Roland JUNO-60

For a real analog synth from the pre-MIDI era, this is a very complete synth. Six voices of polyphony, simple but good arpeggiator, great 24dB LP filter with cutoff/resonance, HPF, great LFO's (which are maybe a little poor-featured), fat chorus (I think that's typical Juno), 56 patches of memory storage. And a rare bonus: the pitch wheel/filter as well as the manual lfo control. Minor point: lack of several oscillators: only 1 DCO (triangle/square with pulse width/square with suboscillator) per voice.

$295 (Kenton MIDI retrofit kit included !!)

UTILIZATION

Piece of cake. The user manual is very clear; even for analog modelling newbies: the whole stuff is well explained and there is an addendum with lots of basic exemples. The synth's front panel is built as simple as possible; if you know the very basic analog sound modelling principles, you can go your way immediately and tweak that knobs !!

This is a robust synth, the only things to be careful with are the wooden side panels (scratch-sensitive !!). The buttons are very solid and have no intention to break at all. No cracklings caused by dust up till now. Haven't contacted the customer support yet, so can't give info about that.

SOUNDS

One word: GREAT !! All kind of analog sounds are great; from very fat to very deep basses and subbasses, nice spacey strings/pads, fat analog leads, clean to dirty organ sounds, trance arpeggio's, ... This machine can be used for every kind of electronic music: from trance over techno to dnb; from triphop over rnb to hiphop.

OVERALL OPINION

I like it very much. A real fat analog synth with great filter and great sounds. F.y.i: the Juno has been used by Enya, The Cure, Sean Lennon, Faithless, Astral Projection, Vince Clarke, Rabbit in the Moon, Olive, Dee-Lite, ... (info from www.vintagesynth.com)

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 7-, 2002)

5 octaves, polyphony 6 lanes, no aftertouch, no speed, no midi. Effect 2 relatively efficient modes of chorus, and chainable Chorus Chorus I + II (not feasible on the Juno-106). beautiful screen, clear, clean ...
57 patch memories saved, possible external backup tape has K7 ... nostalgia of the first ZX81!! a simple arpeggiator + Hold a button and transposes.
Synth design in 1982, which explains a lot of gaps between the other MIDI or Roland wanted to impose its standard. Those who have known the analog V / Hz and V / Otc will remember shit when faillait Moog connect with Yamaha. The is a bit like the standard does not exist and Roland tried his luck with the DCB. Now for 1982 it is "good" and very good it was associated to a JSQ-60 for 2013 is completely obsolete. It remains in effect for 150 euros midifiable among competitors Kenton, Are not they in life!
The rear connector is not made for the wrong time, adjustable to 3 levels of output, one entry VCF Control Arpegio Clock, various pedals, etc ...

UTILIZATION

This is nothing special appeal, anyone is able to get a playable sound in less than 5 minutes. The doc was not used much everything is intuitive, is absolutely nothing complicated about a Juno-60.

SOUNDS

The sound of the JUNO-60 is not in large diversitées, but against what it does it does well, it's not a Buchla either. This is exactly the same filters as the Jupiter-8, and the DCO provide harmonic enough to make tablecloths and interesting pads, brass, etc. attack. the filter is resonant. The sound does not collapse.
The matrix patch (internal) allows certain functions to refer to the EG or LFO it gives a little creativity, without any time to be transcendent.
Behind a good reverb or CSF, its takes a great extent in this area of ​​its juno is very good, I insist that the JUNO done to the JUNO, not experimentation and Sound research.
His big gap is the lack of a second and a second LFO EG.
The chorus of the Juno is the only integrated because it is stereo and has two independent modes or addable. I can not find that bad, but devoid of any setting.

OVERALL OPINION

I knew this instrument in ham piano paris in the 80s, I remember the brilliant sound he had and what we could do in a studio. It was a very key in his age of 80 years, Roland Vintage sounds good, it is not in the Oberheim have more, but this keyboard is the essence of what is asked.
Currently it is a bit over priced, it's true that 1000 euros?? this is a keyboard that I picked up, having had an excellent opportunity to reacquire. I found this gloss. You should also know that it is not super complicated to maintain, change the battery (welded) remains the most common operation, clean the keyboard and pin short not rocket science. This is the Japanese building, that is to say very solid base and well studied. the fact that a 31-year history because she was a little forgotten and he still has a legitimacy going into compositions through the front door.

Wireless keyboard aftertouch or velocity, 61 notes (ie 5 octaves)

Physically, the beast is beautiful, a beautiful object in black metal, with wooden sides, typically vintage-style!

and above all, lots of buttons, everything is controlled in real time!

if not, the real analogue polyphonic classical, DCO-VCF-VCA-LFO-ADSR (more or less in the order ...)+ sub-tilt + génialissime the arpeggiator!

on the other hand, only 6 voice polyphony and a single tilt, but the fact still here, with 4 waveforms and 2 chorus FAT integrated to the beast ...

UTILIZATION

We can ne-plus-simple, just to get started and after 5 minutes, tripe on a wave or a captivating online disco-new wave with the arpeggiator!
the memories are 56 in number, and stores a sound 2 seconds ...

SOUNDS

Ah, the sounds!

ambient groundwater, organ sounds and synthetic string, bass and techno-electro leads of all kinds, very classical, because the machine was much used by almost everyone in the 80's, but there is always something original is a little digging ...

It really is the typical synth and ideal if you seek ..... synth sounds!

it is on is not with him that you will succeed in imitating a piano or oboe, but here there are other things ...
buying a Juno for what it is and that is precisely why we bought it!

OVERALL OPINION

I do not use it for a long time, but here was immediately hooked, this machine is so endearing.
It's a real joy to put his hands on something that has personality, and here is not so common here ...

So, it reminded me why I liked all the oldschool analog, time or emulation of any flower hair all sides, and when everyone asks you if you finally put to the VST, so practical and cheap ...