System 8 end of life???

I just bought a new one from Guitar Center for $1249. It had the latest firmware update and (3) plug-outs.
I've wanted one for a while, so when the price dropped to the price point of used ones, I pulled the trigger. Since I already own the JD-XA, navigating and programming are similar, and I was able to get right to it the first day. Highly recommended!

Roland not updating the F/W is no indication for EOL. Major updates slowdown from Roland start about a year or so after release of new products. My best guess is that the S8 will be Roland's ACB-only milk-cow synth for many years to come, like the Integra 7 for PCM/Supernatural (no updates for years but still sells well) which retail price dropped 25% several years ago and got no updates after that as well.

It’s already an amazing synth. Doesn’t need any more updates, other than minor updates to the Mac/Windows driver for compatibility with OS updates.

The system 1m has been on long wait times it changed from 3-4 week to 9-12 weeks again. EOL ?.. who is next ..?

So I downloaded the new https://www.roland.com/uk/products/rc_juno-60/ VST from Roland Cloud yesterday, and I noticed it was PlugOut.

When I tried to send it to my System 8 I got a message telling me to update the system firmware... and whaddayaknow:

Update history
[ Ver.1.31 ] FEB 2021
Additional Function
JUNO-60 PLUG-OUT is now supported.

Looks like there is still life in the old dog yet - and the Juno 60 sounds great in the System 8 !
(I replaced the factory PLG-2 slot with it... that's right: the 106...)

It certainly needs an update to its stupid short keys...

KeytroneK wrote:

..
Since I already own the JD-XA, navigating and programming are similar, ..

Wow. No. These synths are different in any meaningful way possible. They are both synths. That's it.
Even the connectors on the back are in reverse order. The storage of patches is comlketely different. The architecture is different. The sequencer is completely different. Everything is different! lol

No i don't know about the last batch. I just hope that https://e-piano.bernaunet.com/ has not yet been "written off" because I bought a used one a week ago

New Jupiter-4 ACB plug-out incoming!!

System-8 is certainly not EOL! :)

Don't think so... ACB is not in his EOL, right, but a new firmware with no fix on the System-8 "issues" for me is very similar to an EOL. We still have the same petitions than years ago, mostly on the System8 engine: lack of memory slots, sequencer with "you have to press two keys" transpose, only one LFO, only one wave shape to modulate the Color parameter... and the list is long.
Don't get me wrong, the new Jupiter4 its a fantastic PlugOut and i'm glad to get it, but its an ACB stuff. Sadly, the System-8 is finished as is and don't think we will see some of the old requirements fixed never.

It's now gone forever. How do you feel this "pure ACB" machine emulating analog poly history is now gone and only VST are now available ?

Perhaps we see another "ACB only " synth in the future but there are not much models to expand on.

Hope Roland releases a Rack module like the successful Integra-7 that does not only does System1&8 models but the ACB based Boutiques
but also include the new PCM (VA/ZEN) digital simulations engine.

The current line of Roland analog modeling line of synths now is a confusing mix and match of ACB and PCM (VA/ZEN) and sampling to extract maximum value of ACB/PCM development. Even on Rolands website its confusing what actual technology a product is using and the plug-outs . AIRA started off as ACB only, DJ focus performance kind of stuff, but now includes partial or full ZEN (MC-707) products, ACB+Sampling (TR8S) and the System-8 (not really DJ stuff). ZEN products may include some ACB as well. then there is the performance line with just a big display and additional performance features mixes all the ACB/PCM stuff again.