The Beginning and End of Roland's Juno Analog Synths: Juno-60 vs. Alpha Juno 2
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
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Today we're taking a look at Roland's Juno line, specifically the beginning and end of their analog era-- the Juno-60 (alpha) and Alpha Juno 2 (omega?). At the precipice of analog's denouement, the Alpha Juno 2 moved more towards the digital mindset. In this video, Zach runs down the differences in build and tone between these two synthesizers, and demonstrates some classic tones from both.
Sounds start at 11:09
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I’ve always thought the main selling point of the 6/60/106 is the fader-per-function control panel, which makes them far more accessible to beginners, and also musicians who want to perform synthesis live, tweaking the parameters throughout a musical performance as a key element of playing their instrument. That can be done on the first three, and on the alpha if you have the programmer, but most people don’t. The alpha does sound great though, if you don’t mind the tedious membrane button interface.
The alpha Juno 1 was my first synth. The alpha series is super underrated, I have a soft spot for it. The filter isn't as desirable as the original Junos but what it lacks with the filter it makes up with a bunch of new features for the line: velocity, aftertouch, WAY more waveforms, pwm for sawtooth, adjustable chorus rate.
Also I've owned aj1 and 2 and a jx8p and the AJ series has a much snappier envelope which allow you to make really cool brass, bass and leads.
If you can get an AJ1, 2 or mks50 I highly reccomend it, they're increasing in price.
Alpha juno with the Retroaktiv controller is gold.
The key is to have both. They sound amazing together. ! The wave forms on the AJ2 are amazing like a sorta Roland DX7. The J60 is a workhorse for me. It's just so versatile. I've used them on 2 scores along with a DX7. My sound is built around these synths.
I got my Alpha Juno 2 when it first came out, and it is in mint condition and is still used by me among the other synths and workstations that I have. The D50 though is my composition baby. It is is mint condition too. I got it when it came out and all of the sound library ROMs from Roland and other sound developers. I miss not having the time to be free to play and create like in my twenty’s. This is the year where I will make the time to do as such.
Do it!!
Same here, my Alpha Juno 2 is mint condition too and I love 💜 it as a master midi controller for my other synth modules ✌
I had the Juno 60 but I had to sell it back in 2002 I believe and I have to say the Juno 60 has a Chorus I feel cannot be outmatched in comparison to The A JUNO 2 and the noise is better for wind and the other features but currently I do own The Alpha Juno 2 and I llove it.
Hey there I like the video, may be a little bit more fact checking in the beginning was needed.
With that being said. I have owned 2 JUno 106s, 2 Alpha JUno 2s, 1 MKS50-50, 1 pg-300, 1 Jx-10 / Pg-800.
The JX 10 is basically 2 Alpha Juno 2 Voice cards. And these are big cards/boards on the inside. I have repaired each of these listed synthesizers above. This is why the AJ2 and a JX 10 sound almost identical. So you see the AJ it’s not really a Juno at all it’s a complete different architecture the only thing they use are the 309 filter chips of value in the AJ/MKS50-50. Unfortunately this decision to dilute and merge the JX and Juno lines together..... this was the bad Roland decision. The AJ2 is a beautiful sounding synthesizer. And you are right Roland took a DCO and made it sound like a PCM rompler.
The Juno 60 is the last great Juno. The 106 is very lovely synthesizer yes I give the edge up to a midi modified Juno 60 any day. I see the AJ2 that you used in this video needs a new LCD display. They actually make replacement OLED‘s that look very nice. The little blue light which is burned out on your display really makes that machine look a lot nicer :-)
The AJ2/MKS 50… I actually like that sound believe it or not. AJ has the standard Roland architecture and yes it does have a seven stage ENV. Roland knew that AJ was a dead end product and they thought they could milk the Juno name by taking a scale down JX and turning it into four other different synthesizers. Remember there is an Alpha Juno that has speakers however I believe it’s missing the memory cartridge slot. However the AJ child was born into the wild and it etched its own signature sound in dance music and it became an underground cult classic.
I could go on because this is a deep subject.
Can I suggest doing a deeper job at your investigation/history/pre-visualization when your scripting your videos because you end up with a lot of inaccuracies and it lessens the comparison or quality of the overall content of the video.
But nevertheless a good job, a good comparison. You were very close!
Thanks for the detailed response and insight! Will work on the research 🧐. There’s a question I have that I was not able to get an answer to that maybe you know - what is different about the alpha Juno dco? Some have mistakenly, at least I think mistakenly, claimed that the alpha dco’s contained actual digital oscillators at their core. That makes no sense to me as they would not have been called dco’s on the service manual I think. The confusion is regarding how the more complex waveform shapes were generated I think. Can you shed light? I’m not a technician and would appreciate your thoughts.
Correct me if Im wrong, but the JX-10 is 2 JX-8P voice cards, not 2 Alpha Juno voice cards? Im nearly sure.
@@SacSynths_Jack_Z Maybe so as the JX 8P is a six voice..... however when I took a part my AJ 2 .... I used some parts from the JX 10....I compared the main board with the voices… They looked so identical it wasn’t even funny. I never took apart the JX8P. The AJ2...Uses the same keybed after touch strip, and so on. If anyone has ever taken apart a JX8P, Please join in here and don’t make me go to gearslutz OK thanks :-)
@@asoundlab yeah that’s a tough one right there I actually had to go look at the service manual a few years ago because I was trying to figure that out. Most of the AJ2 uses digital chips/software for envelopes and so on.
I am unsure if the whole signal path is completely analog, As I forgot! Fact checking these things can be tedious let me tell you.Again you have a good platform you’re in a great location and how you interact with people really makes a difference, how you bring them into the story and getting them excited. From what I can remember the AJ is a digitally controlled analog oscillator.
When I was speaking about the classic Roland architecture I was pertaining more specifically to the UI being, same on Juno 6 all the way up through Alpha Juno. Very similar to the SH101/MC202❤️❤️❤️.
@@majicboxstudios3996 I have a JX-8P and MKS-70. I'm pretty much positive its two JX-8P boards inside each super JX. However, you are still right about them sharing may other parts. Such was the trend in synth manufacturing at the time. Try to keep costs low at all costs.
Juno 4 Life! Own a 106/Juno 1/Juno 60 and the new 01a can get pretty Juno esq with its new poly mode!
crazy you manage to make the alpha to sound better,I got both and they play together well along with the jx3p.
While i waiting my Juno Alpha 2 to arrive watching sound demos. I found it for 150 euros but needed some fixing,after 5 months of waiting and getting all parts finally its sent to me back. I excpected it to came today, but i assume it will be in Monday.
Let me know what you think once you get it!
@@asoundlab So far i dig it, filter is luckster compare to 60 or 106, but on other side it has that modern trance edge with PWM, pretty limited in sound pallete, yet what it do, its unique and sounds great.
@@DadoSimicStudiostriver The alpha juno filters are not self resonant.
@@SacSynths_Jack_Z yup
@@DadoSimicStudiostriver You got to modify the sounds. You would be surprised at what you will get. Simple to modify the sounds to get some greats results.
Another great video! I love your comparisons of vintage synths! 🎹
Do you have an opinion when it comes to the Alpha Juno's vs the JX series?
The Alpha Juno is like the lost child of the juno106 / JX10 - equally parts both and not quite either. It’s got a little more edge than the jx’s and is better at pads and strings the a juno that said the jx is better at pads/strings and the Juno106 is even edgier than the alpha...hope that helps a bit
I've owned a Juno 106, played a Juno 60 and now own a Alpha Juno 1. Each synth sounded Juno-y, similar but each model has its own character. IMO the 60 sounds warmer than the 106, and I think the Alpha is also super warm sounding. The 106 is very sharp, precise and the filter has a larger range than the Alpha and self resonates.
I still prefer the Alpha, the filter too, its so, so warm. Oh course the Alpha's interface is crap (I use an iPad with iPG800, in PG300 mode for editing). It also looks like a vintage home keyboard, its not good looking like the 6/60/106.
Juno 6/60 or AlphaJuno2, which is better? Both excellent. So i got both, and a JX3P :)
The Alpha Juno with free ipad controller app is killer
THANK YOU
not free anymore 🙁
The chorus in the alpha is incredible. I own both but the alpha has something magic that the 60 can't really do.
Hi @Alamo Music Audio Lab,
Can you please list the patch names and numbers you use in your demonstration of the AJ2, along with timestamps? I can clearly see the display on the JU60 and which patch numbers you're playing (I don't think those are factory patches but I could be wrong), but on the AJ2 I can't see the screen. Are they the factory patches?
Greetings to everyone who picked up the TAL-Pha.
Now the lowest you can find a Juno 60 on reverb is $3,500 I got mine mint last year for $100
@ghost mall got an original Pink Floyd syd barret club poster for $100 in Chicago, traded that for a mustang, traded the mustang for a 1958 airline Jack white guitar and then traded the airline for the Juno
@ghost mall and earlier this year I got a polysix, a bass Rhodes and a pre cbs bandmaster cab in a bundle for $500
@ghost mall and last year on marketplace I got a 106 for $75 with three broken keys, kind of a barn find but I fully repaired it.
@ghost mall and I won’t even get started on the arp pro soloist I drove all the way to Indiana to get last year for free
The Juno 2 is more capable.. even though there is a larger hard on (5x the price) for the Juno 60s. Save yourself some cash and get a Super JX/JX10, Juno 2 and JX8P. With a Super JX and a JX8p, I get 18 voices. And I spent less than a 60.
Alpha Juno-2 > Juno 60/106
soneone makes one fuckin video and $200 gear is $1200 within a week.
The Juno-6 was before the Juno-60, SMH.
Yes, true, but they’re basically the same design minus patch saving. I mention that in the video.
@@asoundlab and the filter adjusts gradually in juno 60
@@MarianoSynths Nope. Same LPF on both 6 and 60. Its the 6 that has the continuous HPF while the 60 has a stepped HPF.
@@asoundlab Only differences besides patch memory are that the 60 has a variable VCA level while the 6 is fixed, but the 6 has a continuously variable HPF while the 60 has a stepped HPF with only 4 or 5 settings.
@@SacSynths_Jack_Z I wrote it.
Spoiler alert! Juno 60 pisses all over the Alpha!
Lol 😂 they’re pretty different beasts but, judging by market prices, not an unfair statement?
@@asoundlab sure. I was just going by you title.. “Juno-60 vs. Alpha Juno 2”
@@asoundlab Prices are often influenced by meaningless bs like hype. JX-3P versus the Juno 106 is the perfect example. 3P is the superior synth, but it's in less music videos. The Alpha juno is absolutely not "pissed on" by the Juno-60. It's just different and comes from a different time when the musical influence (and pressure to reduce cost) influenced Roland's design . The AJ actually does many things better than a juno 60, but the 60 also does many things the AJ doesn't. The AJ just isn't knob per function., hence why it's cheaper (back then and now).
@@SacSynths_Jack_Z the Alpha Juno sounds blend perfectly with digital synths.
@@jameshhenderson8243 Yes, I was trying to say that the AJ is a great synth and that the Juno60 doesn't "piss all over it" like was said above... It's just a different synth from a slightly different time in music.