• Clone of the Roland JX-8P (1985)
  
• Desktop Synthesizer
• 2-part multitimbral
• 20 voices
• 2 DCOs
• Crossmodulation
• Hardsync
• Pitch modulation via envelope
• Lowpass/Highpass Filter
• 2 ADSR envelopes with keyfollow
• LFO with transient delay
• 17 effects
• Manual Mode
• Arpeggiator
• Step sequencer with 64 steps pattern length
• 128 patterns
• Audio & MIDI via USB
• MIDI In/Out
• External Clock input
• Built-in speaker
• Powered by USB (AC adapter) or 4x AA batteries

Sound Generation

The practical JX-08 synthesizer has two oscillators with the usual waveforms and pitch adjustment as well as optionally switchable hardsync or crossmodulation. Since each oscillator can be modulated in pitch by means of an envelope (even with an inverted curve), sounds with hardsync or crossmodulation are especially interesting. The solid basic sound is processed with a resonant Lowpass filter and a downstream highpass filter. For modulating the generated sounds there is an LFO with adjustable transient delay and two ADSR envelopes, with switchable keyfollow. The latter has the effect that the envelope times can be extended matching with higher played notes. The sound generation is rounded off by an effects processor that offers a total of 17 different programs in addition to chorus and reverb. All in all the JX-08 is a guarantor for timeless synthesizer sounds of any kind and if you want it also tends to a quite technoid character.

Extensive sequencer

The instrument is dual multitimbral, so two different sounds can be used at the same time. This functionality is also supported by the built-in sequencer, which can record polyphonically and even record knob movements. Each of the 128 patterns can be up to 64 steps long. As an alternative to the sequencer, an arpeggiator is also on board.

Connections

The Roland JX-08 can be powered either by four AA batteries or via USB (power supply). Via USB, both parts are fed into the DAW as audio signal at the same time and MIDI/data communication is ensured in both directions. For those who prefer a more classic setup, there are MIDI inputs and outputs, an analog audio output with 3.5mm stereo jack and of course the headphone output.