Roland JD-800 Synthesizer part1

[SpaceAudio]

wow we;re back to early 90s.

cool sounds!

[PilotHaudi]

Hy Retrosound

Nice Demo-Intros

Make you Music or only for Sale?

Kind regards from Switzerland

[AndrewTSq]

oh man.. it sounds as good as it looks!. awesome. i remember this as a teenager. way to pricey for my little wallet. wish i could find one today :-)

[turquoisecapricorn]

Magnificent design!!Only for that you would already buy a JD-800! Unfortunately the JD-800 is still missing in my collection of synths. But that will change!!

[MrMonolake]

super!

[paulandtify]

I have read a lot about the 800 and 990 being different in sound. But would you say the 990 still has a high quality sound? A sound worth paying for? Im looking at buying a 990 on EBay.

[Nightowl4272]

@paulandtify - In it's time, it was as good as it got...for any money. I drooled over the JD series in the 90s but couldn't afford one. If you go up high enough in pitch, you might hear aliasing on some samples. Aliasing was a common occurrence on older synths although I can't remember why it happened...bit rate, sample rate? Just Google "JD-800 review" and you'll find lots of VERY positive reviews for this keyboard. Still, I'd never buy a keyboard without playing it in person first.

[VisceralVoids]

I have had this synth for a year and I love it so much that I think, if this is this good, what is the JP-8000 like for electronic stuff. The JD-800 blows me away everytime I turn it on.

[dergutejunge]

der wurde bestimmt damals für viele hardtrance produktionen verwendet, wundervoll

[bissarro1972]

Wonderful Synth I Love It!!

[0number0]

retrosound72

there is a JD-800 is the same "Genesises" preset as a JD-990?

I liked this interesting combination of sound and I think that at this

synthesizer can make beautiful music in the spirit of ambient

:) synthesizer in excess of fantasy fiction

[retrosound72]

@0number0

Genesises? no, I don`t know.

[0number0]

retrosound72

800 and 990 are very different?

[retrosound72]

@0number0

yes, the sound character is a bit different. the JD-800 is softer.

[brainchild24]

der beste Retrosynth aller zeiten ___Gänsehaut___ und ich hab ihn auch ...

[retrosound72]

@brainchild24

ja das ist einer meiner liebsten...:)

[brainchild24]

@retrosound72 das glaube ich gern...er beeindruckt mich jeden tag aufs neue

[jimmyss75]

Great sounds there, Roland JD-800 are one of those instruments that carries so much inspiration, you just sit down and toy around and out comes amazing music!

[AntonNidhoggr]

Got one. Really cool machine as it seems for now! Just don't think it'll sound fat as moogs or other true-analog devices. But all theese pads and strings and piano sounds are really amasing, and also it has great famous roland filter section which makes it even more cool :)

[0number0]

like the sound of a 2-minute

[retrosound72]

@linn1000

no presets.

[amonster8mymother]

i tryed one of these. i thought the pads were too spacey.  it has a lot of pads. no arp.

[DJGahann]

Hello my friend. I've been viewing most of your vids, just love those analog beasts! I'm thinking of selling my An1x for something more retro. It has to fit in a setup for making drones and Jarre covers ; what would you recommend? Preferably something easily tweakable (I'm a n00b to synths still). Thanks!

[beatmaker17]

great sound !!

[djomercohen]

it has unison \ detune?

i wonder if you can make the same leads \pads \ basses or things that are close to what you can do with the jp8000.

[Andybaby]

Soundwise they are very different, but how the JD800 compare 'program-ability wise' with the Korg Z1? Has anyone here spent time with both?

[taigkyo]

@Andybaby, The Z1 requires working in the menu system. It's knobby, but for performance - not for programming.

[humanalive]

The JD-800 was the first synth i ever bought and it was the best desicion to buy it.

It was for 3790 DM (old german currency) which was a amazingly huge amount of money to me in that time. I bought it about one week after market appearance and i kept the synth in my bed playing myself into dreams waking up sometimes while touching the keyboard while sleeping.

It was an amazing time that i miss a lot :)

From now i cannot see myself selling that synth but inheriting it to my daughter one day.

[qvistmoe]

I just love reading the comments for this kind of video. No haters and crap talk... All positive talking and encouraging comments... Love it...

[retrosound72]

@qvistmoe

:))

[JAZZSTARish]

@retrosound72 What is the famous "dyno" type piano used in the intro to Beauty and the Beast heard in the 80's and 90's? Robbie Buchanan and others used it. It sounds like the Dyno from the 01w but it is not. They said it was from the TK and Roland layered. Is there a board that has a similar patch?

Inisight appreciated.

[kinupsi]

@qvistmoe

sorry, but only real (wannabe) musician are watching - so what's so ridiculous about this fact?

[0number0]

@kinupsi

whom you asked your question?

[bspbeats]

@qvistmoe the sounds are so soft....i´m melting away...

[SoundInterfaceDriver]

I'm an analogue synthesizer fanatic but this one completely changed my opinion towards digital synths.

[0number0]

retrosound72

на этом прекрасном синтезаторе можно делать красивую музыку в жанре Ambient

увы новое творение Roland V Synth & V Synth GT не смогли повторить его...

[quadraxis321]

Does this synth produce any choir noises?

[sporopeza01]

I want one. I miss those sounds.

[DemonWTF]

Love it.  :D

[nemomatou]

Back to the origins with this one. I remember the day I saw all those triggers on that keyboard 8))) I love Rolands sound. Thanks for the demo Retro :)

[Amorezzo1]

Doesn't matter what he have or not I wanna one of these two :X :X :X :X :X

[vjrei]

The sounds is like an D50 enhanced and cleaner, I adore the texture. But LFOs do not sync to midi, neither any slider transmit midi signal and it does not have arpegiator of course, you will need to add all that externally. But regarding sound quality is the best.

[SPAZZOID100]

@vjrei

who cares about lfo's syncing to midi? It has a fantastic interface, and a wonderful sound.

[SPAZZOID100]

@vjrei

who cares about lfo's syncing to midi? It has a fantastic interface, and a wonderful sound.

[nexusdawn]

The panel interface is undoubtebly intuitive, enables percise and detailed programming. For anyone intersted more in the sound, look into the jv-1080 and jv-2080 racks. Together with editor/libraian software (midiquest e.g.), they both offer the same, but advanced/expanded synthesis and sound. Together with a much larger sample ROM and 4 expansion card bays. Truely powerful synths, even today. One just needs to escape the 'factory preset' use.

[MARANTZamp]

@nexusdawn

I have a jv-1080, and the interface makes it nearly impossible to use the module as anything other than a preset synth.

The JD on the other had, has such a great interface that it's impossible NOT to create custom sounds.

Furthermore, I do not feel that the 1080 is superior in sound quality.

[SPAZZOID100]

@nexusdawn

I must disagree here. I've had both a jv-80 & jv-1080 for years, and never was inspired to program custom sounds on them. I have no interest in using it with librarian software, and the interface on the module itself is a true nightmare, rendering it a "preset only" machine.

The JD on the other hand is amazing. All those sliders are very inviting and intuitive, making even a novice able to program custom sounds.

On a synth, 50% is the interface and 50% is the sound.

[nexusdawn]

@SPAZZOID100 Then you disagree with yourself, because I'm talking about the JD800 panel. Most people don't bother to program sounds anyway. Also the JV-1080 is basically a JD with a lot more sample rom, and a few '2.0' features, so it's very capable of producing the same sounds and beyond.

[SPAZZOID100]

@nexusdawn

If the JV had the interface, people would have programmed it. As it stands, it's a great brain that's nearly impossible to program on.

When I got my JD, I immediately had all I was missing from the JV's all that time.

Nobody who had a JD bought it solely to use presets, especially at that pricetag.

The sliders made it obviously a programmer's synth.

[SPAZZOID100]

@nexusdawn

and don't forget, the filter in the JD is much better than that shit in the JV series.

[nexusdawn]

@SPAZZOID100 It's not shit, it's a bit different. The synths use the same architecture, and many of the same algorithms, the differences are many in the DAC. You can go on all day on how the JV sucks for you, and if you couldn't program yours, then too bad, It's still a very worthy synth to this day, as well as its successors.

[SPAZZOID100]

@nexusdawn

Eh--I don't know too many people who've used the JV's as proper "synths".

Without knobs or sliders, it's a standard ROMpler, and was used as such.

on 99% of the records you'll find it on, you'll only hear the factory sounds.

The same can be said for the korg m1 and the dx-7---factory sounds all the way.

..mainly because of their interfaces. Sad but true.

[nexusdawn]

@SPAZZOID100 Well you know one now, But yeah thats what I'm saying, not many people programed their own sounds on it, which would make it hard to gage what the synth is actually capable of. In the case of the JV (series), it is very capable of producing near identical sounds to the JD's. That does not mean to say either one can replace the other faithfully because of the small nuances. But sonically, they are all amazing.

[SPAZZOID100]

@nexusdawn

That's the thing...the potential was there, as with the dx-7--but an off-putting interface always ensures that 99% of users will never delve into it.

The JD makes it a no brainer to program...I love it for this reason. ..and it sounds great too.

It's a nice contrast to my prophet-5 and JX-8P (analog is my favorite)

[nexusdawn]

@SPAZZOID100 p.s. Since you basically used your jv's as preset synths, it would make sense you can't appreciate them for their full potential, and just how close and beyond to jd's they get.I know all about the advantages of hardware panels, owning synths like the andromeda a6. I do my own presets on the synths I use, and especially with a software editor, the jv1080, as well as any other synths is a breeze to program if you know what you're doing. The thing is, most people don't.

[kingofkeyboards]

well done retro sound! considering purchasing one of these to go with my KORG Wavestation EX. Would you say they are versitile? do they do a good job on both pads like in this video but also gritty bases for example or "trancey" lead synths? thanks :)

[dbridge]

I've been umming and Arrhing about getting this synth, but I think you've convinced me. I'm trying to decide whether to get this first or the Matrix 1000 which I also want. decisions decisions

[Shadow432643]

Oh my GOD :O

So powerful :)

[mariodivine]

4 layer pad killer with full palette of sound parameters, very nice effect block! hot, fatty analog sound! unbeatable! master!

[smackyjack]

Has that 90's tweakable digital sound. Does the JV 880 have an arpeggiator? I can't remember.

[retrosound72]

no arpeggiator

[stable17]

GREAT SOUNDS,AWESOME SYNTHSIZER...

[vvintage128]

i'm afraid that the seem!

it sound great but always like that!!

perfect otherwise for making strings and others digital sound!!

wait and see for other electrics guitars!!

[Danmark230394]

Great synthesizer! Are the other sounds also so good like the pad-sounds?

[retrosound72]

yes

[ColMortimor]

My favorite digital synth. I can loos myself for hours just playing the sounds.

[JAZZSTARish]

@ColMortimor What is the famous "dyno" type piano used in the intro to Beauty and the Beast heard in the 80's and 90's? Robbie Buchanan and others used it. It sounds like the Dyno from the 01w but it is not. They said it was from the TK and Roland layered. Is there a board that has a similar patch?

Inisight appreciated.

[VisceralVoids]

@JAZZSTARish

It's actually the Roland JD800's Crystal Rhodes patch. I read this somewhere online on a synth site... Many people think it's a DX7 or a TX.

[mysticradio]

Paul Shaffer from Late Night with David Letterman still uses one.....

[matthewh2012]

beautiful

can an ion make good pads?

[nutelina]

How does this synth work? It has digital waveforms (like DCO?) and analog-like filters?, is that correct? What else can it do? Ring modulation, FM?

[retrosound72]

only samples , digital filter, no FM, no Ringmodulation

[lordoid]

For complete Features it's better to visit some synthesizer related site. :) The JD is a 'Rompler' like the JV Series. The overall Synthesis Engine is off the same Family. But what makes it special is the analog control surface wich makes it a bliss to create new sounds. The overall sonic quality is warm, silky and rich. A very very good sounding Synthesizer! And it feels and looks damn cool.

[GanEdenAustralia]

Similar to the D 50?

[JJWC2]

@nutelina DCOs are usually digitally controlled analog oscillators; the control voltage is generated from a digital control signal. That was the meaning in these generations of synths. It prevented the pitch drift of VCOs, and is why the Super Jupiter had a "tune" button, but the Junos and JXs did not. But, retrosound72 is correct; the JD-800 used stored waveforms, not traditional oscillators.

[siobhan104]

Ten minutes of pure bliss. Brilliant stuff. I used to buy and watch Tangerine dream in the early 70's. I love synthesizer music and this is just heaven.

[ec101dm]

Definitely one of the best synths Roland ever built. The sounds are really amazing.

Perfect for pads, but also for Gary Numan-esque Moog-sounds, insane sound fx or even aggressive elektro-industrial basses!

[THEDEFOCATOR]

This sounds great and looks amazing!

[pierstheoneandonly]

Sweet stuff. Goes to show that you should always let your ears be the judge. Instead of thinking..'oh, it's just another Rompler, all gaudy veneer but no substance', make your evaluation *only* on the output from the jack, rather than affording prejudice on the basis of synth engine employed. At this time, the JD-800 seems to be a budget way to acquire one of the essential elite soundtrack synths, among which might be counted the Prophet VS, PPG Wave, and the Yamaha CS-80.

[vjrei]

I have one, I am selling it but because I do not like it cosmetially. I got it from eBay. What sucks is that it does not have arpegiator and you can not control anything external with the slider. Not to mention no midi sync.

[SPAZZOID100]

@vjrei

Who cares about an arpeggiator? you can arpeggiate it through an external one if you must.

It's a FANTASTIC synth.

[killforfiend]

Beautiful!! Purely Brilliant sound!

[Faulkenmind]

Incredible! You inspire me!

[Nedim76]

These are one of the best machines that ever existed.

[ilovenanako2008]

Thank you for the answer

[ilovenanako2008]

Retrosound,please,surely you know Vince Dicola,the composer of Staying Alive,Rocky 4 and the transformers the movie,if yes,do you know what synth was used? Thank you

[retrosound72]

Vince DiCola is a poineer in digital sampling use the Fairlight CMI system

[e1ektr0n4ut]

Epic ! Totally Blade Runner !

[korgpadude]

hi what patch u used on first sound?

[retrosound72]

massive pad

[Asstricks]

I've got a Roland XP-60 that I've had for years, but the synths and pads on it aren't nearly as good as this! Does anyone know if I can still buy a synth like this?

If not, can anyone reccomend anything?

[retrosound72]

The sound of the JD800 is unique and different to the JV/XP series, also the rack module JD990 is different.

buy: sometimes on ebay

[SizZ1eR]

It sounds like what you'd expect to get if you paired a D-50 with a JX10.

Nice demo!! :-)

[retrosound72]

thank you

[kekenalii]

ah yeah...ebay......duh

i got one for 700

then i sent it to custom syth in UK to get custom painted...still waiting

[korgpadude]

awesome pads

[racefaceec90]

whoa!!!jean michel jarre!!!awesome!!!

[drwav]

This thing sounds beautiful... I wish I could create sounds like that

[VacTrooper]

NOW it's starting to make sense. I know why everyone has these now!

[0number0]

^_^ Excellent synthesizer

[M1E2A3T4F5O6A7M8]

I had a JD-800. A great machine. Had so much fun with it. To have access all the knobs and faders is a must if you are creating new sounds.

I heard that Dave Angels album "Stairway To Heaven" ( Bounce Back, Trip To Darknes, Sighting, Jungle Love) was made entierly from a JD-800. It came in 1992 and the sounds was completley different from all other Tehnosounds at the time. It blew my socks off.

[gordonnova]

ive started to get in to dance music production and i was cut between the jd800 and the jp8000, can anyone recomend what one to go for, looking at the jp800 it seems there is more to work with which is what i want

[dreamerwww]

I am running Roland's JP-8000 and JP-8080 here. Both are midi-connected to each other. The patch layering created with these two units are spectacular to say the least. The JP 8000/8080 series are perhaps these best of the VAs ever produced. More than adequate for most music production.

Coupled with Roland's XV-3080 and MC-909.... The possibilities are endless.

Now I have to figure out what to do with my Novation A-Station. It does not seem to fit in.

Dreamer,,,

[momytanz75]

the best sinth.. in the world for your job.you have studio whit this drum machine

[CheckerSiebels]

Ich bin immer wieder erstaunt wie warm und teilweise "analog"der JD 800 für einen Rompler klingen kann. Vielleicht liegst am programmierbaren Pitch-Random ? Oder an einem genialen Sound- Designer von Roland ???An den flexiblen Hüllkurven ??

[retrosound72]

Der JD800 hebt sich im Klangcharakter von den anderen Synths der Roland JV und XV Reihe ab. Selbst der JD990 klingt schärfer. Das ist mein liebster Rompler überhaupt.

[ejvideos07]

Hi.

Awesome soundz. I've just ordered your Ambient Traxx CD thru Paypal. I can't wait to hear it.

[retrosound72]

thanks a lot :)

I send the cd today.

[UnchainTheNight1]

nice pads with a really nice reverb you could make the ultimate pads

[retrosound72]

thx :)

[UnchainTheNight1]

you're welcome and thank you for inspiring me to finally buy a synth

[retrosound72]

cool :)

the jd800 is one of my fav synths ever

[djmk1988]

How much money for one of these? TNX

[retrosound72]

500-600 Euro

[maupivetz]

can I store my patches in the internal memory? or need a card?

[retrosound72]

yes

[maupivetz]

thank you! :)

[Rocinante01]

I had 2 JD-800s and really miss them both.

[zalamandantoise]

4:50

WOW!!!

My favorite Vangelis-type sound

[thebrinksf]

sounds exactly like Vangelis! bring back Bladerunner

[sjw1dmwc]

I miss my jd -800

[beatsanctuary]

i miss my JD 800 too i think i'll get another one!

[gregvb]

Great sounds. Too bad the pic doesn't show the whole thing 'cuz this thing is BIG and beautiful, with enough controls to double as sci-fi control console.

Really, you should show the WHOLE instrument in your audio-only vids.

[C5Rigzz]

Dangit - I clicked incorrectly and voted your +1 comment down - I meant to vote it up another. Sorry.

I agree - this is a grand, and huge synth - it's really something to look at as well as listen to.

[johnspecker]

The patch used at 2:34 sounds like the one used in the intro of "Monastery of la Rabida" from the album "Conquest of paradise" by Vangelis. What is the name of this patch? Btw, great video! Your videos convinced me to buy a JD-800 in the near future! :D

[retrosound72]

"hearts of space" is the name of this patch

Vangelis used the JD-800 in the album "Conquest of Paradise"

[lavakava]

ikutaro kakehashi, founder of roland, knew what he was doing! a true genius in the making

[ec101dm]

great stuff man...

you've convinced me to get me one myself :-)

[retrosound72]

thanks :)

[odinmp5]

my german sucks..but i have to thank you.

this video its awsome/spize/prima..

danke!

[retrosound72]

your german is perfect

I understand you :)

[ViolentDimensions]

very nicely done i want one of these all i have is a yamaha t portable grand dgx 200 i have some videos but only piano i guess ill put some stuff like this on and let you know so you can check it out great job!!!

[retrosound72]

thank you :)

[KCMultimedia]

Soothfull is the word, when listening to this vid, great sounds m8! Wishing i could get one too!

[retrosound72]

thanks :)

[synthisist]

I used to own a Roland D-20. I am crazy about the "Warmpad" sound... Now I have an EMU X-board and some plugins. This is going into my favourites which includes "Christian Worship songs"; synths @ keyboards; Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis and Sky. So the perfect "Budget" JMJ style set up could include: this Roland JD800; G-Force String Machine; almost anything from ARTURIA; perhaps an old Korg PS 3100-3300; a Polysix; any Roland Juno, and a Kurzweil (anyone - all are incredible)& an arp quartet?

[SoundsOfRevolution]

hi! - schöne demo. für mich ist der jd nach wie vor das "pad wunder".hab dazu auch ne demo auf meiner seite gemacht.

ich habe bisher kein soundset programmiert was nur annähernd so wunderbar schwebende/komplexe flächen beinhaltet im stil von jean michel jarre...für ambient/trance/film immer noch angesagt. die kiste ist wie ne sucht :-)

wobei ich den jd990 noch nen tick besser finde weil einfach ein paar wichtige sachen mehr an bord sind - wie z.b. die pan-geschichte pro tone....

gruss,

olli

[retrosound72]

Hi, genau so ist es. Ich bin auch immer noch begeistert von meinem "alten" JD-800. Die Kiste hat eine unglaubliche Tiefe im Sound. Es gibt nur wenige Synths bei denen ich das empfinde. Ich habe die beiden Soundsets die du vom JD-800 gemacht hast. Die gehören zu den Besten die es gibt. Habe auch schon mehr als einmal mit dem JD-990 incl Vintage Board geliebäugelt. Habe aber gehört er soll etwas anders/schärfer klingen.

Grüsse

marko

[Analoguevoices]

I would call it the "King of the Pads synthesizer"

[retrosound72]

;-)

this is true!

[Analoguevoices]

Is it true the pad synth sound on Europe's Final Countdown is done by this synth?

[retrosound72]

I think no. The JD-800 came only 1991 on the market. Europe have used the JX-8P for the legendary brass sound.

[caressxofxsteel]

i will own one of these someday. no doubt

[zenmachinefilms]

You can often find them used at great prices.

[smudger909loop]

the jd800 was a flag ship for roland . if rolad made a jd400 with half the patches and only 2 layers and half the sliders . and it would of blew anything out of the water . but rolad gave us the jd800 and they will never build nothing like it ever again ., i have owned a jd800 for the past 15 years . its the heart of my studio . i also use the odd soft synth but i like my gear better than software

[Jauly]

you know a funny thing? we had both, a jd800 and the roland sh32... and the sh32 really sounded VERY MUCH like the jd800 filters, oscillators etc.

[Dreitagebart1963]

Ich habe auch noch ein paar alte Roland Synths: D-550, MKS-80, JD-990, XV-5080 und JX-8P. Ich plane, ein paar davon abzustossen! Sag mal , glaubst Du, dass der JD-990 mit Vintage-Synth-Card MKS-80 und JX-8P klanglich ersetzt?

[retrosound72]

Hi, das kommt darauf an wie hoch deine Ansprüche an den Klang des Originale sind. Der JD990 ist ein ausgezeichneter Synth mit ordentlich Druck, Vielseitigkeit und sehr gutem, sauberem Klang. Natürlich kannst du mit dem Vintage Board eine große Bandbreite der Roland Synths abdecken, aber eben nicht zu 100%. Ist wirklich schwierig so pauschal zu beantworten aber wenn du deinen MKS80 wirklich irgendwann abstoßen willst dann melde dich vorher mal kurz bei mir ;-)

[Kapitannuss]

so eine gute arbeit an einem synthesizer hört man verdammt selten

Respekt!

[retrosound72]

Danke :)

[GNeuman]

The pad sounds are truly wonderful........do you have the rare Strings card?

[retrosound72]

No, i have not the strings card.

[Smaejdah]

Is there a vst version for this synth? or something that is almost equal? in vst..

[retrosound72]

No :-(

[kolakube123]

VST is good but emulation can never be better than the real thing IMO.

[retrosound72]

that is true

[fischek]

quite amazing

[retrosound72]

Thanks :)

The JD-800 is my big love.

[fischek]

well I am currently in love with it's older brother D50, but am waiting for a chance to get the JD800 as well ;)

[retrosound72]

The D-50 (i have the D-550) is also beautiful. I think I am a roland synth fan. ;-)

[darkstarxp2]

i want this preset!!!! are this presets of roland jd800??

[retrosound72]

presets and third party sounds

[Nishiki2407]

the JD800 can fart better sounding pads than most current romplers and a lot of VA's to,best digital filter hands down!!

[Hyper5nic]

When this first came into my local musicstore, i played it for half a day or so.

I still feel bad because i couldn't buy it then.

Great sound! I've even seen Vangelis play it live in Rotterdam harbor. It rained cats and dogs, so he played it all the while the JD was protected from the rain by a sheet of plastic.

Very cool nonetheless.

[retrosound72]

Get it from the closet and play it. It is a great synth.

[DAGSTERZ26]

Nice to see a new video featuring this synthesizer. I love my JD 800.

[flyhye]

sounds nice