The Roland JX-3P Vintage Synthesizer (Overview & Demo)

Syntaur's Kenneth Frost gives us an exciting overview and demo of the vintage Roland JX-3P Synthesizer. The JX-3P was released in 1983 and was one of the first Roland synths that used MIDI next to the Jupiter 6. The JX-3P also has the same filter as the Jupiter 6, MC-202, SH-101 and many other Roland Synths. A Lexicon PCM 80 was used to add delay and reverb to the JX-3P.
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[@McN4styFilth]

Absolutely love my JX3P. Slowly becoming less and less underrated

[@TheSynthZone]

It is like smooth, silk like yet could power a tune with force.

[@fjfrancois]

This synth always amaze me, how modern and clean cut is the design, compared to other gear of the same era.

[@markusfuller]

I had one of these in the 90s and sadly sold it. Hearing it again on this great demo just makes me want another. great video 👍

[@Novaheart1998]

Ive had 3 JX3Ps since 1985 and i still have one with the PG200 and I have a Planet S module as well. This synth is still my fave and was my first synth ever.

[@TheSynthZone]

hang on to the planet S they rising in some places.

[@dale116dot7]

That synth looks like it is in great shape. The editing controller is really a neat piece. I used to have the 106, but stupid me, I sold it.

[@TheSynthZone]

if you are a tech the old stuff rocks

[@VibeXplorer]

Yes, I noticed the pristine condition as well

[@idiotisterecords]

Thanks for being the best synth channel on YT

[@Eric_In_SF]

The Marty Stauffer of synthesizers. I don’t know why but this feels like a PBS show. The videos are always put together good and I feel like they’ve been broadcast sometimes

[@JCooperAudioSystems]

JX3P is an amazingly well built synth with quasi discrete voices , classic and very widely known and a used intel 8051 processor, several mods now bring its capabilities forward but even a stock JX3P is a very lush and versatile synth. Also, most of the components are still widely available or have now been cloned. Sadly many were destroyed simply to salvage the IR3109

[@MENTIONED_YOU]

I still have one. i like it more than the Juno 6/60

[@TheSynthZone]

We decided between the JX 3p and another (not saying!) in Eugene when we attracted about 75 kids into the music store at the mall. After trying both units loudly we took a hand vote and the youth chose JX3p with no debate. As did we. The programmer made the machine shine. The JX 3p sat well as a mix, did lead work too. And it looked so pretty! Like my FIZMO kinda weird but very utilitarian.

[@mrlionel1965]

I got my 3P when it first came out. It was the very first thing I ever bought with my own money. I absolutely love it. I never got the PG200 at the time. Now they are too expensive, so I got a DT200 from Dtronics for less than 1/2 the price of the PG. it works great. It has been pretty much my main synth too. Coupled with my ESQ1, I have most of the sounds I would ever need or use.

[@rickymangum8977]

I have a synth problem. My go to lately has been the Akai AX-60 (love that synth). I just purchased the JX-3P and hopefully it will arrive tomorrow. It comes with the DT-200 controller. I hope it is the same as the PG-200. Great job on the video. Keep up the cool vibes. Peace out 2022!

[@rickymangum8977]

Update: I just received the JX-3P and It's definitely impressive. Not only sounds wonderful but looks amazing. I'm glad I bought it.

[@TheSynthZone]

The x7000 cried out for the AX yet we finally got to re synthesize anyway. Dang technology demanded about 100 reinteractions before we got progress sample wise.

[@jonclyne2918]

Wonderful overview. Really got me excited to try some things on my JX3P. Thanks for sharing.

[@PutItAway101]

There's something chunky and muscular about the sound that could fill out a mix all by itself, badass.

[@Synthshop]

One of the best things about the JX3p and the MKS30 was the way it bent notes.

[@LordCritish]

Another great demo, thanks! I still have a JX-3P in a flight case upstairs incl. controller. Almost sold it a while ago but then decided to keep it. The visual of its design beats the Juno-106 at least and it has the best pitch wheel I ever touched.

[@CrisBlyth]

mmmmm.. sell to meeeeee... :)

[@LordCritish]

@@CrisBlyth Sorry can't! :) No more gear selling for me. It turns out I always regret it later in one way or another, such as when I sold an E-mu SP-1200 some years ago and the PG-800 controller last year.

[@dale116dot7]

@@LordCritish I often kick myself for selling gear. I sold a J106 and I am kicking myself for doing it.

[@brianhintze6440]

I think we have a case of synth abuse here, keeping something like this in a case. Synth Police may be stopping by to take this into custody. ;o)

[@LordCritish]

@@brianhintze6440 You've uncovered my secret pleasure! I regularly buy used vintage gear for the purpose to keep it locked in flight cases on the attic. It also muffles their screams for help enough so nobody hears them. >:)

[@supermonkeycollider]

This is great content - hoping it keeps going!

[@temporoboto]

Cool, thanks for sharing.

[@nigelrogers8690]

Great video 👏🏾👏🏾 love the sound 👏🏾👏🏾

[@alancheatley4378]

I have a JX3P with PG200, but the SH101 I have the Boutique of. Keep up the JX3P videos!!

[@macronencer]

JX3P gets a lot of stick but I think it's great! I don't have mine any more, sadly. I had to get rid of stuff to make room... anyway, the thing that impressed me most when I first saw this thing in 1983 (it was a fellow student at university who owned one) was the sync effect. I'd not heard oscillator sync before, or at least I hadn't been aware of it, and I thought it was extremely cool.

[@TheSynthZone]

I like a secure metal case with oscillators.

[@Johnsormani]

Although it's always nice if someone makes a video about the JX3P, this video doesn't help anybody to get an idea of what this guy sounds like or is capable of. You are listening more to the Lexicon effects as to the synth. If that was on purpose , fine. But with a Lexicon PCM70 i can get a Accordeon sound like a Jupiter 8 ( sort of ) 🙂

[@Syntaur]

Thanks for the comment and feedback! We will feature more in-depth breakdowns in upcoming videos.

[@ephraimwarrior6766]

Sick it seam to be ahead of its time

[@dannybrazen]

Just picked one up like 2 months ago for very little money. My Juno 60 (which, according to eBay, is worth roughly 4 times as much) is VERY similar sounding and only has one oscillator compared to the two oscillators on the jx3p. Its got that cheap, 80s, plastic synth sound, but that’s part of the charm. It’s not a prophet or an oberheim, it’s the sound you’ve heard on so many songs and movie scores from the 80s and is still SO useable now

[@tuneunleashed]

Keep coming up with these videos!

[@aboveaxis]

its my baby and i use it on everything too! seriously.... every song ive ever recorded has the 3p somewhere. it was my 1st synth, learnt on it... and itll be the last synth still with me at the end.... never letting it go.

[@cortical1]

Nice demo, Kenneth!

[@lundsweden]

The Roland JX-8P and Sequential Prophet 600 were the first two synths with MIDI. They were used to demonstrate the new MIDI standard at the 1983 NAMM show.

[@vintagesynthesizers]

Jupiter-6 and Prophet - 600.

[@TheMonkBeatsOne]

I am a a happy owner of JX-3P :) even without the programmer I enjoy it

[@ricjenner1120]

I liked your demo a lot. So much so that I tried to recreate it using my Jx3p and an RD8 drum machine Arturia Minibrute 2 monosynth. I didnt have a pcm80 either, but a Midiverb 3 and a Strymon BigSky allowed me to put my own spin on it. Bravo! The Jx3p is my favorite synth, having owned both the jx and juno 106.

[@nathanokeefe9169]

Awesome! Keep them coming!

[@mrz80]

You hit that Pulsar patch and I expected an Eagle to land from Moonbase Alpha with CDR Koenig and Dr. Russell to step out onto my driveway :D

[@PORRFNK]

I only have the JX03 and I love the sound of it. Wish it had the bender like the original

[@InfiniteElectrophone]

nice job on this review

[@VibeXplorer]

Great video, sweet demo! After years of knowing about all the well-known synths, I just discovered this synth exists tonight. Knew about the J8P but not the 3P.

[@CrisBlyth]

WANT !!!.. was my first......well, after my Casio VL-tone .. :) I'd love to have this machine again.. I never had the PG200 !

[@neonether]

Just sold my 3p sadly. I didn't use it nearly as much as my 8p. I'll probably end up buying another one sometime down the road, but never selling my 8p. My kids are getting that, even if they don't want it!

[@neonether]

@ghost mall 8P is for life.!! It sounds amazing!

[@tonewreck1]

I bought one of those new with the PG back in the days. First synth I ever bought. It can sound good but the main and quirky thing about it, that nobody mentions, is that it has digital oscillators with analog circuitry for filters, env, etc...So not a true analog synth and it shows quite a bit depending on the sounds. In the end I sold it after a few years and never regretted it. I got to buy a lot of classics in the late 90s for cheap and those were all awesome!! Still have a few. Just my personal taste... I remember to this day one patch that I programed on it which sounded absolutely huge and was the intro to a tune I played with a band around 84/85. Thanks for the post which brings me back some almost 40 years!!!

[@TheSynthZone]

digital CONTROLLED yep yep DCO is great if you hate drift

[@TheSynthZone]

@ghost mall I recall the exact same debate at the electronic arts program. Funny thing is mr. Staunch oberheim defender sold to get a DX7, the rage of the mid eighties....oonooooes.

[@tonewreck1]

@ghost mall That's correct. I also used to own the little drum machine of the intro.

[@frdradio]

6:44 reminds me of the first chord hit in Don't You Want Me

[@ryanhancock9792]

FYI the Organix midi mod is back in stock at the moment… if like me you have this setup but wish you could run midi and use the PG concurrently. Awaiting mine eagerly, none were available back when I first bought this synth so I got good at patching with the on board programming slider/button combo, but you can’t beat knobs.

[@ryanhancock9792]

@ghost mall like most things related to music production, it’s just whatever suits your workflow best. For me, it’s faster with the midi running, therefore better… but I have small children and run a furniture business, so my music making time is super limited. But of course nothing about it is really a “big deal”, just helps me get it down and move on faster.. also worth mentioning I got mine super cheap in non working condition and repaired it, so dropping some money on controller/mod made sense. Different equation if you’re buying all good condition stuff.

[@turquoisecapricorn]

A real eye-opener this video! I didn't know the JX-3P was so great! You put it on my wishlist! Nice demo! Thanx! greetz Jason

[@GNeuman]

Great demo! I think that the JX3P was overshadowed by the arrival of the DX7 which took the world by storm back in 83. Analogue synths then rapidly became (unbelievably) a bit passé. Of course, then Roland fought back with the D50 in 87 but VA and the analogue revival were still some years off. It's great to be a youngster like you today as there are so many superb synths to choose from!

[@cdanny74]

Ty, send other vidéo, démo plz

[@rhodrillewellyn5127]

Nice! I actually got a jx-03, based on another vid you made. I've got it going through a boss se-70 for some analogish reverb-delay . Not quite as lush as that lexicon.

[@thejra-gon6991]

Damnit..now I want one.. this plus my Multivox multi echo and the MPC 500..so many ideas lol

[@Eric_In_SF]

This guy is cool as shit. He’s got the attitude and look. He’s got that extra umph! I’m ready to record an album with him

[@sawsquaresinetube]

Check out the Series Circuits midi kit, you can use midi with the pg-200 AND aftertouch

[@FLH3official]

Great demo of the Lexicon. I like this new young and so sexy Kenneth but am I alone to regret the "old style" videos with the historical Syntaur's team? ☺️ (I know, I know, I'm an old grumpy cat...)

[@Syntaur]

Don't worry, more videos are coming with the old cats! Stay tuned! :)

[@alan93]

I've enjoyed mine ever since I bought it new in 1984. Has a lot of great sounds. Limitations: doesn't come with PG-200 programmer, only 6 voice polyphony, LFO button does not send on midi (pitch bend does), can't set pitch bend amount, only 32 user presets, tape backup with digital tone to save and load more presets (and sequencer programs) is awkward, Sequencer has to play same voice as keyboard. But, add delay and extra thick chorus and it's a monster.

[@JeanDearCanada]

I also use a JX3P, and a DR110 but I get a bit more wild with it. It's really good at containing chaos in a synth jam, and that Vibraphone preset is also my favorite!

[@phxx3054]

Got the JX3P with the programmer but I have to say I prefer the sound of my JX8P (of which I have two; one for touring and one for the studio). Both are great and very underrated synths.

[@dietervolke7811]

The PG200 has the slippiest knobs on the planet bar none with some Waldorf products close behind!

[@guyperreault9213]

I had one for 20 years and I loved it. I sold it about 1 month ago because I need to make space for a new synth. I sold it for the same price I bought it for, 20 years back ;)

[@TheSynthZone]

My Fizmo I paid 250 for is now worth 3-4 k but I like it. Sold a few JX3p and Planet S but kept the FIz

[@kevinsturges6957]

Kenneth is Cool. 💥🌲⚡️

[@MrPeter924]

Very good music song 👍

[@massebassepearpung]

Maybe more underratet than the JX-8p? Get one while they still are cheap.

[@massebassepearpung]

@ghost mall I used to have a 106. Lovely synth. Miss it every day but I refuse to pay todays prices for a 106. Now I have a JX-8p (with iPG-800 to an old iPad) and JX-3p (with a Dtronics DT200). JX-3p is still decent in price and I think it´s sounds more distinct than the JX-8p. It´s like Juno 60 vs. 106. Good luck and happy tweakting with your JX-8p/PG-800 combo. :-)

[@Ian-Hall]

I had a blue sh101 35 years ago, Clever thing for the year. Not the easiest thing to make music with unless you had racks of other modules.

[@Gus-jb8cm]

Love the sounds from this keyboard. Truly wonderful. I wouldn't mind one myself!!!

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Best value for $ in the vintage analog world! The 3p is superior to any Juno

[@TheSynthZone]

I passed up on a 400$ MOOG that sells for a fortune now to get the JX . See a few JX3 but nope on the Moog. Unless you have a few K.(I passed, yikes, ) Feb 2022 Well i got 2 mother 32 and a behrenger modular clone. Well!

[@TheSynthZone]

@ghost mall sure, the JX3p is a straight forward kind of synth with many functions like limited modulation choices that sing. I love having a lot of that sometimes. Cant imagine it doing any tight EDM but hey maybe lol

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

@ghost mall I own a jx3p, jx8p, ju6, and ju106 (jp6 & mks80 too!). I prefer the JX series all day sonically, and they are far cheaper. That was my point, the JX 3p is one of the best values for cost in the vintage analog world. The Juno 6/60/106 are very expensive for the features they offer.

[@_P_M_]

What's the difference between the 3p and the 8p? Looks like a minor revision.

[@sauermusicDE]

Display (you can give the sounds names), cartridge slot (for external sound storage), full ADSR access on the second envelope, better MIDI implementation, velocity/aftertouch, different internal filter/vca chip (Roland IR3R05, resulting in a slightly different sound). >> You might wanna check out the audio comparison videos from Espen Kraft and from TausendAugen here on KZbin about that topic. Roland cancelled the sequencer section on the 8P for obvious reasons...because people were starting to use external MIDI sequencers more and more. The pitch-bender is back to where it SHOULD be (next to the 61 keys). The "look and feel" of the buttons was designed after the Yamaha DX7. I probably forgot a few other things...

[@hyperlovesyou]

I love looking at old synths but ghat damn am i glad a generic midi controller can plug into a laptop (and even a phone) and do all this lol! soooo expensive! Come to think of it.. why not do comparisons since you guys have the real things? you wanna run a channel that's some pretty valuable content

[@hyperlovesyou]

@ghost mall when i said midi controller i meant musical keyboard but what exactly do you think a VST is? is there a difference between the digital data and circuits in almost every synth out there and the data on a computer? what do you think is in a fairlight CMI?

[@hyperlovesyou]

@ghost mall i could have said the same to you since your the one who came to me but im asking a genuine question there is obviously a difference for you. although you did say Mapping generic controls to midi parameters i also have to ask what do you think is going in this video? he literally explains the pg200 is doing exactly what you describe, thats also how the controls on the synthesiser he is using works. you know all that equipment uses midi signals right?

[@hyperlovesyou]

@ghost mall il hit that one up :)

[@someguy4909]

Man I have no clue how to use these! They look and sound awesome though.

[@3rdGen-Media]

Kenneth seems really cool but also like he might have a very distinct odor

[@tonystevenson26]

Leather and AXXE

[@benjamendorrell2038]

If anyone has a spare JX3P and PG200, but no Juno 106... DM me for a trade :P

[@bobzmuda3940]

ill trade my pair for a juno 60

[@subaquaticencountersofthed8515]

@Bob Zmuda dang! I even have a Juno 6 with Tubatec midi upgrade and custom Walnut wood replacements. Sadly, it's no 60 and also I love it. In fact it's the reason I'm willing to part with the 106. I feel the JX-3P + midi Juno 6 is a much wider range than what I have. Cheers and good luck on the trade!

[@BaminaJemati]

Brown Paul Thompson Donna Miller Jennifer

[@nickcrider4309]

Jx3p is definitely better than the 106. We all know it.

[@BlackMan614]

This synth sucked in 1983. Still sucking in 2022.

[@sauermusicDE]

@@group-music I would not say that. Some very famous 80's hits obviously feature a Juno synth, right? Let's have look at it from another perspective...because what we have here are actually two DIFFERENT concepts: The Juno series is basically a 1-osc design with additional sub osc (very good for - but not limited to - synth bass sounds). The later AlphaJuno models try to compensate this - somewhat limited - architecture with a nice set of additional waveforms that the 3P and 8P simply don't offer. The 3P and 8P have a 2-osc design with the ability to detune the oscillators against each other and cross modulation functionality (for more metallic timbres, like on a cheap 2-operator FM keyboard...but sounding much better). They are good for "italo disco" or "synthwave" string pad and brass sounds (the brass patch of "The final countdown" by Europe was partly done on a JX-8P). But they can also do some nice bell stuff as well. One could argue that the 3P offered MIDI jacks right out of the box (compared to Juno-6 and -60) and that the internal sequencer is a nice addition to work with. But that's pretty much it. Having one of EACH is the way to go. ;-)

[@mrlionel1965]

This synth definitely does not suck. It sounds fantastic and it does what was designed to do really well!