Exclusive hands-on: Roland System-1m Plug-Out Synthesizer

[@marike1100]

They did a great job with both the System 1 and 1m. And the new modules - delay and bitcrusher, et al - sound terrific as well.

[@garyturner5204]

Yes! I have them all!

[@philcolly6330]

great !

[@chizmo7]

Why is it that there are always people who feel the need to give new instruments a "thumbs down" when they are clearly versatile and great sounding machines? I have been collecting "real" analog synths since the late 70's, and although I never thought I would, I've been repairing and selling off many of them and replacing them with virtual analog machines like the Nord 2R and 4 (for a FRACTION of the price). For those of you who haven't had a chance to compare, don't believe what anybody tells you. Check them out for yourself. I think this Roland unit sounds really good. Having variety is important. For that reason, I will never sell my OB8, MKS-80, Minimoog, and JP6. But, these new units really are great, and they are probably WAY more reliable than real analog synths. I'm not thrilled about four voice polyphony, but for 599.00, this unit looks really great to me.

[@garyturner5204]

It is a great synth. I have the System-1 and System-1m. The 1m is great to delve into Eurorack land and connect to everything.

[@lundsweden]

Four note polyphony is still better than the one note polyphony of many classics! But yes, Roland could have done better, even 8 note polyphony is a bit stingy in 2021! The DX7 was 16 note polyphonic in 1983!

[@invanorm]

This synth is a beast. I've been connecting it with the Ebbe und flut filterbank and its a match made in heaven!

[@Gyrbae]

Surely it's a.. patch made in heaven? Unhand me, I'm going, I'm going!

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

can it be used as an effects unit? by that, i mean, can i run a straight forward audio signal in (for eg, from a cd player, or guitar etc) and manipulate it through this thing? if so, HOW?!?:!/ cheers!

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

Good video! Although I never understood complaints of a module or modular semi not having chorus or an extra LFO or anything like that? Surely I’m not alone using my IPad as part of my system? Every unit has everything plugged in to the Ipad. Peace

[@-thirteen]

when you use a plug.out that does not have certain function do those led's shut off?

[@paolopizzi5603]

Yes, they turn off. The controls become inactive.

[@paolopizzi5603]

I think the best feature of this synth is the ability to "plug out" a soft synthesizer (i.e. download it from your computer into the synth.) Unfortunately, you can only do that with four dedicated Roland plugs (which are indeed excellent, although all four will set you back a whopping $600...) It would have been fantastic if you could do that with ANY soft synth. I bought the System 1 with the keyboard and I'm enjoying it very much (I've been using it in my studio more than I had anticipated.) It's a very crappy 2-octave keyboard, but considering all the plug outs are monophonic only (i.e. leads and basses), it will suffice. Another terrific feature is the "scatter" arpeggiator that can add a very interested controlled random factor. It's not very intuitive, but once you learn how it works, you will find it very useful. You DO NOT get that with the System-1m module. IMHO it's a very good reason to pick the model with the keyboard.

[@georgegeorgio1751]

Disagree the module has the patch bay and the scatter & arpeggio are no big deal plus as you say the keys are sub standard, both are great for different peoples needs.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

@@georgegeorgio1751 indeed. You can also add it to a eurorack and have more LFO’s. And it looks better as well 😋

[@georgegeorgio1751]

@@FuZZbaLLbee I ended up selling it , I did not like the plug out set up and even though it sounds close to analog when I compare it to my Alpha Juno 2 there is something missing , personally I’m either an FM , Rompler or Analog guy the Virtual Analog stuff just doesen’t do it for me.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

@@georgegeorgio1751 Lol just got one second hand yesterday. Its my first Polyphonic synth so can't compair it to an actual analog anyway :-P That said something like te novation Peak is even digital, except for the filter, if i recall correctly

[@jupitermarx]

What keyboard are you playing the system-1?

[@georgegeorgio1751]

Does it really matter? just use any controller.

[@bitspacemusic]

Needs more VCAs.

[@georgegeorgio1751]

Nah sounds fine as is I have one.

[@harroos417]

can I plug this to a Roland Gaia

[@derdingobaron]

Kinda stupid that the patching only works in mono mode... Even if each voice is filtered seperately with its own keyfollow, I still don't see why they need this limitation...

[@stevenlebeau]

Is argue it's not a limitation because it means you can control the cv and gate independently, which allows a level of expressiveness you can never get from midi. So you can retriever the same voice. If they made this work as poly, there would be no way to specify which voice you wanted the gate to trigger, and which cv signal you wanted to trigger.

[@stevenhancock4666]

IVE GOT A ROLAND 2400VS AND YOU CANT BEAT IT FOR RECORDING..STEVIETHUNDER📀🎧🎵🎼🎸

[@harroos417]

can I plug this to a Roland Gaia

[@paolopizzi5603]

It depends on what you mean by "plug." If you mean controlling the module from the Gaia's midi out, then the answer is yes. If you want to control this synth's parameters from the Gaia's knobs and sliders, then the answer is no.

[@MelloCello7]

@@paolopizzi5603 I think he means running the sound through Roland i thinkk