Roland SYSTEM-8 Keyboard Synthesizer

The System-1's bigger, badder brother, this 3-osc, 8-voice virtual-analog synth lets you split and layer internal and Plug-Out sounds, with hands-on control.

$1,749.99

  • 18 x  
  • 12 x  
    $145.83
  • 8 x  
    $218.75

Roland System-1 AIRA Variable Synthesizer Keyboard

No longer available at zZounds
Get ready for astonishingly real analog modeling! Don't lug a laptop to the gig -- you can host software models of classic Roland synths right on a System-1.

The Roland System-1 AIRA Plug-Out Synthesizer Keyboard is one of the most exciting virtual-analog synths to hit the market in some time. Powerful yet affordable, the System-1 aims to deliver authentic analog sounds in an expandable all-digital unit. It features a two-octave keyboard with full-sized keys and 73 buttons, knobs, and sliders to control everything from LFOs and filters to effects and arpeggios. It's switchable between its own internal sound engine and a connected or hosted soft synth -- Roland's SH-101 is already available, and more programs are on the way.

PLUG-OUT Synthesizer: Host Software Synths -- No Computer Needed

The System-1 AIRA synth is fully USB enabled and can connect to your Mac- or PC-based laptop to control your favorite soft synth plug-ins directly from the hardware. What's more, System-1 offers the revolutionary PLUG-OUT feature. Essentially a compact computer within a synthesizer, the System-1 allows you to upload and host soft-synth models of classic Roland synths directly within the System-1's memory, so you can take your soft synth to the gig and leave your laptop at home. You can switch between the internal sound engine and a hosted soft synth at any time. To get you started, Roland offers a fully modeled digital version of the legendary Roland SH-101 in soft-synth form -- and there are more digital versions of vintage Roland synths to come, so your System-1 will expand over time.

Analog Circuit Behavior Technology

Each Roland AIRA read more unit is authentically crafted based on the original specifications of the '80s instrument which inspired it. Using DSPs and Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology, Roland has painstakingly created digital models of vintage Roland synths like System-100, System-700, SH-101, etc., going so far as to model the behavior of the analog circuits themselves, allowing the System-1 to function and sound just like its predecessors. So you get a vintage-sounding analog-modeling synth that's affordable and expandable with your favorite software synths -- no laptop required!

Learn more about Analog Circuit Behavior technology with this video:


Features:

- Roland System- and SH-inspired synthesizer
- All parameters can be tweaked with dedicated controls -- 73 physical controls in all (buttons, knobs, sliders, etc.)
- 25-note keyboard (without velocity)
- Four voice polyphony via four internal oscillators
- Selectable saw, square, and triangle waveforms and noise generator
- Complete LFO, oscillator, mixer, pitch, filter, amp, effects, and arpeggiator control sections
- Eight user memory locations for quickly recalling your favorite patches
- Novel PLUG-OUT feature lets you load a soft synth to the System-1 so you can leave your laptop at home
- Advanced Arpeggiator with Scatter function
- Integrated delay, reverb, and crusher effects
- Tempo sync for LFO and delay
- Modulator button
- Connect an optional footswitch for additional control
- Bright LEDs ensure visibility, even in dim environments
- Roland Analog Circuit Behavior Technology realistically models analog synths in a more affordable all-digital unit
- 1/4-inch headphone jack
- Stereo 1/4-inch main outputs
- Two 1/4-inch pedal jack (hold and control, pedals sold separately)
- MIDI input and output
- USB type B port
- Powered via included power adapter
- Unit weighs about five pounds
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Specifications:

- - Keyboard: 25 keys (without velocity)
- - Sound Generator Section:
- - Maximum Polyphony: 4 voices
- - Registrations: 8
- - Structure Elements:
- - SYSTEM-1 Mode:
- LFO
- OSC 1, 2
- SUB OSC
- NOISE OSC
- ENVELOPE: PITCH, FILTER, AMP
- MODULATION: RING, OSC SYNC, CROSS MOD
- EFFECTS: CRUSHER, REVERB, DELAY
- PORTAMENTO
- - PLUG-OUT Mode: Depend on PLUG-OUT software
- - Other:
- - ARPEGGIO: Type: 6, Step: 6
- - SCATTER: Type: 10
- - Controllers:
- VOLUME knob
- PITCH BEND/SCATTER jog dial
- SCATTER TYPE dial
- KEY HOLD button
- OCTAVE UP/DOWN buttons
- MOD button
- Power Switch (Rear)
- - Connectors:
- PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4-inch phone type
- OUT (L/MONO, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
- PEDAL (HOLD) jack: 1/4-inch phone type
- PEDAL (CONTROL) jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
- MIDI (IN, OUT) connectors
- USB port: USB type B (Audio/MIDI)
- DC IN jack
- - Power Supply: AC Adaptor
- - Current draw: 850 mA
- - Dimensions: (W x D x H) 472 x 283 x 70mm (18 5/8 x 11 3/16 x 2 13/16")
- - Weight: (excluding AC adaptor) 2.4 kg (5 lbs 5 oz)
- - Accessories: Owner's manual, AC adaptor, Leaflet "USING THE UNIT SAFELY"

Supported DAWs for the SH-101 PLUG-OUT Software Synthesizer:

Windows 8.1 / Windows 7
[ VST3 ] Steinberg - Cubase 7.5 ( 64-bit / 32-bit )
[ VST3 ] Cakewalk - SONAR X3 ( 64-bit / 32-bit )
[ VST3 ] PreSonus - Studio One 2 ( 64-bit / 32-bit )
[ VST3 ] Image-Line - FL Studio 11 ( 64-bit / 32-bit )

Mac OS X 10.8.5 or later / 10.9
[ AU ] Apple - Logic Pro X ( 64-bit )
[ AU ] Ableton Live 9 ( 32-bit )
[ AU ] Ableton Live Lite 9 ( 32-bit )
[ AU ] PreSonus Studio One 2 ( 64-bit )
[ VST3 ] Steinberg - Cubase 7.5 ( 64-bit )

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 323-890-3700

Roland System-1 AIRA Plug-Out Synth

Back in the 1970s, Roland launched the SYSTEM 100, 100M and the now almost mythical SYSTEM 700. These modular and semi-modular synthesizers are heralded to this day for their flexibility and character of sound. Over the years, they've been put to great use by visionary artists on countless classic tracks.

Modern Vintage

Meet the SYSTEM-1, a synthesizer probably unlike any you've encountered before. Like its predecessors, the SYSTEM-1 breaks ground with remarkable flexibility and access to a vast palette of synthesized sounds with the bold and unmistakable character associated with Roland synthesizers for nearly four decades.

At the heart of the SYSTEM-1's sound is an Analog Circuit Behavior technology (ACB) which they use to carefully analyze every aspect of analog circuits and then faithfully recreate them down to the finest details. This technology fills the SYSTEM-1 with a fusion of beautifully classic and utterly modern synthesizer tones. Sound good?

There's more.

The SYSTEM-1 can control and even host software recreations of classic Roland synthesizers. That's right. The SYSTEM-1 can control plug-in versions of now legendary Roland synths, and those same plugins can be hosted in the SYSTEM-1 itself - with no computer required. You can even switch between the SYSTEM-1's internal sounds and those of the hosted plug-in. Roland calls this wizardry "PLUG-OUT" -- and they're pretty excited about it.
And they think you'll be excited too once you experience the supreme authenticity of the upcoming SH-101 softsynth, with the SYSTEM-1 providing an intuitive and fully automatic one-to-one control interface that just works. Let's be honest - who could make a better plug-in version of a classic Roland synth than Roland?

And the SH-101 is just the beginning.

The SYSTEM-1 not only sounds amazing, but it also has a totally innovative design with performance ready controls, quality construction, and a dizzying array of lights and knobs and sliders that proclaim -- unashamedly -- "I am synthesizer. Hear me roar."

A few more things

- You can connect the SYSTEM-1 to your computer via its USB jack to send and receive Audio and MIDI data.
- The SYSTEM-1 can receive MIDI clock information to sync with external devices including other AIRA series units.
- The SYSTEM-1 is designed to work seamlessly and look great with other products in the AIRA series.

Features:

- Four oscillators for buckets of fat synth tones
- Oscillator colors create continuous waveform changes from simple to complex
- All parameters can be controlled with physical knobs and sliders with LED indicators
- Advanced Arpeggiator with SCATTER
- SCATTER jog dial offers 10 different phrase variations with dynamic, real-time control over 10 stages of depth
- Variety of modulation functions including ring modulation, cross modulation and oscillator sync
- 12dB and -24dB filter types with independent high pass filters
- Tone knob for easy tonal balancing
- Crusher knob for modern edge
- Integrated Delay and Reverb effect units
- Tempo syncing for LFO and Delay
- Innovative thin keyboard with 25 normal sized keys
- Comfortable to play and yet the most compact Roland synth ever

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. (3 ratings)
Submitted January 4, 2017 by Robert Furtkamp in Pocatello, ID

"Does everything it claims to do and more!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I wanted something approximating the sound and hands-on control of a "real" analog synth, and I've always been happy with my Roland products (I have stuff ranging in age from a 70s Space Echo and Jazz Chorus to modern GR-55 guitar synth) for both sound and durability. I ordered an AIRA System 1 for myself after reading many reviews and looking at videos - the big thing I can caution against on this unit, and the only potential negative, is the actual keybed itself. It's not velocity sensitive, deep-touch typical Roland bed, but a very short throw and fast action trigger. It doesn't feel cheap, but it is *not* a piano or a modern keyboard in that respect. That said, it works just fine and I don't notice after a bit of playing it unless I've spent a LOT of quality time with one of my other keyboards in the meantime. Everything else is amazing. Roland's patched firmware upped the number of patches from 8 to 64 recently, and that's 64 presets for both the System 1 itself *and* whatever plugout you might have loaded (so a total of 128), so you're able to save some go-to sounds that can be edited in real time with any of the controls. From earth-shaking bass sweeps to bleeps and whistles, this thing delivered in spades. I am a VERY happy owner. A note on the plugouts: they may be expensive, but they work very well. I'm waiting on the registration code from Roland (as I bought an open-box unit from zZounds) to buy one or two as owners of the hardware get a discount. They're read more intuitive, add significant depth of sound to the unit (the Pro-mars being my favorite of the ones I've spent time demoing over the last couple weeks), and it's worth it to get yourself at least one to stack in the unit and have two synth engines in one box. MIDI control is also decent; I hooked the MIDI out of both the GR-55 guitar synth proper to use as a controller and made glorious old-school guitar synth noises, as well as from the Boss GT-100 that does a mono guitar to MIDI output. Getting the latter to work was as simple as hooking up a midi cable - nothing more. Play a note, boom, it comes out of the System 1. Normally I'd consider mono to be limiting after years of playing a poly hex guitar synth-equipped guitar, but for the retro-analog-style stuff and 4 note poly max on the System 1, it's a match made in relative heaven. One tip, though: go in and disable the automated LED light show that the unit goes into after a few minutes of not playing, unless you want to be a Christmas display gone wrong.

Musical Background:
Over two decades of performing and recording on multiple instruments

Musical Style:
Free improv/experimental weird
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No longer available at zZounds