Synth Pod F (Roland)

featuring 18 vintage synths and drum machines

One of our favourite pods. This has most of the amazing Roland synth back-history (including a Jupiter 4 and Jupiter 8), paired with a couple of classic drum machines (CR78 and TR-808). We included the Korg Mono/Poly and Poly Six, as these make an interesting comparision to the Roland synths from the early to mid 1980s. And lots more.

How does a Synth Pod work?

Korg Mono/Poly

1981. Four voice poly. Each of the 4 VCOs can be played in unison for a fat mono sound or separately as a 4 voice poly. Arpeggiator, cross-mod and oscillator sync.

Korg PolySix

1981. Six voice poly. Similar in spec to the Juno-6 with onboard chorus, phaser and ensemble and arpeggiator. But VCOs, not DCOs and enhanced with a sub oscillator and unision mode. Slightly unstable, warm rich sound. Perfect for brass.

Korg Wavestation A/D

1991. Thirty-two voice poly utilising vector synthesis and wave sequencing, with onboard effects. Great for ambient sounds and pads.

Roland Alpha Juno-2

1986. Six voice poly. A dark horse in the family of the Juno-106, but with a punchier sound and 7-point EGs, making it ideal for brass. Started the hoover craze.

Roland CR-78 with WS-1 programmer

1978. Four voice 14 sound analog rhythm machine. The rare WS-1 programmer enables step recording.

Roland CSQ-600

1980. Four track, 600 note sequencer. Record in real time via CV/gate or in step mode.

Roland JD-800

1991. Twenty-four voice ROM-based digital synth with deep programmability and control. The sound of the early 90s.

Roland Juno-60

1982. Six voice poly. Single DCO per voice, thickened by the iconic chorus to sound warm and punchy. Onboard arpeggiator.

Roland Juno-106

1984. Six voice poly. Update of the Juno-60 with MIDI and more patch storage but without the arpeggiator. Quieter chorus and slightly tamer filter.

Roland Jupiter 4

1976. Four voice poly. 1 analog VCO + Sub Osc. Arpeggiator. Ensemble/Chorus. Gritty. Oodles of character.

Roland Jupiter 8

1981. Eight voice poly. Iconic design and warm, lush sound. Cable of complex sounds with cross-mod, 2-slope LPF, HPF and arpeggiator – yet intuitive to program.

Roland JX-8P + PG-800

1985. Six voice poly. Lovely mid-80s synth utilising DCOs. The PG-800 programmer overcomes the JX-8P’s lack of knobs and faders.

Roland MKS-70 and Retroaktiv MPG-70 Programmer

1986. Twelve voice poly. Effectively two rackmounted JX-8Ps. Warm and powerful. The MPG-70 programmer brings it to life. COMING SOON

Roland MKS-80 Mk V + MPG-80

1984. Eight voice poly. In the same family as the Jupiter 6, but with greater programming depth and better MIDI. A breeze to use with the MPG-80 programmer.

Roland SH-2

1978. Mono. Great sounding lead and bass synth with two VCOs and sub-oscillator. An improved SH-101.

Roland SH-5

1976. Mono. Deep and flexible with ring mod, sample and hold, multi-mode filter and separate band pass filter.

Roland SH-7

1978. Duophonic. Sophisticated for its time, with PWM, ring mod, sample and hold and syncable VCOs.

Roland SH-101 Blue

1983. Mono. Simple but great-sounding synth with single VCO and sub-oscillator, ideal for bass. Arpeggiator and sequencer. Doubles as a keytar with handle and strap.