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.

MocciJ

November 23, 2009 @ 2:37 am

I partially agree with Jostein. The jx-8p sits really well in the mix when it comes to do strings, brass, (random background patch)'s chords, sounds wide.. but the magic ends when it comes to solo. Even if you program a good patch that played alone seems blastful.. it simply stays in the background in the mix!!
I think it's best used when midi'ed with other modules, adds warmness to anything :D

Jostein Chr. Andersen

November 12, 2009 @ 3:35 am

I just love this synth! Many people says that it's sound is a little thin, but I don't agree. JX-8P sounds great in the mix, it's easy to hear it and easy to hear guitars and other instruments as well. And despite the saying that JX-10 is essential two 8Ps, nothing sounds like JX-8P. I now have my second one and will get one or two more as spare ones.

Curtis Black

October 8, 2009 @ 8:52 am

holy toledo....can you get these for cheap. I found one for $130 in Boston. And they are really quite powerful! Sure, it may sound a little thin...but that shortcoming is vastly overshadowed by two points. 1. with synthesis knowledge, you can program some really classic or far out sounds. 2. It costs perhaps an 1/8 of a weeks pay. And, it's not even worth re-selling as as person truly repulsed by its sound could keep it around as a conversation piece due to its Star Trek like appearances.

moloch

September 12, 2009 @ 11:25 am

i have a jx-10, although everyone on here seems to favour the jx8p/3p. yeh sure, the jx10 is a bright sounding synth, but it is capable of a dirty sound as well. so guys and gals, what truly sets the jx 8p apart from the 10? but damnit, the only drawback imo, is the crappy midi implementation. however, i just purchased midiquest 10, and it has the template for the 'super jx'. look it up. havnt used it yet, but is this true? is it truly editable through midi now...?

il

August 30, 2009 @ 3:54 pm

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/articles/roland.htm

"although it was a far more powerful and flexible synth than the Juno, it lacked the same degree of mass-market appeal. In part, this was caused by Roland's eagerness to present their new flagship keyboard synth as competition for the DX7. "

"Together with its PG800 programmer, it was a flexible and accessible synth, and thanks to innovative little tricks such as the ability to link the volume of DCO2 to the keyboard velocity (which is useful when the oscillators are sync'ed) it generated a wide range of new powerful sounds. also excelled at Roland's traditional strong suits — strings, brass and pads — and many of its factory presets have remained part of the standard synth vocabulary for the ensuing two decades."

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