Analogue Solutions Series 700 recreates the Roland System 700 for £33,000
Analogue Solutions is taking orders for the Series 700, a replica of Roland’s 1976 System 700 modular built to the same size from original schematics: £33,000 before shipping and taxes.
British maker Analogue Solutions is taking orders for the Series 700, a replica of the Roland System 700, the large modular system Roland launched in 1976. According to the official product page, the aim is to be “as close to the Roland System 700 as you can get”: same look, same layout, same physical size, with almost every circuit reproduced from the original schematics. The system was shown at SynthFest UK, as reported by Synth Anatomy.
What the Series 700 includes
A modular synth is built from separate modules (oscillators, filters, amplifiers, envelopes) linked with patch cables, each one driving the others with control voltages. The idea is covered in our Eurorack explainer, but the Series 700 is not Eurorack: it keeps the original Roland’s proprietary format, in Tolex-wrapped wooden cabinets whose lids are lined in blue like the originals.
The system is sold in blocks, each with a fixed configuration set by internal wiring. From the module list:
- Block 1, main console: three VCOs (702A/B/C), ring modulator and noise (708A), a multimode filter (703A) and a low-pass filter (703E), two VCAs, two LFOs, sample and hold (709A), envelope follower (707A), dual envelope (705A), mixers, reverb, phaser, tuner and VU meters (711A), and the 712A module that adds MIDI;
- Block 3: the 3 × 12-step analog sequencer, which outputs control voltages and pulses;
- Block 4: a bank of six more VCOs, with mixer, LFO, sample and hold and dual envelope;
- Block 5: filters (703C multimode, 703F low-pass), two VCAs, gate delay and two dual envelopes;
- Block 6: interface (714A), a VCA and four multimode filters combined with an audio mixer (715A);
- Block 7: switched multiple, analog switch, two-channel phase shifter and two-channel audio delay.
The envelope generators (705A) shape how the sound evolves over time, from attack to fade-out, as explained in our ADSR envelope guide. The 3 × 12-step sequencer is the direct ancestor of today’s analog step sequencers, such as the Behringer 1601 announced this week in Eurorack format.
What differs from the original
- a single-channel MIDI-to-CV converter, mainly to sync the sequencer to MIDI clock;
- internal mechanical changes that, according to the maker, do not affect the sound;
- custom-made knobs and slider caps to match the original look, lever-style waveform switches and dual concentric coarse and fine tuning knobs on the VCOs.
Analogue Solutions does not sell single modules, because the power connector would need adapting. Buyers can, however, start with the main block and add the others over time, or buy a single block to complete an unfinished original System 700. There is no dedicated manual: the maker points to Roland’s 1970s manual, plus a short document covering the differences.
A control keyboard based on the Roland 701 is also in development: four polyphonic CV channels, a velocity CV output, MIDI in and out, and mini-jack sockets that make it usable with Eurorack. A prototype has been built; whether it goes on sale depends on demand, according to the keyboard page.
Who it’s for, what it costs, what it competes with
Who it’s for. Studios and collectors who want the System 700’s sound and workflow without paying for an original, and owners of an incomplete System 700 looking for a missing block. It is clearly not a first modular.
What it costs. Analogue Solutions lists £33,000 for the system, excluding delivery, packing crate and import or other taxes, with a £7,000 deposit to hold a place in the build queue, per the order page. The system is in production, with shipping expected in late 2026, worldwide, in wooden crates. No price has been given for the keyboard.
What it competes with. The main rival is the original: according to Analogue Solutions, a System 700 fetches more than £150,000 on the second-hand market. Other remade “historic” large modulars, such as limited-run Moog system reissues, are no longer in production. For players who only want the Roland flavor, the Eurorack route (System 100M-inspired modules from Roland or Behringer) costs a fraction of the price, but with a different architecture, different circuits and no original-style cabinet. The Series 700 stays in a class of its own, valued for its faithfulness rather than for features per pound.
For this week’s other launches, see our Announcements section, which also covers Roland’s Boutique JUPITER-08.
