Generations of keyboard players here at Music Experience have sworn by Roland synths, and the next-gen System-8 delivers all the sounds we've known and loved for decades. At the core of this awesome synthesizer is Roland's Analog Circuit Behavior engine, fueling three oscillators across eight voices, all loaded with filters, effects, and a massive array of modulation options. In addition to its amazing internal sound engine, Plug-out technology lets you load up completely different synth engines - Jupiter-8 and JUNO-106 Plug-outs included - and you can switch between three models on the fly. Talk about killer sound flexibility! Top it off with an interface that's both classic and futuristic, split and layered synths, an integrated vocoder, and much more. The System-8 offers everything a keyboard player could ask for.

Roland System-8 49-key Plug-out Synthesizer at a Glance:

• Next-gen Analog Circuit Behavior engine onboard
• Load up complete synths via Plug-out expansions
• Packed with creative tools to create inspiring sounds
• Get hands on with comprehensive onboard controls
• Integrates with your rig via USB/MIDI and CV/Gate

Next-gen Analog Circuit Behavior engine onboard

The remarkable analog sound of Roland's Analog Circuit Behavior digital-modeling sound engine absolutely floored the synth world when it first debuted, and the System-8 takes this technology to a whole new level. A full eight voices of polyphony and three oscillators, which includes a sub-oscillator option, delivers a solid foundation for massive tone creation. It gets even better when you add in ultra-high-resolution filters that seem to glow as you saturate them - just what you need for classic warm pads and freakishly fat basses. But vintage sounds are just the beginning, and when you start to push the System-8, you'll discover aggressive leads, dynamic textures, and a whole new world of synth tone.

Load up complete synths via Plug-out expansions

Ask any synth nut here at Music Experience, and they'll tell you that the System-8's internal sound engine alone is well worth the price of admission, but when you start loading up Plug-out synth models, this 49-key beast becomes all the more impressive. Plug-outs let you load up completely different sound engines, such as the included Jupiter-8 and JUNO-106, instantly transforming the System-8 into another instrument altogether. Three Plug-out memory slots let you instantly switch sound engines, and in Performance Mode, you can even combine the internal sound engine with your loaded Plug-out models to create unheard-of hybrid synths with layered voices, custom splits, and other amazing capabilities.

Packed with creative tools to create inspiring sounds

Roland went above and beyond with the System-8's performance tools, which make it easy to create and tweak complex sequences, fire off chords and arpeggios, and tweak every parameter in real time. First, there's the 64-step sequencer, styled after Roland's intuitive TR-REC interface. Full transport options make it easy to record, play, and tweak loops on the fly, and the sequencer captures every knob and fader movement as you play. Chord Memory is another great performance feature, which allows you to fire off polyphonic stabs and lush chords, all while keeping a hand free to manipulate your sound. Likewise, the arpeggiator onboard the System-8 lets you shift patterns as you play, and the built-in vocoder is an awesome tool live.

Get hands on with comprehensive onboard controls

All of these powerful functions would be less than amazing without the System-8's powerful yet intuitive user interface. You'll find one-to-one controls for every major function right on the main panel, with hands-on options you'd only find on top-tier synths. Instantly change filter types (including the popular side-band filter from Roland's V-Synth), flip through arpeggiation modes, and take hold of every synth parameter - all laid out in a logical signal flow order. What's more, you'll find super-high-resolution effects onboard, ranging from overdrive and distortion to epic time-based options including delay, chorus, reverb, and more. It's everything you need to create and manipulate your sound instantly.

Integrates with your rig via USB/MIDI and CV/Gate