Roland JX-03 Synthesizer Review

[@cary67]

I bought the JX-03 on a whim back in '17 when they dropped the price to $199. Since then, I have acquired the JP-08, SH-01A, D-05, TR-08 and SE-02 boutiques. The JX is still my favorite and I use it more than any of the others. I recently bought a System-8 because they released the JX-3P plug out, thinking I might sell the JX-03 now that I had eight voices. Not a chance. The plug out doesn't have the same Cross Modulation that is on the JX-03. The JX-03 is unique in its own right. Great review! Great content! Subscribed!

[@8bitDude0]

This deserves way more than 280 views. Extremely well made. I felt like i was actually watching a documentary

[@Bloom_Music]

Wow, thanks! Yeahhh, it seems not very many people are as enthusiastic about this little synth as I am. :(

[@radddch3293]

@@Bloom_Music It's not just about the little synth it's about your video. KZbin is oversaturated with synth youtubers. But your review is outstanding! Hope to see more.

[@Wil_Dsense]

Try 3.8 k... Getting Better! This quality of video is excellent. He should be paid for it by roland. For reals

[@WillieG1016]

You’re making some of the best reviews on KZbin, IMO. Loving the legacy reviews as I’m always looking for new second hand synths to add. Keep up the good work!

[@WillieG1016]

Btw just found one on CL and buying it because of this review

[@charlesrosa9753]

Your review is epic, I almost felt like going home at the end after an amazing movie

[@047Seba]

Thanks for this review, beautifuly done! The JX-03 has actually 3 chorus types, however these can only be changed through midi control. It's the function 93. :)

[@rockhead11]

I can get very Moogy fat sounds on this as well as extremely musical raging modulations. I love this synth. I own 10 synthesizers ...some of which I could part with but I will never part with this. This video was really well done but it only shows about 10% of the capabilities of the JX-03. If you have the opportunity to grab one, do not hesitate. Also, give yourself and it a few days to really feel what kind of synth creativity lies within this innocent looking beast. UPDATE: As of Feb 2021 The price of a used JX-03 is now starting at $400. Are people finally figuring out what an awesome little synth this is?

[@robinr22]

£180 on my local FB Marketplace...

[@Wil_Dsense]

top quality video sir, in Depth review! 10/10 looking forward to using this JX-03 module that I just ordered :-) intending to layer it to use with the JU-06a.

[@2.7petabytes]

Wow! What an excellent review of this synth! I appreciate the level of detail you went into with this review! Subbed!

[@vintageMIDI]

excellent overview; and I agree: this JX is a hidden gem once again getting overlooked

[@TheHallucinati]

Surprising how warm the sound it. I'm not one of those analog bigots, I recently bought Roland's digital System 1m. But my impression was that digital only became comparable to analog sound recently, when the algorithms improved, and apparently this little machine has gotten it right a lot earlier.

[@Lhenndyn]

I own a JX, the old one (we’ve got the same age actually !) and I love it... some sounds are unusable, yes, but the one they are, they are unique. Your videos are really good ! Very professional. Please come back for more !

[@jreid9363]

Another really overlooked synth right now is the Toraiz AS-1 which is basically the best mono synth out there and it’s going for £300 used at the moment. Was marketed as a DJ device but it’s actually pretty much a Pro One or Prophet 6 Mono, or like a premium volca. It’s even got a touch strip controller, I think you would definitely like it!

[@Bloom_Music]

I've been on the fence about an AS-1 for so long! I think I've even had one in my shopping basket a couple of times... There are a couple of good VSTs for it too, to fully integrate it with your DAW. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to justify it, because I'm trying to only buy synths that I can also get a good video out of, and a whole video of a small, almost control-less module probably wouldn't be too interesting. Who knows, I may end up with one anyways!

[@agentmirv]

Thanks so much for this! My JX-03 has been flying under the radar in its box under the bed, until now.

[@ironinquisitor3656]

Thank you for praising the Boutique line! I lot of gear snobs bash them but they sound great. I've listened to hundreds of vintage synth videos and they sound pretty close to the synths they're trying to emulate to me. The 4 voice limit sucks though and is the only criticism for these little synths I have.

[@mattszalinski6357]

Great video, just bought one a week before you posted this!

[@Pestgris]

Thank you for this very ambitious video about this synth, I have found out though that it does have PWM actually. Do the following: Set Source Mix to DCO2, Cross Mod to SYN1, LFO for DCO2 to ON. Then control speed through LFO Rate and width with the tune knob. Strange that they did not advertise this!

[@tonyisyourpal]

It was in the original JX-3P manual, although the JX-03 is a bit more flexible in how you can set it up. The JX is indeed a great sounding synth - not bad for a side product from a guitar synth :)

[@Pestgris]

@@tonyisyourpal Yes, I found it in the JX-3P manual, and was impressed that it works. But how do you mean more flexible?

[@tonyisyourpal]

Pestgris The JX-3P’s cross-mod has two options that use the oscillators in specific combinations, but I think the JX-03 has additional cross-mod options (4 or 5 ?) that allow different combinations to be used.

[@sbstchn2503]

Great review! Ordered mine yesterday. Excited for my little black sheep

[@DP-hw9uq]

Very good review. I agree with you: great underrated synth! 👍

[@iantanner7579]

I agree, it's an extremely musical synthesizer, with a solid tone. I own or have owned, most of Roland's vintage poly-synthesizers over the years, but i never owned the JX-3p or 8p... Superb video sir, - now i wish i'd bought this boutique when released, - i don't buy used gear anymore, - hopefully Roland will re-release an expanded version in september, like they did with the JU-06 becoming the JU-06A last year, although i doubt it, - as you point out, many overlook it, due to it's apparent simplicity... ~ sometimes, less is more ~

[@jreid9363]

Have you tried connecting two of these devices? I have heard people mention that the voice allocation is strange...I have a single jx-03 and love it. I have a prophet 12 but even then I crack out the jx-03, it’s very easy to make this little machine sound good. And I love 1980s music so it’s perfect for me..!

[@Bloom_Music]

I have not poly-chained these myself, but the way I understand it, the voice allocation WILL handle held chords of more than 4 voices, but it will NOT distribute individual voices that overlap due to a long release. So, for instance, you could play a 5 note chord and the second unit would pick up the 5th note, but if you play single notes with a long release, the voices will start stealing after the 5th overlapping note played. Very disappointing. This seems like something that could be resolved with firmware, so I hope Roland can fix it (if they haven't already). 8 true voices of JX-03 would be heavenly!

[@joshuah9192]

I have a JX-3P (not a JX-03), but I am able to get pulse width modulation as per the manual. It would be interesting to see if that is possible on the JX-03 ... don't really know why it wouldn't be. On page 23 of the JX-3P manual it notes: "[NOTE 1] Pulse width modulation is possible only in the DCO-2. The appropriate operation procedure is as follows. (1) Set the Cross Mod to Sync. (2) Set the Source Mix so that you can hear only the DCO-2 sound. (3) By rotating the Tune knob, you can change the pulse width. In its center position, the pulse is 50% and at - position, 0% (100%)."

[@Bloom_Music]

I never knew this, thanks! I will have to try!

[@NeoLudditevisons]

totally agree! I got a b stock one back 2017 and never looked back =)

[@FunkTree]

I'm on your side mate, I have only two boutiques and i grab 03 over jp-08 ...not sure why... ohh i noticed that the biggest differences between cross 1 and 2 is that oscillators slave/master are reversed

[@Bloom_Music]

Looks like you’re right on the cross 1 & 2! The manual is just wrong. Thanks. As far as the JX-03 vs. the JP-08, I think the JX-03 is a little more immediate. Not as fiddly as the JP-08. The JP is a powerful synth, but those tiny sliders just don’t cut it. Grabbing knobs on the JX is so quick and easy in comparison.

[@apislapis]

Great review. Some really beautiful sounds, some are average imho, but if you stick to the beautiful ones, it would make a great contribution in any set up.

[@rockhead11]

I love my JX-03. It can rattle every window in my house ..so it really can put out serious bass. Lead sounds cut through the mix perfectly. Unfortunately, with the huge deluge of low cost synths hitting the market right now I’m afraid that this will be forgotten like it’s big brother.

[@alanmarcero]

nice review. 16 user patches kills this synth so bad, though. it can sound great and unique, but i can only save 16 of those sounds without having to reload patches via pc.

[@luke-costelloe-music857]

nice video! do you have the maschine and jx hooked up with usb or midi?

[@Bloom_Music]

Maschine to the computer with USB, and then MIDI DIN from Maschine to the JX.

[@ruxiwang9571]

JX uses the same osc and filter as the JU as I remember, and their sounds are not easy to distinguish for me.

[@BillDerBerg]

usually you use pw modulation for string patches

[@accumulateddust2818]

great review

[@MyOneManBand]

is there any way to overwrite the 32 original patches ..I don't need "Oboe" or "jet" but I certainly could use some of my own patches :)

[@ironinquisitor3656]

Yeah. The manual shows you can overwrite a currently saved patch when you save it.

[@skyreadersociety6183]

imho the most underrated boutiques, though not as good sounding as the SH01A, the filter tends to sound a tiny bit harsh.

[@Lovesinthebuilding]

I got one…I think I got mine in 2017🎹🎶‼️

[@RaffRobinson]

« Juno is the best » --> using JX three mounth and having fun -> go back to Juno « God where is my 2nd osc and LFO assign ? Where is my Sin wave ? Where is my cross mod ??? Where my noisy LFO waveform ? »

[@abitpoet]

JX-03 is great, "humble" but great

[@kiwiradioNZ]

Ummm this synthesizer sounds terrible to me

[@Bloom_Music]

Different strokes for different folks! 😃