7 Minutes with the Roland SE-02 (Sounds Only)

This video is a sounds only demonstration of the Roland SE-02 Analog Synthesizer - designed in collaboration with Studio Electronics - as part of the Roland Boutique Designer Series. Watch the Introduction video here: • Roland Boutique SE-02 ...
The SE-02 is big and bold, with thick, rich lows and clear, vibrant highs
- exactly what you think of when you imagine classic vintage synth tone. And while the SE-02 can create astonishingly great vintage sounds, it can do so much more. It has three types of cross modulation (XMOD), a ripping filter feedback loop, a tempo-syncing LFO with nine waveforms, envelope sweeping and inverting, oscillator sync, a noise generator, and a tempo-syncing delay.
The SE-02 comes with a performance sequencer and 500+ expertly crafted preset patches so you can start making inspiring music now.
We recommend the use of high-quality headphones or studio monitors for the best listening experience.
Please visit the pages below for more information:
‣ ROLAND BOUTIQUE: www.roland.com...
‣ SE-02 PRODUCT PAGE: www.roland.com...
‣ STUDIO ELECTRONICS: www.studioelect...

[@CUEME]

SE-02 is off the chain, Big things do come in small packages, way to go Roland, keep them boutiques coming, all we need now is a boutique mixer with some radical effects built in and part USB hub, I will buy that in a heartbeat.

[@YasharBeats]

Take my money!!!!! Can't wait to have it! Thank you so much Roland and Studio Electronics!

[@sixxdb]

Sounds huge, welcome back to the table Roland!

[@feelmytool]

7 years later and this along with the JDXA and 500 modules are still the only analog they’ve done. So disappointing from Roland to not get back into the analog game.

[@sixxdb]

This is a really smart move from Roland and SE. Roland, being the giant it is, gives SE the infrastructure/cust support/easy access to that end of the market, while SE build some of the greatest sounding discrete analogs on the planet (it's been a while since Roland have done that). Both could benefit from future collaborations - imagine a poly fwaaarrr

[@sawlfo]

Daniel Melia-Moore yes!! give us a poly!!

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Amazingly huge sound from a small box. It has a great sound character of its own in my opinion.

[@jamesl5944]

Spot on, Roland. Well done SE.

[@gammaphonic]

Gotta say, on first glance, Roland look like they've knocked it out of the park with this :D

[@st0rmchild]

@CalvinSomething Nope. It was a collaboration. Roland did a lot more than just build the outer box.

[@cubdukat]

Okay, I want two, please... Now all we need is for Roland to make a true analog polysynth...

[@Paul_Y_T]

Amongst other things, Roland's jd-xa is a true analog 4 voice poly - with a pure analog signal path if you use the analog audio out. It even has a choice of analog filters.

[@cubdukat]

FunInWales You know, I totally forgot about the XA. Probably because it's totally out of my price range. I was thinking maybe they could take the Juno and/or Jupiter name and make a true analog synth. Failing that, they've run out of polysynth names to revive. Unless they want to do a true analog JX...

[@EarmonkeyMusic]

Well you could buy four of these and have a monster 4-voice analog synth since they are poly-chainable. I wonder if they implemented a decent poly chain this time or stuck with the crappy implementation from the JX/JU/JP series.

[@agerven]

According to Roland they use the implementation from the existing boutiques

[@EarmonkeyMusic]

agervan, if that's the case then it's a stupid implementation unfortunately. Currently all the Boutiques do is send note overflow. So long notes with long release will just get cut off if you take your finger off the keys, even though there's only one note sounding in the case of a monosynth. DSI uses a round-robin polychain, so each consecutive note is played by the next voice in the chain. This way you get a true poly. Otherwise you just get frustration.

[@kaibe5241]

That has a gorgeously warm sound!

[@synth4ever]

Sounds huge... crisp yet beefy. Nice work guys.

[@Lo-fi_Hi-brow]

"Crisp yet beefy"😂 They should put that on the box.

[@BrandonElliotSmith]

@RolandChannel How do you have this module mounted above the keyboard? Is it on some type of bracket? Part #/link?

[@thumbnailgreen9155]

omg i need one so bad my ego want me to stay in this world just for these sounds

[@arcturusk649]

it's just amazing to see how you can create vast compositions with two pieces of equipment!

[@christophertodman8254]

best demo of this yet. it's nice to see something other than people fiddlin with knobs

[@christopherprice3226]

excited! Roland gets my money again after 15 long years!

[@marcuunk8564]

You play awsome!!

[@thomasekman4548]

Great module from Roland. It is a pity that Roland is not developing any more analogue gear...

[@final_mile_music9713]

My favorite boutique

[@jorhay1]

I don’t care what the haters say, this is a fucking future legend.

[@kierenmoore3236]

lol, sure

[@synthesizernews]

Very impressed by this huge sounding all-in-one-box fella. Chapeau!

[@PapyZeThug]

Great sound! BTW, what is that keyboard? Is it good?

[@SpyrosVJ]

Massive sounding! Great job Roland & SE.

[@mlanson303]

Love that Roland is back in the analog business, but unlike the Series 500 venture with Malekko which sounded distinctly Roland, this sounds like a Studio Electronics box with a Roland logo slapped on it. Great price point though, I hope they sell a ton of them and give us more analog!! And more 500 Series modules please!!!

[@fender97]

That's fantastic it covers a lot of sonic ground and sounds mint.

[@rumham9911]

Sounds great and I'm sure they will sell a lot of them, but I'm really confused as to why Roland decided to do a Minimoog clone out of everything they could have done considering their rich legacy of analog gear. I'm starting to think their archives over everything they made in the 70s and 80s got lost in a fire or something and they don't know how to make them anymore.

[@kaidoluht1957]

It's Se1x clone more than minimoog apparently so your point is moot.

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

One interpretation is that synth manufacturers have gone crazy ever since the minibrute came out KORG'S answer to that was to create the MS 20 mini and kickstart the retro synth trend an then instead of re issuing one of their classics reviving ARP and bringing back the odyssey only to finally design an analog poly from scratch. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but in retrospect the planning of product releases might have been done by a squirrel with ADD while high on crack.

[@danvandal4127]

^this!!! you really have a sharp eye :D

[@SPAZZOID100]

Rum Ham this is NOT a minimoog clone.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

the Se1x is a minimoog clone.

[@kumachan3000]

Wow, Roland finally listened to what people want!

[@soundcortex8288]

No, they did not. The people want the Jupiter 8 and the TB303/SH101 :) But it is a step in the right direction.

[@SPL-6]

Roland is even running behind of Behringer at this point.

[@rumham9911]

Yes, its kinda sad that people want the same tired old analog gear re-hashed decade after decade but hey, anything that keeps these companies afloat. I don't dislike analog or vintage gear as such, but I think instrument designers as well as musicans should look forward for inspiration, not back.

[@soundcortex8288]

Some inspiration can be found in the past, but then you should take it further. The modular scene is a great example of that. New firms look at old designs and then add more control, more depth and twists too it.

[@drfeinstein]

If they made the Jupiter8 for

[@jmeditation]

OMG, what midi keyboard is that? Please reply! I need that keyboard because it has the joystick like my old Korg N364 from back in the day. Love those joysticks

[@telantas]

It's a Roland A-500Pro. I've got one, it's not without its quirks but if you can live with them, it's fantastic.

[@petrusbarbatusberolinensis2102]

Question: Will the USB audio output work with the USB inputs on the MX-1 Mixer?

[@MrDark-tp5rt]

this answered my question about the polyphony. the sounds are out if this world good. now I must decide between this or the Ms 20 mini

[@edwardprue]

Mr. Dark For $499 and $449? Both, of course!

[@kevingamache1512]

I love my D. -05 Have to admit on the used market Usually 200-250$ around here may have to take a bite on this SE Want my Behringer 2600 and Arp though And the Korg Wavestate more This however sounds really good My Deepmind 12 does put me In this sonic region close enough and well enough for me until i find another going for 200$. Great vid

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Good move excellent sound, I can't find any info on the step sequencer on Roland's site, How many steps and what are the record mode options, per step modulation details, how are chains set up...thx

[@SimeonBey-yb1hn]

The bass & the leads sound hella fly. Like damn ... Studio Electronics came through tho...

[@theolliedog]

It's so refreshing to watch a KZbin synth demo where the presenter actually know how to play his instrument. He' did play a few too many flashy solos for my tastes. But overall he did a good job showcasing what the SE-02 is capable of. Most KZbin presenters let the same `16 note sequence play throughout the entire video while they twist a few knobs on the synth.

[@andy2069]

Haha why crap on him for soloing? It's a lead synth. Like there are basslines, drones, sequence vibes, and solo leads. That's what a mono synth does homie. Why wouldn't he solo? He doesn't overdo it either. Tho maybe just some drony filter riding stuff would have been cool.

[@wax83]

Definitely sounding nice!

[@rubberduky1829]

Dumb question , but what is the main difference between this and the SH 01A. I like both but can only do one. Any help ?

[@Mrpsblobsoflowendmung]

Absolutely love it. Roland bring the huge Studio Electronics moogy 3 oscillator sound to everyone The X Mod looks really impressive, would of been nice to have a bit more connectivity but the sound of it makes it a win win to anyone Bet Uli is cursing like Hunter S Thomson at Richard Nixons inauguration haha Well done Roland and Studio Electronics

[@SPL-6]

There is enough Moogy synths already on the market for cheap. We want the Rolandy sounds.

[@agerven]

This one has rolandy sounds, not mini-moog sounds (the minimoog has those). Technically it should be capable of much more than is shown in this video. The sounds in this video are remarkably similar to the monophonic analog that is in the JD-Xi, and that only has one oscillator (and a sub oscillator), but of course benefits of the digital effects section of the JD-Xi.

[@bobfuqua2346]

Roland, begging your pardon, but what are you using as a controller board here? I'm curious...

[@MattGreerMusic]

A lot of Moog clone DNA in this one but with some nice Roland flavor. Digging that it's analog. Definitely sounds great. Wishing it had bigger controls though. Honestly wishing it was more of a double din, rack sized unit like the old SE-1 Model D clone.

[@HotStrange]

Matt Greer Music I actually prefer the SE02. I own other Boutiques and some Volcas and it plays so well with them and syncs so easily. Much better for jamming/playing for me. Soundwise id day they’re on equal footing.

[@jupitor919]

I noticed you’re using the keyboard controls to modify the sound of the SE-02. How are you doing this?

[@newignis]

Almost all parameters of the SE02 are CC controllable. You can find this in the SE02 MIDI implementation chart.

[@Goth108]

Woah! Welcome back again, Roland! :)

[@Thyrnheimr]

Ganz geile Maschine. Für mich ein klarer Zwang. Muss man einfach haben. Das Demo ist sehr gut, macht richtig Lust, die Maschine dranzunehmen und richtig durchzukneten... ;-)

[@MrAll300]

und wie ists? ist der synth noch in deiner kette?

[@basstradamus1]

Sold. Thanks for this video.

[@curebdc]

Wow! Great demo that thing sounds absolutely massive.

[@SandwichCommunityTV]

The player seems to be making all the alterations to the unit thats Midi controlling the SE02. Why isn't the player changing settings on the SE02 directly??

[@MyBichSustained]

Mine is on it's way!Can't wait!

[@bitspacemusic]

What controller is this? I've been looking for a smaller four octave keyboard that I can put on my desk. SE-02 sounds huge. Really like what the oscillators are capable of.

[@MrAll300]

and? what you have for a keyboard controller? i looking to.... and you think the 02 is the greatest option?

[@mixmax4318]

Wow! I definitely buy it ! An Analog Sh 101 and a Ryk M-185? A dream?

[@PushButtonPress]

I guess the Roland guys finally walked by the Korg booth at NAMM.

[@orbithesun1]

Yeah, but it's Roland with most of the real classics in past 40 years. lol

[@TheRealDirtySkillz]

Roland sounds nothing like korg. And I love my korg sounds. KORG is like my wife but Roland is a thicc latina winking at me. Lol.

[@OttosTheName]

@@orbithesun1 yeah, but very few in the past 20...

[@t.n.3819]

@@OttosTheName The fuck are you talking about? Korg don't have shit on the JD-XA, System 8, SE-02, D-05, TR-8S, MC-909, V-Synth, could easily keep going... Korg's recent stuff has just banked on the novelty of "analogue" but behind that facade none of it has been particularly interesting. The Wavestate (which happens to be digital) is the only novel thing Korg have done since probably the Radias tbh. Their shit is also usually manufactured with even lower regard for quality than Behringer. I'd take a lowly Boutique, with its metal chassis and high-quality pots/sliders, over a Volca any day of the week. Honestly, now that Behringer has firmly occupied the "cheap synth" niche, I'm curious to see what Korg will do since that's been their schtick for quite a while now... especially since Behringer announced their Arp 2600 within a few days of Korg's. Ouch.

[@spaceman103]

Man, sound amazing! Nice nice nice!

[@Max16032]

This is how the original boutiques should had been done.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Max16032 one voice??

[@Max16032]

No...analog ;)

[@galena7474]

i am very very happy with my jx-03.

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

I’m very happy with my polyphonic SH01A

[@omermesci5090]

The boutiques sound great

[@markchristopher2signal2]

ill get the Korg Odyssey module and then this baby. wow

[@ScottMcFadyen]

OMG, yes-!! A legend is born. This thing is really gonna shake it up. If I owned a TB-303, I would be considering selling it in light of this news. I've got an ATC-X Quad which is an older Studio Electronics synth. It has a emulated 303 filter in it, which is quite good. With this new partnership I think they could match or maybe even better the old champion. Imagine a 303 w discrete filter and amplifier topology. The DB-303. Dare to dream!

[@neptunesgold1216]

Which synth do you like better atcx or see 02?

[@ScottMcFadyen]

@@neptunesgold1216 didn't end up getting an SE-02. Boy was I excited haha. ATC-X is quite cool. If you look inside, a lot of it is discreet. But, it's a real pain to tune the oscillators if they drift out, which they will because as mentioned it's discreet analogue. Have to open the box and use a jewellers screw driver. If you can do that. Sounds awesome. Thick and harmonically rich.

[@PaosElectronicDreams]

Regarding the rise of view counts and interests on Gearslutz, it will sell like something between TR-8 and KORG minilogue. Roland clearly won the game by saying nothing. True Guru!

[@k.t.ingram375]

you need to do a demo using foot pedals. i use a keith mcmillian 12 step for bass pedals and it great using the ju-06 but i need tom sawyer, the Roland SE-02 should be able to do this?

[@johnn0hj]

Hello. Who can tell me what keyboard is used with the SE-02 in this demo ?

[@coastaltone9252]

My goodness that’s a hell of a demo.

[@synthbuilder8030]

It may be more expensive than Behringer's Model D, but this is where my money will go... Far more options and patch memory. I bet Uli's feeling sick now ;)

[@kvfive]

Synth Builder It's been quiet for a while on the Behringer D front, makes you wonder if we'll ever see it now.

[@Circl3s]

They showed it at Superbooth tho

[@FormulaXFD]

Sweetwater is taking preorders at $499.

[@EarmonkeyMusic]

Already got my name in the queue. :)

[@SPL-6]

Roland can't compete with innovative companies such as Behringer.

[@mrsoulpoint]

does it have portamento feature? is it better than Roland jp-08?

[@80snostalgiafan79]

Is it possible to get the sound from 1.52 to make the Vienna - Ultravox haunting intro sound originally done on Arp Odyssey?

[@DJDigitalJosh]

I'm SO glad it has 384 preset and 128 user locations and it's SO FAT!!!!

[@SPAZZOID100]

digitaljosh memory on a monosynth is not necessary.

[@liquiditey]

I canny wait to get my ear lobes around this Beast !!

[@Bunjamin27]

..Have they done this with Creamware Pro 12? If not, please do :)

[@Examigan]

Sounds great! Also, what MIDI keyboard is that?

[@matstjean]

Looks like a Roland A-500PRO

[@anthonyfranklin7137]

Some cool sounds for sure. But can you sweep the filter cutoff, or modulate the filter cutoff without hearing noticeable stepping? Basically, is it smooth as a ladder filter should be?

[@rorz999]

Sadly no, you can definitely hear stepping

[@ustazofficial3612]

This thing is unreal... Will join the Roland family in my homestudio no doubt. Comming from an se1 and a novation superbass station both of them sold this thing will be the perfect allie with my mv8k and fantom xa. At last it paid to be a Roland guy.

[@4Fingr]

Ich sollte meinen SE-02 mal wieder spielen ❤

[@ChristopherCaouette]

It sounds decent enough but when the heck will it ship? I have one on pre-order and it has already been pushed back twice.

[@MauricioMaisterrena]

Will this integrate trough usb with the aira MX-1 mixer? (have one on my way :)

[@irinaprasko6798]

Hi, can does use with Yamaha psr e373 or sx600

[@saardean4481]

Amazingly groovy demo

[@vr4ever645]

Well played!

[@thomasbalmforth3819]

Do we know what the MIDI send capabilities are? If every knob can be used to send MIDI info (and thus I can use it as well as a MIDI controller), I'm in.

[@mightyredstallion]

Had to return mine. It would start producing static and continue to deteriorate until no sound would come out. Switching modes from and back to patch would cure it for about 20 seconds. Internally, the components used are about the same quality as the box and knobs. Sounds amazing when it works, but the overall quality of this unit commands little more than $199

[@HotStrange]

Sounds like you got a lemon. Everyone else I know is more than happy with theirs, myself included. One bad product doesn’t mean it’s not worth the asking price. It’s a steal for $399.

[@jazzjeffjazzjeff]

Berhinger is shaking in their boots! This sounds for real!

[@t55a2]

That's really lovely

[@fakerju]

Excellent

[@chriscole1133]

Good sounds and good demonstration!

[@Jeremy-su3xy]

how do you connect several se-02 for polyphonic keyboard performance?

[@phable]

Just wow! Finally Roland...

[@nightbeats5023]

That was fantastic.

[@chemosis8259]

No latency issues??? the jp-08 and others seem to have lag time

[@dmomcilovic9185]

Boutiques are great, I wish they continued making new ones like AlphaJuno 2, SH9, and more..

[@consciouscoma85]

would this work using a moog etherwave standard theremin? since there both analog?

[@ryanpwm-oldaccount5923]

My synth will only get loud when I pull the cord partially out, as if it was an unbalaced cord. Otherwise when I turn up the volume the signal to noise ratio is too low. Anyone have any help?

[@benwilliams303]

This happens with my TR-09 when I use a stereo cable. The output is mono, so with a mono patch cable everything is fine.

[@DaveBessell]

Sounds good.

[@eyesintheskies]

Until I can afford a boomstar this will do nicely, it’s the most intriguing one for me 😃

[@gamblesgroove111]

How do you lock in sync to usb. It goes back to internal when you change sequence

[@dennisrogers2551]

I hope there is an way to adjust slop/looseness in the the autotuning of the oscillators so there can be some vintage sounding drifting.

[@graphene1487]

F-ing love this!

[@ToXball]

Great sound, different from my Bass Station II... I’m thinking about to pair SE02 with the BS2.

[@pierredeligne4722]

Did you end up buying the SE02? How it compares with the bass station II. I have the BSII and from the sounds of this video it kind of sounds similar to the SE02, so I'm not sure if investing in the SE02 is worth it.

[@ToXball]

Pierre Deligne at the end I realize and discover that the BSII is very powerful sounding that fit al my needs. Often we forget that instruments we already have are more than powerful.

[@eddy_sonik]

I LOVE ! 💚

[@Hexspa]

nice demo. better than average. 3:27 most epic lick.

[@4matcollectiva847]

What is this midi keyboard. SE 02 IS REALLY A BANGER.

[@cubdukat]

A lot of the complaints I've seen so far seem to concern the fact that it's a monosynth. Personally that's not an issue for me; after all, Wendy carlos' Moog Modular synths could only do one note at a time, and look what she was able to get out of them. To me this seems just as competitive as any other true analog at this price point, even if the Korg Minilogue has a keyboard and this doesn't. I'm still getting at least two...

[@VTOLKits]

You can use it with the boutique keyboard its compatible.

[@BarryWarne]

Larry Wilson that's why two of these with two keyboards would be so cool and inexpensive walter/wendy used two keyboards on her mono Moog system for two-handed Bach stuff

[@Fireblaze15]

They could've gone the route of Arp Odyssey, have one of the oscillators the ability to play a different note by pressing another key. The SE-2 does have 3 octaves so I don't see why not have it 2 voice capable. It's just modular talk though.

[@SonuSingh-sl7et]

+Parthanon ujæàzà

[@jazzjeffjazzjeff]

Mono synths force you to play good melodies! That's why they're cool!

[@dj-7154]

is the lows great enough for making bass on the se-02?

[@SidnRemii]

anybody know if you can use the SE-02's step sequencer with a different external synth? like a Korg ms-20 mini for example?

[@javiceres]

I think so

[@Rochester92G]

Love the first tune. Reminds me of the original Deus Ex game.

[@daveconcepts9770]

RolandChannel when this unit will be available?

[@ShazammtheProducer]

do the knobs send midi cc data?

[@newignis]

No. Cc’s are recognised but not transmitted

[@OldBeats]

Nice sound !

[@esoteric6178]

Sounds every bit as good as the nearly 4k mini Moog.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Danielle Scribbins ??