All of these patches come available for free
for the Roland System-1 via the Roland Librarian software. These
are just sound clip examples. These clips are for
demonstration use only, and not for resale or reuse, commercial or
otherwise. I am doing this to demonstrate the suitability of the
Roland System-1, mainly for church environments.
As well, I have now included all the patches
names for all the System-1
Plug-Outs. I am currently working towards trying to
record them all.
If you appreciate this page, please consider donating to help me create more like it.
I chose notes to play based on the type of
patch. I recorded them all in to my Boss BR-80 as one file,
then parsed them out using Audacity.
The second half of this article will include
sound clips of some patches I have converted into pads.
Roland seems to use following annotation: "BANK-PRESET-NAME".
This article is currently a DRAFT.
I have recorded all the examples of Roland Librarian presets, but
the adapted patches below are still being recorded.
Roland seems to use a naming convention as
follows:
Here I demonstrate how some patches can be
converted into pads or other useful forms. I didn't turn
down the DELAY in any of the samples below, but my preference is
to turn DELAY off because I don't like "artifacts" if I switch
quickly between patches. If the only change I would make is
to the DELAY knob, I will not include it in this section.
When I say "an amp envelope more suitable for
pads" or "default pad" I mean setting attack to zero and decay,
sustain, and release to 50%.
I mostly skipped trying to adapt formant-vowel
("computer voice") patches because there are already plenty of
these in the Roland Librarian. Also, if making a lead into a
pad involves only switching to polyphonic mode, I didn't list
those. It is my personal preference to not use leads in mono
or unison modes because I might want to use major/minor 3rds or
6ths in my leads.
To turn a "section" off means you prevent it
from influencing the tone. For example, to turn the LFO
section "off", place the LFO PITCH, FILTER, and AMP knobs to the
neutral position.
| Recording # | BANK | PRESET | NAME | NOTES |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | PD Legend Sound |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad, switch to polyphonic, turn off ARPEGGIO, turn off OSC2 detune, and you have a EDM-like pad |
| 2 | 1 | 3 | PD Arpg Bell |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad, turn off ARPEGGIO, and
you have a nifty bell/fantasy pad You might want to reduce
some of the influence of the hold-and-sample LFO by turning
down the OSC1 COLOR knob to about 50%. |
| 3 | 1 | 8 | PD Tele Pluck |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad, set FILTER envelope completely off, set FILTER ENV and KEY to neutral, FILTER LPF CUTOFF to half, and LFO FILTER to neutral and you have a nice mild pad. |
| 4 | 1 | 14 | PD Lead Singer |
Set PITCH envelope to off, PITCH knob to neutral, LFO PITCH to neutral, PORTAMENTO off, and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a pretty cool pad. |
| 5 | 1 | 15 | PD Ring Of State |
Set ARPEGGIO off, disable OSC2 detune, AMP envelope to a default pad, and adjust DELAY to taste for a very beautiful pad. |
| 6 | 1 | 19 | PD Dist Drive |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to a default pad, LFO FILTER to neutral, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and dial down both COLOR knobs to about the 9 o'clock position for a nifty airy pad. |
| 7 | 1 | 20 | PD Shiri Blanca |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad and select polyphonic for a nifty bright pad |
| 8 | 1 | 21 | PD Gastron |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and select polyphonic for a bold pad |
| 9 | 1 | 24 | PD Soft Pluck |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad, ARPEGGIO off, FILTER envelope off, FILTER KEY and ENV to neutral, and dial in LFP CUTOFF to taste for a nifty fantasy pad |
| 10 | 1 | 27 | PD Low Saw |
Set OSC1 to 16 feet and OSC2 to 8 feet, polyphonic mode, PORTAMENTO off and LEGATO off and you have a nifty pad. |
| 11 | 1 | 29 | PD Tremological |
Set polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to a default pad, OSC1 and OSC2 COLOR knobs to about 9 o'clock, and disable the LFO section and you have a nice bold pad. |
| 12 | 1 | 33 | PD Sky Drive |
Just turn off ARPEGGIO and you have a cool pad. |
| 13 | 1 | 35 | PD Saw and PWM |
Just set polyphonic mode, OSC1 to 16 foot, and OSC2 to 8 foot, and AMP envelope to default pad, and you have a fantasy-influenced string pad. |
| 14 | 1 | 37 | PD Dual Vowel Ld |
Set polyphonic mode, PORTAMENTO off, and LEGATO off and you already have a delicately beautiful pad. Reduce LFO PITCH to taste. |
| 15 | 1 | 40 | PD Noise Pad |
Turn the CROSS MOD knob all the way down for a great sounding patch (as recorded). For less "motion", turn down the OSC 2 COLOR knob. |
| 16 | 1 | 47 | PD Strings 5th |
Turn off OSC2 detune and you have a string pad similar to several other pads listed here (which is why I didn't record it). |
| 17 | 1 | 49 | PD Poly Bells |
Set AMP envelope to default pad and you already have a great bold fantasy-like pad. |
| 18 | 1 | 50 | BL Reso Bells (MOD) | Set OSC2 detune off for a better sounding bell patch. |
| 19 | 1 | 51 | PD Poly Pad Res |
Set LFO FILTER to neutral, LEGATO off, PORTAMENTO off, and AMP envelope to default pad for a deep sounding pad. |
| 20 | 1 | 52 | SY Organic | Not a modification, but just a note: this is a great pipe organ sound. |
| 21 | 1 | 58 | PD Fat Noiz Saw |
Set polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to default pad, OSC1 to 16 foot and OSC2 to 8 foot for a nice slightly-gritty pad. |
| 22 | 1 | 59 | PD PWM FM |
Set polypohinc mode, OSC1 to 16 foot, and OSC2 to 8 foot for an almost Ghostbusters (tm) pad. |
| 23 | 1 | 60 | PD Organ B3 |
Set polyphonic mode, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and you have a suitable B3 Organ substitute |
| 24 | 1 | 61 | PD Arpg Cheese FM |
Turn off ARPEGGIO, set AMP envelope to default pad, LEGATO off, and PORTAMENTO off for a nice pluck + pad sound. |
| 25 | 2 | 4 | PD Simple Reso Bs |
Set polyphonic mode, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO, and you have a nifty Daft Punk(tm) style patch. |
| 26 | 2 | 6 | PD Sub Sine Bs |
Set polyphonic mode, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO and this patch sounds like a Marimba. |
| 27 | 2 | 11 | PD FM Sub Deep |
Set OSC1 to 8 foot, OSC2 to 4 foot, and PITCH section off for something that sounds like a banjo pad. |
| 28 | 2 | 12 | PD Future Bass 1 |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot for an interesting pluck sound. To make it into a pad would require changing filter settings, which would defeat the purpose. |
| 29 | 2 | 17 | PD Metal Voice Bs |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, PORTAMENTO off, and polyphonic for a patch that seems to mix both pluck and deep pad. |
| 30 | 2 | 19 | PD Super Sqr Bs |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, LFO section off, and polyphonic for a beautiful pad. |
| 31 | 2 | 20 | PD Detune Saw Bs |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, PORTAMENTO off, and polyphonic mode, and you have a nice pad you might hear on a Daft Punk (tm) album. |
| 32 | 2 | 22 | PD Low Waves |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, PORTAMENTO off, polyphonic mode, and LEGATO off, and you have a bold organ-like patch. |
| 33 | 2 | 23 | PD Wide Syn Bs |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and PORTAMENTO off, and you have a bold synthwave-like patch. |
| 34 | 2 | 24 | PD 5th Bass |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, OSC2 detune off, and polyphonic for a nice Instant Crush (tm) type sound. |
| 35 | 2 | 25 | PD Darts |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, PORTAMENTO off, polyphonic mode, turn off PITCH section, and turn off the LFO section for a nifty sounding pad. |
| 36 | 2 | 26 | PD Bounce Bass |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, and AMP envelope to default pad for an interesting pad with an attack filter sweep. |
| 37 | 2 | 27 | PD Boz |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and polyphonic mode, and you have an interesting piano-like pad. Set AMP envelope to default pad for an interesting piano-like attack pad (recorded). |
| 38 | 2 | 28 | PD Bury Bass |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, LFO FILTER to neutral, PITCH section off, and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a nice deep pad. |
| 39 | 2 | 29 | PD Dirty Deep |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and polyphonic mode and you have a nice bold pad. |
| 40 | 2 | 33 | PD Crush Wobble |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, PORTAMENTO off, LEGATO off, LFO KEY TRIG on, LFO FILTER and AMP to neutral and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a bold filter-sweeping pad. |
| 41 | 2 | 35 | PD Pitch Bass |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, disable the PITCH section, disable the LFO section, and you have what sounds like almost a dual voice piano + bells pad. Nice! |
| 42 | 2 | 36 | PD Pipe Dream |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, disable the PITCH section, set LFO FILTER to neutral, PORTAMENTO off, and you have a nice bells + noise pad. You may want to decrease the amount of DELAY to make it more useful in church. |
| 43 | 2 | 37 | PD Gastron 2 |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and polyphonic mode, and you have what sounds like an accordion noise pad. Cute. |
| 44 | 2 | 38 | PD Shock Therapy |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, and LFO AMP to neutral, enable LFO KEY TRIG, and set AMP envelope to default pad, and you have a nifty filter-sweeping pad with a low grumble. Interesting. |
| 45 | 2 | 39 | PD Marble Bass |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, CROSS MOD off, LFO PITCH to neutral, and both OSC1 & 2 COLOR knobs to about 10 o'clock, and you have a nice gritty, deep pad. |
| 46 | 2 | 40 | PD Sludge |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, polyphonic mode, PITCH section off, LFO section off, PORTAMENTO off, and you have a nifty filter-sweeping pad. |
| 47 | 3 | 9 | LD LFO Saw Ld |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO, and set AMP envelope to default pad for a bold gritty pad. |
| 48 | 3 | 10 | LD Fast LFO Lead |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO, and set AMP envelope to default pad for a gentle gritty pad. |
| 49 | 3 | 12 | LD Nicki Charm |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO, and set AMP envelope to default pad for an old-school sounding organ. |
| 50 | 3 | 13 | LD Low Squares |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO, and set AMP envelope to default pad for a bold Tron(tm)-like pad. |
| 51 | 3 | 14 | LD Sweeper |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off LEGATO and PORTAMENTO, set AMP envelope to default pad, and turn on LFO KEY TRIG for a pad that will work well for the next Aliens(tm) movie. |
| 52 | 3 | 15 | LD Laser Lips |
Set polyphonic mode for a pad that sounds like a choir of handsaws. |
| 53 | 3 | 16 | LD Trem Sync Ld |
Set OSC2 detune off, LFO section to neutral, and PITCH section off for a patch that sounds like someone in the movie Tron playing digital bagpipes. |
| 54 | 3 | 18 | LD Pinch |
Set polyphonic mode for a "meow" pad. |
| 55 | 3 | 20 | LD Trap Coin |
Set polyphonic mode and turn the LFO section off for a "broken glass choir." |
| 56 | 3 | 21 | LD Low Brass Ld |
Turn LEGATO off to improve key tracking on this patch. |
| 57 | 3 | 22 | LD Mad Hatter |
Set polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to default pad, and LFO FILTER to neutral for a nice pad with a bell-like attack but a deep gritty sustain. |
| 58 | 3 | 28 | LD LFO Fade Ld |
Set polyphonic mode and LFO section off for a bold, "washed out brass" type of pad. |
| 59 | 3 | 39 | LD Big 5th |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off OSC2 detune, and you have a very bold EDM-inspired pad |
| 60 | 3 | 40 | LD Wide Spectrum |
Set polyphonic mode, turn off OSC2 detune, and set AMP envelope to default pad, and you have a half-detuned pad (probably due to cowbell waveform) that might work for you. |
| 61 | 4 | 12 | PD Star Pad | This patch seems to be using max CROSS MOD and OSC2 detune, plus a lot of other effects. Once I took these elements out, the patch sounded like a string pad, so I didn't record it. |
| 62 | 4 | 17 | PD Monk Pad | After I took OSC2's detune completely out and set the amp envelope to one better suited for pads, it sounded good, although its choice of formant oscillator wave forms might be the real reason you wouldn't use it in church. |
| 63 | 4 | 19 | PD Midrange | Setting the amp envelope to something more suited to a pad made this patch sound great. |
| 64 | 4 | 22 | PD Tremolo Pad | Setting the FILTER knob in the LFO, the amp envelope to something more suitable for a pad, the LPF CUTOFF to taste, and the FILTER envelope ADSR sliders to 0% turned this into a pretty nifty sounding pad. One could also adjust the LFO AMP knob to taste to reduce the tremolo. |
| 65 | 4 | 24 | PD Rising String | Setting the LFO, FILTER section and AMP section to pad defaults, and turning off PITCH and detune OSC2 TUNE sections results in a different sounding string pad, but I didn't find it particularly different enough from other string pads to bother recording it. |
| 66 | 4 | 26 | PD 9th Stack String | Turning of the detune of OSC2 results in a good pad, and more useful in worship, in my opinion, because I'd rather play 9th chords manually than risk having the patch doing it and end up getting dissonance. But ultimately it wasn't noticeable. |
| 67 | 4 | 31 | BL Strong Bells | This patch sounds moderately detuned, which makes it barely useful in worship (in my opinion). However, turning off OSC2's detune actually makes it more noticeable, which implies this patch is using cowbell waveforms. In the end, I think it works the way it is. You could also turn down LPF CUTOFF to tame some of the brightness. |
| 68 | 4 | 32 | BL Crush Bells | Unlike BL Strong Bells, turning off OSC2's detune doesn't seem to make any difference. This patch might work in worship, but keep in mind it's detuned. |
| 69 | 5 | 7 | SY Translation | Simply moving the OSC2 TUNE knob back to neutral makes this a great pad. |
| 70 | 5 | 10 | SY Stab 5th | Shutting off OSC2 detune and switching to polyphonic makes a good pad, but it sounds a bit like the other pads that are available. |
| 71 | 5 | 11 | SY RAVE |
Turning off the PITCH section, OSC2 detune, LEGATO and PORTAMENTO resulted in a pretty nifty pad |
| 72 | 5 | 12 | SY RAVE II |
Turning off OSC2 detune and selecting polyphonic resulted in a nice sounding pad |
| 73 | 5 | 14 | SY Square LFO |
Selecting polyphonic and turning off LFO AMP FILTER and PITCH made it useful as a pad, but changed its sound completely |
| 74 | 5 | 16 | SY Babbling Syn |
Setting the AMP envelope to a default pad and turning off DELAY resulted in a nifty pad that almost sounds like it's being played on a rainy day. |
| 75 | 5 | 19 | SY Vowel Synth |
Turning down the OSC1 and OSC2 color knobs resulted in a neat formant pad, but there are already formant pads on set 4. |
| 76 | 5 | 21 | SY Corkscrew |
Turning off the PITCH section and selecting a default pad AMP envelope resulted in a cool fantasy-like pad. |
| 77 | 5 | 26 | SY Trance Pluck |
Centering the OSC2 TUNE knob is pretty much all you need to do. The rest is preference. |
| 78 | 5 | 30 | SY Piercings |
Set to polyphonic, set the AMP envelope to a default pad, and set LFO AMP to neutral for a cool fantasty-like pad |
| 79 | 5 | 33 | SY Dirty Pluck |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad, and LFO FILTER to neutral for a nice pad |
| 80 | 5 | 35 | SY Ice Pizz |
Set AMP envelope to a default pad and you have a pretty cool bright pad |
| 81 | 7 | 2 | PD Movin Bass |
Set OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, disable ARPEGGIO, and set AMP envelope to default pad and you have a plucky sort-of-pad. |
| 82 | 7 | 4 | PD Arpg Electro |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to default pad, LFO PITCH to neutral, and you have an interesting deep "babbling" pad. |
| 83 | 7 | 5 | PD Logical Seq |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, and LFO AMP to neutral, and you have a nice airy pad. |
| 84 | 7 | 6 | PD Reso Groove |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to default pad, and you have laser beams in the wind. |
| 85 | 7 | 7 | PD Arpg Chicago |
Set ARPEGGIO off, KEY HOLD off, polyphonic mode, AMP envelope to default pad, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, FILTER LPF CUTOFF to 50%, RESO 0%, ENV and KEY neutral, HPF CUTOFF 0%, and FILTER ADSR to 0% and you have a cute sounding pad. |
| 86 | 7 | 8 | PD Epic SuperSaw |
Set ARPEGGIO off and you have a bold string pad. |
| 87 | 7 | 10 | PD Growl |
Set ARPEGGIO off and OSC2 detune off and you have a deep bassy pad |
| 88 | 7 | 11 | PD Glass Arpg |
Set ARPEGGIO off and you have a beautiful glassy sounding
pad. I've used this live and I swear I heard an audible
gasp. |
| 89 | 7 | 12 | PD S&H Reso |
Set ARPEGGIO off and you have a fantasy-like pad that almost sounds like there are birds chirping in the background. |
| 90 | 7 | 13 | PD Tri Soft Arpg |
Set ARPEGGIO off, FILTER ADSR to 0%, FILTER LPF CUTOFF to 50%, RESO to 0%, ENV and KEY to neutral, HPF CUTOFF to 0%, and you have a nice pad that sounds like bells or a very mild organ. |
| 91 | 7 | 14 | PD Tiny Arpg |
Set ARPEGGIO off, FILTER ADSR to 0%, FILTER LPF CUTOFF to 50%, RESO to 0%, ENV and KEY to neutral, HPF CUTOFF to 0%, MIXER OSC1 and OSC2 to 50%, and AMP to default pad, and you have a nice pad that sounds like shimmery bells |
| 92 | 7 | 17 | PD Bouncing Plk |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a nice pluck + pad sound. |
| 93 | 7 | 19 | PD Trance Plk |
Set ARPEGGIO off and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a plucky, airy, fantasy pad. |
| 94 | 7 | 20 | PD Arpg Cheese |
Set ARPEGGIO off, KEY HOLD off, and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a bright fantasy pad with motion. |
| 95 | 7 | 21 | PD Arpg 3rd |
Set ARPEGGIO off, KEY HOLD off, AMP envelope to default pad, and disable OSC2 detune and you have a pad with lots of motion. |
| 96 | 7 | 23 | PD Metallic Sqr |
Set ARPEGGIO off and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a pluck with a gentle pad with motion behind it. |
| 97 | 7 | 24 | PD Pinch Arpg |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, and AMP envelope to default pad, and you have a pulsating pad with a clicky attack. |
| 98 | 7 | 25 | PD Bounceback |
Set ARPEGGIO off, polyphonic mode, OSC1 to 16 foot, OSC2 to 8 foot, and AMP envelope to default pad and you have a pad with a plucky attack and a bassy swell. |
| 99 | 7 | 26 | PD Tropical Seq |
Turn off ARPEGGIO and you have a sound similar to Instant Crush (tm). |
| 100 | 7 | 27 | PD Gum Drop |
Turn off ARPEGGIO and set FILTER AMP to neutral and you have a barely detuned buzzy bold pad. |
| 101 | 7 | 28 | PD Chasing Bells |
Turn off ARPEGGIO and set AMP envelope to default pad and you have a plucky bell-like pad. |
| 102 | 7 | 29 | PD Buzz Glass |
Turn off ARPEGGIO and you have a bell-like fantasy pad. |
| 103 | 7 | 31 | PD Hard Seq |
Turn off ARPEGGIO and set polyphonic mode and you have a plucky pad with a noisy sustain. |
| 104 | 7 | 33 | PD Minimal Perc |
Turn off ARPEGGIO and set polyphonic mode for a deep quiet pad with a chalky attack. |