I've loaded the Synth Legends bank onto my Integra-7, and that was cool enough. So is it any Integra banks on Axial only? Of the factory presets seem to follow this convention, and it's the default on an Init patch as well. After really delving into the JDXA sequencer.I've come to a conclusion: Roland REALLY blew it on the JDXA.
I wouldn't dare to give you a full review as I haven't played it enough times. But it happens to be placed next to the Prophet-6 at my music store around the corner. I guess I can state the obvious, i.e. That it is made of more plastic than DSI/Sequential stuff.
I've never been a fan of the AIRA design and its derivatives and I guess the shiny plastic top would annoy my over time, especially after you collected fingerprints and dust all over the place. Aside from its outward appearance it sounds solid to me. The filters are nice sounding. The analog oscillators didn't quite blew my mind. They sound okay, but are definitely weaker sounding than those of Prophet-6. I don't find the control panel to be as intuitive as the ones DSI designed, but after a couple of days one should get familiar with it. What I don't like is how you have to select the single waveforms.
I absolutely agree with Nick Batt's review in that regard. At least a shuttle wheel or a different type of display would have been a nicer solution. If I knew how to initialize a patch, I could have tested it more. There are always lots of effects used on the factory patches, so everything sounds a bit generic and glossy to the same degree.
Those were my first impressions. With regard to the features, I think it's cool that it offers cross modulation and a different approach at hybrid designs on top of synths like the Evolver. The latter, though, has more of a unique character in my view. But in the end it depends on what you wanna use it for. It certainly can do great pads and in that regard people might like it just about the same as the JD-800. On the JD-XA, there appear to be some interesting possibilities once you mix in the AUX Src through the filter (MIX, per part) or as a cross-mod source (OSC 1 Mod Src). Hi,I've been playing and making sounds with synth for the past 35 years or so, ranging from analog to digital, from hardware to software to iOS apps, and once had 40 hardware synths, most of them without MIDI.
I had Jupiter-8, prophet-5, Pro-One, ARP 2600, D-50, nord lead 1 expanded, Kronos, and so on, but now my arsenal shrunk to about a dozen or so as you can see at the bottom of my post.Recently, after long consideration, I got the JD-XA new unit at the price of about 1,500 USD, and am overall quite satisfied with it. Here are some of my personal views:It's true that the XA doesn't allow editing every single parameter from the front panel physical controllers, and some require menu diving, but so is Roland JD-800, and Access Virus.Fundamental waveforms of both analog and digital synth parts like sawtooth, square etc can be selected by front panel knobs. But digital variation waveforms are hidden under the LCD menu system, and needs to be scrolled through the waveform list using - and + buttons. I did at first thought having a rotary encoder would be nicer, but within a couple of minutes I got used to this thanks to the shortcuts being provided, like for example:1. Press and hold either - or + will have the screen scroll at jet speed.2. Press and hold either - or +, and then press the other button will have the screen scroll at warp speed.3. Press Shift and - or + will allow you to skip the values by 10's.The rotary encoder on the old JD-800 had a lag problem that makes you always over run the destination you want leaving you frustrated, so I find this XA method actually better.There are a whole bunch of these sort of short cuts being listed on the manual such as:4.
Press Shift and left or right arrow buttons will allow you to skip to the previous or next section in the LCD menu.5. Press Shift and TFX1, TFX2, MFX buttons will allow you to jump access to the corresponding effects processors instantly.6. Press Exit and turn a knob or push a slider will show the parameter value without changing it.
Same as DSI PRO2's Show button.7. Press and hold Part On button, and play low end then hi end of the key range to create keyboard splits.Many shift key operations? Well so is my Clavia nord wave, or nord lead synths.I know everybody have their own tastes, so if you wanna shoot the UI designer twice, fine go ahead but I'm happy with mineI've never tried a synth with Kiwi mod before, so if they have faster EG attacks than the XA, then it must be so.Still, as far as I know the XA's analog synth part has one of the snappiest EG I've ever heard from a synth.The LFO runs from very slow rate to audio range. And the transition from slowest to the fastest is extremely smooth.The cutoff frequency again can be changed extremely smoothly.
Also, there goes another short cut to fine tune the cutoff frequency:8. Press Shift and turn Cutoff for fine tuning the cutoff frequency.This reminds me of the old Memory Moog VCF that had coaxial coarse and fine tune knobs for the cutoff frequency.The LPF3/BPF/HPF has very unique character.
When the resonance is cranked up to self-oscillation, the whistle sound will start to chirp like a flock of little birds. I read on a Japanese web article that this is due to the filter cutoff tracking the incoming signal. This is something you can't find with any other synths, and when used together with Filter Drive function and/or LFO at audio range, you'll get very wacky interesting noise.Yes, you can feed the entire 64 voice polyphonic digital synth part together with its own effects processing to analog VCF as a paraphonic synth. And since there are four analog synth parts, you'll have up to four paraphonic synths. I've had my eye on it for a while. It's not perfect (Terribly hard to read-but can be fixed with decals) and the analog side is a bit weak (but the fact Roland even attempted it is noteworthy) but there's one thing that it is: Unique.
There's been a lot of analog/digital crossovers but those are usually focused on wavetable and FM synths mixed with analog filters. I'm more interested in the samples of choirs, strings, etc mixed with analog filter sweeps and pads. That is unique. Oddly I find myself more drawn to the idea of having a sample and running through the analog filters and effects and adjusting the ADSR all on the front panel than the analog section itself. Reminds me a bit of an Emulator. Something that I think it's lacking on the market now is a sample based keyboard that has an analog interface. This is about as close as I've got to it.The sequencer takes a bit to get used to but the fact it can sequence internally and externally is a bonus and can easily compensate the weak analog section when you start hooking it up to your other gear.
It could easily be a center piece for a studio in some regards.It's not perfect by any stretch but it's so unique and there's nothing else like it on the market that it makes me want to work around it's flaws just to have something so different. I bought one on the quality of sound. And you're right, it is a very beautiful sounding synth.The build quality is typical Roland. Everything is well attached and seems to be able to withstand normal use. But it's cheap plastic. (Note: IMO, all plastic is cheap plastic.
Cheaper than aluminum anyway.). Still, the build quality is adequate.But I returned it the same week simply because from the standpoint of editing your sounds, the design is so poor. Menu diving with 2 or 3 buttons, no scroll wheel. They've lost their minds.If they ever re-designed the user interface, I'd be on it again in a second.
I bought one on the quality of sound. And you're right, it is a very beautiful sounding synth.The build quality is typical Roland. Everything is well attached and seems to be able to withstand normal use. But it's cheap plastic. (Note: IMO, all plastic is cheap plastic. Cheaper than aluminum anyway.). Still, the build quality is adequate.But I returned it the same week simply because from the standpoint of editing your sounds, the design is so poor.
Menu diving with 2 or 3 buttons, no scroll wheel. They've lost their minds.If they ever re-designed the user interface, I'd be on it again in a second.
Then you don't like the shortcuts?1. Press and hold either - or + will have the screen scroll at jet speed.2.
Press and hold either - or +, and then press the other button will have the screen scroll at warp speed.3. Press Shift and - or + will allow you to skip the values by 10's.4. Press Shift and left or right arrow buttons will allow you to skip to the previous or next section in the LCD menu.5. Press Shift and TFX1, TFX2, MFX buttons will allow you to jump access to the corresponding effects processors instantly.6. Press Exit and turn a knob or push a slider will show the parameter value without changing it. Same as DSI PRO2's Show button.7. Press and hold Part On button, and play low end then hi end of the key range to create keyboard splits.8.
Press Shift and turn Cutoff for fine tuning the cutoff frequency.Like my Clavier nord wave or any other nord lead synths, these above make the operations a lot easier to me.