Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about Roland System-8. Is this soon abandoned flagship synthesizer, little sibling of System-1, part of the Roland Aira range, virtual analog synth, Roland Cloud plugout host and overall eye-sore a future classic or just another expensive plastic toy? Is it worthy of the rich Roland Jupiter-8 and Roland Juno-106 legacy?

Thanks to Klangfarbe for helping me out with one of their Roland System 8 floor models:
klangfarbe.com
instagram.com/klangfarbewien

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:58 Overview Roland System-8
01:35 System-8 vs. System-1
01:43 Native System-8 Engine, ACB Models
02:00 Main Oscillators (SuperSaw, PWM, FM, Cowbell)
02:37 Sub Oscillator, Noise, Sync, Ring Mod
03:00 Filter Section, Self-Oscillation, Filter Types
03:40 Modulators (Envelopes, LFO)
03:55 FX Section (Reverb, Delay, Modulation, Distortion)
04:15 Vocoder
04:26 One-knob-per-function UI
04:41 Vintage Emulations (Jupiter-8, Juno-106, JX-3P)
05:06 Roland Cloud, Boutiques, Polyphony
05:26 Condition, Polyphonic Sequencer, Parameter Automation
05:57 Arpeggiator, Multitimbrality, Performance Mode
06:22 What Else??? (Pricing, Thanks)
06:48 Hate
07:13 Jam 1 (Futuristic Bass)
08:04 Jam 2 (Vintage Drum'n'Bass)
09:02 Finale (Synth Rock)
09:31 Verdict