SYSTEM-8

Name: SYSTEM-8
Price: 129 USD
Author: Roland

by Roland · Synth · SYSTEM-8 software synthesizer

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SYSTEM-8 is Roland's software version of its SYSTEM-8 synth, with circuit-accurate oscillator, filter and effects models including JUPITER and JUNO filters.

It has analog-style, SuperSaw and FM oscillators, an arpeggiator and hardware integration; it comes with Roland Cloud membership.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Bass, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Pop, Hip-Hop & Trap.

Keywords: arpeggiator, FM, hardware emulation, virtual analog, analog, vintage, digital classic, licensed emulation, polyphonic, subtractive, 80s, 90s, basses, circuit-modelled, leads, live performance, pads, perpetual licence, sound design.

What it does

SYSTEM-8 is Roland's software version of its 2016 SYSTEM-8 keyboard, a virtual analog synth that mixes "vintage sounds" with newer digital options. It shares patches with the hardware, so sounds made in the DAW can go on stage without a computer.

Three oscillators: OSC1 and OSC2 offer saw, square and triangle in two flavours each, plus variations such as Noise Saw, Logic Operation, FM, FM+Sync, Vowel and CB; OSC3 doubles as a sub-oscillator. The current listing also mentions SuperSaw.
Filters: low-pass at -24, -18 and -12 dB, high-pass, JUPITER and JUNO filter designs, and six side-band filter types including formant and harmonic shapes.
Envelopes: separate ADSR envelopes for pitch, filter and amp.
LFOs: two LFOs with sine, triangle, saw, square, sample and hold and random shapes.
Effects: overdrive, distortion, metal, fuzz, crusher and phaser; six delay and modulation types (delay, panning delay, two choruses, flanger, delay plus chorus); and six reverbs (ambience, room, two halls, plate and modulation).
Arpeggiator and voices: an arpeggiator with six types and variable step divisions, 8-voice polyphony and 64 presets per bank.
Hardware link: patches transfer to and from the SYSTEM-8 keyboard.

It runs at 44.1 or 48 kHz. Roland offers it through Roland Cloud membership, and Thomann also sells a perpetual licence.

Source: Roland product page

When to use it

SYSTEM-8 is the pick if you want Roland's own modern VA sound, with JUPITER and JUNO filter flavours, or if you own the SYSTEM-8 keyboard and want to move patches between studio and stage. Compared with Diva, which models analog circuits in detail, SYSTEM-8 is a Roland-made VA with digital extras such as FM, vowel oscillators and side-band filters, and it is capped at eight voices. Against Hive 2, it is the more vintage-flavoured choice, but its two LFOs give it less modulation depth. Unlike Serum 2 or Vital, it has no wavetable engine, so it suits classic subtractive patches more than modern sound design.

Best for: Roland-style VA leads, basses, brassy pads and arpeggios, and sharing patches with the SYSTEM-8 hardware.
Genres: electronic, synth-pop, house, techno and hip-hop.
Look elsewhere if: you need more voices or deeper modulation (Hive 2 or Diva), wavetable sound design (Serum 2 or Vital), or want a synth without online authentication.

What producers say

The few buyer reviews are positive, though there is little published feedback on the plugin itself as opposed to the hardware.

Thomann buyers rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 3 reviews, praising the sound and handling; one called it an "excellent compromise".
Another Thomann buyer found it "good and nice to have without taking up much space".