Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
A friend of mine was very generous and loaned me his Black Corporation ISE-NIN so that I could compare it with my Roland System 8.
My main thoughts: they’re almost identical. The small differences felt extremely nitpicky. The ARP on the ISE-NIN is much nicer, with a longer gate time, and it just sounded richer? Hard to describe, but you can hear it in the video.
Honestly, this is a horrific comparison video, I freely admit it, but I felt pressed for time and didn’t want to spend too much time on it. So if you’re wondering why this is so crude, well, just don’t let perfect get in the way of awful, that’s all I have to say.
I talk towards the end about what my thoughts are - but really, the video was made just so you could hear the differences, not because I think you should buy either one.
Truth be told, I think the Prophet 5/10 is a better synth than the Jupiter 8 (or System 8, ISE-NIN). Different flavors perhaps. I think it’s reasonable to say that the System 8 and ISE-NIN are great alternatives to the Jupiter 8. If I could grab a Jupiter 8 for under $10K, I probably would, but I also think, based on the sounds out of these synths, I actually don’t think I would necessarily love it.
I’m impressed with the System 8, being completely digital, and seemingly able to compete with more accurate representations of the Jupiter 8. I also worry part of the differences could have been chalked up to my lack of skill, so you must take what I’m saying with a grain of salt.
Well, hope you enjoy the video anyway.
A friend of mine was very generous and loaned me his Black Corporation ISE-NIN so that I could compare it with my Roland System 8.
My main thoughts: they’re almost identical. The small differences felt extremely nitpicky. The ARP on the ISE-NIN is much nicer, with a longer gate time, and it just sounded richer? Hard to describe, but you can hear it in the video.
Honestly, this is a horrific comparison video, I freely admit it, but I felt pressed for time and didn’t want to spend too much time on it. So if you’re wondering why this is so crude, well, just don’t let perfect get in the way of awful, that’s all I have to say.
I talk towards the end about what my thoughts are - but really, the video was made just so you could hear the differences, not because I think you should buy either one.
Truth be told, I think the Prophet 5/10 is a better synth than the Jupiter 8 (or System 8, ISE-NIN). Different flavors perhaps. I think it’s reasonable to say that the System 8 and ISE-NIN are great alternatives to the Jupiter 8. If I could grab a Jupiter 8 for under $10K, I probably would, but I also think, based on the sounds out of these synths, I actually don’t think I would necessarily love it.
I’m impressed with the System 8, being completely digital, and seemingly able to compete with more accurate representations of the Jupiter 8. I also worry part of the differences could have been chalked up to my lack of skill, so you must take what I’m saying with a grain of salt.
Well, hope you enjoy the video anyway.
