Roland JX-1

The look is not great ... but what is surprising is the sound of this brilliant keyboard. Of course the sounds are very ugly pcm but the synths are very clean. IF you are looking for a small MIDI controller keyboard with sounds typed 80 years ... c not too bad (well the end of year 80).
I bought it used 120euros a few years ago I think we can push j'usqua 180euros 220 euros for a keyboard in good condition.

UTILIZATION

The editing and setting up a child ... simplicitée but do not expect radical changes!

SOUNDS

Note that I give is 4 / 10 for sound but be careful I think we can find life in this color a little 80. Frankly filters have no color but all the sounds have a small sound sympatie. I prefer this synth to d50 or U110 and some premeirs JV. I have not tried to make changes to filter by noon but like many Roland synths can be changed dramatically by the system sounds ex! For those who find me when I started I did it with a simple sc80MK2 which is not a synthesizer (a exempendeur c) and of the sys excl game I found myself with a synth ... oomble and I could even change the program name! if so ... bein read the last pages of your exempedeur roland sometimes there are surprises!

OVERALL OPINION

This is a keyboard that I use rarely but which finds its place among other synths. To be used from time to time.

Synthe 5 octave that wears very quickly to the design (a interrieure the machine) not ATVIA it breaks down very quickly
It sounds yen for 64 in two banks not expect something very good but can Bossant obtenire drinking something

UTILIZATION

Simple configuration, simpler is not better, sounds are most of the time but I like it very kitsch, but its worth a visit even when

SOUNDS

It's not too realistic but can be a crushing sound must be sought to obtain a pure sound that be good

OVERALL OPINION

I have been since 1990 its my first synth and I always but very tired, key no longer works like the buttons on the panel and food does not work very well either, but MIDI is I lay untouched connect a master keyboard becaufe the sounds are intact and the adjustment knobs are intact reverb filter value if somebody had tablecloths, one that links the keyboard's sound card would be nice Thanks in advance for those who would like a Be careful though to try before you buy, try everything, all the keys, buttons, stop walking so you do not crash and yet we easily fall in love with this synth that has it know what I mean

Everything has already been said ...
<ul> Light touch keyboard, 5 octave, velocity sensitive (4 settings) Controllers: pitch bend and modulation, Roland Stereo line output, headphone output, stereo line input (reproduced output) Hold pedal jack, Midi In, Out, Through 3 banks of 64 sounds, including one editable For each sound: reverb (or delay), chorus, filter, envelope, vibrato Mono-timbral 24 votes (or 12 for certain sounds) or bi-timbral (layer, in the same bank) 12 votes </ul>

UTILIZATION

The machine is simple to use too!

The manual is 20 pages and is written large. Easy to read, but it's not really necessary, unless special need (SyxEx. ..)

Editing the sounds is rather limited (few parameters), but extremely simple: 2 +4 knobs, 2 buttons. And no screen! Advantage: triturate the sound on the fly, and with a little practice, you always know where you are going. Hence the name "performance synthesizer ': synthesis Live!

Annoying default: only 32 user memories (bank 3). And the choice of memory is limited: a sound based on "Piano", the first preset (A or B) must be recorded in the first position of the bank memory, and nowhere else! A MIDI-SysEx backup is of course possible.

The keyboard is ok, light. The keys are responsive, but not very fast. It is velocity sensitive (4 settings), which was one of my selection criteria at the time. Apparently he is fragile (wear buttons ...), but I've never had a problem. Fo say I have not made extensive use ...

SOUNDS

A synth rather uneven: very good sounds like a very bad (matter of taste, fashion and use). Nothing really realistic. Some presets are awful, but we can always learn something when looking around. Others, like the famous 'leads', are really surprising. Must love the sound "synth 90's," and I like

Most of the presets are "inflated" by reverb or chorus, making them a bit too heavy (at least to play solo).

Some stamps use 2 votes (about half of the presets). The sound is richer at the expense of the polyphony which is then reduced to 12 (6 in case of overlap).
Another curiosity: the effect of "Reverb" is sometimes actually an echo (or delay), depending on the preset selected.

We quickly made the rounds of the possibilities of "synthesis", but thanks to the ease of access settings (all live) it still enjoys tinkering with a sound. A bit like an old analog synth.

For cons, the superposition of two sounds is interesting, either to enhance a sound, or to facilitate the game right hand / left hand. In fact, layering is not perfect. For example, the effect module is shared by the 2 stamps selected. It is then possible to add the echo (or some kind of time) to a sound that did not. It also appears that the 2 LFOs are not entirely independent ... Consequence: the stacking order influences the outcome, sometimes radically!
Another tip related to the overlay: using MIDI, it is possible to superimpose a sound itself. At first glance useless unless we remember that the sound settings apply only to selected first stamp: it was so close 2 stamps, but with env / filter / vibr different. Disadvantage: only one save area for the two layers.

Through it all, some really lousy presets (trumpet/bank2!) Are quite salvageable: it can get really rich sounds. Ultimately, we work primarily with the third bank, those sounds made by hand, which is superimposed at will. Appraisal: scratching a little, there are some very good thing!

OVERALL OPINION

My third synth, probably the most "complete" the three, despite its many limitations.
I like its simplicity: a synth-anti-brainer, excellent for beginners. Almost a toy (in a good sense), to have fun, as we can go to the piano after a meal. But a source external sound quickly becomes indispensable for serious use, at least to complete.
Excellent value for money at the time, bought 3,000 francs in 1994, or 580 euros today.

Today, my desires have changed. But I'm still attached to the keyboard for 3 reasons: it is a great keyboard, ideal for a small installation complete computer music for its ease of use: you turn, you can play, fun I am a great nostalgic