Roland JX-08 First Impressions

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Don't understand all the hate on these Boutiques? I agree with you, for $400 this is 10x the synth of 20 to 30 years ago AND today in the digital realm. I have three Boutiques, JP08, JX03, JD08, and will by buying the JX08 and possibly the Juno. A synth that takes hours to design sound because of menu's is not a useful instrument unless you have unlimited time.

[@ironinquisitor3656]

I love the Boutiques so much too. I might be purchasing the JU-06a sometime.

[@foljs5858]

"for $400 this is 10x the synth of 20 to 30 years ago" the problem is you can get 100x the synth of 20 to 30 years ago as a $150 VST. The rest is just a plastic case.

[@ThreeFontStreet]

@@foljs5858 true. The thing is built well. Metal chassis. Good sounding DAC. Hands on controls. Doesn’t use up CPU resources. There are some pluses depending on personal setup and preferences. I think this is the most worthwhile boutique in terms of price.

[@djangofett4879]

some of the complaints are valid (like the four voice jp-08) but also it's just popular to pile on the Roland hate. bandwagon. Some of the boutiques are just straight up awesome. se-02 has tiny knobs but the sound more than makes up for it.

[@guga10x]

man, your channel is soooo underrated. Your videos is miles ahead of other channels with 1mi subs. Thank you for the high quality content. Keep going.

[@Leandrob13]

I bought the synth thanks to this review. It is ridiculous how powerful it is. You get two synths in one thanks to the two parts with separate midi channels. The effects section is good. There is not much menu diving, easy to use. I just love the synth. Thanks again for this!

[@RamRevivo]

love the quality on this video, pretty shocked to find out how underrated this channel is. definitely subscribed and longing for more content, thanks for the video!

[@MatusFinchus]

Great video. I have this alongside an MC707, TR8S, UNO Synth, JV1080 and Volca Sample 2. I tell myself I don't need ANYTHING else to make full tracks, but... ...you know how it is. :) I need to spend more time experimenting with the JX-08; you're right, it is a little powerhouse!

[@remka2000]

Really loving the Carpenter-ish part around 24:48. Sounds a bit like some tracks from Escape from NY 😊 Great video, thanks, I’ll definitely be back here!

[@nostandingonlydancin]

Great review as always. It’s a shame about the supply chain delays. I was watching your Jx-03 video last night and this morning I have woken to this! I wonder, voices aside, which of these little jam synths do you prefer?

[@Bloom_Music]

Ooooooh, that's a great question! The JX-03 has been one of my favorites for years, and I really like the filter... But finally having more than four voices is huge. And two envelopes significantly opens up the sound design capabilities. Also, while I can accomplish smoother movements with the JX-03's knobs, I prefer the JX-08's sliders in general. They just feel less crowded. So, it may be recency bias, but right now I'm giving the slight edge to the JX-08!

[@nostandingonlydancin]

@@Bloom_Music thank you for the reply! Inthinknthe Jx-08 is the of capable unit for sure. But I miss my old Jx-3p so for me the Jx-03 is winning with nostalgic bias. 😉

[@Bloom_Music]

@@mathematicwaveformrecordings The JX-08 is more similar to the JP-08 than the JX-3P in terms of architecture and features. But they are very different sounding synths, especially the filters. So that’s really just a matter of taste. Hardware wise, though, the JX-08 is much better. The JP-08 uses those tiny faders and wastes a lot of panel real estate to the touch sliders. And of course, it only has four voices. The only way I would recommend the JP-08 over the JX-08 is if you just flat out preferred the Jupiter 8 sound. Otherwise, the JX-08 is the better synth for the money, especially considering the bonkers used prices that the JP-08s are going for, now that they are discontinued.

[@zerobeat2020]

Good video, but it shows that you have not read the manual, because you keep saying the patches are "leaning heavily on the chorus", which is not the case. The chorus buttons are also used for other effects such as delay, so it appears like the chorus is on when it is not. Only when one of the lights is on (or blinking) is the chorus switched on. When both lights are on, some of he other 15 effects are on.

[@neonpop80]

These boutiques get lots oh hate because they don’t mimic the synth they’re based on, but as the model says it ain’t a replica. Supposed to be a tour of synths past to celebrate historic synths in a gallery boutique way. I think they’re great

[@ironinquisitor3656]

The ACB based Boutiques sound like 98% as the originals do.

[@neonpop80]

@@ironinquisitor3656 you’d think that’s good enough

[@remka2000]

My biggest complain on the Boutique would be the noisy usb power (not only a Boutique issue of course) and the fiddly mini jack outputs. Beyond that I really like them. This one with 20 voices (I think?) and the two parts seems like an absolute steal 😮

[@Leandrob13]

The review I was looking for, thank you!

[@charliewisp]

Excellent video. Excellent content creator

[@csuhaitibor4339]

Please make test normál (big) midi key 61 or 88 key OKTAV test

[@MrHihowryou]

It would be really cool to hear what you come up with using the JX-08 and Microcosm together.

[@Bloom_Music]

Sorry, I sold off the JX-08 when I bought a System 8. ☹️ I kind of regret it, because, even though the System 8 sounds awesome, I never use it because it’s so big. Just kind of a hassle. But I could probably do a System 8 x Microcosm video!

[@MrHihowryou]

@@Bloom_Music System 8 mimicking the JX-08 and Microcosm! Haha 😄

[@hugocaldeiravinagre]

Hello. i have read the manual of the jx-8 and couldnt find any references to a modulation matrix in the roland jx-08. is there a way to assign mod wheel (cc1) to filter cut off and set min and max ranges?

[@MikeJayMusic]

Hi Bloom. Great videos. Thank you. Does the jx08 have bpm sync and retrigger on the LFO? Edit - I asked on the Roland KZbin channel, but no answer from them. I saw L.Snc in the menu when you were scrolling, which I think is LFO sync (if I remember correctly from the JU06a).

[@Bloom_Music]

No, unfortunately, there are no sync or retrigger options for the LFO. The L.Snc you see is for the delay sync.

[@MikeJayMusic]

@@Bloom_Music bah... I dunno why that's so difficult for them to add that. Thank you.

[@producedbykemp691]

How do i change the octave shift?

[@closerau]

Would this synth still be okay for using as a mono sh101 style bass? Thinking this has more options than getting SH01a if I had to choose between them?

[@Bloom_Music]

For sure, this can handle bass duties in mono mode! As you can hear a few times in this video, the low end can definitely have some oomph. However, if you are specifically interested in replicating SH-101 sounds, the filter in the JX is very different than the filter in the SH, especially the character of the resonance. So if you’re looking for the most accurate SH sounds, obviously the SH-01A is going to be your best bet. If I could only have one, I would pick the JX, for sure. So much more versatile!

[@closerau]

​@@Bloom_Music thanks for the reply, yeah i can hear it sort of and it sounds great! My other option could be a microfreak, do you reckon that would be good at recreating a similar SH101 bass or even sampling one? How does the JX go with CC with midi also?

[@gerardsyd8320]

joue avec un clavier !

[@NeoLudditevisons]

Literally treated myself to the JX-08 today as birthday gift! can't wait for it to arrive. This video really highlights how awesome and fun this little wonder is!

[@_FFFFFF_]

After a few months, how do you feel about it now ?

[@NeoLudditevisons]

@@_FFFFFF_ love it! 20 voice poly and bi-timbral cant ask for more. I think it sounds brilliant too. Would highly recommend, seems to be lots of people reselling them on ebay for cheaper too now so worth a look imo

[@johnp3298]

Could someone explain in lamen terms why the JD-08 doesnt get near as much love as the JX-08. I thought the JD-08 had better specs feature-wise.

[@neonpop80]

Yea the JD is amazing bro. I have both. I think it’s a lot more complex to use and I’ve put it off. But it sounds so good! I think everyone is more familiar with basic subtractive synths and there’s the hype of “lush 80s pads” that seems to be popular. JD is very versatile tho, it’s just a little tricky to get into at first so there’s a learning curve

[@yesitsrave]

Thanks for the review! You showed how it really sounds like not played by professionals just to sell it straight away.

[@Bloom_Music]

I THINK this is a compliment, lol.

[@MrHihowryou]

​@@Bloom_Music haha u think so too! I much rather see people exploring these new synths, trying to create patches rather than hearing the presets! Really enjoyed watching you make the lucky pad.

[@kenneth-roberts]

Best synth reviews on KZbin.

[@Alpha-DX]

I have a few Boutiques (SH-01A, JU-06A, TB-03) as well as original Aira gear and MC-707 etc. I fancied the JX-08 for creating dual tone stabs and synth FX but I didn't do my homework. The envelopes are SLOOOW. IIRC the JX8P envelopes were the same so I'm assuming that they have modelled the envelope behaviour. There's a so-called trick where you max the key tracking and pitch the osc's down to play higher up the register which is meant to make it more snappy but to me especially in comparison to say the SH-01A, it's still quite slow. Fine for pads though

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Sounds like a great synth to get that trance and house tone I want in my tracks!

[@JohnMichaelBurns]

8:34 low end made me say "ooh".

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Excellent, I don't care what any synth vintage or not emulates either! 20 voices, digital and lots of tactile surface controls, great sound and effects...this is what I am looking for. Vintage synths mainly digital have always been lacking in direct control. JD800, JP8000, Korg Radias are the only ones. From late 1980s to 2005, we got menu synths, awful GI menus. I did not come to love sound design on these synths. But then came the Roland GaiaSH01 about 2012, and it was a beautiful thing, one of a kind in history. Then the Boutiques started coming, more gorgeous sliders, knobs and switches for enjoyable and extremely fast sound design. It has been wonderful, thank you Roland Boutique/Gaia/Sys8, StudioLogic Sledge , Yamaha Reface CS/CP. Yes, the JupiterX and JunoX have lots of control, but you will spend more time with a menu; also that tiny screen way up in the upper left of the keyboard of the JupiterX is insane.

[@neonpop80]

I love this synth and the ever underrated Reface CS. Almost happy about it as people just follow what others say. I get to have these special secrets to myself

[@Rsonixtunes]

This is the best boutique I’ve played (tied with the D-05) .. line those two up and you will have fun lol

[@DECIMA1]

Fantastic review

[@LordCritish]

Yeah I love the JX-08. I would also love the JX-8P if I had one but I have a MKS-70 instead which sounds very similar. The JX-08 doesn't sound exactly like the JX-8P but that's OK. One can like both. Dab on them JX-08 haters.

[@imagiag]

hello, looking into some grid controller for my gear - is the chord grid a standard feature of the launchpad (without computer) or needs a setup or ableton to work? thanks! :)

[@Bloom_Music]

The chord layout is standard on the Launchpad MK3, and you can play and configure it standalone, no computer needed!

[@imagiag]

@@Bloom_Music thanks a lot for reply! :)

[@b2zap665]

That chorus really messes up the sound imo. The jx-08 does sound great but the chorus is too much and leaves the patches sounding hollow which might be what some are looking for.

[@KipCount]

Can this be set to receive MIDI over USB and MIDI DIN at the same time? Or do you need to pick one or the other? The manual seems to imply that you need to select one or the other.

[@raskinlex]

very love your presentation . so much information can get about the raw sound of this synth

[@videolabcreators]

Great video =) sub'd

[@bingobaz6402]

What's that square thing on the right? Wouldn't it be better to use the usual keys? Like a midi keyboard?.

[@Bloom_Music]

It's a Launchpad Pro MK3, and a keyboard would not be better for me because I can't play keys. :)

[@harrycash8713]

How does this compare to the jd08 believe it is, is it newer older better?

[@TheRMUPs]

They're both very good synths in their own ways and it really depends on you and what you're looking for. The JX-08 is a very 80s synth with those older 80s sounds and the JD-08 is a much more 90s pop/trans type of synth. Forget about app these specs and just listen to some demos for both of them, people playing around and getting different sounds. Then decide based on what you prefer.

[@user82938]

Where did you order from? Mine came from Amazon immediately.

[@Bloom_Music]

Guitar Center. Ordered 12/31, received 5/18. 🙁 I try not to blame them because of the state of the supply chain, but it was frustrating to see seemingly everyone else receive theirs before me.

[@user82938]

@@Bloom_Music Yeah, that's harsh. Sorry you had to wait, but it's definitely a keeper :)

[@bm63]

I find the sequencer on this frustrating so I never use it.