ancient version of V Collection. It sounds like it'd be crap but actually it's an amazing sounding synth.. you can also build your own synth architectures in there by combining and routing components from one synth to components from another.
There are also "templates" which are less heavy to run than the modular system, so you get more polyphony. They only did Minimoog and Jupiter-8 templates for it though. A CS-80 template was promised, but never came. You can just build your own with the modular system still.. but you get less polyphony that way
Yet again absolutely killed it in the end.
Thank you!!!
this inspired me to try to fix my system-1's keybed ... again
System-1 is actually really nice (except for the keybed;)
yeah thankfully the keybed on the Sys-8 may be crap, but at least it doesn't break. Sys-1m fixes that.. then you need to get scatter back with the Roland AIRA Scooper eurorack module
Ich glaube, es gibt kaum eine Begebenheit, und weiss allerdings mit Sicherheit, das bei ähnlich strukturierten Inhalten mein folgender Kommentar unmöglich, selbst in der kompletten Geschichte des youtube Kommentierens, mit einer solchen Überzeugung, Leidenschaft und Genugtuung ausgesprochen werden konnte. Irgendwie ist die Welt um mich herum gerade ein Stückchen ruhiger, gerechter aber vor allem nachvollziehbarer geworden! Und dieser Kommentar lautet: DANKE!!!!!
Vielen herzlichen Dank!!!
Everyone focuses so much on the plugouts that I didn't even know about the VA on there. It's not bad!
Really enjoyed it quite a bit too!!!
Never used one but i always found this to be a cool value for someone needing those sounds. The panel sends full ccs so it would make an amazing controller for other vsts too
Great collection of Boutique sounds;)
@@AudioPilz expensive midi controller tho ;oP
Im leaning towards a deepmind 12. Apparently a Roland sound while retaining analog for 1/2 the price ish. And queakable in differnt ways. I like how S8 has an array of knobs, and it has all botiques in one box, great for at home, not so much while on the go. But if you get one, it will likely retain its value for resale, so thats a plus and really no risk to try it out. ♦️🔺️❤️🔺️♦️
Deepmind 12 uses the Juno 106 voice architecture, however without the same chorus circuit. Its real strength is all the built in effects.. and an 8 slot mod matrix where you can modulate the parameters of those effects. Something the Moog One still can't do.
The System-8 sounds great, though. Nails the Juno and Jupiter sound way more accurately than the later Jupiter-X/Juno-X releases.. which come in nicer cases but don't have much brains
Deepmind is super tempting!
@@Wagoo Deepmind is actually closer to a JX than to a Juno, given the two oscillators per voice.
@@mrz80 oscillator 2 on the Deepmind is a square wave, exactly the same as the sub-oscillator on the Juno 106. It's just been enhanced with some more advanced shaping options
@@Wagoo Thanks for the clarification. Still darned intriguing. :)
2:12 Epic! :D
Thanks for the show. Master BadGear this time!
Ive recently buy the Novation mk2 midi synth, should not be a bad gear.
But i actually realize Novation is now focusrite right? Huhu 😶🌫
Novation have been Focusrite since 2004 😂
@@Wagoo Aaww 😅ok thanks it is probably bad
Thank you! Great suggestion!!!!
Its one the best synth on the market 😊
There's some tough competition tho;)
@@AudioPilzlike Which one would you pick over this?
@@NobiSAINT Novation Summit for 1 example.
REV 2 for another.
I could go on...
6:06 oooo I'm gonna have to remember that lick.
would slot right into the sorts of augmented chords that are occupying my mind this week
10:14 DON'T SHOOT THE CUTE LEOPARD
😀😀😀
You nailed the drawbacks. But even with all of them, it’s obvious you found out what makes the System 8 so good: how musical it is. It’s just really easy to jump in and start making stuff with it. As many downsides as it has, it’s still a go-to synth for me.
also, its built in synth engine is nothing to sniff at. my other favorite is the JX-3P - now with the 1000 dollar knob bank
Thanks!!!
I've never been more sad when one of your jams faded out as the closer this time, it sounds incredible.
Thank you so much!!!❤️❤️❤️
I have a system 8 and its lovely , I also have a JDXA and it is also lovely. I paid considerably less for them than probably anyone ever but that’s just my luck. 🎉 the System 8 emulates older Roland analogs extremely well. I have many old Roland analogs to compare them. I bring up the JDXA because it came out several years before the AIRA line and it often gets a bad rap but Im telling you its a damn cool synth. Both are damn cool. I use them constantly they don’t let me down on projects, they sound and look retro futuristic.
Love the Supernatural engine of the JD-XA(Xi)
@@AudioPilz yes the filter on the system 8 is Roland’s best analog emulated filter, I think its the same as the one on the slightly older Fantom 06/07/08 line. Those used the super natural engine also. That super natural synth engine was Rolands best until Zen core. The XA also used the super natural engine or some version of it but it actually has an analog filter hence it beats all the emulations anyways.
Awesome jam, I don't know how you do it but you pull amazing things out of theses devices.
Thank you so much!!!
Considering the System 8 is primarily a flexible container for vintage synths, if they had made the look of the board more of a vintage styling, they probably would have sold five times as many units.
Agreed!!!
I had Werner Herzogs voice in my head reading this and it was too funny. Well done!
Same here;) Thanks!
just in case anyone is in the same boat as me and is deciding (if they really wanna choose haha) between the jupiter-x and the system-8, i've found reviews from other videos (including this one) pretty much always agreeing that the ACB technology is more accurate to the originals compared to ABM. despite the fact you "only" get 8-voice polyphony (more than the originals with the addition of two extra notes) in comparison to the x's i think 256(?) as well as not being able to put the latest/future zencore models in a system-8, this synth is a better bang for your buck especially if you're trying to closely emulate the synths it clones
whatever money you would've saved to make up the full 3 grand it takes to get the jupiter-x is better spent on getting this synth alongside a moog (be it the sub25, sub37, phatty, grandmother, etc) or sequential rev2. or you could just avoid roland's higher-priced synths entire lol. anyways, excellent vid as always, audiopilz!
In reality you will never get 256 "voices" out of a Jupiter-X.. this is referring to partials.. it's more like a single oscillator instead of a full voice.
The System-8's ACB is indeed way more accurate at simulating old synths. It simulates the original circuits. The way the Zen Core synths simulate an old synth is called "ABM".. all it is, is a parameter template of restrictions around the general Zen Core VA engine telling it what filter types it can use, what oscillator shapes it can use.. then some scaling macros for the controls. So ABM templates are simply subsets of Zen Core that make it a bit more like the target synth.
I would get the System-8 every time over the Jupiter-X
@@Wagoo imagine my reaction when i listened to hours upon hours of comparison videos and reviews and came to the conclusion that the jupiter-x is honestly kinda worthless with this thing around lol. the system-8's looks take some time getting used to, but the imitation/accuracy and the knob-per-function of just about every parameter (jupiter-x has pmw in menu dive selection??) makes this is a solid deal regardless
that and its cheap price means i can take this to live shows too and not worry about the thing being damaged or too costly to repair. thank christ i didn't stick w the jupiter-x ...
Thank you!!! Well, Roland's gonna roland;)
Thing is, you don’t have to let the System 8 blind you with its green LEDs. You can turn the LED brightness down in the settings under SYSTEM.
personally, i love my system-8!
👍👍👍
This was originally priced at 1800 people are giving these away now for 400
sounds ♥☺fire BRO
😀😀😀
My next "big" synth. But, I've waylaid myself by preordering an Edge or two, and getting a Yamaha vss-200 this week. I am in the minoroty, I love the Aira green glow.
I'd love to be able to love the green glow;)
@@AudioPilz embrace the glow, brother, and become one with the children of the atom...
Took delivery of a Jupiter Xm today.
No other comment really... just wanted to say I took delivery of a Jupiter Xm today.
beans on toast for the rest of the year
Did you have to stretch yourself over years with Volcas then moving up to Boutiques, then a Mininova.. before you were finally ready to take delivery of an Xm? It's impressive, but I worry for the shape of your stools
Maybe add some ramen noodles?;)
Your jams are always badass! Thank you for always brightening our day and giving us our synth fix with your great videos.
Might I suggest the Roland Juno DS61 to be featured on the awesomeness that is your show, Bad Gear.
Thank you!!! Great suggestion!!!
System 8 is what happens when you take the green pill in the Matrix. The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" is about this synth. 🤣. Love your channel!
Thank you! Lol
I've been using these live since '17 or '18. Works well for what I need. Also, I love the green disco lights!
Nice!!!
This is a synth that I still have my eye on. I have no interest in the Jupiter or Juno emulations but the System 8 engine itself has such a unique sound to it. It’s both cold and warm at the same time. It’s distinctly digital but still feels organic. The build quality isn’t great and the limited memory is unfortunate but the FM oscillators themselves are worth the price of admission. I actually think I would take this over the HydraSynth or Novation Summit. While those two are more feature rich and sound great I find they sonically don’t have a distinctive voice but rather are chameleons. I think the System 8 really has its own identity and I wish Roland would have just embraced the System 8 engine and its versatility on its own rather than pushing for digital emulations of their older analog gear.
Agreed! This engine is super underrated!
So how does the System 8 compare to the System 1(m)? At least the latter would be in my price range...
@@palindromial Same engine with 4 voices vs. 8. Otherwise pretty much the same. No onboard sequencer (or ARP on the 1m) but the midi implementation overall is good so really those are not major drawbacks.
One thing to keep in mind: the encoders seem to be very high resolution and therefore more prone to getting flaky over time.
There's a VST version of the system 1 and 8 on roland cloud if you want to hear the sound for yourself before buying. Fairly CPU intensive VSTs but they do sound practically identical to the hardware as far as I can tell.
Had mine for 3 years now an still love it , if you can find one at a good used price then go for it you wont regret it.
@@palindromial System-1 polyphony 4 vs 8 on the System-8. And the plugouts on System-1 are monophonic. System-8 has more effects, a sequencer, vocoder etc. But I very much recommend to try the System-1. I loved it back in the days before I upgraded to S8.
"It is-" ::sniffs perplexedly::
"It is-" ::sniffs even more perplexedly::
"... It is green."
Lol
A great sounding synth … ripping tones at once dignified and refined, sprinkled with mayhem
👍👍👍
I was looking online for VA synths lately and have ended up with a Novation X-Station which I really like. But while searching I also found out about the Korg R3. Despite seemingly being an answer to some of the problems with the MicroKorg and XL, as it has full size keys and patches organised by type instead of genre, and it has the RADIAS engine it seems like it's not very common, so maybe it disappeared without a trace! You should check that one out, you'd probably love it.
Great suggestion, thanks!!! R3 is moving up my list!
@@AudioPilz Even better, the KingKorg! If it only had more knobs (and a better keybed) it would be legendary status. Such a great sounding, flexible engine yet so underrated. I have one and I also have a System 8... the sonic palette of 10+ vintage synths in one dual-tier stand! Haha
Finally, your review that doesn't make me buy a new Roland Aira Gear.
Yeah, ok, that's only because I already have System-8. Honestly though, it's so much fun to play, all those knobs and sliders to twiddle with are really fun! I only wish it had the System-1 scatter knob. Then again, that's what I can use MX-1 for :D
Now I'm only waiting for MC-707 review to drop and push me into buying it and the cycle will be complete.
i LOVE the scatter on the MC-707
Not a big fan of the System-1 Scatter (or any scatter;) tbh
@@AudioPilzFunny 'cause actually that's one of the (many) reasons I love the System 1 😊
Roland Cloud. I got a free trial when I bought the TR-8s and think I used it twice since. I really like electronic sounds but something about DAWs and Cloud synths, no matter how great they sound, lack the playability of my myriad of keyboard synths- Take 5, Kross 2, Jd-Xi, MicroKorg-S, Minilogue XD, MicroKorg XL+, Ultranova, Gaia, Bass Station 2 and System 1.
Yeah, so many great sounds, so little playability
The pro version of the Roland Boutiques. The System 8 sounds great but I wish it had 61 keys. Was hoping this would appear one day on this channel for ticking all the boxes at first glance.
It definitely does!
@@AudioPilz I sure hope Roland also makes a Jupiter-4 Boutique for a future review on your channel considering they released the ACB emulation for Cloud and the System-8 last year.
@@ironinquisitor3656 yeah seems logical to do an ACB Jupiter-4 boutique.. I'm hoping for a Jupiter-6 ACB plugout this year 🤞
As much as I'd love to see some more practical ACB plug outs like a D-50, I'd think it would be fun to get something like a RS-202, for the sheer fact it's old and rare. That's one of the charms of ACB, I can now say I've heard weird synths like the ProMars, which I've never heard of before getting a System 8
@@SlaserX well D-50 is digital so doesn't work with ACB.. ACB simulates analogue circuits. D-50 also already exists in "DCB" form as the D-05 boutique (and probably a Roland Clod plugin).. DCB is more like an emulator that runs the code from the original synth
RS-505 would be even better.. but I think they have problems with "divide down" circuits and ACB. At least they did when they last tried to do it with the VP-03 boutique, which is supposed to be a simulation of the VP-330. But it sounds vastly worse on strings/choirs than the original (or the Behringer analogue clone, VC340).. with the vocoder they kind of get away with it.. that sounds okay. But very noticeable on the strings/choirs
Haha the neutrik cartoon was great! :D
I would've loved to hear Jam 2 only with Amen break drums ;)
But great episode, I almost thought of buying one of these :D
Thank you!!!
Roland for the win
I have to admit I played with a system 8 and I like it 😱
Green disco lights are a bit too much
And when it goes into demo mode it is embarrassing
Genius as always
Cheers
Thank you!!! The goblin of synths
One of my synths that I will never sell. It's just absolutely perfect.