The first of the PLUG-OUT synthesizers by Roland. PLUG-OUT technology allows the user to load into the synthesizer sound engines to choose from. In addition to the basic one, which comes bundled with the preconfigured components, Roland Promars, SH-101 and SH-2 come as extra offer for which you need to pay, and in the future - other Roland synthesizers, such as the legendary Jupiter-8 and Juno-106 (never before have we waited to visit the future in order to return to the past).
System-1 device is a virtual analog synthesizer based on ACB technology (Advanced Circuit Behavior Modelling), which digitally recreates the whole process of generation and further alteration of the waveform.
Despite the innovations, the interface of System-1 is quite classic - the control panel features knobs for two oscillators, one LFO, a mixer of a waveform generated by oscillators, a sub-oscillator, a noise generator, AR envelope generator processors for pitch and ADSR for filter and amplification.
The synthesizer is also equipped with an excellent effect-processor and arpeggiator. Due to the compact dimensions, the two-octave keyboard has full-sized keys, but they operate far from the “full way”, which means that you have to understand and forgive many limitations, or buy System-8, where the keyboard is standard in all parameters, though lacks aftertouch.
System-1 features standard connectivity - MIDI IN/OUT connectors, USB with MIDI support. The cost is quite affordable, but only if you are a fan of analog sound and Roland classic instruments, as competitors also have something to respond with, though in a different perspective.
The operating system update version 1.1 enables the operation of data archiving and data recovery, and the firmware version 1.20 sprouted additional waveforms: noisy saw, linear FM synthesis, FM with oscillator sync, voice waves, metal clang, a logical chain for generation of multi-forms.