The JD-XA setup

The JD-XA is an amazing live synth but also a hugely powerful central hub/sequencer which can control other instruments too. Check this setup out!

Let’s look at some possible ways to create beats, basslines, chords and songs live, without a laptop. This particular all-hardware setup can can satisfy all of these aforementioned requirements!

First off, the JD-XA 1 has a solid and powerful sequencer featuring 16 tracks which can be set to control the internal synth engines (analogue and digital), plus external gear over MIDI or CV/Gate, or both! The analogue section is great for creating not only leads, basses and poly sounds but it’s also a great analogue drum machine too, with that classic Roland analogue character! It’s definitely wise to do some prep beforehand to get the most from this setup live, so we like to dedicate Analogue Part 1 to bass, Part 2 to kick, Part 3 to snare and 4 to hats, then leave layering/percussive duties to the DFAM 2 which provides a very interactive way to make and tweak beats and percussive layers with its extensive modulation, sequencing and filtering; plus it has a flexible semi-modular patch bay. Again, (like the JD-XA) it’s wise to set up a solid starting point sound/ patch on the DFAM which you can easily build tracks from.

To set things up, take a gate output from the JD-XA into the DFAM’s Clock/ADV input. Enter 64 steps into the sequencer on track 5 of the XA’s sequencer (set it to external) and when you hit play on the XA’s sequencer, it will start the DFAM sequencer in sync with the JD-XA. For an extended live set, it’s worth creating between 8 and 16 sequences in the XA at varying tempos (and with varying degrees of swing) to add variation, then save each sequence separately and name each appropriately so you know sequence 1 is for slow builds, sequence 2 for faster housey feels, etc. You can then record in a bassline on the XA’s first analogue part, then kick, snare and hats on the remaining parts (or pre-record these parts and simply mute/ un-mute them as you wish). You can then add further pads, strings, pianos, percussion (and whatever else you want to layer) using the XA’s remaining digital parts. Then it’s down to performing using the plethora of real time knobs and faders available on the JD-XA and DFAM’s front panels – you can really take things right into the stratosphere! Once you have rinsed out a particular sequence, you can then move onto another sequence and repeat the process!

Also in this setup, we’re using the Boss RC-505 3 again, this time not as a looper (though it can still be used in this role here as both the XA and DFAM are running into its inputs) but purely as an effects unit to add reverb and mod effects to the DFAM which has no inbuilt effects. The RC-505 input/output effects sound great, (typical Boss/Roland quality, ie great!) and up to three effects can be used at once for more complex effecting, plus all the effects types can easily be controlled/manipulated via the large effect level dials; this is a very hands-on way to add further processing and interest to your DFAM beats live.