Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • JUNO-D

Roland has brought the JUNO back, but this is not an analog synth--it is a budget digital wavetable synthesizer. It may not look anything like its predecessors, nor does it sound like the classic analog poly-synth whose name it bears, but like those before it, the JUNO-D offers a fairly robust package of synth sounds and potential in a streamlined, user-friendly interface at a reasonable price---making it a good entry-level keyboard.

The JUNO-D comes with 32 MB of waveforms in its memory including Roland's stereo multi-sampled piano, and a whole range of synth sounds from vintage synths to GM2-compatible. Patches are organized in categories such as Piano, Guitar, Orchestra, etc. There are digital resonant filters, LFOs, multi-effects, phrase sampling, chord memory, five front-panel control knobs and a D-Beam controller so you can twist any of the hundreds of patches it ships with into your own more unique sounds. Those who want to program their own JUNO-D sounds via computer, a Mac/PC editor is included.

A Limited Edition model was released (pictured above) which doubled waveform memory to 64MB and added extra patch memory storage (706 total patches, 66 are new) and featured some newly programmed sounds including an incredibly realistic piano based on 88-key stereo multi-sampled waves, a massive rock organ, '80s-era brass and electric piano, vintage synth sounds and many others.

As entry-level keyboards go, you can't go wrong with the JUNO-D. It has hundred of quality Roland sounds at your disposal, and tweaking them is fairly easy. However, this is not a workstation (like the JUNO-G) nor is it a retro re-make of the classic JUNO series synthesizers. It offers JUNO-like simplicity, yes, but more discerning synthesists and keyboard players may want to look elsewhere for better sounds or a more advanced keyboard than the JUNO-D. In other words, the original JUNO-series has nothing to worry about from this new JUNO.

VISITOR COMMENTS (14)

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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.

 

Manolo

Posted 167 days ago

I've one of this toys, unfortunately humidity wears out contact pads and need frequent disassembly and cleaning when not replacing the entire contact rubber arrays. Some sounds are great like Pipe Organ and Juno-D Piano, some other are like carbon copies of other patches and some sound fake or toysy, I'm not an entry level musician and I think it costs what it worths but for the keypad thing

fod09

Posted 228 days ago

its fun 4 a bit but then it gets boring :)---------------------time--------------:(

Andrea

Posted 261 days ago

It's a toy!!!
It is a good keyboard for first times but then.... You change it!

Dave

Posted 308 days ago

I would go with the RS70 more then the Juno-d if you can find one it's pretty much the same design but comes with more sounds to tweak and a sequencer and floppy drive for saving sounds and songs. In a way its a Juno-d LE on steroids and I have read around the web some prefer the RS70 over a Korg Triton LE. But for me I'd like to have a Juno-d because some of the sounds are good and don't come on the RS70 and the two would look sexy under my Korg MS2000 on a 3 tier key rack.

Kyle

Posted 378 days ago

I see people giving this synth a hard time but I actually quite like it. That's why i bought one. I also have Moog Voyager, Prophet 8, Nord Lead and Proteus 2000, so I wouldn't say that I was a novice. For me this is just an easy source for samples or realistic insruments which can then be fine tuned. It is a bit cheap feeling but hey, it's a cheap price! I particularly like the percussion, notably the timpany and kalimba. The piano and organ sounds are pretty useable but if you are looking for analogue or unusual electronic sounds, look elsewhere. Another thing, this is really suitable for live guitar type bands. I am sure there will be some sounds useful for you.

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