I'm sorry if this has been covered already, but this is a long thread and the terms I'd need to search for wouldn't point me precisely to what I need.

I'm on the verge of getting a System 1m. Will the Juno and Jupiter plugouts be released for the 1m, or are they System 8 exclusive? Additionally, will these new ones be usable as a VST as well? Thanks, and sorry again.

No they won't work on the system 1.

As of now there seems that the new ones aren't going to be released as VSTs.

Always thought the AIRA lights are a cool idea, but not done fully. Multi-LED rings/strips would've allowed much better feedback. Still cool though.

Hi,

So far I haven't seen/heard any System 8 audio demos that created enough GAS to make me order it.

For those who already went ahead and purchased a System 8, what did you hear that made you buy it ?

Thanks,
Muziksculp

I want it and I'll get it. I like the features of this synthesizer particularly it's step sequencer.

anyone else getting one of these bad boy?

I'm GearSlut of the month!

Anyway, it's just an opinion but I've heard enough of my own multi-tracked stuff to come to the conclusion that a well made patch sounds great. I run my analogs though audio loopers all the time and build huge amazing sounding evolving pads. As long as you roll off the lows to avoid mud, you're good to go. Orchestras are great, but they're not analog polys. (And vise versa) I haven't done the SH-2 plug out as a polyphonic synth, but I have done other equally good emulations (maybe better) and gotten great results. Results that you won't get from any orchestral library.

P.S. The Andromeda has always sounded great to me and it's still a synth I G.A.S. For.

Thanks for the tip! I'm at work so I can't check this myself. It's spooky how you guys know these things. I've read the reference manual at least four times and never saw it.

I'll guess you have to wiggle the knob first to tell the display which parameter you are dealing with, or is it hold the SHIFT and then wiggle the knob? The former would change the value but the latter would be a simple status display and ignore the movement of the knob?

I'll try this later when in front of the machine.


While I'm blathering on, does any one have an explanation for why there is a bi-polar aspect to the "CONDITION" feature? I hear an effect but I can't discern the difference between positive and negative changes.

Well I had the system 1, and it's plugout synths were so good that I wanted more. I also had the JP-08, and while it was good, I wanted more polyphony for it.. that was the biggest frustration.

The system 8 is a dream come true in that sense. It also offers key velocity, even for the Jupiter 8 plug-out. On top of that it has proper keys, a nice pitchbend section, proper bank/preset selectors and a nice sequencer, which felt like an omission on the system 1.. so it's actually harder for me to think of a reason NOT to get it.

Ok, my System 1, Bass Station 2 and Roland TB3 are back in the market .


It's going to help fund the System 8 and a used Bass Bot TT03.

Can't wait for the System 8(my opinion: this is the best synth to come out this decade or the last two decades)

What about the sounds, do you like the sound character, and diversity the System 8 can produce ? i.e. Basses, Leads, Pads, FX, Plucks, ...etc. ?

I'm really eager to get the System 8, but still not sure I heard something very special yet. Although some of the pad demos sounded very good, warm, and transparent. typical Roland Analog sound. Which is the only kind of sounds so far that got me interested in the System 8.

I preordered mine.

I got most the Aira range, but not the System-1. However, whenever I'm in PMT Bristol, or Birmingham, I just gravitate towards it. It sounds fantastic, and is so playable.

I also got the SH-2 plug in which utterly floored me. Such a great sounding piece of software.

I got the JP-08 which I love the sound of, but the form factor just doesn't fit with my work flow, so thought 'what the heck' and just decided to take the plunge. The S1/8 engine itself is good enough for me, and I own a Juno 106, so the plug-outs - while amazing and bringing great opportunities - are just the icing on the cake.

I also can't stop buying sh(i)t. Constantly. It's a f()king disease

The Boutiques. The System-8 fixed the few things I didn't like about them, so it was a no-brainer for me. But TBH, I've spent more time with the System-8 native synth than the Jupiter-8 plugout. I don't have anything to post yet. Just finished going through the last set of features in-depth last night (specifically, the Sequencer and managing split Performances with it).

I've been building a tune as I go along, but need to go back to the sound design aspect this weekend to add some polish to it. I stand by my original review: solid build, lots of features, easily accessible, worth the money, no unpleasant surprises, and the System-8 synth itself has some great depth to it. I have come across a few things that I wish had been better implemented (sequencer transpose, for instance), but no showstoppers and really lots of fun. And, yes, very broad: great pads, bass, leads, synth sounds and so on. Haven't had much chance to explore FX sounds.

At the same time, I don't think you're going to find anything in the sound that is revolutionary. I've yet to find anything in its "sound" has a definable character all its own. It is simply a very good subtractive synth with a broad range. It's a VA that sounds more "analog" than "virtual", with a plug-out architecture provides a future path... to the past!

Hold Shift, then wiggle as much as you want. Change in value is suspended while Shift is held.

Condition is very subtle. It's a value I just mess with to see if I like the effect. My ears hear the effect more in the release than the sustain. I find it unpredictable. Not at all in the "Whoah, that's a crazy effect!" sense, but rather, "I have no idea what will happen if I turn this to the left or the right, just have to try it" sense.

I'm going to start my own YouTube channel just so I don't have to suffer endless Vangelis, eighties and Rush chops when all I want to hear is face-melting modulated techno pads and bass.

As someone who bought the Boutiques and happy with their sound, the JU-06 was very close and in the mix not much different to a real Juno-106(Which I sold prior to the release), really liked the JX-03 sound as well - but found the JP-08 very fiddly, When the product was released I wasn't too sure, I prefered the 1:1 UI of the Boutiques also. I decided to sell the Boutiques and upgrade because:

1. Already impressed with the sound of the first 3 Boutiques
2. All 3 Juno 106, JP8 and hopefully JX3P in one unit(Space issue and hate too many synth units also)
3. Larger controls
4. Freed up midi ports
5. Freed up mixer channels
6. Uncrippled models with full polyphony and beyond of the Boutiques/originals
7. They say they've improved the sound quality
8. Also hoping I will be able to drive it louder than the Boutiques as the Boutiques would sometimes distort above 50% main volume
9. It was also able 'for me' to replace my System 1M as I'm not a modular guy and had it only as a rackmount - gaining more space back. I can also load my 3 already Plugouts with the S8

So my opinion was was based on the Boutiques - I've heard better demo's since it's got into owners hands on YT - But I'd already preordered to replace the Boutiques now sold(Bar the JX3P for the moment, my fave). However I got sidetracked by the JD-XA and the DM12, I may still buy the DM12 if they do a rack version in the future, think that sounds great too.

The end!

I'd never sell my Bass Station 2 for anything...It's one of my faves!

It is hard to tell sometimes from company demos depending on whether they have an aesthetic they repeat.

I have not heard much from the S8 that sounded really good to me. Lots of the sounds have had a kind of digital harshness that is not pleasing to me. But that may also be what the sound creator liked or even aimed for.

I certainly have not heard enough from it to make me excited about the synth engine. But maybe if I played with it myself I would feel differently.

doesn't amaze me much at all, the best tones in that video are the bell'ish ones, which do exactly sound like the ones on my system-1

The System 8 can cover what I'm missing from the BS2. Particularly the step sequencer, the Sh101 bass/Jupiter 8 bass/106 Basses. The System 8 is everything I need. In fact, it will be the only keyboard synth I will have in my setup once I have it.

Besides, I don't have a full size keyboard.

I'm sooooo excited. I'm still doing my research before I pull the trigger. But I will be pulling the trigger.

I was going to get the Arturia Matrixbrute but for what I want(sound), the System 8 all the way.

Question, it does have CV/Gate connection, if I get a Korg SQ1, will it work fine?

Always a decent waste of time listening to him

The System-8 has CV/Gate Out, if you want to use a SQ1 to sequence it you'll have to use MIDI. The S8 does have a trigger in if you want to easily sync it with an SQ1.

I don't see why you'd want to use an SQ1 to control the S8 however: the S8's sequencer gets you into similar territory.

Careful, Korg uses some sort of different voltage standard from Eurorack. S8 is Eurorack compatible CV and Gate. The SQ-1 may not work well with it, wait to hear from someone who's put an SQ-1 into a Eurorack environment successfully

Sure. I'm just trying to suggest that there can be cases where you have too much of a good thing. I actually think the choice of six voices for the OB6 and Prophet6, for instance, is sensible not just from a size and cost perspective but from a musical one.

Not defending the A6 per se; I'm sensitive about the phrase, "I call bs" due to overexposure to it in the games biz. There is a cartoon permanently in my brain of a bunch of game devs sitting around, saying, "I call bs." "No, _I_ call bs!" "No you're both wrong..... I call bs!" "So..... who won?" It has thus come to mean, to me, "I have no real argument with merit, but maybe if I swear for emphasis my opinion will seem more important without any need to substantiate it with anything more than pseudo-street rhetoric."

Not that you've done that, in this case.

Stay away from games development, kids, it twists the mind and soul!

hello again, anyone receive their System 8 and was able to put their SH101 or SH2 or Promars plug out? everything good?


How do you like the step sequencer? fun? inspiring? musical?

sorry for 100 questions but I'm so determined to get this synth for my next songs. I can't believe a synth like this is out.

It's a multiple synth within one synth. Amazing

You can't do that yet: "* Support for SYSTEM-8 on previously released plug-out synths to be available soon."

I preordered it immediately after the announcement, mainly because of the performance features of the Synth ( lightweight/ step sequencer/ split possibilities/ the Mod sliders above the bender which I always loved on my Juno..). I liked the Sound of the JP08 that I put on EBay some days before the 909 Day, because I didnt like the minijacks, the step sequencer on the JP. It will be a great addition to the Nord Stage 2 for live playing.
I think the Synth strength is more on the Performance side and this is what some people dont understand about it. Here you have Electronic Sounds with Hands on Control, Split Possibilities, different engines in one package. You can turn it on and play it...You have good sounding Sounds that might sound a bit boring on their own but in an arrangement/band/song, they'll be great. You wont get Swoooshwoooshdangbingelplingkling One Finger Soundscapes out of it...It cant do that at the moment and maybe never will...but who knows what Roland will bring in the Future as Plugs for this System.
I cant wait for mine to arrive and I'm really counting the days like a child before Christmas. Finally we are back in the days where the hardware manufacturers not only release Electronic Instruments that have their main feature Selling Point in how much SampleRom/Patches/trillions of FX they have but more in the easy accessibility of the Sound Engine.. Me likes

I rate it a 7 out of 10. It is very easy to use and very flexible. Single notes or chords. The different Play Modes (forward, backward, fwd/back, random, trigger) and re-setting First note/Last note on the fly lets you get a lot of mileage and variety out of a single sequence. That you can have two completely different (and different timed) sequences running in a performance is great.

Why only a "7"?

- It's pretty much the one place on the board where I think the layout of the controls (buttons) leaves a little to be desired
- This is especially apparent in the "transpose sequence" function. Having to hold Edit while pressing the new key means you'll wish you had a third arm at times. I'd rather have had a dedicated transpose button that you just arm/disarm with a fast tap
- No metronome function. Workaround: create a Performance, assign one part to be the clicker (there's even a "Metronome" patch), then use the other part/patch to create your pattern using real-time recording. Save your pattern. That'll work, except by having to use Performance mode, you've just limited the pattern patch to 4 notes. Not a big deal for me as I can use an iPhone metronome app to provide both audio and clock, but I prefer the metronome in the JD-Xi.

And, to be honest, I prefer the JD-Xi sequencer, and it works great with the System-8. With the JD-Xi, I can create a series of Patterns, assign them to Favorites, route the MIDI to the S8 for the sounds, and play through a series of related patterns. The Novation Circuit is also a good alternative, and works seamlessly with the System-8.

On the System-8 itself, it's often difficult to seamlessly switch from one Pattern to another without interrupting the playback. It can be done (unlike the JD-XA, for instance). You could create two identical patches with two different patterns, and save them in locations next to each other (for example, H-2 and H-3). Hit Play on H-2, and switch to H-3 to move from one pattern to the next. The sequencer will not stop, notes will continue to sound. But there is no "queue" function on the S8 like there is on the Xi, so you have to make that switch at the exact moment you want it to execute. And if the patches are effects heavy, you'll hear the interruption, like when the release or reverb is cut off.

In short, the System-8 sequencer is no slouch, but like many sequencers built into synths, a separate external sequencer is often better for note sequencing.

If I can add to this...

I was curious if I could use the CV/Gate of the System-8 (output at 0v to +10v) with my Moog Minitaur and Sub 37 (both +5V). But I was worried that the S8 might overload the Moogs, so I asked Moog Support. They responded the same day (awesome service!) that although the Moogs can handle +10 volts, it could cause damage over time to the circuitry of either unit. They confirmed my suspicion that using a voltage attenuator would be a good idea.

So, regardless of the manufacturer, be sure to compare the voltage specs.

finally got some time to record a demo. i just wanted to mess with the synth and not compose, so stranger things.

this is 9 tracks of system 8, recorded into abelton. no processing or effects in abelton out side of a few fades. could have used some eq but i wanted to leave it pure. for effects i used reverb and delay on the system 8. focused mostly on analog sounds although there is a fm bass in the middle.

did some programming on the jupiter and some on the 8. lots of filter sweeps. also used the tone sweep in the amp section in the middle of the piece on the bass line.