System 500

A modular synthesizer system, produced by Roland beginning in 2018. Roland designed the System 500 in collaboration with modular synth manufacturer Malekko Heavy Industry.

The System 500 is designed to emulate the look, feel, and functionality of Roland's earlier modular synth systems from the 1970s, the System 100m and the System 700. Most modules combine several functions, and controls and I/O jacks are grouped in layouts which are similar from one module to the next. However, unlike the earlier systems, all of the modules conform to the Eurorack standard, Most are the same width, 16 HP; two are 20 HP. These widths are designed such that useful configurations of five modules will fit into an 84 HP case. At this time (September 2021), nine modules are available:

Model 505 dual VCF (one multimode, one bandpass)
Model 510 voice module (20 HP)
Model 512 dual VCO
Model 521 dual low pass VCF
Model 530 dual VCA
Model 531 six channel mixer with voltage controllable pan
Model 540 dual ADSR envelope generator
Model 555 utility module -- combines LFO, sample and hold, lag processor, noise generator and ring modulator
Module 572 effects module, with phase shifter, delay, gate delay and LFO

Roland sells a pre-configured system consisting of a 512, 521, 530, 540, and 572 module, in an 84 HP case with power supply, wood sides, and a lid for the case; it comes with a supply of bright-red patch cords. However, modules are also available individually. A two-row 84 HP case will hold all nine of the available modules.