Roland JX-8P

Roland JX-8P Image

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.

120 Visitor comments
KC
October 2, 2010 @ 10:44 pm
Is it GM like the 106?
audibleobsession
October 2, 2010 @ 12:26 am
If any Novation Remote SL users out there would like a template map for their JX8P let me know! Would be glad to share...a nice alternative for Remote SL owners who don't own the PG800 or don't like using the VST. P.S. For all those curious about this synth, search "Jexus" in youtube and you'll be sold ;)
Jaime Ochoa
September 21, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
If you like this keyboard don't forget the amazing ROLAND PG-800 (Synthesizer Programmer). Believe me !! without this tool...it's not the same analog experience
Garret Thomson
September 12, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
smashtonsubastian, I *just* finished resoldering a new edit fader into the fader board on my jx-8p .. works great again!

You can order the part from Roland, it's only like 6 bucks, and if you can't, I'm sure you probably know somebody who could desolder the old edit fader off the board and install a new one.
smashtonsubastian
August 25, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
I have a JX-8p and love it. Unison bass lines sound great through the Boss Slicer pedal for some rhythmic bass lines. but have been looking on ebay for the PG-800 since my Edit fader's values jump from 0 to Max immediately with no in-between values. Anyone else have this same problem?
 
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  • Demos & Media
  • YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 1
    - Roland JX-8P Analog Synthesizer

    YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 2
    - Roland JX8p | demo (1 of 2) by WC Olo Garb

    YouTube Thumbnail
    Video 3
    - The Roland JX-8P - A Simple Sequence

    Manual - This is a PDF file format copy of the original Owner's manual for the JX-8p.

  • Specifications
  • Polyphony - 6 voices
  • Oscillators - 2 DCO's per voice (12 oscillators)
  • Memory - 64 patches + External memory cartridges
  • Effects - Portamento
  • VCF - standard VCF
  • VCA - ADSR envelope
  • Arpeg/Seq - None
  • Keyboard - 61 note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
  • Control - MIDI In/Out/thru
  • Date Produced - 1985

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