Scott, I rarely watch a full 20min. video on youtube, but must say your demo kept me glued. Just purchased the Kronos 2 mainly for the ARPS, now I'm thinking of returning it for the JD. Wish Roland would come out with an arpeggiator keyboard similar to the JD. Awesome presentation.
This was the best demo yet of this synth and I'm seriously considering purchasing one next week due to Scott's excellent presentation. Scott's great but in previous Demos I felt like he was following a script written by Fox News repeating the same tired phrases over and over. He did manage to slip in the "cross pollinate" thing once. But I gotta say this demo really hit a home run! It's been a while since Roland really excited me but after purchasing the aura system one and now this synth I am a fan again.
Probably the most interesting synth to come out (for sound designers) synth the V-Synth, esp as it has real analog in. The closest we've come usually is straight forward hybrid (Prophet 12 etc) just digital oscs through analog filters, but this is really outside the box thinking. It's a quirky synth misunderstood by some, but if you ever spend a week or so with one and open it up (not literally) you'll probably discover how good, and unique, it can sound. Also it can do lots of historic and beautiful Roland classic sounds. ProTip - use the LED EDIT menu to turn off at LEAST the SLIDER LEDS and the synth looks 10 x more classy straight away. You just don't need them on in any normal studio, they are for when playing live in a super dark venue and make the synth look a bit tacky with them on, esp in videos/photos. I run with all leds off on sliders, and sometimes with them off on all (except filter cut off knob) - the pitch bends stay lit as does the volume and portamento knob, that looks way better.
At 8:58, did Scott say that when the JD-XA is in poly stacked mode all 8 oscillators, 2 per part, can be playing at the same time. I thought that only one part with 2 oscillators can be played in poly stacked mode. Could someone please confirm whether this is true or not. Thanks
The JD-XA seems to be based on a concept similar to that of Dave Smith's Prophet X. Can you apply the various filters and envelops to the digital samples in the JD-XA so that you can sculpt them into novel sounds, like you can with the Prophet X?
Yes, you can. Though i own the Prophet X and would say it sounds better overall, the stereo Prophet filters sound incredible. Also you can send your own samples to the PX, whereas the JDXA is 100% ROMpler. It depends on what you’re looking for. The JD-XA is great for pop, the sampled tones are quite slick and clean and artificial sounding. Whereas the Prophet X is more made for soundtracky stuff. The samples are more realistic. Pop, JD-XA wins. Soundtrack, ambient, indie or rock music, Prophet X wins.
I went back and forth about the JD. I kept looking at the moog37 and a few others but finally got the JD and it is MUCH BETTER than I expected. Don't let the lame presets ruin it for you. This synth is just amazing. Even the empty initialized presets sound good just bare bones analog. These oscillators are so rich and thick you can hear little fizzles and burbles all by themselves. I just can't love it enough. A data wheel would be nice! And the red lettering BLAH. But there's a company called synth graphic that makes a great overlay that solves most of those issues cheaply. Don't pass this beauty up.
Just having the complete analog pathway with two oscillators and full midi impimentation alone warrants the price. Sonicstate did a pretty good job of actually explaining and demonstrating the capabilities. When you take that into consideration on top of the sequencer, the digital engine and the effects, this thing is a gold mine.
+Grzegorz Nowacki and 100x better in reality, if you've not had one. Looks, sound, possibilities. Very few if any xa demos do it justice, it doesn't have to do all this poor man's edm crap, its a proper synth, proper analog, proper digital. Beautiful!
Scott Tibbs is a great player and sound designer. I always enjoy his demos and presentations. It's hard enough to compare synths in a live setting given all the variables; how do it on TH-cam?
hello, can I find out more about whether it is possible to play on roland ha without computer laptop modulators without any programs ,He can play on his own without any gadgets devices additional synthesizers analog
I have a JD 800 Love it bought it new back in 93 ish. Only synth that i will never give up. I am looking to add this to my collection. That and it was so damn expensive.... know your post is a bit old, but did you pair this up with the 800 and if so. Can you provide some insight as to how they get along.
great demo scott i need to replace my integra and deciding between this or the jupiter 80, does this have the same supernatural synth JP8 pads found in the integra ? anyone?
***** Descrete circuits vs Integrated Circuits. If you compare the DSI Prophet '08 that uses IC's, and the Prophet 6 that uses Descrete circuits, and compare the price. Jupiter 8 would probably be more expensive then Prophet 6.
***** $4,500 is a very accurate estimate for a Jupiter 8 remake. Look at the cost of modern analog synths like Moog Minimoog Voyager XL, ($5,499) Tom Oberheim 2 Voice, ($3,495) Modal Electronics 008, ($5,495) Alesis A6 Andromeda, (was $4,000+ when released back in 2001)
+gjc82071 I think that I would pay 4,500.00 for a new Jupiter 8 if it looked and sounded just like the original. BUT, I would want more patch memory, a very advanced real time controllable arpeggiator, and at least a built in real time controllable delay effect. But that's me...
If I had it my way, I think it would be time now for a JD-X8 with eight two-oscillator analog voices and a five octave keyboard. But, Roland would have a conflict there with their Jupiter-X, which again, if I had it my way, deserves an update to a Jupiter-XL with a six octave keybed of the Jupiter-80. Nonetheless, dreams and personal desires aside, we live in the real world where market dictates the rules, and still, I must say that although initially I wasn't too keen on the JD-XA, now the instrument has grown on me to the point that I want to buy it. I think the JD-XA is absolutely amazing!!!
8 analog voices would put it into $3k territory. If they had any sense at all they’d have made a new analog Jupiter. But of course, they’re still serving up rehash digital models of their past instruments.
@@sub-jec-tiv Well, the FR-8x V-Accordion is in the $6K territory. The VAD716 V-Drums system is in the $9K territory, and the GP-9M digital grand is in the $19K territory. All of the sudden, Moog One seems like a bargain. :) I think if Roland could mass produce the VCO/VCF cards that are in the JD-XA (four of them, to be precise), they could probably fit 32 or 64 of them into an analog JUPITER-32 and JUPITER-64, respectively, giving Arturia, Focusrite, and inMusic some serious competition with the respective Polybrute 12, Oberheim OB-X8 (could easily fit 64 cards inside), or Moog Muse. But maybe there's no market for it. I mean, synthesizer players seem rather stingy compared to accordion, drum, and piano players. Korg had to downgrade their Kronos into a sub $3,000 Nautilus, so that they could see any sales.
I would use this more or less for sequencing. I actually like the idea of the digital side and samples but with an analog interface. Sort of like an old Emulator. I'd have this play sequences in the background while my Prophet and Moog do most of the analog work. Or you can always midi out from this and blend them with another analog poly synth should you need a better analog engine.
Nothing wrong with paying $4,500, they would sell loads. A friend of mine from an 80's funk band sold his that was owned by Rod Temperton for nearly £8000/$11,000. I brought my original for around £2500 in the 80's and a little more to have the midi retro fit. So no way is an original worth the silly money they are asking for now. I would pay $4,500 now for a new one. I brought a JP8000 in 1996 and was hugely disappointed, I know the trance boys love that thing, but it had no bottom end and I wished Id brought a Nord lead instead at the time. Roland just keep missing the point with their never go backwards policy. The Jupiter 80 is not even a real Jup with that super natural nonsense, but just by name and a few colourful buttons It can sound nice but, like everyone else has said too much money for plastic. Modal are a more forward thinking company with great products. As is Dave Smith, not sure about Moog now though and Studio Electronics have always made good synths. IMO.
+dwightddddd I guess they are testing the water and are probably shocked at how much demand there is for analog. But the supernatural sounds are much better than you give them credit for. In fact a lot of them are better than what analog can do. I think they could expand the jp08 to 8 voice and put real analog filter and analog section to beef it up for not much more than the cost of the jdxi.
+maccagrabme Hey man thanks for the reply. I did test a Jupiter 80, and it was ok with the version 2 upgrade on the synth side, but I just can't get my head around that supernatural stuff. I am not anti digital, but this stuff sounds a bit cold and harsh for what I do personally. Korg have proved that analog can be done cheaply for the younger new synth player to have access. Like I said they should just reproduce a lot of the old stuff today with new features to squash the mad priced second hand market today. Have a good weekend. D
+dwightddddd That's just his sounds. The synth (esp in pure analog mode) can sound warm as you like! Not vintage VCO warm obviously but comparable to junos, jx, jupiter 6 esp in a mix.
+Jan Martin Ulvåg It means it sounds weak and bit old skool. I'm from 87, Roland sounds need more compression and limiters I used Roland since I was 12, sometime it sounds catchy but mainly weak. Would not recommend a Roland for 2016.
You honestly don't sound like you know what you're talking about. That's what mixing is for buddy. LOL I think it's funny how everybody hates on these modern analog synth hybrids. Clarity is important. You can easily dial in more warmth, compression, raise the low end of the EQ, etc to achieve a modern sound. Plus, if you bothered to watch more than one video you would see that the synth is capable of a more raw analog sound. This has actual analog oscillators, envelopes, and filter. The circuitry in this thing is actually really impressive. The more features something has, and the wider range of things you can make, the more you are going to have people making less than savory sounds or sounds you don't agree with in demonstrations.
Scott, I rarely watch a full 20min. video on youtube, but must say your demo kept me glued. Just purchased the Kronos 2 mainly for the ARPS, now I'm thinking of returning it for the JD. Wish Roland would come out with an arpeggiator keyboard similar to the JD. Awesome presentation.
12:08 sounds familiar: "living on video" by trans-x. i always loved that song. it has laser gun sounds.
‘Is this reality’
This was the best demo yet of this synth and I'm seriously considering purchasing one next week due to Scott's excellent presentation. Scott's great but in previous Demos I felt like he was following a script written by Fox News repeating the same tired phrases over and over. He did manage to slip in the "cross pollinate" thing once. But I gotta say this demo really hit a home run! It's been a while since Roland really excited me but after purchasing the aura system one and now this synth I am a fan again.
Probably the most interesting synth to come out (for sound designers) synth the V-Synth, esp as it has real analog in. The closest we've come usually is straight forward hybrid (Prophet 12 etc) just digital oscs through analog filters, but this is really outside the box thinking. It's a quirky synth misunderstood by some, but if you ever spend a week or so with one and open it up (not literally) you'll probably discover how good, and unique, it can sound. Also it can do lots of historic and beautiful Roland classic sounds.
ProTip - use the LED EDIT menu to turn off at LEAST the SLIDER LEDS and the synth looks 10 x more classy straight away. You just don't need them on in any normal studio, they are for when playing live in a super dark venue and make the synth look a bit tacky with them on, esp in videos/photos. I run with all leds off on sliders, and sometimes with them off on all (except filter cut off knob) - the pitch bends stay lit as does the volume and portamento knob, that looks way better.
Read this in Mike Tyson voice "the most intheresting synth synth the v-synth"
Thanks for the idea about connecting a system 1 module to the JD XA.. Amazing !!
This video demo is very compelling as I approach the buyng time.Very good presentation, Scott.
My God! This is the best Synth i've ever Heard!
At 8:58, did Scott say that when the JD-XA is in poly stacked mode all 8 oscillators, 2 per part, can be playing at the same time. I thought that only one part with 2 oscillators can be played in poly stacked mode. Could someone please confirm whether this is true or not. Thanks
The JD-XA seems to be based on a concept similar to that of Dave Smith's Prophet X. Can you apply the various filters and envelops to the digital samples in the JD-XA so that you can sculpt them into novel sounds, like you can with the Prophet X?
Yes, you can. Though i own the Prophet X and would say it sounds better overall, the stereo Prophet filters sound incredible. Also you can send your own samples to the PX, whereas the JDXA is 100% ROMpler.
It depends on what you’re looking for. The JD-XA is great for pop, the sampled tones are quite slick and clean and artificial sounding. Whereas the Prophet X is more made for soundtracky stuff. The samples are more realistic.
Pop, JD-XA wins. Soundtrack, ambient, indie or rock music, Prophet X wins.
Mmm, fab demo. Temptation is growing!
I went back and forth about the JD. I kept looking at the moog37 and a few others but finally got the JD and it is MUCH BETTER than I expected. Don't let the lame presets ruin it for you. This synth is just amazing. Even the empty initialized presets sound good just bare bones analog. These oscillators are so rich and thick you can hear little fizzles and burbles all by themselves. I just can't love it enough. A data wheel would be nice! And the red lettering BLAH. But there's a company called synth graphic that makes a great overlay that solves most of those issues cheaply. Don't pass this beauty up.
Just having the complete analog pathway with two oscillators and full midi impimentation alone warrants the price. Sonicstate did a pretty good job of actually explaining and demonstrating the capabilities. When you take that into consideration on top of the sequencer, the digital engine and the effects, this thing is a gold mine.
*Very nice synth* ♪ ♩ ♫ ♪
+Grzegorz Nowacki and 100x better in reality, if you've not had one. Looks, sound, possibilities. Very few if any xa demos do it justice, it doesn't have to do all this poor man's edm crap, its a proper synth, proper analog, proper digital. Beautiful!
Scott Tibbs is a great player and sound designer. I always enjoy his demos and presentations. It's hard enough to compare synths in a live setting given all the variables; how do it on TH-cam?
hello, can I find out more about whether it is possible to play on roland ha without computer laptop modulators without any programs ,He can play on his own without any gadgets devices additional synthesizers analog
Is this just an updated JD-800? I have a JD-800, but am looking for a board with a decent sequencer.
I have a JD 800 Love it bought it new back in 93 ish. Only synth that i will never give up. I am looking to add this to my collection. That and it was so damn expensive....
know your post is a bit old, but did you pair this up with the 800 and if so. Can you provide some insight as to how they get along.
Whats that stand you have the System 1m on ? Could you point me to where I could get one ?
That is a music stand.
hella demo. Nicely done.
Thanks for the demo Sweetwater. Will Roland make a 61 key version? Many of us still play with two hands.
great demo scott i need to replace my integra and deciding between this or the jupiter 80, does this have the same supernatural synth JP8 pads found in the integra ? anyone?
Tell Roland to reproduce the original jupiter 8. I will be one of the first in line for it!
Nope. Would cost $4,500
James Reeno What do you base that price on?
***** Descrete circuits vs Integrated Circuits. If you compare the DSI Prophet '08 that uses IC's, and the Prophet 6 that uses Descrete circuits, and compare the price. Jupiter 8 would probably be more expensive then Prophet 6.
***** $4,500 is a very accurate estimate for a Jupiter 8 remake. Look at the cost of modern analog synths like Moog Minimoog Voyager XL, ($5,499) Tom Oberheim 2 Voice, ($3,495) Modal Electronics 008, ($5,495) Alesis A6 Andromeda, (was $4,000+ when released back in 2001)
+gjc82071 I think that I would pay 4,500.00 for a new Jupiter 8 if it looked and sounded just like the original. BUT, I would want more patch memory, a very advanced real time controllable arpeggiator, and at least a built in real time controllable delay effect. But that's me...
If I had it my way, I think it would be time now for a JD-X8 with eight two-oscillator analog voices and a five octave keyboard. But, Roland would have a conflict there with their Jupiter-X, which again, if I had it my way, deserves an update to a Jupiter-XL with a six octave keybed of the Jupiter-80. Nonetheless, dreams and personal desires aside, we live in the real world where market dictates the rules, and still, I must say that although initially I wasn't too keen on the JD-XA, now the instrument has grown on me to the point that I want to buy it. I think the JD-XA is absolutely amazing!!!
8 analog voices would put it into $3k territory. If they had any sense at all they’d have made a new analog Jupiter. But of course, they’re still serving up rehash digital models of their past instruments.
@@sub-jec-tiv Well, the FR-8x V-Accordion is in the $6K territory. The VAD716 V-Drums system is in the $9K territory, and the GP-9M digital grand is in the $19K territory. All of the sudden, Moog One seems like a bargain. :)
I think if Roland could mass produce the VCO/VCF cards that are in the JD-XA (four of them, to be precise), they could probably fit 32 or 64 of them into an analog JUPITER-32 and JUPITER-64, respectively, giving Arturia, Focusrite, and inMusic some serious competition with the respective Polybrute 12, Oberheim OB-X8 (could easily fit 64 cards inside), or Moog Muse.
But maybe there's no market for it. I mean, synthesizer players seem rather stingy compared to accordion, drum, and piano players. Korg had to downgrade their Kronos into a sub $3,000 Nautilus, so that they could see any sales.
I would use this more or less for sequencing. I actually like the idea of the digital side and samples but with an analog interface. Sort of like an old Emulator. I'd have this play sequences in the background while my Prophet and Moog do most of the analog work. Or you can always midi out from this and blend them with another analog poly synth should you need a better analog engine.
I bet you can travel to the moon with that one...
The lead at 8:13 sounds great
what about that "subsonic thing"?
Thank you!
Whoever is curious, I posted a video with some experiences on my jd-xa! love this synthesizer!!!!
You still got the JD-XA?
love the sound and concept. but I need at least 8 voices for the chords i use.
A mate of mine had the same problem, till he lost one hand, he's now happy with 5 voices.
It's not until he stops saying 'i've got something cool to show you' that you miss it :)
that's a lot of buttons and nobs. i wish i had one when i was 15.
No aftertouch....Seriously?
It was a joke! Since it has aftertouch
4:47 sounds like terraria music
Nothing wrong with paying $4,500, they would sell loads.
A friend of mine from an 80's funk band sold his that was owned by Rod Temperton for nearly £8000/$11,000.
I brought my original for around £2500 in the 80's and a little more to have the midi retro fit.
So no way is an original worth the silly money they are asking for now.
I would pay $4,500 now for a new one.
I brought a JP8000 in 1996 and was hugely disappointed, I know the trance boys love that thing, but it had no bottom end and I wished Id brought a Nord lead instead at the time.
Roland just keep missing the point with their never go backwards policy.
The Jupiter 80 is not even a real Jup with that super natural nonsense, but just by name and a few colourful buttons
It can sound nice but, like everyone else has said too much money for plastic.
Modal are a more forward thinking company with great products.
As is Dave Smith, not sure about Moog now though and Studio Electronics have always made good synths. IMO.
+dwightddddd I guess they are testing the water and are probably shocked at how much demand there is for analog. But the supernatural sounds are much better than you give them credit for. In fact a lot of them are better than what analog can do. I think they could expand the jp08 to 8 voice and put real analog filter and analog section to beef it up for not much more than the cost of the jdxi.
+maccagrabme Hey man thanks for the reply.
I did test a Jupiter 80, and it was ok with the version 2 upgrade on the synth side, but I just can't get my head around that supernatural stuff.
I am not anti digital, but this stuff sounds a bit cold and harsh for what I do personally.
Korg have proved that analog can be done cheaply for the younger new synth player to have access.
Like I said they should just reproduce a lot of the old stuff today with new features to squash the mad priced second hand market today.
Have a good weekend.
D
+dwightddddd That's just his sounds. The synth (esp in pure analog mode) can sound warm as you like! Not vintage VCO warm obviously but comparable to junos, jx, jupiter 6 esp in a mix.
Techno sounds just doesn't do it for me with a plain dry rock kit... What is this thing
Only 49 keys!! blah
49 keys is good
James Reeno Good for who? They are not good for me, I play with both hands and actually play chords.
I play chords too, and 4 octaves is fine.
If you want a jupiter 8, buy one on ebay. $7,000.
James Reeno Why would I do that, I have one.
When your uncle says I can make dupstep
+Morenob What do you mean?
+Morenob How old were you in 1980?
+Jan Martin Ulvåg It means it sounds weak and bit old skool. I'm from 87, Roland sounds need more compression and limiters I used Roland since I was 12, sometime it sounds catchy but mainly weak.
Would not recommend a Roland for 2016.
Morenob What are your 5 favourite synths?
You honestly don't sound like you know what you're talking about. That's what mixing is for buddy. LOL
I think it's funny how everybody hates on these modern analog synth hybrids. Clarity is important. You can easily dial in more warmth, compression, raise the low end of the EQ, etc to achieve a modern sound. Plus, if you bothered to watch more than one video you would see that the synth is capable of a more raw analog sound. This has actual analog oscillators, envelopes, and filter. The circuitry in this thing is actually really impressive.
The more features something has, and the wider range of things you can make, the more you are going to have people making less than savory sounds or sounds you don't agree with in demonstrations.