From yrrab Sent Wed, Dec 20th 1995, 04:53
From yrrab Sent Wed, Dec 20th 1995, 04:53
>OK here goes.
>
>I've been mulling over the possible differences between the 700 modules
>and the 100M modules. Does anybody out there have first hand experience
>with the 700 vs. the 100M?
>
>I dug through the MM pages on them and checked out those groovy adds
>(kudos to the person who uploaded 'em). The 700 is toted as the
>"top-of-the-line" modular from Roland but after reading the about the
>100M modules I wonder the REAL differences. I'm talking features and
>audible differences between the oscs and filters etc. I realize that
>generally speaking the 700 came in preassembled cabinets which were
>standard (Bank 1-7...) but the 100M came module-by-module which you
>custom arranged to your liking. That's not what I'm looking for. I'm
>curious about the spec differences and what that means audibly.
>
>Also where does the System 100 fit into the picture? Is it just a
>downsized 700 or is it really a separately designed synth all together?
>I know these are very specific questions but you rarely hear about these
>things and they look like such different beasts. It seems as though the
>System 700, System 100M, and System 100 are completely different on the
>component level. I wonder why Roland varied their line of gear where US
>companies tended to have a basic lineup of modules and then offered
>different configurations of those modules.
>
>I hope somebody has some idea.
>
I've got a system 100 synth that I've had for awhile ( no m). That is I
have the model 101 synth with the model 102 expander. I don't have the
sequencer, mixer or speaker modules (yes, that's right speakers) this thing
came with. I read somewhere in the archives that someone consideres this a
very "warm" sounding synth. I suppose it is in a funny way, although it's a
bit "cheesy" sounding to me as well. Although it is patchable, it has some
limitations, for instance there is no output jack for the lfo, you can only
modulate what it hardwired to it. It does have a sample and hold with a lag
circuit, a ring modulator, a fixed HPF and hard sync.
It's got some cool features but it is by no means a "real modular". Also
though I suppose you could refer to it as "warm", it doesn't have much low
end
and the envelope generators don't quite cut the mustard. I don't know how
it compares to the 100m or the 700.
-Barry Bernard