@@oldtimer1294 the envelopes seem slightly different on the JX-10...slightly different rates. Being more interested in big pad sounds, the ability to layer massive tones makes the JX-10 very satisfying. The cross mod feature in both synths can create some interesting attack transients.
Huge fan of your music documentaries and the fact that you compose original music for them. Yours are some of my favorite videos on UA-cam! Keep up the great work.
Great video! :) I had a JX-10 + PG800 for a number of years and parted with them last year locally. It was a monster board in size and I found it fantastic for strings, pads and low end. Put some reverb on it and it becomes larger than life. In any case, as you note it represents a cross-over period from analog to digital, but it still has its own charms even today for those interested in its history. Thanks for putting this together!
Thanks Synth4Ever - I know - it does has it own charms for sure. I still use it often and recently added some JX-10 leads to a track I've been working on. Much Respect!
I bought my first JX-10 from a member of Level 42 whilst I was living in London. It still had patches in it programmed for some of their classic tracks - and he managed to sell me his Roland D50 at the same time!! Although it was such a long time ago, I think it may have been Alan Murphy, who died tragically from AIDS in 1989. As he had performed with Go West as well, some of the patches from that band were also still saved in the JX-10.
Thanks for that amazing bit of history. I think about things like this often and realize that we will only ever be caretakers of these instruments before we also one day pass them on.
i also have a JX-10 with a very different full set of patches programmed in instead of the standard ones...this took me a while to figure out...they are so nice i don't really want to reinstall the original patches (not sure how i would)...maybe with the ROM upgrade i could add the factory patches? i have 3.xx vecoven
Great video! I still love my MKS-70 (the rack version of the SuperJX) and use it very often for pads, strings and bass. Also great for layering vsti's with it.
the JX-10 seems relatively rare so thanks so much for a great walk through its history...i think it's still one of the most beautiful and elegant looking synths ever made (i got one this year with the Vecoven 3.xx upgrade)
@@RikMaxSpeed I think it's funny that the JX10 remains underrated and relatively cheap largely for the things it is supposedly not very good at. . . like bass! It's a bit like dismissing an acoustic upright or a sousaphone as bass instruments for their lack of "snap".
My first synth was JX 8P - later I sold it and bought the JX 10 - Loved them both and learned so much about Synthesizers from them - then I sold the JX 10 and bought the D 50 which was such fun at the time but it was much harder to program.
Back in 1986 the only option was analogue for string sounds, the Yamaha DX7 simply couldn’t compete for warmth - that’s why you see performers with both keyboards in the included videos.
The lack of PWM and Sys-Ex are completely cured by Fred Vecoven's replacement V4 software and some careful soldering. Paired with Retroaktiv's MPG-70 programmer the JX-10 (and rack-mounting MKS-70 - which is the version I own) are finally the synths they should always have been. The upgraded display is the icing on the cake.
Hello Paul. Does the Vecoven upgrade do away with the shared tones arrangement whereby on saving an edited tone, it also alters any other patches that happen to incorporate that tone?
@@MisAnnThorpe Unfortunately no, it doesn't. My way of avoiding that is to never allow a Patch to use more than one Tone. One of the upgrades I had done to my MKS-70 was the flash expansion that gives me 32 internal banks, so plenty of space to move stuff around. I *think* that the latest versions of Retroaktiv's MPG-70 programmer might solve this (the MKS-80 programmer certainly does). It might be worth chatting with them.
@@paul_ward_music Thanks for the reply, Paul. I'm not quite sure what you meant. Are you saying that all of your patches are in whole mode and that you don't save layered (dual) patches? Thanks also for the MPG-70 recommendation.
@@MisAnnThorpe Yes, I very rarely use Dual mode. Patch 1 uses Whole Tone 1, Patch 2 uses Whole Tone 2... If I do use Dual mode I make it a point to only use unedited Tones. I hate the shared Tone system - they got rid of it in the JP-8000/8080, but then re-introduced it for the System-8 - ridiculous!
Really fantastic, thorough, nicely-done video explaining this rather niche synth that I wouldn't have thought enough people were superfans of like me! Though I knew most of this info, it took a very long time for me to learn all this from little bits here & there. Provides a great context of the Super JX, delivering all the important info. Cool!
I know - I had to remove al the keys on mine and swab out the aftertouch contacts under the felts strip to get it to work again - they oxidize quickly and is a bad design / flaw. It's a pretty time-consuming job to fix / clean it every year.
The funny thing is, here in Australia the JX-10 is very expensive, I've seen them for similar to Juno 106 prices lately (or more). But the JX-8P is still really cheap, I just picked up a mint condition one for $534 USD... a bargain. 20 years ago, I bought one here for about $350 USD... not much difference when you factor in inflation.
Brings back memories! I used to have a JX-8P along with a 3P/PG200 and another 3P all at the same time! I sold them all about 5 years ago and now I have no Roland gear whatsoever.
Great overview! My first synth was the Roland Alpha Juno 2, then I got the JX-8P. A year later I turned in the Juno 2 to get the D-50. What a great combo the D-50 and JX-8P was!
I think the JX10 is one of the most beautiful looking synths ever. I remember back in 1986 looking at ads of Nick Rhodes with his JX10 and dreaming about owning such a beast.. and bought a JX8P in 1988. Fast forward to 2010 and by that time I'd owned 3 JX10s at different times. Don't feel a need to own another one but was a great synth for the time. I've still to this date not come across an analogue which can create such warm and realistic pianos/epianos...
Yeah the JX10 was incredible when if came out - so massive and I saw a few live that professionals had but it seemed way out of reach for me price-wise.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams I used to play my JX8P in a jazz fusion band for piano... can't believe I was trying to play that kind of music on 6 voice synth... :D
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams yeah never did play live on the JX10... by that time light digital pianos were in abundance... in the 80s I was playing a Roland RD and that was back breaking..
Great documentary! Glad you addressed the lack of Sys-Ex implementation. The synth engine does suffer from internal distortion - it's important to keep a close ear on it and keep levels down WITHIN the voice programme to avoid distortion :(
Thanks for the comments Rudy. I agree about the distortion - I should have mentioned that. As for Sysex - the Vecoven Mods have been great - I'd recommend them if you haven't had yours upgraded yet.
I used to have an MKS-70 with the PG-800 and MKS-80 with the MPG-80 controller. I wish I would have kept them, but my god, I made so much money selling those. I donated a lot of hardware to my son's high school in 2015, including a Roland JD-800 along with an EMU E6400, an Kurzweil K2000r and an AKAI S5000. Nothing beats having actual hardware.
Great video! I have the MKS-70 (and 80) with their MPG controllers. Vecoven fixed a lot of the JX-10/MKS-70s shortcomings - sadly a few decades too late. And we now have PWM on the JX-10/MKS-70. I find it ironic how things have changed now with D50 and DX7 prices compared with what the analog synths go for. I have the TX-802 which is pretty good as a kind of DX7II, but the programmability is awful lol
Thanx for the video :) I m the very happy owner of this synth in an absolutely mint condition and upgraded with last Frederic Vecoven PWM kit and a Noritake GU280x16 display... So it s kind of having a Super Jupiter12 P ... Selling prices are cheap so If you find one in very good shape : BUY IT !!! BUY IT !!! BUY IT NOW ,BEFORE A NEXT COMING HYPE MASSIVELY INFLATES ITS PRICE !!! Peace !!
Had a chance to nab one of these for a few hundred quid in the early 00s but the lack of knobs , no external programming and no PWM etc put me off . Fast forward to today 3rd party firmware and great 3rd party controllers make that one of my biggest synth regrets . Anyway good vid and cheers!
I agree with the comment that many preferred the JX-8P over the Super JX-10. The two patches, "Res Lead" and "Sync Lead" were pure funk, never having been duplicated since. I still use it, as the only piece of hardware out of my PC box.
Great vid. Please don't tell me JX10 has that nightmare output thing the same way MKS-70 does. At least on the JX you can reach the outputs, but once you put the MKS70 in the rack you're doomed. You see in order to use the Whole mode you have to connect outputs 1 and 4 only. However to use it as two JX8Ps you have to connect all 4 outputs (obviously to have 2 stereo choruses). Maybe I have the old OS in my unit, perhaps later they fixed this and the unit can be used in Whole mode with all 4 outputs connected I dunno. Also hate that Tone/Patch thing you're never sure what your saving! So frustrating, even with PG800! In the end I took MKS-70 to the storage and bought a mint JX8P. Also I like the way 8P looks it represents the pinnacle of 80s "post modernism" in design!
Once again it's software to the rescue: Martin Lüders has put together a marvelous plugin called PG-8X, which can load and play JX patches. The 80s live in your DAW of choice!
I have a JX-10, and I love it and I hate it. Noisy, weak low-mids, alpha dial is super annoying with the 2 row display with selective parameters, in dual mode, sometimes get blurry sounds with shorter release time, midi madness with sysex….. But when I just touching the first octave with some built in bass or string patch, well, I forget all the pain, and a never disappearing smile just stick to my face. Soon will get all updates, including a analog fix for the dynamic range expansion. bTW, if You don’t wanna spend 2000$ on a monster what You have to repair every year, then have a look on the VST version from Roland Cloud, pretty nailed close to it! Kinda even better!
Excellent stuff !! If you type "Proto Cosmos 1992" theres Steve Hunt playing a killer overdriven Rhodes type patch with Allan Holdsworth on his JX10. It really could get expressive.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Hello, there is a PDF on the internet, now I can't remember which site I downloaded it, has all the instruments Rick used in all phases of his career!
This synth is dreamy. I played one when it was released and saw it demonstrated by a Roland specialist, I got one eventually. With the pg-800. It sounds lovely. I also have a 8P and a 3P. 🎉 I never got a DX-7 , I preferred the D-50.
That's a great setup - yes I was a D-50 owner as well with a JX-8P - was such a think sound. The JX-10 was at the time pretty pricey so I waited until about 10 years a go to finally get one.
@@M80- Yes i still have and love it (even more). I have no experience with the MKS-70, but i think it's great. I have the DT-800 Controller, works perfect!
@@M80- all original. I don't need the update. It was the last big analog flagship-Synth from Roland and clearly has the analog Roland-Sound, but in the most advanced and perfect way, for me. I think they wanted this thing to sound as good as possible for the professional user.
Part of the reason the later jx's don't work for me are the envelopes. They are intentionally slow, I guess for strings and pads which they excell at but for any other sound like basses and stabs they sound a bit weak. It's for that reason that I don't hold them in as a high regard as the Juno or Jupiter series but still an interesting piece of history.
You are not the only one who doesn’t like JX8P and JX10P because of slow envelopes. But JX was interesting synth. It could do nice brass sounds despite the slow envelopes. Europe Final Countdown intro was played with JX8P synth. Besides that, it had really good piano sounds. But strings and pads are certainly JX strongest side. :))
I had one and liked it very much but it was way too cumbersome thanks to my crappy apartment Edit: In fact I traded it for JD-800 in mint condition with the keybed replaced (damn red glue)
Got an Akai AX76, Korg DS8, Korg DW8000, Roland D50, Yamaha DX7, Korg T3, Korg O1W, Roland RD300, Roland XP80, Yamaha MX61, Kawai MP10 Kept the DW8000, DX7, RD300 and Kawai MP10 The rest didn’t keep my attention and had to go
I am leaving my comment in December 2023, roughly the 20th anniversary of when I sent out for my own preowned JX-10. It got to where I was living in January 2004. Spread across the following 16 years, I want to then coming into its predecessor, the JX-8p and the Super JX module, the MKS-70. It was during 2013 that I sadly let my 10 go. Why did I? It was because it was taking up room and no longer serving as both a synthesizer sound source and a controller keyboard (that duty had shifted to a Yamaha S90XS). I got the 70 module in 2020 because I missed having the synthesis engine of the 10.
sorry but the super jx saw tooth waves were not digitally generated but went through analog wave shapers the square was digitally generated that’s why there was no pulse width modulation the same with the 8p and 3p
Thanks for mentioning The Yellowjackets... Russell Ferrante does not get near enough love in my opinion! In fact I saw them in 1987 and it was the first time Id ever seen a JX-10. It was a staple of Russell's sound for several albums.
The JX8P sounds darker and warmer than the JX10. The chorus and VCF differences impact on the sound. I wanted to use my 10 as 2 8's but couldn't as sounds programmed on the 8 unfortunately sound brighter and thinner on the 10. Sold my 10 many years ago. Will never sell the 8.
I've heard that take by many - I'd have to agree that there is a difference but I think the JX-10 can sound great as well, especially when layered in dual mode.
I owned the JX-8P, the Super JX, and the MKS-70 until I gave up playing in the mid 90s and sold all my gear. Getting slowly back into it in retirement, I wish I had one of those synths again. I'm hoping the boutique version (JX-08) meets my expectations.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thank you Johnny. I pre-ordered a JX-08. Don't want to miss out only to see its price skyrocket in a few years as it happened with the D-05. I hope you get yourself one, too. Cheers!
Great little docu.Yes, it's a great synth but what struck me most was... the TV commercials! I may be wrong but I don't remember seeing such things here in Italy at that time. Regardless, are such things still going on? I haven't had a TV in over 15 years but when I happen to be around one, the quality of the commercials has gone down the drain. Do synth manufacturers still advertise on TV these days? I mean, it was cool to see such niche things on mainstream TV. MTV and its clones are gone, sure, talent shows are bit but, outside of that, where is music on TV these days? Just curious. Cheers.
Yes - Synth TV ads were super rare - only a very few were every made - Casio, Yamaha , and Korg did a few in the 80's. As for music videos and MTV - I do miss it.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Yeah, waiting for your favourite video to come up, and press REC on the VHS recorder a few seconds earlier to capture is something UA-cam will never give us.
Too bad. I can see why it might have looked good on paper, but it seems to have satisfied neither the analog-connoisseurs nor ride the digital trends of that time.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thank you btw for making these great history videos. The 80s were a fabulous time to be a teenager who's into technology & music. You capture the fascination of my teenage years perfectly. An, btw, I too went from a Poly-800 to a classroom with a DX-7 inside, ending up learning FM just because I was so blown away by the possibilities...
I know it seems strange that they'd continue the JX production after the success of the D-50, but apparently they did. I think the JX sill appeared in the Roland master catalogue as well through those years. I'll check my JX to see when it was made - you have curious now.
Great video. I consider myself extremely lucky to have both a JX-8P and a JX-10. The JX-10 is the sound of my soul.
Hi!
How would you comment on differences between those two?
@@oldtimer1294 the envelopes seem slightly different on the JX-10...slightly different rates. Being more interested in big pad sounds, the ability to layer massive tones makes the JX-10 very satisfying. The cross mod feature in both synths can create some interesting attack transients.
@@adpitts1 Thanks!
@@adpitts1Perhaps the most notable difference is that the filter on the JX10 is self oscillating. The chorus is also different on the two synths.
@@MisAnnThorpe I didn't know that about the filter. I'll have to try that on my MKS-70.
Huge fan of your music documentaries and the fact that you compose original music for them. Yours are some of my favorite videos on UA-cam! Keep up the great work.
Great video! :) I had a JX-10 + PG800 for a number of years and parted with them last year locally. It was a monster board in size and I found it fantastic for strings, pads and low end. Put some reverb on it and it becomes larger than life. In any case, as you note it represents a cross-over period from analog to digital, but it still has its own charms even today for those interested in its history. Thanks for putting this together!
Thanks Synth4Ever - I know - it does has it own charms for sure. I still use it often and recently added some JX-10 leads to a track I've been working on. Much Respect!
I bought my first JX-10 from a member of Level 42 whilst I was living in London. It still had patches in it programmed for some of their classic tracks - and he managed to sell me his Roland D50 at the same time!! Although it was such a long time ago, I think it may have been Alan Murphy, who died tragically from AIDS in 1989. As he had performed with Go West as well, some of the patches from that band were also still saved in the JX-10.
Thanks for that amazing bit of history. I think about things like this often and realize that we will only ever be caretakers of these instruments before we also one day pass them on.
i also have a JX-10 with a very different full set of patches programmed in instead of the standard ones...this took me a while to figure out...they are so nice i don't really want to reinstall the original patches (not sure how i would)...maybe with the ROM upgrade i could add the factory patches? i have 3.xx vecoven
Great video! I still love my MKS-70 (the rack version of the SuperJX) and use it very often for pads, strings and bass. Also great for layering vsti's with it.
the JX-10 seems relatively rare so thanks so much for a great walk through its history...i think it's still one of the most beautiful and elegant looking synths ever made (i got one this year with the Vecoven 3.xx upgrade)
Thanks for this video, it was my dream synth when I was 16 in 1988 without knowing what's inside, it make me dreams in my music shop/// thanks again !
Very cool!
The SuperJX allowed me to make the fattest bass sounds I have ever achieved on any synth in several decades of equipment. Love this synth.
Do you still own one and if so have you had the Vecoven or any other upgrades done to it?
@@MisAnnThorpe Yes, I’ve had the display updated to an OLED screen and have some of the Vecoven update but not the latest ROMs.
@@RikMaxSpeed I think it's funny that the JX10 remains underrated and relatively cheap largely for the things it is supposedly not very good at. . . like bass! It's a bit like dismissing an acoustic upright or a sousaphone as bass instruments for their lack of "snap".
I love my JX-10. Best sounding synth...easy. When you play it you will instantly know that your search for THE synthsound has come to an end.
My first synth was JX 8P - later I sold it and bought the JX 10 - Loved them both and learned so much about Synthesizers from them - then I sold the JX 10 and bought the D 50 which was such fun at the time but it was much harder to program.
Thanks Johnny... great docco (again!!)... Looking forward to seeing your next episode.
Back in 1986 the only option was analogue for string sounds, the Yamaha DX7 simply couldn’t compete for warmth - that’s why you see performers with both keyboards in the included videos.
The lack of PWM and Sys-Ex are completely cured by Fred Vecoven's replacement V4 software and some careful soldering. Paired with Retroaktiv's MPG-70 programmer the JX-10 (and rack-mounting MKS-70 - which is the version I own) are finally the synths they should always have been. The upgraded display is the icing on the cake.
Absolutely!
Hello Paul. Does the Vecoven upgrade do away with the shared tones arrangement whereby on saving an edited tone, it also alters any other patches that happen to incorporate that tone?
@@MisAnnThorpe Unfortunately no, it doesn't. My way of avoiding that is to never allow a Patch to use more than one Tone. One of the upgrades I had done to my MKS-70 was the flash expansion that gives me 32 internal banks, so plenty of space to move stuff around. I *think* that the latest versions of Retroaktiv's MPG-70 programmer might solve this (the MKS-80 programmer certainly does). It might be worth chatting with them.
@@paul_ward_music Thanks for the reply, Paul. I'm not quite sure what you meant. Are you saying that all of your patches are in whole mode and that you don't save layered (dual) patches? Thanks also for the MPG-70 recommendation.
@@MisAnnThorpe Yes, I very rarely use Dual mode. Patch 1 uses Whole Tone 1, Patch 2 uses Whole Tone 2... If I do use Dual mode I make it a point to only use unedited Tones. I hate the shared Tone system - they got rid of it in the JP-8000/8080, but then re-introduced it for the System-8 - ridiculous!
I had a jx10 and have been waiting for this!
Really fantastic, thorough, nicely-done video explaining this rather niche synth that I wouldn't have thought enough people were superfans of like me! Though I knew most of this info, it took a very long time for me to learn all this from little bits here & there. Provides a great context of the Super JX, delivering all the important info. Cool!
Great story and well-documented video...cheers
Great video, and extra points for covering Fred Vecovens firmware! 👍
Many thanks!
I had one for many years. Aftertouch was an utter joke....you had to practically stand on the key to activate it. But that pad 67 sound tho....
I know - I had to remove al the keys on mine and swab out the aftertouch contacts under the felts strip to get it to work again - they oxidize quickly and is a bad design / flaw. It's a pretty time-consuming job to fix / clean it every year.
Hard to believe that people preferred that cold sounding digital DX7 over the JX10
The funny thing is, here in Australia the JX-10 is very expensive, I've seen them for similar to Juno 106 prices lately (or more). But the JX-8P is still really cheap, I just picked up a mint condition one for $534 USD... a bargain. 20 years ago, I bought one here for about $350 USD... not much difference when you factor in inflation.
Great deal on the JX-8P - I love that synth - owned a few and really it has great pads and bass
Much respect, I love you videos!
great review/ overall look on rolands last analogue one.. thanx!
Ah yes my favorite roland analog. ❤
Brings back memories!
I used to have a JX-8P along with a 3P/PG200 and another 3P all at the same time!
I sold them all about 5 years ago and now I have no Roland gear whatsoever.
The 3P is a gem - highly underrated!
Great overview! My first synth was the Roland Alpha Juno 2, then I got the JX-8P. A year later I turned in the Juno 2 to get the D-50. What a great combo the D-50 and JX-8P was!
That was a killer combo - was basically my rig playing keyboards in hair metal bands circa 1989
Nice job! I certainly remember the JX-10, and owing a DX-7 (along with my Juno-60), at that point in history :-)
JX-10 was out of my price range - I dreamed of it until the D-50 came out.
I think the JX10 is one of the most beautiful looking synths ever. I remember back in 1986 looking at ads of Nick Rhodes with his JX10 and dreaming about owning such a beast.. and bought a JX8P in 1988.
Fast forward to 2010 and by that time I'd owned 3 JX10s at different times.
Don't feel a need to own another one but was a great synth for the time. I've still to this date not come across an analogue which can create such warm and realistic pianos/epianos...
Yeah the JX10 was incredible when if came out - so massive and I saw a few live that professionals had but it seemed way out of reach for me price-wise.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams I used to play my JX8P in a jazz fusion band for piano... can't believe I was trying to play that kind of music on 6 voice synth... :D
@@neilloughran4437 you needed a JX-10 for sure!
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams yeah never did play live on the JX10... by that time light digital pianos were in abundance... in the 80s I was playing a Roland RD and that was back breaking..
@@neilloughran4437 The RD-1000 was a beast - I remember the 300 as well. I feel your pain!
Great documentary! Glad you addressed the lack of Sys-Ex implementation. The synth engine does suffer from internal distortion - it's important to keep a close ear on it and keep levels down WITHIN the voice programme to avoid distortion :(
Thanks for the comments Rudy. I agree about the distortion - I should have mentioned that. As for Sysex - the Vecoven Mods have been great - I'd recommend them if you haven't had yours upgraded yet.
I love this!!! Amazing channel😍
I used to have an MKS-70 with the PG-800 and MKS-80 with the MPG-80 controller. I wish I would have kept them, but my god, I made so much money selling those. I donated a lot of hardware to my son's high school in 2015, including a Roland JD-800 along with an EMU E6400, an Kurzweil K2000r and an AKAI S5000. Nothing beats having actual hardware.
The MPG-80's were as rare as hen's teeth, and I heard sometimes went for more than the MKS-80.
Those all were great synths - the MKS-70 and MKS-80 is a dream combo for sure!
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams I had both, but still not up to JP-8 standards. (had one of those too!).
Man you’re songs made my childhood ssx tricky was my favourite game for my brother and I as kids!!
the music was a huge part of it.
Thanks Henri! Glad you found my channel.
Awesome work Johnny, really enjoyed that! 👍 I dig those classic tunes too!
a small snippet of my remix of imagine is in there I believe! - Digging deep!
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams I heard that! Very cool. 😊
Great video! I have the MKS-70 (and 80) with their MPG controllers. Vecoven fixed a lot of the JX-10/MKS-70s shortcomings - sadly a few decades too late. And we now have PWM on the JX-10/MKS-70. I find it ironic how things have changed now with D50 and DX7 prices compared with what the analog synths go for. I have the TX-802 which is pretty good as a kind of DX7II, but the programmability is awful lol
Awesome again Johnny - another synth I knew nothing about and now know everything! Haha
Thanx for the video :) I m the very happy owner of this synth in an absolutely mint condition and upgraded with last Frederic Vecoven PWM kit and a Noritake GU280x16 display... So it s kind of having a Super Jupiter12 P ... Selling prices are cheap so If you find one in very good shape : BUY IT !!! BUY IT !!! BUY IT NOW ,BEFORE A NEXT COMING HYPE MASSIVELY INFLATES ITS PRICE !!! Peace !!
Had a chance to nab one of these for a few hundred quid in the early 00s but the lack of knobs , no external programming and no PWM etc put me off . Fast forward to today 3rd party firmware and great 3rd party controllers make that one of my biggest synth regrets . Anyway good vid and cheers!
I agree with the comment that many preferred the JX-8P over the Super JX-10. The two patches, "Res Lead" and "Sync Lead" were pure funk, never having been duplicated since.
I still use it, as the only piece of hardware out of my PC box.
Great vid. Please don't tell me JX10 has that nightmare output thing the same way MKS-70 does. At least on the JX you can reach the outputs, but once you put the MKS70 in the rack you're doomed. You see in order to use the Whole mode you have to connect outputs 1 and 4 only. However to use it as two JX8Ps you have to connect all 4 outputs (obviously to have 2 stereo choruses). Maybe I have the old OS in my unit, perhaps later they fixed this and the unit can be used in Whole mode with all 4 outputs connected I dunno. Also hate that Tone/Patch thing you're never sure what your saving! So frustrating, even with PG800! In the end I took MKS-70 to the storage and bought a mint JX8P. Also I like the way 8P looks it represents the pinnacle of 80s "post modernism" in design!
Nice documentary!!
I have an 8P but I've never tried a 10
The IR3R05 is such a sweet sounding filter !
The Roland Suoer JX MKS70 is incredible. Pair it with the Ipg800 iPad app and iRig midi and you have a sleeper that steamrolls anything in its path.
New subscriber here….hello from Ohio.
This is still one of my dream synths to acquire. Lots of great videos!
Hey, thanks - Welcome for sure! Hope you find one!
song at the end is awesome, nice video, thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Johnny, you need to do the MKS-50/AJ1/AJ2, and then one on the MKS-80, since it is truly unique...2 Roland gems that need some JM treatment.
Once again it's software to the rescue: Martin Lüders has put together a marvelous plugin called PG-8X, which can load and play JX patches. The 80s live in your DAW of choice!
I have had every synth your put in your videos.
I have a JX-10, and I love it and I hate it.
Noisy, weak low-mids, alpha dial is super annoying with the 2 row display with selective parameters, in dual mode, sometimes get blurry sounds with shorter release time, midi madness with sysex…..
But when I just touching the first octave with some built in bass or string patch, well, I forget all the pain, and a never disappearing smile just stick to my face.
Soon will get all updates, including a analog fix for the dynamic range expansion.
bTW, if You don’t wanna spend 2000$ on a monster what You have to repair every year, then have a look on the VST version from Roland Cloud, pretty nailed close to it! Kinda even better!
Excellent stuff !! If you type "Proto Cosmos 1992" theres Steve Hunt playing a killer overdriven Rhodes type patch with Allan Holdsworth on his JX10. It really could get expressive.
Thanks! Interesting story.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Annnnndd...why hasn't Roland managed to come out with a new analog polysynth in the modern era when they're super popular again??
they released the JD-Xa and everyone hated it. i have one. its awesome.
Really cool vid for an obscure synth, loved it
Very nice tribute.
Lovely video.
The footage in this video that actually has something to do with the title starts to appear at 3:40..
I love my JX10.After vencoven firmware update its a genius
I own a bunch of virtual UVI remakes of these outstanding Roland J series synths
Thank you
I was watching Richard Wright playing in Delicate Sound of Thunder, I stopped for a while to listen to the story of this legend of synths! 🎹
Amazing - Richard Wright loved the the JX-10. I wish there was more footage of him using it. The lushness of the pads on that album are great.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Hello, there is a PDF on the internet, now I can't remember which site I downloaded it, has all the instruments Rick used in all phases of his career!
Informative
This synth is dreamy. I played one when it was released and saw it demonstrated by a Roland specialist, I got one eventually. With the pg-800. It sounds lovely. I also have a 8P and a 3P. 🎉 I never got a DX-7 , I preferred the D-50.
That's a great setup - yes I was a D-50 owner as well with a JX-8P - was such a think sound. The JX-10 was at the time pretty pricey so I waited until about 10 years a go to finally get one.
nice :) would love a mention of the MKS-70
Just a word of note: The clip of Go West features a JX8-P and an Jupiter-6.
To my knowledge, they never owned a JX-10.
Ok thanks for that correction
The Roland alpha juno is the most advanced analogue synth Roland ever made. Pwm. Env mod. But this upgrade.... Yes!
It Bites! 😎
Do you want to hear the best pad- sounds on this planet? Go an grab a JX-10. Its pads will cover you in tears. I love my JX-10.
Hi! You still have the JX-10? What about the MKS-70, is it exactly the same?I'm thinking about to get the rack version. You recommend it?
@@M80- Yes i still have and love it (even more). I have no experience with the MKS-70, but i think it's great. I have the DT-800 Controller, works perfect!
@@r27501 Thanks! Is yours with the Vecoven 3.22 Firmware update or stock? I'M planning to buy one. I have Oberheims, I had no Rolands before.
@@M80- all original. I don't need the update. It was the last big analog flagship-Synth from Roland and clearly has the analog Roland-Sound, but in the most advanced and perfect way, for me. I think they wanted this thing to sound as good as possible for the professional user.
@@r27501 I see. I know, I made lot of research of this synth, probably I will take the rack version. Thanks!
If I can choose only one analog Roland synth to take with me to desert island.. It will be this, with programmer. ;-)
I have this combo and use it almost every day, such a great sound, sold my Junos
@@r27501 Personally keeping the Alpha Juno 1. For me and my use definitely the best Juno, based on mix of features / size and sound.
angelo badalamenti used an mks70 for the twin peaks soundtrack - pretty sure the "soundtrack" preset is what was used for laura's theme
"Soundtrack" is certainly one of the nicest sounds on the JX8P :)
Part of the reason the later jx's don't work for me are the envelopes. They are intentionally slow, I guess for strings and pads which they excell at but for any other sound like basses and stabs they sound a bit weak. It's for that reason that I don't hold them in as a high regard as the Juno or Jupiter series but still an interesting piece of history.
You are not the only one who doesn’t like JX8P and JX10P because of slow envelopes. But JX was interesting synth. It could do nice brass sounds despite the slow envelopes. Europe Final Countdown intro was played with JX8P synth. Besides that, it had really good piano sounds. But strings and pads are certainly JX strongest side. :))
I had one and liked it very much but it was way too cumbersome thanks to my crappy apartment
Edit: In fact I traded it for JD-800 in mint condition with the keybed replaced (damn red glue)
Got an Akai AX76, Korg DS8, Korg DW8000, Roland D50, Yamaha DX7, Korg T3, Korg O1W, Roland RD300, Roland XP80, Yamaha MX61, Kawai MP10
Kept the DW8000, DX7, RD300 and Kawai MP10
The rest didn’t keep my attention and had to go
I am leaving my comment in December 2023, roughly the 20th anniversary of when I sent out for my own preowned JX-10. It got to where I was living in January 2004. Spread across the following 16 years, I want to then coming into its predecessor, the JX-8p and the Super JX module, the MKS-70. It was during 2013 that I sadly let my 10 go. Why did I? It was because it was taking up room and no longer serving as both a synthesizer sound source and a controller keyboard (that duty had shifted to a Yamaha S90XS). I got the 70 module in 2020 because I missed having the synthesis engine of the 10.
The JX-10 is awesome - love the synth and may get it moded with the new Vecoven PWM mods.
I might (someday) have that mod done on my MKS-70,@@johnnymorgansynthdreams.
super synth, always love it) have mks70 with vecoven!
So great - I actually use it as my master keyboard right now. I have the Vecoven OS, but might get the PWM mod - we'll see.
sorry but the super jx saw tooth waves were not digitally generated but went through analog wave shapers the square was digitally generated that’s why there was no pulse width modulation the same with the 8p and 3p
Correct - DCO's - I'll see if I can correct the vid but that's what I meant.
And extra, extra points for It Bites / Kiss Like Judas at 5:15!
I wish Roland would bring it to their Roland Cloud. I also wish they'd release a S-550 vst.
Thanks for mentioning The Yellowjackets... Russell Ferrante does not get near enough love in my opinion! In fact I saw them in 1987 and it was the first time Id ever seen a JX-10. It was a staple of Russell's sound for several albums.
I wish I had of seen them play back then!
The ambient drum & bass track at the end sounds like an Artemis track.
Cool - I wrote that in the 90s in think - found it in my archives.
The JX8P sounds darker and warmer than the JX10. The chorus and VCF differences impact on the sound. I wanted to use my 10 as 2 8's but couldn't as sounds programmed on the 8 unfortunately sound brighter and thinner on the 10. Sold my 10 many years ago. Will never sell the 8.
I've heard that take by many - I'd have to agree that there is a difference but I think the JX-10 can sound great as well, especially when layered in dual mode.
I owned the JX-8P, the Super JX, and the MKS-70 until I gave up playing in the mid 90s and sold all my gear. Getting slowly back into it in retirement, I wish I had one of those synths again. I'm hoping the boutique version (JX-08) meets my expectations.
@@miloilic7233 It looks and sounds good from what I've seen. I'm very interested in it as well. All the best.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thank you Johnny. I pre-ordered a JX-08. Don't want to miss out only to see its price skyrocket in a few years as it happened with the D-05. I hope you get yourself one, too. Cheers!
Great little docu.Yes, it's a great synth but what struck me most was... the TV commercials! I may be wrong but I don't remember seeing such things here in Italy at that time. Regardless, are such things still going on? I haven't had a TV in over 15 years but when I happen to be around one, the quality of the commercials has gone down the drain. Do synth manufacturers still advertise on TV these days? I mean, it was cool to see such niche things on mainstream TV. MTV and its clones are gone, sure, talent shows are bit but, outside of that, where is music on TV these days? Just curious. Cheers.
Yes - Synth TV ads were super rare - only a very few were every made - Casio, Yamaha , and Korg did a few in the 80's. As for music videos and MTV - I do miss it.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Yeah, waiting for your favourite video to come up, and press REC on the VHS recorder a few seconds earlier to capture is something UA-cam will never give us.
The alpha dial! Originally from s770 sampler control. Then, Roland alpha juno 1. 👍
Cool 🤓🍿
Too bad. I can see why it might have looked good on paper, but it seems to have satisfied neither the analog-connoisseurs nor ride the digital trends of that time.
Hey amazing doc ! you try one on the JP 8080 / 8000
Bought one for $250 in the early 2010s, didn't find it very inspiring, sold it soon after.
Yeah - it's not for everyone. Some prefer the JX-8P, but it does have those 80s Roland pads.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thank you btw for making these great history videos. The 80s were a fabulous time to be a teenager who's into technology & music. You capture the fascination of my teenage years perfectly. An, btw, I too went from a Poly-800 to a classroom with a DX-7 inside, ending up learning FM just because I was so blown away by the possibilities...
@@otisobl Thanks Otis! It's been a learning experience for me for sure, but it's been fun to tell my stories with somewhat of a personal style to it.
6:08 "Ninja" shoutout!
Not even the D50 understands realtime sysex. But there are workarounds like using aftertouch for filter res.
Superb video as always thank you, are there any VSTs of this do you know, I have checked the usual, Arturia, et al
The only VST I know of is PG8X which is a JX-8P emulation, so it'd be close to a JX-10
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams cheers matey :)
Actually, besides the mentioned PG8X VST (which is even sysex compatible to the JX-8P, Roland offers their own JX-8P as a VST.
2:44 Roland's Al Pacino series
I didn't get the multiple key presses??? Coul
I have one. 😁
I've never seen a JX or MKS-70 made in '88 or '89.
I know it seems strange that they'd continue the JX production after the success of the D-50, but apparently they did. I think the JX sill appeared in the Roland master catalogue as well through those years. I'll check my JX to see when it was made - you have curious now.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams My MKS-70 says October '87.
@@twiff3rino28 I checked my JX-10 - August of '86
0:16 Pardon for asking -- who is in this first clip?
Hi Avery - that's Human League, then OMD quickly
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams thank you!! Great video by the way 🙏 really enjoyed this
anyone know if this is the synth used on "secret garden" by bruce Springsteen?
what's the clip at 5:13 taken from?
Who is the band at 1:54 ? What is that song?
who sing 0-21?
😎🇨🇦👍
The supider Jupiter
What band is playing at 06:08 timeline?
Europe
8:20 Track Name please
6:20 song?
What you want knobs on your Synth? That will cost extra 😂
Totally