Roland JD-800

Out of all the presets, I like about 4 of them. Editing is easy (slider heaven, almost as fun as an ARP 2600 and you don't need patch cords). The manuals are helpful if you need specific info, but don't try learning how to program the JD-800 from the manual, it is much quicker to jump in a experiment

Polyphony on the JD-800 is low. It is listed as 24 note (assuming you ae playing a sine wave)... in reality 8-12 note is more closer to the truth. I use the effects in a few of my patches, but generally I use an outboard effects processor.

I bought this keyboard as a control panel for my JD-990. I have just recently started using it as a synthesizer. I love the sounds I can create on it and I actually like to play it. It unfortunately is a little neglected because I had just bought an M-Audio Pro-88 (with more knobs and sliders than an ARP 2600) to control my XV-3080 and had no desire to buy the JD-800, but I got it CHEAP so I grabbed it to resell and decided to keep it. Someday soon I'll give it the attention it deserves

I have never had a problem with a Roland product that I couldn't fix myself (all the way back to my Jupiter 8). Gig with it, Yes

I've recently had good luck calling Roland support when I needed help setting up the 800 to control my JD-990.

If lost/stolen I would replace it if I could get it for under $550. I have been playing since 1975. Don't know it well enough to love it, but I like the control you have (sliders again). Can't find anything to hate or even dislike about it except the polyphony and the weight, but I use it as a "lead" synthesizer play 70's vintage stuff, so I'm usually using it as a mono synth and the low polyphony doesn't matter to me. Right now it is more in the way, but I can assure you that is a temporary thing.

ROM version 1.01
Presets are not the best, but 1-2 are really good
Patch editing is easy - so many sliders!
I bought it third (fourth?) hand so I only can wish there was a manual..

Polyphoni is enough, if you use it as second synth in a studio, but sometimes I wish there was at least 32. Nice keyboard, but not as good as the Yamaha DX7's.
It has built in effects, their use is medium. The JD800 can be expanded with cards. MIDI is implemented, no sequencer, no arp.

It can sound very expressive! Has nice fat basses and really analogue-like, rich sounds and great digital FX. Very nice to play, it reacts as I play, so no hitches..

No idea yet, I have it only a week or so, but all sliders and knobs are still working (hey, it is more than 12 years old!)

No idea

I sure would buy it again, was hunting for this gem for years :)
I play synths for quite a while now, the JD800 joind a Korg Triton and a Yamaha DX7-II FD.
The JD800 can only be loved, it is great in design and capabilities -sounding good even after a Triton. I wish Roland would still make this great synth with expanded capabilities like 64 poly, arp and eventual a sequencer. Last words: if you have the possibility BUY one!

Software v. 1.03 iirc.

I bought my JD-800 used so can't comment on the presets (never reseted it) but sound creation with this machine is so easy that it'd be a shame to use JD-800 as a preset synth. The sliders aren't in there for nothing. I got only the first part of the manual and I must say that it's rather good by Roland standards. I managed to find everything I was looking for rather easily (MIDI implementation, mostly). The synth itself is so simple to use that you don't have to consult the manual at all for basic functions/editing.

JD-800 uses a 4 tones-per-patch -structure now common in most of their newer s+s synths. Unfortunately each tone eats one voice of polyfony. Coupled with rather meager polyphony of 24 you very often end with polyphony of 6-8 notes, which allows you to play synth-type sounds without noticing significant dropouts. Despite being 6-part multitimbral you can't really expect to play back complete orchestral masterpieces with this machine. Certainly a player's synth.

Keyboard action is light, fast and reassuringly solid. Roland keybeds have always been very good in my experience. Keyboard if velocity and aftertouch sensitive but I can't bring myself to push the keys hard enough to trigger the aftertouch without having to fear breaking something. You can get around this by assigning aftertouch to an expression pedal, which I highly recommend. JD-800 comes with traditional Roland pitch/bend stick which, as you probably know, is good for the primary function but sucks for modulation due to minimal traverse. You also have to push the stick quite hard to trigger the modulation. Consequently I only push the stick at the base to avoid breaking it. It probably wouldn't, as with the keyboard, but I it's a cheap price to pay for your peace of mind.

The synth can be expanded with memory and waveform cards. I got the M-512E data card for patch storage. JD-800 internal bank can store whopping 64 patches. This is actually enough for my bread and butter sounds but is lacking when you need to store some project-specific sounds simultaneously and don't want to spend all your time moving your patches to your seq/comp. I also got the Strings Ensemble card for it and I must say it's absolutely superb (as mentioned by other reviewers). If you get a JD-800 definitely consider hunting down M-256E/M-512E data card and SL-JD80-04 Strings Ensemble waveform card - you won't be disappointed. Data cards are easier to find since they were used in later Roland models but it's the SL-JD -series that's going to be difficult.

I've found the MIDI-implementation on JD-800 to be absolutely horrific. Slider movement is sent via sysex so it's rather easy to clog the MIDI stream. The unit is also prone to crash if the MIDI stream gets too dense. It is thus recommended to stop the JD from sendin slider data over MIDI - haven't missed it so far but it certainly limits its use as a controller. JD-800 got no sequencer or apreggiator. I don't miss the former since everyone probably uses a computer for sequencing nowadays. Arp would be nice but I haven't missed it too much since I generally wouldn't use this synth for arp sequences anyway. Generally worth 10 but I substracted one point for poorly thought out MIDI-implementation and another for low poly (by today's standards) and sucky modulation lever. Also, the unit uses some kind of Roland-specific 2-pin power connector. It would be rather tedious to change, too (I opened the unit to investigate this possibility). If you happen to lose the power cable you're SOL. Better get some spares. Luckily they're commonly available.

Now we're talking. Generally, the JD-800 sounds just plain superb. You can't go wrong with cd-quality waveforms (as opposed to 16/32 of JV-series) coupled with sweet filters and clean converters. JD-800 is famous for pads and strings but I assure you that it rocks for all kinds of synth sounds. Use 3-4 detuned tones, add in some chorus and you got leads so thick you'd never imagine they were actually produced by a digital synth. This kind of analogue warmth is the synth's major strength that sets it apart from most digital synths. Roland engineers even included a Pitch Random -parameter for analogue emulations. Acoustic emulations aren't its forte, however. You can still produce rather good piano/electric piano/organ (distorted organs are cool) patches for live use. For studio you'd probably want to use something more authentic.

This synth would probably work well for any kind of music needing good synth sounds, especially Pads/Strings. If you're looking to cover every corner you'd better get a Kurz or other suitable workstation.

The synth utilizes velocity and aftertouch very well and is rather expressive, in my opinion. Onboard effects are very good even by today's standards. The effects are grouped into stereo effects (chorus, reverb, delay) and mono effects (phaser, distortion, spectrum, enhancer). You can use _all_ of them in single mode if you wish (as you would use effect pedals) but lose the mono effects in multitimbral mode (not a big loss, imo). The Phaser effect is rather weird in my opinion but sounds very good nevertheless. Distortion is also very useable and doesn't kill the sound. It's especially good for organ and lead patches. Overall, I can't help but to give it full 10. It's not the most versatile synth out there soundwise but it certainly does its thing verywell.

The synth weights about 15 kilos or so and is reinforced by a solid metal chassis from inside (even though part of the cover is plastic). The sliders and buttons are top-notch, too. The synth got a very low profile so it'd be rather difficult to bust a slider/button accidentally. Still, get a hard case for it.

Dust might kill the sliders in the long run but if you keep your unit clean you shouldn't have too many problems. My only complaints are the low-quality cursor and inc/dec keys. They're all bit sticky on my unit and were the first to break on couple of units I know of. The other buttons are big and inspire confidence (haven't caused me any problems even though I bought mine second-hand). I would certainly take this baby everywhere without backup. Heck, I could even use it to shield from bullets without having to fear it getting busted (the metal sheets are _thick_). Minus one point for the inc/dec buttons and slider dust hazard.

I don't know about Roland tech support in general but Roland Finland has always answered my e-mails promptly and usually with the information I was looking for. Generally very professional and helpful (especially considering I had bought my unit second-hand) so big props to them.

I've been playing the piano for about 15 years and synths for over 5 years. Currently I own a Nord Lead 2 in addition to my beloved JD-800 and they compliment each other well (NL2 produces all kinds of gritty/aggressive stuff the JD-800 isn't so good at). I've owned Roland XP-series synths before and actually consider the JD-800 a huge upgrade. If my JD-800 was lost or stolen I'd weep for a week and scour all the ad sites in existence for a replacement. I wouldn't however pay as much as I paid for this one (albeit it was in near-mint condition and came with the rare data card). I'd however weep for a year if the cards were in the unit at the time it was lost/stolen as they're almost impossible to find. I play progressive rock/metal purely as a hobby. JD-800 has taken me to a new level soundwise (I wish other digital synths were so quick to program) - now I only wish I had enough skill to use the unit's sonic potential to fullest. If you need a fantastic digital synth and happen 500 spare bucks burning in your pocket you should certainly consider acquiring this masterpiece until they are all gone (only 24.000 produced according to bluesynths.com).

I believe the software version is 1.01
I have the first manual, but not part 2.
Most of the presets sound good, a few are really crap.
Editing the patches is difficult at first and a lot of moving sliders about at random is the best way to start. Once you find out how the ADSR works and how to set it, it becomes a lot easier.

The polyphony is good once you learn how to set the levels of ADSR.
The built in effects are average. The Phaser doesn't seem to operate as a phaser at all. You can play around with them a bit though, but they don't always sound very good. I have not tried any cards in the synth yet, so I cannot comment on that. The synth is very MIDI compatable, and they keys are very pressure sensitive.

The Piano, Flute & Pizzacato strings are amazing. Some of the other sounds are OK. There are a few crappy sounds, but it is to be expected that not every sound will be great. This synth would work very well for soundtracks, semi-classical, dance and 80's style music. The onboard effects are average. You can tweak them a lot with the sliders however. When you set the ADSR correcty the synth responds very well. If you don't get the right settings, you can get frustrated by the time it takes between notes. It can be a very responsive synth.

This synth is 13 years old and still works correctly. There is nothing majorly wrong with it at all. A couple of the buttons require a stiff press, but nothing is broken. The synth itself is very heavy, so you have to watch it when you lift it incase you bang it on something, but it is quite sturdy. This synth can easily be the main instrument in a band. It is not the perfect synth. It isn't a Moog. it isn't a Jupiter 8, but all in all, it is an excellent all round synth.

I have not dealt with Roland at all about this synth, but in the past they have always responded to my enquiries.

I would definetly get another JD-800 if mine was damaged or stolen (unless I could get a Jupiter 8 for the same price :P) I have not been playing it for long. I have played an SH-101 and the JD-800 kicks it's ass (apart from the fact that the 101 is a real analogue).
I wish the JD-800 had an appreggiator. Apart from that, I cannot fault it really. It helps me to make music. It has some lovely pads and string sounds.

I think it's software is version 1.01. Some of the presets are OK, but the rest of the patches sound too generic for my taste. With all these sliders there's no excuse for not using them to program your own sounds! That's what this machine is for. I think it's pretty easy to program, and an editor wouldn't make a big difference. The manual is good but I don't use it at all.

24 voices of polyphony. You're going to eat them really fast if you try to layer too many sounds.
The keaboard has an excellent feel, and the effects are really good, especially for 1991.
I think the only expansion yo will ever need is the RAM card. I have the Standard Drums Card and there are some good sounds on it, though.
I haven't used its MIDI capabilities extensively. All I can say is that I wish I could use CC's instead of SysEx to record fader movements.
No sequencer.
I don't think it's very flexible by today's standards. You only have one multi patch and limited polyphony, but, who cares? I think GREAT SOUND is what matters here.

You can program icredible sounds with this machine and, sure, it's capable of making some good emulations too, but I only use it for
synthetic, non-real sounds.
The keyboard reacts very well to velocity and aftertouch.
Definitely a synth for prog rock/new age/electronica.

Mine has been around for ten years and will be for another twenty, I hope. Anyway, I don't think I can say too much about it's reliability because my JD has spent most of its life without beeing punished on the road.

I haven't dealt with Roland too much. I'm sorry, I can't give my opinion on that.

If it were stolen or lost I would definitely buy it again (if I only had the money!). I REALLY LOVE THIS SYNTH!!!

I'm using the 1.01 version of software.
The JD-800 is easy of use, because all envelope parameters is in the panel and has direct acces

*The polyphony is 24 tones.
*The sound is 16 bits 44100 hz
*The effects are fantascic, because is very complex. The JD-800 has:
REVERB, CHORUS, DELAY, DISTORSION, PHASER, SPECTRUM, ENHANCER, EQUALIZER
*The system of sound generator have 4 TONES
*The envelopes are very complex, for example this system is more complex that Korg Karma, Triton.

*The sounds are excellent because the sound generator is very efficient.
*The JD-800 have very good analog waveforms and EXCELLENT EFFECTS, *and is fantastic for created electronic music.
*The keyboard have Velocity and aftertouch sens and very fast respose.

Is very good becuse have more of 50 faders.
I have the ROLAND JD-800 Made in 1991, and I change the slider of value (I open the JD-800 and soldering the potenciometer) and 4 button of menu (Page and Cursor), the rest of Synthesizer is perfect.

*My SYNTHESIZER ROLAND JD-800 WAS REPAIRED FOR MY, because the service is high $price$.
*Technical information:
The potenciometers of panel is 30mm 100 K ohms B (mono)
The Petenciometer of volume is 30mm 10 K ohms B *2(stereo)

*The JD-800 is fantastic I love the Envelopes Generator because are very complex and have a pitch env, the 4 tones generator and love the EFFECTS.
*The JD-800 was me very good for created music.
*For my is complicated that the memory save 64 Patches

Yes, this is a digital "monster" full of knobs, sliders, etc. Presets? NO, this is a synth that YOU must program at all!!
The manual is interesting, but I have no sympathy for manuals...

Very easy to use, good keyboard - expandable, but I have no cards.
No sequencer.

Classical digital sounds, but I don't like presets. Very good reaction to velocity and aftertouch.

I am Italian so i have requested the Italian manual: in a very few time the company have send to me the italian manual . Very well done!

This is my only real digital synth, one of the best I've ever heard. Very good sounds (if you works very well with knobs and sliders)
The only synth comparable in Korg wavestation.
If stolen, I surely buy it again (if possible - this is an instrument of 1991....!)

The manual was a breeze to go through if when I had questions that I couldn't figure out on my own.

It doesn't have an on board sequencer, but you can midi it up to one.

It reacts really goot to velocity and after touch. I thought I would break the keys because I have to push down really hard to get the after touch. I've had it for 9 years and the keys still work as if I took it out of the box an hour ago.

Yes I've used it by itself quite a few times and it works great. The only thing I wish it did was cut through guitars a bit better with some of the lead patches. It doesn't replace the minimoog as far as bass sounds but, it can work if you don't have a bass player.

I've had to get it repaired once and that was because the modelation part of the pitch bender, when you push the bender up to modelate, it wasn't working. I also had the volume contact cleaned.

I originally bought this synth because I wanted some fat oberheim like brass, pads, minimoog basses and leads. Since it was the first synth that I owned that I could program right on the front pannel, it's really easy to use, just start pulling sliders. I've been able to modify and save quite afew new sounds with it. Sounds can be made with a combination of 1 to 4 parts. The mixer for these parts comes in handy for volume of an indivdual parts and well as a multitude of other assignments if you desire. I usually go to the envelope and reprogram things how I want. It also has a pitch envelope which is fun to play with on occasion. It doesn't compare with the minimoog but it sounds wonderful when you play it with a minimoog. It's a good multi-tamberal instrument to hook up to a computer or sequencer. I just wish it came with real drum sounds instead of percussion sounds. If you want drum sounds, you need to buy some soundcards for it. Genesis used some of the percussion sounds on the song "I Can't Dance" the strings were used by Sting on "Fields Of Gold" and were also used on the Genesis song "fading Lights."

Duh! Unlike the Korg Wavestation, there are bonz sliders on this synth. Sheesh, have you evolved to the five finger stage or what?

Here's a freebie tip from the Roc Doc for anyone that is lucky enough to own one of these suckas: turn on your sequencer, and hit RECORD. Now, start moving sliders on the JD-800. DON'T play any notes, but just randomly move faders for a couple of minutes (we know, we know, make sure the door to the bedroom is locked), HIT rewind, turn the tempo down to about half, NOW hit PLAY on the squencer. Start playing the keyboard and open up your ears for killer sounds. The moment you get something groovey, hit stop on the sequencer and then hit SAVE on the JD. You now got yourself a killah patch.

Acceptable polyphony because the strength of this synth is ATMOSPHERE. Get that straight right now. It's not a Bach machine, it's not a Steinway. Trying to use this thing for mazzive polyphony is like trying to race a Jeep. It ain't built for fat, snakey, analogue like lines. Effects are medium at best. But one of the coolest things is the little mixer section with four faders in it. You can cross fade and mix different sounds you've set up in four discreet locations.

All the guys below telling you how this thing is easy to program into PHAT analogue land are well meaning, but they're missing the point. You know what this sucka does...COLD. Mr. Freeze. The JD-800 is not some closet Nord Lead 2. It's not trying for switched on anything. instead it's a closet Wave Station in early nineties drag. If you are trying to do analogue sounds on this, you're trying to do KORN on a Ramirirez classical guitar.


This is a precise scalpel of a synth. It is a deep spaced freighter combined with wonderfully rightous analogue like sliders that are touch sensitive, and immune to a lot of mumbo jumbo LED programming. (No freaking red light VEGAS forescent show on this thing). It 's smooth and soothing, but it will take you down into sub arachnoid space! You can get massively cool sounds with the sliders and suddenly find yourself in a pocket. It's like a date with a really, really voluptious, curvacious, foxy, snarky babe, who hwas a brain like Carl Sagan and a tab of something groovefunktious in her purse. BILLION AND BILLIONS of possibilites here, all courtesy of the controllable chaos deep programmed into JD-800's samples!.

And don't believe she doesn't got da powah!!! Da thump you -- it's got it! Da Grooove thang -- it's got it!. We have generated phaser like seismic waves that were so cold, so intense, that the audience in the middle of a kind of warm and fuzzy deadhead bliss out were suddenly finding themselves rotated on their collective sacrums by the sheer laser like TONE of this beast. It's like a neutron fire hose! It is the TEXTURE MOTHER OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!! Think layers of cold particle lightwaves temping you into the abyss!

We've only had one problem. The digital analogue converter blew out, and was easily, and inexpensively repeaired, unlike my poor Oberheim OBXA which died a long, slow, horrible death due to parts that were no longer avaiable! WAAAAAAAAAAAH

Havne't head to deal with Roland, but I'd say they're pretty good.

What we love about JD-800 is how far it takes us into deep, deep space. It would be nice if it had a random, patch generator, but if it did it could go to the gig by itself and we could just stay home. A synth with an IQ this high should really be working for the CIA right now.

I have analog modular and other digital synths to compare with and I think that the JD800 stands on par with an analog modular for ease of use. But a true modular has more routing possibilites, but also less waveforms generally. Don't think of many ways that it could be improove as for usability except for the effects which are hard to access and have few parameters and soudn halfbad.

24 voices which of course are eaten quite fast if you use all four layers (8 voices ;). But I don't often don't need more than 2 layers for a good sound so it is okey, and if you own other synths its just fine.

Speaking of midicapabilities I haven't tried to hard but it would have been nice with some more modulation possibilities and control change destinations.

Shimmering and special pads and strings are the best to my ears and You can do lots of synthy sounds and cool basses. It is perfect for my style, but I guess thats cause I am a dance/trance/techno/ambient man.

It was broken when I got it but I guess it had been a bit abused. But I could get spares and replace the faulty knobs myself(no technical diploma - mind that!) and since then it has worked good, but for a few lockups when switching in and out of effects edit while running seqences on the computer.

Good I guess since they had the parts I needed, but I'd like to have a digital copy of the manual.

Mail me a copy if you got one

It is easy and add the flavour to my sound that analog synths just doesn't have so I wouldn't trade it for anything right now.

And as so many others have stated it looks smashing too.