Roland JV-880 | A small monster
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- The Roland JV-880 from 1992. The module version of the JV-80. In my opinion the best of all the JV/JD modules in terms of raw bottom end cinematic epic sound. I'm not saying it can do everything else that the others can, but what it can is to deliver fat, solid bass. The 1080, 2080 etc always sounded hollow to me. The JD-990 is very glossy, but lacks the raw punch as well.
Luckily, the JV-880 is the cheapest of them all to get so no need to wait, get online and pick them up!
Find the demo track here:
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The demo track is made by multi tracking several preset sounds. All internal effects (reverb and chorus) are turned off and I use Valhalla VintageVerb as reverb.
The "analog depth" parameter is adjusted between the sounds to get a little "drift" going.
Most of the individual tracks are also processed with compression, EQ, spatial enhancements and layering, but no external chorus is used.
I've also recorded most of the tracks pretty hot, and especially that "OVERLOAD" track. That was driven way into the red and the preamps just showed solid red while that was recorded, but crucial to get that growl in the bottom bass track.
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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 ++
These 90s and early 2000s roland rack modules are magical, I got an XV3080 and the first thing I thought when playing it was "I'm in a movie". Its instant soundtrack, right out of the box.
I also had an XV3080 along with 3 JV1080s all stuffed with SRJV expansion boards. Them were golden times!!!!
I have XV-3080 too. It sounds magical indeed.
I own a jv-80 and i have a jv-880 on the way! That beat is so nostalgic sounding Espen. Reminds me of Kung Fu the Legend Continues!
Cheers!
Well it WAS a well kept secret. It still goes into most of my scores and compositions. Glad you used those drums too. Guess I won't be picking up any more of these for $100 after this...
We'll see.. ;-)
It’s been on my radar since a long time, as ”a poor man’s JD990”, that doesn’t take a lot of space. Also, I think that multi-timbral sound modules are under-rated nowadays. I don’t see JV880’s often though, guessing the owners are holding on to them. Samewise the Yamaha TG500. I have the JV1010 though, which is even smaller and cheaper and covers a bit of the same ground, if you can live without the editing.
with youtube there is no such thing as a well kept secret anymore...
Does Espen really make prices go up or down? This stuff is extremely niche and the JV line was very common last time I checked.. personally I hear no difference compared to the other models.
@@g_dub3456 Being one that until recently was in the "Vintage" business, I can tell you between Espen, Bad (and Better) Gear, and Techmoan, that without fail the units they feature ALWAYS goes up in price afterwards. It's gotten so cut throat that I've stepped away from it for a while.
Great demo! I bought one new in 1992. It's in mint condition with the original box and everything. Kept it all these years, stored it when I switched to Yamaha and put it back in the studio few years ago. The JV-880 has lots of character and punch. It lacks of good effects except maybe some nice delays but added with a good external reverb, as you did, it's amazing. Modern effect pedals really emphasize its sound. Great to use, simple and very intuitive, one of the best Roland expander for that. So glad I kept it all these years!
Cheers!
Finally some recognition for this awesome synth! I've had mine for years (only synth I ever sold and bought back actually), use it as a secret weapon on most of my tracks. Love the drums myself! You even use all my favourite patches (jp8, vento, analog brass) haha! Big fan of the deep bass patches for that late 80s dance sound as well.
Nothing sounds more 80s than early 90s gear lol!
Cheers! :D
We are from the same era i see ;) first the R5 and now the jv880
@@ChromosomeSyndicate Even if I did a lot of music in the 90s, I only review the occasional 90s gear. I'm definitely from the 80s. I AM the 80s. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Arrrrhh Espen i wanted say Funk Machine is from the same era
. I saw in your video's you are from 1969 ( my wife is also from 69 ;) . I'm build in 1972 looool
It's true early 90s gear often sounds more 80s than actual 1980s gear! I guess that was the time of the Rompler and Sampler, whereas earlier gear was more flexible and easy to edit, like the Juno 106 for example.
Just chanced into one of these at my fav local music store. 'Tis a happy holiday season treat indeed! It's no lie, hearing this hooked up into my setup and coming out of all of the studio speakers (including a sub) and MY GOD the tone was all-encompassing! Thank you for this!
I have a JV-880 with a lot of expansion. I agree. It is marvellous. I bought it when it came out long ago. I use it with my D-50 to enrich the sound. Amazing sound.
I will never retire my JV880/Peavey DPM C8 set up. It is just too perfect IMO
I have one of these gems and love it. I always think about converting to all soft synths and plugins, but then I play some pads through the 880 and instantly change my mind. Recently bought a few packs of patches to add to it’s arsenal…great. Plays quite well with other synths too…complex layered sounds are very possible and impressive.
Thanks for breaking down a great synth. Used a JV80 in the 90s. Loved the bell type patches. Crystal clear attacks with some bottom end.
Cheers!
Great video as always Espen...I’ve had my JV880 for a couple of years but just recently started to explore it’s beautiful patches and have been using it very often now.
Many thanks! :D
Amazing how one song can paint such a vivid picture in the mind of the listener.
I can see it now… right before the film’s climax, the hero watches a blood red sun setting over the ocean, as he mightily stands atop a cliff, swearing to avenge his fallen loved ones.
Keep up the masterpieces, Espen.
Cheers!
What a great sounding module. Really love the arrangement you came up with.
Many thanks my friend! :D
Early 90's digital is so good... Like the Kawai K4 (yes it came out in '89), Korg Wavestation, Yamaha SY77/99, etc. Get them cheap (relatively) while you can. Great video as always Espen!
Thanks Jack! Sometimes some early 90s gear is exactly the right stuff for a song or track. ;-)
K4 is really good, that would be perfect for Espens music. Also K1 pretty decent too on the bass and pads, SY77 perhaps a bit too cinematic and clean but the FM engine is an added bonus.
K4 has very unique sound. I have 2 of them just to have 2 sets of sounds at any time in my studio 🙂 I hope Espen gets one and reviews it.
@@VladoT Agreed, I love the K4, I also have a K5 which was a radically strange instrument...mixing 128 sinewaves.
I love it and hate it lol
I designed a panel for the K5 in Midi Designer Pro which also has great editors for the K1
K5 - mididesigner.com/qa/7479/layout-kawai-k5-k5m
K1 - mididesigner.com/qa/4524/layout-sound-programmer-for-kawai-k1?show=4524#q4524
JX8P + Wavestation = pure Heaven
Those patches are simply fantastic, really evocative. With this demo you created a nice atmosphere! Thanks for sharing it!
Many thanks!
@@EspenKraft You're welcome!
Thanks so much for posting this video! I was recently gifted a JV-880. It wasn’t until I watched your video that I realize there was two more hidden banks of patches!
In your video, you mentioned the Jupiter 8 pad in the B bank.
Hey, search the bank in the user manual and realize that you have to push the selected object and turn it clockwise to access the different banks.
Cheers!
Great video as always! I must tell you this though. I was watching this while sitting in my home office, all alone, having a bite to eat, with headphones. When you showed the settings on your outboard gear and started changing switches, I was looking down, and just heard the clicking of the switches. It actually made me look up and around in a slightly paranoid state, because I thought there was someone else with me, of fiddling with the outside door...
Spooky. ;-)
Such a beautiful demo/synth rack ! That melody is dreamy and nostalgic, reminds me of Tangerine Dream/Vangelis.
Cheers!
The JV880 is a monster. Went to the seminar hosted by Roland’s Scott Wilkie in Detroit Mi, also demoed the JD990 and sound canvas. Still enjoy mine. Also have the other Roland modules that were related in the following years.
Great demo. Yesterday I rescued one of these synths from the trash of my workplace. I work at a second hand shop mostly for furniture and other stuff and no one knew what this thing is. So they threw it away. 😢
I was the lucky one why found it. Now this little gem is mine.
Nice catch. Cheers :)
Still I have mine and the JV-2080. Great synth, I love it. I would like the keyboard version too, but it's very rare to find one in good condition without the glue issue under the keys. Cheers!
Cheers!
@eagle As a 2080 owner I would like to know what the main differences are for you in sound between those synths? thanks :-)
Wow.... Crazy warmth! Thanks for the heads up! The 990 was always my all time fav. Module. Going hunting! 😉
Cheers!
Great video - you sold me on this one. Just picked one up yesterday for a very reasonable price, very happy with it! THANK YOU!
Cheers!
I appreciate it for what it brought over to the Sound Canvas series especially.
Sounds similar to the studio canvas sd80 and 90.
I got hold of a JV880 a little while ago. It needed a new display, which I've taken care of and now sits in my rack providing lots of low-end. I've programmed a couple of bass sounds in this beast and they do indeed "rattle the cones". It's a perfect compliment for my fully expanded XP-30 (it has the Vintage and Vocal boards added). I'm on the look out for an SR-JV80 board to add to the number of waveforms in the 880, though I'm undecided on what board at the moment...
Today, I got my JV-80 in brand-new like condition :)
So beautyfull synth!
Congrats!
Great demo of the JV-880. I remember when it was first released. Still has one of the best acoustic guitar patches to date!
Cheers!
The Flanged Gtr patch, with a little reverb sauce on top of it. I love it!
I think every synth has at least one unique killer sound.
The JV880 has something loveable that sets it apart from the bigger JV models. I used it on my last album, but i think i have to use it on my next album too. Thanks Espen!
Cheers!
Sounds wonderful, like a proper 1992 movie!
Cheers! :D
aaaah! So cool! I forgot my Rack full of JV 880 and X3R and D110 ...
Now i pull it out!! Thank you!!
Cheers! :D
Nice module, might buy one if one comes up for sale locally.
I like the sound + the analog feel setting to the max! I've heard nice things about the JV Orchestra expansion board too!
I have one for sale
Picked up a JV-1080 this week for the ease of programming new patches vs the JV-880; haven't been disappointed so far. Getting the physical unit vs subscribing to Roland Cloud was a no-brainer at current pricing levels. I fully understand why these boxes were the work horses for many producers and still are hard to say goodbye to.
Im not sure I would say "with ease", got the xp50, it's a dog to program, but I imagine jv880 even more??
I bought a JV-880 way back in the late 90's. I used it for 4 or 5 years in my primitive home studio. Then I put it away mostly because I moved to a Linux system. I just, this week, pulled it out of moth balls and gave it a go. I compared it to my recently purchased Roland Integra-7. Well, to my ear the JV-880 will do just fine for my still primitive setup. I will give the Integra-7 to my granddaughter. She has her own simple studio she uses for sound tracks for video games.
Wowsers. 😳 No fooling about that bottom end. It's got the grace of a feather, the authority of a church organ, and the range of an airliner, all at once! Loved the intentional clipping of the strings patch too. That's a cool trick. 👍
Cheers Ted! :D
The Roland JV-880 was heard on the show The Critic.
I got mine for 80 bucks, didnt know how good it is!
Greetings from Venezuela Thanks for this information, I have this module in digital format and I had not paid attention to it, I just discovered that I have a monster in my study ...
Cheers!
I just got one of these. I am very happy with it.
I love Roland , I own alot of the Roland Samplers, S550, S770, MV 8800, The jv880 puts me in the mindset of the S700 series. Very lush and thick sounding digital.
Hey Espen, bought one and it arrived yesterday. As you sayd amazing strings and really deep. Love it and now looking for some further soundpatches.
Congrats!
Great talent, everything sounds amazing. Composing without knowing how to play the piano is very difficult, I think I should start with that first. 😢🚀
Cheers!
Own two JV-880's and will never let them go.
Can I have one?
Lovely demo as usual Espen, welcome to the 90's ;-) You put a smile on my face by checking out this nice little monster. I do own a JV-90 a JV-2080 and a D-70 beside some other 90's gear. They all have a similar sound synthesis. I do mostly soundtracks and I love the big epic sound that these machines are capable of. The rack versions are the better choice these days as you do not run into the typical Roland red glue keyboard problems with them.
Cheers! :D
@infoslinger Roland Hardware had some money saving hardware issues back then. The D70 has a keyboard ribbon cable that quits the job after 25 years. Maybe they didn't expect the synths living that long 😉
I got one this week and I’m happy.
Great video. I bought one of these back in 1995. I was very close to getting a Korg Wavestation SR but I'm glad I chose this instead. You are correct about the bottom end on these things. The first track I did with it literally shook the room. I was a bit confused beacuse all synth journalists at the time were going on about how cold and harsh digital synths were but this thing sounded absolutely lush. I used the hell out of it right up until I switched to software in 2001. It is indeed an underrated module. I also own an MT32 which is way more basic but they sell for more money on ebay, or at least they did before this video was uploaded. . .
The MT-32 has grown to cult status, hence the price. ;-)
as far as the arr1 sound goes. i think the U220 has the best representation of it. that being said, this is a very informative video. i didn't know too much about the 880.
Thank you for making this video right after I bought one!
Cheers!
I'm pretty sure this or the JV 80 were fixtures in every Italian recording studio as all electronic music from the 90s seemed to lean on the factory patches. And some of it was used so brilliantly. I'm watching other synth heads scratch their heads as to what the secret was.
Still have my JV-80 since it was released. It's a work horse and very well built. I still use it on gigs from time to time with the session expansion board to get that real piano sound when needed. I love the unweighted feel of the Roland keyboards from that time period.
How does the jv80 and jv880 compare?
@@SeanSecret I could not really tell a difference soundwise. They have the same chipsets, etc. The JV-80 has more buttons and sliders of course for live performance mode features. They both have basic chorus and reverb effects, but the JV-880 has a separate dry set of sub outputs in addition to the main outputs. The JV-80 has just main outputs, but you have chorus and reverb buttons where you can turn them off on the fly, etc.
@@johnnydiggs4276 So they contain the same sounds? I have a JV80 but some of the buttons are broken so you cant access all the patches properly. Considering buying a the jv880 until I have the time to open it up and solder on some new buttons
@@SeanSecret yes and you can use the same sysex and rom/ram card banks of course.
My buttons are starting to have issues also. I’ve just been lazy and not replaced them yet either haha 😂
Sounds great my friend hopefully one day my compitions will be as good as yours. Even though I have been working on music for over twenty five years.Stopped making music for about 15 years but back at it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Go for it! :D
@@EspenKraft Thanks Amigo
Turns out you're the 90s as well! Great sound source and lovely composition with it.
Many thanks! :D
Beautiful ,chords just reach right down into your soul.
I was 18 back and soo wanted that one but so poor I could only afford a second hand U-110... ;) Awesome demo as always!
Cheers! :D
I had the jv2080 and jd990 at the same time. Very good for ambient music
I have a JV-880 that I haven't used in a while. Had no idea about the analog feel function. Thanks for the tip!
Cheers!
Big up yourself Espen great videos!I appreciate your Jamaica shirt give thanks and one love!
Cheers! :D
Hi Espen! Very nice sound! Thank you!
Thanks Aleks!
Wow.... Le son des années 90 ! Profondeur et élévation. Que du bonheur !
Merci!
I just picked a Roland JV-880 today, Thanks for the video!
Congrats!
@@EspenKraft Thank you.
@@EspenKraft Thank you.
My all time Favorite Module still have mines from the 90's
Espen Kraft, you influencer! I've bought a JV-880, for cheap!
Congrats!
It's not the gear, It's your master-level skill.
Cheers!
I miss the sound of the 90s.
In an era when every companies and everyone was trying to sound different from each other, and not trying to emulate anything...
I just scored one of these on eBay for an absolute steal! I'm so happy :)
What a beautiful track! That beat! I might just steal that drum pattern one day for a song ;-)
Cheers!
Yes it was the best module ever! I have this modul and Roland Pop Card. This is a beautiful combination!👍🤝
The Pop expansion board was basically everything that should have also been in the JV80/880 but wasn't.
Hey great to see the 500 series gear getting such a thorough run through on how you use them. Sounds wicked, great piece of music as usual :)
Happy you liked it Andy! :D
Thank You Espen.
Thank You forever.
Cheers!
JV-880 is the only Roland hardware I kept around after going to software synths~^^
The only Jv/Xp that dont sound compressed to my ears. love it!
Cheers!
The chord progressions and lushness was nice but when the drum pattern drops....ooooooweeeeeeeeee :D Great video!
Cheers!
I am wearing a JV-880 hat I made myself do that people will start conversations about something good! The Orchestra 2 expansion card is amazing in this synth.
I have a JV-1080 (w/ Vintage Synth expander card and 1 other card I don't recall), which I also heard was very common in studios for soundtrack recording. Never really heard it compared to the JV-880. I see the JV-880 now for US$300+ and I think I got my JV-1080 for $150-ish, but that was many years ago.
Apart from another nice video, I love your T-shirt dude. Jamaica yah, man.
Even the computer is vintage, running Windows Vista and all. Great track btw 🔥
Thanks! No, this PC is running Win7. ;-)
Was a big fan of those sounds back then, had the JV1080,XV3080,XV5080,XP80,MVS1 and i think nearly all interesting expansions....in my hands.But i also loved the U220 it was like the JD880 so PSB.
The U-220 is great.
Wow. This is amazing. I've just been doodling with FL Studio at a very amateur level since 2005 with a cheap midi board. Used FL Studio for a lot of years early on without a keyboard at all! I've always wondered what type of equipment goes into a full setup like THIS. What software is used, what other audio components are paired together to make this all work etc. I understand the sounds themselves are indeed all coming from the sound module of course. My audio setup involves a laptop with FL Studio on it, and a stereo receiver with Cerwin Vega VS 120s. Have debated trying to construct a better audio setup. I just play around at home, making pretty rudimentary songs etc. Love the drum sounds from this sound module! Always loved that old 80s/early90s drum soundtrack sound.
I got another one of these nice little units today for 130€. It had the POP expansion board installed as well as the PCM1-01 piano collection sound card. I thought it was quite a good deal 🙂
I have the JV-1010 with the expansion pack boards and it's still awesome.
Cool got one with expansion cards and sharing local with a blues rock band they asked who is playing when fired up a guitar demo from it... Cool video! And that W30, the source of the first Prodigy album!
The W-30 was more used a sequencer than sound source. Even there the Akais reigned supreme. ;-) Cheers
I have an XP 30 and an XP 50. It's kind of fun hearing that the earlier part of the JV/XP series. To my ears, the XP's have a nice bottom end sound too. Roland was doing some great stuff with orchestra sounds back in the 90's.
Still love my JV-880. Somehow it just sounds great. Thanks for the review.
Just played a beat up JV-90 at the local guitar shop. And wow, it really has some vibe... lovely sounding synth, very relevant for pads and basses. Chorus sounds lovely. But also has those campy vox patches to blow Gen X minds. Hahah
Oh finally!!! I have a module that Espen "didn't" already have. lol
I think this was the first Roland module I got followed by the 1010 then the 1080. I went a stage further though and got both the "04" and "08" expansion modules which contain all the vintage and classic synth patches. Hey Espen, you really "need" to get yourself those expansion modules if you haven't got them already. They're well worth it. Just don't pay any more than €80 for either card.
I actually told a friend that I would get advice to get those cards once I uploaded this video. I'm not really interested in those cards. I only use a couple of sounds of this and I use the same sounds every time, for the same thing. ;-)
The JV880 uses different DACs in Main and SUB outs (PCM69AP and UPD6376GS-E2 respectively), if you want to find the true about the influence of DAC in the timbre, the JV880 is a cheap way to make your research.
The JV880 DAC is a Burr Brown PCM69AP. it's the only one in the JV/JX range that use this component as D/A output converter on the main out. I'm sure this is a part of the overall great sounding of the unit.
That's true. I believe so too.
What's special about that component as opposed to the ones used in the others in the range? Aside from just being "higher quality"?
What about the JV-90? does it also use that DAC as it's the same engine?
Hey Espen, nice demo. Looks like we have similar taste in 500 series modules... I have those SSL EQ's, two channels of Neve pre's, and also two SSL compressors. Also, the early JV modules are quite nice, and I've had the 880, and the 2080 in my rack since they came out. Sometimes it IS just the right sauce for the mix! Try mixing something like the MKS-80 with the JV-880 when you do pads - it's very nice once you dial in the ratios.
Yes, layering is key to so much. ;-)
Mine has a faulty display. It's very sad because I've produced hundred of pieces for commercials with it. But I don't throw it to the trash. Perhaps one day I manage to repair it.
Thanks for this video. Yes I have one!! and compared to a JV-1010 (which is awesome) somehow the JV-880 has a special punch and presence... Different D/A converters I believe may be going on here
It sure is.
Just bought one of these for 200USD after shipping. Can't wait to try it and compare it to my XV5050.
Great track, as always.
Cheers!
Another great track!!
Cheers!
Es un módulo genial. Recuerdo haberlo usado en combinación con ensoniq sq1 plus. Que buenas épocas... Excelente video. Saludos Espen...
Many thanks! :D
Perfect rhythm track' 👌 so nice to see drum work that's not techno or hip hop'
Cheers!
Thanks for this video 👍🏿
I wrote my best Songs, like POP Songs, with this machine!
:D
any idea where I can get the jv-880 .ins file to download as need to import patch info, etc. into Cakewalk
1:35 literally a fucking sararr. Best sampled audio ever.
Yes, indeed. Thanks for this video!
Cheers! :D
I only have small rack units that I can stack on top of my E-Mu modules. I don't have room for a JV-880. But I have two M-DC1 Dance modules. If you can handle some SysEx now and then, the 1995 Sound Expansion Series modules are pretty awesome. It's like a super cheap JV-880 that you can fit anywhere, and you can even route audio through it. I'm sure the M-VS1 Vintage Synth module is good, too. But the SR-JV80-06 Dance expansion has five SH-101 bass patches and a lot of good 808/909 kits/menus. Some dated cheesy samples, too. It's like Roland's version of the Planet Phatt! But the Planet Phatt doesn't have Cypress Hill drum loops like the M-DC1!