Roland JX-8P
Polyphonic Synthesizer

The Roland JX-8P is a six-voice polyphonic synthesizer that came out in 1985. It is a typical "hybrid" synth of that era, featuring DCOs but VCFs and VCAs.

The sound is - like its relatives JX-10 and MKS-70, very "lush", classy and full.

The keyboard is dynamic and has aftertouch.

There are many editing parameters available, and also they typical Roland on-board chorus, and portamento.

Since the synth was built at a time when digital technology had exploded and all synths started looking like the DX7, the JX-8P has no knobs - but relies on multi-functions, buttons and a slider to edit the sounds.

The PG-800 programmer can be used to program the synth with a more traditional "analog style" interface.

The Roland JX-8P features full MIDI, and also accepts a cartridge to store 32 additional patches.

Roland JX-8P audio demos

Factory patches I

Audio demo	My comments
01 Piano 1	Beautiful, expressive electric piano of the 1980s, probably inspired by the popular DX7 E.PIANO sound
02 Piano 2	Great emulation of an acoustic piano
03 Piano 3	Gorgeous "ballad" electric piano, again in '80s / DX7 vein
04 Cello Sect	Very nice emulation of a cello section playing
05 ArcoString	Strings with a marked attack
06 Lo Strings	Marvelous, lush, elegant string ensemble, most representative (and probably best in my opinion) of the JX-8P / JX-10 / MKS-70 line of synths.
07 Hi Strings	Cool "moving" strings, in their upper registers
08 Voices	Wonderful, hypnotic syn vox sound, also very typical of the sonic signature of this line of synths.
09 Organ 1	A quite realistic Hammond
10 Organ 2	Cool sounding organ with percussion
11 Pipe Organ	Nice emulation
12 Timbales	Great programming of velocity, filter, envelopes to simulate the classic Latin percussion sound.
13 Music Box	Yep
14 WindChimes	Add reverb / delay, and you have a very cool effect.
15 E Bass	Great programming - it can sound like a vintage electric bass from the '60s / '70s.
16 Synth Bass	Classic Minimoog-style synth bass.
17 Soundtrack	One of the most famous presets on this synth - a gorgeous, evolving, quintessentially '80s string/synth pad.
18 Fat Fifth	The F A T sound of the JX
19 Res Bell	Great filters
20 WaveAura	Another classic JX sound, the "hollow" synth
21 Toms	Awesome programming and emulation of tom toms.
22 Clav	Accurate and funky emulation of the classic Hohner.
23 Res Lead	Expressive solo synth
24 SquareLead	Great solo sound utilizing square waveforms.
25 Sync Lead	The classic Prophet-5 sound
26 Poly Brass	Beautiful synth brass ensemble
27 Soft Brass	Yup
28 Stab Brass	Classic synth brass of the 1980s
29 Agogo Bell	Nice emulation
30 ChurchBell	Yep
31 Bubbles	Cool sound FX
32 PsychMello	Weird but cool Sci-Fi FX

Factory patches II

Audio demo	My comments
01 Piano 4
02 Piano 5
03 Piano 6
04 StrngBrass
05 Bright Bow
06 Strings 1
07 Strings 2
08 Choir
09 May's Wind
10 Marimba
11 Harpsich
12 Kalimba
13 Xmas Bells
14 Vibes
15 UpriteBass
16 Synth Clav

Roland JX-8 specs
Year of release:	1985
Polyphony:	6-voice
Sound generation method:	analog
Preset memories	64 ROM + 32 RAM + 32 cassette
MIDI:	in, out, thru
Sound expansion capabilities:	no
Sequencer	no
Arpeggiator	no
Velocity	yes
Aftertouch	yes
Dimensions
Weight
Keyboard