Roland JX-8P VECOVEN Mod - Demoing the arpeggiator, Chord mode and more

video by synthlegends

"Roland JX-8P VECOVEN Mod

In this video I demonstrate the new VECOVEN Mod, you might know from the JX-10 or MKS-70, recently also established fort he JX-8P. I show the main functions, especially the Chord mode and the arpeggiator.

Here partly the description of the Website from Fred Vecoven:

o Chord mode
o Arpeggiator with tons of modes
o each parameter is now OFF/RECV/SEND/ON, allowing fine control of what gets sent and what is filtered.

o sysex support : allow edition of tone parameters individually, including the "patch" parameters.
o midi cc support : allow edition of all tone parameters with midi cc.
o fast bulk dump/load : 1-2 seconds to dump everything. Can dump to/from cartridge and internal memory.
o edition of parameters (patch and tones) sends sysex, so all editions can be sequenced. PG800 is also supported here, so editions made from the PG800 can also be sequenced.
o copy from/to cartridge to create a full backup of the internal memory (all settings are now copied to the cartridge or restored from it)

o flash module provides 32 internal banks (total of 32 x 32 tones = 1024 tones!). Preloaded with hundreds of tones.
o M16C and M64C support : provide one or four extra banks of tones.
o Import mode to load existing internet "dump" files directly into a bank
o any tone parameter can be assigned to the edit slider during play mode [coming soon !]
o control whether updates from sysex, pg800 or controllers are displayed temporarily on-screen
o allows to disable new features for full compatibility with old software (for example, sysex changes made to tone A can be redirected to the currently selected tone, etc...)

This mod is really exciting and the support is great as well. I got the parts within 3 days after ordering.
For the mod soldering is not necessary. There are just two EPROMS to change, which are on sockets.

There is also a PWM mod, but here you have to desolder some IC, but cables are not necessary.
I hope, you enjoy the video and it shall help you to decide about the mod."

Roland JX-8P special features and some tricks

video by synthlegends

"The Roland JX-8P is still very underrated, although ist was the succssor of the Roland Jupiter-8. The JX-8P is famous for its very lush pad sounds, but it is capable of some very weird stuff, like FM-Bell tones, trance sounds and even PWM. In this video I denonstrate some of those special features, also the 6 key modes and some sound designing tricks to get more out of your JX-8P."

w/ Dtronics DT-800 editor.

Roland JX-3P - It can sound crazy

video by synthlegends

"My own presets of the JX-3P. The JX-3P is from 1983, it came between the JUNO-60 and JUNO-106, it has the great JUPITER-8, SH-101, JP-4 (late version) and JUNO-60 IR 3109 VCF Chips, so it sounds really fat and warm. The Chorus is a bit different from the JUNOs, but it has 2 DCO, a ring modulator and sync of the DCOs. You can route the DCO and Filter to the envelope and LFO, so it is quite a capable synth to get crazy sounds of it. In this video I only used the internal chorus and no external effects or plug ins. There is no mastering or processing of this synth. Just recorded life into the audio interface."

Why is the Roland JUNO-106 still so popular?

video by synthlegends

"In this video you listen only to Roland JUNO-106 sounds (Multitrackdemo also including drums). I used to own a JUNO-106 several years ago, then sold it, because I also have a JUNO-60. After some time I missed it and decided to buy another JUNO-106. The Reasons are:
1. it sounds different from the JUNO-60 (there is another filter)
2. it has great MIDI functions to implement it in a modern setup
3. it has portamento
4. the self resonance is really outstanding for technoid sounds
5. three Key Modes, including unison mode, which is easer to access but it sounds only useful for drums ans industrial bases
6. it's perfect sounding in a mix and a great production tool
7. it has a broad sound palette and is useful for modern styles
8. it's great for drums and bass

The JUNO-60 has got an arpeggiator, the 106 not. So what, in a recording session I use it from my DAW or an external one. For Jamming with a drummashine without computer, the JUNO-60 makes more fun.

So I decided that the JUNO-60 is great sounding, but not a substitute for a JUNO-106.

The reasons, why it is still so popular are:
1. It always sounds great and it has a wide sweet spot
2. It is simple to program
3. It covers a range of 80 to 90 % of all bread and butter sounds you really need
4. It is capable of a lot of genres, italo disco, 80-ies pop, electro, techno, house and much more"

You can find one for sale here

Modal 002 review & sound demo

video by synthlegends

"Modal Electronics review, going through and sound demo.

The Modulus 002 was the first synthesizer from the new established company Modal Electronics from Bristol, UK in 2015. The frist batches named Modulus 002. Because of legal issues the name changed to Modal 002.

It was developed mainly by Paula Maddox, who wanted to set the spirit oft he PPG wave in the next century. The Modal 002 uses NCO oscillators, which have a variable sample rate and sound more alive than DSP. Beside that the Signal Path ist full analog alongside with a marvelous sounding ladder filter.

Because of bad marketing and a very steep price the Modal 002 was not very successful when relaunched. Also there were a lot of bugs in the software and some audio issues which caused a bad publicity in forums. Meanwhile the 002 is grown up, the last big update was relaunched in 2019.

For me the 002 is the real sucessor of the PPG wave, it really sounds astonishing. It is one of the best hybrid synthesizers which have been ever bulit. This is my opinion. Unfortunately you can’t get this synth new from Modal Electronics, just on the used market from time to time.

I recorded the 002 directly with two audio jacks in a stereo track into my interface. There is no mastering, external FX and compression. In some patches you can listen to internal FX. The patches I used I got from a great youtube fellow, Sean Christopher Dockery (Quantum 7 on gearslutz). Thank you very much, Sean for those great patches.

The first 15 minutes of this video I go through most functions and parameters. In the second part beginning from 15:20​ I play a bunch of sounds, first mostly pads, later on leads, basses, bells and organ style sounds.

I hope, you enjoy this video. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask my in the comments.

www.synthlegends.com"

PPG wave 2.3 cold winter soundscapes

synthlegends

"By pure chance I got a PPG wave 2.3 for a very fair and decent price. The appearance was not very nice, a lot of scratchs on the cover and dirt inside. But I cleaned it and made some paint work, so now it looks beautiful again.

Also the keyboard was broken. I played my PPG via Midi with a master keyboard. That is why I decided not to shot a video while playing. Sorry that I show only some personal footage of winter shots of our beautiful landscape riding with a friend on my bike or walking with kids in with a lot of snow to describe the coldness of the PPG, Of course I added a lot of cool pictures of my new blue baby.
Now the PPG is in service, gets a new fatar keyboard, refurbishment and a new power supply unit plus new display from synthtaste (www. Synthtaste.com).


I never thought that I will ever purchase a PPG and now I am so happy to own one. Most of my favourite albums in the 80ies consisted this undistinguishable sound, like Power Windows from Rush, Worlds Apart from SAGA, Welcome to the pleasuredome from FGTH.

The PPG 2.3 was the latest of all PPG wave (produced from 1984 until 1989). Around 400 units must have been built. The forerunners were the PPG wave 2.0 with only one oscillator and CEM filter chips (1981), after that the PPG wave 2.2 with two oscillators and SEM Filter chips. The wave 2.3 is with 16 bit sample rate instead of 12 bit and is also multitimbral with midi.


The PPG is really one of my favourite synths beside my beloved Sequential Circuits Prophet VS and my Modal Electronics 002 which imitates the PPG quite well.

I have also a John Bowen Solaris with alle waveforms form the PPG, but it isn't the same thing of course. The PPG has its own unique sound because of its decent filter and musical aliasing.
This demo is just recorded, when my PPG arrived. I just tweaked the sounds, went through some wavetables and played everything life without any fx or mastering directly with two audio mono outs to generate a stereo track in my DAW. Please notice that I also used the stereo knob to enhance the stereo field.


I will surely make more videos from my PPG as soon I get it back refurbished.

Cheers and take care, Rüdiger"

KURZWEIL K250 first workstation 1984

synthlegends

"The Kurzweil K250 by Ray Kurzweil, manufactured by Kurzweil Music Systems was developed 1983 together with Stevie Wonder, Robert Moog and Alan Pearlman and introduced 1984. It was the first Workstation ever made, the first ROM-Player with sampled sounds compressed in ROM, maybe with one of the first inbuilt sequencer and one of the first Samplers. It had 12 voices and also 12 separate Digital Audio converters and analog envelopes. The later K1200 and K1000 series didn't have this technology. Later in 1990 the K2000 used a new technology, the VAST Synthesis.

The price of the original K250 was around 14.000 British Pound. The K250 had fantastic nature sounds, which were not heard anyware in a keyboard before. All such orchestral, piano, drum and other sampled sounds were the fist time found in an electronic instrument. Besides the ROM with around 80 sounds, there were 4 Soundblocks established which are all built in in mine.

I play here a very little palette of some sounds of the factory ROM and 4 Soundblocks in this demo. Everything is played life into the audio interface without midi and without any effects. The frist example is adopted by SAGA the Song Images (LP Images at twilight from 1979). Take care and thanks for watching this video. Rüdiger"

Korg Polysix vs Roland JUNO-60

synthlegends

"Comparison and review of of the Korg Polysix and Roland JUNO-60.

Both synths are form 1982 and had been as low priced polysynths very popular (cheap Prophet 5 vs Jupiter-8). Both synths have a very similar structure and that is why a comparision is interesting.

Anyway, both synths sound very different because of its unique sound components (oscillators and filters). I would describe the Polysix as american sounding with a strong dark tone. The JUNO-60 sounds a bit more modern and feels always well in the mix. It is not so fat as the Polysix but very smooth sounding, especially with its great stereo chorus.

I recorded both synths without mastering or effects directly into my audio interface, the JUNO with a pair of stereo jacks, the Polysix with its mono jack.

I hope the video helps you to decide which synth is better for you if you can't or won't afford both. Cheers and please stay well."

Roland Viintage Jam Session

synthlegends

"Roland TR-808 triggers my Jupiter 6 with two arpeggiated sounds in split mode, the SH-101 and the JUNO-60. I used the delay from Korg DW-8000 for my JP-6 and reverb pedal GFI specular for my SH-101. The JUNO-60 and TR-808 are clean with no FX and processing. I wish you Merry Christmas with this track and thank you so much for supporting my channel. Take care!"

Arrival of Kurzweil K250 first workstation/rompler ever

synthlegends

"Yesterday I picked up a mint K250 with all 4 soundblocks for a decent price. It’s pure synth history to play the first rompler with a groundbreaking piano sound and realistic samples of natural instruments. Soon I will do a demo of this monster sized keyboard with overwhelming wooden Baldwin keyboard. Have fun!"

Prophet 5 Analogue Renaissance REV -1

synthlegends

"Demonstration of the new Filterchip Downgrade of Analogue Renaissance which uses new created SSI Filter Chips from Dave Rossum to Downgrade the Rev. 3 to the former Rev. 1 and 2 Filter Design.

For this mod you have to replace the CEM Filter Chips with a small board of 5 SSI Filter Chips. Additionally there is also a 12 dB Filter and Q-Compensation to compensate the loss of volume in high resonance sounds.

After modding the Rev. 3 gets much loader using Q-Comp; I had to decrease the volume of the oscillators in the mixer.

I let install the mod through my tech, because the old sockets must be desoldered in my opinion, otherwise you get contact problems.

In this Prophet 5 I didn't do the calibration of the filter chips, because I was not sure if I want to go back to my old CEM Filter chips. But meanwhile I won't go back and I also have to calibrate the unit.

I like the mod very much and the variation of sounds increase. The Q-Comp ist a really great feature which allows making really ultra fat resonance sounds, like Tom Sawyer Filter sweeps and other Oberheimesque Sounds (also thanks to the 12-Pole Filter).

The sound goes directly to the audio interface without any mastering, FX or equalizer.

If you want to hear my original Prophet 5 without this mod and CEM Filter Chips with a lots of the same patches view this video:" [posted here]

Prophet-5 Analogue Rennaisance Downgrade

synthlegends

"Demonstration of the new Filterchip Downgrade of Analogue Renaissance which uses new created SSI Filter Chips from Dave Rossum to Downgrade the Rev. 3 to the former Rev. 1 and 2 Filter Design.

For this mod you have to replace the CEM Filter Chips with a small board of 5 SSI Filter Chips. Additionally there is also a 12 dB Filter and Q-Compensation to compensate the loss of volume in high resonance sounds.

After modding the Rev. 3 gets much, much loader; I had to decrease the volume of the oscillators in the mixer.

I let install the mod through my tech, because the old sockets must be desoldered in my opinion, otherwise you get contact problems.

In this Prophet 5 I didn't do the calibration of the filter chips, because I was not sure if I want to go back to my old CEM Filter chips. But meanwhile I won't go back and I also have to calibrate the unit.

I like the mod very much and the variation of sounds increase. The Q-Comp ist a really great feature which allows making really ultra fat resonance sounds, like Tom Sawyer Filter sweeps and other Oberheimesque Sounds (also thanks to the 12-Pole Filter).

The sound goes directly to the audio interface without any mastering, FX or equalizer.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me."

Sequential Prophet 5 Rev. 3 - Pure, dry and raw - 85 sounds

synthlegends

"This Video is a cutting mix of a two hours session of my Prophet 5 Rev. 3, I played along all my self programmed patches. I demonstrate here around 85 sounds of brass, piano, lead, bass, strings, pads and sweeps. I wonder if the Rev. 4 is sounding as great as this orginal. I suppose yes, although it is not a 100 % replica due to modern production methods. I have no opportunity to compare them. It's great that Dave Smith did it again and made this fantastic iconic synth as a future classic. So the legend will live forever.
I know that my videos are all too long;-). I tried to get enough variety to all my sounds, so you shall get surprised and enjoy the whole video.
I didn't use any FX and mastering in this video. I just recorded mono into my audio interface and created a stereo channel strip in my Logic Pro X. So there is no additinal work in the DAW. Just recorded life.
My Prophet 5 has some mods from synthtaste, a small company for refurbishing synths in Bochum, Germany https://www.synthtaste.com/en/. I have a fatar keyboard with aftertouch and 7 banks of the original 120 sound memories.
Thanks for watching and listening again, have fun and stay well. Rüdiger"

U.D.O Super-6 Dream Pads

synthlegends

"The new U.D.O Super-6 is supposed to make great pads. I already did a demo with miscellaneous patches, so basses, brass, strings, leads, arpeggiated sounds and pianos.

In this demo I only concentrate to pad sounds. Those pads in this demo I created last couple of days and they use mostly the awesome binaural mode to enhance the stereo effect. Also I used quite often the internal effects, although I am not so happy with them. The basic sound of the Super-6 is such amazing, that I will soon try it with nice pedals for reverb, delay and chorus. This will be stunning.

In this video I didn't use external effects, no mastering, no equalizer, just recorded it life into my Apogee Symphony Mk 1.

I think that the great strengths of the Super-6 are especially epic and dreamy pad and string sounds. I hope, you enjoy it. Take care, Rüdiger."

U.D.O Super 6 - review and deep demonstration

synthlegends

"After owning my Super 6 allready two weeks, I made a review and deep demonstration of all sections.

Contents of this review:
1. Oszillator Section
2. Binaural Mode
3. Voice Assign
4. Filter Section
5. Chorus and Delay
6. LFO 1 and FM
7. Envelopes
8. Sound Demo and tweaking
9. Conclusion and Recomendation

I recorded everything life without any mastering, FX, outboard or plugins.

Finally I can recommend the Super 6 as a very great sounding synth with a lot of character. It is quite unique and I would say, its a boutique synth, not comparable in this respect with the Novation Summit. Its all about the sound, the Binaural Mode ist nice to have but not a killer feature to get the Super 6. The most advantages are the great GUI, nice modulation possibilities and its creativity potential for modern style electronic music.
SHOW LESS"

UDO Super 6 custom patches

synthlegends

"Once I got my Supersexy Six last week (16th august 2020), I immediately programmed some patches from scratch or from the factory ones. The Super 6 is a very great sounding hybrid synthesizer with FPGA Oscillators and a SSI analog low pass filter. I didnt use any additional mastering or effects but the onboard ones. The Super 6 reminds me sound wise very much on the Modal 002."

UDO Super 6 - Sound from Scratch - all Waveforms

synthlegends

"Quick go through the Oscillator Section (DSS) from the UDO Super 6 with step by step Sound Design of a simple Pad."

Roland JP-8 JUPITERS Symphony in c minor

synthlegends

"Today I switched on my JP-8 after quiet a long time and made a very extended session of improvised music. I decieded to call it JUPTERS Symphony in c minor dedicated to the 40 th anniversary of this stunning flagship synthesizer, maybe the best Roland ever did. I used the BOSS Dimension C Chorus Pedal and the GFI Clockwork Delay Pedal, I really love.

Most of the patches are in Dual or Split mode using quite often the arpeggiator or two almost equal patches in stereo, on of it with portamento. You can listen to many small episodes linked together to a journey of different sounds of the JP-8 like bells, leads, arps, pads, strings, brass, bass etc.

I recorded the JP-8 left and right channel into the BOSS Chorus, from there into the GFI Delay and from there into the audio interface. Some of the demo I recorded in stereo, most of it in two stereo tracks from the mono left and right out of the GFI Delay. In the DAW I doubled the tracks to get them in half right and half left to get a better stereo field. There are no additional FX in the DAW or mastering, compression etc.

Have fun and enjoy the music and pictures. Cheers, Ruediger"

Arturia OBXa V vs Oberheim OBXa - sound comparison

Published on May 25, 2020 synthlegends

"In this video I created some of my patches from my Oberheim OBXa on the new Arturia OBXa V plugin.

I appologize if I couldn’t match the sounds not exactly. Maybe it is possible to do it better.

In the Arturia plugin I disabeled all effects. I have chosen 8 voices and panorama with a bit spread to match the original stereo field of all 8 voices in the original.

The Oberheim also was recorded life without any effects, mastering and whatever. So both instruments have the same circumstances and basic settings. I have chosen the same settings in the Arturia. For example in the mixer of the oscilators in the Oberheim you can choose „half“ or „full“ volume of OSC2. When you have „half“, I put the volume knob of the Arturia OSC2 to half. Furthermore I did tweaking by ear. I have no osciloscope.
Alltogether you can hear 21 sounds, first Arturia, second Oberheim, played exactly the same. In the Video you can see the settings of the sounds of the GUI.

So what is my conclusion? My personal opinion is, that Arturia did a great job. The plugin is fantastic sounding. It is not exactly sounding like the original. The filter and resonance behavior is a bit different. The Oberheim sounds a bit darker and has more low end. The Arturia sounds a bit more crisp. But you can do really very lush pads as well. The plugin has some additional features, like 16 voices, arpeggiator, more LFO waveforms, and much, much more. So I like it and for quick results and as a workhorse it is a great opportunity.
Nevertheless I never will let go my beloved OBXa, because it is one of my absolutely best sounding synths in my arsenal. I really love the sound so much, because it is singing like a violin. The difference you can hear it is the filter behavior, resonance, behavior of the envelopes, which don’t start exactly the same for all voices, the warm VCOs and the extremely lush tone.

"I hope you enjoy the video and it helps you for your deciscion. I am not an employer of Arturia, I do independant reviews. If you have any questions, please ask in the commentaries.
Cheers!"

Arturia OBXa V vs Oberheim OBXa - short teaser

Published on May 23, 2020 synthlegends

"Short test of the new Arturia OBXa V VST Plug In vs. the Original Oberheim OBXa. Just the JUMP Sound. The Arturia has ab bit reverb, nothing else. The Oberheim is dry. A bit deeper comparison will come soon."