Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • JUNO-106

The JUNO-106 is a very common and widely used analog polysynth. It continues to be one of the most popular analog synths due to its great sound and easy programmability. It was the next major incarnation of the JUNO-series, following the JUNO-60. While it has virtually the same synth engine as the JUNO-60, the 106 added extensive MIDI control making it one of Roland's first MIDI-equipped synthesizers. There was also increased patch memory storage, up to 128 patches instead of the 56 patches available in the JUNO-60. However, the JUNO-60 is often said to have a slight sonic edge over the more advanced 106. The 60 had the ability to modulate oscillator pulse from its envelope and has a "punchier" sound quality.

The JUNO-106 is a six-voice polyphonic and programable analog synth with one digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) per voice. While classic monophonic synths used two or three oscillators to create a fatter sound, the JUNO-106 uses built-in Chorus to fatten up its sound to 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 lowpass filter with plenty of resonance and self-oscillating possibilities and a non-resonant highpass filter. The programable pitch/mod bender can be assigned to control the DCO pitch, VCF cutoff, and LFO amount all at once or individually.

The JUNO-106 was the first MIDI equipped JUNO and its implementation is quite good. There are 16 MIDI channels available and MIDI SysEx data can be transmitted/received 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 ports allows the user to switch between three types of MIDI modes: Keyboard and Hold data only; Keyboard, Hold, Bender, Patch selection data; or All data (including SysEx). Most users simply set it to MIDI Function mode 3 and forget it.

This synth is incredibly straightforward and very powerful. It's SH-series derived panel layout is easy to understand and very hands-on. Use it to generate lush pads, filter sweeps, and funky bass lines and leads. The JUNO-106 is an awesome learning tool for anyone new to analog synthesis, as well as an electronic musician's dream for its warm analog sounds coupled with modern features like MIDI and memory - all at a very reasonable price. And still the JUNO-106 has an even cheaper alter-ego in the form of the HS-60 - a hobbyist version with built-in speakers.

The JUNO-106 is one of the most loved and used synthesizers by professionals and hobbyists alike! William Ørbit, Überzone, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), Autechre, BT, Vince Clarke, Moby, 808 State, Underworld, Leftfield, Fluke, Josh Wink, Todd Terry, Depeche Mode, Eat Static, Biosphere, The Prodigy, The Shamen, Bushflange, Cirrus, Astral Projection, Apollo 440, Faithless, Union Jack, Computer Controlled, Pet Shop Boys, Sneaker Pimps, Erasure, Freddy Fresh, Rabbit in the Moon, Kevin Saunderson, Jimmy Edgar, Laurent Garnier, Vangelis, and the Chemical Brothers have used this synth extensively! It belongs in your studio!

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L.V.

Posted 19 days ago

Very nice sounding and useful synth. Pads are a strong point, but cranks out solid basses. Lovely liquid Roland resonant filters for sweeps and acid stuff. If you want to play Moog solos it's not going to satisfy. That said, you'll find plenty of subtler sounds useful in many genres. Gets a lot hate for being thin from Juno 60 owners to justify the few hundred more they paid. A case of the pot calling the kettle black. People who've owned both will tell you that there is a difference in sound, but the difference is often overstated by proponents of one or the other. Neither one is spewing OMG [beep] BBQFATness, but both do a nice job providing some of the half dozen other sounds you need that, if played on a truly fat analog would step all over each other. Can produce sounds that are the focal point of a song, but its ability to supplement a mix in less obvious ways makes it stand out. Not a ton of mod options, but easy to quickly dial up great sounds and get straight to creating music.

zoltan

Posted 28 days ago

hey there,
i would like to buy a juno 106. does anybody have one for sale in good condition?
email: audio.delight@hotmail.com

Teleny

Posted 30 days ago

I bought one in the 80s, when basically it was the Juno, Poly-800 or dw6000. The Juno owns all of the other keyboards, and I hate programming digital machines, but this analog one is actually fun and intuitive to program. Thunderous basses, rich pads and synth strings, and just plain noisey sounds (use the "Noise" slider!). Not only that, the keyboard is amazingly durable and light weight for an 80s era keyboard. Finally, good midi functions, and I still love the keyboard feel. One of the Hall of Fame synths.

Ignoramus

Posted 41 days ago

Last comment belongs to alpha Juno2 ;-)

Juno 106 ist very good at pads and upper Bass Sounds. The Chorus makes a lot of noise. Without Chorus the sounds are very thin ,-)

Ignoramus

Posted 41 days ago

This synth got much power. Extreme good filter for noise-pads. Please don´t compase it to Juno106, it ist very different.
Key-Pad and alpha Dail [beep] s ;-)
But you can control it 100% via Midi, great!

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