ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- Patchpacks : jorb.gumroad.com
Patreon : / jorblovesgear
Instagram : / jorblovesgear
Buddy Ryan: / ecobeige
Affiliate links :
Juno 106: reverb.grsm.io...
JU06: reverb.grsm.io...
Deepmind: reverb.grsm.io...
AX60: reverb.grsm.io...
AX73: reverb.grsm.io...
Poly800: reverb.grsm.io...
EX800: reverb.grsm.io...
Nymphes: bit.ly/3uZFjdG
Cobalt 8: bit.ly/3Bvb27G
Hydrasynth: bit.ly/3uXooIM
I do really like doing these, and appreciate the discussion that comes from it.
Roast me, add your thoughts, make suggestions, WHATEVER just put it in the comments.
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Bought a Juno 60 for almost $2K. Fell in love. Cried tears of joy from the sonic beauty. Felt guilty about what I paid. Sold it. Went on a journey to replace it. Went through a Deepmind 12, JU-06A but neither was right. Tried an Alpha Juno 2. Didn't cut it. Tried the TAL-UNO Juno plugin. Didn't care for it. Tried a Deepmind 6. Still missed the real thing. Bought a Juno 106 and I'm back in LOVE again more than ever. So what if I'm broke.
What 2000 ??😂 I used this 25 years ago you could pick them up for 100 Euro .
@@NTRSN-Archive they're crazy money these days. especially in good shape.
Got mine for $250 in the early '90s.
Great anecdote! I got a 106 a few years ago for $1,000, and don't plan to ever part with it. I'd used to TAL-UNO before and it was okay, but nowhere near as nice as the real thing. I did spend a little time around a Juno 60 at a friend's place recently, and it's definitely got something that the 106 doesn't have... just a very wonderful, lush weight.
6 and 60 are magic. 106 can’t touch it. Jup-8 can’t touch it. No seriously not kidding.
I am a year behind, but I thought I'd mention it as the JU-06A is mentioned here: When the boutiques were new, I bought the three originals: Juno, Jupiter and JX. But I sold all of them in favour of the System-8. It gave me all the synths pluss the System-8 engine AND it gave me the correct polyphony as it has up to eight. I still own the System-8 and I love it.
The design on the Juno 106 is why so many people choose to own one. The look is timeless.
Very grammable, true
Truth
TRUE, the look of a synth is almost like an immediate yes or no, as dumb as that feels to write
@@garljoens It's not dumb at all, they're musical instruments. Interface is a huge deal.
hi tony
I remember when the 106 was the "budget" synth. I knew people who wanted a Prophet 5 but couldn't afford it, so they got a 106. They're neat, but I think this video does a great job of explaining some more cost effective and frankly better options.
I bought an original when they first came out. I was on a budget. LOL!
Well said, me! I wrote that 6 months ago. Now I've launched a new site/channel strictly about keyboards to keep my guitar/keyboard worlds separate. Only thing I'd add to the above comment is that I think a lot of people had bad experiences with plugins 10 years ago, but they've come a long way since then! Plugins can totally fool you now. The downside is you don't get those lovely wonderful knobs and for most of us, the controls are SUPER important.
Budget I bought my Juno6 for £100 back in 1990 with the springs missing on 2 keys .Fixed it recorded and gigged with it and Sold it later on in the 90s for £250.
Only miss it because of the potential resell value if I'd kept it.
At the time I wanted a Jupiter8 back then you could pick one up for under a grand when someone was actually selling one.
I was offered A Jupiter6 owned by a well known Artist for £650 and about the same time An Oberheim OB8 that was owned by a very famous artist for £600.
Didn't buy either to my regret, because I also never aquired the Jupiter8 that I'd turned the other two synths down to have the money to buy .
It still is a budget synth in regards to its features.
I bought a Roland Alpha Juno 1 with the Retroaktiv MPG50 controller and have not regretted it. The controller has all the faders for parameters and has two where you can actually apply multiple parameters to one fader. So if you wanted to do a swell with adjusting the PWM, Filter, and LFO Rate, you can do it all with one fader. What's cool about the Alpha Juno is it has the ability to adjust the chorus rate and it has more waveforms. Anyways love your channel Jorb.
I get my Juno fix with an Alpha 2, and Dtronix DT-300 editor. Agree with all of the above, it covers Junon106 territory, but does a lot more thanks the the unique envelope. The filter is not the same, but it's still the filter from the JX8p/10, and therefore has a lot more character than most filters on new synths imo.
The other cool thing about the alphaJuno-1 is it WILL respond to velocity and aftertouch via another MIDI controller. It's not like the 106 which just doesn't respond to either velocity or aftertouch, period. I've had mine since 1987 and still use it to this day.
Alpha Juno kicks ass. My first synth
MKS-50 is my jam.
I had a take where I mentioned this, not sure why I cut that. Thanks for saying it!
Former Juno 6 owner here. I recently got a JX-08 and it’s soothing my Juno lust and offering quite a few extras.
I'm totally happy with my Deepmind. Wouldn't actually exchange it for the original Juno -- mostly because of the rich display and compact size.
Also, thanks to you, Jorb, I learned how to program it :)
I'd take that exchange in a heartbeat... Then immediately sell the Juno, and buy another used Deepmind 12, plus another 1k worth of gear with the profit. win-win ;)
I'm four years into ownership and all those wiseass jokes about build quality and durability are in the trashbin of comment thread history
@@truthbydesign5146 Hah! What a twist. Of course, I could go for that :)
I owned a 106 for years, and I find the Deepmind 12 gets you close enough, but also adds everything I wished the 106 had when I owned it: double the voice count, more flexible modulation, better LFOs, and full on board effects….and is a fraction of the cost.
And my DM12 has had plenty of abuse and taken it. It’s not the Behringer of the early oughts
My first synth was a 106, and love my deepmind. it's a Juno on steroids, and cheap.
One thing that I like to do is translating Juno, Jupiter 6 or other vintage synth patches onto a modern synth like the Polybrute. There are utilities that can read Juno sysex patches files and show the sliders positions on screen. Then I translate the parameters on the Polybrute and even if it doesn’t end up sounding identical it can get very close. And most of the time the resulting patch end up being a good starting point to add more modulations and effects that makes it better than the original.
I spend a lot of time re-creating patches, with enough patience a lot is possible.
Would love to do that on a polybrute!
I need to try this out
I appreciate what you said in your intro. I agree - there’s no right or wrong way to approach choosing a synthesizer. My vibe is just that, a vibe. I am usually looking for a particular sound, and I find that by testing synths out in stores and tapping into my intuition until I hear “that’s it!” in my heart, I’m able to make clear decisions about purchases. So, like you said, it’s about looking for something that does what you want, not being a purist or being stuck in “the best” mentality.
I have my 106 since 1984(?) and will never, ever sell it. It is limited compared to more modern synths, but the interface is so immediate. It can so pro sounding, bass, leads, strings, winds, etc. Extremely versatile. Mine needed one overhaul about 5 years ago and is still fizzy like it was back in the 80s. It’s a lot of cash for a newbie, but if it’s what you want the analog warmth and classic tone is tough to beat.
Played a 106 back in the 80s. Haven't found a keyboard yet that can match the string sounds.
2000 just seems like a lot for a great string sound .
The term "gas" cracked me up . Lots of musicians have that defect. LoL
And your online personality is very real and entertaining. Dont change!
Thanks for great info 😎
I spent 2.5x the cost of a juno 106 trying most of these options to get a juno 106 sound. On paper there is a similar feature set/functionality. None of them sounded as good & you cant make a bad sound with the 106. Its beautiful. I feel like the saying ‘buy once, cry once’ applies. All the synths mentioned are pretty good, none as good for that sound. That was my experience
Sounds like you bought the wrong other synths...
Brings back such good memories! Use to rent 106 couple times a year. 1985 I think. At 14, no way I could buy one, but parents would help me rent. I think a system 8 is the best bet! 400.00 for a boutique? System 8 gives u 106, jup 8 and much more...
Happy to wave on the nostalgia! gonna have to look into a system 8 now, lots of recs
@@JorbLovesGear I enjoyed the time I had with it. A few little special tweaks and it was pretty close to the real deal.
I subbed because you kept a joyful laugh throughout your video, I stayed cause you have great info! Cheers to you & your channel!
Much appreciated, thanks for that!
Jorb, I absolutely love your content and this series in particular. I work as a sound engineer, and theres something that always bugs me to see on the gig: the nord instruments. Would love to see a What to buy instead of Nord stage or something of the kind. Thanks for all your work and all the gas you have saved for so many!
Cheers, appreciate that! Those are hard, since they do SO much, I would say reface CP plus some bigger keybed instead of the electros, but everything else really depends on the features a certain user relies on.
This would be a great one for Jorb to cover. If I may. Maybe a Korg SV1/2 could somewhat compare. No truncation on program change and is a combo synth.
@@NoxBoxdy agreed. Both the Korg SV and the Yamaha CP have a hands-on accessible interface that Nord users value so much.
I owned a Juno 106 for several years that I bought new. I traded it and have regretted it ever since. I still have a MKS50 with a programmer that I did acquire a few years later and although it’s not the same, it’s not bad. I have been interested in a Deepmind in the last couple of years. The Roland boutique modules seem like toys and I have not been as attracted to them. I own a couple of software recreations, my favorite being the TAL U-NO-LX synth although I haven’t yet spent enough time with the new Arturia offering to really A-B them. Great video, I have been an advocate of not chasing gear for a long time. Gotta use what you have and not let gear acquisition become the passion over making music. 😀
Deepmind does a great job! And I've been impressed with the boutiques. It's true, gas can stop creativity
Just grabbed a Hydrasynth Deluxe as my first big synth. I am completely blown away. The polyphonic aftertouch and complex customizability of all the parameters is pretty great. But it tends to sound more ambient and floaty if you only browse the presets (which I'm 100% here for in any case). I binged review videos and ultimately wasn't going to get it...until I played the demo unit at Sweetwater and realized it really does have features that warranted getting it, and not just GAS. I don't think I'll need more gear for a very long time outside of building my own modular.
Yep. I saw the specs in Nov 2019. Ordered it in Dec 2019. Owner since Jan 2020. No regrets. Also have EX800. Shared filter is a drawback when comparing to Juno. Also have DM12. NICE. Layered with Hydrasynth sounds great. Blofeld plays nice in the sandbox as well.
@@jamesdefrancesco7765 I've always wanted a Blofeld but they're so old, so much menu-diving and still cost more than they should IMO. I'll get one if I can score it for
Blofeld < $300 would be a steal. I think I got mine < $400 back in 2018. The matrix system works. Yes, it can be clunky at times but it sounds incredible. WT and virtual analog. Checks off 2 boxes. I only have the module. Keyboard version is more $$$ than I want to pay. It is supposed to be a nice keybed. I own an Ultranova as well. Perhaps some overkill with the VA but is also very versatile and it has a vocoder! Nice synth touch as well. Quick and smooth action.
@@jamesdefrancesco7765 I love my Mininova! Novation's VST makes *nova's so powerful and versatile. Parameters can even be modulated/automated within Ableton! Though the playing Hydrasynth Deluxe permanently made my Mininova feel like a toy, ASM doesn't have that VST integration and I really hope they make one at some point.
The idea of using my HS as a controller for a Blofeld seems pretty attractive too since the Blofeld can use aftertouch midi data, and I've read the Blofeld has a decent app and can interface an MPE or something similar. I've seen blofelds in the past go for
For several years my on stage rig consisted of a Juno 106, an Akai AX-80, A Kong DW-8000 and an Akai S-612. I had to sell my Octive Cat to raise money for the 106… I think I myself might be “vintage”. 😉
We had a 106 at my high school when I was a teenager in the 80s. I get my warm fuzzies from TAL UNO now visit does a great job.
I’ll be honest, software really does so many things that vintage and even modern hardware can do, if not better sometimes. It’s typically much cheaper and of course more space efficient…BUT: I genuinely think many people don’t use hardware for simply sound quality or on the other end, the aura of magic of vintage synths. The tactile, physical and material aspect of hardware is extremely hard to get somewhere else. I only say all this that thank you for these G.A.S videos, I think it’s important to dull a bit of the sheen of vintage gear, especially when substantially over priced, but to also admit that there is something special about physical gear. Thank you!
Well said, for me and others there just is something about hardware.
happy to do em 🙏🙏
Everyone who talks about how “software can do everything hardware can do and more” completely miss the point of hardware. I dont want to click a stupid mouse and tap away at a keyboard to make my sounds. Computers completely ruin the creative process for me.
I gotta recommend the Prologue. 😉
Great vid! Covers some really excellent alternatives.
OO of course. I've still got to find a chance to get another swing at one, underappreciated!
I love my prologue - can get juno and prophet like sounds out of it but the filter has it's own korg vibe
I remember not so long ago when you could typically buy a vintage 106 for around $300-$400. It's crazy how much prices of vintage gear skyrocketed over the past several years.
I finally got a chance to actually see and play a Juno 106 last year. It is indeed a very nice sounding synth.
I remember looking at one second hand about thirty years ago for £150 which was a lot when I was a teenager. I got a second hand guitar instead. That guitar is worth nothing now- but that Juno would have been worth a few quid.
In the early 2000s (I forget the exact date) I came very close to buying a used 106 from ebay for about $150 shipped. The seller said one of the voices was dead, and it needed servicing, but I was the second highest bidder. I just didn't have the money to fix it or I would have.
Yep, got my 106 around 1998 for £300, and my Juno 6 around the same time for £150!
Good point. I got mine for $500 from someone who had two. This was just about a decade ago. Since then, and to your point, they’re really high, but the sound and unique mojo is totally worth it.
@Damian Dustin Agreed! It has a nice filter, a sweet sounding chorus, and a nice beefy bottom end too. I was surprised it can do bass when I played one for the first time.
You & bad gear are the best gear shows online!
UI look and feel guiding your creativity is a HUGE point. Well put.
Love the subtle “redirect your gas” sentiment at about 21:00 with the BEHRINGER SWING tape lol
I’m sure it’s appeared before on your vids and you’ve probably spoken about it, but I found that hilarious.
Great video
I have since taken that off, would rather rep arturia than make a behringer joke..lol
The secret answer is the Roland MKS-7. It's a Juno-106 in 2u rack form.
Values are still suprisingly low. It used to be hard to program before software.
shh dont tell them
One must also consider the Roland SynthPlus-60, a Juno 106 with speakers built in
I owned it...and yes, it had the annoying chip problem so I sold it a lont time ago. The Minilogue XD does the job...it's a pity that the new Juno X is a bit expensive, I could buy tons of gears for that money...but I still like the X. (watching the videos)
I paid 550 pounds for mine back in 2012 and it needed an additional 150 pounds to restore it to full working order as a few voices stopped working not long after I bought it (voice chips replaced). It's worth noting that the synthsizer was sold as "fully functional" when I was buying. It took a couple of months for it to exhibit problems. After the voice replacement it's been solid.
The SH01A is actually polyphonic (4 voice) and can do *some* of the Juno 106 stuff almost exactly. Worth a look if your budget is tight.
I owned one for 8 years. It's definitely unique and not easily replicated, but big and lacks a wide range of sound. That said, it's great for ambient pads.
I found one that I cleaned and repaired. Just changed a $2 mux chip and it works good now. Somebody had moved overseas and never came back. It was a good feeling having it working (adsr didn't work and a few other sliders). Yeah it's probably overhyped but a good instrument. Wouldn't pay asked price nowadays, don't think so.
Ooo great luck
yesterday a friend of mine installed new chorus chips and faders on my beloved JX-8P and tomorrow I'll put all the pieces together
Big day!
Got a fully working Juno 106 (except a problematic HPF) with a 6/10 cosmetic for $800 yesterday. I love that thing! The logical thing to do is for sure getting a Deepmind 12 (I actually found one available in te past for $600), but something about original synth just tells me I should get the OG. Great video by the way!
Hey Jorb, I love your videos. Keep up the amazing content. I REALLY love your calm approach to gear, your honesty, and your wisdom to suggest options that give a brand new perspective. Your channel has helped me alot in my GAS struggles! haha. Keep up the great content man! Cannot get enough!
Nice balanced video. For me it boils down to: most things sound as good if not better than my Juno-60… but none of them play or give me that smile that the Juno-60 gives me. It’s an instrument.
Cheers appreciate that. And I do get that, theres something great about sitting down with good old gear
Sold my Juno 106 and used the money to buy new gear and I bought, Behringer Monopoly, 2 Behringer Pro-2, Behringer K-2, Behringer Model D, Behringer MS-1,Behringer TD-3, Behringer Crave, Behringer RD-8 and RD-9 and it was totally worth it. After that I sold all My Moog's, Dave Smith and Sequental synths except for my Favourite and beloved Prophet 08. Let's see what else Behringer has in store for me.
Juno X 256 polophony ,61 keys with after touch,Vocoder,Step sequencer,Synth Model expansions i want one!
Roland also offers the System 8 with Juno 106 patches. It’s not new but it is a modern option and gets around the limited polyphony of the boutiques.
I really should try a system 8...
I like the System 8 and the Juno 106 patches are great. Added bonus, once I brought the System 8 home I put my JP-8000 in storage. :)
Korg Polysix was a good option but their prices are also going up n up..
I think the Minilogue xd is worth a mention here. Different of course, but very flexible. It's own effects are decent, but with a Boss stereo chorus wonders are possible
Not worth mentioning if comparing to a Juno 106 there’s really nothing in common between the two at all the sound is so far off. It Is a flexible little piece of gear but the vids about 106 alternatives.
Another great option is the Roland System 8. You can take care of your Jupiter 8, 106 and JX3P in one synth. And it sounds great. And it's purty.
I agree!
Many analog purists complained when Roland announced the ACB technology, but I think these emulations are MARVELOUS! I really fell for the sound of the boutiques, but couldn't deal with the 4-note polyphony.
You figure that the System-8 gives you all three of the original boutique engines with 8-note polyphony plus the System-8 synth engine itself, which is absolutely outstanding in its own right. Plus, the System-8 gives you full size knobs and faders. It's just a great option.
On top of the Juno goodness it offers, think of how much a Jupiter-8 runs these days. Having an 8-voice ACB Jupiter-8 at your disposal along with the Juno-106 with next to no menu diving and all of that control laid out knob-per-function...it really is a helluva package.
I've only heard good things about the system 8, maybe I should be sure to get my hands on one. Cheers all!
@@JorbLovesGear Well if you can't track one down before the next Knobcon, maybe I can bring mine with me and we can sit down with it and have a party. It's really a delight! I have a System-1m with the SH-101 plug-out as well and that was what convinced me that ACB really could capture the analog sound.
Jonathan and I got to play with the JU-06A at Knobcon 8 in 2019 and we were blown away with how different, and equally outstanding the Juno-60 ACB engine was. I'm tempted to get it for my System-8. Yet, I'm delighted with the three plug-outs it already has. We'll see what the future holds.
BTW, outstanding job with this video, my friend. This premise is a real winner! Always love seeing whenever you've posted something new!
Peace.
The green leds make me want to barf
agree. Roland acb tech sounds very good
I have a serious GAS addiction and I'm still hurting from selling my Juno-60 30 years ago (this year). Back then, I wanted MIDI and it didn't have MIDI. Even as it was being driven away, I couldn't help thinking I'd made a horrible mistake. I sold it for £400... I've seen them for 10x that today WITH MIDI retro-fitted to them.
At the time I wanted a 106 but never bought one. I have to be honest, the 60 still appeals more. The simplicity... Anyway, I bought a JU-06a and paired it with my Modal Cobalt 8X but I find myself using it less and less. I think I just like the "tangibility" of keyboards with... keyboards. The DeepMind appeals enormously. I already have a Poly D (who doesn't?) and I'm happy with the build quality so I've no issues spending more with Behringer.
Just wanted to note the JU06 also has built in delay/echo. The 4 voices is pretty limited - 8 would have been ideal, but the sliders make for really nice real-time modulation for lead lines and it does sound great.
Thanks, I didnt know that! Good tip
Great video Jorb. I bought a Deepmind 12 back in early January of 2021. I bought it used in mint condition. It included patches of all the Junos and Jupiter 8 bought and installed by the previous owner. It also included a Deepmind cover and a new Gator TSA case. All of that for only $575 USD. I got lucky on that deal. It sounds awesome. I have a friend who owns a Juno 106 mint and promised to only sell it to me for $800 USD. So I'll be lucky to get that too for the price
Deepmind does really out perform its price.
Thats a good deal, make it happen!
System 8 is my best choice for a modern Juno. It has the same ACB tech as the Boutiques but 8 voices, and lots of controls. It sounds so good I don't use my 106 anymore. It comes stock with the 106, JX-3P and Jupiter 8 ACB models, as well at its own very deep digital synth engine.
Definitely. System 8’s ACB tech sounds better and more detailed than the JU06a’s. Both do sound great though.
Ive done over 100 gigs with the system 8. It’s was my juno sound keyboard. Awsome and very reliable . I’ve traded it for a jupiter xm.😅
I use the Juno 106 Emulation from the Arturia V8 Collection in almost every song, it sounds beautiful and has all the functionality of the Juno
I've only heard good things!
I think you mean Juno 6. I have the same collection. It IS incredible though.
I too have the Arturia Jun-6 V and it is amazing :) For those of us on a budget I strongly recommend trying Cherry Audio's DCO-106 or TAL-U-No-LX ;)
At some point, I will buy a vintage Juno-60. When I was a kid, I wandered into the keyboard section of a music store in the early 80s and saw them, which created my interest in synthesizers.
Gotta close the loop, I respect that!
Great video Jorb. I still really want a Deepmind 12.
Keep your eyes on the used market, they're out there!
You create great videos. You are very knowledgeable, and have a great voice for narration! Now… since you touched on a number of other similar modern synths, I am wondering why you did not even mention the Roland System-8. I love my System-8 because it comes with 3 of the vintage synths engines including the Juno-106, the JX-3P and the Jupiter-8, plus my favorite is the newer System-8 synth engine has even more parameters to tweak taking it beyond the Jupiter-8, Juno-106 and JX-3P. I really thin the System-8 is a great alternative for a lot of folks who are looking for that vintage analog synth sound plus all the knobs.
System 8 has been brought up a few times, I do consider it a miss too. TBH I really want to try one, and have only seen good things from people who actually use em.
I adore how passionate you are in videos like this.
Man, playing a Juno 106 is just catarthic, ain't no other way to explain it... shit just sounds good
Thats true, for real fun to just sit and use
Generally I view vintage gear like fine art, something you shouldn’t buy unless you plan to launder money or just look at it. I used to have a Casio AZ-1 keytar, it was truly cool looking and I would often just hold it and look at it, but it doesn’t compare well to modern midi controllers like the Vortex Wireless. Good video, keep up the good work!
I would love an AZ-1 to play onstage lol.
Thanks, proud of it!
I would have never spent 2 grand on a Juno, but damn it looks sleek. The colour scheme alone inspires me to play some sweet sweet 80s sus4add9 voicings.
Great video, made my Friday evening 🎹❤️
There’s stickers you can get for the Deepmind to give it a more juno color scheme.
I'm glad you did the Deepmind. I have a Deepmind 12D. It's so underrated. Great build quality, great sound, great FXs. It's sort of a "super-Juno" I think the hundreds of crappy presets that come with it give it a bad rap. The 12D is probably the best bang.
Very true, indeed. Thats why I did all the copycat patches for the DM, start in a simple classic synth spot
"...crappy presets that come with it give it a bad rap."
I bought an Integra 7, yeah it cost a lot, but it’s got a Jupiter built in and plenty of Juno sounds that are tweakable with my Behringer X touch. Both are worth every cent! Love your channel Jorb!
The Integra is the best buy there is..
Strange is that 95% don't know about it or seem to have prejudices..
I have both the DeepMind12 and the Juno-60. The DM12 or even a DM6 can do as a replacement for the juno, but theres nothing but thereal thing ;)
That hit of the REAL good good. lol
Got a Juno 60 recently and I’ve had EVERY single Juno vst from cherry audio to arturia, softube and TAL and as soon as I turned on the Juno 60 and played it, it’s just at another level. Even my wife walked into the room and had a smile on her face. Is it placebo? I don’t know but I’m never getting rid of it.
theres something special about it, no matter what you call it..hahahaa
I'm so glad I came across your channel. This video is super informative and I enjoy your style. Looking forward to checking out your videos on the Deepmind. I'm looking to buy my second synth and having a difficult time choosing between the DM6 and DM12.
I'm a big defender of the Yamaha reface cs. It is clear they were very inspired by the Juno, and it's a great synth for starting since you can dial great tones in like a minute even with NO experience in synth. Plus it's like 300$ new now so I mean, just try it.
I got a Juno 106 when they were cheap. There is no doubt that it's a great sounding synth. However, now I would advise to get the U-he Diva plugin if you don't want to spend a fortune. That plugin is very good. Most others don't compete with the hardware but Diva is a definite alternative.
I agree about the 4 note polyphony, I say 5 is bare minimum… 2 notes for the bass hand and 3 for the lead
i have a 106 that's in near mint condition with a handful of the usual upgrades (3 prong power, battery holder and voice chip sockets soldered in for easy replacements, handful of electronics replaced or cleaned up), and although I do LOVE it for that Juno sound.... i find myself using the JX3P for a lot of stuff that people would normally associate with the 106. if you can get your hands on a JX3p for cheap, i Highly recommend it.
I've had a few repair/release 3P's and loved the sounds, but the midi implementation sucked so much I didnt want to keep fighting with em
@@JorbLovesGear yeah I can see that. I'm mostly live tracking with the jx3p so it's not a big deal to me. I don't use either of them with midi too much really. I have a sbx1 sync box I use to send pulse signals to the jx3p when I do want to use the internal sequencer, and send dinsync to an msq100 I use as a sequencer for the juno106. I guess it really depends on your workflow
I just bought a Hydrasynth Explorer. I love it. 💪🏾. You can grow with it.
If you wanted an analog poly with lots of features, for the same money as a 106, consider a Prophet REV2. Think about it.
Yes I want it, but ended buying the Prologue 8 👍
I've wanted to try one for awhile, just need the right deal!
I have owned a AlphaJuno1 (my 2nd synth in the later 80's!), the Poly800 (my very first synth in the mid-80's), the AX73 in the 90's and an actual 106 about 20 years ago. If I were to buy 1 of them again, it would be either the AX73 or the AlphaJuno (I would go for the 2 this time, with the programmer). They all sound amazing in their own rights. My take on it is that you just play what you have and learn to program it the best you can.
I would add the Juno Stage or the Juno DS to your list.
Good overview, good perspective. A bit surprised no mention of the System-8, but I guess that's just assumed along with the ACB module
This came up a few times in this thread, would love to try one! No first hand experience though, and not up to date on how their prices are doing
And the VST Plugout version is the same code, presumably.
@@JorbLovesGear - justifiably so; their prices are near the going rate for Junos anyway. Except of course they are not analog, not vintage, and don't do just Juno sounds.
I had an AX73. Sold it. Wish I hadn't. Now I'm looking into the one you just pointed out here. Turns out the seller lives down the street.
I'm lucky enough to have a JUNO-6, JUNO-106 and the alpha JUNO-1. The JUNO-6 is by far my favorite but as a MIDI instrument the alpha JUNO is an amazing synth to have. All the regular JUNO 6/106 sounds plus some additional modulation features.
No kidding? Thats great, hope you pick it up. Thats quite the juno collection!
@@JorbLovesGear I used to have a JUNO 60 but sold it along with an SH-1000, 2000 and 3 in order to pay the rent during college. In hindsight, I wish I had kept the keyboards and lived in my car!
Thanks for the video, very informative and cheerful. I wanted to point out that the JU-06 does have a delay, but it is sort of a hidden feature and requires pressing several buttons at the same time to access the settings. I don't know the exact combinations on JU-06, but I have the JX-03 and the delay feature is the same on both. It is however described in the manual, as far as I know.
JX-03 and the original JX-3P are good alternatives too, as they are cheaper than their counterparts but can do the same things as the Juno 106 and more with their two oscs. Only the chorus is a bit different and PWM requires a bit of patching, and of course the original is more difficult to operate without the PG-200 controller.
Ahh, thanks for saying that! I had a JX03 for a bit, had no idea.
Im sure many have said this already but the answer is the jx3p.
Better in nearly every way.
The juno is the modern day, middle class synth that has taken over from the microkorg.
Great list! However, as far as hardware equipment is concerned, I would personally like to recommend the Roland Jx08 purchased a few months ago. Of course it is based more on the jx but it has that fantastic chorus that is so reminiscent of the juno, plus you have two oscillators, 2 envelopes, multitimbral, sequencer, arpeggiator and 20 voices of polyphony!!
106 has the proper sauce. Hoards of successful producers agree. Ive kept mine over p6, virus that have long gone. Alphas also brilliant. Roland cloud version is the best bet for authentic cheap alternative.
Thanks, Jorb! Fab overview, as usual! I missed your 106 patch bank for Deepmind video, and just became aware of it from this video. You should put your gumroad link in the list of links above :-) I just donated and downloaded it and am excited to try out the patches. Thanks!
His JX3P patches deserve to be on your scroll wheel also. Great Epiano sounds.
@@CalTN Awesome! I'll check them out!
Thanks both, hope you enjoy em.
the alpha juno is a good option if u don t wanna spent over a 1000,- for a 6 voice analogue synth from the 80 ties.
theres also a rack version called the mks 50 (which i own and love) for those who want to save space.
Just to say something nice: You are one of the most pleasant and relaxed synth-youtubers I have seen. Always nice to watch one of your videos - although I do not agree with everything you do. 🙂
I'm actually saving money, three months more and i'llbe able to buy a used minilogue (the common one), synths are really expensive in my country
Hope you get it soon and give it a great life.
@@kaitsu9608 i also have a microkorg mk1, bought it used to. It was at a quarter of its og price but wrecked.
It's a 2007 unit with yellow keys, the previous owner used to smoke alot.
I've fixed the entire unit, soldered new push buttons since all of them seemed broken and replaced the tempo led since it was shattered... Oh and it also had candle wax behind the unit, got rid of it with w40.
Im not gonna lie, i was tempted to reclaim my money but till this day it is the cheapest used microkorg that i've ever seen, and fixing it it was also fun.
Cheers, minilogue is wonderful, good luck!
@@chikoavena3407 Cool! I also have MK1, its a great VA that i still keep around. Would not touch the inside myself, thats a great skill to have. No idea how old it is either but its in great shape. Its got that nice VA sound, in the same ballpark as virus, nova etc.
@@kaitsu9608 I think it is already 20 years... My unit is from 2007 and yes, it is a wonderful VA synth!
Wavestate/Modwave can both do very good analog emulations.
The old Akai Miniak is also pretty good at getting the vibe of the 106 but with a dirtier edge.
I would love some time with the wavestate or modwave. Seem to be really flexible!
@@JorbLovesGear of the two, I think the wavestate is the better option. The sequencer is just far more usable than the modwave's phrase one. You can pretty much set out whole tracks on the 'state since the update.
I own and love the Wavestate, but be aware that it is completely sample-based, so you can’t do any PWM. That said, the available samples are extremely varied, and the PolySix and MS-20 filter emulations both sound fantastic. Also, it’s like 64-voice polyphony with a stereo unison mode up to 16 voices, so it can really do quite a bit of good analog emulation, particularly when working in single multisample layers (i.e., not a wave sequence).
I just bought Softube's emulation of the 106. I was hesitant because of its ubiquitous nature in addition to its 'seemingly' simple approach. I was more into the lush stuff like, Prophets, CS-80's, ect. However, since using it, I'm blown away by how USEFUL the Juno 106 is. Although analog, it has a slightly thin sound . But it is because of that... that makes is sit beautifully in a mix. You can stack 5 of them and it's just glorious.
Thanks for the in depth review and recommendations. Poly 800 is a neat board, and pretty substantial with the well documented filter mods. However, it has a couple of huge drawbacks. One, it's paraphonic. Only one filter shared among 8 voices (4 in dual mode). But the big difference is the waves themselves. The oscillator only provides a square and divides it down into 4 registers (2 feet through 16 feet). The square is then manipulated by math to approximate a saw wave (when the saw wave is chosen from the menu). It's good for what it does, but very different from the 106.
The Alpha Juno is a great choice, and one of my favorite synths. Lack of real time controls is a bummer, but an old Roland/Edirol PCR midi controller can load what Roland calls a map, and you can use the knobs and dials to control the Alpha. This has to be spread over 3 programs in the PCR.
Juno 106 was my first full-sized-keys synth. Loved it. It's chorus was awesome! I miss it sometimes and have tried to replicate that chorus a number of ways. Most recent attempt is the June 60 chorus. Jury still isn't in yet. I have plenty of good keyboard alternatives though - so i don't miss it that much. But oh that chorus!
What a place to start! and oh yeah, the chorus is something special
How did it die?
@@rachelar It didn't die while i owned it. I sold it in the mid 90s in fine working condition.
Can't remember why - probably needed the money. I don't regret selling it as i have other synths now that work just fine.
Nice one, but I'd have to add that the Plug-out on my System 8 is the closest thing to a Juno 106, the boutique range are just not equivalen to me though they sound great :) Plus on my System 8 there is just the Juno filter as well which also sounds great :)
I bought a Juno-60 a few years ago in perfect condition and with its original wooden case... for $100 dollars. Then a friend gave me another Juno, this time a Juno-106 that needs repair, apparently the voices are not in good condition, I still have it stored there.
I'm down to a vintage shortlist including the Juno 106. I feel that the "overall combination of features" argument is going to prevail. I can always sell it and get a modern one later.
i bought a deepmind 12 as my first synth and it is huge....! it is a synth that can grow as your skills grow. the more you learn the more the synth delivers.
It really is a winner.
Softube Model 84 is a great plugin option as well, especially if you catch it on sale.
Thats been recommended a few times, good shout!
Oh how I wish I could go back in time and walk out of the shop I sold my Jupiter 8 to with it under my arm. I genuinely thought that things would get better and replace but it nothing ever did. It was awesome, the Ferrari of synths. The 106 seems like a baby Jupiter to me. 🤔
The 6 and 60 literally are baby JP8's, the 106 is another generation removed and not as close. The DNA is there though.
Im mainly a guitar player, but im old and lived through the GREAT music in the 80's...
I have developed a keyboard addiction, currently I have a Triton Xtreme 61, a Korg Minilogue XD synth and a Yamaha MX49
My first synth was a DM6, a damn fine piece of kit. Still a complete noob on its workings but thanks to your channel, I'm getting to grips with it. Quite like the looks of those hydrasynths...and then there's the Lyra 8 to buy too... damnit. Anyhoo, another sub here. Great channel.
Nice to hear that, want to help where I can. Cheers, welcome aboard!
Ju06a also has a arpeggiator and has the 106 and 60 with 8 banks of 16 presents. You definitely can hear the difference between the 2 synths. For that reason I would go with the ju06a and not the ju06.
Buy a system 8! I had a Roland Juno 6 sitting next to my system 8 for a few years and just couldn’t justify keeping both anymore. The real one went. The ACB technology is insane. Just gotta get past how ugly the green lights are 😫
Tons of good recs on these! May have to check it out
I'm going to add an obvious one you didn't mention: the Elektron Analog 4/Keys. It's only four voice, it's true, but it's cheaper than used 106 prices, especially the mk1, and you can emulate a lot of the sound with it. Also, a strong runner up is the JX3P.
I was wondering if you were ever in Keyboard Magazine? I was in the January 2010 issue I had 2 of them I had well over 100 synths the only thing was the chips connection went bad thanks for the info
this is a great, great, video. Right to the point and wonderfully informative. Subscribed!
I value the Junos at $500. Meaning there's no chance I'd pick one over a Blofeld or a MegaFM in that price bracket. $375 is what I'd actually spend on a 6/60/106.
I passed up a juno 60 for 1000.00 a few years back and it still hurts but I picked up a 106 for 600.00 a year later. I just plain like the ways it looks sitting in my room/ studio. Most bands I was in long ago always seemed to have a 106 so the nostalgic factor is priceless in a sense. Had an ax60 back in the day. Never sounded all that great tbh. Have a Juno-2. It rocks
Dude these segments are so sick. One for the SP1200 or TR-808 or DP/4 would be fun.
Appreciate that! I think an 808 one would get me into some trouble, and I've considered ones based on whole product categories, but want to be sure I have a good handle on a given piece of kit before I try and break it down
That's interesting about the boutique polychain not being truly functional. Didn't know that.
Isn't that bizare? @roland how hard is it to send each voice to alternating synths?
Alesis Ion - nails the Juno 106 sound, plus a load of other analogues.
Presets are good, but just add a tiny bit of random to the oscillator and you get the magic.
Nice take on the topic with interesting ideas and comparisons. Cheers!
Much appreciated, thanks for watching
The U-DO Super 6 is expensive but an absolute modern classic that will last for a very long time!
Oh yeah, I really really want to try one.
Just got my hands on the MPG-50 controller for my Alpha. It totally unlocks the capabilities of the Alpha. If you're in the US and you can pick up a cheap Alpha then you can get a really nice Juno setup for about the the same price as a Deepmind. Aspen Kraft has also kindly added some amazing patches to the MPG-50 memory which is very cool.
Just subbed! Love the videos. I would say the workflow is still not all the way there on this for example the sequencer. I almost got this device but that was the deal breaker. Sucked it up and just got the JunoX on a really good deal.