Syntheziser Roland Jd-800 & jd-990 rack

[Bam]

Specifications
Polyphony - 24 voices
Oscillators - ROM based digital synthesizer
Instruments - 6 part multitimbral
Keyboard - 61 key keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
Arpeg/Seq - NO
Control - MIDI
Date Produced - 1991-93

The JD-800 is Roland's answer to half a decade of hard-to-program synthesizers. Covered in sliders that act as dedicated editors just like a classic analog synth, the JD-800 is an extremely programmable and hands-on digital synthesizer. It is also an interesting and great sounding digital synth with incredible flexibility and control. Internal ROM based waveforms are combined to build your sounds. The sounds are based on Roland's D-50, but updated for the nineties with multimode filters - uncommon but welcome at the time.

The JD-800 came in a tough metal case capped off on the sides with large plastic covers. Programming may be a little too flexible for some users, but once you know what you're doing with it, almost any sound you can dream up can be dialed in and stored.

The JD-800 came in a tough metal case capped off on the sides with large plastic covers. Programming may be a little too flexible for some users, but once you know what you're doing with it, almost any sound you can dream up can be dialed in and stored.

The JD-800 became very popular with musicians who wished to take a 'hands on' approach to patch programming.
In the introduction to the manual, it is stated that with this synthesizer, Roland intended to 'return to the roots of synthesis':

The JD-800 combines sample playback with digital synthesis, a process that Roland calls Linear Arithmetic synthesis, a technique Roland had been using to great effect in the Roland D-50. The JD-800 has 108 waveforms built-in, but these can be expanded via PCM-cards. There are waveforms in a variety of categories, like; analog synth, acoustic instruments, like guitars, woodwind, brass and voices. Most of these waveforms are very short and are designed to give character to the attack portion of a sound, while some longer ones are designed for creating pads, or the sustained part of a patch. The JD-800 was the first instrument from Roland to have its core sound set of waveforms developed entirely in the United States, under a short-lived branch of Roland's R&D-LA office in Culver City, California. The core sampled waveforms and Factory presets of the JD-800 were created by Eric Persing.

A patch, or single sound, in the JD-800 consists of up to 4 tones. As every tone consists of an almost completely independent synthesizer voice a patch could be considered a layer of up to 4 different synthesizers. In single mode the JD-800 plays one patch at a time, but in multi mode it is possible to play 5 different patches, over MIDI, plus an extra "special" patch. The special patch has different waveforms assigned to the 61 different key on the keyboard, so is used for drums and percussion sounds. The JD-800 has one effects section. In single mode 7 effects can be used simultaneously, in series, so all tones in a patch go through the same effects. In multi mode 3 effects can be used at the same time, all patches sharing the same effects, though a patch can be routed to bypass the effects.

A patch, or single sound, in the JD-800 consists of up to 4 tones. As every tone consists of an almost completely independent synthesizer voice a patch could be considered a layer of up to 4 different synthesizers. In single mode the JD-800 plays one patch at a time, but in multi mode it is possible to play 5 different patches, over MIDI, plus an extra "special" patch. The special patch has different waveforms assigned to the 61 different key on the keyboard, so is used for drums and percussion sounds. The JD-800 has one effects section. In single mode 7 effects can be used simultaneously, in series, so all tones in a patch go through the same effects. In multi mode 3 effects can be used at the same time, all patches sharing the same effects, though a patch can be routed to bypass the effects.

Jd-990

Roland released the JD-990 Super JD in 1993. This is an enhanced rackmountable sound module version of the JD-800, without sliders, a larger display, and the ability to expand the device with PCM cards for extra sounds.

The synth was expandable by the inclusion of slots for PCM and RAM cards. The former increased the number of waveforms available to the user, the latter increased the number of patches that could be used. Roland produced a number of expansion kits for the synth (and other compatible models) comprising a pair of cards - a PCM card containing new samples, and a RAM card containing a bank of new presets.

PCM add on cards:
Roland later released 8 add on cards for the JD 800:

SL-JD80-01 Drums & Percussion STANDARD
SL-JD80-02 Drums & Percussion DANCE
SL-JD80-03 Rock Drums
SL-JD80-04 Strings Ensemble
SL-JD80-05 Brass Section
SL-JD80-06 Grand Piano
SL-JD80-07 Guitar Collection
SL-JD80-08 Accordion

Notable Users

Vangelis
Duran Duran
Teddy Riley
ísland
New Order
Clarence Jey
George Duke
Gustavo Cerati of Soda Stereo
Tony Banks of Genesis
Martin L. Gore of Depeche Mode
Akira Yamaoka
Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Jean-Michel Jarre
Rick Wakeman
Jonathan Cain of Journey
Bradley Joseph
Kenny Loggins
Mercury Rev
Steve Hillier of Dubstar
William Orbit
Robert Miles
Kevin Moore of Dream Theater
Derek Sherinian of Dream Theater
Pet Shop Boys
The Prodigy
CoLD SToRAGE
David Rosenthal keyboardist for Billy Joel
Paul Shaffer of Late Night with David Letterman
Klaus Schulze
Luca Anzilotti of Snap!
Spiritualized
Tangerine Dream
Matt Guillory
Underworld
Laurent Garnier
Deep Forest
Ken Ishii
Susumu Hirasawa
Anthony Rother
Argonaut Games
E.P. Bergen of BV3
Moguai
Legowelt
Dennis Provisor
The Time Frequency

Still a coveted instrument with great features and sound!! But they just get more expensive with time. And so costly to repair.. all those sliders need to be protected at all times!!

[nox]

Der JD-990 hatte eine erweiterte Struktur, Ringmod und Verschaltungsmöglichkeiten. Durch das große Display auch gut zu bedienen, natürlich nicht vergleichbar mit dem JD800. Ich fand die Stärken klar positioniert bei Flächen aber auch bei Digitalbässen, die mitunter sehr hart und tief sein konnten.

Die Gebrauchtmarktpreise haben sich in den letzten Jahren nahezu verdoppelt. Für die aktuellen Preise für mich eher uninteressant.

Sicherlich der Studiostandard in den 90s und das zeigt allein schon die o.a. Liste der Künstler.

[nox]

Auch noch mal was von der Demo/Ex-Festplatte....


  _JD990_verschiedene_jams.mp3 (Size: 12.31 MB / Downloads: 8)

[nox]

Roland hat nun den JD-800 über die Zencore Technologie (Software-VSt als auch für Jupiter X/Xm) 
am Start. Ich hoffe, dass später die Emulation auch für den Fantom kommt, weil sich das Model über das Display besser bedienen lässt als über die Slider des Jupiter X/Xm.

Was ich bisher gehört habe ist JD-800 pur. Da ein Original ohne Red Glue mit Stand heute irgendwwas zwischen 1400 und 1600 kostet, der Preis sicherlich wie bei vergleichbaren 90er Geräten noch anzieht, muss man sich überlegen, ob man nicht direkt Zencore Pro nimmt oder sich für etwas mehr Geld einen Fantom/Jupiter-X/XM ins Haus holt, wenn es denn Hardware sein muss. Da hat man direkt noch weitere Emulationen (Jupiter 8, JX8P, Juno und SH-101) im Gerät und wer weiß was Roland da noch entwickelt, man hat auch keine "alte Hardware" und fehlerhafte Slider/Buttons.

Der einzige Grund für einen JD-800 wäre für mich nur noch der Look, den ich wirklich mag. Dafür würde ich aber nicht solche Beträge investieren.

Der Preisanstieg zum JD-990 ist ähnlich, empfinde ich als viel zu teuer. Wer etwas in der Richtung benötigt sollte sich für 200-300 Euro einen JV2080 und das Soundset von Don Solaris holen. Technisch etwas anders aufgebaut, reicht aber allemal...