Absolutely blown away by this announcement, completely unexpected.
http://www.roland.com/aira/airamodular/
!!
Wow fully analog! missed a system 700 block many years ago and always regretted that
damm i want
jaw drop 
I’m excited for the System-1m. Wasn’t interested in the System-1 due to the crippled keyboard.
System-1m gives modulation inputs, 19" or eurorack compatibility, or can be used as table top synth, like our beloved Elektrons. Will be a great SH-101 module extension for my TB-3’s mono midi sequencer, or Analog Four’s CV track.
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Hmm other have spotted a Malekko logo on the bottom of the “Roland” system 500 stuff
???
Yeah just look at the pictures of the module, its right there on the bottom. Seems like they are co developed by Malekko and Roland. Seems like a pretty smart move.
Cheers
I’m wondering if the bit crush module will also work as a simple stereo filter for my live setup. Looks like all the puzzle pieces are there.
Better yet:
[ul]
[li]Re-programmable via Mac, PC, iOS, Android application
While it sounds great out of the box, you can fully customize BITRAZER’s internal signal path by re-patching its array of virtual sub-modules via a custom application that works on Mac and PC as well as iOS and Android devices. Submodules are re-patched through a simple and intuitive drag and drop interface that even lets you choose which parameters are assigned to the high-resolution “GRF” knobs. You can reprogram BITRAZER in realtime via USB connection or save and recall patches with a simple audio signal. You can even share patches with other BITRAZER users.[/li]
[li]BITRAZER includes 15 virtual sub-modules with more available through future expansion:
LFO, ADSR, NOISE, SAMPLE & HOLD, RING MOD, FILTER 6 dB, FILTER 12 dB, TONE, AMP, MIXER, STEREO MIXER, CURVE CONV, GATE DIVIDER, TRIG TO CV DELAY TIME, MIDI CLOCK TO GATE
Would be cool if I can patch an internal 24dB sweepabke HP filter.
Very exciting![/li]
[/ul]
Nick’s Sonicstate video has got me really excited about this Aira pieces. Imagine this with one or two choice eurorack modules for flavour! Great way to get into things.
For me, ball is back in Parva’s court to tempt me back…
Yes, it has been noticed. I kinda hope Roland releases these modules with the Malekko logo, that would look kinda cool. Wise decision by Roland to partner with a veteran Eurorack maker instead of going it alone - maybe the engineers who worked on the System 700/System 100 are dead now. I recall it took Korg quite a bit of effort to get the original MS-20 engineer(s) to work on the “modern” MS-20 products - that engineer is an old man now!
Gary Hall was similarly wise to partner with a Eurorack veteran - in his case it’s 4ms.
Here’s a Malekko guy openly telling Malekko’s side of the story:
Hey kinda gravedigger here exumating this topic! hope thats ok… 
I have been hearing some demos of the system 500 for a while now while I save money, and i gotta say i really love it’s sound, I mean I REALLY LOVE the sound of the OSC and filter, and the overall architecture…
I have been wanting to get into the modular world with a normal synth architecture (I don’t like the very complicated modules of makenoise for ex) preferably on a complete package… So I have been thinking on investing on this guy, but there is this huge BUTT: I keep rethinking of the sheer amount of cool gear I could get with this price…
Do you guys think this system is worth the money? This would be my first over 2K synth, hence the hesitation… So if anyone got this, I would appreciate a feedback and few wise words! THANKS
I’m really keen on one too, but it is a lot of money.
For me it’s a really nice, mostly conventional, subtractive modular synth with two really strong points, which you have already identified: the VCO, and the VCF. That square wave through that filter is a really exceptionally high quality sound.
I think it’s probably too conventional to be popular with the current modular scene, which seems to be chasing weirder and more complex stuff all the time.
I do think it’s worth it… whether it’s worth it instead of a Sub 37 plus an Eventide Space, or a 16-voice Rev2, or a Rytm and a Heat, or whatever else, is down to what you want / need / etc.
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Yes well put. Sounds good in a vanilla Roland way, but nothing special here imo.
Functionality is rather limited in comparison to other euro systems, and I personally think much better euro combos could be built for 2K.
As an example a Make Noise system will give you much more sonic diversity for the money, though there are literally a million combos in euro so you really need to do your homework.
No right or wrong, whatever tickles your fancy
No it’s not worth the money.
I reckon the system 100 plug out is way better.
System 1m and a system 100 analog would be a much better deal - vintage and the present.
I have plenty of experience with the Roland modulars
I think I tried the new Roland analog modular for about 15mins and went nah, nothing like the vintage stuff, and turned it off.
Yeah the System-100 plugout sounds great. It’s a bit different though, making patches on the computer and transferring them into the S-1 rather than having it in front of you and being able to see and modify the patching. And you can only control one of the LFOs from the front panel, and the sample & hold section not at all. But yeah, great sound. The SH-2 plugout too.
True they screwed up the front panel thing.
I just use the vsti as I really like the patch matrix.
If Roland every released a full system 100 aria, with a small patch matrix , I’d be all over it.
I wouldn’t say they screwed it up really, that was never the design of the System-1, to be honest I was surprised they even did a System-100 plugout for it because I always assumed it was going to be all classic Roland monosynths (ok, I was hoping for a Juno but I think it’s evident now that it doesn’t have enough power to do 6 voices plus the chorus in 96k/24). It’s all good.
At the moment I’ve mostly only used the plugins for preset organisation and a small amount of patch design, as it’s quite easy to overload my old Mac with just a single instance of the System-1 plugin in poly mode.
This would be amazing!
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There is an excellent video out from #TSR19 with Ben Wilson (DivKid) sitting down with a Roland representative and patching the heck out of a collection of Roland 500 modules. It’s really great to hear the sort of sound that someone with experience can quickly patch with these modules when used versatilely.
Skip ahead to 6:30 or so when Ben starts patching.
Interesting to hear the discussion about what makes a Roland sound.
There’s also a Roland SH-01A which gets used to run the sequence.
Looking forward to the promised sequels with more detailed patching with the Roland modules.
I have the full set of the initial run, it is a nice focussed system capable of all the classic Roland sounds that I love, I’ll probably grab all the new modules of the 500 series at some point, true they are on the expensive side but most of them are dual or multi-function modules and they do sound very nice indeed I think.
I also have the aira modular fx and those are nice too, I really need to use them more and get right into the editor as I have only used that a few times, but it is pretty flexible.
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