Roland JX-08 Boutique Synthesizer

The Roland jx08 is a good synthesized. Thd sound layering function is a bit confusing as you have edit two sounds and when you play the sequencer they both play at the same time. Most of the controls are pretty easy and straight forward to use.

Brilliant synth. BIG surprises inside:

There's 2 JX-8P synth engines, you can stack them.The effects are way better than previous boutiques too.Upgraded to the Ultimate Patches and never looked back.Highly recommended for authentic vintage sounds.

Great synth, but could be made closer to a JX-8P

I think this little synth is excellent - it's intended to sound like the original JX-8P and it approaches that sound with some added extras, including extra effects and expanded polyphony. It's also quite intuitive to use and to program. Some of the downsides are that some of the features on the original are missing. For example, unison detune currently doesn't work on the unit (as of the 14/02/2022... this might be updated, but who knows?) and the filter doesn't sound quite the same. The other issue, which seems to be a general, ongoing problem with Roland products, is the manual. It's currently online only, which makes it unnecessarily difficult to access. So if you're expecting something in this unit that is exactly like the JX-8P, it's not quite that. But if ... MoreI think this little synth is excellent - it's intended to sound like the original JX-8P and it approaches that sound with some added extras, including extra effects and expanded polyphony. It's also quite intuitive to use and to program. Some of the downsides are that some of the features on the original are missing. For example, unison detune currently doesn't work on the unit (as of the 14/02/2022... this might be updated, but who knows?) and the filter doesn't sound quite the same. The other issue, which seems to be a general, ongoing problem with Roland products, is the manual. It's currently online only, which makes it unnecessarily difficult to access. So if you're expecting something in this unit that is exactly like the JX-8P, it's not quite that. But if you're expecting something similar that's a pleasure to program and with some additional features, then this is for you.

If u need the 80s, buy one.

This thing is awesome. I got mine used, and, for under $300, I got the 80s, lol. I play new wave, EDMcovers, etc. Any pad from that time period, any ploink, and buzz, bass, etc, this will do it. I owned a actual JX8 back in the day, and I cant tell the difference.

Not quite a JX-8P but better in some ways

A nice standalone synth in it's own right. The performance mode is called sequence mode. Here you split or dual the two tones. Two tones much the same, played together give you a four osc polyphonic monster. The sequencer is great, but sadly you can't transpose (play it) as yet, something Roland could easily add with a firmware upgrade. The synth sounds big, not an exact rendition of the JX-8P, but near enough to get the original feel. However, it's probably better viewed as a standalone synth, which has a wide and varied palette, great sequencer, effects etc

Probably the Best Synth in Roland's Boutique Lineup and I lo

First, I've been using and programming Synthesizers since 1972 with my first ARP 2600 so I do know my way around most of them.I never owned the original JX8P when it was introduced in 1985, I was too involved with my Yamaha DX7. However I did get to work with one that a friend of mine owned and I was sort of sorry I had the DX7.Anyway fast forward..Roland has hit a home run with the JX-08. It is everything that the original JX8P was and more.Pros:Full set of hands-on controls, taken from the PG-800 programmer unit from the original JX8P. This makes this Synth so easy to program out of the box.20 Voice Polyphony, not that I can play 20 notes at a time but when creating effects it sets this Synth way up there.It's BiTimbral. This means the two Parts in the ... MoreFirst, I've been using and programming Synthesizers since 1972 with my first ARP 2600 so I do know my way around most of them.I never owned the original JX8P when it was introduced in 1985, I was too involved with my Yamaha DX7. However I did get to work with one that a friend of mine owned and I was sort of sorry I had the DX7.Anyway fast forward..Roland has hit a home run with the JX-08. It is everything that the original JX8P was and more.Pros:Full set of hands-on controls, taken from the PG-800 programmer unit from the original JX8P. This makes this Synth so easy to program out of the box.20 Voice Polyphony, not that I can play 20 notes at a time but when creating effects it sets this Synth way up there.It's BiTimbral. This means the two Parts in the JX08 can be split or layered across the keyboard and can be used to create some of the lushest pads you've ever heard as well as complex sounds that would be impossible to obtain using a single Part.Arpeggiator (JX8p did not have one)Sequencer (JX8p did not have one) which is 2 part, 64 steps, 8 notes per part (Polyphonic)17 new Effects including a new designed Chorus256 Preset SlotsVelocity Sensitive & AftertouchSolid 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:If you are new to Synths this is a little more difficult to learn that many others on the market but with time and the abundance of online demos you will learn how to use it if you are patient.No others really except if I want to be picky, Roland should include a USB Cable instead of the cheap set of batteries.I 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.This for me is not really a Con just a point you should know, if you are thinking that the JX-08 will sound exactly like the Original JX8P it doesn't. Oh it's very close in many ways and with some tweaking it can be almost identical but it was NOT Roland's intention for it be an exact Clone. The one biggest difference is in the Sound/Voice emulations. The original used a technology known as Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB), this JX-08 uses Analog Circuit Modeling (ACM). These are 2 very different approaches to how the Synths makes their sounds and by this very nature they would never sound identical. Also you should know that the Original JX8P's had several Revisions in its life from 1985-1989 which made each Revision sound just a bit different from previous models, so which one can you really compare this JX-08 to?Bottom line, don't try to compare just enjoy how powerful, beefy, melodic and lush this Synth sounds.

Review of Roland JX-08 Sound Module

This module is multitimbral (Two JX-08 in one), but there's only one stereo out, they could have easlily put another stereo minijack. But it's nice to layer the sounds though.

Sounds great!

Authentic sounding synth, nice build quality and an easy to use UI.Quickly delivered too!

The BEST boutique from Roland, because:

- 20 voices- can upgrade factory presets to Ultimate Patches- quality multiple effects- based on the classic 1985 JX-8P analog synthHighly inspiring for classic 80s synth sounds.

Very Impressive Synth but ...

Had the Synth about 5 weeks and has alot of very impressive sounds but having problems with some sounds - eg Factory Sound A14 ( Gamelan Cans ) - every time I play notes continuously the sound fades away like someone was turning the 0 - 10 filter envelope ( Mixer ) up and down . If I play the notes in Note Mode on the JX 08 sound A14 becomes dull and compressed and if I play via my Korg i3 (1993) the sound is even worse . Hoping that this problem is fixable by some editing within the menus or worse case scenario - a bug fix ?