The JD800 was my first real synth in 1993! I had a love hate relationship with it as it wasn't the easiest thing to carry and I'd always get drowned out by my loud bandmates in the mix. When the red glue issue kicked in, it became heaviest sound module ever but I'd still take it to live shows and just midi it to a controller which venues usually provided. I learned to program sounds with it and because of it, made it easier to understand how to program sounds on any synth I was to own from that point. For playing covers, I had to constantly switch between the Strings and Brass card sets mid-song. At one stage I had it controlling the JD-990 as the midi on that responded to sysex from the various controls of the JD. I got my 3rd JD-800 just a few months ago which is sonically indistinguishable from the Fantom Model and the JD-08. Nothing beats having all the controls laid out though.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I've avoided getting one because I'm always worried the glue issue hasn't been dealt with. I just literally messaged someone who had one for sale who had it for sale on the upper end of what they go for. He said several keys didn't work and I let him know he probably had a synth with the red glue issue and that it was a costly or time-consuming repair, so his goal of selling it for $1,800 was more like a $900 synth. He didn't realize he had a clunker and was glad I let him know.
I still have mine! Recently gave it a full makeover, replaced all Capacitors, made the sliders work smooth again, replaced all buttons and redid the keybed (luckily I took care of the red glue before it could do any damage). It still is one of my favorite synths! Together with the JP8000 it is one of the best synths Roland made after the Jupiter 8.
This is a great video Scott. We had a Jd800 at college in 1994, it sounded amazing and a lot of those presets I recognised from Vangelis 1492 soundtrack.
I used to love trying to master my d-50 back in the day. But I like the idea of not having to program sounds or be able to modify sounds on the fly, while performing. Having all the buttons and slides in front of you is so much more fun. Every time I go to look for a performance oriented keyboard I get lost pretty quick.
I had one of these for a few years and replaced some of the front panel switches that were failing. Also repaired some tracks on a switch panel PCB. Interesting thing: the LFOs were intended to have front panel LEDs that indicated the clock rate. You can see the pads etc for them on the relevant PCB but they were never fitted and the holes in the front panel were never implemented. However, they are shown on the circuit diagrams. The LEDs would have come through at the left side of the title strips for each LFO. For a few nano seconds I considered fitting them but realised the code to drive them had probably been written out. Also, I didn’t want to be drilling holes in the front panel. I couldn’t think of a way of making it look tidy and ‘original’.
Great walkthrough. I wish more synths had envelopes like those instead of regular old ADSRs. The “We Can’t Dance” album by Genesis has JD-800 and Korg Wavestation all over it.
One of the neat things about the JD-800 is how it laid the groundwork for the JV/XV series and even Roland's modern Zen-Core synths. Naturally there's more polyphony, waveforms, and effects in them, but a Fantom or the brand new Juno-D still use four layers within a patch with their own envelopes, LFOs, effects, etc. A lot of the sound design tutorial is still applicable to my MC-707, just with way more menu diving. I'd love to have this level of hands-on control :p
Its absolutely number one on my list of "wish i had this" i still have the original product pamphlet from '91. Thats as close as i ever got. Its just a thing of beauty to me. 16:00 just look at it...Ps, new sub. Gday scott.
I still have mine that went through the recall in the 90’s and she’s in mint condition still. Shipping it to CA from OH was a bit nerve racking I remember.
Wonderful that this synth lives on in the JD-08, but without the full physical controls not the same. Would have been incredible if the Gaia2 added another layer (4 layers), better VA oscillators, and a list of wavetables similar to the JD-800 and its cartridges, those extended envelopes, and all those creative controls of JD-800 control surface. Maybe used ZenCore and 256 notes of poly, for that improved VA and long list of alternative waveforms. It would be a Fantom without a menu and all the workstation stuff getting in the way. Pure sound design heaven with little need for a menu. I wrote to Roland a few years before the JD--08 and asked why all the recreations of their analog era in digital, but not the greatest of their early sound design digital era, the JD-800? They responded, but not as I expected with the JD-08, never expected a Boutique; and the Gaia2 became a more common synth, leaving out all the Gaia superpowers of layers, 64 poly, no menu, and panned oscillators.
Excellent video! I just purchased a JD-990 (Vintage expansion on the way). I spent about 5 hours with it last night. It appears to have some different features from the JD-800 VST (which I also have), such as the ability to pan each of the 4 tones differently within a single patch. You can also have 7 parts plus the drums but you still have the 24 voice limitation you mentioned. Also, I don't see where the VST has drum sounds but then again, why would you need it in a DAW! Funny thing is, I subscribed to the Roland Cloud Ultimate to save money by buying less hardware. After trying the JD-800 VST I had to have a hardware version, LOL.
Well I have a D-50 and an original JD800 like this one, I can say that they are the same thing, they are the best Roland romplers, only one is older than the other and the more modern of the two, it has sh101 style controls. It is digital but it is not as sterile as the modern ones of today. This thing was used for all the ambient of the 90s, it was very common to hear the pads of this synthesizer in jungle and break beat music of the 90s, in house and techno it was essential and for dance and trance music it was an unbeatable synthesizer. I can only say that its control of the 4 layers for each function gave many facilities to design complicated presets. It is my favorite digital synthesizer of all time, it is difficult to find digital ones that have so many controls per function and this is without a doubt the best to spend hours playing sounds. I recommend the boutique version JD-08, it's still the same thing, although in a smaller size, if you don't have the money for an original and want something new with that technology, without a doubt JD-08 is the most recommendable.
As usual a very nice and detailed explanation. I am a fan of VSTs but I don't like protection system of Roland cloud. Computer must be on line every 2 weeks or the plugin blocks. It happened to me once live... I hope Cherry Audio will make justice to this wonderful design.
Here in the UK I've seen quite a few JD-800s with bad cosmetic damage, but luckily most have previously had the red glue problem fixed by Roland. If you look about in local classifieds I've seen them sell for between £350 to £600. Most of them seem to have some sort of damage to the left side panel for some reason. I saw one last month selling for £380 and I found a place online selling the replacement panel w buttons for €85. I never bought it as I'm too busy at the moment, but if you look around and you like a project, you can still pick up the JD-800 relatively inexpensively. Plus, it's a design classic. It has a real space age/sci-fi aesthetic.
Roland sent me a new keyboard, thru a technician, to repare the 'red goo' problem, almost 30 years after it was released (that's Japanese service ! They just needed a photo of the serial number of the synth.). Still have mine, having a hard time letting it go...! Take care!
I have 2 JD800, both with red glue problem. One more, the other a lit less. I am thankfully to have a good friend who repairs this very good old machines for a fair price. Restoring and keep 2 JD800 alive cost me amount of 1000 €; not cheap, but this machines always worth it. Good bye red glue issue and having fun with my JD's till my life will end. Only thing I am afraid of, how can I ship them and my other keyboards ;Studios and more to my new home to the phillipines ;)
I kinda half way wanted one of these back in the mid 90s because I thought it looked really impressive. a local store had one on display forever and couldn't sell it. I think by 1996, everyone that wanted one had one and were ready for something else. I never thought that much of the sound. around 1996 I bought my first synth - a Korg X5D. after a year I was ready to trade it for a new Trinity plus. used JD800s were $500 forever back in late 90s and into the 2000s. not sure I'd want one today unless I had a synth museum/studio.
@@ScottsSynthStuff yes, it was used a lot in the 90s for pads and spacey new age sounds - "You Better Wait" by Steve Perry is a great example. also, Paul Shaffer had one sitting on top of his B3 for a long time.
Great video! Sadly, the roland cloud version of this does not have single mode, multi mode, or any of the important system controls that are on the top left of your hardware version. Roland cloud left out all the multis, combinations, and signature layer patches of all the hardware versions. A real bummer.
I lover the JD series. I let go of the 800 and bought the 990 which includes extra features and I have the Vintage Synths card which ads in critical missing wave forms. However most people are using the JD wrong. Listen to Faithless's Insomnia and Andreas Vollenweider's The Birds of Tilmun. Those massive pads are the JD. When I listen to other artist here and on You Tube the JD just sounds thinner and digital. If you get in and program it right the JD excels at massive.
I bought a JD990 earlier this week and have the Vintage expansion board on the way! I have some excellent analog synths but really love the sound of these old Roland digital synths.
Another huge problem with the JD800 (especially dirty ones) is 'self-editing' ... there's no way to switch editing off, even when just recalling and playing patches, so if a particular slider trips (eg. by accidentally touching the slider, electrically shorting because if dirt or by knocking the keyboard while playing), that parameter will instantly change the patch. For example, if the cut off frequency slider is left wide open (slider set all the way to the top), and you select a patch that is quite dark and muted, the 800 will play the patch as it's meant to sound (dark and muted)... but if the cut off freq slider suddenly trips, the dark/muted patch will instantly change to one that is incredibly bright (cut off freq wide open) which isn't great if you're playing live. This could happen with ANY of the parameters that are controlled by sliders. My 800 was second hand and so dirty, the patch parameters would change several times as I was playing... in the end, I desoldered every slider, disassembled and cleaned them with Deoxit... the problem still occasionally occurs but at least the synth is usable. it's a brilliant synth and definite keeper - even if it's a flawed masterpiece.
To be fair, pretty much EVERY synthesizer that has physical controls and patch storage works exactly the same way. Some manufacturers have made an option where you have to move the control to "catch" the current value before it takes effect, and that solves the issue. I replaced all the sliders on my JD-800, so I don't typically have that problem, as they are clean and don't have phantom movements. The ultimate, of course, would be motorized sliders that moved to display their value based on the patch selected. :)
@@ScottsSynthStuff I priced replacing all of the sliders but they weren't available in Australia and buying them overseas was almost as expensive as the synth... in the end, I serviced each one and that seems to have done the job ... that was several years ago so they probably could do with another squirt of Deoxit but on the whole, the synth has been excellent.
Hey Scott, Love the videos! I wanted to ask, I've a 4 tier stand, I noticed you also have a few, Like you I put 37/49 keyboards on them with room to spare, my question is, Where can or even what are the extra brackets called to hold them in place? so I can add say my drum machines and groove boxes?
All those stands are On Stage Stands, and they came from Sweetwater. They also have the additional horizontal bars and brackets so you can do what I did - I have links to all of these in the description of every video. I suspect that Liquid Stands will be coming out with some soon as well.
hell of a synth. Im wondering if you would be available to chat about the 106 for a minute. I have a question about the local control and weather or not it can be toggled via sysex. Im the creator of a midi device, one of its many functions is as an arpeggiator for output midi note messages....lets just say, 106 owners might be interested in this function.. furthermore, does the JD-800 not have an arpeggiator either? If midi note on/off messages can be sent with its local control off - midi goblin should be able to work as an arpeggiator for it too...
I'm curious as to what's going on with your display screens. Mine glows a nice amber backlight. Were some of the JD's made without the amber backlight?
I have a JD-800 that unfortunately suffered from the wet-glue syndrom. I've tried to clean it up, but either the cleaning or the glue itself must have destroyed some traces on the flexible PCB under the keyboard as most of the keys do NOT work at all, some work occasionally... I believe the aftertouch is a separate circuitry independent from that flexible PCB? Unfortunately, I can't find anyone in Poland or nearby who would be able to repair that keybed for me. I could try to do that myself (replace the PCB) but I'm not sure where to buy a new, reliable one and I'm afraid to pull out the rubber handles that hold the buttons onto the PCB as I've seen videos where they are easy to break and hard to find a replacement too. Does anyone have any idea where I could purchase the flexible PCB (replacement) and possibly these rubber keyboard switches (just in case I break some in the process) ? Or better yet, you know of someone who knows how to repair that keyboard not too far from Poland (like in Germany perhaps?) Any suggestions and help much appreciated as I really miss that keyboard - I do have a VST but it has issues and breaks the sound occasionally on my PC, even though it's a decent hardware.
My cutoff freq slider is halfass f*cked. It doesn`t work halfway down. Can I fix it just by using a graphitizing pencil trick or do I need a complete replacement?
Excellent question. The JD-08 has 128 voice polyphony rather than the 24 of the original. It also has 256 patch storage slots instead of 64, a limited bitimbral mode when in "single" mode, and and arpeggiator and sequencer that the original lacked. However, the engine inside the JD-08 is not an actual copy of the JD-800 engine, which is unfortunate. Instead, it is yet another copy of Roland's Zen Core engine, that has been tweaked to emulate a JD-800. There are numerous waveforms that are different (different octaves even!) and the filter is completely different sounding than the original (again, unfortunately). This means that the Roland Cloud and Fantom EX versions of the JD-800 (also running on Zen Core) have the same differences. So...short answer, it sounds a LOT like a JD-800 in pretty much every way, but if you know the JD-800 well and put them side by side, you'll notice differences.
I had a mint one - used from a church in Texas. To be honest it just didn't do much for me. The D50 sounded much more present and organic. I still, have the D50 - I don't have the JD anymore.
You can pick these up here in uk on Facebook market for £400 Cheap nowadays, but its patches and sounds are just Meh in this day and age. Had one when they launched in the 90's but wouldn't use one today.
@veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Well...there's quite a lot here in the studio. Korg Arp 2600 FS, Original Arp Odyssey, Roland Juno, Arturia Polybrute, Arturia Drumbrute, Deepmind 12, 2X Neutrons Prophet 6, Sequential Rev 2, Novation Summit. Moog Matriarch. They are my Analogs I use. Digitals I use are Waldorf Iridium Keyboard, ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe, Korg M3, Korg Radias, Korg Wavestate, Roland MC707, An Original Roland MC 909, MPC ONE, Machine Mk3. VST'S i use, Omnisphere, Dune 3, Nexus 3, Arturia Pigments, Korg Modwave, Korg Wavestate, UVI Falcon 3, MPC, Cherry Audio Mercury 6, DCO 106. Various midi controllers from Arturia, and a Novation 61SL MK111. Favourite is kinda hard to judge, They each have there own unique sound and features. Great tools to use.
@@maydaygoingdown5602 noice. how's the deepmind hold up? does it do any special tricks or just sounds good? but yeah if i had to pick a favourite, really, it'd be all of em. i got quite the list too.
JD does not stand for digital Jupiter me an my friend Collin designed the JD800 back in 1988/89,an we allso designed the jv1000 workstation as well we are from Dewsbury West Yorkshire,we designed the 2 synths thought a sergestion box in Japan,it's a long story but this is the truth,👍
Not only it's a digital synthesizer, but it's a terrible sounding digital synthesizer that looks cool, in my opinion. Even d50 or jp8000 sound better to me.
I bought the jd800 used from guitar center for 2000 dollars did not know about red glue problem now have a nonfunctional red keyboard 🎹 with multiple metal bars on the floor of the Keys . I play the keyboard with a midi keyboard attached but I am afraid the glue will God forbid take out the circuit boards .
I have the boutique JD-08. Still learning. Excellent, clear explanation. Thank you!
Was going to leave pretty much this exact comment. I love the JD-08 but I feel like I am barely scratching the surface of what it can do
The JD800 was my first real synth in 1993! I had a love hate relationship with it as it wasn't the easiest thing to carry and I'd always get drowned out by my loud bandmates in the mix. When the red glue issue kicked in, it became heaviest sound module ever but I'd still take it to live shows and just midi it to a controller which venues usually provided. I learned to program sounds with it and because of it, made it easier to understand how to program sounds on any synth I was to own from that point. For playing covers, I had to constantly switch between the Strings and Brass card sets mid-song. At one stage I had it controlling the JD-990 as the midi on that responded to sysex from the various controls of the JD. I got my 3rd JD-800 just a few months ago which is sonically indistinguishable from the Fantom Model and the JD-08. Nothing beats having all the controls laid out though.
Easily the best video on RUclips regarding this synth!
Thank you! I really couldn't find anything on RUclips talking about its sound design features, so I decided to make one.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I've avoided getting one because I'm always worried the glue issue hasn't been dealt with.
I just literally messaged someone who had one for sale who had it for sale on the upper end of what they go for. He said several keys didn't work and I let him know he probably had a synth with the red glue issue and that it was a costly or time-consuming repair, so his goal of selling it for $1,800 was more like a $900 synth. He didn't realize he had a clunker and was glad I let him know.
Ive had my synth for two decades and only just found out how half of it works! Thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed the historic details on the D50 and JD880. Great video. Good job!
I still have mine! Recently gave it a full makeover, replaced all Capacitors, made the sliders work smooth again, replaced all buttons and redid the keybed (luckily I took care of the red glue before it could do any damage). It still is one of my favorite synths! Together with the JP8000 it is one of the best synths Roland made after the Jupiter 8.
Thanks! I was following along on my JD-08. You helped clarified a couple of functions of this unit for me. Cheers!
I think I like the idea of a JD800 more than I would owning one, but really enjoyed the video!
This is a great video Scott. We had a Jd800 at college in 1994, it sounded amazing and a lot of those presets I recognised from Vangelis 1492 soundtrack.
I loved the ending and the Graphics nice.
One of the best digital synths of all time. Capable of absolutely stunning sounds!
Yes! Can you imagine a JD-800 in 2024 technology?
@@funnzie it still sounds incredible - I have both a JD-800 and JD-990, and nothing else sounds like those beauties!
hi Scott, this is like my Juno DS .it just have the luxury with knob per function. great Rolandy sounds you show off!
I used to love trying to master my d-50 back in the day. But I like the idea of not having to program sounds or be able to modify sounds on the fly, while performing. Having all the buttons and slides in front of you is so much more fun. Every time I go to look for a performance oriented keyboard I get lost pretty quick.
I had one of these for a few years and replaced some of the front panel switches that were failing. Also repaired some tracks on a switch panel PCB.
Interesting thing: the LFOs were intended to have front panel LEDs that indicated the clock rate. You can see the pads etc for them on the relevant PCB but they were never fitted and the holes in the front panel were never implemented. However, they are shown on the circuit diagrams. The LEDs would have come through at the left side of the title strips for each LFO. For a few nano seconds I considered fitting them but realised the code to drive them had probably been written out. Also, I didn’t want to be drilling holes in the front panel. I couldn’t think of a way of making it look tidy and ‘original’.
Great walkthrough. I wish more synths had envelopes like those instead of regular old ADSRs. The “We Can’t Dance” album by Genesis has JD-800 and Korg Wavestation all over it.
Scott has a synth museum in his studio! 😂❤
One of the neat things about the JD-800 is how it laid the groundwork for the JV/XV series and even Roland's modern Zen-Core synths.
Naturally there's more polyphony, waveforms, and effects in them, but a Fantom or the brand new Juno-D still use four layers within a patch with their own envelopes, LFOs, effects, etc.
A lot of the sound design tutorial is still applicable to my MC-707, just with way more menu diving. I'd love to have this level of hands-on control :p
The extensive hands on control is really what sets this synth apart, and makes it a gem for sound design.
This synth is a beast!
Great Review
Its absolutely number one on my list of "wish i had this" i still have the original product pamphlet from '91. Thats as close as i ever got. Its just a thing of beauty to me. 16:00 just look at it...Ps, new sub. Gday scott.
Thanks. That was fascinating as well as informative.
Great video… this information will
Help me edit patches as I have the Roland Cloud JD-800 plugin
Awesome Dive, thanks Scotty!
I still have mine that went through the recall in the 90’s and she’s in mint condition still. Shipping it to CA from OH was a bit nerve racking I remember.
Wonderful that this synth lives on in the JD-08, but without the full physical controls not the same. Would have been incredible if the Gaia2 added another layer (4 layers), better VA oscillators, and a list of wavetables similar to the JD-800 and its cartridges, those extended envelopes, and all those creative controls of JD-800 control surface. Maybe used ZenCore and 256 notes of poly, for that improved VA and long list of alternative waveforms. It would be a Fantom without a menu and all the workstation stuff getting in the way. Pure sound design heaven with little need for a menu. I wrote to Roland a few years before the JD--08 and asked why all the recreations of their analog era in digital, but not the greatest of their early sound design digital era, the JD-800? They responded, but not as I expected with the JD-08, never expected a Boutique; and the Gaia2 became a more common synth, leaving out all the Gaia superpowers of layers, 64 poly, no menu, and panned oscillators.
Super video - Thanks Scott 😃
Excellent video! I just purchased a JD-990 (Vintage expansion on the way). I spent about 5 hours with it last night. It appears to have some different features from the JD-800 VST (which I also have), such as the ability to pan each of the 4 tones differently within a single patch. You can also have 7 parts plus the drums but you still have the 24 voice limitation you mentioned. Also, I don't see where the VST has drum sounds but then again, why would you need it in a DAW! Funny thing is, I subscribed to the Roland Cloud Ultimate to save money by buying less hardware. After trying the JD-800 VST I had to have a hardware version, LOL.
Well I have a D-50 and an original JD800 like this one, I can say that they are the same thing, they are the best Roland romplers, only one is older than the other and the more modern of the two, it has sh101 style controls.
It is digital but it is not as sterile as the modern ones of today.
This thing was used for all the ambient of the 90s, it was very common to hear the pads of this synthesizer in jungle and break beat music of the 90s, in house and techno it was essential and for dance and trance music it was an unbeatable synthesizer.
I can only say that its control of the 4 layers for each function gave many facilities to design complicated presets.
It is my favorite digital synthesizer of all time, it is difficult to find digital ones that have so many controls per function and this is without a doubt the best to spend hours playing sounds.
I recommend the boutique version JD-08, it's still the same thing, although in a smaller size, if you don't have the money for an original and want something new with that technology, without a doubt JD-08 is the most recommendable.
As usual a very nice and detailed explanation. I am a fan of VSTs but I don't like protection system of Roland cloud. Computer must be on line every 2 weeks or the plugin blocks. It happened to me once live...
I hope Cherry Audio will make justice to this wonderful design.
Here in the UK I've seen quite a few JD-800s with bad cosmetic damage, but luckily most have previously had the red glue problem fixed by Roland. If you look about in local classifieds I've seen them sell for between £350 to £600. Most of them seem to have some sort of damage to the left side panel for some reason. I saw one last month selling for £380 and I found a place online selling the replacement panel w buttons for €85. I never bought it as I'm too busy at the moment, but if you look around and you like a project, you can still pick up the JD-800 relatively inexpensively. Plus, it's a design classic. It has a real space age/sci-fi aesthetic.
Roland sent me a new keyboard, thru a technician, to repare the 'red goo' problem, almost 30 years after it was released (that's Japanese service ! They just needed a photo of the serial number of the synth.). Still have mine, having a hard time letting it go...! Take care!
I have 2 JD800, both with red glue problem. One more, the other a lit less. I am thankfully to have a good friend who repairs this very good old machines for a fair price. Restoring and keep 2 JD800 alive cost me amount of 1000 €; not cheap, but this machines always worth it. Good bye red glue issue and having fun with my JD's till my life will end. Only thing I am afraid of, how can I ship them and my other keyboards ;Studios and more to my new home to the phillipines ;)
Great presentation. Would be interesting to incorporate boutiques and how they compare to the originals (advantages/disadvantages).
Red glue for XP’s, VK-7 and many others
I kinda half way wanted one of these back in the mid 90s because I thought it looked really impressive. a local store had one on display forever and couldn't sell it. I think by 1996, everyone that wanted one had one and were ready for something else. I never thought that much of the sound. around 1996 I bought my first synth - a Korg X5D. after a year I was ready to trade it for a new Trinity plus. used JD800s were $500 forever back in late 90s and into the 2000s. not sure I'd want one today unless I had a synth museum/studio.
They honestly have a very distinct sound, and as a pad machine they are unmatched. I love mine and use it all the time!
@@ScottsSynthStuff yes, it was used a lot in the 90s for pads and spacey new age sounds - "You Better Wait" by Steve Perry is a great example. also, Paul Shaffer had one sitting on top of his B3 for a long time.
Great video! Sadly, the roland cloud version of this does not have single mode, multi mode, or any of the important system controls that are on the top left of your hardware version. Roland cloud left out all the multis, combinations, and signature layer patches of all the hardware versions. A real bummer.
Thanks for doing a decent deep dive. There's so many 10 minute videos on YT with the title "deep dive". How can you do a deep dive in 10 minutes??
I lover the JD series. I let go of the 800 and bought the 990 which includes extra features and I have the Vintage Synths card which ads in critical missing wave forms. However most people are using the JD wrong. Listen to Faithless's Insomnia and Andreas Vollenweider's The Birds of Tilmun. Those massive pads are the JD. When I listen to other artist here and on You Tube the JD just sounds thinner and digital. If you get in and program it right the JD excels at massive.
I bought a JD990 earlier this week and have the Vintage expansion board on the way! I have some excellent analog synths but really love the sound of these old Roland digital synths.
I couldn't help but spot what looks like a Long-EZ model in the background.
It's actually a Cozy MKIV, a model of my airplane which you can see here: youtube.com/@CanardBoulevard
@@ScottsSynthStuff Ah ok. A buddy flies a Cozy Mk4. I fly a VariEze as can be seen in my profile picture
I would like to see a comparison of a JD-XA vs JD-800 - there is no video comparing the successor to its legendary ancestor
That red epoxy glue was also found in a Roland D-70 I had. It cost me to get a new key bed and afterwards, I sold it.
As well as JV-80 😢
And XP-80 as well
Another huge problem with the JD800 (especially dirty ones) is 'self-editing' ... there's no way to switch editing off, even when just recalling and playing patches, so if a particular slider trips (eg. by accidentally touching the slider, electrically shorting because if dirt or by knocking the keyboard while playing), that parameter will instantly change the patch. For example, if the cut off frequency slider is left wide open (slider set all the way to the top), and you select a patch that is quite dark and muted, the 800 will play the patch as it's meant to sound (dark and muted)... but if the cut off freq slider suddenly trips, the dark/muted patch will instantly change to one that is incredibly bright (cut off freq wide open) which isn't great if you're playing live. This could happen with ANY of the parameters that are controlled by sliders. My 800 was second hand and so dirty, the patch parameters would change several times as I was playing... in the end, I desoldered every slider, disassembled and cleaned them with Deoxit... the problem still occasionally occurs but at least the synth is usable. it's a brilliant synth and definite keeper - even if it's a flawed masterpiece.
To be fair, pretty much EVERY synthesizer that has physical controls and patch storage works exactly the same way. Some manufacturers have made an option where you have to move the control to "catch" the current value before it takes effect, and that solves the issue. I replaced all the sliders on my JD-800, so I don't typically have that problem, as they are clean and don't have phantom movements.
The ultimate, of course, would be motorized sliders that moved to display their value based on the patch selected. :)
@@ScottsSynthStuff I priced replacing all of the sliders but they weren't available in Australia and buying them overseas was almost as expensive as the synth... in the end, I serviced each one and that seems to have done the job ... that was several years ago so they probably could do with another squirt of Deoxit but on the whole, the synth has been excellent.
Hey Scott, Love the videos! I wanted to ask, I've a 4 tier stand, I noticed you also have a few, Like you I put 37/49 keyboards on them with room to spare, my question is, Where can or even what are the extra brackets called to hold them in place? so I can add say my drum machines and groove boxes?
All those stands are On Stage Stands, and they came from Sweetwater. They also have the additional horizontal bars and brackets so you can do what I did - I have links to all of these in the description of every video.
I suspect that Liquid Stands will be coming out with some soon as well.
hi Scott i m looking for the JD 800 inst definition file in case u haev it thkx Pat
What is the name/manufacturer of your Keyboard stand?
hell of a synth. Im wondering if you would be available to chat about the 106 for a minute. I have a question about the local control and weather or not it can be toggled via sysex.
Im the creator of a midi device, one of its many functions is as an arpeggiator for output midi note messages....lets just say, 106 owners might be interested in this function..
furthermore, does the JD-800 not have an arpeggiator either? If midi note on/off messages can be sent with its local control off - midi goblin should be able to work as an arpeggiator for it too...
I'm curious as to what's going on with your display screens. Mine glows a nice amber backlight. Were some of the JD's made without the amber backlight?
Mine does as well, you just can't tell because of the very bright studio lights I have shining on it.
@@ScottsSynthStuff ok.
I have a JD-800 that unfortunately suffered from the wet-glue syndrom. I've tried to clean it up, but either the cleaning or the glue itself must have destroyed some traces on the flexible PCB under the keyboard as most of the keys do NOT work at all, some work occasionally... I believe the aftertouch is a separate circuitry independent from that flexible PCB?
Unfortunately, I can't find anyone in Poland or nearby who would be able to repair that keybed for me. I could try to do that myself (replace the PCB) but I'm not sure where to buy a new, reliable one and I'm afraid to pull out the rubber handles that hold the buttons onto the PCB as I've seen videos where they are easy to break and hard to find a replacement too.
Does anyone have any idea where I could purchase the flexible PCB (replacement) and possibly these rubber keyboard switches (just in case I break some in the process) ? Or better yet, you know of someone who knows how to repair that keyboard not too far from Poland (like in Germany perhaps?)
Any suggestions and help much appreciated as I really miss that keyboard - I do have a VST but it has issues and breaks the sound occasionally on my PC, even though it's a decent hardware.
My cutoff freq slider is halfass f*cked. It doesn`t work halfway down. Can I fix it just by using a graphitizing pencil trick or do I need a complete replacement?
Can't hurt to try!
So is the JD-08 boutique good enough compared to this? (Disregarding the really tiny sliders)
Excellent question. The JD-08 has 128 voice polyphony rather than the 24 of the original. It also has 256 patch storage slots instead of 64, a limited bitimbral mode when in "single" mode, and and arpeggiator and sequencer that the original lacked.
However, the engine inside the JD-08 is not an actual copy of the JD-800 engine, which is unfortunate. Instead, it is yet another copy of Roland's Zen Core engine, that has been tweaked to emulate a JD-800. There are numerous waveforms that are different (different octaves even!) and the filter is completely different sounding than the original (again, unfortunately).
This means that the Roland Cloud and Fantom EX versions of the JD-800 (also running on Zen Core) have the same differences.
So...short answer, it sounds a LOT like a JD-800 in pretty much every way, but if you know the JD-800 well and put them side by side, you'll notice differences.
I guess I should check the roland cloud version then. Never had a JD-800 so comparing is not an issue. Thanks!
13:05 Never gonna give you up
I had a mint one - used from a church in Texas. To be honest it just didn't do much for me. The D50 sounded much more present and organic. I still, have the D50 - I don't have the JD anymore.
"These are bi-polar" ... lol!
All the recent synths make it sound like a toy now...
We designed the first workstation mark an Colin,from Dewsbury West Yorkshire 👍
You can pick these up here in uk on Facebook market for £400
Cheap nowadays, but its patches and sounds are just Meh in this day and age.
Had one when they launched in the 90's but wouldn't use one today.
what are you using then? this & the blofeld are my favs
@veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Well...there's quite a lot here in the studio.
Korg Arp 2600 FS, Original Arp Odyssey, Roland Juno, Arturia Polybrute, Arturia Drumbrute, Deepmind 12, 2X Neutrons Prophet 6, Sequential Rev 2, Novation Summit. Moog Matriarch.
They are my Analogs I use.
Digitals I use are Waldorf Iridium Keyboard, ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe, Korg M3, Korg Radias, Korg Wavestate, Roland MC707, An Original Roland MC 909, MPC ONE, Machine Mk3.
VST'S i use, Omnisphere, Dune 3, Nexus 3, Arturia Pigments, Korg Modwave, Korg Wavestate, UVI Falcon 3, MPC, Cherry Audio Mercury 6, DCO 106.
Various midi controllers from Arturia, and a Novation 61SL MK111.
Favourite is kinda hard to judge, They each have there own unique sound and features. Great tools to use.
@@maydaygoingdown5602 noice. how's the deepmind hold up? does it do any special tricks or just sounds good? but yeah if i had to pick a favourite, really, it'd be all of em. i got quite the list too.
MY OLDSCHOLLS BEST
JD does not stand for digital Jupiter me an my friend Collin designed the JD800 back in 1988/89,an we allso designed the jv1000 workstation as well we are from Dewsbury West Yorkshire,we designed the 2 synths thought a sergestion box in Japan,it's a long story but this is the truth,👍
Well, the keyboard design sucks.
What’s the point of having one now and paying a rip off price, when the plugin is the same and as is the ones in the fantom 6,7,8 and jupiter x
Not only it's a digital synthesizer, but it's a terrible sounding digital synthesizer that looks cool, in my opinion. Even d50 or jp8000 sound better to me.
I bought the jd800 used from guitar center for 2000 dollars did not know about red glue problem now have a nonfunctional red keyboard 🎹 with multiple metal bars on the floor of the Keys . I play the keyboard with a midi keyboard attached but I am afraid the glue will God forbid take out the circuit boards .