Vintage Synth Explorer

Roland • JUNO-STAGE

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.

VISITOR COMMENTS

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Ian

Posted 31 days ago

I think the sequencer isn't a big deal when you can just sequence midi on a pc and save it to play from a usb pen drive. am i wrong?

Chieife

Posted 100 days ago

The stage can only playback sequencer files created on a workstation, It can't be used for recording sequences.

Jo des de Quatretonda

Posted 103 days ago

I read the description and I find this:

The JUNO-STAGE does not, however, have the sequencing/workstation capability of the JUNO-G.

don't have sequencer, but I think is a good synth

C. Quencher

Posted 108 days ago

Of course it has a sequencer. Read the description on the right!

Jo

Posted 279 days ago

OK, it's "stage", but why is there missing a sequencer? Most of the time players are off stage. And you can't "play" with it off stage, even when you are on tour, for example.

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