ROLAND JD-XA Crosover Synth - The Gear Gods Review

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Alex takes us through the new Roland JD-XA crossover Analog/Digital synthesizer keyboard. More info at www.roland.com/...
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[@lfomelody756]

Whoever is curious, I posted a video with some experiences on my jd-xa! love this synthesizer!!!!

[@machiwoomiapoo]

I'm finally getting my JD-XA this weekend. It is on clearance! I love your playing! You are very talented. I need to check out the rest of your videos. Thanks for the upload. Take care, Sam.

[@theaudioeng]

Hi Sam!! hope everything is okay with you & families .... out of interest, 3 years on, have you still got the XA and what do/did you think of it overall?, as I've in general read pretty negative reviews on this; some peeps love it of course!, so it's confusing for me to decide if I'd actually get along with it. You always have a balanced view on these things, so interested in your thoughts! 😎🤙🎹🎶🍻

[@aemilpeters5644]

What Keyboard stand is that?

[@herbertherbert3909]

Well there you go. So many negative people posting ugly comments on the Xa. Trying to compare it to old tired mono dimensional analog synths. Give the analog digital debate a proper burial. I own a moog analog. A Waldorf analog and a king korg and roland aira green meanie and I reach for THE RIGHT SOUND not the right synth as there really is no such thing. The JD-Xa is a damn good tool. Nothing HOLY about the digital vs analog debate anymore. Technology has caught up with us. In a blind test I guarantee the analog purists would be stumped. It's a joke on itself when synths are viewed in a scriptural sense! Just silly. Perhaps a good composition is the only goal here right?

[@davidseaward9359]

I agree wholeheartedly, having now owned for several months - first week I wanted to return it, thought I'd bought a crapton of Roland DSP and gimmicky shiz --- oh NO! Yea terrible tiny little LCD, but I wouldn't trade it for any other synth, I explore new territory on it each time I play. I can't even get anything done because I'm always experimenting with new sounds on it and that's a good thing. There are a ton of drawbacks to the design, but there's no synth I'd rather have in the studio - and pretty formidable on-stage too!

[@PureAmbientDrone]

JD-XA, One of the BEST from Roland

[@networkservices3121]

WHAT?? Dude, this things build quality is shit, the keybed is shit, the front panel is shit. The analog side isnt bad but 4 voices, and the integra engine is limited, compared to the actual integra 7. This thing wants to be a JD 800 and failed in every way imaginable. I am surprised by what I am about to type, but the DM 12 has 12 voices, metal and wood construction and sounds far better. For half the cost. One thing the xa has is the knobs are not that bad. The new JD series is crap compared to the 800, 990, and the following JV series. The OS is unstable and prone to voice changing slowdowns and the seq is frustrating and not intuitive. The front panel is a two line mono color led. There is no integration for external editing. For almost 2 grand new, i think roland kinda dropped the ball this should have been an outstanding synth, but the squandered it on build quality. This wll not survive long like the JD 800, i have had mine running with no issues(except the red glue), since 1993. I do like your channel though!

[@CDA43]

@@networkservices3121 Sounds like a personal problem

[@networkservices3121]

@@CDA43 I can tell you wanted to be helpful but failed in every way possible.

[@herbertherbert3909]

Good job. The only proper approach I've seen on this synth. It's not supposed to be anything except a JD-Xa. It's not a Juno nor was it intended as such. It's got a character of its own

[@alexnasla]

+Herbert Herbert Thank you :)

[@steve-909]

I didn't like this synth at first when I tried it as I was thinking it should have just had 8 analogue voices. I started to understand and except it for what it is and does & I have come to appreciate it. Bought a nice one secondhand at half price & am happy with it.

[@OMNS777]

Getting mine on Tuesday!! Loved the vocoder demo at the last. I have some ideas that will hopefully blow my mind lol. And this is my first synth btw. Great demo!!!

[@JohnDoeWasntTaken]

Woah, JD-XA as your first synth? One thing's for sure, you'll never run out of things to learn with it, it can do anything once you know the ins and outs of it, how've you been liking it so far?

[@ScoopexUs]

Three times, you hint at the oscillators not being quite as good as say, Juno-106 or similar. That sounded strange to me so I took the challenge and created single-oscillator kick, snare and bass and made a song. Sounds like my Juno-106 with less dullness and no noise. I think they did very well. The resonance range is wider, so a little harder to dial it in, this is known. What is your exact critique of the analog in the JD-Xa?

[@cresshead]

not one comment in his "review" on the SEQ which is 20% of the synth...STUCK on one 4 bar pattern...cannot move to the next pattern unless the STOP the sequencer....really?

[@threvsworld]

I love this Synth but I agree 1000% The Sequencer Cripples this Synth for stage use. The Sequencer on the System 8 is major improvement (though still needs work) IF they could just update the Firmware of the JD-XA to fix the Squencer this thing would be more than just a great Pad machine. .

[@BigBoy4004]

Who also gets reminded of the Minimoog opening of Rainbow's classic "Stargazer"? Nice work and nice playing!!!

[@pcuimac]

Great review! Nice to see and hear a synth guy on YT who can actually play!

[@Jaydenwybenga]

alex you are a fucking god, love your playing so much

[@alexnasla]

+Jayden Wybenga Thanks :)

[@InVisionsynthmindscape]

The only thing I do not like about this synth is the shiny appearance of the interface for the rest is a great synth.Very nice demo, best regards!

[@mgabrysSF]

Problem solved. www.synthgraphics.com/Roland_JD-XA_panel.html

[@dazdavison1]

I love the shiny look, it looks futuristic .

[@Jaydenwybenga]

I've got a jdxi coming soon, I love the sound and the vocoder stuffs really good, I play guitar in my band but like having a small synth for some parts, kinda like haken does

[@alexnasla]

dude awesome! Haken rule!

[@cresshead]

a much better developed bit of hardware...so much so i bought one.

[@djcoreystuart]

Two questions: 1. How did you get the angled keyboard stand--where can you get those at? And 2. Could you please go to axial.roland.com's site and download the free Nick Rhodes sound set? Please do a video because I'd really love to hear what each of the presets sound like.

[@alexnasla]

+Corey Stuart The stand is actually pretty simple! Its just a double braced X stand with a 2nd tier turned backwards. So instead of the keybed facing down towards the ground, it faces up! Hope that helps :). And for 2. I could do that sure, it will have to be when im a little less busy though but subscribe to the channel if you already haven't and you will see it posted soon.

[@hayyanshafeer3624]

Yeah great video man...Can you put out a video on Yamaha montage....

[@alexnasla]

I should be getting one to review very soon :)

[@davidseaward9359]

If you actually try n program sounds from the ground up you'll find it does NOT even close to have 'every parameter available to control directly' --- - -so so so much is burried in the menu structures, which are so hard to navigate due to the little LCD. This review doesn't really get into what makes the JD-Xa special, and I admit it took me weeks to understand it really. Also Roland's Axial website has downloadable sounds with an analog set that has some Juno & JX-8P presets which sound EXACTLY like the old predecessors, they're amazing - once I realized that I could do those sounds on this I fell in love forever.

[@VeronicaMcCarrison]

Is it also Like a workstation meaning has it got a sequencer?

[@aemilpeters5644]

What keyboard stand is that - tilted?

[@worldwidevideotube]

Great playing ^_^

[@alexnasla]

+Maxi Deni Thanks!

[@laurencevanhelsuwe3052]

Can a playing sequence be transposed by single key presses? Or is the JD-XA like the Korg Minilogue in that it can't do that.. ?

[@feelmytool]

Laurence Vanhelsuwe no transposing for it in afraid

[@threvsworld]

Sequencer is the worst part of this machine. Super limited, they should not have even bothered.

[@DeadringerFRED]

Nice...

[@johnny_go4]

does it have just 64 preset??

[@kennbart]

Had an original Jupiter-4, sold it in the 90's... Looking at the System 8 OR the JD-XA and I am going to buy one of them within the next two weeks. With the system 8, there is the plug out feature that comes with the JP-8 plugout. Wondering if the JD-XA has similar capabilities? Either way, I'm going to love whatever product I buy. I can't wait to put on the cans and lose myself in the sea of Roland again.

[@trebleboost7]

What did you decide on?

[@trippypages7309]

Too much red and too much $ 👎

[@trippypages7309]

@gary burrows hi ✌️ Do you own other Roland synths?

[@trippypages7309]

@gary burrows what do you think is so special about the JD??????? The Jupiter XM is first on my wishing list. I saw the Juno X, also but i already have the Juno DS. But yeah i am about to buy the Jupiter XM. Honestly i am looking for a nice arpeggiator.

[@trippypages7309]

@gary burrows The JD is a lil bit more expensive. I think is 2,000 on the web. There is a music store in my country that have it for 1,700 or 1,800. Do you thonknis better than the XM. Are the sounds very similar????

[@trippypages7309]

@gary burrows ok thanks. 👍👍👍 I have seen the system 8. The SCATTER feature is intriguing. I have noticed like you said there is a vst. Korg has a vst of the Wavestate and other 'not so old' models. I guess eventually the Minilogue XD and the Prologue will be avialable as VSTs. Last year i purchased the Strymond Big Sky (reverb guitar and line level pedal ) almost $500 and not so long time ago... strymond released the VST for $200. Having the hardware is an advantage like also software has its advantages. On the Minilogue XD you have to consider that the outputs are not TRS. Some may say is a disadvantage in sound quality. I am not an expert. Just saying. Good luck. Thank you ✌️✌️✌️