ALPHA JUNO 2 - Is this the best or worst synth Roland ever made? Analog Poly from 1985

[@cloudwalkmusic3303]

I’ve had a Roland SynthPlus-10 (Consumer rebranded Alpha Juno 1) since 1997 and love it! When you’re on the “What The” patch, hit the ENV TIME button on the left side controls and crank down the value with the Alpha Dial to shorten the times for the entire envelope. There’s the Hoover in all it’s wildness!

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you for the tip! I have to say, it really is cool to have the real, analog hoover sound on hardware.

[@toolman8269]

I've had my Alpha Juno-2 since new in 1986. Over the years, I've had a love/hate relationship with it, wishing I had instead gotten a 106 at the time, but a couple of years ago I finally bought a hardware controller (Retroaktiv PG-50) for my Juno-2 and it has definitely opened it up and aided in a renewed love for the old girl, especially with outboard effects.

[@VultureCulture]

I have a Retroaktiv controller ordered for it! Can't wait to try it out!

[@toolman8269]

@@VultureCulture : I did a lot of research and it truly is the best, most versatile one available.

[@MIRODOCTORMUSIC]

the same. :). my relations with synth is. high sensitive. cosmic vibration.

[@rachelar]

Nah, the 106 had it's chips and it's a pain to maintain plus no after touch . All it's got is knobs for knobheads but you can't know what setting they're set to

[@BachelorMachinesTV]

AJ2s have a high pass filter, it's got settings from 0-3 where 1 is off, 2 is some high pass, 3 is more high pass, and 0 emphasizes the low end. (Nice video! Love an Alpha Juno :) I love mine for moody string sounds and also am obsessed with the P61 flute patch.)

[@VultureCulture]

I'll have to check out the flute patch! Yeah, I realized after filming that of course the Juno 2 has a high pass 🤦‍♀️

[@SamuelKaruta]

the best ALPHA JUNO approach I've heard ... congratulations! I have version 1 and sensitive keys are really needed, but for bass lines it's perfect. Thanks for the video and analysis.

[@VultureCulture]

I appreciate it! Love this synth, it's really great

[@SamuelKaruta]

@@VultureCulture I'm liking him more now after I saw his video ... today I will be playing with him until dawn here in Brazil, especially with the "ALPHA DIAL" ... big hug and that we can find more old keyboards for our collections!

[@BaymondRell]

Or control it with something like a JX10 and gain all the Juno 2 benefits and a Patch Editor really helps both.

[@toomuchtoofast4533]

Love this my dude! Ironically, I have the Juno 2 and Kawai K3, for which you did a review as well. If you are quick on the trigger, you can get either for $350-500. Your reviews are enjoyable man. Use patch base w this if some of you out there are looking to edit parameters on the iPad. It’s $30.

[@VultureCulture]

Great tip! Honestly the Alpha2 and K3 are two of my all time favorites!

[@Rsonixtunes]

Absolutely! Same - they are very much under the radar. Also, get a Super JX. It’s a sleeper powerhouse before Roland went the D50 route.

[@VultureCulture]

One day I really hope to get a JX with a Retroaktiv controller

[@SolidtraxNL]

Great video showcasing a lot of patches and sharing some of the story from back in the day! Kudos! Love the Alpha Juno2 because it has a really solid build and you can use a controller or VST panel for it to dig really deep. Since it is built like a tank, has almost no faders and buttons that could collect dust as a sidejob as many other (previous) synths from that era it is still very reliable to this date. Controller wise you can have a look at the D-Tronics DT300 or the RetroAktiv PG-50 and hopefully you already did as this really makes live easy and - in our personal experience - opens up the possibilities and you get more 'one with the instrument' so to say.

[@VultureCulture]

I just got the retroaktiv controller - I think I'll do a Livestream of it soon

[@christophertodman]

Another great review...missed a whole bunch of these....I bought a synth 80 for a about 80 bucks about a year ago - needs work but it's still usable and sounds great, of course. Cheers!

[@VultureCulture]

A synth 80? Thank you for your encouragement!

[@christophertodman]

@@VultureCulture The consumer Roland Alpha Juno version with speakers.

[@VultureCulture]

Nice! I didn't know they made one of those

[@offworldsynths2019]

Great video! Gonna dig my juno down from the loft tomorrow

[@VultureCulture]

Nice! I am really impressed by this little guy

[@TokyoScarab]

From what I've seen in interviews, David Wise sampled the AJ2 a bunch on Stickerbrush for that evolving resonant filter bass line. Also speaking to the high pass filter thing in this synth, much like in the other analog synths Roland put out at the time, if you want that donk, just set the high pass to 0 for that extra bass. :P Also about DCO vs VCO I feel is a weird discussion. Because the JX8P is also entirely a DCO affair and that thing will sound as warm and bassy as anyone could possibly ever need. I think it comes down to oscillator architecture more than oscillator topography.

[@VultureCulture]

That's a good trick to know! I didn't realize the Alpha's had the extra donk at 0 trick too. To clarify on my thoughts on DCO vs VCO, I think it is really that there's only one DCO instead of two like a JX-8P. So like you said, more oscillator architecture than type. I haven't gotten a chance to make my own sounds but I'm curious if the static nature of the sound can be counteracted with a lot of chorus.

[@jensingvordsen]

Great synth ,presentation and video!

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you very much! 🙏

[@wormholewest]

It does have a hi pass filter :)

[@VultureCulture]

Yes - I've updated the description. The first of countless errors I've made on this channel 🤣

[@georgegeorgio1751]

i have 2 AJ2s to get movement you need to use varying amounts of pulse lfo , chorus , lfo on filter and different chorus amounts, cause as he states here it does'nt have VCOs or drift parameters like a proph08 i sold one of mine cause i could get very similar pads and other stuff from a king korg the AJ2 could not , but the bass on the AJ2 is fantastic i could not emulate that on the korg i got close. Having said all this i'm experienced at sound design so i got some very convincing sounds , much better and richer than what i'm hearing on this video.

[@VultureCulture]

I bet someone who some sound design skills could make some really incredible sounds with an AJ2!

[@briancoyne6700]

Why does it have to always be the best or the worst? What happened to in between?

[@VultureCulture]

I think it is in between, actually pretty good! The title is referencing how people in the community seem to talk about it.

[@sarahhey8654]

Nice vid Bro. Yeah my AJ2 is pretty thicc in the bass too :)

[@VultureCulture]

I am surprised by how thicccccc she gets

[@fulge0903]

This plugin would contain price increases in the second-hand market and at the same time give millions of people access to the Alpha Juno

[@iamonfire501]

It beats the JUNO X in sounding...for sure

[@VultureCulture]

I think so anyways

[@resynthesizer4565]

Personally, I love the AJ series.

[@VultureCulture]

The most underrated analog synths from the 80's!

[@lundsweden]

The Alpha Juno is both one of the best AND worst Roland synths IMO. The interface was woeful, but suited the majority who just used presets. For those of us who like to tweak, there are many great editors on PC, Mac, IOS and hardware too. The only thing left I don't like about 'em is the non resonant filters. But a great synth with its own character!

[@VultureCulture]

The non-resonant filter doesn't bother me at all - I don't often go for sounds like organs etc. that need that extra oomph. I think the filter sounds great! If they had released this with a proper interface it might be one of their best synths ever!

[@lundsweden]

@@VultureCulture I had an Alpha Juno 1, sold it and just bought another. I thought the organs were really good on it actually!

[@VultureCulture]

They are! Just meant I don't *need* a crazy resonant filter

[@littlebritain64]

As far as I remember It has a resonant filter!

[@VultureCulture]

@littlebritain64 resonant but not self resonating

[@schoovaertssimon7904]

Ain't nothing "worst" about the Alpha...It's a great synth.

[@VultureCulture]

Agreed!

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

With AJ2 you need realy to learn how to use dynamics. If you hit it very hard it sounds very bright and peircing. Light touch up to medium is where its the best to stay most of the time.

[@VultureCulture]

After having it serviced and the aftertouch repaired I can't agree more! It is a very expressive / responsive synth

[@s.fleming2441]

I love synth bass 1!

[@VultureCulture]

So good!

[@thehistoryofchingfordwater8933]

So true you are.

[@diversionesconvenuslausinr8791]

The symbol of the ring in right hand ANTON LAVEY FAN? :)))

[@VultureCulture]

Big fan 🐐

[@bcroson82]

IMO the AJ2 sounds basically the same as a 106. Have owned both simultaneously. The filter doesn't do that squelchy self resonant thing. But that squelchy self resonant thing has limited applications are they're all pretty lame, so... Unless you want to make cheese 90's dance music... The real reason to want a 106 vs. AJ2 is the immediacy.

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you for your input! I've generally suspected that, that the biggest difference is in the layout and not the sound itself.

[@bcroson82]

@@VultureCulture Yep - I funded a big part of an OB6 module with my 106, which I was comfortable doing because the AJ2 is really darn close for almost every kind of sound. Much closer than the DM12 was that I had sitting side by side the 106 for a month or so, and it's even cheaper than the DM12. And to my knowledge the AJ2 doesn't have wonky DCO's that are ticking time bombs.

[@VultureCulture]

Yes, the Alpha's seem to last forever. Vintage synth nuts can be very.... Like this one synth is the holy grail and everything else is a pale imitation lol

[@psychodelian]

I never understood why they took knobs off synths.

[@VultureCulture]

In hindsight it seems silly, knobs couldn't really cost that much more. What I think really happened is the DX7 proved that most people in the market just wanted to play the latest and greatest presets and not program their own sounds. Unfortunately that meant the knobs and faders disappeared, in favor of a more "futuristic" look.

[@project-95]

At that time in the 80s they were following a trend towards digital control, sleek, minimal interface. I'd definitely buy a controller for this. I wish there were similar controllers for the JD-990 and JV-1080 etc

[@VultureCulture]

@project-95 me too! I know Rob from Retroaktiv wants to make one

[@andreaschristodoulou4274]

The A Juno, do not sounds different from other Roland's synths, i believe in ''resume'' all sounds pretty much the same, Juno 60, 106, all JX's even in digital way the JP8000, any comments on that ???

[@VultureCulture]

I have a JX3P, Alpha Juno, JP-8000, D50 and JD-800, and I think they all sound pretty different from each other. Maybe I'll do a comparison video one day, but in short, they each have their own character. Perhaps you could say Roland filters have a certain brassy, aggressive sound.

[@andreaschristodoulou4274]

@@VultureCulture -thank you so much for your answer, i will most happy if your going to demonstrate the synth's sounds some day

[@VultureCulture]

I'm working on it! I'll hopefully have a video for each of them out soonish

[@andreylozhkin2086]

Sounds quite good, dirty, but the filter...it is so steppy

[@VultureCulture]

I did notice something that sounded like stepping on one of the patches, but I wasn't sure if it was like a square wave lfo or something. I didn't notice it on other patches.

[@andreylozhkin2086]

@@VultureCulture this is probably true, more of a programming thing

[@cygnus_XI]

Personally I like it! It’s tough to get that weird filter quirk on newer synths and plugins. Almost like sample-and-hold.

[@juliaseppi2205]

Drexciyan weapon :)

[@littlebritain64]

It Is a great sounding synth, too bad for being paraphonic but I can recognise his personality in some very expensive synths. A keeper definitively!

[@VultureCulture]

It's fully polyphonic, not paraphonic

[@whatistau]

A person that was responsible for fixing my gear for years (he is also a engineer for Soma machines) told me that A J inst an analog synth, but digital chip. But filters are analog.

[@VultureCulture]

There is a lot of debate about what exactly is going on with the Alpha's oscillators, but I've yet to see any compelling *evidence* that the osc's are digital.

[@resynthesizer4565]

@@VultureCulture Digitally Controlled Osc, as opposed to Voltage Controlled Osc. Don't have to warm up, don't go out of tune during a show , but still nice and Phat :)

[@nujuat]

I should also mention that the original junos are also dco-based. So if dcos don't count as analogue, then the Juno 60 doesn't count either. Which seems weird.

[@VultureCulture]

@nujuat I definitely think they count as analog!

[@CPAdams-pf8lj]

DCO is a digitally controlled ANALOG oscillator. The digital part of DCO applies to control of tuning.

[@michaelpierce3264]

great low end synth better than the jx8 or jx10 both a waste of space!

[@VultureCulture]

I've been interested in comparing the Alpha's to a JX synth, but the internet seems so divided over which one is the best.

[@VultureCulture]

I have bought a JX-3P since this video and intend to try it out against the Alpha 2

[@henrilpro7667]

Have a Jx3p and plane to get an alpha2 too ! I'm curious to know too, as I asking myself if the JX can go further ... But I hear some sounds especially in the bass era that I can't approach with other synths.. Already Own a Poly D, M1, VC340, Jx3p and ESQ1 😊

[@michaelpierce3264]

the alpha is just different and unique extra crazy wave shapes pulsewidth on saw different square shapes on sub sped control on chorus seven stage on envelope and cord mode

[@Vissepisse11]

I love the Alpha Junos.

 Distinctly digital in a good way. 
Fantastic for synthwave pads and basses using the unique saw-square osc combined with the buttery smooth alpha dial controlling the brilliance/filter.

 It needs to be paired with a proper reverb though.

[@VultureCulture]

By distinctly digital I'm assuming you mean the oscillators and filter sound cold? Because this is an analog synthesizer.

[@Vissepisse11]

@@VultureCulture Let’s say it is a hybrid :)
Similar to Roland JDXI or UDO Super 6. It uses a general purpose (Intel 8032) 8 bit CPU to generate waveforms that goes to the DAC before continuing to the analog domain (filter, mod, BBD chorus, output etc) 
 
Compared to a crisp Jupiter 8 the Junos has, at least to my ears, a less crisp and, well, digital-ish sound while not being VST digital if you know what I mean.

I wouldn’t get a Juno to play realistic or “warm analog” sounds.
.. but I’d love another one just for the stereo spread =)

 As for the filter. I like it a lot.
Analog smoothness on top of wonky digital oscs.

[@VultureCulture]

There is a lot of misinformation relating to the Alpha Juno's oscillators but they are analog, and only digitally tuned. The Wikipedia article here clears a lot of this up: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitally_controlled_oscillator

[@project-95]

​@@Vissepisse11😂😂😂 hybrid? No, just no. It's an analogue synth with a DCO.

[@ZombieLincoln666]

It’s not analog actually, the oscillators are fully digital (numerically controller oscillators), and they even alias at higher frequencies. The filters and chorus are analog though

[@VultureCulture]

Can I get a reference for this? I did a lot of Google searching and can't find any evidence that the oscillators are NCO's. Also, aliasing isn't proof that something is digital. Plenty of analog systems, like chorus and bucket brigade delays are filtered to remove aliasing.

[@Rsonixtunes]

Incorrect, the Juno 2 essentially has an analog path, but Roland chose to digitally control the oscillation for improved stability.