Roland JX-10
Encyclopedia
The Roland
JX-10 (also known as the Roland Super JX) was a 12-voice analog synthesizer
produced from 1986 to 1989, and was the last true analog synthesizer made by Roland. It is essentially two Roland JX-8P
synthesizers put together, along with a 76-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch. It also includes features not found on the JX-8P, including a simple 1-track sketchbook sequencer and a delay effect (which works like a "midi delay" by delaying one tone rather than acting as a true DSP delay effect).
and Dan DeSousa.
If the software in the JX-10 is updated then it will support SYSEX and have other bugs corrected. Unfortunately, an update means soldering off the old ROM chip and soldering on the new one (they did not use flash RAM for OS in 1986)
It can also be noted that the JX-10 outputs MIDI Control Change 123 (all notes off) instead of "normal" note off messages to its MIDI out every time a key is released (apparently the JX-8P does this is well). This can be filtered out or ignored by editing CC 123 in the sequencer if it should create any problems; normally it does not.
rack-mounted counterpart called the MKS-70. It is basically the same as the JX-10, except that the MKS-70's tones can be edited through MIDI; this is not possible on the JX-10 due to its incomplete SysEx implementation, but this can be solved by updating the JX-10's operating system
.
More importantly, the LFOs on the JX-10 / MKS-70 are digital; on the JX-8P the LFO
is analog. This means that the LFO is "always running" / "free running" on the JX-8P - akin to LFOs on older analog synthesizers such as the Minimoog
. On the JX-10 / MKS-70, the LFOs start from zero each time you play a note when no other keys are depressed. A potential issue: if you want to program a sound where the LFO sweeps the filter, this will not always work as intended on the JX-10 / MKS-70, because the LFOs will reset their cycle if the played notes do not overlap.
Another difference between the JX-10 / MKS-70 synthesizers and the JX8P, is that the former have built in noise gates which makes them more silent when not playing. The JX-8P is "always on" meaning its built-in chorus effect can always be heard quietly "pulsing" in the stereo field, just like other analog Roland synths with this chorus (Juno-6 / 60, 106, Alpha Juno 1 / 2 and others). On the JX10 / MKS-70, there is no audible clipping when the gate opens (i.e. when the synth is playing).
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,...
JX-10 (also known as the Roland Super JX) was a 12-voice analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
produced from 1986 to 1989, and was the last true analog synthesizer made by Roland. It is essentially two Roland JX-8P
Roland JX-8P
The Roland JX-8P was a 61-keyboard 6-note, velocity and aftertouch sensitive polyphonic synthesizer released by Roland in 1984 to compete against the Yamaha DX7. In many aspects, the JX-8P delivers classic "fat" Roland synth sounds just like instruments as Jupiter-8, Jupiter-6, MKS-80 and the...
synthesizers put together, along with a 76-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch. It also includes features not found on the JX-8P, including a simple 1-track sketchbook sequencer and a delay effect (which works like a "midi delay" by delaying one tone rather than acting as a true DSP delay effect).
Programmability
Like most synthesizers of the time, the JX-10 is programmed by selecting a parameter through a small keypad and editing the parameter using a data wheel (which Roland dubbed the "alpha-dial"). Like the JX-8P, this can be bypassed by connecting a PG-800 programmer to the synthesizer. The PG-800 connects to a specific PG-800 port on the back of the synthesizer.Factory Presets
The JX-10 and MKS-70's Factory Presets 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...
and Dan DeSousa.
Memory
The JX-10 has space for 64 patches in its internal memory, each of which can be composed with one (12-voice) or two tones (rendering the synth 6-voice polyphonic). These tones can be selected individually, combined together, or split. Of the 100 available tones, 50 of them can be edited and saved to memory; the other 50 are factory patches. The JX-10's memory can also be expanded by plugging in a M-16C, M-32C (very rare, originally only available on the japanese market) or M-64C memory cartridge. If a cartridge is inserted, the JX-10's built in sketchbook sequencer can be used (it can only be used if a cartridge is present). The JX-10 / MKS-70 can also read and write tone data for the JX-8P this way (which in turn can only use the M-16C). The M-64C can store 64 patches and 100 tones; the M-16C can store 32 tones only (no patches).MIDI Implementation
The MIDI implementation on the JX-10 is somewhat faulty and lacks common features. Maybe most importantly it cannot send or receive Tone or Patches by MIDI SYSEX. The Roland MKS-70 (the rack version of the JX-10) does however send and receive tones and patches over SYSEX because it has newer/different software in ROM.If the software in the JX-10 is updated then it will support SYSEX and have other bugs corrected. Unfortunately, an update means soldering off the old ROM chip and soldering on the new one (they did not use flash RAM for OS in 1986)
It can also be noted that the JX-10 outputs MIDI Control Change 123 (all notes off) instead of "normal" note off messages to its MIDI out every time a key is released (apparently the JX-8P does this is well). This can be filtered out or ignored by editing CC 123 in the sequencer if it should create any problems; normally it does not.
MKS-70
The JX-10 also has a 2URack unit
A rack unit or U is a unit of measure used to describe the height of equipment intended for mounting in a 19-inch rack or a 23-inch rack...
rack-mounted counterpart called the MKS-70. It is basically the same as the JX-10, except that the MKS-70's tones can be edited through MIDI; this is not possible on the JX-10 due to its incomplete SysEx implementation, but this can be solved by updating the JX-10's operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
.
Audible differences between JX8P and JX10 / MKS-70
While the JX-10 (and the MKS-70) are basically two JX-8Ps in one, it should be noted that some of the features of the JX-8P are lost with the JX-10. The characteristics of the filter are a little bit different, so some tones sound different on the two synths. The resonance is a bit more "raw" on the Super JX synths. However, this can be tweaked and "fixed" by fine-tuning the programming on the JX-10 / MKS-70.More importantly, the LFOs on the JX-10 / MKS-70 are digital; on the JX-8P the LFO
LFO
LFO may refer to:* LFO , an English techno act* LFO , an American three-man pop/rap group** LFO , an album released by the American pop group LFO* Light Finding Operation, a form of mecha from the anime TV series Eureka Seven...
is analog. This means that the LFO is "always running" / "free running" on the JX-8P - akin to LFOs on older analog synthesizers such as the Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
. On the JX-10 / MKS-70, the LFOs start from zero each time you play a note when no other keys are depressed. A potential issue: if you want to program a sound where the LFO sweeps the filter, this will not always work as intended on the JX-10 / MKS-70, because the LFOs will reset their cycle if the played notes do not overlap.
Another difference between the JX-10 / MKS-70 synthesizers and the JX8P, is that the former have built in noise gates which makes them more silent when not playing. The JX-8P is "always on" meaning its built-in chorus effect can always be heard quietly "pulsing" in the stereo field, just like other analog Roland synths with this chorus (Juno-6 / 60, 106, Alpha Juno 1 / 2 and others). On the JX10 / MKS-70, there is no audible clipping when the gate opens (i.e. when the synth is playing).
Notable users
- Lyle Mays- Can be heard on the Pat Metheny Group albums Still life talking, Letter from Home, The road to you, We live here, Imaginary day, Speaking of now and The Way Up. Also used on his solo album Street dreams as well as the Pat Metheny album Secret Story. The "Mays Pad" patch is called after him and based on his Prophet 5/Oberheim 4 voice signature lead sound.
- Vince Clarke- Can be heard on the Circus, The Innocents and Wild! albums.
- The K2 Plan (Shekhar Raj Dhain) - Used on Arkpan Mart E.P. and In Perfekter Bedingung E.P. Also uses on a lot of scoring work.
- Pink Floyd - On Momentary Lapse of Reason
- Duran Duran - On Notorious
- The Cure ( e.g. synth brass on "Why Can't I be You?" )
- Tim Simenon on Neneh Cherry's single "Buffalo StanceBuffalo Stance"Buffalo Stance" is a 1988 song that peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart recorded by Neneh Cherry from her album Raw Like Sushi, produced by Tim Simenon and Mark Saunders.-History:...
" - ascending hook riff - Nik Kershaw - On Radio MusicolaRadio MusicolaRadio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album deals with subjects of integrity - media skepticism , privacy, insecurity and mass produced run-of-the-mill pop Radio Musicola is Nik Kershaw's third album. It was released in 1986 by MCA Records.The album...
and The WorksThe Works (Nik Kershaw album)The Works is Nik Kershaw's fourth album. It is the last one he created for MCA Records, in 1989. It introduces slight jazz influences in some tracks.... - Angelo Badalamenti - Strings patches, tweaked.
- Countless newer artists in synth-using genres like house/dance/trance/techno/electronica etc.