System 700

Introduced in 1976, this modular beast was Roland's ambitious leap into professional analog synthesis, packing studio-grade power into customizable wooden cabinets that feel like a time capsule from electronic music's golden era.

Its flexible block system lets you configure everything from a compact lab unit with 3 stable VCOs offering saw, triangle, pulse waves with PWM and sync options, to full wings boasting up to 6 oscillators, multimode filters (low-pass, band-pass, high-pass) with that signature warm Roland resonance, multiple VCAs, and no fewer than 6 ADSR envelopes for intricate shaping. A standout 3x12-step analog sequencer delivers rock-solid patterns with clock oscillator and pulse shaping, while utilities like sample & hold, noise generators, ring mod, envelope followers, LFOs, gate delays, and a 2-channel phase shifter with spring reverb and panning add endless experimentation. The 61-key controller brings portamento and pitch-bend for hands-on play, all wired with internal power, CV, and gate connections for semi-prepatched convenience in its rugged metal-panel modules.

Synth heads still chase these for their dynamic, organic tone—brassy leads, throbbing basses, and cosmic textures that modern clones struggle to match—though pristine examples command collector premiums due to their rarity.