RetroSound Studio Tour: Vintage Digital Synthesizers

video upload by RetroSound

"RetroSound Studio Tour:
Legendary Vintage Digital & Hybrid Synthesizers of the 80s and early 90s

In this episode of RetroSound Studio, I explore classic digital synthesizers that revolutionized electronic music production during the 80s and early 90s. From FM synthesis and wavetable synthesis to vector synthesis, PD synthesis, vitual analog and Roland’s LA synthesis, these instruments introduced a new generation of sound design and defined the sonic identity of an era.

The Yamaha DX7 became one of the best-selling synthesizers of all time, defining FM electric pianos and metallic digital textures. The PPG Wave pioneered wavetable synthesis, laying the foundation for modern digital sound engines. The Sequential Prophet VS introduced vector synthesis, allowing dynamic blending between digital waveforms. The Roland D-50 shaped late-80s pop and film scoring with its LA synthesis architecture, while the Roland JD-800 brought hands-on control back to digital synthesis in the 1990s.

These digital synthesizers shaped genres such as synth-pop, new wave, ambient, house, techno, trance, and film music. Today, they remain highly sought after by producers, collectors, and sound designers researching vintage digital synthesizers, 80s keyboard sounds, virtual analog, classic FM synthesis, and wavetable history."

The Digital & Hybrid Synths:
0:07 Sequential Prophet VS
4:39 PPG wave 2.2
10:36 Yamaha DX7 II FD
14:56 Yamaha DX11
16:39 Casio CZ-101
19:29 Casio VZ-1
21:21 Roland JD-800
26:40 Roland D-50 / D-550
28:00 Korg Wavestation EX / SR
31:24 Korg DW-8000 / EX-8000
32:42 Roland M-VS1
35:57 Kawai K5000R
38:57 Waldorf Microwave
39:44 Waldorf Microwave II XT
41:15 Clavia Nord Modular
41:59 Yamaha AN1x
44:36 Roland JV-1080
45:33 Ensoniq SQ-80
46:23 Quasimidi Raven Max
47:42 Korg Z1

Full Studio Tour playlist:

Vintage Rare Roland MIDI Processing Unit MPU-IPC-T SN 919695

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

"Roland MPU-IPC MIDI Processing Unit, a classic vintage MIDI interface made in Japan. This is a well-known unit from Roland’s early MIDI hardware era and is sought after by collectors, vintage studio users, and retro PC / synthesizer enthusiasts.

✅ Details:

Brand: Roland

Model: MPU-IPC

Type: MIDI Processing Unit / MIDI Interface

Connection: DB-25 (25-pin)

I/O Ports:

MIDI IN

MIDI OUT (x2)

SYNC OUT

Tape IN

Metronome OUT

Country of Manufacture: Japan"

Roland Fantom-XR 128-Voice Synthesizer / Sampler Module

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Roland D-110 Multi-Timbral Sound Module

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Roland TR-1000 w/ 808 Skin / Accents on Unit: E - Mbali Mbrace (Jam Version)

video upload by Unit: E

"This is a quick jam of the song I'm working on, Mbali Mbrace. Testing out the fx and recording levels. All percussion in this song was sequenced on the ‪@rolandglobal‬ TR-1000. The vocal samples were imported, chopped, transposed, and layered in with the percussion, all within the 1000. The pads and keys were recorded live from the SH-4D, and in through the Ext In of the 1000. All FX are from within the TR-1000."

Dub Techno sketch 19 (Roland TR-1000 & Samples)

video upload by Olu Ondas Studio

Kick: 808x
CHH: sample
CHH2: 808 X
Tom: 808 mid tom
Brush: Brush SR
Rim: 707 highpassed
Chords: Sample
Vocal: Sample
Perc4: Sample snare roll
Noise: Crackle

Soft compression: Attack 30ms; Release 170ms; Threshold -3; Ratio 2:1; Gain 3db

#rolandtr1000
#tr1000
#dubtechno

Roland JX8P Famous Songs and Sounds

video upload by Nicolas Melis

"Roland JX8P Famous Songs and Sounds

All music in this video is performed live on the Roland JX8P synthesizer. No original recordings or samples from the original songs were used. This video is for educational, entertainment, and demonstration purposes only."

Bandcamp: https://nicolasmelis.bandcamp.com/

Schranz Techno sketch 18 (Roland TR-1000 & Digitone & ES Bassline)

video upload by Olu Ondas Studio

"This one came together unexpectedly. The compressor made a big difference. Really happy with the intensity of this one."

ESK - Arpoloop Noise Rhythm

video upload by Metunar

"Leploop Arpoloop, an analog chaos synthesizer groove box, through a Roland V-Bass effect.
Direct recording with soft mastering."

http://www.metunar.ch

First 8-Voice Jupiter 8 Clone – Sound Demo (No Talking)

video upload by ACME SYNTHWORKS

"This is the world’s first fully 8-voice Roland JP8 clone.

Eight discrete voices.
Original voice architecture.
14 Bit Interface Board.
The circuit follows the original Jupiter-8 design.
All functions of the original instrument are supported.

The envelopes are implemented in analog form using different ICs, while preserving the original behavior.

The filter section uses IR3109 and BA662.

A large portion of the circuitry has been implemented in SMD to simplify assembly and improve manufacturability.
This video contains raw sound examples only.
Direct audio recording.
Only a subtle external delay was added."

Musical Madness with ROLAND GOKEYS 5

video upload by Woody Piano Shack

This is the first post to feature ROLAND's GOKEYS.

"All-playing fun demo of the ROLAND GO:KEYS 5 and ROLAND GO:KEYS 3 budget arranger keyboards."

Lesson packs available for one-time purchase on Patreon.

MORE WOODY PIANO SHACK: https://woodypianoshack.com

Roland D-550 Owners Manual

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

Additional Tone Tweakers Listings

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Roland MKS-70 Super JX Owners Manual & Synthesizer Charts

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

Additional Tone Tweakers Listings

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The void beneath – IDM (Original Track)

video upload by MIDERA

"'Dystopia' is a dark IDM track composed on Spectralis 2, OB-6, JD-990, Minimoog, Virus TI, and SH-101.

Hardware / Sounds Used:
Radikal Technologies Spectralis 2: Drums and sequencing
Moog Minimoog: Bass (intro)
Roland SH-101: Bass
Access Virus TI: Keys
Sequential OB-6: Keys
Roland JD-990: Bells

Effects / DAW:
Native Instruments RAUM: Reverb
Reaper: Recording / mixing

#IDM #HardwareSynth #Spectralis2 #MoogMinimoog #SH101 #AccessVirus #OB6 #JD990 #ElectronicMusic #experimentalelectronicmusic"

Breakbeat sketch 17 (Roland TR-1000 & ES Bassline & Digitone2)

video upload by Olu Ondas Studio

Kick: 909
Snare: Clap&finger
OHH: 909x
CHH: 808 CHH
Shaker: 8xmaracas
Tom: 808 high tom
Conga: Sample
Crackle: Crackle
ST_Metallic

Digitone:
FM tone
Swarmer

Bassline, drive, detune, lfo 10 o clock

Roland MKS-30 Planet S Vintage Analog Poly Synth DEMO

video upload by DSP Kills

"Demonstration of a Roland MKS-30. Recorded dry with a hint of reverb. Don't mind the poor keyboard playing, I'm a guitarist.

The MKS-30 sounds like a cross between the JX-3P and the Juno-106."

Roland MKS-70 synths w/ Vecoven 4.0 and PWM. Detuned DEMO.

video upload by DSP Kills

"This is a short demo of two Roland MKS-70's detuned and playing a few patches. Both MKS-70's have Vecoven 4.0 and PWM mods."

MSTRBLSTR - Pattern Clear Pattern Write

video upload by MSTRBLSTR

"MSTRBLSTR - Pattern Clear Pattern Write.
124 BPM machine-driven acid house - negative space, dub handoffs, tape delay + spring reverb. Brief clears, then a new polymetric logic takes over."

https://open.spotify.com/track/4dNO60... https://mstrblstr.bandcamp.com/track/...

"Machine-driven acid house at 124 BPM: transient-forward percussion with hollow-bodied punch, a constant bass groove that shifts in intensity, and an arrangement built on negative space and dub-style handoffs.

Tape delay and spring reverb open wide. Brief breaks wipe the grid just long enough for the pattern to snap back into focus. Then the momentum clears and a new polymetric logic takes over. Modulated melodic drifts change the room without abandoning the floor, leaving you somewhere familiar but newly yours.

Hardware: Din Sync RE-808, Roland TR-606, Roland/Tubbutec MC-2oh2, Cyclone TT-303, Alice 1228 mixer, Boss KM-60 mixer, Boss RCL-10 compressor, RE-201 Space Echo, Jeff Rubin Mu-tant Fly Phase, edited in Ableton Live.

iLL ACiD Cat. No. ILL015

iLL ACiD is 5 years old, so this one’s a free Bandcamp download + available on all platforms"

https://mstrblstr.bandcamp.com/track/pattern-clear-pattern-write

EMS Universal Sequencer Playlist

video uploads by analogia pl

A few of these have been featured on the site before. You can use the player controls to skip around.

Playlist:

1. EMS Synthi with Universal Sequencer and RSF Kobol #emssynthi #rsfkobol #rolandph830

It’s a tune done on the Synthi and EMS Universal Sequencer with some help from RSF Kobol processed by Roland PH-830 phaser.

2. 2 x EMS Universal Sequencer with Roland MC-202 #emssynthi #emsuniversalsequencer #mc202

Universal Sequencer is playing a sequence on the Synthi and the 202 - that’s why it’s called “universal” as both sequence and real time layers have CV/gate outputs. No effects other than spring reverb on the Synthi.

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Roland JV-2080 Synthesizer Sound Module SN BL71273

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Get the TR909 upfront presences from the TR1000 ... or anything else for that matter!

video upload by Starsky Carr

"How Close Is Close Enough? Is the TR-1000 really a TR-909 replacement… or is that missing the point entirely?

In this deep-dive comparison, I also put the Roland TR-1000 head-to-head with my original Roland TR-909 to see how close we can actually get — and more importantly, where the differences really matter.

Roland are clear: this isn’t meant to be a clone. But with TR-909-style analogue circuits, 808-inspired elements, and ACB models under the hood, it begs the question… can you sell your 909 and fund a TR-1000 instead?

After putting these 2 together I realised the biggest tonal difference isn’t to get that live 909 vibe is the main outputs. The TR-909’s main outs are band-limited, with less low-end and a high-frequency tilt that creates that bright, exciting presence. Using Logic’s Match EQ, I recreate that curve so you can apply it to:

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