Rosen Sound Synth Demos & Restorations

Published on Jul 28, 2018 Rosen Sound

This one in via Soviet Space Child.

www.rosensound.com/rentals

Playlist:
1. Oberheim OB-X - Rosen Sound Demo

The OBX was the first major "answer" to the Prophet 5 synthesizer, and at least in our opinion, was the best answer anyone could've given.

The OB-X is based on the basic design of the (S)ynthesizer (E)xpander (M)odule also from Oberheim. Like the SEM, it features two discreet VCO's with saw and pulse, two envelopes, and the low pass section of the SEM filter. It also added noise, a release control, and cross modulation (similar to the Prophet's cross mod). The prophet's cross mod was a bit more dynamic, though. A flexible LFO section is also featured.

None the less, the OBX is in a species all of it's own in many ways. It's one of the very few mostly discreet programmable polyphonic synthesizers, and more than that spec, it sounds unique and absolutely marvelous.

Our unit features encore midi

Book your rental package with Rosen Sound and see the rest of our synth catalog at www.rosensound.com/rentals

2. Moog Minimoog - Rosen Sound Demo

3.SCI Prophet 5 - Rosen Sound Demo

In a lot of ways this needs no introduction. One of the most iconic poly synths ever made, and the first synth to offer true programmability with polyphonic architecture.

The Prophet 5 offers your basic amenities in a poly synth with 5 voices each with 2 VCO's, a low pass VCF, a VCA, two EG's, one LFO with multiple wave shapes available, with POLY MOD as the icing on the cake. This lets you make FM type sounds and is part of what makes the prophet 5 unique.

Our unit features factory midi

4. Oberheim Four Voice - Rosen Sound Demo

This in our opinion is one of the finest synthesizers ever made in terms of overall sound. The features are of course many and the synth as a whole is very flexible and powerful, but the sound it outputs is nothing short of mesmerizing.

The FVS features 4 Synthesizer Expander Modules (SEM) each representing a polyphonic voice. This means for one patch, each SEM must be setup identically. This may seem like too much, but it's actually a very enjoyable process that causes you to think different about the patch your making, the polarity of your modulation per voice, and subtle differences you can set.

The synth can also be used in a powerful unison mode, allowing each SEM to be adjusted separately for a crazy 4x dual oscillator synthesizer each with a multi mode filter to be fired at once.

Each SEM is as or more powerful than your standard mono synth, featuring 2 oscillators with saw and pulse each, PWM, FM, 1 LFO, two EG's, a bi-polar filter modulation control, and the sweetest Oberheim filter ever made featuring a bandpass filter and a sweepable LP-HP filter. These filters are special in the way that when the resonance is turned up, there is no loss of volume or low end.

Additionally, our FVS is an early model with no programmer (a feature loathed by many anyway). Instead, it features 2 dual mini sequencers with a common clock available. This means you can do 8-step 4 note poly sequencing between the four SEM's, or split the keyboard with one sequencer playing 1 SEM and 3 note chords on the other side of the keyboard.

Functionally, our FVS is very much in tune and has been stabilized to survive travel and tuning consistency. It is in tune as soon as it's turned on, and we provide a quick start guide for our rental customers to learn how to easily program and tune the machine.

Our FVS also features MIDI in via a modified YARN's module installed inside. This allows through basic midi and if desired (more complicated) midi scripts to play it polyphonically (default on boot), sequence each SEM assigned to a separate channel (enabling MPE), or played in Unison. All of these features can be harnessed by utilizing SYSEX or the Yarns editor, all which is provided on a thumb drive for rentals.

5. Moog Memorymoog - Rosen Sound Demo

To start, let's forget the internet-lore or an "unreliable" and "impossible to tune" machine. Our service shop is known worldwide for our work on Memorymoogs and stabilizing them for real production use.

Now, let's introduce you to (what we consider) the pinnacle of Moog synthesizers. With 3 oscillators + ladder filter per voice, flexible and intuitive modulation, and a knob per function, the Memorymoog is not a force to be reckoned with, and is in what we consider to be the top 3 best sounding synthesizers ever made.

From lush pads, 18 oscillator unison leads, heavy bass, and even gentle timbres, the memorymoog is sure to be a staple piece for your session in any genre on music. Plus it has everyones favorite feature: an arpeggiator!

Our rental memorymoog will arrive with an expression pedal and 12 custom patches (87-99) made by our resident in house programmer, Eli Goss. These 12 patches are the juice that will fuel modern productions to achieve sounds unobtainable by any other synth, with plugins not even worth a mention.

6. Oberheim OB8 - Rosen Sound Demo

One of our staple synths in the collection. The lore of the OB8 is that it's a less-exciting OBXa, however, with some choice mod's which we've done to ours, they are sonically identical.

The OB8 is one of the most flexible synthesizers available, which includes deep LFO routing from the front panel, and a PAGE 2 function that transforms every knob and button on the synth to do even deeper modulation, including quantized LFO's, musical "OBXA" style detuning, envelope routing, and more.

Additionally, our OB8 has been fitted with a Pratt & Read keybed, which brings the true feel of American poly synths to the experience, while also having the amenities provided by the B5 EPROM including factory midi.

7. Sequential Circuits Prophet 10 - Rosen Sound Demo

The Prophet 10 is more than just 2 Prophet 5's in one box; featuring an active EQ per voice, deeper modulation, and more performance capabilities with it's dual manuals and CV pedal inputs. This prophet 10 also features midi in and out.

8. Oberheim Four Voice Sequence

You could do an entire score with this #oberheimfourvoice. With quad poly sequencing and split modes the sky is the limit. Available for rent through us! Contact us for rates and availability. And yes, it has midi!

9. Prophet 5 Rev 3 Restoration

10. Juno 106 Multiboard removal

11. Juno 106 80017A Chip Failure - What To Check

In this video I go over a couple things to check not only to see if your 80017A chips are failing, but also other potential failures of the juno, including failure of one of the MC5534A dual DCO chip.

This video also applies to other models, such as the MKS 30, HS 60, GR 700 and some others.

If you would like Rosen Sound to service your Juno, please contact us at contact@rosensound.com

Battle of the Junos: Juno 106 vs Alpha Juno 2

Published on Sep 12, 2018 Starsky Carr

"Less of a battle, more of a chat... Jump to 21:00 to hear just some sounds.

An in depth look at the difference between these 2 of Roland's 1980's DCO polysynths.

The 106 has a big fat and Juicy filter
The alpha Junos have really flexible oscillators and envelopes

2:00 Alpha control options
4:00 Overview
5:00 Sawtooth
8:25 Sub Oscillators
9:50 Pulse/Square
13:08 Envelopes
15:05 Filters
19:33 Chorus
20:48 Some Sounds
27:15 Conclusion

There are loads of ways to control the Alphas now so the interface isn't the deal breaker it used to be... maybe the filter still is??"

New Kiwitechnics Kiwi-1000 Upgrade for the Oberheim Matrix-1000

Kiwitechnics, makers of the Kiwi upgrades for the Roland JX-3P, JX-8P, Juno-106, and KORG Polyix, have a new DIY upgrade available for the Oberheim Matrix-1000. The cost is $295 plus shipping.

Details via Kiwitechnics:

This is an upgrade for the Oberheim M1000 rack mount synth module. This will transform the M1000 from a difficult to edit preset module with a poor midi interface into a full featured synth with some excellent features. The M1000 synth hardware is based on the CEM3396 ‘synth on a chip’ and this gives the synth a versatile set of features including multiple combined and editable waveforms on each DCO as well as PWM and VCF FM controls but will still retain the Oberheim ‘sound’. The upgrade will also replace the on board DCO master clock. The M1000 clock is a single fixed master clock that both DCOs use and this limits the range possible to about 6 octaves. The K1000 upgrade will replace the single master clock with separate clocks sources and each of these will have a range of 64’-2’. This is pushing the CEM chip to it’s limits but we feel the results are worth the effort.

The Oberheim M1000 has been hamstrung with most of the patches that cannot be edited, poor midi and a difficult patch format making editing and sound creating a challenge. We are using the experience gained with our other upgrades to redesign the M1000 to be a fully fledged synth with all the usual Kiwi features. This is not a M1000 with the midi fixed it is a completely new synth. We are incorporating Oberheim tone imports but because the tone layouts are so different the conversion is not going to produce exact matches. We are also putting in imports for the K106 & K8P products and well as Roland JX8P and JX-10/MKS-70 (Tones only) which will provide a big tone library from the web to use as a starting point.

The upgrade comes with a front panel label that will fit over the existing buttons and LEDs.

The Kiwi-1000 Upgrade features:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Introduces the System-8 JX-3P Plug-out on 808 Day

Published on Aug 8, 2018 ranzee

"A quick look at the new free JX-3P plug-out for the Roland System-8 synthesizer. Announced on 808 day - 8th August 2018. The video covers a brief overview and listen to the synth including:

VCO Oscillators, VCF Filters, LFO, Chorus, Brilliance, and VCA Mode.

This plug-out comes for free with firmware version 1.3. There's a demonstration of the sounds with each section.

Download it here"

"JX-Funk" - Roland System-8 JX-3P PLUG-OUT Jam by Mike Pensini

Published on Aug 8, 2018 Mike Pensini

"All synth sounds, reverb and delay from the Roland JX-3P PLUG-OUT inside a System-8 synthesizer.

©2018 Mike Pensini"

New JX-3P Plugout for System-8 Ver. 1.30 - PREVIEW!

Published on Aug 8, 2018 gattobus

"I've always loved the sharpness of the JX-3P DCOs and, at the same time, the smoothness of its filter. Add the BBD Chorus and you can get one of the warmest and soft pad sounds ever heard.
I love it!!!"

via Roland

"The Summer of SYSTEM-8 is heating up with the recently added v.1.20 FM OSC and New Filters. But we haven’t stopped yet – here comes v.1.30!

The long-awaited third polyphonic PLUG-OUT for SYSTEM-8 is here... the JX-3P Programmable Preset Polyphonic Synthesizer. Like the JUNO-106, The JX-3P has a classic Roland DCO polyphonic architecture, reimagined with the newest ACB technology. No longer will the JX-3P be a lost sound of the past – take the sound forward to a new generation with the powerful, hands-on hardware of the SYSTEM-8."

Synthesizer Show & Tell - Roland JX-8P & iPG-800

Published on May 6, 2018 Steve Learson

"Synthesizer Show & Tell, EP: 2 covers the Roland JX-8P and the iPG-800 App for iPad.

Each week I challenge myself to write a piece of music using only one synthesizer, and share some tips and tricks on how to use the instrument.

The JX-8P is an analog 6 note polyphonic synth made in 1985. It is well built with a solid metal casing, stable DCO’s, and 64 programmable patches.

0:00 - Noodling
0:25 - Introduction
1:30 - Track intro
1:51 - Drum sounds
3:08 - Leads
3:40 - Bass
4:35 - Stabs and clicks
5:02 - Ear candy and twinkles
5:38 - Pads and strings
7:35 - Juno 60/106 comparison
8:08 - Chorus
8:55 - iPG-800 Live application
9:40 - All Because of a Girl: song made using the JX-8P and vocals.

To connect the iPad to the JX-8P I use the IK Multimedia iRig MIDI 2, via MIDI IN & OUT.

iPG-800 is developed by Kentai and can be found in the App Store."

Roland JX-3p w/PG-200 6 Voice Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"The Jx-3p is an outstanding synthesizer and shares many of the same components as the legendary Jupiter 8 . Infact ... it's universally agreed that it sounds somewhere between a Juno 106 and a jupiter 8 . The dual DCO's are typical roland butter. By far one of my favorite synthesizers of all time and a truly under appreciated powerhouse . ( although people are finally starting to take notice and prices keep shooting up ) And with the PG-200 Programmer included , its a full blown knobby ,tweakable analog poly ."

Anyone else think this? I owned all three and I didn't. They all sound pretty different. Curious about the Jupiter-6 with CEM VCOs.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Kiwi-106 DCO detune in unison mode

Published on Feb 16, 2018 Synthead

Chord mode on the Kiwi-106

Roland JX-3P (Juno 106) SUPER CHORUS Effects Xenyx 2442FX Behringer Mixer

Published on Feb 10, 2018 DKDiveDude

"About a month ago I got a vintage Roland JX-3P locally for only $250. Middle C key did not work, sequencer tempo slider was broken off, and seller claimed sequencer did not work. I took it apart and fixed the broken key. Sequencer worked fine when putting switch in back to MIDI.

Anyways I LOVE the sound of this thing. It sounds, to my ears, exactly like a Juno 106, except the JX-3P is BETTER as it have two DCO's (Digitally Controlled Oscillators) per voice.

Here I paired it up with the built-in effects of my Behringer Xenyx 2442FX mixer. It has 100 built-in effects, of which many are VERY good with the JX-3P / Juno, one delay effect is like a SUPER CHARGED CHORUS! Others are reverb, flanger, phaser, and regular chorus."

Roland JU 06 Boutique Test Juno 106 60

Published on Jul 12, 2017 umusic6

"Testing the sonic qualities of the Roland Boutique JU 06 Juno emulation. Pretty much character for a digital box. Really good user interface. But only 4 voices and a useless poly chain implementation ... why oh why Roland ? Do you really want me to buy that System 8 plastic bomber ?"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Juno-106 Vintage Polyphonic Synthesizer SN 508423

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"The Roland Juno-106 is a 61 Key, six voice fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer.

• The digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) guarantees an extremely stable pitch.
• The Juno-106 is the complete 6 voice synthesizer provided with 6 VCF's, 6 VCA's, and 6 ENV's.
• The Juno-106 includes memory capacity to retain up to 128 different patch programs.
• The Juno-106 features battery back up system to retain the programs even when switched off.
• If connecting the Pedal Switch to the PATCH SHIFT jack, you can call the 8 patch programs stored in the same bank one after another, simply by pressing the pedal.
• Transposition to any key is possible by the Transpose function.
• The Portament function is provided.
• The Chorus effect produces rich and expansive sounds.
• Featured with MIDI BUS, the Juno-106 can be set up with other MIDI devices."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Juno-106 Late Night Sessions 2017 Analog Synthesizer Rik Marston JU-6 DCO

Published on May 12, 2017 SynthgodXXX

"Roland Juno-106 Late Night Sessions 2017
Synthesizer Demo By Rik Marston
**Watch in HD!** **100% No talking!!!**
**Warning: Light Clipping @ 06:55 **

The Roland JUNO-106 with a Gl!tch MOD that
makes the SUB a SAW. Check it out the SUB SAW
in action @ 10:33 when I strip it down to a mere
SAW then I turn up the SUB SAW. This is EPIC for
Industrial or Experimental applications! It creates
such a modern twist to the JUNO-106 sound!
Very interesting!!!!
You can hear the original SUB sound in action on
my other JUNO-106 & HS-60 videos on my YouTube
page. Anyway, I was just giving it a warm up for
my new DARK JUNO sample collections coming
out Fall/Winter 2017!! Over 2GB's of JUNO-106!
You guessed it, darker analog sounds for Movie
scoring, Ambient, Experimental & Industrial music!

Thank you for watching!
Please SUBSCRIBE!
More Synthesizer Demos &
Ambient Chill Zen Music
COMING SOON!!
Rik
4/13/2017"

Roland HS-60

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"The Roland HS-60 is essentially a Juno-106 with built in speakers. Same sounds, features, etc. Its easy to program, good midi features, and has a true analog quality.

The HS-60 features analog six-voice polyphony and is fully programable with one digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) per voice. A very smooth and rich 24dB/oct analog lowpass resonant filter with self-oscillating possibilities and a non-resonant highpass filter. The programable pitch/mod bender can be routed to control the DCO pitch, VCF cutoff, and LFO amount all at once or individually.

This particular synth is in fantastic condition, everything works perfectly and sounds great. Comes with power cable. Will be securely packed and shipped for safe travel to it's future owner!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

ROLAND JUNO 106 Analog Synth (Pro Serviced) w/ Kiwi Upgrade & Walnut end Cheeks

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"It has recently been completely serviced by the Synthspa, so you can be sure that the voice chips are all completely restored and won't fail. I've also upgraded it to have beautiful wood cheeks, but I will include the original end cheeks in the package as well.

This one comes with the KIWI-106 hardware/software upgrade installed, which means it sports an expansive range of functionality that takes the 106 to the next level (see below). That said, I will include the original board for the 106 with this, in case you want to swap out of the Kiwi upgrade (no idea why you'd want to do that, though!).

The Kiwi106 Upgrade features:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Crumar Bit One Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer Signed by Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This Bit One is fully functional and in great condition. This unit sports an autograph from Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five.

The Bit one is a DCO based analog polysynth from Crumar. Similar in sound and architeture to the Roland Juno-106 and other DCO based synthesizers of the era. It Features 2 DCOs per voice, VCF, 2 LFOs, upper/lower split and double modes, and velocity sensitivity!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Juno 106 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer with Dual VCF/VCO ICs Modification and Flight Case

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This Roland has been modified here is information about the stock setup and then info about modifications.

The Stock Juno-106 is a six-voice polyphonic and programmable analog synth with one digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) per voice. While classic monophonic syths used two or three oscillators to create a fatter sound(check mods below), the Juno-106 uses built-Chorus to fatten up its sound with dramatic effect. The nature of its DCO meant it was stable and always in perfect tune but still warm and analog. There is an excellent 24db/oct analog low pass filter with plenty of resonance and self oscillating possibilities and a non-resonant high pass filter. The programmable pitch/mod bender can be assigned to control the DCO pitch, VCF cut off, and LFO amount all at once or individually. There are 16 MIDI channels available and MIDI SYsEX data can be transmitted/recieved from all the sliders and buttons for total remote control and sequencing capability. A switch on the back of the keyboard next to the MIDI port allows the user to switch between three types of MIDI modes: KEYBOARD, HOLD, BENDER, PATCH or ALL DATA(including SysEX).

Fully restored with Mods: This unit has been Completely rebuilt, new DCO chips, and battery. and modified with a DUAL VCF/VCA ICS which give it a thicker full sound(the extra filtier/vco chips are located under the PCB) The keyboard has been completely re-graphic in purple and yellow with matching LEDS and dark walnut sides. It comes with a printed copy of the owners and service manual. A matching spec(other than color) keyboard also modded by Roger Gastrow now resides at Henson Studios in California."

CLICK FOR MORE »

BEHRINGER Synth Vol 3 - DCO Polyphony

Published on Jul 19, 2016 Music Group

"New Behringer Analogue Polyphonic Synth"

At least 4 voices based on the voice LEDs. The sound in this one reminds me of a Juno-106 meets a Korg MS2000. Previous videos exposed other characters of the synth. It's hard to tell from short audio snippets, but if the synth is capable of completely different characters that is a good thing. Surprisingly, not all synths can. Listen for yourself. You can find all parts here.

This one in via Soviet Space Child.

NYZ DRN4 DECLASSIFIED

Exclusive mix on SoundCloud:


And a track from the release on Bandcamp:


Tracklist:

1. NYZ_FMMGKSQ_43t
2. ISR_16x16_WCM
3. CSN [excerpt 2 mono]
4. SWI_r170_16x32x32_B
5. SWI_FM1#16
6. NYZ-1_1#08_A [finite downsized]
7.CSN1 [excerpt 1 mono]

Be sure to see the MATRIXSYNTH exclusive further below!

FM EXPLORATIONS AND MICROTONAL DRONES FROM NYZ (AKA DAVE NOYZE, DAVID BURRASTON, NOYZELAB, BRYEN TELKO)

This is the first release by NYZ and is a superb musical collection of research areas classified to internal Noyzelab operations. Not even .MEDS label were informed of the secret processes underlying its creation, excepting that we know it involved Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis! We have not been given any information regarding when this work was recorded, but we suspect the material spans at least a decade of David's FM algorithm research on numerous synthesizers, as well his own custom built ear deceiving gear...

According to one reviewer of David's previous musical output he "gleefully disrupts just about every standard convention of musical form you could think of, including those of so-called experimental musics."

Other reviewers have written that :
"His music is a bizarre, yet compelling journey investigating the outer realms of music generated on ancient & contemporary machines." "It's strikingly original audio that doesn't really sound like anything else I can think of." "Utterly sublime. So there you go, a life-affirming slab of mind-altering sound to reawaken you to the terrifying possibilities of creation."

"absolutely wreaks havoc" wrote Keith Fullerton Whitman on reviewing David's last release T. H. Cycle cassette on Important Records/Cassauna .

Cassette releases April 1, 2016

All Audio by David Burraston
Design Tom Knapp

----

MATRIXSYNTH recently asked NYZ why he put together this new album of FM synthesis based explorations, and whether he would discuss some of the process behind it. The declassified information below has been put together by NYZ especially for a MATRIXSYNTH exclusive.

***BEGIN NYZ DRN4 DECLASSIFICATION REPORT***

DC REPORT STATUS: PARTIAL DECLASSIFICATION ONLY
PARTIAL DC STATUS: INCOMPLETE CELLULAR BINARY SPACETIME
PARTIAL DC LEVEL: SEMI-PICTORIAL_TEXTUAL_HIGHLIGHTS
FUTURE DC STATUS: _PENDING

The main reasons for making this album were an interest in FM synthesis in both analogue modular and MIDI/digital mediums. I had worked with digital FM synthesis since getting a Yamaha TX81Z when they came out back in 1987 (which I still have, along with another backup machine with a very hummy mains transformer which bleeds onto the outs). How me and another synth friend used to cry with drunken laughter at preset D11 Hole in 1... :) But after initially wondering whether I had just wasted about 350 UK pounds on an utter piece of shit... I quickly warmed to its better presets, and its very different approach to synthesis yielded enough interesting results early on for it not to get outed.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel DK600 Vintage Analog Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This synth is fully functional, and with regard to appearance - I would give it a 9.5 score out of 10.0. The previous owner took exceptional care of this instrument, and the only noticeable wear is a small, round paint chip on the back panel.

The Siel DK-600 was made in Italy in the mid 1980’s. It is a classic and even a “sleeper classic” in my opinion. A google search will turn up all of the details including the detailed description from vintagesynth dot com which states… ”The DK-600 is Siel's unique Italian take on the mid-eighties programmable polysynth with MIDI implementation (badged as the Opera-6 in the UK). Just like the Juno-106 and Poly-61 of the time, the Siel was a 6-voice synthesizer with straight forward programming, simple effects and digitally controlled analog oscillators (DCO's). However, the Siel, having dual oscillators per voice sounds thicker than the Juno or Matrix because it's got 12 oscillators! And because they're DCO's, you know they'll always remain stable and in-tune even though they are analog in nature. The DK600 has many other nice features such as complete MIDI implementation. There are 3 LFO's for extreme modulation. Both the filter and amplifier have standard ADSR envelope sections. And like similar synths, all the sliders and buttons are intuitively placed on the front panel for hands-on real-time programming."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Interview with the Developers of the Original JUPITER-8, JUNO-106, and JX-3P

The interview is currently on Roland's site here. The text is captured below for the archives.

"WHAT ARE YOUR HONEST OPINIONS REGARDING THE ROLAND BOUTIQUE SERIES? AS DEVELOPERS OF THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTS, WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE MODERN RECREATIONS?

Takahashi:I'd heard about this product series rather early on thanks to my position at the company, and my honest feeling about it was that I was excited. I was truly excited at the prospect of a simulation being released of a product that I was involved with decades ago. Synthesizers from those days have a unique feel that you can only get on analog, so I was interested in seeing how much of that could be reproduced in the digital realm. I knew that the Roland Boutique series development team was working on this very seriously. More than being intrigued, I was truly very excited.

Matsui:I'm no longer with the company, so I hadn't heard about this until very recently when someone mentioned, "We're working on this project relating to the JX-3P." Honestly, I was very happy to hear that. I was very happy to hear that Roland will be releasing a product that I had a part in developing in the past in a new form. That's because the JX-3P was a very special product for me.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTING MEMORIES RELATING TO THE JX-3P?

Matsui:That synth was developed at Roland's Matsumoto factory. I was working at Matsumoto at the time and was involved in guitar synth development. Guitar synths up to the GR-300 and GR-100 were based on converting pitch into a CV (Control Voltage) signal, which would then trigger an analog synth. But for the next generation of guitar synths, we decided to use a design where pitch would be converted to MIDI, which would then control the sound engine digitally (though the sound engine itself would still be analog). We studied how guitarists were using the GR-300 and GR-100 and realized that they didn't do much sound creation on their own. (Laughs.) So if that was the case, we decided to go with an easy-to-use synth with presets. And this was the start of the GR-700 project.

The [GR-700] would feature a built-in pitch-to-MIDI converter and a sound engine with presets. But even if this was to be a preset synth, it would still be too difficult to create sounds without any knob controls. So we made a programmer—solely for development purposes—with which we could adjust the tones. Sometime later in the development process, one of our superiors remarked, "You can attach a keyboard to that and make a polyphonic synth out of it, can't you?" [Laughs.] So that's how the JX-3P came about. The reason it's a six-voice polyphonic synth is because it started out as a sound engine for guitar synths, guitar being a six-string instrument. (Laughs.)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Interview with the Developers of the Boutique Line of Synthesizers

The interview is currently on Roland's site here. The text is captured below for the archives.

"WHAT WAS THE STARTING POINT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROLAND BOUTIQUE SERIES?

Tojo:Our starting point was that we wanted to create a full-fledged synth in a compact form factor; something that might look like a gadget at first glance, but was capable of producing amazing sounds. We wanted to create a synth that people could casually enjoy, came with a built-in speaker, and could also run on batteries. Since we had the ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) modeling technology that was developed for AIRA and a mini keyboard that was first incorporated in the JD-Xi, we thought that we could make something interesting by combining these two. That was around the end of last year, and actual development began in around January this year.

WERE YOU PLAYING WITH THE IDEA OF BASING THIS SERIES ON SYNTH CLASSICS RIGHT FROM THE OUTSET?

Tojo:Yes, we were. We wanted to combine ACB and the mini keyboard to reproduce classics that everyone was familiar with. The JUPITER-8 and JUNO-106 were candidates right from the start, since these synths are still very popular today. We wanted to add another synth to the lineup, so we decided to go with the JX-3P, which produces different types of sounds from either the JUPITER or JUNO. We reached the decision to go with these three synths rather quickly, without much debate.

CLICK FOR MORE »