Roland Juno-106

Simple. Easier to synthesize sounds than a Casio SK-1. Single function sliders, buttons and switches, all labelled.

Polyphonic. The built-in Chorus adds way to much noise to use. It does not respond to keyboard velocity which is the second biggest drawback in the design (the Juno 2 does, though). All sliders send & receive MIDI, which is nice.

It is the type of synthesizer you can play with for 30 minutes and honestly feel you've heard about every sound it can create. The synth sound is very recognizable. The single oscillator, single envelope, single one-shape LFO design is way too limiting. I don't even think the cheapest Moogs are this basic. High points are that it recreates some excellent 80s sounds.

It has locked up on me once before, but this was fixed by simply turning it off and on. Very road worthy & ideal for live techno performance.

n/a

The Juno-106 would be an excellent first synthesizer for someone interested in techno. However, I would not recommend it since you can get small true analog (linear circuit) synths and excellent second generation digital synths for the same price. With all that said, I have used mine a couple times for recording, but usually just use it in the studio while writing & sequencing. Like any synthesizer, its fun (yes, the DX7 can be fun too!), and if you have one and like synthesizers, you'll love it all the same. If you must have one, don't pay more than $350 US.

I just got this so Ive only created a few sounds. FORGET the presets, make ur own baby. I still dont understand all that well how to save my patches, it can get kinda confusing

It actually does have midi! I use it with an MPC2000, and its nice and easy to sequence. The Chorus effect sure sounds good

Like any synth the reactioons of the keys suck, they feel good, but the timing sucks.

I found this synth in a trash bin, Something is wrong with something inside, because after 10mins or so of use, it will start sounding noisy. Its not the outputs, it must be something else, if u know what, please email me noisetrip@mailcity.com
Although it sounds dirty after a while, this unit is 15 years old and it still is in good shape. )(remember i found this in a can!)

Roland is awesome at service, pricy, but awesome....

Something is wrong with the inside, after a while of playing it, it will start sounding noisy. Overall I love the sounds, and Its defitnely a keeper

Extremely easy. Others have explained this clearly.

Covered by others.

Here is where this instrument excells, The presets on mine (factory + orig owner) I would NEVER use. Create the patches that excite and enhance your song and then find that G-Spot on the patch that send it off and work it - interacting with the song as it progresses. The preset you create is the starting place for sound manipulation. The 106 is extremely expressive used in this way. Check out the way William Orbit used the Juno 106 on every song of Madonna's Ray of Light CD. Most of the synth work was the Juno 106. (see www.williamorbit.com - under Studio - Madonna CD). Even if you don't like Madonna you can appreciate Orbit's work.

I just got this unit - the HS-60 - (which is exactly the Juno 106 with built in speakers) because I wanted the creative control. If you're looking for a balls to the wall freight train analog synth for your setup, you should probably get another synth. If you're needing a creative analog synth addition to your setup, then the 106 is worth a look. Realize, however, that the creativity comes from you - if you're looking for a synth that you just press a key and say "Oh boy that's creative" - you won't like the 106. However, the 106 is so easy to manipulate that expressing yourself is not complicated.

This synth is extremely easy to use, I managed to get good sounds within the first few munutes of playing. Mine had the presets overwritten, so I have no idea how they would sound.

see other reviews.....

Okay, here is the real lowdown. Ignore the other comments about this synth sounding cheesy! I have worked with a range of synths including the roland sh series and Korg MS-20, MS-10. Such instruments will only as good as the person using it. True it is nowhere near as bass heavy as a synth with VCO's, but it provides some very ethereal spacy drones that I love. Just listen to Autechre for a resource.

Make sure you check out all the keys, sliders etc. before buying. I would take it to a gig.

Can't say a bad thing about it.....every synth has it's limitations. But the biggest limitation is you!

I won't bore everyone with yet another review of its use and sounds; I want to pass on some other important info I've learned to help new potential buyers of these boards (but in a nutshell I love the 106). Please skip down to the important stuff in "Reliability", "Support", and "Overall"...

Please note these are 10 to 15 years old now, plus they were built to be the "economy" synth in their day and the Jups were intended at the Professional (touring) market. The 106 still though is way better built than most boards of today, which is a d--- shame. (XP10 chassis is a piece of crap). Common problems are: voice chips that die, pitch stick broke off, patch buttons that don't work, sliders that don't move nicely, missing slider caps, power-cord jack replacements done poorly, missing pieces internally and externally from sloppy repairmen.

Roland has been good to me, but charge high for old photocopied manuals ($15) and have sent me the wrong stuff a few times. PLEASE KNOW BEFORE BUYING ONE: pitch-bend joystick is NOT available anymore, slider caps Roland sends you are for Juno-60 and DO NOT fit, but from looking at pics I swear the JP-8000 uses same caps as 106... I know that caps for Jup-6 are same as 106. Keys ARE available and cheap at $5 ea. Hosa sells 2-prong power cord cheap at $10. What's really cool is many nice people share their 106 patches on the web.

PLEASE BE WARNED! there are many shysters right now selling really dorked up 106's for high money ($450-$600) and they all say theirs is mint or works great. This is a 10-15yr old economy-level board, many of these have been mistreated and neglected, stored improperly, etc. Internals are sensitive electronics unlike a 15yr old guitar. Use online-escrow or some method to protect yourself! I bought a very good one for $400 and then bought a 2nd for $450 that turned out to be a complete piece of crap! Yes I have filed fraud charges but do you really think I'll get my money back? The bad 106 has output sounding like it's run through a very poor quality distortion box, and its internals have so many problems and actual pieces missing it was shocking. On the bad 106 2 patch buttons do not work at all, and the other 6 have to be tapped several times to take. This kind of fraud happens when an item gets really hot for sale so be careful.

Forget presets, this machine is about making your own sounds. This machine is knob stylin, so just grab a knob and intuitively change settings. Easy, easy, no manual needed.

6 Voice polyphony, LFO, an interesting (not as acidic, but with a delay unit you can make it that way) resonant filter, and it's MIDI. Not velocity sensative but its unique character demands it so. The real deal here is -- KNOBS -- sequenceable control w/ sysex; or just grab the damn thing and move it live!!

For those people who complain about the "thin" or "cheesy" of this machine are obviously not listening the right way. First of all, get rid of your cheapo computer monitor type speakers and get some that can handle some ridiculously MEAN bottom end cos for bass this machine can create some serious serious damage. I WANT TO HEAR ONE OF THESE IN A LIVE SETUP W/ _REAL_ SPEAKERS!!! I'm telling you, this thing will rock and move the entire place. Cheese? I assume--if you have patch editing deficiancy or want every synth to have a 303 like filter sound--no fun in that! The sounds can range from floaty, dreamy pads to aggressive, abusive bass!

Haven't gigged with it, but I plan to -- I gotta hear this thing @ a party!!

Never dealt with Roland before-- - -

I found this one in mint condition and am VERY pleased-- if you want techno / industrial, hard bass or good floaty pads, this is where to go. Junglists, heads up, cos the bass factor here is incredible-- listen to it and play with it for a while (on GOOD speakers) to see if you can find "it" inside-- if you see it, go for it.

The presets sound ok (actually kinda cheesy). Editing the patches is very simple, a breeze. A patch editor isn't needed, this thing is that easy to edit, unless your a mongoloid. didn't even really need the manual (although I have the original).

6 voice polyphony (not multitimberal). I don't even use it in polyphonic mode, I use it in mono phonic mode anyways for thicker sounds. It has built in chorus which does make it sound phatter (I don't know what the other guys where talking about "it doesnt make any difference"). The only expansion capability it has is an external tape deck hook up wich to store patches, you don't even need it cause you can store your patches through sysex. Every slider on the board sends sysex messages. So your sequencer will record your slider movements for you, a great thing. no onboard sequencer.

the sounds that you can make on this synth are great PHAT sounds awsome for techno, Goa, Trance and industrial not "cheesy" at all. Its is not velocity sensitive, and does not have aftertouch.

I think this is a vey dependable synth. Yha I would take it to a gig.

haven't delt with costumer support yet

I think its great!!! It sounds nice and Phat, the sliders send sysex info, you can do patch changes through sysex, its just plain great if your doing electronic music. If you have one and can't find any use for it,or think its sounds "cheesy", then you don't know how to use it. I think it was worth what I paid especially since it came with a hard case. I could find a use for this in almost every song. I also have a Nord Lead 2. So I would say if you want this kind of sound and many other sounds and can afford it get a Nord Lead 2 instead. After you've bought your Nord Lead 2 then get a Juno 106 cause its worth it. I wouldn't pay anymore then $400 max. though if somebody wants more then $400 for a juno 106 tell them to stick it where the sun dont shine, cause although it does sound great it is old, and its not multitimberal.

An analogue synth anyone can create a sound with. Many sliders, but laid out in the usual logical fashion, so figuring out what each does becomes clear after some time. Saving presets....super simple. You probably don't even need the manual.

6 voice polyphony...but no multitimbrality. Can save patches, has MIDI, chorus (doesn't do all that much), portamento, filter/pitchbend/LFO control with the joystick. MIDI will record slider movements! Yay! Too bad no arpeggiator....plus, I really don't get why they have stereo outs....but I'm not complaining, it could be useful.

Depends on what you're after. True, not the most analogue sounding, but after comparing it to a friend's Alesis QS6, it started to sound very analogue! No velocity or aftertouch, the chorus,like I said, changes the sound a bit, but not really much of an effect otherwise. Has portamento and the filter/pitchbend/LFO can be control with the joystick.

Bought it used and everything works perfect. I'm not too concerned that it will break down. So far mine's only seen studio use, but I'd lug it to a gig.

No idea...but at least Roland's still around.

For what a lot of people are asking for this here, I got a deal, but if I had the option of buying it again,hmmm...I don't know. I might spend more for something new just for multitimbrality. Personally, I like the sounds for what I use it for, and can see a use for it in every track I'd do. Besides, the Chemical Bros, Leftfield, Crystal Method, Prodigy, Depeche Mode, Faithless, 4-Hero, BT, Todd Terry, Masters at Work (basically everybody) has one of these...so it must be alright!

bass has great range but nothing else worth mentioning very easy to use.........but never the same sound twice....maybe a plus for you trip-hop muscians no manual...but can order from roland for $10

midi ......yes..... ........effects easy to use........but nothing unique so far.......

no.....nothing of real quality to mention.....have to agree....pretty cheezy machine and thin sounds....probably a basement techno artist or your local high school drama club for some special effects noises

so far No.........what kind of gig? do you play with heavy bass and guitars? then this might be a great instrument live.......if in the right muscians hands my prediction? Groups like Garbage, Depeche Mode and U2 will continue to influence using synth tech in creating solid basslines for modern rock music.......The kids will follow!

Yeah...very good....I called roland and their tech support was great...and knowledgable....but parts are diff story...

yeah its worth 250......but only time will tell if serves my purpose......... I really need to get a new korg...so ill never be completely satisfied until then.......... Its great for old new order...........if your just starting out and you want learn your basics..........

I have no idea if my presets were the actual factory ones but they were ok Editing patches is beyong simple , every function has a knob/slider and the synth isnt that complex anyway .

6 voice polyphony , mono-timbral . No sequencer or arpegiator but MIDI that even transmits slider moves via sysex . No aftertouch or velocity . Slightly basic as far as analog synths go , 1 osc , 1 filter , 1 env , 1 lfo

The 106 is the bass machine ! It shines on mega fat basses and soft pads . Not quite as good at leads but buy it for the bass alone ! A great resonant filter also

Mine is pretty reliable for a 14 year old machine . Sometimes complex midi information will freak it out a bit . I have giged with it midi'd and so far all has gone well .

Well it is pretty old so I dont think roland will be jumping up and down to help me out but there are quite a bit of net resources .

I would definetly buy one again , maybe an alpha juno 2 if I found one or maybe a juno 60 . Its not quite a Jp-8 but its a pretty good entry analog machine and best of all its midi!