Roland's JUNO-STAGE puts the digital sound engine of the JUNO-G synthesizer into a larger professional keyboard designed for the stage. It features a semi-weighted 76-note keyboard with velocity (no aftertouch), a large easy to read back-lit LCD display, dedicated performance knobs, D-Beam controller, hands-free patch select, instant master MIDI control functionality and much more. The JUNO-STAGE does not, however, have the sequencing/workstation capability of the JUNO-G.

The sounds of the JUNO series are high quality digital wave-based sounds of which the STAGE has a large 128 MB wave memory (double that of the JUNO-G). The sounds are not incredibly special, but they do cover a versatile range of synth & keyboard sounds including an 88-key stereo multi-sampled piano (taken from the Fantom-X), plus 2 open SRX expansion slots for sound set customization. Sounds can be quickly accessed via Favorite buttons and the so-called 'hands-free' patch select which is accomplished by using a foot switch connected to a dedicated Patch Select jack, so you never have to take your hands off the keyboard.

Roland optimized JUNO-STAGE's controllers for live performance, featuring easy-to-grab knobs for instant Master EQ and Reverb control. Located above the pitch bender, two assignable switches can be used for rotary organ effects, portamento on/off, and more. JUNO-STAGE is also equipped with a USB port and Song Player function that enables direct playback and control of backing tracks from a USB key. You can play MP3, .WAV, AIFF and SMF files, and even use the Center Cancel feature to minimize pre-recorded vocals for karaoke-style performance. Additional features for live performance include an XLR mic input with phantom power (plus reverb and vocoder), click output, and an external input for a portable audio player. The MIDI Controller mode transforms JUNO-STAGE into a MIDI master keyboard with a single touch for using the JUNO-STAGE with a computer.

If you like the sounds inside the new JUNO series of synthesizers and would like them in a retro-looking package fully suited to handling the requirements of live performances and gigging, the JUNO-STAGE may be your cup of tea. It is competitively priced and full of modern features - sort of a Fantom-X-Lite for the gigging musician.

10 VISITOR COMMENTS

Marco

January 23, 2012 @ 9:19 am

Exist any banks addon for Juno stage?

yaren

December 30, 2011 @ 6:44 pm

sounds like crap, so cheap sounding and that vocoder is just rubbish!

vegassynth

June 16, 2011 @ 2:20 pm

I love “real” synths. I have had Prophet 5, DX7, Oberheim Matrix 6, Juno 60 and 106, KORG DW8000 and a Kurzweil K2500. I bought this just to do bread-and-butter stuff on the cheap ($800 at Best Buy (really!)).

Prior to this, I have not owned any Fantom series synths. So I had no context on the Roland’s sound programming prior to this. Yeah, rompler…yawn…except there’s ring mod! Resonance + ring mod + triangle waves = rip-your-ears-off leads! Pads that move all over the place and woodwinds that don’t stink.

Most of the patches are a little too wet for live use; easily fixed.

Joe

February 9, 2010 @ 6:15 pm

I played one today and I was blown away. How can Roland put so much in such a lightweight board at this price? I played a Yami S70XS and loved that of course (Motif sounds) but do I really want to spend twice as much and carry almost twice the weight? AND I have been looking at the VR700 soon to hit the market, but again, do I want to spend twice as much when the Juno Stage does all I need it to do and more? The saga continues...

Josh

February 3, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

I play on one at a music store about 3 days ago its sound good i like to have one

<21>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (required)

Email Address: (required)

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.