Roland System 500 Series Modules

ManualsBrandsRoland ManualsKeysModular Synthesizer

FM VERDICT

8.8

Fiddlier than Roland’s

original modules, and they

don’t come cheap, but

functionally, Roland and

Malekko get it right

512 VCO Two oscillators with

independent waveform outputs and

individually tunable frequency ranges

521 VCF Two independent sections

with two 24dB/octave low-pass ﬁ lters

and switchable high-pass sections

510 SYNTH Short on modular space?

This puts elements of the 512, 521

and 530 modules in one module

531 MIX Small mixers aren’t that

glam, but this one has some pretty

useful features

Gate Delay/LFO, all housed in a very

fetching custom case. As mentioned,

these are all closely related to similar

modules on the original 100m. The

512 adds separate output jacks for

the waveforms (square, triangle and

saw) in each VCO section, but

otherwise maintains the pulse width

CV modulation and two oscillator sync

options. CV pitch-tracking is good,

and tonally the module does what

you’d expect. The 521’s two 24dB/

octave ﬁ lters are similar to that in the

510, but this time with a few more

options for modulation patch points.

As the input faders are pushed, some

satisfying saturation begins to occur.

A similar thing happens with the 530

VCAs. Both let you add dirt or

warmth, and sound great. Each VCA

has three input mixer sliders, three

sliders for mixing CV control signals

and a selector switch for linear or

exponential response modes. The

540 Envelope Generator and LFO has

two independent ADSR envelope

sections (with two speed settings and

‘normal’ and inverted outputs) which

can be triggered externally from a

Gate signal or manually via an

onboard button. One nice addition to

this modern version is the ability to

switch into an LFO-like cyclic mode,

with the shape and frequency

determined by the Attack and

Release times. The LFO section

features ﬁ ve waveform output, LFO

start, reset and delay and CV control

of frequency. The ﬁ nal part of the

‘Complete’ bundle consists of the

multi-function 572 Phase Shifter,

Delay and LFO. There is nothing like

a phase shifter for adding movement

to pulsing or sequenced synth lines.

This Roland effect does a good job,

and goes further than the original

172 module by offering a wet/dry mix

control (with patchable CV control).

The delay section, driven by a BBD

IC, is great for creating chorus and

ﬂ anging effects. Increasing the delay

time beyond the limits of the Delay

Time control, things get progressively

more lo-ﬁ , and with the high-pitched

tone of the clocking circuit becoming

audible. The Gate Delay can be used

as a pulse shaper or for delaying a

pulse source. The simple triangle-only

LFO features both normal and

inverted output jacks, and is ideal for

modulating the delay time and phase

shift. As a package, the ‘Complete’

set is a great way of accessing the

core vintage-style Roland tone, and

would work well within an existing

modular setup. One big omission for

me, though, was the lack of any

Multiple module. The original 100m

had nine four-way multiple jacks

along the lower portion of its front

panel. This made complex patch

creation much simpler.

The most exciting of the

remaining 500-series modules for me

is the 505 VCF, based around the

ﬁ lter section of Roland’s SH-5, a

monophonic beast of a synth. The

505 has two VCFs and two VCAs.

VCF1 is a multi-mode ﬁ lter (LP, BP,

HP) and VCF2 band-pass only, with

the output from each capable of

being mixed to either VCA. Tonally,

this is quite different from the ﬁ lter

on the 510 and 521 modules, so it’d

make a nice addition if you already

have a ballsy low-pass ﬁ lter in your

armoury. The 531 MIX module is

inspired by the original 131, but adds

more inputs (with mute), CV control

of pan and a stereo mini-jack mic/line

preamp normalled to inputs 5&6. The

relatively unglamorous, but very

useful, 555 LAG/S&H module

combines features of the 150 and

165. While the noise section and ring

modulator are the only audio

generator/processors here, the

inclusion of portamento and sample

& hold are both great – and an extra

LFO will always come in handy.

The return of Roland to the

analogue modular fray is only to be

welcomed, and the quality of all the

units in the 500 Series is high. That

said, this attention to detail comes at

a price, and the choice will depend

on your wallet. Notwithstanding the

size of the modules – which can be

levelled at most Eurorack units –

512 VCO

Two oscillators with