Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • JD-800

The JD-800 is Roland's answer to half a decade of hard-to-program synthesizers. Covered in sliders that act as dedicated editors just like a classic analog synth, the JD-800 is an extremely programmable and hands-on digital synthesizer. It is also an interesting and great sounding digital synth with incredible flexibility and control. Internal ROM based waveforms are combined to build your sounds. The sounds are based on Roland's D-50, but updated for the nineties with multimode filters - uncommon but welcome at the time. Unlike classic synths that came in wood cases, the JD-800 came in a somewhat cheap plastic case and wasn't very sexy. Programming is a little too scientific for most but once you know what you're doing with it, almost any sound you can dream up can be dialed in and stored. It's used by William Ørbit, Emerson Lake & Palmer, 808 State, Ken Ishii, Astral Projection, Rabbit in the Moon, Depeche Mode, Underworld, Tangerine Dream, LTJ Bukem, Apollo 440, Jean Michel Jarre, ATB, Vangelis, Pet Shop Boys, Faithless, Luke Vibert, Mouse on Mars, Laurent Garnier, MC Hammer, Bushflange, Genesis, and Eat Static.

VISITOR COMMENTS

Comments page 6 of 6

Click here to add a comment

Your Name:

Email Address:

Image verification:

Message:

Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

LektroiD

Posted 30 days ago

JD800 is a great looker. However, it lacks a few basic features found on D series synths, just as ring modulation, pulse width modulation, the routing features (stereo separation of partials, etc). It also suffers digital clipping, turn up the resonance to see what I mean, this can be compensated by bringing the TVA levels down. Sysex can cause it to lock, and if a fader goes faulty, it affects the whole synth.

On the positive side, the JD800 is still a very capable synth, despite the shortfalls listed above. If programmed well, it can be a real dream synth. It's a future classic, and I have absolutely no plans on parting with mine.

exkeyboardplaya

Posted 38 days ago

Why is there no mention of Chuckii Booker? This man has been an honorary and avid user of this piece of gear and his resume' is nothing for anyone to turn their noses up at. Paul Jackson Jr., Gerald Albright, Tease, En Vogue, Troop, Janet Jackson, Lalah Hathaway, Angela Winbush, Commisioned, and more recently, Lionel Richie. Just because he doesn't particularly fall into the genre of the majority here, didn't mean he isn't worthy of YOUR acknowledgement. Chuckii Booker, Man! Chuckii Booker.

Kenny

Posted 42 days ago

Phil, you are right in that the onboard sounds are useless, however, some time spent programming does yield rewards. I've owned some fine analogue synths (Moog Polymoog keyboard, Moog Source, Roland Jupiter 6) and the JD800 beats them all hands down. I use Pro Tools 8 now and it's loaded with instruments and sounds, but I still go back to my JD800 for my own unique sounds. I'm buying a JD990 for live use.

Phil

Posted 68 days ago

First lusted after one of these at launch in '91 when I was 15 and it cost thousands. Finally got one 15 years later for a few hundred quid and while it looks the dogs, I was bitterly disappointed with the sounds. I'm no programmer, and the only decent noise I got out of this was a 303 clone. I think it may have been wasted on me but it left me cold. Only regret selling it as I miss the quality keyboard action. Other than that, I've learnt my lesson - never meet your heroes!

longbongsilver

Posted 71 days ago

During the 90's Ant Banks (Bay Area rap producer, worked w/ Spice-1, Too Short, Mac Mall...) had a JD-800 in his band's setup. Short shouted it out in one of his songs.

Banks especially loved that really shiny piano patch on it, shows up a lot on his old-school work.

<654321>