Roland JX3P

Hey, i have the opportunity to buy this synth for cheap. I read that the MIDI wasn't really good on it. Anyone has this and use it with an MPC? Cause i'd like to sequence it with mine. And how is the programming on it? I need a synth that's really hands on, not sure this is the case with this one without thePG200.
The sounds seems to be good though for the price, and since i will use it mostly for Detroit style techno, i think it might be a good choice!
Thanks

get the PG controller and an 8p (not the 3p)because even though these sound fine it is not fun programming it without the sliders. It is not going to sound amazing- it will sound 80's. Will this be your first analog? You will not be blown away or anything. I find that the Vsynth set to juno sounds just like it. The cool thing is that they are relatively cheap. Can't hurt you to get it but it isn't amazing compared to say a newer analog like Moog little phatty and all it can do.
Cheers,
Ian

PS the knobs are the reason why people prefer the older Juno type instead. Roland made a mistake taking the sliders off and creating menus.

Sorry have to disagree, I've owned both and the 8P imo sucks or in more sensible words it doesn't sound as "good" as the 3P and is a cnt to use.
This seems to be mirrored by other people too on the net who had both

The 3P is very easy and quick to use/program NOTHING like the nightmare of the 8P
You don't need the PG for the 3P!

The MIDI sucks on it and some don't have MIDI thru (early ones) also they always turn on with omni enabled, turning it off is done in a VERY backwards way. (Create a MIDI loop and play 6 notes) and it can only receive on MIDI ch1

I suggest this http://kiwitechnics.com/jx3pupgrade.htm

After that upgrade it kind of makes it more JP-6 wanna be

Sound wise I wasn't too keen on the JX's and sold both, it's not that they are bad but just not what I was after. I kept the Juno though

Lol seems that people have very different opinions about this synth. Some say it's almost as good as a Juno, other that it really sucks Same thing for the programming too.
And yes it's gonna be my first hardware synth(already had a Miniak for a few weeks but i found the programming awful , that's why i'd rather have a hands on synth). I'm not necessarily looking for an analog but i thought for the price(200 euros), it might be a good deal.

Hahah yea... I think they say the sound sucks because it doesn't sound like a Juno (Thinner sound less creamy sound) the envs are slower so not really that good for punchy bass (The MOD addresses the slow envs!)
It actually uses the same filter IC chip as the Juno 60 albeit it sounds totally different!

This is what I managed to coax out of the 3P before I sold it as a demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flqd18NW4VM&feature=plcp

What I can say programing wise is deff easy though..

Everything is on the front panel laid out nicely, you have a diagram of the synth engine on the right and every part of it is numbered i.e. filter cut-off is 15, resonance is 16 etc (Some are in red Group B some white Group A)

You have 4x Preset bank buttons A B C and D

When you press edit just press C (Group A) or D (Group B) then the number you want by hitting one of the preset numbers (16 of them on the front panel) I can still remember the shit and I haven't had one for over a year!
For example the ADSR env is 13, 14, 15 and 16
It's veeeerryy easy and quick

The 8P is a total ball ache in comparison, I can't be bothered to go into details but it's awful to program without the PG

save your money up and buy a really nice analog unit. One that will not frustrate you and make you want to explore other options. I am not sure what the market is like in the UK but for a little more "quid" you can make yourslef happier.
Here in the US the coveted piece is the Roland HS60 because it is a cheap juno. I am not so crazy about the analog juno sound. I got caught up in thinking analog was the thing to buy but I tried out some different brands and realized that some of these new romplers and pcm synths can sound damn good. The original v-synth is rather inexpensive over here and it can create any sound you want. I am waiting for another cheapo Moog little phatty or slim phatty to show up somewhere near me. The roland analog sound has not moved me...(I have not heard a live Jupiter 8 yet) but I would buy a HS-60 if it was only $250.
Listen to the junkie since he has owned both. I have only heard these units in pawn shops and at guitar center or if they were in studios my friends owned. I was hunting diligently for a 8p and when I saw it live I was like this is cool....then I thought about it for a night and played my v-synth and thought I would rather save the money.
cheers,
Ian
PS I would be happy with two cheap oberheim matrix 1000's that I could use in stereo...lol

The main reason I got the 3P was because it was the only synth I could afford at the time.
I picked it up for £120 and sold it a few years later for a staggering £365! on ebay imo not worth that much, mad how fashion goes.

The 8P I picked up more recently, found it cheap and thought if I don't like it I could shift if for a profit which I did and pay bills with the remaining cash (ohhh exciting lol)

I have a Juno 1 I picked up for £70 many moons ago, I went through a phase of not liking it and came close to selling it but recently really started digging it again and use it quite a bit. The programing interface sucks though.

I agree the V-Synth is dope! It's a really capable sampler too for mangling sounds.

Almost all vintage synths here started to sell for stupid money whether they are cr*p or not unfortunately, even the HS-60 people want more money for

The Ensoniq ESQ is also pretty dope and still not silly money, Detroit Techno dudes were pretty much powered by Ensoniq in those days cough Mirage (Strings Of Life, Good life) lol

One cool thing about the 3P was the sequencer and you can clock it with a tig pulse/TR-707 Oh AND it's Polyphonic oh yeaaa
Check this video out with King Britt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NuOAeS3qJY

@vinyl_junkie...great video. Thanks for sharing!

I'd snag a JX3P in a sec. I'd also snag a JX8P too.

You could probably use a BCR2000 to program. I'm sure some templates exist for both on a Yahoo Group.

In terms of sounds, they both sound great to me. I've used them both and have a friend that is obsessed with JX8P.

Thanks for the replies! Vinyl Junkie, that synth sounds nice in your youtube example(i really like your videos, great setup and music!)
I'm still not really sure what to do, i can also get a Roland SH32 or a Novation A-station for the same price. They're not analog, but i know the novation sounds good and i read good things about the SH32.

I could tell great stories about King.

the sh32 is pretty cool in how deep it goes for how cheap it is.

be aware that sweeping the filter cutoff has a definite 'stepping' sound - not a problem if you go slow or if you use envelopes / lfos, but if you are tweaking the filter hard it will be noticeable.

i like the sh32 for how powerful it is in such a small unit - but it does feel kind of cheap (cant stand those buttons - its very light and hollow), and you have to understand that while it does a million things ok it doesn't really do one thing great.

i love it though - a really good first synth or like a swiss army knife synth you can take anywhere and do anything with.

Yes they seem nice for a first synth i think. I heard that about the filter, not a big problem for me. I think it also has TR 808 and 909 samples in it, might be useful.

Save up and get this analog set up on ebay right now....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/custom-moog-moo ... 416abc9320

talk about bad ass!

Cheers,
Ian

vinyl_junkie_1620 wrote:King Britt

damn... that's a name I haven't heard in years. Thanks for the vid!