Roland JX-08 … Small Synth with Big Sound?

[@yukippe]

Simple yet great demo. Lots of '80 vibes. Whether or not it reproduces JX-8P sounds perfectly, to me it has very nice and crisp, clear, bright character to it. Very charming. Greeting from Japan.

[@jeremiahfire1798]

Finally a video that shows off this synth. Don't k own why it get criticised so much, some of the patches are among the best analog I've heard

[@mesmerson7387]

Sure they are.

[@girlslikemachinestechnotra8869]

Der Sound ist unglaublich gut für den Preis. Es gibt diesen typischen String Sound, den nur Roland hinbekommt und die Maschine hat ihn.

[@marcochirico7504]

I own the original One and I can admit that this One rocks too!

[@kiosko33hz]

Thanks Martin ! Very nice and simple video. Sad to see that in the comments there are always people criticizing the Roland Boutique synths, how it doesn´t sound like the original, the presets... and bla bla bla. I produce, a lot, and i can tell you that no one gives a f**k if you used an original Juno or whatever. What counts is the result. Also, you seem very happy with your purchase and you transmit that. I've subbed to your channel because you're not one of those hipster studio geeks ;) Cheers !

[@jamesoscar1283]

I totally agree.

[@angeldc54]

Thank you for the demo! Nice e pianos, which is kind of a surprise.

[@ThisisRends]

While it’s not an exact copy of the JX8P it sounds very nice!

[@cmin7b9]

🤙Great demo! Just received mine a few weeks ago, it’s awesome

[@williamsonsam4420]

Nice!

[@Baltho76]

Very satisfying playing skills also relevant as far as 80's vibe is concerned, well done nice demo! ps: Was about time Roland gives the serie more than 4 voices of polyphony. My JU-06A is getting a loss of self esteem right now...

[@martinjmusic]

Thanks so much! I agree, would love to see a Jupiter with 8 or more voices..!

[@ME-ru4hv]

Not everyone plays the right stuff for this awesome cheese ball synth. great job

[@user-or3ce4gt2r]

Thank you 😊

[@LordCritish]

Yep, mine was packaged exactly the same, surprise surprise. They could have at least included a USB-C cable. Now I have to wait two days for the cable order.

[@GullySyde28]

How do you like it?

[@LordCritish]

@@GullySyde28 I like the JX-08! While it doesn't sound exactly like the original I think it sounds great and it has tons of very usable presets (unlike what many VSTs have, and yes I'm looking at you Arturia!)

[@electrolytics]

Nice Demo track at the end. Thank you.

[@mikethompson3305]

That's a fantastic jam at the end.

[@funkmachine6420]

Love the funky jam!!

[@Sui778]

Not quite the JX-8P it is supposed to mimic but still a nice analog synth with a lot of polyphony. I opted to just bring my JX-8P out of retirement - it needs work but still fully usable with another keyboard.

[@Sui778]

@Atlsynth Whatever - it's a virtual recreation of such and I already said it MIMICS the JX-8P.

[@directfighter225]

Does it have a sequencer

[@Todd63790]

Awesome demo sounds amazing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@martinjmusic]

Thanks so much! :)

[@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?

[@alexjevincent]

Great demo. Love my D-05, but not 100% sure I'd grab this over the PG-8X as you've suggested just because it is physical... How are you finding the SL MkIII? Been weighing this up against the Arturia KeyLab MkII...

[@martinjmusic]

I’d love using the PG-8X more… but it’s still not native for M1 and maybe never will be … furthermore I’m finding it impossible to map MIDI CC on it… Go for the SL MK3 100%, you won’t regret it! It’s perfect because it has those nice screens… You can create Templates for each of your VSTs and show the parameters for the rotary knobs on the screens, 2 banks of rotaries for each template. Everything other parameter will also show on the 5th screen. If you’re using it with other hardware as well, you can also map it and use it as your main studio centerpiece. Logic Pro can integrate with it and you can use it as your hardware controller. Thinking about getting a second one as soon as I have gigs again, or the smaller 49key for the studio ;)

[@_mickmccarthy]

@@martinjmusic Bit late on this (great video btw!), but I just got around to getting PG-8X set up to be controlled by my JX-8P so I can have the best of both worlds! I'm guessing it's a DAW-specific issue as thankfully I didn't really have any issues in FL Studio. Aside from some of the switch controls on the PG-8X (filter envelope mode, LFO shape etc.) needing their value flipped and the JX-08 missing a sync option compared with PG-8X (the JX-08 sends 3 values of 0%, 50% & 100% for off, sync & x-mod, so just had to scale that down to 3/4 of that to match up with the first 3 options in PG-8X as it has the additional mode of sync + x-mod).

[@luissalcido1708]

Excelente demonstration

[@dareu_]

Great Sound Review !

[@frederickb]

How or where can I find the names of the patches…it’s been frustrating me. Great to see you have them. 😊

[@talaniel]

Names of the patches are in the official documentation (downloadable at Roland website)

[@mcweb1036]

Hey Martin, nice video. Which keyboard is that ?

[@ThisisRends]

Nice sounds and nice playing!

[@martinjmusic]

Thanks!

[@LDJITA]

fantastic video! I wanted to ask you how you powered this synth so as not to have noises due to the USB. Thank you

[@martinjmusic]

Sorry for the late answer! I solved it by connecting it via USB only and using it as an audio interface, I think. It’s been a while now.. Only way to completely solve it when using the main output is to have a line isolator.

[@Manjarow]

Thanks for not talking , Cheers!

[@sinewaymusic]

Appreciate the preset walkthrough and your great keyboard skills! However, it's kind of frustrating that everybody doing demos of this new Boutique just focus on going through the presets. The big question I have is: besides all these presets that put this synth squarely into the mid-80s sound territory, can it be brought into the more modern synth world through its slightly faster (or so I'm told) envelopes and many built-in effects and bi-timbrality? I'd love to see a video with some new, fresh presets that have a use outside of maybe synthwave and 80s recreations and that are not pads or slow-moving envelopes. Thanks in advance!

[@martinjmusic]

Thanks so much for you nice words! I hear you. Tbh, I’m sort of “caught” in the 80s vibe, big reason why I bought this little synth (and because PG-8X may never be optimized for Apple Silicon), and I’m not sure I have use cases besides covering songs in that same 80s style. I’ll give my best and I’m highly motivated to do something new hopefully soon, stay tuned! :)

[@sinewaymusic]

@@martinjmusic Understood! There's definitely something magical about the 80s isn't it. 😊

[@MisAnnThorpe]

I felt like I found the secret to making the JX8P more contemporary sounding when my display suddenly died on my JX8P and I therefore had no choice but to programme "blind", so to speak. I'd strongly recommend avoiding engaging the on board chorus effects, at least until you finish programming your patch if you must use it at all, as I think it tends to give everything an overly saccharine flavour. I'd also recommend experimenting with the HPF on patches.

[@BubbaSatori]

Thanks for the demo. What keyboard are you using?

[@martinjmusic]

I’m using the Novation SL mk3, which is awesome for hands-on control with software synths (and also hardware synths)!

[@LuizCarlosJesusdosSantos]

Quando terá um JD 08 pra nos agraciar com os belos sons dele, num vídeo em alta qualidade feito esse?!

[@martinjmusic]

Thank you for you kind words. Unfortunately, I'm not planning to get a JD-08 at this time, as my current projects mainly need analog or FM sounds. Maybe this will change in the (near) future, though.

[@AndroLectric]

DANKE 🤗 die Boutiques klingen alle sehr gut. Aber Vorsicht 😆 Suchtgefahr 🙈

[@charlessalas5294]

Please show how to connect it to midi thanks

[@martinjmusic]

My MIDI keyboard is connected to my Mac, and the JX-08 is connected by a USB to 2x MIDI Adapter.

[@nicolewelch8731]

it's funny you say big sound... there is an issue with mine just going quiet right while I'm playing. haven't figured it out yet, I think there might be a firmware update, but haven't found much support for it

[@minecraftavatarofhunterbiden]

U have the jx 08 set to midi 4 and 8? You can split the voices like that

[@epicsynthwave]

Wow... So much 80s cheese! I love it!

[@georged822]

Does it work well with sl mk3? People complain about form factor of boutiques, you controlling all sliders and knobs with novation, so the small knobs are not an issue? I'm thinking of buying an SL mk3

[@martinjmusic]

Did you get an SL MKIII? I never got around to fully create a Template, as the tiny screen and lack of preset management just makes the synth not very practical for live and studio use… But yes it works great with the SL.

[@georged822]

@@martinjmusic i got a launchkey mk 3 49 key version. I'm very happy with it! Might buy a second smaller mk4 because I love the pads that let me save custom chords. 16 is not enough. So for now I don't feel like I need an SL

[@Venatt1]

Does it have the same Polysynth patch as the original ?

[@ofonseprodutor]

How you connect with your midi keyboard?

[@martinjmusic]

My MIDI keyboard is connected to my Mac, and the JX-08 is connected by a USB to 2x MIDI Adapter.

[@MattisixMusic]

Hello , can someone tell me how I can stop the sequence to start as soon as I send midi chord progression or a note from ableton live to the Jx08 ? It’s quite “dangerous” most of all when I’m in a live performance.

[@aleHIDEA]

How do I change the pitch bend to -12 down and +2 up? Thank you

[@firatakyl6901]

Thomann says it'll be in stock in 8 weeks, how did you get your hands on it this early?

[@ThisisRends]

I preordered mine in Nov at Thomann and got it right after Christmas

[@martinjmusic]

Also ordered it ~1h after it was officially announced, checked the Thomann site and ordered it immediately.

[@jasonsmith5325]

You only get this kind of packaging with Thomann

[@martinjmusic]

Absolutely! Never had a damaged product with Thomann!

[@GullySyde28]

Are you interested in the JD08?

[@martinjmusic]

I thought about it, but as it is more complex and has even smaller faders and buttons, I don’t think I will be getting one. Also it doesn’t really fit my musical style and I won’t need many sounds from it. I can already get all the sounds I need from my Nord Stage 2EX & 4 and my Korg opsix, so I’m covered.

[@Todd63790]

Are you playing this with effects at all ?

[@martinjmusic]

I think I started with reverb on and switched it off during the demos. Everything else is just JX Chorus I or II. :)

[@Todd63790]

Thanks Martin I think this demo has convinced me to buy it 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@pauldharrison5096]

is 4:30 actually from that synth or just used as a reference?

[@pauldharrison5096]

huh, it says it is. that IS a surprise

[@martinjmusic]

Yes, all sounds during the demos are the vintage factory patches, which are a recreation of the JX-8P factory patches. I was quite surprised, too - never played all the patches with PG-8X

[@pauldharrison5096]

@@martinjmusic wow it sounds so piano sample like. the e piano is cool too

[@dpalaoro]

no electric bass, or log drum. 😢

[@sK3LeTvM1]

Nice, but soundwise it is not a JD800, and certainly not a JD990...sorry.

[@antonhosinsky3090]

Why should it be? It is modelled after a totally different synth.

[@freddymercury2259]

sounds like a children's keyboard

[@nobbystyles4807]

honestly what world are we living in where people filming themselves taking something out of a box is worthy of filming it???????????????

[@annother3350]

Everyone but you likes to see something box fresh

[@MisAnnThorpe]

@@annother3350 Not quite everyone but Nobby.

[@annother3350]

@@MisAnnThorpe ok the 2 of you weirdoa

[@RikMaxSpeed]

It’s part of the hard sell: you imagine yourself opening that box - a core consumer society ritual!

[@PORRFNK]

Sounds good, but a JX8P it's not...

[@martinjmusic]

I agree. Even compared to the PG-8X it lacks some of the “warmth” and “analog feeling”.. but somehow I think it could be intentional, somehow it’s just a new take on the basic JX-8P sound with some modernized tweaks - idk what Roland’s true intention is, though.

[@thesrabbit]

Right. A JX-8p it is not. It’s a JX-10 on steroids.

[@mramiritaylor]

What do you expect from a synth that almost fits in your pocket? All things considered, it sounds friggin awesome 👌 I have a jx8p and was still impressed by how the overall tone was kept. It's a good alternative if you don't want to carry that heavy synth out for live performances. Since the Jx8p proper has a shit ton of low end, I think its kind of cool to have if you like the jx8p but don't need all that extra low end. All in all, best roland boutique model so far!

[@kiosko33hz]

Duh ! it's a Roland JX-08.

[@PORRFNK]

@@kiosko33hz Duh ! it's not a Roland JX8P