Alpha Juno-2: That Hoover Synth!

[@thebkstank2095]

Synthesizer engineers in the 80s were legally mandated to provide at least one line graph on synths

[@skaneverdies]

It's definitely a weird decision. I've never referenced them myself and don't imagine anyone else does. I suppose it's on brand for the maximalist 80s?

[@Peter_S_]

@@skaneverdies It was the dawn of post-ADSR reality and that's what it took to introduce the world to the new paradigm.

[@Psychlist1972]

It was actually useful back then, because this envelope was slightly more complex than others of the time.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Those who didn't comply were sentenced to 5 years of blindfolded DX7 patch programming in the desert. True story!

[@GizzyDillespee]

We also used to sit toddlers on precarious stacks of books. Now we use the Amazon box that the allegedly new broken highchair came in. Either way, the important thing is they don't heed what we say - they copy what we do. The DX7 graphics were useful, and then everyone else wanted to seem arcane enough that they might need graphs, too. People really are aggressive lemmings. It was half cargo cult, half trying to ride the coattails. It's helpful, the first time through, to see a diagram of envelope stages. If you had brain damage, it might be helpful to see them every time. When there's more than 4 stages, people go nuts. Right now in the USA, we're talking about taking Canada, under the pretext of commienazis, just because nobody will stop us. Baha Mexico - it's called Gulf of California, so it makes sense to extend California, to have access. And BahaMas is just a different suffix, so we may as well take that. And Columbia too, for nostalgic reasons.

[@VarionJimmy]

I bought a broken alpha Juno 1, about 15 years ago. It cost me $2. When it arrived I opened it and found a screwdriver. So I thought it was a nice deal after all. Then I tried to power it on. The display and menus worked and I saw the problem. It was …midi-related: “Local Off”.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Crickey, that's quite the deal!

[@Peter_S_]

Deal of the century there!

[@wceinar]

Haha very funny. Have had mine for over 20 years.

[@SolidtraxNL]

"Local Off" - Legendary! 🤣 - what a deal!

[@80iesDude45]

I almost threw away my old MKS-50 last year, which was broke for decades. Fortunately I checked the accu battery inside, so my MKS-50 is hoovering again. ;-)

[@thomasdebercey1709]

The moment I heard the alpha drummer demo was the exact moment I realized this was probably the same synth SAW used for the iconic tom-fill intro to "Never Gonna Give You Up". Excellent video mate

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep, it's only dawned on me since it was mentioned in the comments! Hilarious.

[@davetbassbos]

I'm in the minority but I actually love the look of these (and DX7 and JX-8P) They kind of look like they belong in a damp, dark and dreary synth pop music video, lol!

[@josephmorrell5336]

Totally agreed - like they're from a 90s computer lab, it's so sick. Same w the Emulator III and the akai AX73

[@adamharris7775]

The Roland Alpha Juno-2 patch "Kick" was heard in the 1985 Kidsongs version of the song "Skip to My Lou".

[@lundsweden]

The Trinity of the synth world Juno 6/60, 106 and Alpha!

[@psychedeliccarrie5921]

Those first two drum hits activated my flight or fight response.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Haha!

[@Fenix_the_12]

В такое тяжёлое время только подобные видео и помогают отвлечься. Спасибо

[@fungibu7184]

Yes, please! 10 minutes of distraction from what is happening in the world. Thank you!

[@iHawke]

COVID Ukraine

[@XHALE303]

That only happens on your TV, not the world.

[@marzacdev]

This!

[@covert0overt_810]

Please… you couldnt locate ukraine on a map if your life depended on it…. its amazing how NPC react when the “news” tells them how to emote.

[@illustriouschin]

That's what Obama wants you to do.

[@BigLesbowski]

the superlow subbass of all the Junos seems magic to me until i looked into manuals - the HPF at zero is actually a low boost)) so to hear the unaltered sound you need set the HPF at 1

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ah yes, thank you. I forgot to mention that.

[@s.fleming2441]

i have this in the Alpha2 and MKS50 version. If you buy the MPG50 controller you can combine them to have double the voices. Lov this synth, and I love the Alpha dial too!

[@MoCheez]

I'm watching this great and refreshing video while sitting next to my Alpha Juno-1, which is my best buy this year, by far. Thanks, mate!

[@leapest]

During the 80's , I used one of these while on tour. I found it 100% dependable and I loved this board! Great video by the way!

[@Sui778]

I've had my alphaJuno-1 since 1987 and still use it to this day. Was my first synth and it never has been out of my lineup. Programmed the hell out of it with the alpha dial back in the day. Was a bit time consuming but the results were worth it.

[@h0odie]

My uncle gave me this synth when I was 18 and it still looks really nice in my studio.

[@magaschicago]

So cool that you did this! I just happened to have re-added this baby to my arsenal yesterday. Keybed is a little wonky, so I'm controlling it with a Hydrasynth. The hours melted away. I'm also editing with an iPad!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, it's a handy one. Have you tried using the Alpha as a layer on top of the Hydrasynth? I bet that would be something.

[@anthonybrett]

I use PatchBase on the iPad to edit mine. Are there any others or is that what youre using also?

[@magaschicago]

@@AlexBallMusic Yeah, that's gonna be wicked; I can't wait to do that.. I haven't done that yet, as last night I got sucked into a time loop of Alpha Juno bass triplet controlled by the Hydrasynth's arpeggiator, while ribbon-theremin soloing Deckard's voice atop. Drums courtesy of the Isla S2400.😎

[@magaschicago]

@@anthonybrett I'm using Alpha Editor on the i-Pad that my daughter left for dead.

[@magaschicago]

@@anthonybrett You can edit everything and it's also got a bunch of cool presets and a random button !

[@hueyhueyhueyhuey]

absolutely did it justice. great demos. thanks!

[@garx0]

7:58 wow, that "stab harmony" is my favourite thing about 90s, but i didn't know they even implemented it in a synth, awesome feature (although everyone were doing it through samples anyway, i think) p.s. that little demo of chord memory reminded me of "Back With Me" by Luke Vibert

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, chord memory has been in synths since the 80s, but I think you're right that most examples of the sound were probably samples. The most fun use of it I've seen is the Hydrasynth. You can stick a chord in memory, define a scale or mode and then play arpeggios or chords of the chord in memory and it will adapt the harmony to stay in key. Clever stuff.

[@MattJohnsonJamiroquai]

You got some great sounds out of it!

[@billyruss]

Picked mine up for £140 ten years ago - sold it for nearly three times that, and I can see they're creeping even higher. They had some great sounds; as always, you manage to coax some even more insane ones out of it 🙂

[@AlexBallMusic]

£140! An example of what I was talking about. Yeah, drifting up and up now. Especially with a controller.

[@cf5914]

The Alpha can easily nail 106 sounds and even JX3P stuff but can also go well beyond those two.

[@gcoudert]

With hindsight, it was a pretty good synth. However, I was a Juno-60 owner when the αJunos came out so I was very disappointed when I tried one out. As far as its recent increase in value is concerned, I blame Espen!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Espen is Mr Alpha, yeah. He doesn't use a controller either. What a masochist. 😂

[@ivorydungeon909]

@@AlexBallMusic Masochist? 😆

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@ivorydungeon909 Dammit. Always mix those two up. Thank you!

[@nazliuz]

😂

[@majicboxstudios3996]

@@AlexBallMusic 😂😂😂😂😂

[@michaelpierce3264]

theres no shame it doesn’t pretend to be anything else nothing sounds like it! I love mine!

[@RobFlaxMusic]

That bass on the outro! Killer. I so appreciate you playing a synth "in context," btw. Great demo.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Rob!

[@Spudcore]

"Alpha Drummer " section giving it strong Radioactive Man vibez!

[@Lantertronics]

I predict prices on these to skyrocket after this video. :)

[@brujua7]

Love the Jams, it is what makes me crave the videos. Thanks a lot!

[@scottstevens7639]

Wow. Brings back memories… A band mate had this keyboard, although he didn’t make use of it much. More importantly, I myself had the rack version of this (I don’t even remember the model designation). And yes, I had the hardware programmer as well. The rack version was perfect for my purposes as it was the perfect pairing with Roland’s guitar synth setup, which I obviously had. A guitar has six strings - the synth has six DCO’s - funny how that worked out… The rack version was in fact intended to be paired up with their guitar synth architecture. So thanks for the trip down memory lane. God, I miss my hardware…

[@bnjmnwst]

Do you have a music channel, like where you release your own music? You make MUCH better synthwave music than almost any other artists on KZbin, and they seem to actually be making a serious effort. Get that stuff on the Tubewaves!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks Ben. I have a load of stuff here, both albums and also all the short demos I do online. alexball.bandcamp.com/

[@CYPRNMUSIC]

Agreed- the intro song is freaking out there... your music slaps dude!!!

[@socialbeats1]

Had one in the 80’s and finally bought one back about the 10 years ago from a famous Rave studio in Rotterdam…

[@JEANBRUCEnocturbulous]

wow the funky jam at the beginning was something... btw don't stop it Dad, rave sound will never die.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

The Alpha is such a kool (beast when it works.) Although it has that classic 80s roland sound it really can go beyond that. It's been a keeper in my arsenal for over 22yrs now . The Bassdrums you can produce with it easily destroy a 909 Bassdrum. Fantatstic video Alex :-)

[@AlexBallMusic]

22 years! That is a keeper. Yeah, I was surprised by the walloping drums that came out of it!

[@AnalogDude_]

the 909 Bass drum consists of 3 vco's. the click at the beginning, the body and the decay or however you wanna cal it.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

@@AnalogDude_ Fair enough still sounds inferior in my very strong opinion .

[@AnalogDude_]

@@AdamTheAd-vanc3d Well, you could clone it from the schematic of "introspectiv" (tr-)9090 clone and play with the resistor/capacitor values to give it another character. : ) but you need a +15/-15 Volt psu, otherwise it will sound different. It's it a pretty hard circuit with various VCA's, envelops and what not. i got a Akai MPC X now and it can model any kinds of kickdrums via it's plugin.

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

@@AnalogDude_ True but I personally wouldn't as its by far not my fav type of kick drum . At one time it was the staple mainly because of the tr909s recognisable status and the constraint of options available. However people had weapons under their noses that could produce killer drums, unfortunately alot have been missed. This being said I'm taking nothing away from the 909 .

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

The αJUNO looks like Roland was trying to copy Casio. I have mine sitting next to a CZ-101 and they look like twins, albeit slightly different sizes. The JUNOs are my favorite synths. My first "Real" synthesizer was my Juno-6 which I bought for $200 in 1989. I still have it as a daily driver and the centerpiece of my studio. I also have a 106 and an alpha Juno.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes, I was thinking it's influenced by the Casios and also the Korg DW synths. Nice trio of Junos you have. I bet that's fun.

[@liantrosretrospectiva4134]

Actually Casio copied the Alpha Juno´s look in the HZ-600 synth

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

@@AlexBallMusic After the kids, and maybe the dog, my JUNO 6 is the first thing I'll grab if the house ever catches fire. No matter where I've lived, it's been sitting beside my desk hooked up to a TR-707 and a Casio expression pedal. Thanks again for another fun video!

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

@@liantrosretrospectiva4134 Casio CZ-101 came out before the alpha Juno. I think the guys from Casio and the guys from Roland were hanging out at the karaoke bar together. There seems to be a bit of cross-pollination.

[@liantrosretrospectiva4134]

@@lo-firobotboy7112 please read my comment again... I know the CZ101 came out before the AJ... what I'm saying is that Casio copied the AJ's look for their HZ600 synth.

[@theshyguy1580]

I had no idea how good this thing can do drums! Almost sounded like the toms from Rick Astley.

[@DaveG207]

I read somewhere this week that it WAS an Alpha Juno used for those. Can’t swear that’s true but it really does sound very close.

[@rogerspacebucks450]

@@DaveG207 I saw that in another video.

[@EstuaryMists]

They are the Tom’s used. If you’re interested, I demonstrate them in my recreation of Never Gonna Give you up on my YT channel (using an MKS-50).

[@roberttodd2414]

it's not great at drums but those are the toms from rick astley

[@iamonfire501]

Very unique sound, great for retro music genres production

[@alexdelaney6839]

The outro jam is ace. Thanks, Alex.

[@studiomilo]

The funny thing when this came out it seamed to me like the most futuristic design - like something from Star Trek. Turning the alpha wheel seamed cool to me - and look - actual letters for patch names ! Love my Alpha 1 - cute as a button.

[@soepil]

Ah yes! My high school had one of these in the late eighties. One of the first synths, I ever played, together with the Korg Polysix.

[@lukebussey5218]

thanks for showing off the controller!

[@BabyGrandOz]

What the? Yes, I remember well creating so many of the original sounds for the Alpha Juno series. Adrian Scott.

[@Hammer_Marvel_Ham]

Legendary work!

[@ProckGnosis]

Yeah, the interface and graphics are pretty "Casio CZ-looking" and definitely of its time. Through the last 20-25 years, I can think of half a dozen times times I almost bought a used one in a 2nd-hand store or whatever. Just never did. Lol...and you're still nicely catering to your deutschsprachige fans. Gut gemacht!

[@martinlubitz3171]

Nice video, Juno sounds really good. Thanks for sharing

[@martinlund4510]

Amazing machines. I've owned a Juno-1 now twice - simply because it was (then) a very affordable analog polysynth in a very small package, had 64 memory locations and never had tuning issues or any other technical challenges, even for being 35+ years. Was my main analog board live for many many years because of this (long before the real revival of analog modelling and so on). Oh, and DTronics make really amazing PG-clones 😃

[@RikMaxSpeed]

My first synth!! Loved it, awesome sound for all that it only had 1 oscillator.

[@charliea697]

Good. I enjoyed that. Thanks.

[@Gazdatronik]

After this, I am convinced that the Alpha Juno was the culmination of a Juno that both worked properly and had "that sound" Also, the JX-3P instituted the menu diving experience.

[@roberttodd2414]

Very nice synths. I love how it looks. It's not true it's not sought after either, it may be cheaper than other junos but these have been well sought after since the early 90s for techno and hardcore and are probably as influential if not more on modern music than any other juno.

[@AlexBallMusic]

No doubt they never went out of fashion amongst those in the know (as you say), but there wasn't _broad_ appeal for them otherwise prices would have reflected that. They were peanuts only 10 years ago. Now they are _widely_ sought after and prices have gone up dramatically. That's what I meant, sorry if that wasn't clear.

[@roberttodd2414]

@@AlexBallMusic nah I know what you meant Alex, I was just making a general comment. You know what my theory is on this though. It's the people who grew up in the 80s listening to new wave and dreaming about juno 60s and 106s didn't care about the alpha, then as they got to their 30s they started getting money so prices rose up. Now its kids from the 90s getting older and getting money so these later synths are getting the love.

[@ThingsandStuffchannel]

I'm sorry, did you say you were middle aged? I refuse to believe that. Great synth review and demo as always!

[@8MoonsOfJupiter]

Re. the now infamous 'hoover' sound: "But by law, I am legally obliged to show it" - love it! Keep up the great work, Alex!

[@DJRickValeOfficial]

Classic ❤💯

[@DragonGrafx-16]

I have 2 Alpha Junos... a Juno-1 and an HS-80... one of my favorite synths for bass.

[@naswalt]

The best synth in my collection! It just fell into my lap by chance so thank you for explaining some about this gear

[@gregoryzaharias1831]

I learn so much from u bro Ty

[@cooltrades7469]

My God, when it appeared I had the Juno 106 , sounded great , still started dreaming about this. So sorry I sold it . But wanted a sampler . Bought the Ensoniq Mirage.

[@zipnone1996]

hoover is forever

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

Guten Tag! Ich höre hier eindeutig Thomas Dolby. Respekt ✊

[@graemedavidson499]

The Hoover synth yet not a vacuum tube in sight!

[@kadsenkalle4663]

Wunderbar!

[@Desmaad]

I guess the reason they went with the membrane buttons and jog dial (besides cost) was they figured most owners would make do with the presets while the more dedicated would splurge on the external controller.

[@AzenNevem]

Your intro music is dope!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Thanks!

[@gelatinous6915]

I heard the fricking Rick Astley tom preset and could not stop laughing

[@thehistoryofchingfordwater8933]

Best Roland ever made.

[@JobimSynthMusic]

I've spent two years with an 106 and an alpha, but with other analogue poly synths too: matrix 1000, poly evolver, and others . The alpha is versatile but sounds slightly muddier than the 106; I also had the versatile and also no-knob synth matrix 1000, which feels less muddy, and it's only a rack module instead of a keyboard. The alpha has a programmable analogue chorus, but then I have that same chorus in the super bass station rack module with an audio input. At the end, kept the 106 , the alpha started feeling like one too many, in my tiny homestudio room. I think if I had the mks50, module version of the alpha, I'd keep it.

[@marmite-land]

The JP-6 totally stole the spotlight in the outro jam

[@thb-music]

Whew... good thing I've already got one. People finding out how hot those are.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I think Espen let the cat out of the bag a couple of years back.

[@clauscombat418]

Fun Fact: You can't press both chorus buttons at the same time on the 106, only on the 6 & 60! 🤫

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ah yes. It's been a couple of years since I played a 106.

[@yallimsorry5983]

I think the Alpha Junos have a “prettier” sound than the earlier Junos, though they don’t have the same bite. But it’s a gorgeous huge chord machine! Such a Great video as always :)

[@ZombieLincoln666]

A dirty little secret - these are not actually all analog. The oscillators are actually digital. They are technically “NCOs”, numerically controlled oscillators. And in fact they actual have aliasing in the higher octaves. And the envelope is digital too of course. The filter and chorus are analog though. It’s a very unique synth. The complete lack of knobs is actually beneficial, as it makes it compact and you can easily put stuff on the face of it (like effect pedals, a laptop, etc).

[@zvenx]

Eric has a funny video speaking about that Hoover sound :)... (he was instructed to create it cause it was popular, tracked it down eventually to find out it was a sound HE had created :)

[@zvenx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/on7Nknp3bt-ildE

[@stevenzagony6187]

Stock Aitken @ Waterman used the Juno electronic toms on majority of there tracks, for example the tom fill at the beginning of Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up"

[@carlosserrano3985]

True!

[@Flat8G]

Good memories and awesome production as always! Back as a poor teen in the early 90s the Juno-1 was my first analogue synth and I actually loved programming it!

[@Ashfaq1999]

Great video alex !! I remember first hearing this hoover sound on joey beltram ‘s mentasm track back in 1991 and on many rave tunes from that era. Amazing sound !!

[@RichardKoper]

Actually as far as I know the word Hoover was introduced by Human Resource, which introduced the sound with their Dominator track (still the best Techno track evah).

[@Ashfaq1999]

Cheers richard for the info. 😊

[@kendanger748]

4:52 I like that mate.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

I am 28 and love that hoover sound....but I was probably a raver, died and was reborn in 95 😆

[@LousyFacelift]

These drum sounds were amazing, Alex! And yes, I'm going to say it - this is THE BEST JUNO ! (well... with a controller... and it's not really all that ugly, is it?) Vielen Dank für Deine großartigen Videos!

[@superserge]

Thank you, Alex!! I fell in love with this synthesizer while listening to the album "Experience" by The Prodigy. It was not only the Hoover sound, and - beautiful pads and effects.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ah yes, they did get a lot of use out of particular affordable synths like the Alpha and the Korg Prophecy. Very cool!

[@AdeptusPsychonautica]

@@AlexBallMusic I don’t think they used the Prophecy much. I remember they used it a little bit on “Fat Of The Land”, but Liam Howlett absolutely slated the Prophecy in an interview with Future Music. I think he described it as a piece of shit 🙂

[@dijjidog]

yep "school music department keyboard" is acurate my school has a yamaha djx and in the composition rooms they have a bunch of specisiously bage looking m audio midi keyboards which is what the appearance of the alpha juno made me think of.

[@dionysiaex5538]

I'm not balding!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Just overweight?

[@opipik1650]

Let's hope nobody else from the Czech Republic sees this video - prices here are (or at least were - I haven't seen any Alpha Junos on the local classifieds for 6 months now) still very low! 😄

[@lab-by-the-sea]

my first polysynth was the alphajuno :-) later i needed space and bought the mks50

[@Synthshop]

I see a Jupiter 6 in your video. When are you gonna do an in-depth on the Jup6 ?

[@Jacob-ur3lh]

I have the Retroaktiv MPG50 Controller for it and it's pretty awesome because you can route multiple parameters to one fader. Alpha Juno is really underrated. I like that you can adjust the chorus rate. Love your channel man!

[@AlexBallMusic]

That's a nice feature! Hopefully show some Retroaktiv bits at some point.

[@thesrabbit]

You can adjust the chorus depth? I thought it was just on or off.

[@Jacob-ur3lh]

@@thesrabbit I misspoke you're right it's only the chorus rate you can adjust.

[@thesrabbit]

@@Jacob-ur3lh damn, I was hoping you found some secret setting. Being able to set the depth would be awesome!

[@benanderson89]

I've never given the Alpha series much thought since I used to be on the classic three hype train for so long (JU6 was my second synth, JU106 came later), but wow, I feel a fool for overlooking it now. A lot of sonic possibilities for what I imagined was a budget synth in '85. The envelopes in particular give me a whisper of CZ about them, which is always a bonus.

[@Peter_S_]

It's like a hybrid of two or more lands. Your comment of 'a whisper of CZ about them' is quite noteable. Envelopes are so important.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep, seems like just another Juno, but less accessible but it's a whole other thing entirely.

[@superfuzz81]

I remember the days when Alphas cost more than a Juno-6...I am getting old.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I wonder if they will ever go back above Juno-6s again. That would be weird.

[@EstuaryMists]

Me too. That said, The Juno 6 and 60’s have come and gone in my studio, whilst the MKS-50 and PG-300 have stayed. In a lot of ways, the alpha’s are much more capable synths, only being let down by the lack of self oscillating filter IMHO.

[@superfuzz81]

@@AlexBallMusic Only if live-coding and synthesizer-with-interface-from-hell-sysex-hacking replaces eurorack-module-collecting as the pastime of choice for bored junior software engineers.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Yeah, granted the heavy dependency on external Controllers really is the biggest downside of Roland's synths of the 80s... Alpha Juno 2... JX-3P... D-50.... *groans*... ughh that still reminds me that i need a controller for my D50 >_

[@matthijsblomjous3671]

wow those drumsounds surprised me

[@faylonbiryani]

Excellent as always! Sounded surprisingly good 👍

[@pizzagogo6151]

Thanks Alex! I bought a broken one cheap few years ago, thought I’d sell it as wouldn’t be worth keeping it as well as a 106. I was dead wrong! As you explain it’s a great synth, quite different to the 106. Don’t agree about the look I like it’s minimal 80s look😀 but of course its biggest flaw is stupid lack controls - but that’s easily dealt with now. At least it has cartridge storage as well. However it does make it easy to transport as it’s really compact and no controls that can get broken off! A bit of trivia I discovered I have Japanese version which doesn’t have doesn’t actually have “what the” in its preset rom!

[@djdrwatson]

8:37 *SORTED!* 🙂🤪💊💊💊

[@torkgems]

I really wish they brought this underrated gem back :')

[@Jason75913]

We can only hope that Behringer clones it. Damn, I want one, love the sound.

[@krzysztoffigiel7893]

Hoover Prodigy 🎶👍

[@robinsutcliffe-video_art]

It has the most expressive keybed of the whole Juno family - Velocity and AT sensitive.

[@earlsfield]

"fidget spinner from hell" lololo well said. I have Alpha one, used it as a - Midi controller. Don't kill me now, it was back in the late nineties, we were all bent over digital synths and were using dx7 and alphas as controllers. It has been 2-3 years at least since i got it when i actually started using its sound engine lol. Menu diving is terrible, but somehow i think our generation got used to it. JV's, DX7, Alphas, Korg's deepdives, Waldorf, dont let me get started with samplers (just had a fun talk with AudioPilz on the topics), so I guess it is just up to - how dedicated you are to actually dive through. DT 300 really helps though.

[@Reyescult]

I love the aesthetic of the Alpha Juno 2, and despite owning a grip of far more powerful synths, it is absolutely one of my favorite synths. Especially with my upgraded display and MPG-50MKII. It just has that classic Roland magic.

[@endonyxoneaudio8644]

I love this synth, it really is the soundtrack to my teenage years. I still hope that anybody makes a chorus pedal cloning the alpha juno chorus (instead the juno 106 which has been done so many times allready) it really gives a wide luscious layer to any synth sound you put through it.

[@issiewizzie]

I like the chord memory function I wonder if that can be replicated in a VST

[@artvandelay3282]

You can just transpose the chord on the piano roll. I'm sure you could do it with the chord modes on some of the daws. OR, If you have an Arturia keystep, it has chord memory built in

[@pieterkok7486]

This was my first synth, and I still have it and love it (never had problems with the aftertouch). It sounds so much bigger than a single-oscillator synth, and the strings are among the best out there (M-22 Rich Strings anyone?). I did early on ('87?) lament the lack of knobs/sliders, but that did not prevent me from programming the hell out of it.

[@GrumpyTim]

I remember reading about the first wave of Juno's in various synth mags, but I'd drifted onto other things by the time the Alpha Juno's came out - really great synth, but I probably wouldn't fall in love with it purely because of how it looks, which is kind of silly because it should really be about how it sounds!!! The additional controller would definitely make it a bit more loveable. Great video as usual Alex.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Looks awful, has an awful interface. But...sounds great and there's external controllers! Bingo.

[@bobfunk5055]

Yeah!

[@DocBolus]

Superb, love a good hoover.... Makes the Mrs confused though she expects me to come out of my bleepy bloopy pit!!