it has a vocoder. It also has CV/Gate out with a bunch of options for what is actually sent to the outputs. That seemed clever, like how you can have the upper split control the CV/Gate outs (or the whole keyboard, midi, USB, sequencer, etc). There is also portamento and legato settings for the CV/Gate outs. There's some strange "Condition" setting in the menu that applies some wonkiness to the system-8 voice-scaling, like from perfectly-tuned-and-brand-new condition to has-been-tossed-around-by-baggage-handlers-and-30-years-old condition. Chord memory is something that I realize I've been missing out on. Appears to work well on the S-8, and when combined with the arpeggiator, you can transpose the saved chord/arp pattern with one key. In another comment, I mention a comb filter mode. These modes are listed as SBF1 to SBF6. I've no idea what this means (anyone?), but they sound like comb. I'm really surprised that there is only one dedicated LFO! It's such a Roland thing to do though. One LFO, one shape for all destinations, with depth per destination. I would have expected at least one more, but you can use Osc3 as a mod source for some things (maybe just the other Osc parameters, I saw it controlling the color of Osc variation), and there is the sequencer as well and probably MIDI CC. The feel and size of the controls are the same as the System-1, the keyboard has good action and proper keys, yet the weight (in lbs) isn't much more than that of the 1. The first effects group includes fuzz and bit crusher, and one more listed as MT which I presume is "metal".