JD-XA Tutorial of Neat Things

[@thomaskolb8785]

It's fun to get back to these great reviews after so many years. I was one of the first to buy a JD-XA in Sweden, and it's still one of the synthesizers I most effortlessly create unusual and inspiring sounds with - I have probably created at least five hundred patches by now. It's a sound monster and has an irreplaceable place in my studio. I am not at all using those easily identifiable and tacky Integra instrument samples, but the analog oscillators and the looped waves - some are absolutely magnificent! After ten years of daily use, the plastic shell still looks as new and everything works beautifully. The lexan overlays however don't hold up particularly well and I wish Roland would still produce them so we could replace them when they become a bit tatty.

[@audunseverin]

About time somebody made a decent tutorial for this synth. Thank you!

[@JonValtandtheEvilRobots]

Agree. Haha. A million videos about the xi but not the xa

[@dwaynecarroll6098]

More please! Would love to hear some of you music with the JDXA also!

[@ejohanyak271]

Thanks for making the tutorial! If you feel inspired to make more please do ! It’s a huge help due to the lack of information provided in the manual . I got mine about a month ago and I love it !! Any knowledge you feel like sharing will be much appreciated by all of us JDXA owners ! Thx 👍

[@briansherling5515]

I owned a JD 5 years ago but had to sell it. I bounced around from prophets and Minilogue and Waldorf pulse etc. I bought another Jd and installed the overlay. The JDXA is a crazy synth. Yes it’s plastic and looks cartoonish and cheap to some folks but it’s Loaded With great sound. Filter three sounds like it’s broken when you add resonance and sweep the frequency and it’s a Good Feature! I get stuff outta this synth that can only be defined as dangerous. My new prologue 16 blends so good with my JDXA. All the haters are guilty of ignoring one of the best synths I’ve ever owned.

[@DaveDaves]

Agreed. Very interesting you have both. Of course when I got my JDXa I felt a bit 'taken' that I had just 4 voices when I could have had 16, I was trained on classical piano, so my style is all about two-handed playing and I was used to 6 note polyphony.... I've been thinking how nobody else does the style of hybrid digital/analog as the JD-Xa. The Prologue has the 3rd digital osc but it doesn't do sample-based sounds; the Dave Smith Prophet X does do entirely PCM waveforms as the source through analog filters, but that's a far cry from the JD-Xa implementation which mixes fully analog & fully digital with crossover opportunities....

[@galaxiesmerge_original]

@@DaveDaves The Prophet-X does do both fully analog and digital. I own the Prophet-X and I own the JD-Xa. They are really different. If you want 8-voices of JD-Xa buy two. It is cheaper than a Jupiter-8 and you get MORE than the Jupiter-8 ever had (I owned that too and many other classics). The JD-Xa needs a really good visual editor still - I have not been a fan of the Roland editor but it is workable. I am actually thinking of getting a second JD-Xa just to have the 8-voices of analog. The way Roland builds filter circuits is still good. One thing I recommend is a good active direct pre-amp because once you work the analog filters and deal with the poorly conceived gain staging in the JD-Xa, the use of an outboard preamp is invaluable. Also, I use a Tube preamp - the Thermionic. The sound is killer!

[@DaveDaves]

@@galaxiesmerge_original thx for the thoughts, I too intend to get a 2nd JD-Xa for the 8 notes of JDxA polyphony - that's the monster truly worthy of a big price tag whihch Roland wasn't courageous enough to do (but the JDXa's poor sales probably was mostly due to price....). I am at this point toying w the idea of developing some kind of visual editor, either a Ctlr module or via TouchOSC, Ctrlr is more universal. Totally there with you also on wtf re gain-staging JDxA internally w the analog filters - first year I owned it I thought it was useless for processing external audio via VCF, come to find it's totally all there just crunched within this sliver of the spectrum of amplitude, if u gain-stage at all the right points you can access it - YET only via the - & + buttons on the CUTOFF, CUTOFF FINE menu at that point. grrrrr

[@inventorwithadd]

@@DaveDaves nice! I have been toying with the idea of using Ctlr, too! Have you started yet?

[@DaveDaves]

@@inventorwithadd Nope, I haven't. I'd be down to discuss it as a multi-person project bcuz I don't have the time to do it all myself, its just very time intensive which we could split up. cheers Dave Daves

[@hellodave]

thanks so much! Just getting into the JD-XA... I can feel its potential for sure...🌈✨💞🤙🏽

[@ChristianoRodríguez-h3k]

Hi i got him to just bought it but i have no idea how to assigned effects to each analog part in this synth

[@Mat-q5z]

This is so precious, thanks 1000times for the hint about the matte finish faceplates, wow wow wow. I had no clue about that. VERY much appreciated! All the best & be blessed! Martin 🍀❤️

[@MythMakerMusik]

Thanks for watching! Blessings right back at ya!

[@Novaheart1998]

Yes i agree the XA is under rated. Also the junos came out in the early 1980’s not ‘89. The last analog Juno was made in ‘87 and that was the alpha juno. ✌️ I believe TFX stands for total effects.

[@jrgs1980]

A tutorial on how you use the Squarp Pyramid and JD-XA will be greatly appreciated.

[@ConwayBob]

Thanks for the handy roadmap to programming this instrument's parts. Clears up a whole lot of confusion.

[@natanunorthodox]

I love this machine, just like the JD-Xi that I have myself, but what in the world we're they thinking with the small screen, and not putting the drum kits on it like the JD-Xi has? They could have made a way bigger screen with the space there and added at least one drum track to the unit. I still might get one of these, but it really sucks that they didn't think of this, because it would have been SO much better with just those two little things. To anyone reading this, don't get it twisted, if the Roland JD-Xi sounds incredible for how little it is, then this thing has to be even more amazing. Great video brother. Thanks...SBN RESONATE

[@downpatmusic]

Great tips. Agreed, love this synth although it takes a while to wrap you mind around. I will add some more basics...Be sure and put the JD-XA in its external control mode when playing it from your DAW via midi. And change each part to its own midi channel. If playing a stock patch you will need to change all of the parts to the same midi channel to get the same patch to play from a DAW or external controller keyboard. If you don't you will not hear the same sound that you hear when you play that patch from the JD-XA keyboard. I haven't tried the Analog Feel setting on the digital parts yet but will give that a try, thanks. The Analog dry out sounds useful with your EQ as mute trick. I agree, I have the JD-XA too and think it is a super synth, and well rounded. The analog voices sound terrific. 4 voices isn't bad. JS Bach did a lot with 4 voice/notes with the chorales and also 2 voices with the 2 part inventions. Hey, I'd love more voices but this is a good start and forces you to use good voicings for your 4 note chords. The digital side is great. Lots of waveforms and plenty of voices. The effects are handy and not bad. The arpeggiator is great. The analog voices really do sound fat and analog since they are analog. And analog comes with a price for many synths so you get 4 voices. I would add to check out Roland's website for free patches for this JD-XA. axial.roland.com/category/jd-xa/ Install those to a USB stick and then load those patches from the USB Stick. There are some really good and useful patches scattered among the user patches on Roland's site that I think you will like a lot.

[@voidofwoid]

Thank you so much. Now please please make the sequenzer tutorial 🤗

[@DaveDaves]

Thx for this, very helpful! One thing I figured out how to do wayyyy better is using the Part FX (as you suggested) on the analog part(s) to effectivley silence them from the stereo/digital outputs - rather than trying to use 2 or 3 EQs to take some dB off of it at each stage like u talk about, I just always set the Part FX to the first one - Equalizer - then set the last parameter, level, to zero! 100% silenced, and easy toggle on/off. I've been thinking, though, when I use the analog parts separatley, for different things, man I REALLY wish Roland gave us separate dry analog outs for each part (like the Elektron Analog4 or the DSI Tempest) but we can get three separate signals by (in addition to the one out the analog mono dry) panning, say analog part #2, 100% Left on the main output, and Analog Part #3 100% Right on the main output. Of course, that only works if you're not using the other parts for anything else, but for instance for recording I want to get as much separation as possible, usually what I do is just program the midi and record four different times with all but one analog part AMP Level = 0, doing each. But that's a pain.

[@MythMakerMusik]

Excellent tips!

[@MrCarlos820]

Thank you for this video! I have a JDXA and love it too. Do you think you can do a tutorial of the sequencer since it seems to also be a point of confusion?

[@MythMakerMusik]

I'd have to learn how to use it first! Haha I'll see what I can do.

[@777curiosity]

@@MythMakerMusik & Carlos Sanchez I found something somewhere about programming the sequencer they left out of the manual I THINK ....im not entirely sure if its left out ....but you need to press the " Program Select INIT” button near the middle of the panel perhaps with SHIFT at the same time....I cant recall (I gave up on the seq its useless...but im curious about this supposed 32 step ARP with 16 notes per step) ANYHOW....this then puts the JDXA into sequencer mode....(pressing the Program Select INIT button-possibly with SHIFT) then you can select each of the sequencer parts with the OSC part select buttons....GO searching on google.

[@lucatroncone2099]

@@777curiosity Yes, if you press Program Select INIT button you can choose different programs or prefs, if you press it again you can see the sequencer of the active part

[@tonygariglio]

Hola, tengo un JDXA y me gusta mucho , es un gran sintetizador. Tengo patches personalizados , y creo que con el tiempo todos van a valorar mas , este synth que todos odian. Saludos desde Argentina.

[@DJFxallMixX]

Analog dry mute is a sweet trick you can side chain now analog through the tr-8s in your case the tr-8

[@dwaynecarroll6098]

Great video! We saw Duran Duran last year and Nick Rhodes’ rig consisted of only JDXAs and a JDXI. Looked and sounded beautiful. Lots of offstage samples, I’m sure… I recently became the owner of a JDXI. I need to pay my dues and spend some quality time with it.

[@MythMakerMusik]

Sounds fun! The JDXI is a fun synth. I played one years ago at a local music shop.

[@dwaynecarroll6098]

@@MythMakerMusik seriously great work on this video. Appreciated

[@namenaim1560]

Great review of the "Donald JDdXA ." The most divisive synth.

[@rottenandremixedrecords]

Definitely need the JD XA for my next remixes

[@DavidChatterton-j6b]

I believe you can hold shift down while using the arrows in menu and it allows you to skip faster.

[@dietmarschlichtherle7061]

Could you do a video about the handling on the sequenzer ?

[@pcuimac]

Roland needs to include a glossar with its synth. TFX = Total FX aka for all parts. MFX = Multi FX aka FX per part, but can be delay + reverb etc.

[@moralrevulsionLive]

Roland needed to bring with it a japanese dude to show it to you.ahaha man 3 yrs later im still confused😂😂😂 but i love it to death once u nail the sequence it kills even a complete 5k worth of modular

[@devinvenable4587]

Nicely done. I have one also and I use it infrequently. AND...I find I have to relearn how to sequence every time. Love it though.

[@keplerfinn]

TFX = total effects, as they apply to the entire program not just a single part MFX = multi-effects, as they consist of multiple effects in series or parallel to, I assume, increase computation efficiency since they apply on individual parts

[@zibbezabba2491]

I've had my JD-XA a year and barely touched it. It's quite intimidating 😆I tried to use it as a multi channel (sound module) with my daw but I can't separate the midi channels from one another. It doesn't work like a normal midi device. I also have the JD-Xi which I use frequently which seems to be easier to use as a midi device.

[@lucatroncone2099]

There is a way to set volume and pan separately for each part (you have to hold part button and slide a fader or knob, I don't remember which) maybe this way you can cut out volume to the main output but not to the DRY output... I haven't tried. By the way you don't have to press menu button like crazy: if you hold a button and then press the other, you can move faster. I really like to see a video on arpeggiator and sequencer! I know there's even a way to load midi sequencies in the arp, but I don't know how...

[@andreasbreuss5907]

the pan is important to know

[@lucatron5722]

Ok, you have to hold a part select button (the blu ones) and then with AMP and OSC1 Pitch you can adjust that part volume and panning. I guess you should have the latest firmware update to do this.

[@markquavertune2003]

Thank you for the helpful video .Sometimes the deleting of a sequence of a preset can be challenging .I like to make my own sequence patterns .The effects are quite good .However the choosing of the effects ,TRS , needs to be quite deliberate .Cycling between them on the fly is very much disliked by the instrument .When two effects are locked into place there are some interesting features when changing the amounts of the effects .If I was designing the instrument I would have used buttons for effects selection rather than the dial . As to midi . I am able to automate notes from FL Studio .But struggle to get CC messages to work .Will one day get the new fantom and see how it connects to that .

[@blasphem0]

hello...i noticed in the list of MFX there is a humanizer..and in the TFX there is a Vocal Transformer...have you ever used these in conjuncture to see what they sound like combined? i havent seen them demoed on clips here.

[@MythMakerMusik]

Actually yea I have. The Humanize is basically like an EQ cut that'll carve out the lows and some highs, basically thinning out the sound. The Transformer sounds like a mono chorus or some type of "metallizer." Using them together will create a hazy kind of Lo-Fi sound that would fit in with today's 80's revival/Synthwave.

[@dans.8198]

Great review, thanks ! Do you use the vocoder ? I wonder how it compares to the one in the JD-Xi.

[@MythMakerMusik]

I used it once just to test it out. It works, does what you'd expect. I'm just not really into vocodering.

[@oskaarao2004]

thx for information, great video :)

[@ubiquitousreverser]

I thought this was killer at the store but, 1,000 & up is just not my dept. got an XD and it too has micro tuning! I guess that was brought from the monologue, unless the pro had it. But if so RDJ suggested it to the engineer on the mono, so it does come with one of his own scales. Great demonstration, this isn’t laid out bad at all, the menu scroll would be nicer in a wheel over a button but oh well, all those digital parts is ridiculous! Maybe one day I’ll get a steal on ebay for it. Thanks for the explanation.

[@davidsimons5944]

I'd love to own this beautiful synth, but have you any idea how it compares with the rack Integra 7?

[@MythMakerMusik]

Most of the digital waveforms on the JD-XA are actually the same ones they use on the Integra 7. But the Integra has different "behavior modeling" software and more waveforms. The JD-XA (even though it has hundreds of acoustic instrument waveforms) is meant to model analog synths using what Roalnd calls "Analog Circuit Behavior" technology. The Integra 7 is meant to model acoustic instruments using what's called "SuperNATURAL Behavior Modeling" technology. Not to mention, the JD-XA isn't just digital, but has a mostly analog signal path and real analog oscillators. If you are trying to get natural sounding acoustic instruments, the Integra 7 is a better option. If you are going for analog or PCM synth sounds, the JD-XA is better.

[@readytext]

Nice review. One thing I'm not understanding is voice allocation -- if you have your 4 analog voices set up, plus digital voices, and you play 5 notes -- does the fifth note use a new digital voice and a stolen analog voice? If stolen, which voice?

[@MythMakerMusik]

Yes it will use another digital voice and steal an analog voice. If you played 4 notes then added a 5th note, it will steal the analog voice of the first note you pressed. If you played the 4 notes at the same time then added the 5th, it will steal the lowest voice. If you press all 5 notes at the same time, it will steal a random voice.

[@kylebryan4295]

Thanks for all the info! Is there any way to control the JD-XA through software? The menu dive is the only minor drawback for me, otherwise it's an absolute monster!

[@MythMakerMusik]

I don't think there is any companion software for the synth that would help you skip the menu diving, but you can use a DAW with MIDI CCs and control most parameters that way.

[@diegoandreotti9256]

Hi dear, thanks for tutorial. I have take a second hand jdxa. It sound great. One thing i cannot understand is why in my unit i can ear the analog part only from the indipendent analog output and no from the main out. Any idea? In practice the opposite situation you are speaking about in your video. My question is how to assign analog part to main out? Thanks . All the best. Diego

[@MythMakerMusik]

Sorry to hear you're having trouble! Try pressing Menu then hold Shift and press the Arrow Keys until you get to Sound settings, then let go of Shift and continue pressing the arrow keys until you find Master Level and make sure it's not at 0. Then scroll with the arrow keys again and check Output Gain and check to see if it is set to -12. If it is, put it back up to 0. Another option is to make sure the Mute button isn't lit. Also, check the per track EQ setting and the Multi FX EQ and make sure the bands are all set to 0db If that doesn't work, you might have to do a factory reset, which is really no big deal. Keep in mind: You will lose any user-made data like any original sounds you or the previous owner may have made and it will bring back all the factory sounds and settings. You can back up any custom sounds with Roland's JDXA Librarian software on a computer. You can do the reset with these steps: 1. Press Menu 2. Use the arrow keys until you find Utility 3. Press Enter 4. Use the arrow keys until you find Factory Reset 5. Press Enter 6. Then press Enter again to confirm Yes 7. It will go through a quick reset 8. Then turn the power Off and then back On and let the reset finish. Should be quite quick.

[@ericsturm8047]

I have one, had it for just over a year, and still learning. Can you film a sound demo with it. Please.

[@MythMakerMusik]

I'm sorry to say I've had to sell my JD-XA recently. Sad times, these are. The synth parts of my song called "Machina Esotericum" on my record "in not of" were recorded using only the JD-XA. You can find it on spotify or any other music service, or at my website here: mythmakermusik.com/music I also have a few jam videos here on youtube where I play it. I'm sorry I can't properly demo its capabilities for you. I hope you enjoy the synth as much as I have! And if you can remain financially secure and avoid selling it, I recommend keeping it. It's a powerhouse if you have the patience for it. Hot tip: Try combining the analog and digital parts into one monster synth by setting the aux mixer to "digital part", turning it up, and then you should be able to send both analog and digital parts into the filter at the same time even though the blue edit lights are only active over the analog parts.

[@TheBigDogz89]

Thanks for the Video. I'm looking at getting a JD XA myself, but want to know more about its capabilities of importing Midi Files to use for both Internal Patches as well as External devices. How is the Sequencer on the JD XA? It seems more powerful than the typical Synth Sequencer.

[@MythMakerMusik]

I'm not a big fan of onboard sequencers in general, and this one hasn't impressed me. It can't transpose like some of the older Roland synths, and it takes some menu diving to get the most out of it, for instance, if you want to tie steps together, you have to enter the sequencer menu options and choose to tie the steps which takes a few clicks and scrolls. I haven't looked into any of its MIDI capabilities other than receiving an external sequencer, CC's and program changes. I'm not sure I've heard of importing MIDI files onto a synth as you describe.

[@TheBigDogz89]

Ah that's a pity.Thanks for the reply...will keep tuning into your channel so I can learn more of the JD XA.

[@anewposition]

Thank You very much, now I can hear only analog part on the analog dry output, but if I play only a digital part I hear the digital part also on the analog output... maybe is a stupid question, but I own the JD-XA from a week... how I have to do to hear the digital part ONLY on the main outputs?

[@ivanferrazzi6272]

maybe I have understand... I have to change midi channel to play only digital part

[@MythMakerMusik]

That's very odd. The digital part shouldn't be coming out of the analog dry outputs at all. It is a hardware limitation. If there is a digital part coming from the analog dry output, there might be a manufacturing error in your synth where the outputs were wired incorrectly.

[@anewposition]

@@MythMakerMusik but if I filter the digital part with the analog filter does the signal come out of the analog dry? can I get it out just from the main out?

[@namenaim1560]

Did you wear glasses before you got the. JDXA ? Menu myopia! That plus the Xmas lights and blinding glossy surface. ( easily fixed with free overlays ) This synth should come with a health warning. Capable of great sounds tho which fit easily into a mix. Lovely secure sliders. Moog matriarch sliders are a joke - zero resistance. Thanks again.

[@MythMakerMusik]

Hahah! It definitely didn't help my nearsightedness. I think they took the menu from a panasonic digital clock they pulled out of a dumpster behind a computer hardware store that went out of business in 1988.

[@fahadahmadkeyboardist792]

Hi. What's the best for a synthesizer engine Roland fantom or system 8 or jd xa

[@MythMakerMusik]

I suppose it comes down to taste and need. I really like the analog oscillators and filters on the JDXA, but it only has four analog voices. In my opinion, you just can't beat the creamy Roland analog stuff. And it's their only analog synth on the market right now, which makes it somewhat special. The digital side of the JDXA doesn't use either the Analog Circuit Behavior tech or the new ZenCore tech. It runs on their older digital engine used by their V series synths. The System 8 has a very good virtual analog engine called Analog Circuit Behavior that sounds essentially indistinguishable from an analog synth and has 8 voices of polyphony. I've owned a Roland SH-01A which uses that tech and it sounds incredible. The System 8 also has all the controls you need right at your finger tips which means very little menu diving is necessary. It also has many more oscillator types compared to the analog JDXA oscillators. The System 8 has some weird wavetables, FM and RM stuff to play with allowing for a much wider variety of sounds compared to the strictly analog side of the JDXA. (Of course, the JDXA has more than 450 digital waveforms to choose from, giving it arguably somewhat more versatility than the System 8, but at the expense of a large amount of menu diving.) The Fantom doesn't have the Analog Circuit Behavior. It uses the ZenCore tech which allows for much more polyphony at the expense of the more authentic ACB sound (the same engine that's used on the MC-707). I think it still sounds really good, though. It's very hard to tell the difference between ACB and ZenCore, especially when you turn up the "analog feel" parameter. The Fantom requires quite a lot of menu diving, but it is capable of the widest varieties of sounds out of these three instruments. Keep in mind the Fantom is multi-timbral allowing for 16 independent parts. The JDXA can have up to 8 independent parts. The System 8 is not multi-timbral.

[@fahadahmadkeyboardist792]

@@MythMakerMusik Thank you very much, I am a beginner and I want to buy a synthesizer

[@MythMakerMusik]

@@fahadahmadkeyboardist792 If the choice is between the three synths you mentioned, I would say either the JDXA or System 8 would be good for a beginner. All the controls you need to learn about synth sound design are laid out nicely on the front panel. You can get to work right away playing with the controls and learning all about how synthesis works. The fantom is a different kind of synth known as a workstation. They are pretty advanced and are not very easily accessible to a beginner. Other good poly synth choices for a beginner that are available at most music stores are the Korg Minilogue or Minilogue XD, the Studio Logic Sledge, and the Roland GAIA SH-01. Although the GAIA is slightly more on the confusing side because of how you edit the three oscillators separately or together by pressing the "tone" buttons in certain combinations.

[@fahadahmadkeyboardist792]

@@MythMakerMusik thanks

[@Matt-zp1jn]

@@MythMakerMusik Great comparison of these 3 great Synths!

[@jameslucas248]

Could you route the analog dry out to a guitar amp, or essentially use the analog dry out as an aux send to send audio to a guitar amp for further effects processing via a pedalboard or other guitar pedals?

[@MythMakerMusik]

Certainly. The analog dry out runs parallel to the main out, so both sources will produce sound. The analog dry out is routed before the EQ and onboard effects, the main out is after EQ and onboard effects. So if you want only the analog dry output to produce sound, you either have to unplug the main out and not use it (also completely cutting off any digital parts), or you can turn on the two EQ's on the analog part (an MFX slot set to EQ and the main part EQ) and set all the values to -15db essentially silencing the main output but not affecting the analog dry. This will allow you to play any digital parts through the main output and the analog part through the analog dry, which you could send through any effects pedals and to a totally separate amp or speaker system.

[@jameslucas248]

Myth Maker thanks for the response! And I’m assuming you could use a digital looper to loop the audio because it’s analog? Sounds like a nice synth hybrid. Been eying it for awhile. Pretty convinced. I see the criticism about the arp, but I don’t think I would use this for the arpeggiator.

[@TheCBanx]

Thx @ Super Nerdy...

[@mentalstate5753]

Nice! Have one since 2 years back. Love it except the menus. It’s not easy learn... But in the same time I did actually learn synths in general much better. But about the dry out... That issue, I guess, would be only with the USB? And going thru the USB it’s not really true analog. Then you also only get 44.1. I use 1 TRS from dry out. -To input 1 on my UAD 1 TRS from Right/Stereo out - to input 3 1 TRS from Left/Mono out - to input 4 Our you could take 1 stereo cable from right / stereo to 2 inputs Then left out as a mono signal (with FX) And also the dry out. As 100% true analog. Even tried the Click output mono/stereo for some crazy FX :)

[@MythMakerMusik]

That's a good setup. I definitely notice a slight difference in sound over USB. And I never even thought of using the click in a musical way! That's brilliant. I think that's how disco was invented.

[@mentalstate5753]

@@MythMakerMusik Hehe. That was a design by accident I guess. But that into the SE-02 (that actually have 41/48/96) efternal input, with its delay was trippy 😂

[@digitaldiezel5870]

No music??? I like sound of the JD-XA. Was not sure if I would like the process of creating patches on it.

[@ssrymusic]

hej there! nice view on this instrument, makes me wanna get one (used around 1000 Euros!) What parts you used for your DIY-Synth-Stand and cabel-management?

[@MythMakerMusik]

For my stand, I use the On-Stage Folding Z stand with the second tier attachment and a couple of those white wire frame closet shelves that you can get at Home Depot. I don't really have anything for cable management. It's kind of a mess. I'll use twist-ties on the power supply cables to roll them up and shorten them a bit.

[@theaudioeng]

Nice take on what the JD-XA is all about and it's key Pro's and some Con's of course. I dismissed this back in the day, like many others due to the bad rap on the reviews out there, but now got the -XA (actually 2x in fact! and you vid helped in part :) ), and digging in. Loads to learn as very deep naturally, and the manual as you point out is dire :/, but getting there. A great synth, or rather synths if you look at it objectively. More on the -XA if you have it? 😎🎹🍻🎶

[@MythMakerMusik]

Unfortunately I ran into a couple problems with my JDXA. The menu buttons stopped working properly and the filter cutoff knob started skipping values and causing jumps in the filter sweep. It would have cost an arm and a leg to fix it so I sold it and bought a Prophet Rev2. Maybe one day in the far flung future I may get another JDXA. I really did like the sound of that synth. The oscillators and filters are very much to my taste. For now, I'm holding out hope that Roland will decide to make a new analog poly synth with similar features, more voices, all analog, less menu diving, and the ability to save your custom tuning temperaments (instead of having to dial it in each time I make a new sound. Probably the main reasons my buttons went bad. So many clicks.). A guy can dream.

[@theaudioeng]

@@MythMakerMusik Interesting…. let’s hope both mine don’t play up after a short time. Neither look like they’ve even been used to date! Yes, quite a few niggle issues with the -XA, that you need to live with. Totally agree, it would be fantastic if Roland followed up with a full 8-voice+ analogue (only?) poly synth which is far more accessible this time. May be that’s in the business plan wings??, though they are currently as you know focusing on virtual analogue-based DSP, cheaper manufactured solutions. 😎🤘🎹🇬🇧

[@h4teher0]

Hello. Is it possible to run lead track and drums simultaneously? is JD-XA able to do such kind of things? I saw it on some video where guys playing on JD-XA not only melody, but drums, at least it seemed so

[@MythMakerMusik]

Yea. It can play up to eight separate parts at once. So you could have one part as a kick drum, one part as a snare drum, one part as a synth melody, and so on.

[@h4teher0]

@@MythMakerMusik Wow, really cool. Can each part be sequenced through separate sequencer device? (for example, imagine a situation where my jd-xa is playing bass line, snare line and kick line and then I change snare line to play another sequence, while bass and kick are continuing to playing their initial parts.) Is it possible?

[@MythMakerMusik]

@@h4teher0 Yep! Each of the 8 parts can be assigned their own MIDI channel so you can sequence it however you'd like.

[@lucatroncone2099]

@@h4teher0 You can even prepare up to 16 sequencer loops and then recall it on the fly

[@paulkelly412]

Great tutorial... have you discovered 'shift'? I see this was a while ago. Shift MFX... boom when part selected. Shift arrow left right when in menu to skip sections.

[@MythMakerMusik]

I always underestimate the shift button. Thanks!

[@lucatron5722]

Did you find a way to have a sort of song mode on the JD-XA?

[@MythMakerMusik]

No, I don't think there is anything close to a song mode work around. The sequencer is very simplistic.

[@gravyguns]

After you make a change to a parameter, is there a way to compare the new parameter value to the original parameter value?

[@MythMakerMusik]

I don't think so. I think the only way to do that would be to save the preset and after making a change, re-load the preset. Not ideal, I know. I'm actually not aware of any hardware synth that allows A/B parameter checking. Maybe there's one or two out there, but not this one.

[@3ReVMusic]

Nice Video, you are not alone I picked mine up earlier this year on clearance at Sam Ash (I got the White Face After Market Mod tho). It really is a beast. (Shame about the Sequencer)

[@DannyPriestella]

Hi do u have the Roland email to request the non fingerprint markable front plate please? Tried to find and failed And a link with help for the usb import option? can I chuck WAV's on this for covering? Finally cannot find simple instrument sound patterns. ie jd piano or 808 drums anywhere tbh it's all very samie for me atm. I know there must be more to this as I also own the jdxi with the worse for wear sound engineer. However still made lots of tracks, some ok fulll songs/tracks with the help of daw afterwards,. Thanks all! Any answers and feedback truly appreciated ....

[@MythMakerMusik]

This was the email I used: [e-mail] I don't think the JDXA can playback wav files. I think the only things you can import via USB are presets using the JDXA Sound Librarian. It can be found on Roland's website. If you click one of the digital parts, you can cycle through over 400 different "waveforms" using the oscillator knob and the + and - buttons which are really PCM files. That's where you will find pianos and percussion sounds. But they are all PCM files, so you need to use the amp and filter envelopes to shape the sound and make them sound more natural, otherwise they just play out like long held out notes.

[@DannyPriestella]

thank you so much have subbed@@MythMakerMusik

[@anewposition]

my question is opposite: can I hear the digital part filtered by analog filter only in main out? I 'd like not to hear hear on analog dry output

[@MythMakerMusik]

The filter is hardwired to both, the main output and analog dry output. The filter will always be heard on both outputs.

[@anewposition]

@@MythMakerMusik thank you very much... Roland assistance told me was possible hear digital part filtered by analog filter only in main out... but my experience is like yours

[@anewposition]

and thank you again for your trick to exclude analog from main out

[@patrickmichael2968]

Excellent video bro! How do you not have a ton more subscribers? Fuck all those losers if they don't wanna link up w you. I just did! Sub'd just now... ordering my JDXA next week and a STRYMON Big Sky. Do you have any vids regarding your effects pedal that you have connected to your Analog dry-out?

[@DJFxallMixX]

Where was this video in December of 2017 lol

[@MythMakerMusik]

I wish I knew of these features back then! Took me a while to really get into this synth.

[@777curiosity]

I flipping love this synth....its the first synth I ever bought and I didn't totally like it at first but because I didn't understand how to use the seperate parts...(first time user stupidity)...Now I realise the full on capability of this thing....its by far the best synth ive found....id feel a bit better if it had some more onboard memory... but what you get is like you said "work horse".... can you give any instructions about how to work the user templates on the arpeggiator??? I can't seem to work out how to program the custom arpeggiator template...in the manual it claims it has 16 notes possible and 32 steps...but ive never been able to actually get it to do that.... yeah love this synth...im not sure they're even available anymore...no doubt in years to come they will be worth a mint not that id ever sell mine....single best synth.... yay!! please post a video on the arpeggiator??!!!...thanks *@* renny

[@JonValtandtheEvilRobots]

(T)one effects?

[@fnersch3367]

The face plate is for sale for $135. Seems a bit high but it is a specialized product.

[@MythMakerMusik]

Wait a sec, do you mean the matte black with white writing face plate that I have on mine? Mine isn't really a plate, more like a sticker. I got it for free by emailing Roland customer support. I just told them I wanted the face plate sticker and gave them my mailing address. I didn't even pay for shipping. Got it in 2 days.

[@fnersch3367]

@@MythMakerMusik - My mistake, it is 5-piece panel overlay (peel & paste) made by Synthgraphics, not a real plate. I guess I'd have to remove all the knobs & sliders. Are they just a slide fit or are there set screws? Is this thing worth 135 bucks?

[@MythMakerMusik]

@@fnersch3367 - I just looked it up. I don't think it's worth it. Roland will give you one like mine for free. However, if Roland isn't handing them out anymore, it might be worth it. The glossy black with dark red writing is intolerable. Also, the sliders just pop off. Pull them gently but with a good deal of force and they'll come right off.

[@fnersch3367]

@@MythMakerMusik - Interestingly, I actually like the existing plate but the shiny substrate should be of high impact glass which cleans easily and doesn't scratch. Thus, I agree, it must go. Too bad. This is a nice synth. I might get a Prophet as DSI seems to make good equipment. The JD-XA is my newest keyboard, my oldest is 450 years old (Italian spinetino).

[@andysw3]

Roland UK have stopped offering them

[@bernardheckmandwike5226]

buttons have a certain amount of press life... i wouldn't be so tappy if it was my demo :) money is short over here

[@MythMakerMusik]

Oh I know. I'm coutin' down from my six millions presses. I want to figure out how to modify a data knob into this thing

[@andysw3]

You guys know you can hold shift to jump whole sections or ten tones at a time?

[@lucatroncone2099]

If you hold a button then press the other, data will change faster!

[@noobslayerr9732]

Cause im a dummy.. blonde by nature mom swedish. I can have like 8 tracks at the same time? Like for ex analog four which has 4 synths same time same with jdxa but 8?

[@MythMakerMusik]

Yep! Exactly like the Analog Four. You can have up to 8 totally different parts (like independent synths) loaded up at the same time and they can all be assigned to a different MIDI channel. They can each have their own MFX (per part FX) but they all share the same TFX.

[@noobslayerr9732]

@@MythMakerMusik thank you so much. This toy seems a lot of fun. 8 tracks means you do a whole album just with the jdxa 🤣 seems its got much more menu diving vs the system8 which is much more instant but i feel it worth every penny. Thank you man ive been looking alternatives now that the doctor said im finally elektron free (been killing my flow and always my sound on the experimental side instead of my real sound) anw the jdxa seems like the perfect weapon for me. Gonna pull the trigger on one after seeing your video

[@MythMakerMusik]

@@noobslayerr9732 You won't regret it. You'll probably get sick of clicking through the menus, but there is plenty to do on the front panel without diving through the menus. Many of my custom sounds didn't require any menu diving. You can treat this synth like a Juno and not worry about the various alternate matrix routes and other deeper parameters that are in the menus. But, once you get into the digital side of things, you'll want to check out the hundreds of alternate waveforms that are hidden in the menus. Have fun!

[@noobslayerr9732]

@@MythMakerMusik yeah im gonna prolly need 2 good months on it to dare even try fire em up all its 8 engines together but that sound and crazy sonic possibilities will worth every second.

[@Wulfcry]

TFX same as any synth total Fx.

[@EvilSean62]

according to the bloke at Roland it stands for "track FX" ... just to be awkward , love you Roland !

[@KONNECTORAS]

Track like Tone...?

[@777curiosity]

JD-XA one of the best synths ever made if not THE best overall all-rounder....flippin powerhouse of 4 analog parts X 2osc... plus 12 digital parts X 1.....no clue about the voices.....sequencer useless.....but PLEASE SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ARPEGGIATOR TEMPLATE PROGRAMMING the manual mentions 32 STEPS with 16 NOTEs per step....I CANNOT WORK THIS OUT....F#$K HELP PLEASE!!!! I got a Jd-XA as my first synth ever...& my second big choice was the elektron analog four mk2 & BOTH are out of production & destined to inflate in price YAYAYAY lucky ass decision making eh??? Can someone PLEASE say something about getting 32 step ARPEGGIATOR with 16 notes on each step??? I want this to work FFS renny aka care bEar

[@MythMakerMusik]

Someone requested I do a video on the arpeggiator. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to use it! I'll have to try again sometime.

[@777curiosity]

Myth Maker it’s something to do with the menu diving combined with using the step sequencer buttons I dunno it’s beyond me

[@fnersch3367]

Why is it that when I like something the rest of the world hates it? This happens all the time.

[@MythMakerMusik]

I know the feeling!

[@ПавелПритыка-ц5ц]

Больше болтает , а не играет.

[@MythMakerMusik]

Я знаю. Это обычная жалоба. 😅