Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • System 100m

The System 100m is Roland's contribution to professional analog modular synthesis. It was based on the more limited, semi-modular System 100, but is several steps of ahead of its predecessor. The System 100m offers over 20 modular components to pick and choose to design a custom modular set-up. The Main unit is the M-110 which has a single VCO oscillator, VCF, and VCA section. You can then build upon this system adding any number and configurations of the various other modules which include dual VCOs, ring modulators, dual VCFs, eq, dual VCAs, dual envelopes, LFOs, various effects, mixers, sequencers, and control interfaces including 3 different keyboard controllers.

Modules are assembled into racks. The System 100m has 3 rack sizes, the M-190 holds 3 modules, the M-191 and M-191J hold 5 modules. Each rack provides the necessary 8-pin DIN power connectors and internal CV/gate connections between the modules. You still need to do some external patching, however, to send your signal through the modules of your choice to create any sounds. As for sounds, the System is basically monophonic, unless you get several racks of them for lots and lots of money! Its sound is not as warm as the System 100 before it, but it offers much more capability, as seen in Hans Zimmer's system below!

Hans Zimmer's massive System 100m, image and info courtesy of Kevin Lightner. "It features 58 VCOs, 37 VCFs, 32 ENVs, 12 VC Phase shifters, 9 Sequencers, 1 Remote controlled 4-space rack-mount power supply (25' away.), and 24 Trunk lines go to his large Moog synth across the room. The unit can link the "Keyboard" inputs for all the modules, and with this feature, all VCO's can track one input with only one patch cord. The unit was built into 6 flight cases on casters with removable front and rear covers, then later encased in wood and built into his studio. "----Kevin Lightner

System 100's have been used by Orbital, Hans Zimmer, Vince Clarke, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17, Freddy Fresh, Luke Vibert, Meat Beat Manifesto, Electronic Dream Planet, Jamiroquai, Human League, and Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

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bob blue

Posted 57 days ago

Nice thing, I use it in school. This one is a double system, so evrything is double except for the phasor and delay. As an old machine it has a lot of dust in it, so a lot of crackles make it sometimes a silly thing. ALtough this I like it, but its definatly not worth the 15000 dollars as it is said on this site.

Paul Brown

Posted 57 days ago

I have never personaly owned one but I had the honor of using one back in 1997 when I was in a band (wierdly enough, after reading the comment below) called Redshift.

It is a work of art. Gorgeous in everyway!

Danyo

Posted 136 days ago

An artist still using the Roland 100m (or maybe 100) system is Mark Shreeve from Redshift (and from ARC with Ian Boddy). Really impressive if you see and hear them using it during live performances. It must have costed a fortune the whole system.

Micke

Posted 208 days ago

Vangelis used a system 100, not a 100m.

Matthew

Posted 213 days ago

Used on many Vangelis albums for swirling arpeggio lines. Gradually adjusting the VCF to self-resonate whilst running a rapid arpeggio was responsible for much of the character of Vangelis' mid-late 70s albums; especially Spiral, China, and Short Stories.

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