Roland Boutique SE-02 ... (actual analog. roland brand, studio electronics build)

[solidtrax]

It's not ideal but it's still much better than the older SE-1 firmware versions that had many of those functions buried in the menu.

atc1holdmybeer.jpg

LOL

[solidtrax]

I think the se-3x is a really special sounding synth.

If it was a better form factor with more hands on controls and some of those se-02 features it could be pretty amazing.

I have an SE-1X Nova/Angel Dust special edition upgraded to the 3X and it's an absolutely stellar mono/para-synth, one of my favorite synths I've ever owned. I also had an SE-02 for about a year so I had a lot of time to compare and contrast them. Soundwise, they were actually pretty similar and both great - the SE-02's sound and feature set for the price is pretty astounding. I agree that the dedicated controls on the SE-02 were a nice advantage, but the improvements in the 3X firmware pretty much leveled out the playing field IMO. The tradeoff is the smaller knobs and cramped interface of the SE-02 vs the need for using Shift to access some of the important parameters (e.g., VCO levels) from the front panel of the SE-3X. It's not ideal but it's still much better than the older SE-1 firmware versions that had many of those functions buried in the menu.

Yes, the SE-3X is indeed really special.

I was just checking out your SE-3X soundbank. Very nice! I may need to pick that up.

I agree and thank you for your nice words, very much appreciated!

FWIW, I wrote a review about the FB edition: https://solidtrax.nl/studio-electronics-se-3x-review/

[db3]

This thread has got me interested in the SE-02 again. To me it sounds great and has the benefit of an official VST editor. I think the Boutique series would have been more successful in a standard 19" format and further collaborations with SE would have been popular.

[cryophonik]

I think the se-3x is a really special sounding synth.

If it was a better form factor with more hands on controls and some of those se-02 features it could be pretty amazing.

I have an SE-1X Nova/Angel Dust special edition upgraded to the 3X and it's an absolutely stellar mono/para-synth, one of my favorite synths I've ever owned. I also had an SE-02 for about a year so I had a lot of time to compare and contrast them. Soundwise, they were actually pretty similar and both great - the SE-02's sound and feature set for the price is pretty astounding. I agree that the dedicated controls on the SE-02 were a nice advantage, but the improvements in the 3X firmware pretty much leveled out the playing field IMO. The tradeoff is the smaller knobs and cramped interface of the SE-02 vs the need for using Shift to access some of the important parameters (e.g., VCO levels) from the front panel of the SE-3X. It's not ideal but it's still much better than the older SE-1 firmware versions that had many of those functions buried in the menu.

Yes, the SE-3X is indeed really special.

I was just checking out your SE-3X soundbank. Very nice! I may need to pick that up.

I agree and thank you for your nice words, very much appreciated!

FWIW, I wrote a review about the FB edition: https://solidtrax.nl/studio-electronics-se-3x-review/

Quick off-topic question, I was looking at the requirements for your SE-3X sounbank and it says it requires firmware v1.04. I’m on v1.03 and can’t find a v1.04 update anywhere, so I’m a little wary of buying it. Any idea what it added/fixed, or if your patches will sound different, not work, etc. with v1.03?

Also, do you have any idea where to download v1.04? I just searched all over SE’s website, my inbox, Google, etc., but can’t find any mention of the update anywhere. I did see another brand new SE-3X for sale on Reverb that showed v1.04 on the display so I’m assuming the new units are shipping with it, but I’ll probably need to email SE support (which can be miserably slow at times).

[solidtrax]

If you really want to know I am afraid that it might be the best approach to mail SE. However, I did hear from Greg that the sound should work even with an SE-1X, although you would miss out on the paraphony and the filters. So, I don't think you'll run into any major issues.

As for the firmware, they are EPROM-based, so I don't believe you can download them directly, but you can purchase them through SE. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any release notes online, which is why I mentioned the firmware version I used to made the sound bank. Does this answer your question?

[cryophonik]

Yeah, I considered the possibility that it may be an EPROM update (that’s how I got my SE-1X > 3X upgrade), but their webpage still shows the v1.0 EPROM for the SE-3X upgrade and mentions nothing about the revision you’d receive if you bought it, so that was no help. But, I think you’re right and I’ll email support to see if I can at least get a list of v1.04 revisions. Thanks!

Oh, and soundbank purchased!

[solidtrax]

Please feel free to share your findings with us here. Additionally, I'd like to mention that the distortions (fuzz) and feedback aren’t absolutely essential for the sounds, especially if they aren’t installed. However, they were designed to work both with and without them. Lastly, many thanks for your support and have lots of fun with the sounds!

[cryophonik]

Will do! My synth is actually an SE-1X Angel Dust edition, which was the predecessor to the SE-3X, that I upgraded via the EPROM. So it has many of the features of the SE-3X (e.g., sine wave on osc2), but it’s lacking the additional filters, of course, and the Fuzz switch on mine is a single stage that can be momentary (when held to the left) or engaged (when switched to the right), whereas the 3X has two different stages of fuzz. Other than that, they’re identical AFAIK, so I’ll report back after I go through them!

[solidtrax]

Wanted to share these 5, ehrm, 7 things I like about the Roland SE-02:

[vitocorleone123]

OK. I think I'm done (enough) with this self-inflicted project of building a web editor for the SE-02 because the official ones don't really work for me.

Curse of a UX-er is pushing and pushing the layout. Let me know if you have issues. I noticed my hardware doesn't like to send data to the editor for switches - I tried "smoothing" it as best possible. I guarantee no direct tech support and the editor is free "as is" (but I'd appreciate a Kofi as I've spent quite a few hours on this now).

Find it on Gearspace because they allow .zip files: https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.ph ... count=4912

I've also attaced a csv in that thread of likely sysex values from my exploration using AI and other tools, but... I ended up not using them because so many controls don't generate them. So there's NO loading the current state of the hardware into the editor (sorry!).

Enjoy! I know I will be. If I make any significant updates or bug fixes I'll edit my post on Gearspace to try and keep this the latest.

All that said, I'm going to be trying to turn it into a vst still. TBD.

[zerocrossing]

OK. I think I'm done (enough) with this self-inflicted project of building a web editor for the SE-02 because the official ones don't really work for me.

Curse of a UX-er is pushing and pushing the layout. Let me know if you have issues. I noticed my hardware doesn't like to send data to the editor for switches - I tried "smoothing" it as best possible. I guarantee no direct tech support and the editor is free "as is" (but I'd appreciate a Kofi as I've spent quite a few hours on this now).

Find it on Gearspace because they allow .zip files: https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.ph ... count=4912

I've also attaced a csv in that thread of likely sysex values from my exploration using AI and other tools, but... I ended up not using them because so many controls don't generate them. So there's NO loading the current state of the hardware into the editor (sorry!).

Enjoy! I know I will be. If I make any significant updates or bug fixes I'll edit my post on Gearspace to try and keep this the latest.

All that said, I'm going to be trying to turn it into a vst still. TBD.

Can't you just say, "Claude, turn this into a VST?"

[vitocorleone123]

OK. I think I'm done (enough) with this self-inflicted project of building a web editor for the SE-02 because the official ones don't really work for me.

Curse of a UX-er is pushing and pushing the layout. Let me know if you have issues. I noticed my hardware doesn't like to send data to the editor for switches - I tried "smoothing" it as best possible. I guarantee no direct tech support and the editor is free "as is" (but I'd appreciate a Kofi as I've spent quite a few hours on this now).

Find it on Gearspace because they allow .zip files: https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.ph ... count=4912

I've also attaced a csv in that thread of likely sysex values from my exploration using AI and other tools, but... I ended up not using them because so many controls don't generate them. So there's NO loading the current state of the hardware into the editor (sorry!).

Enjoy! I know I will be. If I make any significant updates or bug fixes I'll edit my post on Gearspace to try and keep this the latest.

All that said, I'm going to be trying to turn it into a vst still. TBD.

Can't you just say, "Claude, turn this into a VST?"

Yes, but it’s not very good at it and not very good at directions for me (which is partially me not knowing have to give it directions on how to give me directions). There’s also JUCE and Visual Studio 2026 Community Version (free) - neither of which I’ve ever used or would think to use as a non-developer. But my experience this week with Gemini should help me restart with Claude in the coming days once my credit resets for the week.

Basically, I’m just the Hands of Claude.

[zerocrossing]

OK. I think I'm done (enough) with this self-inflicted project of building a web editor for the SE-02 because the official ones don't really work for me.

Curse of a UX-er is pushing and pushing the layout. Let me know if you have issues. I noticed my hardware doesn't like to send data to the editor for switches - I tried "smoothing" it as best possible. I guarantee no direct tech support and the editor is free "as is" (but I'd appreciate a Kofi as I've spent quite a few hours on this now).

Find it on Gearspace because they allow .zip files: https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.ph ... count=4912

I've also attaced a csv in that thread of likely sysex values from my exploration using AI and other tools, but... I ended up not using them because so many controls don't generate them. So there's NO loading the current state of the hardware into the editor (sorry!).

Enjoy! I know I will be. If I make any significant updates or bug fixes I'll edit my post on Gearspace to try and keep this the latest.

All that said, I'm going to be trying to turn it into a vst still. TBD.

Can't you just say, "Claude, turn this into a VST?"

Yes, but it’s not very good at it and not very good at directions for me (which is partially me not knowing have to give it directions on how to give me directions). There’s also JUCE and Visual Studio 2026 Community Version (free) - neither of which I’ve ever used or would think to use as a non-developer. But my experience this week with Gemini should help me restart with Claude in the coming days once my credit resets for the week.

Basically, I’m just the Hands of Claude.

I'm just messing with you. I'd have no idea of how to even get started. There is another guy who makes a bunch of editors, including one for the SE-02. I emailed him and... I don't think English is is first language... or maybe his language at all. He said, "I don't use Bitwig, but there are users who use the editor there." I don't know where "there" is.

[vitocorleone123]

Yeah. Also Hands of Claude sounds like a bad horror movie, a doom metal band, a country western song, or a health issue. Or all of them - a movie about a sick member of a doom metal band breaks out in the country scene and gets stalked and then brutally murdered by former band mates.

It’s gonna be a long week.

[vitocorleone123]

Shipped it: viewtopic.php?t=629710