Roland Synthesizer

Reviews | Roland System-1m Synthesizer
82
A
year ago Roland introduced
the world to their highly
anticipated Airas, a range
of all-digital sound
generators and processors that doffed
their hats to some Roland analogue
classics. Some chastised Roland for
taking the digital emulation route and
not following Korg down the analogue
path that started with the Monotribe
and led to the full-scale resurrection of
the MS-20. Those ‘binaryphobes’ can
sleep easy as Roland have announced
the System 500 analogue modular
system. However, they have also
expanded the System-1 range with the
System-1m. At its core, this is a
keyboardless rack-mountable version of
the earlier synth. However, there’s no
disguising the array of patch points that
fi ll the top of the synth. Given that this
is a digital synth, their inclusion is both
very unusual and highly alluring. But
does it live up to the promise of a
potential inter-synth patch frenzy?
Lifting the 1m out of its box, you are
greeted with a relatively small 3u black
plastic box with a metal fascia. It feels
robust, but not indestructible, and can
be used as a desktop synth, mounted in
a 19-inch rack (using the included rack
ears) or a large Eurorack module.
Most of the controls are knobs, with
only the envelopes utilising faders. All
knobs, buttons and patch points follow
the Aira colour-styling and are backlit in
some way – with lots of green!
Power is supplied via the included
DC adaptor or (rather smartly) from a
Eurorack power connector – the
appropriate cable comes with the synth.
While most in/out ports are on the
front panel (including USB), MIDI in/
out sockets are on the rear next to the
main audio outs on unbalanced
1/4-inch jacks. For those wishing to
rack the unit, a second set of MIDI
ports (selectable in the unit settings)
are on the back of the unit. Racking
may also require you to use right-angled
jacks or to switch to using the mini-jack
audio outs on the front panel.
Color control
As purchased, the System-1m comes
with its own ‘synth model’, though there
are some interesting options for
expanding its palette that we’ll explore
WHAT IS IT?
Roland’s recent System-1
synth in rack-mountable
form and with a host of
extra analogue control
inputs and outputs
CONTACT
Who: Roland
Tel: [phone]
Web: www.roland.co.uk
HIGHLIGHTS
1 All those CV ins and outs
2 Plug-out system gives the
synth multiple personalities
3 Plenty of ‘real’ controls
Roland System-1m
Synthesizer | £449
Roland add to their Aira range with this very
analogue-looking rack synth. Bruce Aisher prepares
for some subtractive synthesis sound clash
One of the big aspects of
the System-1 design is the
so-called Plug-Out feature.
In effect this allows
different synth models to
be accessible as
DAW-based plug-ins
whose ‘code’ (and
patches) can then be
uploaded to the hardware.
There is a button on the
main unit for switching
between the ‘standard’
architecture and one of
the more exotic models
(that so far include
emulations of the
SH-101, SH-2 and
ProMars).
All the Plug-Out
emulations so far released
require you to splash out
some extra cash. Once
you’ve installed your new
toy as a plug-in, it’s
relatively straightforward
– once your MIDI ports are
set correctly – to transfer
the code (and some
presets) to the System-1m
hardware. The
aforementioned button
then switches you to the
new model. Press it again
to return to the defaults
system. The big downside
is you can only have one
extra emulation installed
at one time. Shame!
Given that each synth
had slightly varying
architecture, you will fi nd
that controls are mapped
differently, which slightly
undermines the concept of
dedicated hardware.
Sonically though, each
model is recognisably
different (phew), and
more noticeably ‘retro’
in character.
New Model
The System-1m has
two main oscillators,
a sub-oscillator and
noise source per
voice (with up to
4-note polyphony)
You also get one LFO
and three envelopes.
Oscillators
This button allows
you to access one of
the alternative synth
models (SH-101,
SH-2 or ProMars).
They cost extra, but
bring a more quirky
analogue sound to
the 1m.
Turn On, Tune In
And Plug-Out
INCLUDES AUDIO
l
vault.futuremusic.co.uk
You can store
settings – even the
patching status of the
mini-jack ports. The
single numeric LED
isn’t the ideal way to
access 64 patches,
though maybe it’s
‘proper old-skool’.
Memory Lane
As well as offering
desktop and 19-inch
rack-mounting
capabilities, the
System-1m can be
integrated into a
Eurorack set-up.
Rack It
FMU296.rev_roland.indd 82 8/12/15 5:27 PM