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.

The JD-800 came in a tough metal case capped off on the sides with large plastic covers. Programming may be a little too flexible for some users, but once you know what you're doing with it, almost any sound you can dream up can be dialed in and stored.

It has been 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.

il

July 19, 2009 @ 11:17 pm

BTW - If you watch 'Michael Jackson; Live in bucharest' DVD the main synth (it seems) is this here JD-800.. gets a lot of hammering on stage on the times you see it :) RIP MJ

il

July 19, 2009 @ 11:05 pm

Nice synth, has some of the style of the D-series with a GREAT interface (though can be quirky/flawed with insta-jump parameter changes).

That said, it's NO D-50. The D-50 was and will always remain Roland best pure digitial synthesizer. Many will disagree but the D-50 is so much more powerful in it's architecure and warmth.

Richard Gibson

July 13, 2009 @ 9:03 pm

I love this Synth,dreamed about one when it came out,got one recently and LOVE it.A digital synth with Analog controls,doesnt get much better than that,When I am old I will have this and my E4 Turbo on a stand together to enjoy every evening!!!

LektroiD

June 5, 2009 @ 11:34 am

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

May 28, 2009 @ 7:08 am

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.

<987654321>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

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.

I have read and understand the posting rules.