Roland Alpha Juno
Encyclopedia
The Roland Alpha Juno series of keyboards were analog polyphonic synthesizers with digitally controlled oscillators
manufactured by Roland Corporation
in 1985.
Two models were released: the Alpha Juno (JU-1), and the Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2), which added one octave of notes, a cartridge slot and touch-sensitivity. Alpha Juno synthesizers were notable for their reduced user interface compared to other synths of the day, with a single Alpha Dial replacing many sliders and knobs. The keyboard features MIDI in, out and 'thru', mono, stereo and headphone sockets. It also supports an external footpedal controller, and tape backup
.
The MKS-50 is a rack-mount version of the Alpha Juno. It has the same synth engine and architecture, with some added features like 16 programmable chord memories, the ability to store velocity, volume, panning, de-tune, portamento and other similar parameters within each patch you create.
The Alpha Juno is notable for its combination of the stability of digitally controlled oscillators
with the arguably more pleasant quality of analogue filters. Both Alpha Junos can create the Hoover sound
, a notable sound used in jungle
and rave music
. Artists who have used the Alpha Juno include The Prodigy
, hardcore/gabber music from the Thunderdome albums and a great many other rave acts.
The Roland programmer PG-300 offers complete control over all MIDI editable parameters of the Alpha Juno, the Alpha Juno 2 and the MKS-50. More recently, software has been written for Microsoft Windows
and Apple computers which allows graphical
editing of Juno patches through MIDI.
.
According to Simon Reynolds
in Generation Ecstasy, Joey Beltram's use of the Roland Juno Alpha synthesizer to create a "killer-bee drone" in his 1991 track "Mentasm" had huge influence on European hardcore techno. Reynolds compares this style of hardcore techno with heavy metal due to its aggressive overtones and riff-like stabs and notes that Beltram used the Juno Alpha synthesizer to imitate the "dirge-like riffs" of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
The Japanese label Kaerucafe released an album called "Cosmic Prophets" by Richard Barbieri
and Jan Linton
in 2001. The words "alpha juno" appear on the front cover in parentheses after Linton's name, indicating it as one of the instruments used.
Digitally-controlled oscillator
A digitally controlled oscillator or DCO is a hybrid digital/analogue electronic oscillator used in synthesizers. The name is an analogy with "voltage-controlled oscillator"...
manufactured by Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
in 1985.
Two models were released: the Alpha Juno (JU-1), and the Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2), which added one octave of notes, a cartridge slot and touch-sensitivity. Alpha Juno synthesizers were notable for their reduced user interface compared to other synths of the day, with a single Alpha Dial replacing many sliders and knobs. The keyboard features MIDI in, out and 'thru', mono, stereo and headphone sockets. It also supports an external footpedal controller, and tape backup
Tape drive
A tape drive is a data storage device that reads and performs digital recording, writes data on a magnetic tape. Magnetic tape data storage is typically used for offline, archival data storage. Tape media generally has a favorable unit cost and long archival stability.A tape drive provides...
.
The MKS-50 is a rack-mount version of the Alpha Juno. It has the same synth engine and architecture, with some added features like 16 programmable chord memories, the ability to store velocity, volume, panning, de-tune, portamento and other similar parameters within each patch you create.
The Alpha Juno is notable for its combination of the stability of digitally controlled oscillators
Digitally-controlled oscillator
A digitally controlled oscillator or DCO is a hybrid digital/analogue electronic oscillator used in synthesizers. The name is an analogy with "voltage-controlled oscillator"...
with the arguably more pleasant quality of analogue filters. Both Alpha Junos can create the Hoover sound
Hoover sound
Hoover sound refers to a particular synthesizer sound in electronic music, commonly used in Hard House music and other styles. Originally called the "Mentasm" or "Dominator", the name that stuck was the one likening the sound to that of a vacuum cleaner.-The sound:The Hoover is a complex waveform...
, a notable sound used in jungle
Oldschool jungle
Jungle is a genre of electronic music that incorporates influences from genres including breakbeat hardcore, and reggae/dub/dancehall. There is debate as to whether jungle is a separate genre from drum and bass as many use the terms interchangeably...
and rave music
Rave music
Rave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
. Artists who have used the Alpha Juno include The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, hardcore/gabber music from the Thunderdome albums and a great many other rave acts.
The Roland programmer PG-300 offers complete control over all MIDI editable parameters of the Alpha Juno, the Alpha Juno 2 and the MKS-50. More recently, software has been written for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Apple computers which allows graphical
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
editing of Juno patches through MIDI.
Factory Presets
The Factory Presets for the Alpha juno and MKS-50 were created by Eric PersingEric Persing
Eric Persing is a professional synthesist and producer in Los Angeles, California. He is best known as the Founder and Creative Director of the leading music software and virtual instrument company Spectrasonics...
.
Notable Users
- Joey BeltramJoey BeltramJoey Beltram is an American DJ and record producer, best-known for the pioneering recordings "Energy Flash" and "Mentasm"....
According to Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds is an English music critic who is well-known for his writings on electronic dance music and for coining the term "post-rock". Besides electronic dance music, Reynolds has written about a wide range of artists and musical genres, and has written books on post-punk and rock...
in Generation Ecstasy, Joey Beltram's use of the Roland Juno Alpha synthesizer to create a "killer-bee drone" in his 1991 track "Mentasm" had huge influence on European hardcore techno. Reynolds compares this style of hardcore techno with heavy metal due to its aggressive overtones and riff-like stabs and notes that Beltram used the Juno Alpha synthesizer to imitate the "dirge-like riffs" of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.
- Vince ClarkeVince ClarkeVince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
- Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
- The ProdigyThe ProdigyThe Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
- Human ResourceHuman resourcehuman resource may stand for:* another name for an employee* human resources, another name for labor* Human resource management, the strategic approach to management of human resources* Human Resources , a Doctor Who audio drama...
The Japanese label Kaerucafe released an album called "Cosmic Prophets" by Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri
Richard Barbieri, is an English synthesiser player, keyboardist and composer. He was educated at Catford Boys' School, Catford, South East London...
and Jan Linton
Jan Linton
Jan Linton is a singer, musician and producer from Warrington, England, who helped internationalize the music scene in Tokyo, Japan.-Biography:...
in 2001. The words "alpha juno" appear on the front cover in parentheses after Linton's name, indicating it as one of the instruments used.
External links
- Gordon Reid's Vintage Synths - Alpha Juno history
- Alpha Juno specs
- [ftp://ftp.roland.co.uk/ProductSupport/JUNO-1/01_JUNO-1_OM.pdf Alpha Juno 1 manual]
- [ftp://ftp.roland.co.uk/ProductSupport/JUNO-2/01_JUNO-2_OM.pdf Alpha Juno 2 manual]
- [ftp://ftp.roland.co.uk/ProductSupport/MKS-50/01_MKS-50_OM.pdf MKS-50 manual]
- Sound clips, pictures and information on J-1