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.

Jim Atwood

May 16, 2013 @ 8:07 pm

I recently acquired a Roland JX-8P. Everything works great except I get stuck notes when I hit several keys, primarily the black ones. The notes just sustain and when I attempt to hit them again they don't don't sound obviously because they are sustaining. When I attach a keyboard controller, I can play without any issue at all. The JX-8P is perfect!! Thus no problems when using a controller keyboard. Key bed has been cleaned. Aftertouch works great! I just get get rid of the sustained notes. I've this is a big problem with the JX-8P and there doesn't appear to be a fix. Any ideas?

Alex

April 14, 2013 @ 12:20 am

This Synth with a PG 800 is dreamy! You simply can not get a bad sound out of it. I have one and will never part with it, it just sounds like heaven.

tom

April 2, 2013 @ 12:34 pm

Brilliant, warm sounded synth! To control this gentle monster I use Behringer BCR2000 instead of PG-800.

Neil Loughran

March 17, 2013 @ 2:43 pm

Ah.. the good ol JX8P! Got this in 1987 and programmed the hell out of it. Pretty good presets... maybe a bit dated now and the chorus is kinda shouting 1985 if you choose to use it. Nowadays we're a bit spoilt with all the sounds at our disposal. The JX8P was Roland's attempt to create an analogue synth which had the classic sounds but could also edge towards the digital if needed for piano and the like. Mind you 6 voices is pretty limited. I now have a JX10 and PG800 and love it.. JX8P/JX10 is all over Tangerine Dream LPs of the time (Underwater Sunlight).

Tom

February 13, 2013 @ 5:43 pm

I've always liked the Roland JX-8P. It's a very lush and warm instrument, and to my ears it has a fuller and darker sound than than my JX-3P, that i've always found a bit bright. I have two of the early ones, without patch labeling on the membrane switches. Apparently, the later version sounds a bit different. PG-800 makes it a breeze to use.

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