Roland JD-800 one of the best digital synths ever?

[@decibel.sintetico]

Without doubt one of the best digital synthesizers ever! Jean-Michel Jarre used it a lot on his album Chronologie. I love this sounds. And I love my Roland Boutique JD-08. 🤩

[@moogdome2562]

Not for the faint hearted or those of a nervous dissposion. I have one., scares me to death. It's a monster, out of control. One slight touch of a slider, and it makes unearthly scary sounds. It seems to have a mind of it's own. Scared the neighbours, they soon moved. Built like a tank, weighs like one too. Even spews blood!. Don't be fooled by your he good looks, a cross between a stealth bomber, and the control panel on the starship enterprise. So versatile, lots of controls, ''if you can''. I feel fortunate I have one. They do have problems with the glue melting over time, it's red. Thanx for an excellent demo. LOL.

[@erichtisnado1536]

Don't threaten me with a good time

[@brandonharris9160]

Where does the glue melt

[@Reroute836]

@@brandonharris9160in your brain

[@schance1666]

Finally got one around 2008 after years of wanting one. I was so disgusted with how '1990' it sounded i almost regretted getting it (@ $900). I then used MidiQuest with its 'randomize' feature (you select some sounds from the bank and it jumbles them at random to create a new bank). WHOA. This synth has so much potential, but the stock sounds just don't do it justice! I will NEVER sell it!! Plus the architecture (with the layer and active buttons) is just incredibly fun to work with. Truly a flagship.

[@vintagesynths]

Very interesting about midi quest. You are right. The basic patches don’t gel. There are very nice patches in the web as sysex files.

[@neonether]

After getting my JD 800 and playing on it for countless hours, I can say that is CERTAINLY one of the best digital synths ever made. It is a pleasure to program and sounds so amazing. I can also say that the Roland Cloud LEGACY JD-800 is a very close match for most sounds. Doesn't quite capture the same shock of the quality of the sound, but captures the timbres very well. I'd happily use it if my JD 800 were to be down for some reason.

[@vintagesynths]

Yes, the 800 is extremely impressive and a lot of vintage analogue are boring against it

[@deantiquisetnovis]

One of the greatest synths of all time! I love mine to bits!

[@theaudioeng]

+1 there!!! & my 990 rack with Strings Ensemble card / Vintage Synth expansion too!! 😃🤘🎹🎵🍻

[@Genesis92]

+1 there too JD800 + JD990 + vintage card I think it's the best souding synth with my juno 60

[@infour44]

Fabulous synth. You can transmit sysex in real-time with it. This enables the real time transformation of sounds to be sequenced thus creating a new typology and synthesis of the performance and creation process.

[@itzaussie9384]

2:28 is that "dire dire docks" piano?

[@prinzbach]

I bought the JD08 > it is literally as good as the time you put into it! I can get super dreamy pads and ambient percs easily: great for 90s jungle / techno!

[@neonether]

Thanks for these marvelous sounds!! Convinced me to buy one before I get another j 106. Thanks!!!

[@vintagesynths]

Your welcome. But be careful with choosing it. Typical problems is red glue, no aftertouch and the faders not working properly. Repairing it can be a nightmare. In most cases it’s just a cleaning job, lots of work. But when it is put away in dust for decades without love the machine gets more and more difficult to repair. Prices are also too high. More than 1000€ or dollars for a unit in good shape you should not invest.

[@neonether]

@@vintagesynths Thanks for the tips! I’ve checked all those problems off the list with this one, only reason I’m after it is the price is about $1k usd, which is about half of what most are selling for on reverb. Only problem noted is a scratchy volume pot, which most of my old Rolands do to some degree. Hopefully everything will hold up on arrival and I’ll be able to hang onto it for a long time!

[@neonether]

@@vintagesynths What do you think about the boutique version, it looks like there’s many less sliders, but more concerned with passable sound quality. Others i have, the JX-08 and D-50 sound pretty good but still lack that oomph that comes in the original. For analog it’s obvious, with the D-50, its lacking that low mid energy that makes the sound pop off the keys… for $350, no vintage problems, more flexibility, thats the compromise on the table.

[@vintagesynths]

@@neonether I don’t know the boutiques. I only once had a TR-09 boutique and sold it after getting a real 707 which convinced me more. I read some reviews the the JD boutique is sounding not as warm and silky as the original.

[@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye]

Shhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! I have one, and I want the value to go ridiculously high….😜😜😂

[@EuroDJ]

One of the best for ambient, pad ... dance piano, pop sound etc ... + cool FX processor

[@williamtell1477]

Nice!!!! I almost picked up one a few months ago. Looks as good as it sounds, very nice score!

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks a lot. You have to hurry because after coming out the JD-08, people lust more for the old flagship with big sliders.

[@BoeingJetTech]

The price of a used JD800 now is what they were new back then.

[@bernerman3716]

I bought one in 1992 with all the soundcards, and thought I'd never get rid of it again. A fantastic instrument! Unfortunately, something was wrong with the keyboards on many JD 800s and the keys got stuck. An expensive joke, I unfortunately sold it a few years back. But he was great!

[@kafkawilde4604]

Sister Bliss and Tony Banks had one.....gods own synth

[@hermeslord]

it was a D-50 multiplied couple of times over and with the best ever user intuitive interface ever on a synth. Back in the day this and the JP8000 together were enough to outgun anything else out there

[@vintagesynths]

Those two synths with nice interface

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Yes, I think it is one of the best digital synths ever! Great video!

[@vintagesynths]

Thank you very much. Maybe the JD-990 is more versatile but the user interface beats it. The V-Synth is also a great digital of its own.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

@@vintagesynths yes, you’re right. I love my V-Synth GT. Great synth.

[@sK3LeTvM1]

Best digital synth is the Waldorf Q or the Arturia Origin.

[@tnoinetwork]

I’ve been looking at one of these on eBay for a while to add to my vintage collection. I’m thinking of pulling the trigger and just buying it.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

A preowned 800 popped up in my favorite retailer in the spring of ‘03. (It resembled what I thought the JX-8P should’ve looked like.) I got to play it one time. After paging through the patches and tweaking some of the parameters, I came away with a question (that must’ve been asked hundreds of times before): why weren’t all digital performance synths laid out that way? Even if there’s still menu diving involved, that’s obviously lessened. I wish(ed) it could’ve been mine.

[@seanchristophersynthesizer6999]

Great video! I came so close to buying one back in the 90's, but the low polyphony issue is what held me back. Nowadays that wouldn't bug me. It is certainly a great sounding synth. :)

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks a lot Sean, the polyphony doesn’t bother me. What I miss is analog feel and stereo setting for the tones. The 990 has it but I didn’t gem so much with it. I had it twice and sold.

[@musicaldracula2017]

It is not a digital piano, for its nature, polyphony is fine...

[@musicaldracula2017]

@@vintagesynths JD-990 is a nice gear to complement JD-800. However, it cannot substitute JD-800. Cheers

[@flexiblemusica]

I Had one in 90`s Wow! Whats a Sounds and programing!!

[@ytpremium7649]

Yes it is absolutely, unequivocally, unquestionably, undoubtedly, unbeknownst to many one of the greatest synths ever. And what new technology chasers don’t understand is that all you need is one monster synth like the JD800 and learning to program it and a sampled grand because all new technology after this is all rehashed with slight improvements here and there and not a deal breaker This synth will allow one to make entire albums for years to come

[@vintagesynths]

Yes, this synth has only some dated waveform, and I miss panning between the parts, like the D-70 had. Overall it’s a synth with a very wide sound spectrum.

[@anthalas9]

I would love to have the sound you were playing at 1:34. I have a JD08 so I would have to create it from scratch. Could you tell me what source wave forms and general parameters you used?

[@Jota.Barrakero]

1:32 pff wow..i owm a jx 8p and following is this..sound very very good!! :)

[@isc4915]

Is it possible to buy this soundset?

[@Ashfaq1999]

Great video. Definitely one of the best synths of its time 🎹

[@lmms.musik.dieter.24]

good music, i likes ! 😊💯👍

[@OAK77uk]

Still have mine from new... Roland sent me over, must have been, some of the last rubbers for under the keys - it was an interesting experience to do. Still love this though its been resting for some time till a move comes along to set up once again in a studio setting - hopefully...

[@Martinez-mr3uy]

What a sweet soundig synth

[@musicaldracula2017]

JD-800 forever. It is Elvis Presley of all synthesizers :) I also have one.

[@moogdome2562]

Me too. Your right. So glad I have one.

[@musicaldracula2017]

@@moogdome2562 Me 2 ;)

[@moogdome2562]

@@musicaldracula2017 Great. Just the glue problem, but incredible synth. Scares me to death, spooky sounds.

[@musicaldracula2017]

@@moogdome2562 I have already renewed that nasty glue with much better one just in time. Otherwise, would be a big drama :)

[@superikone]

Really great sounding selection of your custom sounds! 🙂

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks so much

[@RayyMusik]

Yes.

[@jonny46millgrove]

Would love the Jarre presets for Jd 800

[@tz.ambient]

Stellar chops! I enjoyed the video immensely. What song is that at 8:37 ?

[@saricubra2867]

I actually prefer the D50 by the ring modulation options, effects per partial and the unique sound of the virtual analog aspect and the filters.

[@jfn467]

Totally agree, D50 is an extremely versatile and kind of unique (for its time) digital synth. JD800 is definitely sounding great, but it's still 100% sample based.

[@MIDERA]

I thought I agreed... but then there are some string/flute style patches I can't even imagine getting close to on the D50. My SY77 can't do that either. In fact, I don't know (apart from maybe my EMU command station) what could do these patches as well..

[@TonyDrake1960]

I've had mine since I bought it new in 1991. I still have it. Roland replaced the keybed in 2009 free of charge (17 years later) because of the 'red glue' problem. I don't think I will ever sell it.

[@vintagesynths]

I was dreaming of it when playing in a store the first time. I was so amazed, but the price was so steep. I was very young and had a poor salary.

[@TonyDrake1960]

@@vintagesynths It was expensive! The only reason I could afford it, was because I was working for the Roland agents in South Africa at the time, and I benefitted from a staff discount! Even then, it was still not cheap! 🙂

[@RamaPrabawaAji]

I believe 03:10 are similiar preset of intro Pendragon - The Walls Of Babylon

[@mr_floydst]

Beautiful! This radiates early 90s charm :-) And I think it's one of the best-designed synths ever made, it still looks straight from the future over 30 years later. And your synth looks like it's been taken care of very well. No scratches and bumps. Did you film the repair process?

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks very much. I follow your fantastic ex-5 tutorials. I also own this synth which is at least in a similar league. I didn’t film the process of repair but made a lot of pictures. It’s a very simple work. Just to be carefully with the contact strip.

[@DayAntilles]

Great patches 👍

[@zbigniewksiazek7024]

Perfect man l loved ❤ 😉👍👍 Sound so nice 👌 Good memories

[@Jota.Barrakero]

3:03 its wonderfull too!! Woww

[@davem3325]

wowow, what were the 2 chords you played at 5:33 , so fricken beautiful! i miss my JD800!

[@saricubra2867]

JD800 is good, but i would put it god tier if it has proper PWM, ring mod, effects per layer, more waveforms and a switch between 12db and 24db for the filters.

[@anthalas9]

Like the JP8000?

[@BassFunMusic]

❤super 👍🏽🔥🎹

[@davidgeppert5763]

Der Synth ist auch in einer Doku über Thorsten Fenslau zu sehen. Ich würde von daher sagen, daß dieser Synth/ diese Sounds stilprägend für Dance(-Musik) ist

[@hemibass]

Sounds fantastic. That pad at 2:00 is beautiful. There are some really amazing digital synths from the late 80's and early 90's which I would never know about without KZbin! How does something like this compare to the modern digital synths being made in your opinion?

[@vintagesynths]

Thanks very much.

[@vintagesynths]

From the modern stuff I only tested the Jupiter xm, which disappointed me as well as the system 8. I used to have a Jupiter 80. I prefer this because of the Charme and also fat sound. Of modern other synths I know the UDO super 6 I like very much. But it’s hybrid. Interesting would be the hydra synth I don’t know yet. I’ve got the John Bowen Solaris. It’s lovely but it has no special character. It’s a chameleon. The JD-800 has a very Hi-Fidelity expensive 90ies rompler sound and it’s own character. I really think that it still stands today and is also very versatile.

[@hemibass]

@@vintagesynths Well this demo sells it for me. I can see why you rate it so highly! I'll be keeping an eye out for them cheap on the market from now on :)

[@Sacha1967]

Dear Santa…😍

[@Jhihmoac]

If you had this with a Korg Wavestation EX, both linked and controlled by an 88 key weighted keyboard with full piano sounds, and a sequencer, you needed little else onstage back then... Even nowadays all the above incorporated with a laptop with a decent editor/librarian and a good DAW installed, you could get thoroughly lost!

[@xcreenplay7264]

got the vst version its a beauty lol

[@stubbadubs]

would you mind sharing these patches?!

[@jonmichaelbooshkoosh]

Are these custom presets?

[@vintagesynths]

I don’t know. They were on board when I bought it

[@chriss2320]

@@vintagesynths You want to share it with a sysex dump ? 🙃

[@strixgl503vdxavier9]

how could u repair the original boarding assy???

[@mojito6629]

With all that many sliders, this could be a very good MIDI Controller Keyboard too for DAW, couldn't it?

[@midimyke]

Are your sound sets available for purchase?

[@StudioMargalima]

Not into technical details of the synths, but it sounds clearly like the afterglow of 80s

[@frankwirth422]

beauty

[@chandeleerjet5637]

Jimmy Jam talks about using this synth in his latest interview

[@pelle9114]

Ich glaube dass muss ich mit meinem JD 800 auch mal machen. Viel schlechter kann ich auch nicht spielen 🙂 GENESIS hat ihn für das We can`t dance Album und Tour 1992 genutzt.

[@thejollyjoker187]

Really nice vid, but the audio is sometimes clipping, distorting the nice sounds of the synth..

[@vintagesynths]

You may be right. Some digital high-frequencies made it distorted

[@Martinez-mr3uy]

just throw a limiter on there

[@suoniecolori]

I bought in the 90's. It was let me down. Much better Virus.

[@BRFCMontages]

Hey there, could we use this footage for a student documentary? Provided we give credit where credits due, of course.

[@vintagesynths]

Yes, no problem. Just leave my logo inside the video and that’s ok

[@BRFCMontages]

@@vintagesynths Brilliant, thank you so much!

[@natanmandala]

what hz are you playing these sounds in? 432, 440?

[@Creature_NL]

I have this under my bed for over 20 years with some defect keys. 😂

[@moogdome2562]

This and a Elka Synflex. And floating among the clouds. Knock other synths to the ground.

[@thejollyjoker187]

Yes. And a Jupiter-8. Oh, and a CS-80, and a PPG wave2....

[@moogdome2562]

@@thejollyjoker187 I'd love a Cs 80, and a JP8 too . Great choice.

[@ostforever666]

Kevin Moore!

[@dukeofpearl]

Be nice if someone did a video manipulating every preset using all the sliders as they go🙏🏻…..it might be a long post but very much worth it imho🤘🏻🎶

[@vintagesynths]

Good idea. Someday I will do it.

[@Nickys_Music96606]

This synthesizer looks like the terminator. Thats why I want it so bad.

[@EmilioNorrmann]

so... yes ? maybe ?

[@vintagesynths]

There are a lot great vintage Digitalangebote from ensoniq or the Yamaha ex-5 is great. The JD-800 wins for the interface

[@johnb2044]

if you have a JD-800....... its by order you have a jd-990 with jv-04 synth card

[@vjrei]

Back in 2007 I got some money and got mine for $450. Nobody wanted them and with reason, good looking but useless. No CC control, no midi sync. The only thing you could do via midi was volume and the keys. I got two JP-8080 for that amount as well and a Quasimidi Polymoprh. Everything you see today at $1500/2000 used to cost $450 TOPS! Usually between $80 and $250. Why? because they were instruments, you used them, made money and sold them. Today people buy them to resell them higher. Good luck with that.

[@sK3LeTvM1]

Soundwise and technically, the JD990 beats the 800 on every level. Unless you think sliders and knobs are important.

[@vintagesynths]

The JD-990 has some more parameters and also panning. The sound is not better imo, it sounds more airy and brighter I think. I used to have the JD-900 two times. I kept the JV-880 (wich basic sound i prefer) and also the JD-800, I think sounds warmer.

[@musicaldracula2017]

@@vintagesynths JD800 sounds much more organic in analog way comparing JD-990 which sounds more digital in the way of JV-1080...

[@sK3LeTvM1]

@@vintagesynths The Opposite. The 990 soudns more wide, deeper, more lush than the 800. That is commonly known, and also stated by Don Solaris. The entity on JD. And the 990 was used as a source for omnisphere. Now also 800. That is because JD800 gained popularity only because of its sliders. Soundwise and technically, the 990 beats the 800 on every level. I had the 800 back in the 90's, together with 3 990's. Those I kept. I know why. Only because of the 990 sound.

[@bcastromusic]

can only speak imo but I much prefer the JD-800 to JD-990. I have both. When sitting in front of the JD-800 it's a completely different experience than sitting in front of the 990. They also sound different. The JD-800 is not as clean it has pleasing non-linearities and harmonic distortions that the 990 doesn't have. It's all subjective but it's very real. The JD-990 you can pick out of a lineup every time - it has a clean digital sound (nothing bad about that) but it's annoying when you hear a track and you say to yourself oh that's the JD-990 and sure enough you are correct every time. With the JD-800 not so much.

[@musicaldracula2017]

@@sK3LeTvM1 At the end of the day, I trust my ears and absolutely prefer 800 to 990. If you feel the other way, have fun with your 990 without sliders :) Sliders aside, 800 sounds more gritty like an analog siblings and that's what makes it valuable. 990 sounds more clean in the way of digital perfection and some people like you may prefer that behaviour, but not me. Better to have both actually and JD-990 is the closest thing if you do not have JD-800 for sure and I'd ike to have one but wouldn't change it as JD800 replacement....

[@audiotailor9250]

Great sounding monster synth. But you have more fingers to use than only the small one and the thumb on your left hand… would love to see someone testing it who really learned to play. Nice insight anyways. Thanks.

[@alienoctopus6899]

damnnn i wish i had more cash to buy this beauty :)

[@johnsuggs7828]

Just get the VST version of it. It literally has all of the same sounds and is way less expensive