A JV-880 emulator on a Raspberry Pi (inside a USB controller)

[@nataliealliepage7155]

There's something comforting about the samples Roland included in the JV, SC, and other popular lines of modules (I think a few of them are floating around in the early JD, S, U, and W lines as well). They remind me of so much electronic media I've engaged with as a child.

[@blast_processing6577]

What we need is a platform that unifies _all_ the RPI synthesizer projects into a single multitimbral instrument that allows users to select between MiniDexed, TronPi Mellotron, FluidSynth, MT32, and now the JV-880 for each voice. And if it had the option of sending those voices out over multichannel USB audio, that would definitely be a plus too.

[@GiulioZausa]

@@blast_processing6577 i mean at that point a vst/au plugin would be much more convenient

[@blast_processing6577]

@@GiulioZausa If you've got a low-spec PC for recording and editing, an RPI is a pretty good alternative to VSTs that will eat up your PC's precious resources. I assume anything that can run on an RPI can run under a DAW in Linux as a plugin though too.

[@humfreee]

Have a look at the Zynthian project. It is multitimbral and you can choose from multiple synth engines including Dexed and FluidSynth. They keep adding new engines, so I wouldn't be surprised if they add this one. It runs on a Pi or optionally with a custom hardware interface.

[@blast_processing6577]

@@humfreee That sounds awesome, thanks!

[@SlaserX]

​@@blast_processing6577you can run max patches with RNBO too, that's what I use for some effects.

[@hikari_no_yume]

In thr 1990's Roland actually made a JV on a tiny card, it was called the VE-JV1 and could be installed into various keyboards. It's kinda neat how superficially similar this project is!

[@SlaserX]

I have one in my JV-35, while it's great for expanding that very limited synth, it's still pretty crap. I'm in the "why hasn't Roland released a JV Aira Compact" camp.

[@hikari_no_yume]

@@SlaserX Based on what I've read, I'm not surprised to hear it wasn't great. Especially because it was still a first-gen-ish JV. The JV-1080 is the good stuff.

[@littlebritain64]

It was that module with slots with VariOs (if my memory helps..) and only with two expansions? They stopped to develope It! And the customers had to sadly to rest with and expensive limited door stopper...

[@bunker8digitallabs]

What is positively hilarious is that if you triggered these sounds from one of the new Fantom keyboards, people would not know the difference with most of the presets. Workstation keyboard sounds, especially electric pianos and synth keys are almost identical. Sound evolution on the workstation type keyboards has barely inched forward, yet they still charge thousands for essentially most of the same presets.

[@vbarr67]

Wow, it's a great achievement ! It sounds really good ! :) I didn't know the Nuked-SC55 project, I looked at the source and it does emulate the hardware, it's not just a rompler :)

[@newtronix]

The sound of new jack swing!

[@TecladistadoYoutubeRivaLima]

You did nothing more than simply recreate a Jv-80!!! Fantastic!!! I would like to put together a project like this too, is there somewhere where I can see the step by step?

[@littlebritain64]

A great enterprise!! It sounds so clear and punchy!!! I am waiting for the next synth hoping It Is released soon!

[@Novaheart1998]

I bought a JV-880 when it was released and it was lovely. I have a JV-1080 today. I have owned all of them but the JV-880 sounds different, maybe better 🎉 but it lacks the memory of the other JVs. This emulator sounds good.

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

So many of these sounds are familiar from movie and video game soundtracks, yet i've never heard of the JV-880 before. Funny how that can happen.

[@iLikeTheUDK]

There were also the JV-1080, JV-2080 and XV-5080. Synth KZbinr Alex Ball did a video on the Halo CE soundtrack and includes the 5080 and a handful more rompler-synths of the time in there. A real delight for plenty of 90s and early 00s kids like us

[@EugeneHoverhand]

Would love to stick this and the other Sound Canvas emulations into portable eurorack size modules with a bright modern VFD display, looking forward to a build video

[@newtronix]

Have a look at the Zynthian project.

[@link0587]

This is amazing!

[@909crime]

Id love more details on this project. I want to make my own sound module

[@chrishonmusic7633]

This is really cool man! Nicely done

[@AntiPhones-st2yb]

I have a JV880 and yes most of the presets are not great, but if you learn to program it you can get some incredible sounds form it. It has one of the richest, complex analog soundings soft pads I've heard from any synth from any generation. The filter sounded really great too. But you do need to built your own patches to get the magic out of it.

[@onosendai4056]

Is there a Github for this project ?

[@GiulioZausa]

The code is a complete mess but I uploaded it here: github.com/giulioz/mini-jv880

[@gerardotaboada5735]

brilliant! Can it be used with the raspberry's integrated sound card?

[@MidnightBlueMetallic]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time with a NUC and VSTi's. Looks like there is a lot of empty space in that keyboard for such a project.

[@CorciPorci]

You are a wizard!

[@scottfarrell1906]

This is amazing...

[@thorndust5329]

legend

[@dickydoes]

Think you’ve invalidated your warranty!

[@AntiPhones-st2yb]

@Giulio how difficult is it to make a JV with a Raspberry Pi and how do you get the code and ROM from the JV into the Raspberry Pi?

[@fakshen1973]

The Raspberry Pi should be able to reproduce any all digital synth, shy of a D-A converter.

[@Krzychu-bh4rl]

I'm waiting for D-50 on RPI

[@GiulioZausa]

That is actually very very possible. All the roms needed have already been dumped. We also know pretty well how the LA chip works and we have the die shot of the reverb chip. The chorus chip is still TODO though. If anyone is interested in helping with the emulation I would be happy to give some more info.

[@Krzychu-bh4rl]

@@GiulioZausa Watch out copyright claims from Roland. I heard that years ago they took down Reaktor ensemble emulating D-50

[@AiuPal]

Is it also possible with the JV 1080?

[@DaveBelling]

This is my dream

[@AlShurooqi]

Is there a instructions of the making or i can order

[@kbxbr]

Wow! This is so cool! How about latnecy?

[@suitandtieguy]

this is incredible, but also light on details. is there somewhere we can read about this? thank you!

[@GiulioZausa]

Unfortunately yeah, I'm planning on doing another video about it soon!

[@suitandtieguy]

​@@GiulioZausa any updates?

[@AndrewJohnClive]

Do you edit it on that tiny screen/🫣

[@yzimsx]

Wow! I tried this with the latest Nuked SC-55 github source on x64 Linux, and SC-55 seems to work, but JV-880 says "Internal RAM read error" on startup. I can navigate the system menus, change tuning, mute parts, edit performance name etc. but trying to change presets gives the error. The following log lines are printed when starting with "-jv880" parameter: "Unknown write f400 6", "Unknown write f406 0", "Unknown write f407 80", "Unknown write f403 1". And that's all.

[@GiulioZausa]

@@yzimsx that’s all expected since the jv880 starts with an empty patch memory. You have to go into the utility menu and select Factory Reset

[@yzimsx]

@@GiulioZausa LOL thanks! Luckily a factory reset fixed the problem and I didn't need to install a new battery. Now I'll start hunting for those SR-JV expansion ROMs. ;) I've got a big old rotten XP-50 in storage, and don't really miss it too much but some of the sounds are great.

[@MyLastSunrises]

What kind of latency are you achieving

[@GiulioZausa]

Pretty much the same one as the real hardware, the buffer size is just 8ms

[@jaredsalazarofficial]

Is it just me or did the video and audio have a slight delay?

[@GiulioZausa]

@@jaredsalazarofficial possible, I synchronised them manually. Sorry!

[@jaredsalazarofficial]

@@GiulioZausa my concern really is the latency. Since it is an emulation, does latency noticeable in your actual test? It feels very noticeable when watching this video. What's the measured latency?

[@GiulioZausa]

@@jaredsalazarofficial no it’s all the video’s fault: I’ve measured it and the latency is around 8ms, which is very similar to the original hardware anyways

[@SrNutritivo]

Nice! But would be cheaper to just buy a JV880 😛

[@ganesha-dc6pj]

per favore, fai un tutorial step by step su come realizzare questo progetto :)

[@orincat10]

Would this work on a pi zero?

[@GiulioZausa]

@@orincat10 I’m using a Pi Zero 2, the first gen is too slow

[@zoltankovacs1274]

😮

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

What emulator is used?

[@GiulioZausa]

@@classicarcadeamusementpark4242 Nuked-SC55

[@vjrei]

The JV-80 was my first synth and I am so tired of those sounds. They make me literally puke. The piano, the bass and the drums! Damn no.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

They are pretty terrible. Unless you sample off an old cassette and pitch the whole thing down so it sounds like Washed Out 😂

[@jimbotron70]

Interesting that you felt the need to let it known to the world...

[@vjrei]

@@sub-jec-tiv I remember every single tv commercial, album, everything had those sounds. And I never liked the drums, they were cheap. And the piano, with that high pitch that sounds like hitting a wine glass. It was not like the Proteus or Korg M1 to T3 that blends in, nah. It was glassy, it sounded for a band of a pizza place.

[@maccagrabme]

If you don't know its potential then yes but for me its perfect for 80s and 90s ambient, early 90s and 2000s game soundtracks, synthwave, funk and jazz fusion, r&b, gospel & New Jack. If you want modern then its not for you.

[@catdog4570]

@@jimbotron70 Great answer! u made my day! :-)

[@tekatexproductions1967]

is the popping sound due to the mixer or the pi zero 2's limitations?

[@GiulioZausa]

@@tekatexproductions1967 kinda, it’s a bug caused by the sound generator running on multiple threads, I’m working on fixing it

[@rodriemi]

@@GiulioZausa I've faced with this issue some time ago, with a synth Circle project. I know how to fix it if you want.

[@GiulioZausa]

@@rodriemi oh please tell! Feel free to contact me

[@rodriemi]

@@GiulioZausa Ok, I'll find you on GitHub

[@GRIDPTERA]

Now do Access Virus emulator :)

[@KNHSynths]

There's already one, but you must find the firmware by yourself (it's not too hard) and the result is really good.

[@dwsel]

Sounds great 😮

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Would need more knobs for the Virus!