Roland JD-XA – JD of the 21st Century?

JD is a promise. Above all, the JD-XA is a promise. You don’t have to think in terms of Oberheim’s classic OB-Xa to suspect that Roland’s JD-XA has a lot of muscles and energy behind it. Whether this is unconditionally true or not – we’ll see!

In the shadow of the famous JD-800 synthesizer (and JD-990 synth rack module), JD-XA represents an interesting conglomeration of different Roland instruments. And it may be, if only unintentionally and not in the common sense, a milestone in Roland’s synthesizer history.

But let’s go one step at a time. Here’s the Roland JD-XA review …

Roland-JDXA-Synthesizer

Colourful buttons and short keys: the hardware

JD-XA hardware has many interesting features. Lets’ begin with the positive. The knobs and faders are good (to exceptionally good) quality. Especially in comparison to the JD-Xi we find the potis here worlds better. Nothing wiggles. And the red-illuminated anthrazite knobs with their silver caps are class, pure class.

But then you’re in for a couple of surprises. Let’s start with the plastic surface. It reflects extremely strongly (which can be good or not – that’s a matter of taste), and maintains its shiny newness for – at the most – one hour. The plastic attracts dust as soon as it sees the light of day. And fingerprints are there forever, of course. So, JD-XA goes into a sort of optical wilt while you’re watching …

Update 01/2016: Synthgraphics.com now offers extra – much nicer! – JD-XA panel overlays with a matte surface.

Update 01/2022: Sadly, the JD-XA panel overlays are not available any more.

Roland-JDXA-15

Which means: one or two days after going into operation, JD-XA looks as if it has been in the studio for months, if not years. (Hint: the shiny appearance of the JD-XA is best photographed on the first day, for obvious reasons mentioned above).

And there are other little surprises. You can’t fool an old (experienced) keyboarder: this keyboard is slightly different. All of those keys have been shortened by 1 centimeter, something you’re painfully aware of as soon as you play it.

That may sound rediculous (one centimeter – it that all?) … well, we’ve compared the key lengths of various instruments. And here are the results …

Roland-JDXA-03

Our test instruments were the Yamaha CP-70B grand piano, the JD-800 synthesizer and … the JD-XA!

Piano
white keys: 15 cm
black keys: 10 cm

Roland JD-800
white keys: 14 cm
black keys: 9 cm

Roland JD-XA
white keys: 13 cm
black keys: 8 cm

Roland-JDXA-23

… which doesn’t say much at all. One centimeter (or two, compared with an acoustic piano) – is that such a big deal? Bigger than you think! The player’s fingers are constantly touching the instrument’s casing when playing the black keys – really irritating. Too short, simply too short.

In addition, velocity sensitivity is imbalanced. We established this on the basis of the well-known JD piano-sample (those lanky piano sounds that wrote pop-history). On the one hand the JD-800, on the other the JD-XA. The JD-800 keyboard allows for relatively precise musical expression, which isn’t necessarily true with the JD-XA. If touched too lightly, the sound just disappears. If played too hard, it remains at a medium volume level, or pops up in unexpeted accents.

Roland-JDXA-08

Listen to the attached soundfile “FantaPiano” where unintentual accenting is a give-away for imbalanced keyboard velocity.

Also – and we end our keyboard-thoughts at this point – a 4-octave keyboard range is just too small for a grown-up synthesizer (considering all the inner potential of the JD-XA). Performing those huge Roland padsounds requires an external masterkeyboard, which can’t be what this is all about.

As so often, it’s the little stuff that has the big effects. Take, for instance, the lettering of the in/outputs …

Roland-JDXA-09

Tucked away in an internal hollow space at the back, the in/outputs simply cannot be detected easily. Gone are the days when manufacturers put that lettering on the upper surface of the synthesizer, so that it was even possible to change connections from the front.

Now let’s talk about the weight of the JD-XA, which says something about its probable over-all quality. Its really (really) easy to pick up this synthesizer in its keyboard rack (just crane your neck a little and stick in those cables), since the JD-XA weighs next to nothing. A modest 6,5 kg (without power supply)!

Roland-JDXA-10

The power supply is – you guessed it – external. Congratulations to those of you who can handle tiny electrical connections. In our opinion, a 2000+ Euros keyboard (a pro-instrument, so to speak), should boast an internal PSU with a standard power cable.

Last but not least, let’s look at the user’s manual. Instructions in 8 languages, black-and-white pictures of poor quality and on thin paper, neither well layed-out nor informative (endless rows of lists and tables). It’s a crying shame!

Roland-JDXA-22Graphic: excerpt from the JD-XA user manual, (c) Roland Corporation

Not informative? An example: the explanation “[Unison] button: Selects unison. […]” (see graphic) is an insult to the intelligence of an experienced synth user. And it’s absolutely no help to the novice, since there’s no explanation as to what “unison” means (which definitely was the question behind the question in the first place).

The “Parameter Guide” (again endless rows of lists and tables) has been relegated to online (PDF), as have the “MIDI Implementation Charts”.

Which leaves us speechless … (and without answers to a lot of questions) …

Roland-JDXA-11

Analog and Digital: The Philosophy

Having gotten all that stuff about hardware deficiencies and poor user service off our chest, back to the sunny side of things. The JD-XA has enormous creative potential (in the good Roland tradition, based on technical know-how) … and YES – the synth sounds good!

JDXA is a Crossover Synthesizer” (hence the X in the name), a mixture of ANALOG and DIGITAL. To put it more clearly: the JD-XA is a mixture of JD800 (patron and supplier of certain samples), JP8000 (4-octave keyboard, step / phrase sequencer), Integra (sound engine SuperNATURAL sound generation) and a new analog part, a complete innovation.

Roland-JDXA-17

Sound Generator Section – a rundown:

– maximum polyphony

  • Analog sound engine: 4 PARTs, 1 voice each
  • Digital sound engine: 4 PARTs, max. 64 voices

– voice structure

  • Analog:
    2 OSCs + AUX
    1 Filter
    1 AMP
    1 Pitch ENV
    1 Filter ENV
    1 AMP ENV
    2 LFOs (for effects, etc.)
    1 MOD LFO (for vibrato)
  • Digital:
    3 “Partials”, each with:
    3 OSC
    3 Filter
    3 AMP
    Envelopes for each section, and
    LFOs

Anyone wishing to study the complete list of JDXA features (waveforms, filter types, etc.), should take a look at the manufacturer’s site:

www.roland.com/products/jd-xa/specifications

Roland-JDXA-05

Roland explains the JD-XA analog/digital philosophy thus:

“The JD-XA’s engines can be used independently or interactively, providing an incredibly flexible platform for sound design, studio work, and live performance. Use the analog and digital parts side by side, stack them up for total sonic devastation, or shape digital waveforms via the analog filters to create sounds never heard before. With the JD-XA, you can forget about analog or digital — just close your eyes, imagine how the future sounds, and start creating music.”

(source: www.roland.com/products/jd-xa/features)

Sound of the future? A noble idea, and very inspiring indeed

Roland-JDXA-04

JD-XA performance: the Highlights – and the Downlights

Roland’s latest synthesizer flagship is full of unique features and impressive technical goodies – you get a lot for your money! But looking closer at the instrument’s highlights, we discover a couple of shortcomings as well …

Sequencer and arpeggiator are two of the JD-XA’s highlights:

Sequencer

– STEP-REC or REAL TIME-REC
– pattern-length: 16, 32, 48 or 64 steps
– 16 tracks (!)

“The pattern sequencer lets you record keyboard performance and knob operations, and play them back repeatedly.”

(Roland JD-XA user manual, page 8)

Roland-JDXA-06

Again, in REALTIME mode the controller movements are recorded with the assigned sequence, which of course is awesome! The assigned sequences in turn are also saved as part of the program. This is excellent!

And, programming patterns in STEP mode is real fun! Adjust the desired pattern length, press REC(ord) and off you go! Many of the attached sound files have been created super fast, thanks to the JD-XA step sequencer.

BUT speaking of sound examples: listening to them carefully you might realize that the patterns hardly move up and down. There’s only a little transposing, leaving a somewhat boring musical impression the first few minutes …  This is because transposition of the pattern sequencer via the keyboard is NOT possible. Shame on Roland (they made the same mistake with their superb JP-8000 step/phrase sequencer way back in the 1990s).

Roland-JDXA-13

So, transposing sequences in realtime is only possible using the pitch bender. Up a fifth, down an octave (for example) – that’s it. And you’re stuck to this poor solution! Maybe Roland could improve things here with a software update (?) …

Ok, pattern transposition in realtime is not possible. What about independent pattern lengths? Ah, there’s the knob, let’s see … you can choose between 16, 32, 48 and 64 steps. Nothing in between. No creative possibilities here, no chance to do some minimal stuff in realtime (performing patterns of completely different and assymetric lengths, let’s say 13 – 31 – 52 and 63 steps in a constantly changing loop).

Roland-JDXA-20

However, there are some creative features in the sequencer section. Steps can be muted in realtime (allowing for rhythmic variations), quantizing is possible (on/off), then there’s a shuffle function, and SMF (standard MIDI files) can be loaded into the JD-XA sequencer.

Arpeggiator

The arpeggiator offers 64 templates/patterns. When creating your own pattern its possible to program note numbers (number of steps being played) and velocity values.

Pitch-Bender und Wheels

The JD-XA offers the classic Roland pitch/mod bender PLUS an additional pair of wheels (again: pitch and modulation). This is superb! Modulations (vibrati) can ne set to permanent effect, which is far better than having to push the pitch/mod bender throughout your playing!

Both wheels (wheel 1 / wheel 2) are programmable, which is again a smart move towards in-depth sound performance.

Roland-JDXA-02

Keyword “LFO”: there are two LFOs in the synth section and another one in the pitch/mod wheel section. The latter is called MODULATION LFO, mostly used for vibrato effects. And, believe it or not, this LFO has a secret.

The secret of the MODULATION LFO

First, I really don’t understand why the JD-XA’s vibrato speed has a constant (basic) setting of 72. Such fast vibrati hardly exist in the real world. It sounds as if the violin player is suffering from a bad stomachache. But, of course, you can change that (and help the violin player) …

“The state specified by the MODULATION LFO setting is applied when you hold down the [Shift] button and move the pitch bend / modulation lever away from yourself.”

(Roland JD-XA user manual, page10)

Roland-JDXA-07

I did this once. It worked (and I set MODULATION LFO speed to 50, which comes a lot closer to a “natural sounding” vibrato). The next day I tried again. And it did not work.

Why? Well, the manual reveals that any changes concering the MODULATION LFO can only be done by activating the synth’s LFO section first. Turn, for example, the LFO Rate knob, so the JD-XA knows you wanna change LFO settings, then hold down the [Shift] button and move the pitch bend / modulation lever away from yourself: now you have access to the MODULATION LFO.

Roland-JDXA-12

SOUND

In a nutshell: the JD-XA sounds very good. Surprisingly enough, it’s the DIGITAL part that blows you away. The ANALOG part is nice, but not all that exciting. Again in a nutshell: those JD-XA samples are fantastic – strings and choirs of this quality are seldom heard. The SuperNATURAL sound, so to speak.

You could buy an additional Roland Integra just for the purpose of playing good samples (if that’s all you want), but the JD-XA has the singular advantage of direct access to the sound components. Open/close the filter, change attack time, reduce decay, program a 32-step bassline, add two ANALOG and another DIGITAL sound part, change the effects … THIS is the creative JD-XA! It’s fun, and the sounds are definitely impressive!

Roland-JDXA-14

The effects are of standard quality, not really over-the-top, but alright. The analog sound engine has its own (!) output, which is quite superb since you can send the DIGITAL and ANALOG audio signals separately to the mixer (or to additional, external sound processing units).

Last but not least, the JDXA includes a vocoder! And drum loops can be programmed similar to a TR-808 (the corresponding scale label dates back to 1983), again expanding  the instrument’s sound potential.

Nevertheless, there are two shortcomings

Roland-JDXA-18

First, some sounds come with a little noise in the audio path. Listen to the attached files – you might pick up that noise in some of the recordings (try “Pad 2”, for example). While part of the noise comes from the JD-XA audio section, the internal effects contribute some noise as well.

Second, the instrument’s ANALOG sound part is a bit of a disappointment. Good old virtual-analog JP8000 sounded better (in our personal opinion)! Somehow the JD-XA’s analog filter is not as effective as we had expected. The various filter modes (LP 1 / 2 / 3) all sound quite the same (even HP / BP), and filter resonance is overly aggressive*.

[*… although that same filter / filter resonance produces extremely lovely overtones, we have to admit.]

Roland-JDXA-16

All in all

The Roland JD-XA Crossover-Synthesizer supplies you with inspiring high-quality sounds, resulting for the most part from the SuperNATURAL Synthese in the DIGITAL part of the instrument. And direct access to all those elements of sound gives you a superior musical synthesizer with far-reaching perfomance possibilities. Analog patterns, vital drum-loops, live-generated vocoder sessions, crazy sync-sounds and soft pad sounds qualify the JD-XA as an extremely versatile instrument.

On the other hand, we can’t ignore detractive sound elements (noise in the audio path, at least with our test model), problems with some aspect of the hardware (too short 4-octave keyboard, shortened keys, imbalanced keyboard velocity, external PSU), a purely thought-out and insufficient user’s manual, and disadvantages in performance (step sequencer without transpose-function, etc) and synth programming.

Roland-JDXA-19

So, all in all, the JD-XA is a great synthesizer in a musical sense (thanks especially to those unbelievably high-quality samples) with some not-to-be-ignored weaknesses (that inadvertently result in a weakened final performance).

We have attached 35 minutes of audio-files. Everything JD-XA, no exceptions, except soundfile “SyncSound” (boasting an additional GRP A8 stereo sequence).

Enjoy listening.

Roland JD-XA

Polyphonic Analog/Digital Synthesizer
max. 64 Voices

Price: approx. 2,200 USD / 1,900 Euros
(10/2023)

Website Manufacturer:
www.roland.com

Link / Comparison:
Roland JD-800 Review

Filed under 2015, Featured, Reviews

“Es genügt, einen Ton schön zu spielen” sagte der Komponist Arvo Pärt im Jahre 2005. Diese Aussage ist ebenso einfach wie ich auch exzellent: Es braucht kein Meer an Tönen, denn entscheidend ist der Klang. Dass so mancher Vintage-Synthesizer der 70er und 80er Jahre teils unerreicht hochwertige Klänge liefert, steht außer Frage. Doch tatsächlich leben wir “heute” in einer nahezu perfekten Zeit. Einerseits hat man – mehr oder weniger – noch Zugriff auf die Vintage Analogen, andererseits wird auch bei Neugeräten die wichtige Komponente des hochwertigen Klanges wieder zunehmend berücksichtigt. Doepfer, Cwejman, Synthesizers.com, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Studio Electronics, COTK, John Bowen und andere Hersteller bauen hervorragende Synthesizer, die den “Klassikern” in nichts nachstehen. All diesen (alten wie neuen) “großartigen” Instrumenten ist Great Synthesizers gewidmet. _________________________________________________________ In 2005 composer Arvo Pärt said: “Playing one tone really well is enough”. In other words, it is sufficient to play one tone 'beautifully'. I agree with that. All musical efforts are focused on the sound itself. Although I studied classical music (piano and drums), it’s the electronic sound that inspires me. Synthesizers are the epitome of new sounds and exciting tonal spheres. Today, many companies produce high-quality - excellent! - synthesizers: Doepfer, Cwejman, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Synthesizers.com, COTK, Studio Electronics, John Bowen and others. It's their products I'm really interested in ... apart from Vintage Synthesizers, which I have been collecting for 20 years. Subsequent to our former websites Bluesynths and Blogasys, Peter Mahr and I have now created GreatSynthesizers. We hope you like it.

36 Comments

  1. Thanks for your thorough review! You mentioned “a little noise in the audio path.” During testing, did you ever hear audio pops or crackles from any of the patches featuring digital sounds? My JD-XA occasionally produces audio pops and I’m trying to determine the cause.

  2. Theo Bloderer

    … there was some background noise of any kind (crackles, noise, humming) occasionally, but it was not constant and I never figured out where it came from. Audio samples? Can’t imagine that. Effects? Possible. Low-budget components in the JD-XA audio path hardware? Very possible …

  3. Thanks for the review! The synth sounds very promising. But it is a shame that Roland took the very basic sequencer of the JD-Xi — that’s a real flaw! For perfomring you need an extra little box now.

  4. Theo Bloderer

    … hard to understand. It would not have cost Roland a furtune, but would habe upgraded the sequencer – and the whole instrument – to a “musician’s” tool …

  5. If the sequencer notes are being sent over MIDI then one can record MIDI and then transpose as required and play back via MIDI the notes… In the Polyphonic demo you got so many Blade Runner type
    sounds… Did you program them or are they factory patches? How can I get some really good JD-800 sounds for my JD-990 from you?
    I am obsessed with the CS-80 type sounds…

  6. Theo Bloderer

    Hi Dan! JD-XA sounds – many of them are slightly modified factory sounds. I had the instrument for a few weeks only, so there was not much time for programming (sadly). Regarding JD-800 sounds: just sent you an email … cheers …

  7. Les farrington

    These demos are the final straw that broke my camels bank. Especially the one entitled sequence 2. That track should be on an album. I have been flipping back and forth, System 1 combined with Sub37 or just the one JD. This demo sold me. The review was damn good too. Looks like I’m laying down my money. Damnit. Gear lust is as close to mental illness as it gets .

  8. jim jacobsen

    I have one huge disappointment with this synth. When I play it using local control I love the huge gorgeous stacks of 4.5.6.7.8 parts. But there’s no way I can find to play MIDI into a DAW and play it back sounding the same. There’s not a “Single Mode” or Super Stack Mode where those gorgeous analog + digital stacks can be played 1. From another (better) controller or 2. From a DAW sequence. Crushingly disappointing! And defeats the whole reason I bought the damn thing. EBay, here I come…

  9. Theo Bloderer

    … I am very sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing the info!

  10. Jim jacobsen

    I found the answer on page 7,396 of the SYSTEM menu. Simply turn on “Remote Keyboard.” The JD-XA will see incoming MIDI as though it were the local keyboard being played. An elegant solution which I simply had to dig a little to fond. To their credit, Roland sent me an email shortly after I had found the solution for myself, telling me where to look for it.

  11. Glad you found a solution… another thought is that each part is assigned its own MIDI channel. I like that because I use an external sequencer to play 3-4 different components, and then if I want to parts to be played together as one pattern I just make sure to assign them to the same MIDI channel.

  12. The shiny black plastic doesn’t bother me, and I don’t care if it’s a little difficult to read the tiny dark red prints against the black background, because these factors don’t affect my music once I learn where all the knobs and sliders are. What I do care very much are the bugs in the current operating system version 1.10 that prevent me from easily incorporating the JD-XA into my DAW (I’ve been using MOTU Digital Performer for about 25 years before it became “Digital.”):

    Major Bug-1: If you set Local Switch = Off, and Remote Kbd = On (to try to play all the active Parts from a single MIDI channel), the bug in the system version 1.10 will make the JD-XA to shut down, and no sound will be produced. Roland USA has suggested that I set all the active Channels to a single MIDI channel; however, this will simply bring out another serious bug as follows.

    Major Bug -2: If you set more than 2 Parts to the same MIDI channel (because Remote Kbd does not work properly as I mentioned above), the JD-XA starts to produce a type of sound that is normally associated with MIDI feedback: Thin and distorted. This is particularly noticeable when you assign two strings Parts to a single MIDI channel. If your ears are not quite used to detect MIDI feedback, it might take a little while to notice it, but it’s unmistakably there.

    Major Bug -3: At the Program Level, there are “Ctrl Src 1-4” that are designed to be set to CC01-95, Bend, and Atertouch; which should be used by setting System Control Source to Program. But believe it or not, the destinations for these control sources are entirely missing, so even though you can specify the source of these controllers, you cannot assign what they should do. Of course, since the Analog Parts have Matrix Controls (Oddly the Digital Parts do not), we really don’t need these extra controls, but Roland should just take them out from the menu if they are not going to odd the destinations.

    So have I decided to return the JD-XA? Not at all, because in spite of these problems, I find its sound to be extremely beautiful: You are wrong to think that its oscillators and/or filters are not very interesting, and here is part of the reviews by SOS: “… The signs continued to be positive as I explored the filters. Each can be dirtied up in its own way using the Drive control and, to carve out the excess slush, a (non–resonant) high–pass filter is always on tap. The main filter selector offers three very different choices comprising two low–pass designs and a unique multi-mode filter, the latter demonstrating that Roland haven’t run out of analogue surprises yet.

    “The first selection is typical Roland, with its powerful resonance and rich, even sweeps; it instantly reminded me of that old favourite, the SH1 filter. The second is a Moog–flavoured transistor ladder that has (to my taste) a more restrained and musical resonance. Both are 24dB filters and well suited to beefy bass and classic lead roles, but the third is something else entirely. The Parameter Guide describes it as ‘a relatively standard circuit’, but that’s a serious undersell. A 12dB multi-mode design, half the time it sounds broken, but in an entertaining way — like an elderly relative who’s taken to barking at the postman. Introducing resonance gives the impression of modulation by noise and, as you add more, you progress through the sound of frying bacon and into weird, almost bit–reduced territory. Just when you thought the depths of evil, grungy mayhem had been fully plumbed, the drive control adds more.

    “In its other two modes, the filter delivers high–pass and band–pass responses that, although they can appear fairly normal, soon attain the same madness levels when resonance is applied, turning positively psychotic under the influence of drive.

    That’s not the whole story either, because any digital part can be diverted into the analogue filter. It’s a process that can lead to confusion, at least until you’re used to it. Switching it on is simple enough: in the analogue voice’s mixer stage, set the Aux input to ‘Digital Part’. The confusion I mentioned can arise at a later date when you return to your program and select a digital part to play, having forgotten its routing. If the above voice isn’t also set to be played, or is muted, its filter closed, etc, your digital efforts will seem to be in vain, but this is a small price to pay for the option.”

  13. Your review is extremely accurate. The manual is a joke for somebody who is not used to working with Roland synths. I have had my JD-XA for a few days now and I have no clue how to program most of it. The manual is of absolutely no help. I would have thought that your explanation about “unison” in the manual was written in jest but it is absolutely true. Ridiculous. Roland needs to put an instructional video on YouTube IMMEDIATELY!!

    But the sound……. It is incredible!

    I wish that there were more presets. Kinda thin in that department, too.

  14. By the way, those are some nice programs in your demos. You ought to package them up and market them…..

  15. Xavier Ozouf

    you should check Roland Website, look for jd-xa pages, and more specificaly the Support page where you should find the “Parameter Guide” (English only)

  16. Greg T

    Are the sounds available to download. I like some especially in your poly 1 demo of the JD-XA.

  17. Prophonic

    It’s interesting to read your thoughts on the Jupiter-4 and on JD-XA after another. Things you wished the Jupiter-4 / Promars had back then, are available today in the JD-XA.
    If only Roland updates the sequencer (transposable and step start/end points on the fly), they have a winner.

  18. This is going to be the end of my search for another synth, as it seems a lot of synth for the money. I’ve got an excellent hardware sequencer that’s USB class compliant MIDI, meaning JD-XA’s sequencing drawbacks are irrelevant to me. It’s sound and only sound – anything else I can live with. Looks like this goes into territory of several other classic synths, including the Jupiter 8 and even Minimoog. I take it this doesn’t house a full Integra 7, just highlights from it.

  19. Interesting to find you here Bitley, I just linked your “Inspired” in the Synthesizers and Drum Machines group on Facebook :)

    Theo Bloderer: this is a good and thorough review, and I agree with most of the complaints! And I also found this synth as “what JD-800 could have been in the right hands”. I like it that Roland is forcing us to create sounds this time around!

    But velocity issue with pianos are ALWAYS just the patch – synths are normally no match for sometimes cheaper digital pianos in this department! I’ve set my velocity curve to Light and this helps with the disappearing notes. It will not help with “JD Piano” which is just as bad on the JD-Xi, but on JD-Xa you can layer it to make it nicer!

  20. Erik ALENS

    Erik
    I bought a JD XA 2 weeks ago and also hear these occasional cracks… Any help? ideas?

  21. Theo Bloderer

    … thanks for the note! Yes, would be great to solve the noise-issue …

  22. These are great demos! I’d love to be able to get some of the patches/parts, especially the pads.

    I also agree with many (if not all) of the points of this review. The JD-XA is a return to music-making and synthesis for me, and it is a remarkable, beautiful, confounding instrument – some amazing potential and a rich and complex sound, though with some incomprehensible shortcomings that one figures could have been easily avoided. Roland’s seemed to be within reach of true greatness on this one, but have completely lost the plot on the UX side of the product. No matter – we have synths to create sound, and this one delivers.

  23. Made same mistake. Started setting all Parts to MIDI channel 1, which also works, UNTIL you start multi part MIDI sequences. There’s an awful lot to learn on this synthesis, though agree analogue filters are bland.

  24. Mike B

    Great review and comments! After playing around with my very first synth, the microKORG XL+, for some years, I wanted to move up to a serious fully featured synth. The JD-XA was the first one that caught my eye in the local music shop. I played it for about an hour and just couldn’t stop. I simply loved it!

    I did notice pretty much all the shortcomings you and commenters mentioned, my biggest disappointment being that Roland hadn’t made a five octave keyboard for such a powerful synth. I also noticed (as everybody else does!) how hard it was to read the red knob lettering on the black background. Red illumination on a black background might look cool, but Roland couldn’t have picked worse colours for readability! They’re simply dreadful.

    But despite all these annoyances the sound of the JD-XA was breathtaking and its versatility amazing, and I just wanted to keep playing it all day! In summary, I can forgive the JD-XA all its shortcomings because it sounds SO good, it’s highly configurable and versatile, and is such fun to play.

  25. Theo Bloderer

    … great comment, thanks a lot.

  26. Hi Theo,

    Great review.

    JD-XA has been on my buy list, but how does it stack up against the new Jupiter-X?

    Thanks, your comments much appreciated.

  27. Al, Jupiter-X is a different concept, inheriting from Aira series mostly (see System-8), being virtual analog. JD-XA offers you 4 true analog voices and digital parts can also be routed through analog filters using AUX source.

    I use JD-XA with Roland Aira System-1 (don’t really need all bells and whistles of System-8) and comparing them I would say oscillators of System-1 (System-8 shares the basic architecture and so does Jupiter-X) are way more flexible offering you more basic waveforms, FM and even some weird logical operators. They also sound more agressive to my taste, adding some spice to the mix when I use System-1 as an AUX source in analog signal path. JD-XA oscillators, in turn, sound more ‘intelligent’ offering you just classic waveforms but abundant modulation options.
    All in all, in my opinion, JD-XA is extremely flexible even on its own. I managed to create rich sounscapes using just a single analog voice and the power of 3 LFOs plus modulation matrix, and programmable wheels can serve as a sort of modulation matrix too! But then you can add digital part as AUX to the signal making it even richer. And – that’s exactly what I do creating some sounds – AUX part can be external, and my external source is just another fully-functional synth, System-1, in sync with master JD-XA via MIDI link.

    You can also add some hardware between this external source and AUX IN or use its internal features or hook up a chain of Eurorack modules controlled via CV/GATE making the resulting sound monumental in second – and this is just the possibilities for a single analog voice!

    Now Jupiter-X… No, I don’t own one, played with it in the store and read the manual. Well, this seems to be a nice toy attempting to replicated sound schemes of the past in its virtual analog plus some digital spice, but just two problems turned me away from considering it:
    1. Virtual analog sound path have fixed routing emulating specific synths of the path, while JD-XA gives you flexible control.
    2. It is far from being immediate like JD-XA is – instead of playing with the faders and knobs directly controlling the shape of sound you need to dive into menu, change something, then go back… for some tasks at least – and the LCD screen is tiny. Well, JD-XA display is also coming from the 80s, but in most cases you only need it to select digital waveforms and effects, most of the settings are controlled using knobs and faders.

    Well, to sum it up: I would not go for Jupiter-X from JD-XA, and JD-XA can be seen as a base for further expansion, making it a control center for some multi-synth installment. If you really need virtual analog and/or emulations of the Roland gear of the past, System-8 should be your first stop, and if you don’t need polyphony, you can get away with System-1 or System-1m, which was my solution. They are all plug-outs meaning you can upload sound models into them making pretty accurate emulations of Roland classic synths but also good synths on their own.

    PS. Some remarks on the review, specifically the mentioned sequencer problem. Indeed, sequencer is not transposing. But instead JD-XA can boast a rarely seen feature: interactively programmable arpeggiator. It uses the same sequencer engine, offering you TR-808 style arps programming, transposing it as you play and allows variations of the phrase. Arps are saved with the program along with sequences. The only problem of the programmable arp is that it doesn’t quantize the beginning of the sequence, like many workstations do, so watch your fingers. Or buy some external gear, like Arturia Keystep for added sequences chaining ability.

  28. Theo Bloderer

    … thanks for the comprehensive and informative comment!

  29. RTT112

    the spect synth is for a roland jd xa spectacular!!remind me the filter 24 db of the Jupiter 4,lead are very sticky in power effects are also nice,so we belong for a128 notes polyphonic and much more!!

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