ROLAND JX-3P - Better than a Juno 106 / Juno-X? (Scum Night)
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2022
- ►WATCH ALL SYNTH VIDEOS: • SYNTHESIZERS - Vintage...
Imagine going back in time and redesigning the Roland Juno 106. What would be the first thing you would change?
For me, it would be adding another oscillator, so you can get wide, fat, detuned sounds. And while we're dreaming, let's replace the filter with the Jupiter 8 filter, just for the heck of it.
Wait...... this synth exists? Why doesn't it sell for more than a Juno ($2,500) or even close to a Jupiter ($23,000)?
One word: faders.
Don't worry - Retroaktiv has you covered. Really excited to check out the PG-2K programmer with my stock JX-3P.
This month we'll be covering 5 epic Roland synths from the eighties, the Roland U-20 RS-PCM keyboard, the Roland D-50 Linear Arithmetic or LA synthesizer, the JX-3P Analog synthesizer, the sister synth of the beloved Juno 106, the JD-800, possibly the greatest digital synth of all time, and finally the JP-8000, the most controversial virtual analog synth infamous for introducing the world to the supersaw sound! Every Wednesday at 9 pm est🎹
Please click that WATCH ALL SYNTH VIDEOS link above ⬆️ if you're looking for the best synthesizer for you. I have videos covering all of my favorite vintage synths like the Korg Wavestation, Oberheim Matrix 6, Kawai K1, Korg Prologue, Kawai K3, Korg DW-8000, and Ensoniq SQ-80. Watching that playlist is the best way to help me with that gosh darn algorithm.
►TIP: streamelements.com/vulturecul...
►MERCH: merch.streamelements.com/vult...
►Other Links: linktr.ee/Vult_Cult 
Хобби
To anyone looking into this controller - From the Retroaktiv PG-2K manual:
"the stock JX-3P will only allow either MIDI note data or PG-200 data to be received at one time unless modded. A stock MKS-30 can receive the note data and PG-200 data simultaneously, which makes it ideal for using the PG-2K CC Translate function with."
So, while an unmodded MKS-30 (which is and isn't a rack JX-3P) can receive BOTH midi note data and CC/SysxEx at the same time, a stock JX-3P can only receive one or the other at once, requiring a deliberate physical switch cycle to switch to the other. ie. without modding, a stock JX-3P can NOT be fully controlled from DAW even with this controller. This is a hardware limitation of JX-3P.
KIWI mod makes both possible at the same time, but KIWI colors the sound of the JX-3P and the Roland PG-200 controller isn't compatible with it. I'd recommend the out of production Organix mod which is back in production under the Series Circuits banner, which enables both MIDI note data and CC/SysEx at the same time AND supports the old PG-200 without coloring the sound, albeit it doesn't have as many features as KIWI.
Thank you very much for the info, I'll pin this comment so other's see it!
there is also the cheaper Series Circuit midi mod, which also enables midi and programmer to be used simultaneously, in addition to CC control of the parameters
@@rectorsulk Series Circuit mod is the Organix mod, same thing, just from a newer vendor since the original vendor is out of production. Colloquially, we just call it the Organix mod.
You know it's good when the twin peaks theme starts
Heck yes 🦉
My favourite synth... both for what it can do and for nostalgia. I wanted a keyboard for my birthday when I was around 8 or 9 and was looking at a Casio unit. A family friend who ran recording studios and wrote a lot of music for TV and radio got wind of this and just handed me a JX3P. Keep in mind, the synth was also 8 to 9 years old at this point (I was born in 83 too) so I doubt it had much value. I didn't quite appreciate the difference between a synth and keyboard at the time, but I was acutely aware my keyboard was far better than anything my friends had. Both in sound quality, ability to create my own sounds, and build quality. Four or five years later we moved country and the JX3P did not follow us.
Later in life, I started getting into synths and wanted to get a JX3P for my collection. They didn't cost much at the time and I thought I had plenty of time to buy one. I waited too long though and they quickly doubled in value. It was around the same time the JX3P started getting widespread recognition. Just my luck. I did get myself a mint serviced unit that came with the programmer (and carry case) and the optional Roland hardcase. It sits next to my two other favourite synths - a Casio HT6000 (seriously under appreciated synth overshadowed by the CZ range) and an Arturia MatriBrute.
What a great story! I have an HT-6000 too, although it's currently up on Reverb. Love the sound but the programming and lack of memory every time you turn it off is too much for me.
@Vulture Culture totally agree on both fronts regarding the HT6000. The memory cards are also rare and costly as hell. I just keep rechargeable batteries in mine when I have patches I want to save. Its a synth I wish had aftermarket mods for... an external programmer or expanded MIDI would unleash it.
I got my HT6000 in a bundled deal during covid. It was thrown in for an extra £50... I had no idea what it was, but being a Casio synth I took a gamble. I've had people offer me a lot more than I bought it for. It's a powerful weirdo synth I fell in love with instantly.
It really is an amazing piece of tech! I wish there was a way to make it more usable, like you said.
You'll be surprised how close it is to my Jupiter 6.
It's much better than any Roland without a sequencer. The only bad thing about this synthesizer is the lack of a control panel, but now we have a few that do the job.
Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
"Thick & Dirty"...the name of my next band!....also an accurate description of your techno bass sequence at 1:38! Love it!
OK, you are about to sell me on the PG-2K.... dang it (which costs more than I paid for the synth! Ha!)
Yes sir!
"Thick & Dirty" - I used to call an ex like that 😀 (No of course I didn't LOL)
thick & dirty sounds more like an album title
The Thick & Dirty sounds more band namey to me
Cool video.
It's great there are people like you setting the record straight.
I would add that the fatal flaw with the jx3p is not with the synth its self but with the general public being so lazy and conformist and forming opinions on things they know nothing about based on what other people think.
To many fan boys chasing "holy grail" synths when they should be choosing with their ears, not internet opinions.
The juno does one thing well.....sounding like a juno.
I will take the jx3p any day both for looks and sound.
I agree with all of that.
Nothing against the Juno series but the JX series is seriously underated.
The JX-3P was my first ever synth. Sold mine many years ago but still cherish all the recordings I made with it. After revisiting this video a few times - I happened upon a JX3P nearby and just picked it up tonight for the incredible price of $425. It’s near mint condition. Now to find a decent priced PG200!
That's such a great price! Congrats! Any other faves from back in the day?
A friend of mine once said my "spiritual gift" is being in the right place at the right time! I've done pretty well with Roland synths here in my area (border of Arkansas/Oklahoma). About 6 months ago I found a nearby Juno 60 in near mint condition for $2,200 (pretty darn good deal considering some I've seen in bad cosmetic condition going for much more!)... I immediately drove the 2 hours to get it.
I owe my former star keyboard student "Synth69" for rekindling my interest in all things vintage. Jimmy sold me a Jupiter 6 about 12 years ago - that kind of got me going back in the vintage direction. I've also got a JX-10 (with Vecoven upgrade) that I use to control a Roland V-Synth XT which contains a D-50 card.
On the Moog side of things I've got a Memorymoog Plus (fully restored by Jareth Lackey), Source (autographed by Keith Emerson) and a Rogue. Each vintage Moog has an incredible story of how it was attained...especially so on the MM+. My wife calls me a Moog Magnet...among other things not so nice!
Plus I've got a Sequential Six Track and an Oberheim Matrix 1000... so I share your love of these "Island of Misfit Synths" type synths!
Love your channel here! Very entertaining and informative at the same time!
That's an awesome price these days man. I got mine about 3 years ago for about 500 bucks. But I had it serviced now. They installed the Kiwi 3P kit and gave it some more love, recapping the power supply, replacing some leaking caps, fixing some bad contacts and all of that; I am curious how it will sound. I remember the 3P from when I was just a 12 year old kid and my dad who played in a band took me to those music stores. I never forgot the looks and sound of that magical beast. Never gonna sell it. I sold lots of stuff in the past which I later regretted. Enjoy yours man 🙂
Love that the JX8P got some love... yes, it's on Mulholland Drive too, I'm very certain. These dark pads are unmistakably unique to that machine. I have two of them and a JX3P with the PG200. But frankly, the JX8P is the one I'd take from a burning studio.
Interesting! It seems like a lot of people prefer the 3P, but of course the specs are better on the 8P
You're pretty much correct. Badalamenti used a JX-10 for all the Lynch stuff. Which is literally two JX8P's bundled into one synth. I had one and it's the only thing I regret selling. Pads were so lush with so much dimension. It sounded so much like a Lynch soundtrack it nearly made me cry.
One day I'll probably have to end up getting one!
I had a JX-3P around 1986. Carted it around the country for a while but had to sell it to eat and pay rent in 1995. Fast forward to 2023 and I was able to buy a JX-3P with the PG-200. The guy actually had a second one he threw in for $300 that needed some work. It’s in rehab with a synth repair guy and it should come back good as new, or close to it. I had planned to sell it to recoup some of my money from the deal, but now I’m tossing around the idea of keeping both for doing some live synth improv and getting a programmer for the second one.
That's awesome!
Two JX-3P's can be chained together and played as one 12 voice synth with the PG2K controller!
This unit can recreate around 30% of Jupiter 8 patches/sounds. OC it's better than Juno but you need to create your own patches as fabric ones are plain. I have my JX-3P for many years now and I just say this... I will be buried with it.
I created 16 patches that I use regularly to make my Deep House music and It just makes everything sounds special. When it plays as a Pad machine you'll have instant gratification from listener.
But if you want to have that sound but don't have so much money you can buy digital synth called A-Station, it sounds special too and I was able to recreate some of sounds from JX-3P and Juno in it and it sound really good.
I hadn't heard of the A-station before, I'll have to check it out!
So... In 1984 I wound up getting a JX-3P on accident. That year I was on summer break from college working in Kansas City, MO all summer at my friend's dad's corrugated box plant - sweating my ass off - so I could afford to buy a Juno 106 by the end of that summer. Problem was, when I got my last coveted paycheck and headed straight to KC Pro Audio, it turns out the Juno 106 was back ordered for months! But... the sales guy helping me said "Hey, if you have time we just got in some new synth I haven't had time to unbox yet"... it was the JX-3P! Now... far be it from my 20 yr old self with $1300 burning a hole in my pocket to go home without a synthesizer! I said "Sure I'll take it!". I had no idea about oscillators or any of that stuff.... I just knew it sounded cool, It was way less expensive than a DX7 and it made a ton more sounds than my Japanese made Hammond X-2 (transistor model Hammond BUT it had drawbars and I had a Leslie!). Later, after college I was able to afford to buy a Juno 106 and I could instantly tell they were quite different beasts. Wish I still had the JX3P but back in those days most of us had to sell everything we owned to buy something new! Good news is I sold a lot of my stuff later and bought a JX-10 that I still have!
The JX-10 is a real powerhouse and I've been curious to try them both and make a decision about which to keep lol
In response to question at 34:50... "Would it be redundant with a Prologue?" The answer is there's no such thing as redundancy with synthesizers! Buy them all!
Hahahaha guilty as charged
Damn, going to have just a 4 hour sleep tonight, but it is worth it. I love your videos! It is timezonely impossible to catch you live, but I can't wait for D-50. I would love to see you breaking down Roland JV-1080 (my all time favorite) or it's keyboard counterparts XP-50/60/80.
Thank you very much! I appreciate you saying that, sometimes making videos feels like screaming into the void 😂
I don't know if/when I'll get my hands on a JV-1080 but it would be the other legendary Roland that's actually affordable.
As an ex Roland senior engineer, I agree. The JX-3P was fantastic and I preferred it over the JX-8. Same applies with the Jupiter 6 which I preferred over the Jupiter 8.
That's a spicy take! You don't oft run into a Jupiter 6 > 8 person in the wild!
Thank you for your work at Roland and creating such legendary tools!
“In the wild”😂
Makes me feel fantastic though as I am the proud owner of both the 3P and the JP6!
Ha! I just read that "3P" stands for "Programmable Preset Polyphonic".... not sure how that translates to the "8P" 🙂
@billrebsamen1810 me either because it's a 6 voice. Not even 8. Maybe number of engineers who designed it? Haha
Back in the days when I had a Jx-3p I took the MIDI out and plugged it in the MIDI in. That way I got 4 Oscillators pr voice. Of cause you couldn’t detune the oscillators but it did fathen up the sound😅
THAT WORKS????
Im curious how that works!
I like it better than juno 60 or 106, I m a fan of warmer sounds.
I do as well!
I just scored a JX3P and Dtronics conroller for half the price of a Juno 106. I really hope it holds up over time, as the sound of the thing is phat and juicy, just how I like it.
Enjoy that Jupiter 8 filter!
This is awesome - and I love the JX-3P but I have to add a tiny clarification. The filter is intact the same chip as the Juno 106.
Just that the Juno 106 has a tiny chip on a ceramic board called the 3019N vs the 3109 in pdip.
Anyway - I agree the JX 3P is far more interesting and powerful than the Junos
I have a bunch of JX3P parts from which I have made 2 JX 3P
I also have 2 GR700, which are kind of like a JX3P with Juno 106 style VCA/VCF chips.
I am happy to make that correction, thank you for the info!
Look up Harold Faltermeyer’s Favorite Synths and you'll find that he used the JX-3P for the Fletch theme. He states it's the preset only slightly modified. It's the cross mod preset. You can't miss it.
That's so awesome
I got one a few weeks ago. I got the midi upgrade on the way too. It's a killer synth.
Absolutely sick!
Maybe another plus for the JXs: They tend to be more reliable. If you buy a Juno, you gotta make sure it's been serviced or you will have expensive repairs. I have my JX8-P since around 2003 I think for like 200 € and I just don't have any severe problems. The output is crackly and sometimes the data entry gets kinda crazy but since I have a PG-800 that's no problem either. But no red glue or such things.
Yes! The JX's are all built great. To be fair to Roland I don't think they were cutting corners which led to the voice chips issues and red glues of their other synths, I think you just can't always account for how components are going to age.
I overlooked the JX-3P not because of any other reason than it seems to be rarer than the Juno 106 or JX-8P.
The 106 in particular was THE pawn shop synth in the 90s (at least in Australia), I bought mine with a dent in the metal and 1 dodgy voice chip for $300 in 1997. I sold it for about $800 in 2005, doh!
I guess the 3P had about a year of sales until the 8P and 106 came out... those then sold for what, 2-3 years? So many more or those two on the used market, at least in Australia!
Yeah, the 3P is a bit of a sleeper synth for sure!
Really nice video. One little thing, the Juno 106 also uses software envelope, but with dual uPD7810 16 bit processors and half the number of DCOs, it runs around a 4ms update rate, the JX3P is slower, it has a single 8051 to handle everything, its update rate is around 10ms, so the envelope response will be different. The Juno 106 sounds almost as quick as a hardware envelope.
Ahhh interesting! I didn't find the JX-3P's envelopes to sound too slow for my liking - but then again I've never been into crazy fast attack stuff.
I had my JX-3P updated with the Kiwi Mod and one of the many changes that mod does is to update the envelopes to be a bit faster than the stock. I also got the PG-2K programmer for it last year and it's an absolute beast!
KiwiXP and the PG-2K must be truly a sight to behold
@@VultureCulture Looks like an interesting upgrade. The ‘sample time’ isn’t really a perceptible delay, I can’t really hear or feel that small difference, but what I can usually hear is just a bit of dulling of the attack to percussive sounds like the vibe/xylophone patches, I can’t really tell much difference otherwise.
Ah okay that would make more sense.
love my jx3p but I got my hs60 for a grand( same as 106 don’t tell them)
Hahaha also a classic synth
I bought my JX3P with the MIDI mod for $300. I also lucked upon my HS60 for $200. I replaced the wonky voice boards with the Renaissance replacements. Weird that very few know about them. They have gone up in price recently. These are keepers.
My top 3 fav synth i owned (Polysix & Pro One are the tops). Too bad mine knobs were glitching all the time and the limited midi functionality made me get rid of it. Btw he is used a lot by early Dopplereffekt & Arpanet (it opens "Illuminated Displays")
Wow! What a lineup!
@@VultureCulture Thank you! Great channel!
I appreciate it 🙏
Aaaaaand a million dollars on reverb.
They're still sub $1000 on Reverb :) reverb.com/item/76938955-roland-jx-3p
If you could pick between a Roland PG-200, the Dtronics DT-200 or the Retroaktiv PG-2K, which would you go with? I own 2 JX-3P’s and one PG-200 and am looking to get an add-on for the second JX-3P.
PG-2K every time 🙏
Hey, I got the midi upgrade on my JX3P which allows me to to use the Pg200 while sending and receiving live midi cc of my daw including velocity. Do you see a point in still getting the pg2k?
I find the patch memory and patch generator really useful. However, if you don't really need that your PG-200 should be just fine
Hello VC ! I Wonder what features bring this 2K compare to my dt200 as i don't have kiwi installed on my jx3p and don't want it. Would it be worth it to trade my DT (PG clone) for a pg2k ?? Thanks for your videos and all your work I just suscribed your channel...
Well after watching the whole video and navigate on retroaktiv website, I can say that I have the answer. I'm totally sold on this one ! Absolutely insane functionalities that bring the jx3p to a next level of use ! and abuse ! Peace
Yes the PG-2K, like all Retroaktiv controllers, brings the JX to a new level. The patch generator is insane.
@@VultureCulture yeah, that's totally awesome, do you still have problem to store a patch with all the parameters you engage on the stock jx like in the end with your knits bass filter shape ? Hope Rob will fix it easily ! Peace
I do but I haven't checked for an update since this stream lol
@@VultureCulture today I went crazy and bought an Eps 13+ that is just... a punky dirty beast of a robot machine in fact and a very friendly small and cute TG33 (just for fun...). Then I found a DP4, a six trak and a Matrix 1000. It's Christmas soon right ?! 😜😜😜
i grew up with as JX-3P
What a great childhood
I’m looking at one with the series circuit mod. Is there any dedicated software or an iPhone app I can use with it?
Not that I'm aware of - I don't know about the series circuit mod but most JX-3P's won't accept midi in the traditional sense. Perhaps the Kiwi's would but I don't recommend them based off of Espen's opinion - ruclips.net/video/BGhEz1w518E/видео.html
IPG800 app for IPad but you need an upgraded JX-3P
@@jensandersen9206 so if I get the app I can send midi out through my interface (has midi in and out) I have the mod already
this is the synth for the twin peaks theme?
Angelo Badalamenti used a DX7 for the E Piano, an Emulator for the guitar, and a D-50 layered with a JX-10 on the Soundtrack preset for the strings.
Is the chorus noisy on yours at all? Like a swooshing sound that’s audible when not playing?
Yes! But it's not very noticeable. I have a noise gate on the synth in this recording - something I do on every synth just in case, so that's cutting out the noise when I'm not playing.
The chorus chips on old Roland Synths (my Kawai K3 too) tend to go with age and get that noisy, swooshing thing you're talking about. It might be repairable - if it's a big deal.
Can you use the PG-2K to arpeggiate a JX-3P (non-modded)? Not really sure if you got into it (I can't watch right now, sorry :/ ).
Also - for sure the JX-3P is better than the 106 and Juno X, lol.
Hey Midera!
I do not believe it can, just tore through the manual and I believe the sequencer and ARP functions of the PG-2K only work with Kiwi 3P's unfortunately.
@@VultureCulture Thanks! I appreciate your effort.
Annoyingly, RUclips doesn't tell me that you responded - I just saw this video pop up and clicked it to see if maybe you had.
Now I'm wondering how many responses I get but don't see on RUclips.......
When I have some time - I'll absolutely check out this video too -_-
That sucks! I love RUclips but man I wish they would tighten some of their shit up.
Thank you for checking out the video! 🙏
@@MIDERA 100% same here. Lately you pretty much have to remember rhe video/comment and just check...
A very frustrating and seemingly easy to fix problem.
It does not excite me….I disagree with the fundamental premise that the filter is more important than the oscillator. The filter pleases the ear, but the oscillator pleases the soul…and I am not feeling this one in my soul. The sound does not excite me. If I press one key on my Prophet 5 my soul smiles. The Analog Juno 106 makes my soul smile. And the Juno-X is the best bang for the buck among these comparable choices, taking technology and breath of sounds into consideration.
I borrowed the idea that the filter affects the character of the synth more than the oscillators from Sam from Synth Wizards.
Nothing wrong with this sound not exciting you. The Prophet 5 is a dream synth and the 106 is a classic for a reason. And if someone doesn't mind all digital then the Juno-X might be a good choice for them.
@@VultureCulture I enjoy my Juno X. Love the familiar layout, sounds and added capabilities - plus I'll drag it out to a gig in a heartbeat without having to worry about rattling some 40 yr old part loose! Got a good deal on my Juno X - barely used with all the factory swag (even the USB stick) in the box.
That's awesome! I never mean to condemn any synths and I know some people who really love the new Roland stuff