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.

Mr. Hoffman

February 2, 2013 @ 10:32 pm

The 8P is awesome, the only limitation is the Polyphony..You na-sayers of this Gem in my opinion either have not owned one, or are Korg, Yamaha Purest..Mid 1980 oscillators are the text book example of what makes a phat sounding Synth. and Roland "INC" back then used those warm phat oscillators to their fullest, and the 8P was the flagship carrying those oscillators..

marcus davis

January 28, 2013 @ 7:01 pm

I remember the JX8P Synth had some very cool sounds but boy was it heavy to lug around .

oddglow

January 25, 2013 @ 11:48 am

Synth newbie. Roland JX-8P. Point me in the direction of programming resources? Thanks

relic

January 8, 2013 @ 11:22 pm

although few remember it as such today, the replacement for the Jupiter 8, the JX8P.

relic

January 8, 2013 @ 2:32 pm

come on! you don't need the PG-800 that bad do you? sure it's cool but it's not that hard to program this synth without one. so many people saying you have to have it..lol. man up! so what if you have to push a few buttons. oh it takes too long!..lol. blah, blah... plus $400 is way over priced for one.

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