Roland Juno 6 versus Roland System 8 Juno 60 plug out | In-depth comparison

video upload by MIDERA

"High-level take:
1) Sound: System 8 sounds VERY close to the Juno 6. Fairly equivalent, but differences can be heard.
2) Feel: No contest. The Juno 6 has the feel of a luxury synth, the sliders are lovely, the keys are lovely. The System 8 feels like an M-Audio midi controller from the mid 2000's.
3) Look: No contest. The Juno 6 looks incredible. The design is just up there. It is iconic. The System 8? It would not look out of place in a gamer's den with an Alienware computer and Mountain Dew strewn about.

Overall experience:
Based on the above, I can't help but just FEEL differently about the two instruments. Roland did an excellent job on the System 8, there's no doubt about it. It sounds very good and does a LOT more than the Juno 6, that is clear. The sound IS there. The problem isn't how it sounds, but how it is experienced.

Sure, I can 'play' a Juno 60, or Juno 106, or JX3P, Jupiter 8, System 8, or any number of other plug-outs. They sound very good (although my experience with the JX3P is that the Plug out is not quite there). I believe the Juno 60 plug out sounds better either because it is newer, or because it is simpler than the JX3P. This makes me suspect the Jupiter 8 plug out might not really get there either (as it is a 2 oscillator synth). There only exists one comparison out there on Reddit, and I don't think the person owned both.

The biggest difference in the sound to me was when I threw the resonance to max and the cutoff to zero with envelope amount and decay and sustain to max. The Juno 6 was much darker (i.e., more closed filter) than the System 8. I would have close down the envelope amount on the System 8 to match. You hear that in the demo. The chorus 1+2 is pretty different too.

Where the sound ends, you are met with a blast of the rest of the experience. The look could not be any further from the Juno 6. We go from classic to garrish. That is a hard pill to swallow. Some seem to like it - and that's great. There's nothing wrong with liking how it looks. I personally do not like how it looks (although if I change the green to mint green on my videos, it does look cooler).

I don't really like the fact that the upper chassis is made up of one plastic mould. I prefer the upper part of the panel to be separated from the mod wheel area. On the System 8, you just see this long panel reaching down from the top to the bottom by the mod wheel and I personally don't like how that looks. It looks cheap.

The FEEL or experience is so largely different. The System 8 just feels cheap to me. The keys don't have a nice feel, sometimes sort of sticking too. I want to open mine up and use white lithium grease on the keys, maybe that would help. The Juno 6 feels like playing a nice instrument. The metal panel, the sliders, the keys - oh the keys feel so nice. Apparently they're the same as the JX3P and D50 based on that "Ultimate Keybed Thread" but I have all three and the Juno 6 feels MUCH nicer.

Conclusion: I know I'm complaining a lot about the System 8. The truth is it does in fact sound very good. When I first got the Juno 6 I said to myself that it was a huge mistake because the System 8 sounds identical. The differences are not big enough for me to prefer the Juno (unlike the JX3P, which DOES sound better than the plug out). The Juno has a much better 'sweet spot' but only because it's range does not go as wide/far as the System 8. Is that a good thing that the Juno 6 has more sweet spots because it limits its ranges more? I don't know.

One intangible thing. I cannot explain this, but when I play a System 8, even if it sounds good, I wonder "Is this really how the real thing sounds/feels?" My brain just doesn't accept the System 8 as the proper surrogate. I think I'd have the same thought regarding the Jupiter X. Or with a VST for something that I care about. It's probably like chasing goblins in my head. There is no answer. If you want a Juno or a Jupiter, you will likely never be satisfied with the System 8 or Jupiter X...

The answer is likely something greater than your desires. It is probably related to mindfulness and acceptance that we can't have everything. I'm still working through these thoughts myself.

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Small combos

video upload by Retrokits

"Adding the RK002 to the RK008 makes the volca sample 2 a nice multitimbral sample player. I Paired it up with the NTS1 for a bit of FX and synth sounds.

The RK002 Volca Sample 2 firmware can be installed via our DUY portal: http://duy.retrokits.com"

Understanding and Using the Hydrasynth Mod Matrix

video upload by ASM Ashun Sound Machines

"The Hydrasynth has a fantastically deep modulation matrix. In this video we cover how to create modulation routings and use them to quickly create new patches."

IK Multimedia Amplitube X Space Demo (no talking) with dreadbox Nymphes synth

video upload by Bonedo Synthesizers

2022/04 - TriPhonic 2600 - song 2/3

video upload by Stereoping

"Second result of the tri-polyphonic 2600/keystep experiment. Electronic friends playing along: DIY-808, Syncussion clone and (on 4th keystep track) a TD-3 which is slightly modded for being able to play one octave higher than normal."

Stereoping TriPhonic 2600 posts

r_rndm process

video upload by Cray

Playlist:
r_rndm
process
end of process (hands on)

Pittsburgh Modular Abstract Sound Lab

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Abstract audio and visuals by Richard Nicol"

ARP ODYSSEY MK II - Handmade Miniature 1/6 scale

video upload by Ronaldo Lopes Teixeira ROLT

Vermona PerFourMer MkII: An LFO-driven sequence

video upload by Richard DeHove

"My favorite part of the Vermona to fiddle with are the LFOs. In this no-talking noodle I use each LFO to provide a rhythmic sequencer-style feel to the noddle - but there's no sequencer or arp involved. The unit is set to the D2 play mode. Oscillator one goes through the B3K overdrive; oscillator three goes through the phaser. The main stereo out goes through the Strymon Timeline on dual mode. The dual delay gives a somewhat weird stereo field and if this was an actual track release I'd probably rebalance the left-right weight. But I thought it was sort of interesting to leave things "1960s style" with an obvious bias.
The little tinkly high random-LFO shape bits are from oscillators two and four. Both of those are reacting to aftertouch on the Keystep-37 to activate. Oscillators one and three have aftertouch disabled.
Otherwise this is exactly as you see it: A one-take noodle with absolutely no other processing or tweaking of any kind.

My site: https://richarddehove.com/
Lots of downloads for supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/richarddehove"

Also see Vermona PerFourMer MkII - Stealth Black Edition

Yamaha CS 60 - Less is More - Part 2 - Hope After All

video upload by Metralon

Part 1 here

"Yamaha CS 60 synth; solo improv session
Performed on December 3rd 2021

I hope you enjoy this piece!"