Got a new/old Toy: Roland JX-3P

[Markus K]

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I got by coincidence this nice little instrument. Only for the cost of a bit of maintainance. It's the first time I put my hands on a real analog synth. Until now I only had experience with software. And what should I say? So much fun I didn't have for a long time with a new instrument.
I wasn't aware how different it feels to play something like this compared to software.
I even got the PG 200 controller seperately via Ebay for 500,- bucks but it's totally worth it imo.

If anybody has experience with this thing and has some tips I would appreciate it very much.
E.g. is it usual/possible to send also midi datas seperately while recording through the audio interface and use it for other software instruments? Things like that and sound ideas respectively references where or by whom it has been used.

(I don't know why the photo is turned around and I can't change it...)

[Piet De Ridder]

The second synth I ever bought, back in the distant day, was a JX-3P. (The first one was a Roland SH-101.)
Have parted with both of those (and most of my other hardware synths) a loooong time ago, and I can’t recall much about the JX-3P that I could now translate into useful tips or suggestions for today’s use, but I do remember the JX-3P as a great and great-sounding instrument. (If I came across a sensible priced one in good condition today, I’d pick it up.)

Maybe the videos below, if you haven’t watched them already, Markus, provide some useful information:




A long but good video on the JX-3P:



Here's a tutorial for the softsynth version of the JX-3P. Possibly of use too:



And this video of new patches (2020) for the instrument gives further evidence of the sonic versatilty of the instrument:





And this link takes you to Roland's playlist of recordings that feature the JX-3P.

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[Markus K]

Thanks Piet for the links. I didn't have time for a lot of research. So these will make my Sunday.
I can imagine it being pretty different coming from the analog world and experiencing the development of software instruments through the late 80ies and 90ies vs the other way around as it was with me who started around 2012.
It's just different to hear and feel the oscillators vibrating. More like a real instrument with its own character. And you just record what you play and that's it without second guessing the sound and whatever. Kind of liberating.

[mr anxiety]

I used one of these a lot in the mid to late 80s on a bunch of sessions. It was a nice addition to my Pro 5 and Pro VS.

Enjoy it Markus!

[Markus K]

I used one of these a lot in the mid to late 80s on a bunch of sessions. It was a nice addition to my Pro 5 and Pro VS.

Enjoy it Markus!

I really feel retro and vintage now

[wst3]

Roland hit it out of the park back in the 70s and 80s. I had a JX-3P which I traded for a JX-8P, which I sold to buy a JX-10, which I sold to buy an MKS-80, which I still have, and still use, although maybe not quite as often?

The JX-3P and the JX-10 had rack mount counterparts, which command insane prices on the used marketplace. I don't remember a rack mount version of the JX-8P, but I'm old enough to remember the originals, so you know my memory can't be trusted!

I had a chance to play the JU-06, and it just wasn't the same. At that time I also had a chance to play with the SE-02, and I eventually purchased one. It is a remarkable synthesizer, and it does remind me of the JX family.

The Arturia models of the Roland synthesizers are good, I haven't tried the Roland Cloud yet, so who knows?

[Markus K]

Roland hit it out of the park back in the 70s and 80s. I had a JX-3P which I traded for a JX-8P, which I sold to buy a JX-10, which I sold to buy an MKS-80, which I still have, and still use, although maybe not quite as often?

The JX-3P and the JX-10 had rack mount counterparts, which command insane prices on the used marketplace. I don't remember a rack mount version of the JX-8P, but I'm old enough to remember the originals, so you know my memory can't be trusted!

I had a chance to play the JU-06, and it just wasn't the same. At that time I also had a chance to play with the SE-02, and I eventually purchased one. It is a remarkable synthesizer, and it does remind me of the JX family.

The Arturia models of the Roland synthesizers are good, I haven't tried the Roland Cloud yet, so who knows?

So you are a true veteran of the age of analog synth development. Considering the insane prices of the rack mount versions you mention this JX- line is still relevant and I sort of feel pretty lucky to have gotten one (albeit the keyboard version) for next to nothing. It also makes me curious how other synths work/sound. Behringers Deep Mind might be a nice addition. Don't know. During my next visit at Thomann I will check what he has there.