(click to enlarge)

The JX-8P is a decent analog polysynth. It has 6 voices of polyphony, great MIDI implementation and patch storage as well as an external memory cartridge slot. Though it is far more advanced than its predecessor, the JX-3P, the JX-8P has its drawbacks. Hands-on programming is sacrificed and reduced to assigning the parameter you want to tweak to a data-slider near the pitch/mod bender. Enter the PG-800 controller which gives you total control of all the JX-8P's editable parameters with hands-on traditional slider control. Membrane buttons dominate the front panel of the JX-8P providing access to the various preset and user patches and to page through and assign editable parameters.

Professional features can still be found under the hood of the JX-8P. Its 61 note keyboard is velocity and aftertouch sensitive. Just like the Juno synthesizers it uses DCO's for a very stable system, however its sounds are a little thin and bright. It also features portamento, unsion and solo (monosynth) performance modes. It is used by Biosphere, 808 State, Tangerine Dream, The Shamen, Depeche Mode, Überzone, the Cure, Go West, Ozric Tentacles, Future Sound of London, Jean-Michel Jarre, Europe, and Jimmy Jam.

93 VISITOR COMMENTS

von Kalben

April 12, 2012 @ 10:36 am

Not very "trippy" or "far out", but imho it excels at something very basic: it sounds phantastic. in that respect it shares some similarities w/ juno 6, that does not pretend it can fly to mars, but convinces at what it does.

interface is another mid80s-button-job, but there are worse ones out there, this here is logically layed out and the rather big buttons help to make this not too fiddly.

@"It is all over Stock, Aiken and Waterman stuff."
you know what? no problem with that at all. it is a testament of its tonal quality. JX-8P is "hifi" and glossy, and thats just fine.

Alex F.

March 31, 2012 @ 1:09 pm

The JX-8 is the best sounding DCO synth of all the Rolands. It is more sophisticated than the 106 and can produce a wide array of sounds. It's hard to get a bad sound of one. It just screams warmth. A totally under rated synth. I't s a hidden gem. I have all 3 JX's and together they create my signature sound which is a wall of fat analog warmth with punch!

timplanetmars

March 23, 2012 @ 6:08 am

Never been keen! It was Roland's answer to the DX7. It is all over Stock, Aiken and Waterman stuff. Typical Roland jack of all trades. Strangely, think Roland have always tried to make gear for the club singer and had serendipity moments that changed the course of music... 808, 909, 303 and Junos. The JX8P is not a serendipity moment more Jason than Kylie I think...

jizmatron

February 8, 2012 @ 1:47 am

There's some great controller software for this synth (and many other) at http://ctrlr.org/ ... just installed the JX8P panel for it on my mac and it's working a treat!

Carlos

January 29, 2012 @ 3:08 pm

Im on a mac OSX, and cant find any controller! The soundpac does not work. The others are ps or os 9. any software controller for OSX that works?

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