Roland JU-06A Boutique Synthesizer

First off I will say I used to own a Juno 60 and had to regretfully sell it many years ago when I was relocating.I always loved the sounds and hunted periodically for a new one. Even though I lacked the space I still always searched for one to buy.Well am I glad I waited. This little beast is such a powerhouse. Words cannot describe how much I love it. Anyone that says differently is out of their mind. You get a Juno 60 and a 106 together in a unit that runs on AA batteries. Don't even get me started on the line in option. I want to buy another one, this thing rules, tips, slays, and annihilates.

while i have very limited experience with the OG Juno 60/ 106, this little guy satisfies me at a fraction of the cost. only thing that bugs me is only 4 voices, but i'm rarely playing more than 4 note chords live. recording requires some creative overdubbing, or the TAL-U-NO, but i don't like running VSTs live. that being said, i feel like this thing stands out live. i pair it with a KeyStep or KeyLab depending on what band i'm in. easy to adjust on the fly, sounds great, and feels pretty solid. connectivity was an adjustment, i'm not used to 1/8" outputs, also i feel like i'm eventually going to break a slider. overall, i love this thing. great addition to my live setup and collection in general.

I had a Juno-106 many many years ago but it was stolen. I've missed it a lot, I used to always use it. As far as my ears can tell it sounds the same. Perhaps someone can tell the slight differences but I cannot.I missed out on the original JU-06 due to financial problems after an on the job injury but i'm glad now because this one has additional features and improvements.I plan to get a 2nd one so I can poly chain them and have at least the same polyphony as the original Juno-106 (the JU-04/a has 4 voices versus 6 voices of the original Juno 106).I highly recommend it for anyone wanting the Juno 106 (or 60) sounds. It's a simple, easy to use module with a very nice sound.I've had the module for a few months now. The JU-06A doesn't have the ribbon controllers ... MoreI had a Juno-106 many many years ago but it was stolen. I've missed it a lot, I used to always use it. As far as my ears can tell it sounds the same. Perhaps someone can tell the slight differences but I cannot.I missed out on the original JU-06 due to financial problems after an on the job injury but i'm glad now because this one has additional features and improvements.I plan to get a 2nd one so I can poly chain them and have at least the same polyphony as the original Juno-106 (the JU-04/a has 4 voices versus 6 voices of the original Juno 106).I highly recommend it for anyone wanting the Juno 106 (or 60) sounds. It's a simple, easy to use module with a very nice sound.I've had the module for a few months now. The JU-06A doesn't have the ribbon controllers of the JU-06 but having an additional synth and better features and layout make it better.

Another Great Boutique Synth - 2 Synths for the Price of 1

First, I've been using and programming Synthesizers since 1972 with my first ARP 2600 and Mini Moog and many others over the years, so I do know my way around most of them.I never owned the either the Juno 60 or Juno 106 when they were introduced in 1982 and 1984 respectively. I was too involved with my Yamaha DX7 trying to learn its way too complicated and hidden menu system for creating sounds.Anyway fast forward..Roland has hit another home run with the JU06A (their other being the JX-08) It is everything that the original Juno60 and 106 were and more.Pros:Two Synths for the price of one. Simply Set the Switch to get the more mellow, warmer,deeper sounds of the 106 or that Punchy, Aggressive sound of the 60Full set of hands-on controls,Sound Patch: 64 ... MoreFirst, I've been using and programming Synthesizers since 1972 with my first ARP 2600 and Mini Moog and many others over the years, so I do know my way around most of them.I never owned the either the Juno 60 or Juno 106 when they were introduced in 1982 and 1984 respectively. I was too involved with my Yamaha DX7 trying to learn its way too complicated and hidden menu system for creating sounds.Anyway fast forward..Roland has hit another home run with the JU06A (their other being the JX-08) It is everything that the original Juno60 and 106 were and more.Pros:Two Synths for the price of one. Simply Set the Switch to get the more mellow, warmer,deeper sounds of the 106 or that Punchy, Aggressive sound of the 60Full set of hands-on controls,Sound Patch: 64 + 64 (8 patches x 8 banks pre each 60 and 106 mode)Sequencer Pattern: 16 Steps (Juno 106 and 60 had no Sequencer except External MSQ Keyboard Recorder for the JUNO 106 and JSQ60 for the Juno 60Arpeggiator (Judo 106 did not have one)Chord Memory: 16 StepsJUNO Chorus Effect including that Legendary Noise which is now adjustable so you can keep it under controlNo MORe Dead Sound Chips that always needed replacement in the Juno 106Velocity Sensitive with external KeyboardSolid BuildSmall Footprint (perfect for my Workstation Setup yet still the controls are all very easy to use and not too small)5 Pin MIDI In/OutClock InUSB Port for connection to Power or ComputerSome Great Third Part Sound Packs like the ones from Ultimate PatchesBattery Powered Option - For me not really a big dealBuilt in Speaker - For me not really a big dealCons:None really except if I want to be picky, like with all of their Boutique Series, Roland should include a USB Cable instead of the cheap set of batteries.As for Battery use don't expect much more than about 6 hours of useI think that their K25M Keyboard Dock is over priced, you are better off with any other MIDi Interface/Keyboard from AKAI, Arturia or Novation among other. These will give you much more versatility especially if you have other Synths or Modules.

Exceptional Music Creating Device! Great for beginners!!

Overall:While I haven't had much time with it besides experimenting on the synth and the occassional live usage, I can easily say that this device excels at helping to layout not just lead synth sounds, but pads and some nice basslines as well. I'd be hardpressed to believe any reviews saying this device can't help you write music! It's got everything a beginner to a pro needs, maybe save for the 4-voice limitation (which doesn't follow the original synthesizer's 6-voice polyphony it's based upon).There isn't much bad really, not much menu-diving or button combination work you'd have to memorize. It's a must-buy for those looking to get into synthesizers/physical hardware, especially given its price and what you get in the whole package. I was able to test out the ... MoreOverall:While I haven't had much time with it besides experimenting on the synth and the occassional live usage, I can easily say that this device excels at helping to layout not just lead synth sounds, but pads and some nice basslines as well. I'd be hardpressed to believe any reviews saying this device can't help you write music! It's got everything a beginner to a pro needs, maybe save for the 4-voice limitation (which doesn't follow the original synthesizer's 6-voice polyphony it's based upon).There isn't much bad really, not much menu-diving or button combination work you'd have to memorize. It's a must-buy for those looking to get into synthesizers/physical hardware, especially given its price and what you get in the whole package. I was able to test out the device with both midi and the piano accessory I bought seperately that goes with the Roland Boutique line, and I'm fairly impressed at the quality! The sliders are perfect, the knobs feel tight, the whole thing is practically made of metal so I'm not worried about it surviving a couple falls! I've read that the size can be a bit of a hassle to deal with, but to me personally I found it fairly easy to navigate despite having mondo-sized hands.Despite all the highs of the review though, I'd still recommend doing research on the one or two of issues of the device I had with it personally--its 4-voice polyphony and the usage of a 3.5mm input (but I guess considering its size it would've been tough to put a 1/4in input in). Though I've found myself just tacking on one or two more notes and copy/pasting midi automation it's a bit annoying to deal with four notes when I feel Roland could've just slid the other two notes in but just decided not to. I'm happy to deal with this considering an original Juno-106/60 goes for skyrocketing prices by comparison, but it's worthy to note, especially to those familiar with synthesizers already.All in all, great synth, barely any issues, and an absolute beast of a synth for those looking to push past the $100-200 price range but tryna stay within 3-digit prices!! And I gotta say, that chorus effect is as juicy as ever!

Good enough, but not 1:1 with the original

I have an original Juno 60, it's a centerpiece of our band's sound. But as much as we love it, it's a museum piece now. It's too fragile to lug around, and has been temperamental in a live setting, so we decided to retire it from live duty (though we still use it in the studio). Enter the JU-06A. This module was recommended by a friend, and the reviews are generally good, so we decided to give it a try.My verdict is it's good enough for the job, but it's not 1:1 with the original. Case in point is bank 5, patch 4. On the original, 54 is a staple of our band's sound: buzzy, thick and layered, and with the right settings on the LFO trigger, it adds a dose of swirling, chaotic energy to any transition. Just a classic Juno sound. Unfortunately, 54 on the JU-06A just ... MoreI have an original Juno 60, it's a centerpiece of our band's sound. But as much as we love it, it's a museum piece now. It's too fragile to lug around, and has been temperamental in a live setting, so we decided to retire it from live duty (though we still use it in the studio). Enter the JU-06A. This module was recommended by a friend, and the reviews are generally good, so we decided to give it a try.My verdict is it's good enough for the job, but it's not 1:1 with the original. Case in point is bank 5, patch 4. On the original, 54 is a staple of our band's sound: buzzy, thick and layered, and with the right settings on the LFO trigger, it adds a dose of swirling, chaotic energy to any transition. Just a classic Juno sound. Unfortunately, 54 on the JU-06A just doesn't capture the magic of the original. It's missing the warmth and depth to my ear.That's not to say that the JU-06A doesn't have some great sounds. It does. We are happy using it in our live setup in place of the retired Juno 60. But to be clear, it's not a 1:1 recreation of the original.

Had To Get It!

This is a very precise and accurate sounding analog modeling reproduction of the original 1984 Juno 106 polyphonic analog synth, I still have my juno 106 which I purchased from the local music store in 1986, and I made a side by side comparison of the two. The boutique series juno 106 A does indeed contain all the original juno 106 and juno 60 factory presets. The control knobs and sliders are exactly the same except they are smaller in scale. The tones are rich, warm and very analog! I could not tell the difference when comparing to the original juno 106. (roland has done some amazing things with these boutique series reissues) And the arpeggiator and sequencer functions that were never available on the original plus the included tone banks of the juno 60 are a ... MoreThis is a very precise and accurate sounding analog modeling reproduction of the original 1984 Juno 106 polyphonic analog synth, I still have my juno 106 which I purchased from the local music store in 1986, and I made a side by side comparison of the two. The boutique series juno 106 A does indeed contain all the original juno 106 and juno 60 factory presets. The control knobs and sliders are exactly the same except they are smaller in scale. The tones are rich, warm and very analog! I could not tell the difference when comparing to the original juno 106. (roland has done some amazing things with these boutique series reissues) And the arpeggiator and sequencer functions that were never available on the original plus the included tone banks of the juno 60 are a generous bonus. Only complaint about this amazing and tiny juno is that only four voices can be played (the original juno 106 had 6 voice polyphony), from the keyboard but it still sounds pretty good, there were a lot of songs recorded with four note synth chords. This is one of the best boutique series synth modules that roland has designed, and I am very pleased with it. Be sure to get the keyboard dock to mount it in so can own the world's smallest Juno! I've renamed mine Junior 106 Ha-Ha! But this synth module will be a limited production run like the boutique series JP-8 and TR-9 were so get one while you can.

Juno 60 and 106 in a neat package.

I've really been a fan of the Juno 60 sound for some time. Since discovering Olafur Alnalds and Kiasmos I've been hankering after the lush pads and deep bass sounds that he regularly employs in his tracks but until the release of the JU-06a it was a long way out of my price range. The JU-06a delivers in spades. The sound is bang on, build is superb and although it's a small package the sliders are eminently useable. It's so easy to use and with its built in speakers and batteries included you can get it running right out of the box. The only slight disappointment is the 4 rather than 6 note polyphony so the richest pad sounds are out of reach live. However, if you were desperate you could pick up another and chain them to get 8 note polyphony - and you'd still be ... MoreI've really been a fan of the Juno 60 sound for some time. Since discovering Olafur Alnalds and Kiasmos I've been hankering after the lush pads and deep bass sounds that he regularly employs in his tracks but until the release of the JU-06a it was a long way out of my price range. The JU-06a delivers in spades. The sound is bang on, build is superb and although it's a small package the sliders are eminently useable. It's so easy to use and with its built in speakers and batteries included you can get it running right out of the box. The only slight disappointment is the 4 rather than 6 note polyphony so the richest pad sounds are out of reach live. However, if you were desperate you could pick up another and chain them to get 8 note polyphony - and you'd still be paying a fraction of the cost of the original 2 synths. I absolutely love it.

Review of Roland JU-06A Desktop Synthesizer Module

I have owned a number of the Roland Boutiques and this one looks and feels the best built so far. The panel is really solid and the controls are high quality. Losing the touch strips of the older Boutiques helps here.Sound is excellent, really good, especially the chorus (crucial with a Juno) and the switchable 60/106 options. The delay is nothing special but then the originals didn't have one (and neither does the SH-01A) so it's a welcome addition.Minus points are the sequencer being monophonic, and the four-voice polyphony limitation. This last point really made me hold off from getting one for ages but in the end, a four-voice Juno is still an excellent synth. Neither of these things are enough to dock it a star. Nice little synth with a proven interface.

The JU-06A is brilliant.

I absolutely love the JU-06A synth. Is it a Juno? Not quite. But it sounds wonderful and does sound very similar to the original. And it's just wonderfully fun to use. The sliders have a great feel, the 16 step sequencer is usable and the arpeggiator and chording function are brilliant.