One of your absolute best videos, bravo!

What makes Alex's synth videos better than the others is that he doesn't just show the sound of the synthesizers, he used it to make great music. Nothing beats that. My favourite Demo in this video is Demo 4: Bucket and Fade. Great video, Alex!

It's probably my favourite looking synth from the 70s. Especially in its complete form! I also had no idea Vangelis used this on Spiral, that's amazing!

Might get flamed for saying it but I loved every sound that came out of that synth

I live my synthesizer dreams vicariously through you sir. And may I say, I live them well that way. Thank you!

Brilliant. Once again you make a video which is massively informative and educational whilst simultaneously being really fun to watch. I'm looking forward to the Human League recreation.

I've drooled over this synth for years! Such a gorgeous instrument. "Tumble & Fall" was a really beautiful example of how uniquely present the sound is. It's such a dream synth.

It might just be me, but does anybody else think its a work of beauty? The shape of the slider knobs, the wonderfully drab green finish... its symmetry and poise? Kudos Alex, once again.

Consistently the best demo tracks of any synth videos out there

What an awesome synth - Nice to learn that Vangelis' magic is not just exclusive to the CS80. 👍

Sometimes I don't know what's more impressive, the incredible synths you get to experience, or your talent and amazing demos! Never disappointed by your videos!

Nice punchy bass lines and super funny presentation, as always! THANKS, you got one of the best vintage synth shows on the planet!

Love that you dove into the sound of Vangelis' Spiral album. Most people know him by his soundtrack stuff but he released so much great stuff outside of that. Great video as always!

We knew this was going to be a banger and blimey it’s a gem. Nothing beats Alex in full Roland mode. Just brill !

Been waiting patiently for this one. P.S. Delighted to have been able to assist with the Being Boiled patch 🙂

I remember seeing the original human league at the marquee club in London and I can remember they had two 102 expanders fitted to there system 100 I was quite impressed and started saving for my own synthesiser, alas if I only had talent who knows how far I would have got.

Had my back to the screen working on my modular case just listening to random videos - as soon as the intro started to this video I had to turn around and see what the hell is was. Really nice video and demo man!

I don't know if there is a cooler looking electronic instrument in the whole world. I saw this in the liner notes of a Joy Electric record in the early 00s and assumed for a while that it was a prop rather than an actual mass-produced instrument. Loving this coverage.

This is such an impressive sounding system, I can’t even imagine how good it is in person. Also reminds me a lot of the EMS sound but perhaps more refined, probably because of the more advanced build technology. Once again, an amazing document you put together that’s worth watching several times.

Ugh. Even the spring reverb sounds AMAZING!!

These sounds send me back to my childhood. Can't recall the songs, but still do remember the sounds. Of course except The spiral :)

"The sound of a kind of future on the horizon that we never quite get to..." That was very well put. I still have that single (Being Boiled / Circus of Death) and I remember being quite obsessed with the unearthly and slightly disturbing futurism of the sound - not to mention the nightmare-inducing lyrics (especially Circus of Death).

Ouuuffff that Falcon bassline sound is gorgeous... but then again so is the next one. What an absolutely perfect system. Quite possibly in my top 3 of all time.

My first hands on exposure to a synthesizer in primary school, owned (amongst other instruments) by a good and naturally talented friend. Led me to haunt all the local music stores trying out the latest and greatest. Who would have thought i would end up a prog music journalist interviewing the likes of Tangerine Dream & Yes. Now if only i had hung on to a System 100 and a Minimoog. Thanks Steve (Skine), you have no idea the impact you unwittingly had on my life.

Another on my bucket list of synths. You have the best job ever Alex! (And you deserve it)

I like how you're actually using the instrument instead of thin demo of each synth setting. For that I'm subbing.

You are hilarious. Your playing and composition are a great compliment to some rare gear. Thanks.

Thoroughly enjoyed this Alex! Loved the history, your amazing 'futuristic' jams, and the awesome tie-in to the Human League and their drum patches.

ooohhhhhh proto-acid is so cool! I love that you can sequence the 101 and the 102 individually.

Alex, your musical creations just blow me away. - every mutterfiggende Zeit

21 minutes and 47 seconds ago I didn't know about the complete system and now I know that I can't rest until I have it all in my posession. Thank you.

Maaaaann.... You are just a treasure Alex. Thanks for this, I enjoyed this video a ton, and I definitely would consider morphing into a system 100 with all the expanders as my final boss form probably one day.

What an amazing setup, you make it sound so fantastic from a time of my early years of the 70's where TV themes used this equipment to make hauntingly, warm and beautiful textures. Thank you so much for making this video my mouth is watering...

I think I have told you my horror story of the System 101 101/102 trade. I wont repeat it here again, but lets just say this video brought back some serious memories! Thanks mate for all you do!

Wow , now that was 21 minutes and 48 seconds of awesomeness

Oh so fabuloso! Brilliant video and love the demo ditties, 1 and 5 my favs. Really interesting to learn how Vangelis used the 100 sequencer too. Looking forward to the Human League cover.

Mighty useful video. Have been mucking about with synths for 50 yrs & never considered the use of CV in the ways you demonstrated with the sequencers... Brilliant..

When instruments still looked fantastic ..like straight out of a sci fi movie,or an aeroplane cockpit. Wonderful ...no screens,just sliders and knobs for miles!!

Thank for being the funnest synth nerd on KZfaq. I really liked that last jam!

I would of been here first but KZfaq crashed, that's a very interesting looking Sythersizor and another one I have never heard of until you do a video on it.

Nicely said: "...& those early recordings will always have to me the sound of a kind of future on the horizon that we never quite get to....". ...love that

14:13 Oh God, yes! This is almost like hearing an unreleased demo track from Spiral. Brilliant.

I had one of these in the late 70’s and sold it before learning it. I had a friend modify a Quad panner I used it with my Yamaha stereo mixer PA and could do Quad when used with with the PA and the one that came the system 100

I always wondered how Vangelis did that on Spiral. 11/10 for the reference and guide.

This was incredibly fascinating. Thanks for the knowledge and the demo's. Loved it.

Blown away by the sequencer - utterly amazing, I've never used an analogue sequencer ... now I see the attraction. Good old Roland. Wonderful video as always, but one of my favs from you

Listening to this synth all over Reproduction & Travelogue by Human League is always a treat. The fact the beat on Being Boiled is just the synth alone blows my mind, shows how you gotta work with your limitations and can create something unique. Nothing sounds like their early material and I doubt anything will!

The sound of these 70s badboys never cease to amaze me and very inspirational to a design I'm undertaking to a degree. Top draw, Top corner Alex well played 👍🏾👍🏾

Thank you Alex, seems you went to very great lengths on this one. I do so love Balls 'n all quality review videos.

responsible for all percussion on the first two Human League albums. It's a pity Mr. Marsh has "left the building" would love to hear see/hear him go in-depth on the system 100.

So glad you embraced the System 100's joyous madness in this video!

The first time I remember this being used on a single I bought in the charts was ‘Being Boiled’ by The Human League. I’ve always dreamt of getting one of these when we were buying unloved analog synths in the mid 1990’s. I typed this before I got to the being boiled bit at the end DOH!

The 7 year old me was utterly transfixed by that Being Boiled drum beat. Although I don’t think I knew it was anything groundbreaking or new, because at the age of 7, everything is new so nothing is new. Fantastic demo, as always. You are a master of your craft.

Brilliantly and most satisfyingly detailed! The Human League beats and 'future' sound I loved are so down to this piece of gear and their explorations in that unique era. It's so great to have you encapsulate this history and experience so that I now know others appreciate it too

Alex, a wonderful watch - Headphones on - delightful. Your work on the System was the ideal attraction. Got me wanting but I've told you such before alongside many others. Best wishes.

That thing has for my subjective taste really genuinely pleasant sound. Really enjoying it. Kinda feel bad that I skipped in last years some chances to have at least that basic unit, because they dont show up anymore (for reasonable $). Amazing showcase, really enjoyed it. All the best!

Just wow, well done. Really nice to demonstrate how the hidding things works!!

Delicious. Aesthetically everything I want from a 70's synth.

For decades I've been wondering how Vangelis did "Spiral". Not kidding. Thanks a lot, Alex, for answering that question. And of course for another very insightful and entertaining video!

Another wonderful episode of this channel!!

A huge "Thank You" for presenting these old classics in a different way that they are remembered for. :)

Love it. My band mate has one of these. He also has the actual system 100m that was owned by Ian Craig Marsh. We used the 100 in particular quite a bit on our first album (The JDs - Education). Your video does great justice to a phenomenal instrument.

As someone who's been dabbling in various keyboards (pretty much all 'budget',) for something like 50 years (if I include the piano lessons I went to in first and second grade)I've only really gotten interested in synthesizers in the past couple of years, and finally started building a Modular in the past 6 months. Since the Behringer System 100 modules have turned out to be reasonably affordable, it's mostly the track I've been following, with a few kits along the way to add features I either need and don't have the other module at the time (kit midi-cv, passive multis, mixers, etc.) I know that what I'm building, isn't going to be a clone of any commercial synth, but working with these modules, I really did start to get curious about the Roland System 100, and 100m. I've a lot to learn. Thanks for some of the history, and demos of what can be done. Now to go get some sleep so when I awake, I can re-arrange what I've got further. Sequencer just showed up yesterday... (It's not as featureful as the Roland System 100 sequencer, but it's something to do more than I've done with a single cv keyboard interface to a single oscillator. (New collection includes 4 oscillators, but I'm going to need a better midi2cv than one with 2 cv's if I'm going to do more than two keys.. (Yes, I'll patch 3 of the synths for Major cords to get something going.) Again, thank you.

Alex, so glad you mentioned Reproduction and Travelogue…. I bought both albums upon their individual release dates. Travelogue was/is my fave between the two. Forty plus years later I am blown away how ahead futuristic it still sounds. The track ‘Dreams of Leaving’ specifically being the ultimate Dopamine Dump for me… the actual recording of the album is mind blowing.

That was fantastic! All the demo tracks are incredible as well. Such a rich spectrum of sound.

Those are some of the best demo songs I've heard in a KZfaq vide, no matter the genre! I don't even "synth", but you make me want to.

Slacker’s first synth! I was 14 in 1979 and we had one of these at my school. I was the only person who ever touched it, but I fell in love.

I really wish more synths incorporated VU meters into them, something about seeing the instrument pushing those levels always makes me a giddy little mad scientist. Wonderful video as always Alex!

Ooooh wow what a lovely sound synth kit! Congratulations, and as always, a superb presentation Alex! 🌟

I had a Roland programmable early 80s, don’t recall the actual name, it was actually smaller than the rig being demonstrated here. We used to jam that Roland for 7-8 hours and it never once produced rubbish. An absolute joy to work with these kits.

that looks like one of the most badass syths out there! in terms of aestethics :)

Thank you for this. Great piece, displaying the sonic greatness that true analog brings! Thx again.

Awesome Alex. I was very tempted by this (or part of it!) around 1980 but was swayed by the mnewer 100m. I knew a guy who had a 700 system. It filled one wall of his living room 😲

I think ‘Falcon’ may be my favourite of all your demos, @alex, and there are some absolute gems to choose from. Absolute twisted kosmiche genius.

Another awesome video and demo songs! Loved the 'Price is Right' style into but bonus points for brining Vangelis into the video.

Proto acid sounds like early FSOL. Excellent stuff.

Awesome video, awesome synths... amazed you could make this video and not get lost in tinkering!

Thanks for the video. What an incredible sounding synth!

As a 16 year old in 1975, I remember picking up the Roland brochure for the system 100 from the local music shop. Of course it was totally beyond reach. And by the time I could afford my own synth, it was long surpassed by ‘better’ polyphonic instruments.

Brilliant. Loved this, especially the recreation of the sequence from the great Vangelis album, Spiral.

that is just amazing, I love Roland Synthesizers, the amount of effort and ethics put into these, just like your videos is just splendid.

Ever since your Roland vid I’ve wanted more on the system 100 and system 700!! I absolutely loved this vid and it had some banger tracks!!! I can’t get enough of your compositions!!!

This is a rather large slice of heaven, I was the proud owner of an sh5 for many years this brings back many of the wonders of that device, love.

The sound in this video is unbelievable!

Every jam sounds SWEET...especially the intro! I did struggle to understand the synth terminology...my main instruments are guitar and vocals...but I LOVED hearing about the Roland System 100's history! And as usual, your sense of humor makes this, and all of your episodes, FUN! Excellent work, Sir!

As always, a blisteringly interesting history video! Amazing machine....(and yes, Robbie P IS the Man)!!

This synth sounds really good, I like that spring reverb ! I liked the Vangelis hommage. And all those demos you have done are all excellent, both reminiscent of an era and original at the same time !!!

this is such a high-quality entertainment for musicians and gear geeks...very very well done! the technical explanations, the demo songs, the fun factor. thank you so much, Alex!

what a lovely sounding synth. also appreciated the slight nod towards the midnight cowboy theme on the first demo! quality stuff as always.

We had the complete system at Orewa College in 1983 and I spent hours playing with it. Shame I hardly knew anything about how to use it properly. But this brings back lots of memories from 41 years ago.

Brilliant as always!! I love it. The way you play with a large palette of styles makes your demo very attractive. Nice one.

An absolute joy as always, your enthusiasm and love for these instruments and their unique quirks and potential really shows.

Very cool video. The System 100 sounds massive!

Travelogue is still one of my favorites and now I know why, thanks to you.

A nice pair indeed!

This is an amazing video! Thank you for all the detailed and thorough work :)

This synth sounds so massive the oscillators are incredible, what a machine. Your demos are the best.

What a phenomenally informative video - clearly A LOT of information has gone into making into this video the perfection that it is :)

OMG.. 45 yrs old and sounds soooo good and soft.. in Demo 4 I just waited for the girl vocals comin in... I cry in joy

Excellent review and fantastic insight to how these beautiful instruments perform. You made some top notch music on this set up.