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, Sigur Ros, and the Chemical Brothers have used this synth extensively! It belongs in your studio!

BA

November 8, 2012 @ 1:50 pm

Some limitation into its 1 oscillator design,but this is imho one of the best sounding synthesizers ever made:very,very rich sounding!!
The incredible fast and very nice way of programming is also Great!

KidA

November 6, 2012 @ 12:28 pm

@haza you are absolutely wrong. I don't know how you could say this synth is limited, that makes no sense. The alpha Juno 2 is a pain to program and the sounds are much thinner and just don't have that warm, lush sound like the 106. This synth is fantastic and can produce a wide variety of sound. The detuned textures you can create with this beast are outstanding.

Haza

November 1, 2012 @ 1:53 am

Decent but way too limited and over-rated. The Alpha Juno 2 is so much more interesting and half the price. Sounds just as good too (better in fact due to the extra things you can do with it!)

Phil

September 28, 2012 @ 5:31 am

@ Simon Haggis - Sound on sound classifieds is worth a try.

@ Batwings - There is a difference. I own both and really the only thing in common is the name. The 106 can be warm, lush, sharp, cutting, squelchy, punchy, solid, hard and is immediately editable.

The Alpha, while analogue, has a different internal set up as to how it handles the waveforms, especially with it's somewhat unique pulse width modulation capabilities (the awesome Hoover patch is testament to that). It's a very nice, affordable synth but it's nowhere near as big or as warm sounding as the 106. And editing is a pain.

Batwings

September 23, 2012 @ 2:48 pm

Is there a major difference in sound between the 106 and Alpha Juno 2? The feature list seems to be about the same...

<363534333231302928>

 

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.