Scott's Synth Stuff Episode 4: Roland JD-Xi Review

[@empty.1152]

As a relatively new owner of the JD-XI, I really appreciate that there is still quality content being produced about this synth. Coming from absolutely no knowledge about synthesis, I basically hit the ground running with this thing. The manual is garbage, the keybed is absolute crap, but man, I love this thing to bits. I cannot explain the joy I feel when I learn or discover something new via playing this synth. The best term I can use to explain is... rewarding. I have virtually become obsessed with synths because of the JD-XI. To this day, There are new aspects about it that I learn, usually completely by accident. The synth has also inspired me to look into other hardware synths, I now own a Korg MS-2000 and dx7 as well. To avoid using the terrible analog channel on it, it is possible to daisy chain another synthesizer with better tones, link it to the analog channel via midi, turn the volume knob down and voila! Your analog channel is now playing and recording sounds from another synth. Great video! Very informative and passionate. The gripes you have addressed are definitely shared by the majority of JD owners, but there is no denying this little thing is a powerhouse waiting to be unlocked. I look forward to binging the rest of your content!

[@beesting6135]

You have no clue😂

[@vacuum7479]

@@beesting6135you have nothing interesting to comment

[@beesting6135]

@@vacuum7479 crybaby

[@vacuum7479]

@@beesting6135 👍😭😂

[@EarthWalkerOne]

8:36 1. Press Menu. 2. Navigate to Tone Edit and press Enter 3. Navigate to TONE:LFO, Tempo Sync and press + to change the setting from OFF to ON.

[@rolandgibbs9036]

I discover something new on this with every cup of coffee. Had mine for 3 years now and I drink a lot of coffee.

[@michaelg3067]

I just love your truth! These companies are really trippin with the design of their synths these days. I literally only want it for the vocoder n drums. Seems to be all it’s really good for.

[@thaiiland2003]

Oh man, you had me rolling with laughter when you talked about the crap preset sequences and then turned it on, it's like Disco circa 1976. You are spot on man, you either love this thing or you hate it. I've had my JDXI for 3 years now, I keep thinking I want to get rid of it, but frankly it doesn't take up much room, and I get on the thing and ideas just keep popping into my head with rhythms like no other synth I own. After you learn the shortcuts of the menu it ain't bad, and yeah I can work around the crap keyboard. Plus it has just around the right number of presets to not get lost unlike the newer Jupiter XM with it's thousands of presets. Yeah, I do love this ugly little duckling. BTW, I also have the same HydraSynth in my lineup, and it ain't never goin anywhere. thx for the reviews.

[@dannydaniel8975]

It's all about what you do with the synth, my friend. Add some analog effects, like, the moog fogger, a real analog chorus and compressor to kill most of that digital nasty shrill sounding crap and you can turn it into a beast...I know an engineer who can make a 4 track cassette recorder sound like a big studio, because he knows what he's doing...

[@sidoughty428]

Just got one of these. You really opened my eyes as to the potential. I got it secondhand from my local Gear shop mainly for creating backing arrangements. Good demo 👍

[@sprocket2cog]

nice one. ive been making about 2 tracks a week for a year on the JD-Xi. great little beast!

[@myHorribleMusic]

The JD-Xi editor is incredible- I’m going to have to try this ASAP

[@angelportal5378]

I have a JD-XI for 5 years and I have watched countless videos about it and never knew there was a sound editor .

[@timb.4825]

Great vid. Most useful and generous JDxi review on tube without a doubt. Thanks for helping me unlock my JDxi with the software review. Yo🏖

[@JasonMcFly]

Instant sub for telling it like it is. Excellent honest review!

[@stingylizard]

Thanks for the video! I liked our JD-Xi alot but even more so,now! Added/sync'd one to our Arturia Impact Noir thinga ma jig. Easy to transport hardware workstation w modern sounds. Excellent channel,thanks

[@FlyingAce1016]

it's cool to see what people have done with this little synth everything from ambient music to space berlin style music to house and Jazz

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

It really is an amazingly capable little synth!

[@deanbr6ndo70]

this is the best vid on yt for this synth.i have a Gaia on gumtree ,if that goes then it's a jdxi for me, solely for the cr78. I wish somebody would just go a little more in depth on that particular kit.

[@joonglegamer9898]

Thanks for the review, I ordered this today earlier before your review, and you basically confirm my use case with it, so that makes me kind of happy with my decision. I have a Yamaha Montage (and as you said about the MODX which is essentially the same synth) The vocoder sucks on it. And I needed a proper drum machine next to it (yes, the Yamaha has very capable drums, but the built in sequencer...well...sucks), I like to do stuff on the fly, and this little thing (Roland JD-Xi) will help me make easy rythms on the fly while playing. Not only that, but as you said, it's an excellent SOUND MODULE, and since Midi Functionality is a bit on the limiting side on the MODX and MONTAGE, this is good for a DAWLESS setup. I have an external 3-keybed setup with a Yamaha HS-6 (it's an FM organ sort of, but with Bass pedals, 2 keybeds with touch AND aftertouch) which I plan to interface the JD-Xi with, I already do that with the Montage, but I need to set up each Midi channel for each voice inside a part, which is...cumbersome to say the least, but it works. For what you get tho, 500 bucks for this thing is a STEAL, nevermind the toy keyboard, that's just well...for simple access I'd say.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

It sounds like you bought this for all the right reasons. The sequencer on the JD-Xi is actually quite good, as it's the standard three-mode Roland sequencer, and also records CC's - so you can add filter sweeps and so on to your sequence. The vocal processing on the JD-Xi far exceeds anything you can do on the MODX or Montage.

[@joonglegamer9898]

@@ScottsSynthStuff I received it about 2 days ago, and it already exceed my expectations. I've never had a device that got me composing on the first day, nevermind 3 music shorts in 2 days. This thing is so easy to use it's pure joy. Now it's day 3, and things are heating up, I'm digging deeper into it already, and with a bunch of tweaking this thing goes FAR deeper than I could have imagined. No wonder people underestimate it, the built-in examples is NOTHING compared to what you can compose yourself with it, if anything they're horribly bad loops that gives a very small idea how powerful the sound really is.

[@jjrtech7806]

I'm with you on the jdxi; for everything I hate about it, there's something I love about it. The 4 bar limit in the sequencer drives me mad(yes, I know you can get to 8 bars with the fudge) and you need the freeware editor to get to the voice editing, but time and time again this is my go-to for getting ideas down quickly. It's supposed to sit on my desk, but it spends a lot of it's time on the bedside table for when those early morning tracks pop into my head from a waking dream. I'm glad I didn't buy it new though, 500 planetary credits is a bit too much. I wish Roland would release one more software update for this to address a few of the short comings, but I fear their attention is now on the SH4D.

[@michaelgross9654]

The chord feature is amazing too. I like to play JMJ like tracks with many chords and easy melodies. For sessions like this I only need the JD Xi and a Reface CS.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The Hydrasynth has a chord function like that, but on steroids - it will alter the chord so that it stays in the proper scale, among other things. Amazing!

[@dickwang7429]

Found a decent deal on one of these today and was on the fence till I saw Timothy Olyphant review it, picking it up Friday!

[@crnkmnky]

I guess you could say that Scott _Justified_ your purchase? 🤪

[@dickwang7429]

@@crnkmnky oh man, that made my day!

[@amb13nt59]

Excellent presentation! I feel the same way you do. I hate it, and I love it, but I love it enough to have justified buying it. I am amazed by its versatility. It can even be fantastic for ambient music. The editor is something I think I will get, thanks to your presentation.

[@amb13nt59]

And…I just realized you also have a Hydrasynth. Ha! Me too!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Love the Hydrasynth! I just pre-ordered my Hydrasynth Deluxe...

[@amb13nt59]

@@ScottsSynthStuff Cool! Have fun!

[@michaelhonormusic]

Great review video 👍😊 Im on my way to buy a Roland system-8 and also a Jd-xi for its supernatural engine (which is close to Jd-xa) to get a killer combo 🤩

[@ljp37]

This is a really useful and nuanced review, thanks!

[@jeralddyrek1780]

Thank you for you explanation of the Roland JDXi !

[@infokanaal]

Fantastic review! Learned many new things! Love that little monster. Another horrible thing, mine has the red graphics overlay, impossible to see in dark!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Mine too, but they included the silver overlays with it, along with little adhesive dots used to fix it in place. I find the silver much more readable than the red - I guess they had too many complaints about the red!

[@Blues.Fusion]

Paired with a controller like the arturia essential and you got a 2 board rig that is super good. Use the jdxi as a mono synth on top and the arturia to play pads, brass, saw lead or whatever. It's a pain to set up with 3 sounds being tied together in a patch but it's doable and the sound is Roland goodness.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

For sure, the engine inside the JD-Xi is super capable and can produce amazing sounds. Using an external controller gets around the biggest shortfall of the JD-Xi - its miserable keybed.

[@dogdiyei]

WOW! Thanks!!! Totally agree with you in the review. 🙏🏾

[@daveh4142]

Love this series! What’s next? I can’t wait till you get to the Wavestate!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I'm planning to shoot the next one in a few days! :)

[@christiangrommes6540]

Hi and Happy New Year from Germany :) . God and very informativ Videos.

[@MrMusiclifer]

Thanks for being there for us who want to know what the board is like before we buy one or choose not to since you said it is that the keyboard is delicate fragile and one could break off the keys simply by glissandos (among other sucky things-that is enough to tell me to fuhget about it!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

That keybed is what made me sell mine.

[@wavester46]

The JD-Xi works great with a Midi Solutions thru 1-4 box as a sequencer to trigger external synths along with it's drums.

[@Spludgeroo]

If you hook it up to a midi keyboard and figure how to use sysex you can get at all the hidden parameters with knobs and it does support aftertouch even though its own kb doesnt. It's also a pretty good mono guitar synth. The manual is more of a quickstart guide. The parameter guide is really the manual but the documentation is good.

[@ambidex]

No need to have to figure out the cryptic Roland approach to sysex. Nearly everything can be accessed through undocumented NRPNs. It's inexplicable why Roland implemented these NRPNs but left them out of the Midi implementation guide.

[@pamelaarmstrong3612]

I’m mainly a guitar player and bought this unit about 3 years ago. I’m still figuring out how to use it. :)

[@bike.krueger]

Great review Scott, it led me to get mine and I really like it so far. Did somebody manage to get the editor running on MacOS 10.15? Thx so much for your help!

[@kingjellybeans7823]

I have one but I find the Vocoder in the Novation Mini Synth much better to use. Also by pressing the shift button with one hand held on it and play the presets with the other hand then you can chord progress with one finger

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I actually use the vocoder in my Fantom more than anything else, as it's far more flexible, and sounds better than anything else I own.

[@kingjellybeans7823]

@@ScottsSynthStuff each to their own I suppose but yeah the JDxi is a great machine. You gave a great review. Overall great machine taking out one or two boring presets but otherwise highly recommended

[@muggsyboykins4393]

if im not mistaken the jdxi does have tempo sync for LFO

[@lewisbirkett4428]

I'm thinking about getting a korg minilogue/xd for my first proper synth. This one also seems to have some really good stuff but also alot of downsides too so I'm not sure

[@beesting6135]

You don't know Roland

[@frankenjstein9371]

Do it. The Minilogue sat there and schooled this horrible synth

[@bhaireddy7972]

I'm late to the party but I'm considering getting this. I just need a sound module and it seems they don't sell those anymore.

[@LaurentDiscShowMan]

Muy bien very good..animo con alegrias...

[@jbognap]

Can you assign an electric bass waveform to multiple keys in the drum kit so you don't have to use up a precious synth track for bass lines?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

You can assign one of 453 PCM waveforms to each of the keys to create your own drum kit. You can also assign a pitch value to each key. So while it wouldn't be easy, it's not impossible - you'd have to find a long bass drum type sound, assign it to the key, then pitch it appropriately.

[@SusumoKakinotane]

Would you consider a Roland MC 101 instead of this Roland JD XI? Thanks for the awesome content!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The MC101 is a decent unit, and I've had a couple Roland Groove boxes before...but as a keyboard player, I find I miss the keys. I also like to really compose things using sounds myself, rather than preset patterns, etc, and that's what I use the JDX-i for a lot of the time.

[@dakoiaa]

Hey Scott, congrats and thank you for this great and clarifying video. I was just wondering if the JD-Xi would effectively respond to CC and sysex commands so that I could control it from an external sliders and pots controler?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Yes it will! It's documented very well in Roland's "MIDI Implementation Manual" which you can download from their website. www.roland.com/global/support/by_product/jd-xi/owners_manuals/6a57fff5-ab9f-4608-8b49-bffde0cb0a25/ Also check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5iZiXyOhsmJn7c

[@dakoiaa]

@@ScottsSynthStuff that's great, Scott! Thank you for your kind, immediate and comprehensive reply. Warmest regards!!!

[@ambidex]

You also might want to have a look at this controller designed specifically for the JD-Xi and getting to some of the items hidden in the menus. I wonder how well it would do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJLdlGWmhceCo68

[@RinchenPhuntsok]

HI Scott....I loved this video, thank you very much...I have the JD-XA and it's an amazing synth but I've always been curious about the XD...I love that simplicity it has....but also because it's an quick device to make full sons....do you recommend to buy it? I love synth gear.... :)

[@garyhawtin578]

The JDXI manager editor was updated on 12 Dec 2024, giving more editing control from desktop or laptop.

[@vio2696]

Great demo!

[@abimocordemusicae]

it is possible to create a beat 3/4 sequence? thanks.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

It's set up for multiples of four - so if you wanted to set up a 3 beat bar, you could make it 12 steps long, that way you get four bars of 3/4 beats. Not how it's meant to work, but you can do it.

[@jsnnphm]

Cool vid! Just wondering, is the JD XI a stand alone instrument, as in it can make sound on its own? Or does it need a computer software or smthn to make it play?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

It's definitely a standalone instrument. You can use it with a DAW if you hook it up via MIDI, but it's not a requirement.

[@stuartmaybe]

Totally agree about the keyboard. Sucks so bad that I use a controller keyboard and the jdxi as basically a module.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Exactly how I used it as well.

[@frankenjstein9371]

Which sucks because the Arpeggiator does not work on a MIDI controller.

[@hobonickel840]

Thanks for the deep and honest review!! .. what is the most you'd pay for one on the second hand market?

[@jjrtech7806]

If you are lucky, 200 is an absolute no brainer. Pay no more than 260$/£/€ tops. Anything more and the seller needs a reality check

[@hobonickel840]

@@jjrtech7806 Thanks for the reply .. I'm still looking. It's really a tough choice to make buying your first analog synth

[@JFTM00]

I know it is almost 1,5 years old vid. You told about a software update you thought never would come for this, at 20:40. Where you right about that?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I was right, it still has never been updated.

[@jakeyboy2929]

How do you stop your keyboards sliding off? I can see you have put boards on an onstage a frame keyboard stand

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Big strips of velcro!

[@jakeyboy2929]

@@ScottsSynthStuffthanks. I have the same onstage stand that I would like to do a similar thing with

[@djkanyon]

Today.... i bet Roland would charge a grand minimum for this set of features! Drum machine, sequencer, analog voice, Super Natural - all in one... I wish there was a module version! It would be a masterpiece.

[@Some_Cat_]

I hear Roland and Korg have problems with clock sync because each company uses a different resolution. Is this true of the JD-Xi? I ask because I plan to sync with a Monologue.

[@teknomanning]

Love it

[@MarianoPerez]

Is there a librarian to manage presets?

[@bradywhitaker1773]

how do i use all 64 steps ?

[@joonglegamer9898]

You need to go into the menu (press menu) and then select PATTERN LENGHT. set it to 4. It defaults to 1. A little TIP before you do that, make your first rythm on the first 16 steps, when you've done that - and go to the Pattern Lenght option, it will ask you if you want to copy the first 16 steps onto the rest of the 48 steps. This is SUPER useful so you don't have to go over the basic rythms again.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Thanks for answering this before I was able to! He's right, you don't HAVE to record the first 16 steps, but it makes it so much easier so you don't have to manually do it for all 64 steps. Record the base parts in the 16 steps (BD, SD, HH, etc) that will be constant throughout, then change the length and copy it as he mentioned. Then go in and just add the fills and changes throughout.

[@frankenjstein9371]

This synth is not meant to play well with an existing studio. I'm returning it after a week. I really wanted it for the vocoder which was a joke. It also takes up 4 MIDI channels for one crap synth. My biggest issue is that the Arpeggiator would not send to my Keylab . Junk. I'll try the Minifreak.

[@ctron2234]

Seems you are also wrong about the sound engine, i did some research and JD-XA and JD-XI do have the same sound engines the Roland SSC (sound system chip) ROLAND R8A02021ABG

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The chip is the same, because they both are using the SuperNatural system for their digital parts. But they are set up and architected completely differently. The JD-Xa has far more polyphony, with three digital layers. The JD-Xi has two digital layers, and a drum layer, while the JD-Xa has no drum capability (or samples) at all. Speaking of samples, the sample sets are also completely different, with the JD-Xa having far more. The patches between them are not compatible, and besides relying on the same chip to do digital DSP work, there's not much the same. The analog engines are also completely different. JD-Xi with a single oscillator, single voice vs the JD-Xa's four-part, two-oscillator analog engine.

[@SessionsWithMike]

At C Tron you are actually the correct one here. A synth being multi-timbral and the amount of polyphony has zero do with whether the actual sound engine, digital or analog oscillators or source is the same as well as sample set. Those features that make them different, multi-timbrality and analog polyphony are simply unlocked on the more expensive jd-xa but the digital sound engine, oscillator types, supernatural sounds that generate each voice are exactly the same. Saying they are completely different would be like saying something like the deep mind 6 is completely different than the 12 because of voice count or a locked vsti that only gives you one timbral voice is a completely different sound architecture than the unlocked version with multi-timbrality. So again C Tron you were actually right. Good catch!

[@whisperdancer]

@@SessionsWithMike so you are saying the Jd-xi also have 4 analog engines but only one is accessible?

[@dougmann66]

M A J O R C O O L REVIEW !

[@natanmandala]

This machine never gets old, and the fun factor is what makes it, along with all the drum kits, which is crazy. The sounds that are great, are great, but there are some sounds that I don't see why Roland would even put on this machine. See, nobody wants to dive deep into the menu. That's where you get the extra touch that you need, and there are way more capabilities then what people think there is. I always make better music when I am limited. This machine screams the less is more concept. I would buy the Roland JD-XI again if something happened to it, and I will never get rid of it...SBN RESONATE

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I agree, the menu on this thing is heinous, and does not make you want to dive into it. That's why the free editor for the JD-Xi is so great: jdxi-manager.linuxtech.net/

[@valleyken]

cool.

[@komabot5285]

The drums are not samples i think. it is "pcm",or not?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The drums are definitely PCM samples.

[@asdfjkl227]

Not surprising with how popular Skrillex was in 2014 and the synth allegedly coming out in 2015.

[@natanmandala]

Say Scott's Synth Stuff 5 times as quick as you can. I dare ya...SBN RESONATE

[@MarianoPerez]

I actually enjoy the keybed a lot more than the jupiter xm. Lol

[@OffKeyAudio]

"Roland Demos are unlistenable." Made me laugh because it's so true!!!

[@minecraftavatarofhunterbiden]

23:43 Digital

[@princeblue92]

😊👍

[@minecraftavatarofhunterbiden]

22:42 deep

[@minecraftavatarofhunterbiden]

5:16 Analog

[@kierenmoore3236]

‘Portable’ … but it can’t be powered with batteries, can it?

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Not normally, but if you search on the web, there are people who have constructed battery packs to run it.

[@kierenmoore3236]

@@ScottsSynthStuff … Sure, I guess anything can be run from a Powerbank, etc. Cheers. 👍🏼

[@minecraftavatarofhunterbiden]

11:51

[@Jason75913]

I love it as well, and hate it a little. Bad front panel, bad keybed, too much menu diving, not enough Shift shortcuts for its usability limitations, odd post FX routing limitations.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with these opinions. :) But it really does have great sounds and capabilities. I use an external editor for most of the sound editing, I just can't take the menu diving.

[@Jason75913]

@@ScottsSynthStuff I'm accustomed to button mashing due to both video games and JD-Xi, hahahaha!

[@minecraftavatarofhunterbiden]

8:20 never do it guys

[@blakehoke6014]

I just got one of these keyboards. Quite disappointed. Seems like I am fighting it and disgruntled every time I mess with it. It will be for sale VERY SOON! Not very user friendly.....

[@blakehoke6014]

I have been an organist and synthesis for the last 45 years. The layout and simpality is not there.

[@blakehoke6014]

Excellent review. Thank you.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I have to agree. While the internal engine is very powerful, the user interface lets it down tremendously. I used mine almost solely as a MIDI sound module for ages before finally giving in and selling it.

[@jamesdinsdale4256]

mine as no piano

[@rottenandremixedrecords]

😂🤣

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Someone doesn't like EDM ! LoL

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

Love it, actually! :)

[@beesting6135]

That synth has great preset sounds it's not meant for squares😂

[@rainrainbow2282]

Hi! JD Xi Manager does not save presets. "The error cannot be saved to a file. Check the file system permissions."Why? What does this mean?

[@cubanheelsbeerbelly]

The Jordan Peterson of synths.

[@G.GordonMidi]

Ew

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

No idea who that is.