Roland JX-3P
Encyclopedia
The Roland JX-3P is a synthesizer
produced by Roland Corporation
of Japan
in 1983. It is notable as the one of the company's first products (along with the Jupiter-6
) to incorporate a MIDI interface, limited to note-on/note-off data only.
, 61 key synthesizer with sawtooth, 50 and 10% pulse waveforms, and a noise generator. It has 32 factory programs and user memory for 32 programs, and a 128-step, six-part built-in sequencer that can be triggered by sync voltage from external devices such as the Roland TR-707
drum machine.
Instead of analog sliders and knobs, the JX-3P used a series of buttons and a single data slider for selecting parameters. For users who wanted better real-time sound control, Roland sold a separate unit that plugs into the synth called the PG-200, also made by Roland.
Although the JX-3P can have all of its parameters edited in real time without any external aid, the PG-200 allows the user to edit patches with the conventional lay out of an analog synthesizer as opposed to the use of one sliding potentiometer and the bank selection.
There is an EPROM version available at Roland, which enables note velocity in MIDI-in mode. There is an add-on kit available from Inque (see link below), which enables parallel usage of PG200 and MIDI and also introduces parameter control via MIDI controller data.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
produced by Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1983. It is notable as the one of the company's first products (along with the Jupiter-6
Roland Jupiter-6
The Roland Jupiter-6 is a synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation introduced in 1983 as a less expensive alternative to the Roland Jupiter-8. The Jupiter-6 is widely considered a workhorse among polyphonic analog synthesizers, capable of producing a wide variety of sounds, such as...
) to incorporate a MIDI interface, limited to note-on/note-off data only.
Features
Its architecture is more advanced than the Juno series synths produced around the same time. Both machines use the same interval-timer DCO technology and use the Roland IR3109 low-pass filter. It is a polyphonicPolyphony (instrument)
Polyphony Instruments that are not capable of polyphony are monophonic.-Synthesizer:Most of early synthesizers were monophonic musical instruments which can play only one note at a time, and are often called monosynth as opposed to polysynth...
, 61 key synthesizer with sawtooth, 50 and 10% pulse waveforms, and a noise generator. It has 32 factory programs and user memory for 32 programs, and a 128-step, six-part built-in sequencer that can be triggered by sync voltage from external devices such as the Roland TR-707
Roland TR-707
The Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer is a programmable digital sampling drum machine built by the Roland Corporation, beginning in 1984. The TR-707 was a staple in early house music, particularly with acid house. It is also a staple of almost all electronically produced Arabic pop music...
drum machine.
Instead of analog sliders and knobs, the JX-3P used a series of buttons and a single data slider for selecting parameters. For users who wanted better real-time sound control, Roland sold a separate unit that plugs into the synth called the PG-200, also made by Roland.
MKS-30, PG-200
The JX-3P was also produced as a rackmount unit called the MKS-30. While the JX-3P could only handle MIDI data or the data from the PG-200 separately, the MKS-30 can handle both at the same time.Although the JX-3P can have all of its parameters edited in real time without any external aid, the PG-200 allows the user to edit patches with the conventional lay out of an analog synthesizer as opposed to the use of one sliding potentiometer and the bank selection.
There is an EPROM version available at Roland, which enables note velocity in MIDI-in mode. There is an add-on kit available from Inque (see link below), which enables parallel usage of PG200 and MIDI and also introduces parameter control via MIDI controller data.
Notable users
- Legowelt
- OrbitalOrbital (band)Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
- Vince ClarkeVince ClarkeVince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
(in Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
) - Juicy Audio Productions / S R DHAIN (with PG200)
- Bonaparte
- Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
- Thomas DolbyThomas DolbyThomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
- Cheap Fire
- ElectrosexualElectrosexualElectrosexual is a French electronic musician, composer, performer, record producer and Music video director living in Berlin.His passion for early electronic engines and primitive sounds from Analog synthesizer inspired his creativity mingling of rough masculine basses with an uptempo rhythm. He...
- The Future Sound of LondonThe Future Sound of LondonThe Future Sound of London is a prolific British electronic music band composed of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. The duo are often credited with pushing the boundaries of electronic music experimentation and of pioneering a new era of dance music...
- Astral Projection
- Harold FaltermeyerHarold FaltermeyerHarold Faltermeyer is a German musician, keyboardist, composer and record producer.He is recognized as one of the composers/producers who best captured the zeitgeist of 1980s synth-pop in film scores...
- MSTRKRFTMSTRKRFTMSTRKRFT is a Canadian electronic music duo from Toronto, Ontario. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P formerly of the Mississauga, Ontario electropop group Girlsareshort...
- Half Holiday & The Pinchés
- Spacehotel
- David Scott StoneDavid Scott StoneDavid Scott Stone is a musician who has recorded and toured with artists like The Melvins, Unwound, Fantômas, The Locust, Jello Biafra, Keiji Haino, Mike Patton, Adam Jones , Merzbow, Masonna, Big Business, No Age, Joe Lally and others. He is currently a member of LCD Soundsystem...
(Melvins / Big Business) - Dream Academy
- XTCXTCXTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
- Lux Voltaire
- Winter Palace
- Damon Albarn (Blur / Gorillaz)
- Mansun
- GorillazGorillazGorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
External links
- [ftp://ftp.roland.co.uk/ProductSupport/JX-3P/01_JX-3P_OM.pdf JX-3P owner's manual]
- [ftp://ftp.roland.co.uk/ProductSupport/MKS-30/01_MKS-30_OM.pdf MKS-30 owner's manual]
- Florian Anwander's Page - Schematics, Modifications, Hidden Functions
- Vintage Synth Explorer's JX-3P entry
- Homepage of expansion kit from Inque
- Info, manual & MP3 demo
- Example track of JX-3P usage, especially the built-in sequencer run at a rapid rate all the way through and transposed as the track plays for the rippling "chord like" effect