Roland JX-08

With the new edition of the analog classic JX-8P in boutique format, Roland relies on the variable Zencore engine. The most obvious advantage of the new edition, in addition to the more compact format and direct access via faders and controllers, is the expansion of the polyphony to up to 20 voices. In addition to the universal Roland filter, there are also two other models based on the classics from Moog and Sequential. It‘s just a pity that the new emulation does without a few specialties of the original, such as the possibility of using oscillator synchronization and cross-modulation at the same time for concise leads. On the other hand, the additional effects including reverb and delay, which complement the emulation of the iconic Juno chorus, are very welcome.

JX-08 replicates well the classic warm and lively vintage sound of Roland DCO synthesizers, while being ideally suited for polyphonic playing of classic analog sounds. Since two different sounds can be played at the same time, either as a layer or via keyboard split, the JX-08 can also be used to create complex sounds beyond classic vintage sounds when the effects are also used. If you combine the whole thing with the polyphonic sequencer with up to 64 steps and motion record function, the JX-08 really starts to shine – especially since each of the two parts can be triggered with different sequences in dual mode! A random pattern generator helps with lack of ideas, up to 128 patterns can be stored. An arpeggiator is also on board. The JX-08 is a very flexible virtual analog synthesizer - ultra-portable with batteries and optional keyboard K-25m and usable on a laptop as USB audio interface.