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The Roland JUNO-X synthesizer is presented to us as a faithful tribute to its legendary predecessors: the JUNO-106 and the JUNO-60. But although it is nice to find classic sounds in a modern format, let’s explore together what are the novelties brought by the Roland JUNO-X.
A familiar look that hides powerful features
Seen from the outside, this synth takes on a look that is blatantly reminiscent of the vintage JUNO series. But by looking more closely at what it hides inside, we discover that it brings much more than a “simple” fusion of the -106 and the -60.
The Roland JUNO-X excels in emulating analog sounds with the ZEN-Core sound engine , which allows it to reproduce analog behaviors and dynamics down to the smallest detail. You can easily and quickly find the sounds of the JUNO-106 , the punchier sounds of the JUNO-60 , the piano sounds of the RD series, the XV-5080 section and even a vocoder. Then if we start to put our nose into the Roland Cloud expansions, we open a window into a universe of sounds that begs to be explored.
A reworked and evolved architecture
The digital architecture of the Roland JUNO-X opens up many possibilities in terms of oscillators, effects, velocity and envelopes. With an improved version of Roland’s Super-Saw waveforms, it goes further in its velocity and pitch envelope controls, and greatly renews its effects around the two original choruses of its predecessors. Here, we have access to up to 7 different chorus effects on each of the JUNO-X sounds.
There is a 61-key semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch , the famous pitch bend and pitch mod levers, and the possibility of superimposing 4 voices from the 4000 presets present with a large rhythm section. On the arpeggiator side, the Roland JUNO-X offers us two choices: using the traditional -106 and -60 models, with their polyphonic portamento functions, or taking advantage of the innovative I-Arpeggio function, which uses various advanced algorithms to evolve movements and changes of note.
In terms of connectors, two line balanced outputs are accompanied by MIDI I / O ports as well as a stereo and XLR / TRS input for fun with the vocoder. It offers built-in Bluetooth and a WC-1 wireless adapter for easy connection to Roland Cloud and fast transfer of sounds and expansions, not to mention that it can also double as a USB audio interface!
A powerful instrument to add to your arsenal
The advantage of the classic JUNOs was their easy and pleasant handling. With the JUNO-X, Roland revisits its classic series with innovative features (ZEN-Core motor, Roland Cloud …), while loading many powerful functions into a single, widely transportable instrument (barely 11.6 kg!). Ideal for both vintage synth enthusiasts and modern musicians, the Roland JUNO-X is a veritable arsenal of synthesis that risks doing great damage!
You can buy and find the Roland JUNO-X synthesizer on our website.
