Roland JX-3P or JX-8P? Which one do you want?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- For years these two synthesizers have divided opinions. Which one is the one to get?
The 3P with its sequencer and stylish casing or the 8P with unison and mono modes?
Do they sound the same or is it best to have them both?
Be aware that an original JX-3P has very limited MIDI functionality, it's in constant Omni-mode, and therefor cannot be in a MIDI sequencer chain without problems. It cannot receive or send MIDI sysex either.
The 8P is not 8-voice polyphonic even if the "8" should indicate that. It's 6 voices like the 3P. The 8P also have a custom fluorescent display that can be tricky to upgrade and the transformer can often become very noisy (acoustically).
The demo track that starts the video can be found here:
espenkraft.ban...
Support this channel on Patreon:
/ espenkraft
My patch banks for the 3P and 8P can be found here:
thepatchbay.co...
thepatchbay.co...
Or contact me directly for more info.
Find my music here:
iTunes Apple music: apple.co/35ZTdfR
Spotify: spoti.fi/38aoWMB
Bandcamp: espenkraft.ban...
Google Play: bit.ly/2NrgXD9
Please join me on social media:
/ espenkraftmu. .
/ espenkraft
/ espenkraft
I use DistroKid for all my releases onto streaming services.
Try out Distrokid yourself and get a 7% discount off your first year by using this link:
distrokid.com/v...
Growing up I listened to so much synth-pop and it's only natural that my own music takes inspiration from many of the acts I loved back then. I still love them and listen to them!
Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Erasure, Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears, The Human League, Propaganda. FGTH, Ultravox, OMD, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Giorgio Moroder, Jean Michel Jarre, Jan Hammer, Alphaville, A-ha as well as loads of artists doing what is now called Italo Disco. And many more great acts like Nik Kershaw, Spandau Ballet, Wham, Dire Straits ++
I was the senior engineer at Roland UK and know both these synths well. I personally love the JX-3P and prefer it over the heavier and flimsy JX-8P, the 3P sequencer is handy as well. I have owned and played all Roland synths of this era and the JX-3P is the one I'd rate over the others. Only downside is lack of editing faders, but this is sorted with patience and/or the editor module.
In what way is the 8P flimsy? Curious to know.
Very interesting and what a great position to speak from on these instruments! I would be happy to have your take on the Super JX-10 and how it stacks up against these two.
@@VictorSchelsinger The JX-10 was the last analogue synthesiser made by Roland. Very reliable but incredibly complex. IMO the factory patches were not great or ar all representative of the sounds you could get from this instrument.
Thats interesting! Many thanks.@@delatronics
@@delatronics Agree. The JX-10 often gets shelved as a pad machine but with the right approach it can be very immediate and complex. While they are reliable and I agree that many are still in use today unmodified, they suffer from the intense heat/solder fractures in many instances. The MKS70 is especially prone to this.
I would rate the JX-3P above all in terms of immediacy, portability, design and ease of repair / part availability. I am in fact resurrecting many of these main boards that were cannibalized for their IR3109 filter chips with AS3109 !!
I really didnt understood the greatness of JX3p and JX8p was to expensive so I bought Kawai K3 instead and was happily having It in my band for 3 years and 3 more with It MIDI'd to Waldorf Microwave.
I still have my 8P and the PG-800 I bought new fresh out of high school. Its so great to see it get the love now because when I bought it everyone else I knew had the DX-7. Even though my 8P has been beat up dragged around from gigs to studios year after year after year sometimes sitting in its old case that rotted away around it as it sat in a closet for a couple years, today it plays as wonderfully as ever. I may love my Moogs but my JX-8P was my first synth love affair after growing up playing Hammond Organs, but that’s a different story. Great video!
I don't know the first thing about synths but dammit, videos like this are just hypnotizing to watch.
Cheers! :)
I bought the JX-8P for the smooth pad sounds and incredible strings - they work so well in a mix and so good for acid/house tracks. Also it happens to be one of the favourite synths of Trevor Horn - used on his productions for Grace Jones and Pet Shop Boys!
JX8P is the synth that plays the riff at the start of "Send Me an Angel" - Real Life (fyi)
I have both and been using them for years. To my ears the JX-3p sounds more harsh, cuts through, a more dramatic sound, grit. The 8-P can be loud and beefy too but overal has a smoother and rounder character of tone, more silky.
That opening music was magestic!!!
It brought back memories from the late 80s early 90s!
As a kid born in '71 to me the 80's were the best years ever; I am grateful to have lived it
I have both, I primarily use the jx3p as a more bleep/bloop style synth and the 8p as my pads. I love them both.
so enjoyable to see someone else appreciate the JX sound as much as me - and the sounds u choose / playing style really makes it impossible not to notice! So, so, sad I sold my 8P, was broke on gf's b-day.... I've been able to get very close to my favorite sounds with the JD-Xa, but your demo reminds me nope not quite the same (and i've got the tc-electronic June-60 analog stereo chorus too) - videos of these on my channel if u curious. Oooh so smooth!
Cheers man! :)
What I find when comparing synths that can sound quite alike is that I wish I had both. There is something special about playing a riff that alternates between them creating an interesting variation to the ear. subtle but effective.Stacking them sounded really good too.
This is why i like 80 music and this is why i like synthwave ...old and new music with the same 'old' synths..(and ofcourse the software versions)..the pad sounds are so warm and beautifull!
My baby! (No, not Espen, but the JX-3P, you weirdos! 🤪) I think both of these JX synths complement each other just perfectly, slight difference, but pretty much the same to me.
Just wait until i got the MKS-30 tuned, then you can do a shootout with that too.
I sure look forward to check out that MKS-30! ;-)
Wait what? You mean this is not a "Espen, I'm your father!' moment? :((( No big revelation? Unsubscribed from both! :)))
Aaron Foltz Yes, I believe so. Even got the dynamics slider from the MKS-80 :)
So does the jx3p (via midi and the correct Roland Rom ;) )
Nobody has done a good comparison vid between JX-3P and MKS-30. Everyone who uses both says they sound different. Architecturally they are similar but the MKS uses 80017 VCF/VCA ICs while the JX uses discrete components.
@espen if you do a comparison video there, I think a good way would be to make a patch from scratch on the JX-3P using the PG-200, then unplug the programmer from the JX, plug it into the MKS and hit “manual”. This should transfer the same patch data.
Since the MKS-30 filters are different, it needs to be heard with heavily filtered sounds, with and without resonance.
(Just my suggestion of course - whatever you can find time to do would be helpful)
Didn't expect them to sound so close in so many examples. Before this comparison I was leaning more towards the 3P. Not so sure anymore... I'd probably even go with the 8P now...
I bet a lot of people didn't realize they could come so close. ;-)
For smooth the JX-8P
For Attack the JX-3P
I have a JX-8P, got it the early 90s.
It was 'Old' even then ...
I love it.
Recently broke a key after I moved house. 😥
Loctite CA Glue to the rescue ...
Gotta love that plywood chassis.
you basically make them sound like the same synth! i just would like to add, in general i love your passion for all of this nostalgia 80s synth heaven. thank you
Many thanks! :)
Remember, he IS the 80s. :D
Love it - the 3P looks so cool. I remember when it was new in the shops - I came so close to buying it just on looks alone.
The 3P is Roland emulating the aesthetic of the then wildly popular DX7. I'm glad I've got the PG-200. It's so much easier than working off that sexy front panel.
Its more colorful than the dx though...
I remember seeing one in the shops lusting after the Jupiter 8 for so long. I wondered where had all the faders and knobs gone on these new synths?
I agree, it was the first synth that I liked the look of.
They can be made to sound identical. But the VCAs on the 3P can be a little hard to tame. So in a way the 3P can sound more overdriven. But the 8P's double envelopes, (or a Kiwi-3P) give more variety in the long run. There is nothing thin about an 8P. I've had mine since 1988, and at times it can be OTT if you want full unison with detune.
Both sound glorious tbh. I recently acquired a jx-8p and love its pads to bits - what other synths would be a good compliment?
Dx7 or d50. But I REALLY like FM sounds paired with the jx8p bc the jx has the analog low end and the dx has that metallic shine
@@kiko1935 good call ty. I have a MegaFM on the way to dabble with those sounds but will keep an eye out for a DX7!
Good answers already. The DX7 is the synth I usually mix up with the JX-8P.
DX7
Maker's Muse - if you want DX sounds on the cheap, Digital Suburban Dexed is a free DX7 software emulator that can load and play sound banks from any of the 6-op DX or TX synths.
If you want DX sounds plus a little more, Yamaha later made the SY77 and SY99, which both combine 6-op FM with samples sounds, filters, effects, and sequencing. An SY77 will likely cost you less than a DX7 and have more capability - I speak as an SY77 owner.
Lastly, if you wanna spend more, the FS1R is an 8-op FM rack module that has formant filters, formant sequencing, regular filters, and effects. I played one for a few minutes once and the sounds were ridiculously deep and rich.
Such a beautiful synth and song. Nice work!
Cheers! :)
This sounds so good. I got the JX-8P Model Expansion for my Fantom 07, I literally play that soundtrack patch all day. Heavenly sounds. Also nice Zombie 2 tribute around the 7min mark.
Thanks! Yeah, I do that theme once in a while. Be sure to check out the full version in my Crumar BIT01 video. ;-)
Great track. I had a Roland JX3P, JD990, EnsonIq ASR10 and Yamaha TX81Z (and I'm a guitarist). I just love Synth's, sampling, sequencing & programming drum machines. Enjoyed your performance. oNe LovE from NYC
Cheers!
Ah another TX-81Z aficionado! :) Borrowed one from a coworker once and was hard-pressed to return it (dude needed it for a gig or I might well have kept it :D ). Came across a VST called ExactLite that's a multi-waveform 4-op just like the -81Z. Really good mimic. I love how absurdly powerful PCs and brilliant software are assuaging all my decades-old hardware cravings!
Great side by side video, Espen! Very similar in many ways on many of the sounds, but I prefer the JX-8P because it has such a silky quality that's just so pleasing to my ears. But I can see why people would like the JX-3P, which I found more "raw" sounding:)
Thanks Noah! :)
JX8P is both blessed and cursed by its filter. Because when it comes to resonance and high frequencies - the IR3R05 VCF is pure... ugh... trash. That's why it will never sound bright or airy. At the same time however the blend of a "dull" filter and classic Roland's analog chorus provides the most pleasant pad (and other) sounds out there that will never sound harsh.
I think the envelopes play a big part in it too. I have an alpha juno 2 and I'm loving the brass, bass and lead sounds on it, they really have punch. The 8P doesn't have that same snappy quality which made it hard for me to work with.
Good analysis! :)
well I bought one like a month ago and I can totally agree. It has a different quality, I would say it has less space between the ups and the lows. What I love about older filters is that they have this nice spacious upper buzz thingy, don'tr really know how to describe it, but with the jx8p, the filter is indeed a bit dull. which is super for pads and all kinds of smooth sound, but you will need to get something else for those noble buzzy synth sounds that can rival bowed acoustic instruments.
They sound very similar. I’ve always loved the physical look of the 3P. And I find myself wishing to have relations with their chorus effect. Lol
So much Pet Shop Boys to my eyes and ears.... thanks Espen you keep the 80's alive...
Cheers!
Cool comparison!!!! And a cool piece of music!
Thanks! :)
They both sound so smooth totally loved it!! I have the JX-03 and will get more inspiration playing after hearing this! 👍 Nice!
Go for it! Thanks :D
Great Demo as usual Espen, thank you for that. The Close Encounters melody made my day! :-) They booth sound great, the 3P a little bit more raw and brighter, the 8P filter is more creamy ;-) As many said here, it's a matter of taste. I had the choice between the DX-7, DW-8000 and JX-8P in 1985, couldent afford them all ;-) It was the "Soundtrack" preset that made me buy the Roland. I bought the DX-7II two years later...they worked great together.
Many thanks Jack! All these synths we couldn't afford back then.... I remember how it was.
I made a poll the other day on a JX8P group on facebook and the favorite patch was "Soundtrack" for a lot of people !
@@thenyctalopianGreat! I hear that patch on so many songs from the eightees, but it integrates just so well into almost any tune.
Both are absolutely awesome and you are winner with one or another. Im blessed for some time with my JX-8P and I lean towards it. Addition of dynamics / aftertouch makes great impact on performace and even from this comparison I like and enjoy it more from sound perspective. Sounds so smooth! And I also have other instruments to give me more raw and "dirty" sound when I need it. Awesome vid Espen, all the best!
Many thanks man! :)
Concur. I prefer the synth to give me the "lush" and the "full" and "smooth". If I want grit, I reach for the guitar. :D So of the two I'd go for the -8P.
Smoothness war indeed! Great piece of music by the way.
Cheers! :D
I am sooo enjoying reading the comments from all of you here, my fellow synth enthusiasts!
Although, upon realizing that most layman listeners to our sounds and music won't even bother to hear or understand, the tiny or huge differences made from our synths...I say, well this is what makes the world go 'round...our LOVE to our crafts.
Respect to you all! Especially to Espen whose hard work educates us in soo many ways!
Many thanks for saying! :)
@@EspenKraft...you are most welcome! I am just saying as it is friend, for I and am sure that many others here looves what you do,... It's like going back to teenage times in the 80s ...
#amsoluckytobean80'skid
Espen - just wanted to say that I'm REALLY digging your channel. Can't get enough 80s synthpop these days, and you're laying down a lot of good inspiration. At some point I'll post my own. Keep 'em comin', and thank you!
Many thanks Andrew! Got lots of excting videos and music coming so stay tuned! :)
Both models were designed and developed at Roland Matsumoto factory (Nagano, Japan). The six-note polyphonic is because it was originally developed for use as a sound generator for guitar synthesizers.
Who were the actual engineers? I’d like to interview them.
I dunno if anything this capable ever actually made it into a GR, did it?
@@mrz80 The GR-700 is basically just a JX-3P without a keyboard.
The Juno 6/60/106/Alpha Juno were also 6 note polyphonic.
@@lundswedenAs well as many other analog/hybrid polysynths around that time (Polysix, Poly-61, Oberheim Matrix-6, Kawai K3 etc.)
The 8p is the king of pads and creamyness
It’s royalty for sure. The MKS70, mks80 are no slouches either ❤
Is this the reason why as a metal guitarist I like its pads? 🙃
@@lovecraftmusic8717 well...yes!
Love your original track at the start. The JX-8P and JX-3P can sound similar at times based on your demo. They both have great mellow pads - very silky smooth. I think these synths are hidden gems with 2 DCOs per voice. We have a Juno-106 that relies on it's Chorus to sound rich and spacious. I think it's cleaner to do this with two different oscillators like those in the JX-8P and JX-3P. Then you can add chorus on top of the two DCOs.
Cheers!
great comparison and i'm very impressed with both synths...i took a different route and got a Juno-6 which the 3P reminds me a lot of, and a Super JX-10 which of course the 8P is half of 😊
3P for me! Owned both with their relevant PG programmer back in the 80's. Great video which shows how similar they can be.
Many thanks! :)
I have both the JX3P and the JX8P and they are trully fantastic synths. Creatively I prefer more the JX3P, but for that retro 80s sound both sound fabulous :)
Espen, if there could be a machine to take us back in time to those very memorable moments in our past, especially from that era of the 80's, it would be your musical pieces on these legendary instruments!
So rich sounding! Very warm! Very powerful! and Very organic.
Many thanks for saying that! :)
I agree in general with most people saying the 8p sounds smoother and the 3p sounds a little more ‘exciting’ or whatever but listen to the detuned sawtooth sound around 6:40 - the 8p wins on all fronts. That’s a pretty broad sound too so I’d say that the 8p is the most versatile and therefore better value all round if you’re just going for pure sounds and capability and you aren’t completely brainwashed by the 3p’s pretty dress. Although it is does look ‘cooler’. Whatever that means.
I prefer the 3p but both are amazing synths. The 8p's tone is warmer and deeper but that's what the Juno is for in my opinion, the 3P has this super thin piercing tone that I absolutely love for leads and string sounds. But again they're Roland 80s synths, you can't really go wrong.
Cheers! :)
the 8p is darker, wouldn't say warmer. The 3p sounds a bit more analog to me, a bit less sterile. Therefor I would pick the juno (6 or 60 that is) over the 3p, but it wouldn't replace the 8p. To my ears the 8p is a step closer in the direction of the alpha juno.
@@nilsvanderplancken9824 yes
Your track brought back the same feeling of excitement I had the first time I heard the "Roland sounds". It was an amazing time. Being able to hear these sounds for the first time ever was like an experience in itself, regardless of the music. There are a lot of people making music as we made in the 80s...but you make the 80s come alive through your music and this requires a completely different set of skills. I don't think anyone who didn't live and love 80s music IN THE 80s could achieve what you do. The most fascinating aspect of your music to me is not the patches, the mix, the notes, but the stuff you can't actually hear but IT IS there!
BTW: Loved the video as well.
I appreciate your words man! It's exactly what I love to hear as I work hard to actually make that 80s feel-good glow in my audience, not only by the separate parts like sounds or gear, but by the overall sum of it all. Sometimes the sum IS greater than the parts. ;-) Cheers
@@EspenKraft I understand where you are coming from and I have to agree. And, in your case I believe the "sum", as you say, has a lot in it. I think, actually let me rephrase this, I know you can make REAL 80s music even if you only had a piano and an acoustic drum kit because the 80s element to it is inside you, not in the gear.
But of course, having a shitload of super cool authentic 80s gear helps! 😂
We both love the 80s, not just the music, but the pure essence of the 80s, the way it made us feel and how it makes us feel to this day. For me it was care-free and nostalgic, even then. I hope that is what you pick up on, if that makes sense. ;-) Anyways, happy weekend! :)
Espen Kraft it makes perfect sense to me! You too.
💜8️⃣0️⃣💜
Ahh finally a fair comparison! Thank you for this Sir! I love them both! I ended up buying JX-8P along with the programmer two years ago, I adore it. Thank you for the patches, I bought them right away!
Many thanks man! :)
Fantastic comparison! I have a JX8P, which I love for it's silky pads, but I always assumed it was much softer than the JX3P with it's classic Roland filter and more acid tone - the poor mans Jupiter 6 if you will. Well I have a Jupiter 6, and it's nothing like as sweet as my JX8P so you've convinced me I don't need a 3P! Peace and love my friend - keep it up :)
Cheers man! :)
Just bought your lovely JX8P patches as a show of support!
My first ever synth. Timeless.
Which one?!
@@MisAnnThorpe JX8P
Thanks for your good work Espen!
I also grew up listening to and enjoying the great hits of the 80s and 90s. In this comparison for me the winner is the JX-3P, .. basically for two reasons: Its more analog and aggressive sound and then its appearance-and construction- a lot more solid, and pretty. However, both are synthesizers that will always belong to Roland's golden age.
Thanks! :)
I love every sound these machine generated!
Great demo again, Espen - only missed the cross-modulated sounds ;-)
Listening in, I think, the 8P comes with a little more bass fundament than the 3P.
And the 3P seems to have a more crispier and more moving chorus, so the higher pads sound more lively.
Thanks! I only did the types of sounds I prefer my elf from these two. The slightly metallic sound you can get isn't something I'd usually go for. ;-)
You sir, truly are the 80's. The song at the beginning hit all the marks. You
Many thanks for saying! :)
Nice ostinato! I especially liked how the progression was resolved after this moment 0:51 👍
Cheers!
They sound very similar here. I've still yet to play a JX-8P, but I wondered how similar they were given that they were only a couple of years apart.
A friend has a a Super JX, which is the one I really want to fiddle with. Basically two 8Ps in one synth as I remember.
That's right, it's two 8Ps, and in theory should sound exactly the same. However...I did a video comparing the 8P and the MKS-70 a little while back and it divided the audience once again. ;-) The MKS-70 and JX10 is the same.
I toured with the JX10 for several years so I know these inside out.
@@EspenKraft Funny isn't it. I think we hear differences because we expect to, or even want to in order to show that we're special for noticing.
I often find confidence drops in blind tests. There's been some interesting ones done over the years and nobody ever gets more than 50% right, which shows it's guess work.
But search for a comparison video on the same synth where you can see what's happening and the confidence strangely returns. 😀
@@AlexBallMusic Quite recently I did a couple of blind tests. One was of my SSL SiX mixer vs ITB for a track. And also the Yamaha TX816 vs TX802. In both these tests the opinions came out about 50/50 on what was what, but the interesting thing was that the participants used the same conclusion to support their beliefs. Example: Mix A has to be hardware because the snare is snappier, while the next guy said MIx B has to be ITB because the snare is snappier. Etc etc. I'm no better myself. I rarely get things right in a blind test either. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Aha, so you have first hand experience of that then!
Yeah, I'm very happy to admit when I can't tell which is which.
@@AlexBallMusic I have no problems with that either. In fact, I'll be the first to admit that 99% of all I do is nuances that no end listener will ever notice. But it's very important to me to have fun while I'm making these nuances happening, and that 1% is very important to ME regardless of the end user. That may be the sound itself, or the road getting there. And on that road I use the vehicle that gives me the most satisfaction riding. Sounds a bit seedy, but you of all people will appreciate that! :P
4:20 the chords and the sounds are awesome. Like if I was the 80s too :)
Cheers! :D
The first chords reminded me the opening of Kaja Goo Goo's ''Too Shy'' remember the oh so awesome basslines that Nick Beggs played?
@@ricoF71 definitely! th-cam.com/video/rkpG4XApJ28/w-d-xo.html thanks for the reminder, it's still a very good song. We are the 80s :)
so creamy buttery smooth: i used to hate my JX 8P for its design, but that softness coming out of it is pure bliss
I love and hated my JX-8P for its membrane buttons! Oh, I am so so very scared that it would break! 😢
I have owned both. The JX-3P has a more raw sound compared to the 8P's smooth filter, the 8p has the benefit of velocity/aftertouch and way better midi implementation, but the jx3p sounds overall better. I think this is mostly due to its filter which sounds closer to a 106. The envelopes are MUCH snappier on the 3P which allow you to make more satisfying sounds (IMHO), even the alpha juno has more punch than the 8p which was meant for Dx7 style sounds and strings. I also prefer the sound of the crossmod on the 3p.
Unfortunately the river midi mod for the 3p has been discontinued, however there is still the kiwi3p mod which gives you midi as well as a ton of features.
If you can get your hands on a 3p I think it's a worthy investment, I had one with a pg200 and midi mod and it was my baby that I only sold bc I had no other choice.
I have owned both - kept the 3P. The 3P has a nicer low end overall, and is capable of a more “raw” sound. However, there is something really magical about the 8P’s envelope release curve - it is dramatic, reverb-like even.
I think the oscillators are pretty much identical, but the 3P’s filter sounds analog while the 8P sounds more “glassy” to me.
I should add: the 8P’s second envelope, and it’s ability to do envelope mod on the mixer section, makes it the more versatile synth, but for me the 3P wins in its meatier tone, extra parameters bedamned!
Nice video Espen. It pretty much confirms my feelings.
Cheers!
👍
Great video! I've got the 3P, but no PG200! Definitely on the lookout for that... Thanks for posting the comparison, often been tempted to get an 8P!
Thanks!
Wow, the man dropping some warm, silky synthpop tunes! Really nice.
Cheers man! :)
I used to have both, I still have a JX-3P with several of the cool mods. I prefer the harsher sound of the JX-3P but am surprised how similar you have them sounding.
Similar is easier, even VST's in a track can sound "Similar"... The difference is 1: The difference, 2: How the Synth converses with you...
Ayyy I had that same Jamaica sweater in high school! Wore it almost every day!
Wonderful sound. Im a yamaha man. But if theres any Rolands synths ive ever loved. These are two of them. Great as usual Espen. You really capture the magic of the 80s sound. All its glorious textures and colours.
That patch at 8.00 is magical reminds me a bit of Duran Duran on Say A Little Prayer.
Thanks! It's made to sound like that as well ;-)
Hi Espen, as I was tired of asking myself the question, I have both, plus the JX10 plus the MKS-30 (a mix between the 3P and the 8P). I like all of them.Tthank you for your great videos Espen...
Many thanks man! :)
I really enjoyed it! Super arrangement with the sounds!
Many thanks! :)
I love both of them, they can be very smooth but I’d have to say the 3-p is my preferred one, the filter sounds just a bit more beefy in the low end
Sounds so 80s and I mean that in a good way. Reminds me of happy sounds, music and times, not to mention spiral perms.
Honestly I'm a JX8P nut but also a Roland fan boy. I neglected the JX3P until the Boutiques arrived.
I have two JX8Ps and a JX10 in the studio, but no JX3P aside from the aforementioned JX3P Boutiques.
Working JX3P's are difficult to find these days, though.
Thanks to your video, they are even more difficult to find. ;)
They're out there. ;-)
Lovely chill out stuff for a crispy autumnal Friday morning
Excellent, thanks! :)
As a pad addict I prefer the 8P. I’m so happy that you included some samples of this wonderful synth (and the 3P) in your Prophet X pack, Espen.
Thanks man! I plan to add a dedicated pad pack later too. ;-)
I love that late 1970s and 1980s era for electronic sound synthesis. My first synth was the Roland D-50 bought in about 1987 which I still use today.
Both synths that you’re demonstrating are rich and complex.
Although I am not sure what you mean by the synths Blending in well.
It would be difficult to find two synths that didn’t blend in well. It depends on the music and melody etc rather than the actual sound. Our brains tend to recognise certain melodies and rhythms rather than the sounds themselves.
If you play a discordant set of notes or sounds that come across as out of tune, you can be playing two identical synthesisers and they will not blend in with one another very well.
I am so accustomed to that distinct 1980s Roland sound that I often recognise instruments in movies and albums from that era. I sometimes guess when a movie or soundtrack was made purely from the type of sound synthesis coming out of the speakers.
It’s Bizarre how the brain/mind/sensors work
Cheers
My point was that either of these two synths can be used for a sound they both can produce. That's the purpose of this video, to debunk the myth that they sound so different, that many claim they do. ;-)
@@EspenKraft That's fair enough.
How radically different would the oscillators and electronics be in these two synths?
If there is overlap and duplication in the way both synths work and create sounds, then its not suprising that you can produce near identical sounds on both synths.
Anyway, interesting video. Your videos generally bring back lots of memories from a vibrant decade of sound synthesis in the past (also many things and devices i was not aware of at the time).
Cheers
The electronics are quite different, and the architecture as well. The 3P has in some degree more in common with the Jupiter series than the Junos.
To get them to sound as close as I did here, did take a lot of time pogramming them both. Time edited down to these 10 minutes. ;-) Cheers
Dude, that's so awesome! Makes me want to go out to the studio and play my Juno 60 for a while.
Excellent. Cheers! :)
Very nice, Espen, as usual. Great video and both great Synths. I used to have both and preferred the JX3P because of the Juno 6/60 or Jupiter 8 Filter. The JX8P has the softer Juno 106 Filter. Meanwhile I find the sound quite boring. I am in Love with my new UDO Super 6. Such a great sound. Crisp as vintage, modern and incredible for Pads. Thanks again for your great content.
Thanks man!
Hi. I'm watching you from Russia. I subscribed to you. You have very informative content. I love synthesizers, both old and new. In Russia, some craftsmen make analog synthesizers and sell them for ridiculous money already in a high-quality wooden or plastic case. in the collection of Roland Juno Gi, Waldorf Blofeld, Bechringer Neutron and the BAS object of the firm (sound objects). Each synthesizer is interesting in its own way. I really like your analysis of songs from the 70s-80s so do it again))
th-cam.com/video/iFI-VI-abrA/w-d-xo.html
Many thanks man! :)
I had a jx3p, and got the mks30 and then I thought the jx3p was redundant and sold it. It is one of the greatest mistakes of my synth life.... I think the sequencer is so special and great in its own way. The fact that you can do as you did in this video bass and chord at the same time. Or to play two melodies on top of each other that intertwine. So nice. And I miss mine sooooo! 😭😉
In the video I only use the 3P sequencer for bass. You can't play another sound at the same time. The rest of the 3P sounds has been multi tracked, part by part.
Espen Kraft ok. I meant and thought it was the same sound. That way you can do both bass and chords. Or two melodies. With the same sound.
That you can. I show this in my 3P video released a couple of weeks ago.
Kristian Blåsol - I did the exact same thing. The jx3p was my first polyphonic synth. (I had picked up the SH-101 the year before) I quickly purchased the PG-200 and had a blast. When the MKS-30 came out I bought that too. Things were fine until the Korg M1 came out. Didn't have quite enough money and figured the MKS was close enough to the jx3p, so I sold my jx3p. Don't get me wrong - I love my M1, but really wish I had never sold the Roland!
Exceptional programming. Thanks for another fantastic video Espen.
Many thanks man! :)
I love old synths and have had a few Roland ones over the years with the Juno 60 being my favourite. I use the boutique range these days for the compact form and how ridiculously close they are to the originals. The JX3P is the winner here IMHO. It never sold very well as it was a bitch to program. Roland brought out the PG200 to rectify that but the damage was done from a sales perspective. Very underrated synth.
I think 8p sounds warmer, but 3p sounds fresh and juicy. Leads sound better in 3p. Thanks for video!
Cheers!
You can control the warmth of the jx-3p with the brilliance cut off filter.
@@virulyjansen5458 no way!) It's built in character of synth sound.
I always dreamed about the 8P but it was out of my financial possibilities when it was launched, I liked its flush look, the mod stick in an half ball, etc...
And the essential PG800 deserves its own stand in order to preserve this look! :-)
Its probably about 500 to 700 dollars now for the synth! But for the rare and very useful PG 800 maybe twice the price of the synth itself!
@@ricoF71 I think if I had an 8p, I'd be heavily invested in the Arduino with the most i/o lines, a bunch of faders, and a can of grey spray paint. :D
JX-3P is such a beauty.
Now I really need to get them both. Great video Espen!
Thanks man! :)
Not to mention the velocity & after touch capabilities and 2 envelopes of the JX8P! However, I have always preferred the more strident sound of the lovely JX3P. Which is why I ended up with the MKS-30 with (rather limited) velocity response lacking on the keyboard. Sold it back in 2002, thinking the sounds could be recreated using other virtual analogue ... well, not quite. However, these days we have the Roland Cloud oof-line version, which I think sounds excellent and it has more controllable velocity response and an extra envelope.
3P is definitely brighter. I think the 8P has a touch more in the low end but that could be an inaccurate perception due to the lack of clarity in the upper frequencies. Either way I feel the 3P has more bite and presence, therefore sounds more rich and is marginally better
Espen I love 80s as I know you do to. I get lost in the synths and the bright sounds of the 80s. I love like your little demonstration and wish I could play the piano as good as you or r even half. One finger poking is not really playing maybe one day. I like to watch your videos and time travel to the 80s with you. Espen thank you and keep them coming👍👍😎
Many thanks Peter! I will continue for a little while still. ;-)
Peter, regarding the "one finger poking"!: you should never underestimate how many classic synth tracks were written and/or played on monophonic synths where anything other than one finger poking would've been pointless!
Very nice sounds here! Great job :)
Thanks! :)
The JX-8P has some kind of "grittiness" that the 3P doesn't seem to have, but it's all a matter of taste which one you prefer. Or is it just me who are hearing things wrong...? Both synths are amazing!
Your spot on with my ears its like the 8P has a hint of blackpepper lol pretty darn close though...
I could easily live with either, but I prefer the 8P for the instant mix-ready sound on pads. ;-)
Jx8p, gritty? That synth is smoother than a baby's bottom.
@@kiko1935 I think he means it sounds a little darker..just my guess
@@EspenKraft Thanks! I needed that!
At about the 3min mark where you say "Let's see how close we can get with the 8P" and you hit that pad chord... you'll get your picture of that sound in the Webster's unabridged next to the word "LUSH" :D . The Juno-106 and the JX-8P were always my Roland dream synths (well, I *did* have a hankering for a D-50, but the engine in my GR-50 pretty much gives me that in all its mind-numbing complexity). Never could scare up the scratch for either one (all my money went into college and guitars :D ), but now with Cherry Audio's low cost, high value DCO-106 and Martin Luders' terrific freebie PG-8X I've got THE SOUND. :) All I need now is to flip on of my 49 key controllers and get a 61 key for just a little more rattle room.
Man those sounds are insanely amazing, if I played keys instead of guitar I´ll be hunting one of those. Instant retro wave
I was tempted to go with FM synth bass lines for my synthwave preoject, but now after seeing this I might mix in some JX-3P bass lines... wow the bass line in this opening piece sounds amazing!
beautiful sounds
I have both. Both are lovely.
Another great vid Espen. I've owned the JX-8P and I think it wins the pad smoothness war over the JX-3P. I sold it some time back, but it went to a good home. :-)
Many thanks! Hopefully it gets played some every day. ;-)
Nice work Espen :)
Thanks Robert! :)
The Jx3p has a nasal tone that I never liked. It´s a great synth anyway of course, but I recently bought an JX8p for very cheap and what magnificent, underrated synthesizer!
Both are great sounding instruments. I just missed out on a jx 10 a few weeks ago for a seroiusly real bargain price.
Both have their strengths and weaknesses. The 3p seems to have more envelope snap. Maybe that's because the 8p used software digital envelopes.
Also as I'm sure you know they both use diffrent filters .
The truth is that they're very different on the inside, but yet they can sound remarkably similar. That was the the purpose of this video, showing that. ;-)
Nice! Lovely sounds both. JX-3P is a very underrated synth .
By the way, what’s that rack unit behind you with that Knight Rider Leds? :)
Thanks! That module is a ADR PanScan. I will show you that later in another video. ;-)
Espen Kraft Interesting! Thanks! ;)
It was circa February 2004. I had just taken delivery of a JX-10 (now owned by someone else) after having played my mentor’s JX-8p (now mine). Then,a JX-3p materialized at Alto Music of New York, and I was compelled to try playing it. More than anything, it was to say I had. The 3p is excellent, but I wasn’t tempted by this one with the other 2 models already at arm’s length.
Espen, a sweet comparison would be between the JX-8p and the JX-10, if you could get hold of a 10. Or, you could play an MKS-70, if you triggered it from (for instance) a D-50.
Got to take a second and tell you how neat it was that you included that Close Encounters reference.
Thanks! Did a JX-8P vs MKS-70 already. It's right here on my channel. ;-)
Thank you Espen.
Just realized that I’ve already watched it.
Dude! That's a great intro tune! It's going straight into my commute music list! :) It's a shame it's a bit short tho ;) As for the synths, they're both really good! In terms of sound I think they both shine at times but overall I feel that the 8 has a warmer, richer sound. However....I'd still pick the 3 over the 8 any time of the day based on the design alone :p Again, it truly is beautiful piece of hardware!
Thanks again my man! I might actually expand that track some day. I kind of liked it myself. ;-)
@@EspenKraft That would incredibly greit!! :D
Sorry, I know I am late to this party, but the 8P needs some love here. For me, it was the "attainable" big Roland I could get back in the day, and I have loved it ever since. I've always loved it's sonic character and it looks quite sleek and sexy, IMO. The 3P just doesn't do it for me in the looks department, though I was impressed it could sound as good as the 8P in your demo, @espenkraft! Paired with my Alpha Juno 2, it's a killer combo. Cheers.
Cheers!
I AM divided! Both are beautiful!
Man i love your videos , these sounds trigger so much memory in me
Awesome, thanks! :)
Have no direct exp with both , but 3 sounds a bit darker & warmer to me ! Nice music y been playing , just to take me some where far . Been listening whole summer 3 at a hotel garden . Can remember specific , cool organ sound .
GREAT song brother! Im writing a very similar style also right now, so sync! used to have an MKS 70 Ill get back but been using my little Alpha Juno 1
Cheers! :D