Roland JD-800 Center
This is a fan site for a great Synth!

JD-800 Programmable synthesizer

From Roland Japan site: "Combining stunning digital sound and sophisticated digital technology with a natural feel and warmth reminiscent of analog instruments, the JD-800 was an instant sensation."

When the JD-800 appeared in 1991, Roland was the first to announce a new trend in the 90's: editability and overview. 

The JD-800 become instantly a megaclassical keyboard.

All sliders are dedicated editors just like the original analog synths. 

Based on sampling technology, it's a great synthesizer for guitar-like, analog bass or string/pad sounds. 

Internal ROM based with CD quality waveforms are combined to build sounds. 

This synth become the synth of choice in just about every studio around the world. 

It also can be used to control the JD-990 module.

This keyboard is an extremely programmable digital synthesizer that retailed for $3000 when it was first introduced. 

Units produced: 24.000 (source bluesynths.com)

Digital Programmable Synthesizer with analog user surface.

Real-time controls 

Great overall sound.

It´s really beautifull.

Keyboard

61 keys, Velocity, Channel aftertouch, 4 velocity curves

Polyphony  

24 voices 

6 Parts Multitimbral  (Multi mode):  5 part multitimbral + drum mode

Sound memory: 

64 internal RAM patches storage positions plus 64 Rom-card

Oscillators  

ROM based digital synthesizer 

Tone generation: 

S+S (Sampling and Synthesis) with resonant filters.

6  MegaByte ROM with 108 PCM Waves, expandable by PCM Rom Cards.

CD Quality waveforms

24 db Filters

108 internal source waveforms: 

• 13 Analog waves
• 22 digital waves
• 10 samples
• 16 percussion samples
• 9 overtones
• 4 piano's
• 17 attack transients
• 6 wind samples
• 9 noise
• 2 effect samples

You can also add waveforms from ROM  plug-in cards

Controls:

Keyboard: Good action 61 keys, fast, light, and smooth, with velocity, channel aftertouch.attachment and the weight it is attached

Displays: 

• 1 2x22 characters-LCD, 
• 1 2x16-characters-LCD, 
• green or orange backlight.

125 buttons, knobs and sliders on the front panel, being 75  dedicated for sound editing. All this send out recordable sysex! You can control the JD-990 with it.

• Phaser

• Distortion

• Spectrum

• Enhancer

• Chorus

• Delay

• Reverb

• 3 Band EQ

Cards: 

From Roland Roland JD-800 Turbo facts:

• SL-JD80 Series:
  A diverse library of Waveforms and Patches ranging from Acoustic, Dance and Rock drums to Strings, Brass, Pianos and even Accordian. Each set contains both a Waveform card and a Data card with 64 patches which utilize the sounds on the Waveform card.
• SO-PCM Series:
  These cards contain new Waveforms for use with either the JV or JD-series synthesizers. The JD-800 can use these Waveforms to enhance its internal library and allow users to build new Patches.

SL-JD80 SERIES  These are the original Jd-800 sets. Each have two cards, one for patches and one with waveforms. SL-JD80-01 Drums & Percussion STANDARD SL-JD80-02 Drums & Percussion DANCE SL-JD80-03 Rock Drums SL-JD80-04 Strings Ensemble SL-JD80-05 Brass Section SL-JD80-06 Grand Piano SL-JD80-07 Guitar Collection SL-JD80-08 Accordion
The JD can use waveform PCM cards from JV series. SO-PCM SERIES SO-PCM-01 Piano Selection  SO-PCM-02 Guiter & Brass SO-PCM-03 Rock Drums SO-PCM-04 Grand Piano SO-PCM-05 Accordion SO-PCM-06 Baroque SO-PCM-07 Orchestral FX SO-PCM-08 Country/Folk/Bluegrass
Memory Cards You can save memory data using standart M-256E cards or compatible as the M-512E. Note, using the M-512E won´t give  you double memory. The cards save patch data, not waveforms.

• Mix Out - Stereo (L/R)
• Direct Out - Stereo (L/R)
• MIDI in, Out, Thru; 
• Sustain, Control pedal
• Headphone, 
• Card Slots for Patches and PCM data 

Power source: AC100V (50/60Hz)

Electric power consumption: 25w

External size: 1040 (W) ×420 (D) ×108 (H) mm

Weight: 15 kg

Roland M-256E Ram Card
Roland M-512E Ram Card (only 256kb used)
Roland DP-2 damper pedal
Boss FS-5U momentary type footswitch
Roland EV-5 Expression Pedal
Roland EV-10

Market:

Release Date 1991-1996

Price list (1991 year): Us$2895 (Usa), DM 4580 (German) 

Current price:  Updated March 2004.

I used more usefull compare the price with another synths, instead of value.

At this time the average price is: Us$ 652 for a good shape synth.

Some equivalent gear prices at USA and Europe. The following list  itens have same prices or a small diference up to +/- Us$ 20. 

Remember some machines in the list are newer or older than the JD-800.

Roland JD-800 closer same price as:	Roland G-800 Roland JP-8000 Roland JP-8080 Roland JV-2080 Roland RD-500
	Kurzweil K2000S Kurzweil K250 Kurzweil PC-2R
	Yamaha EX-5R Yamaha EX7 Yamaha SY-99
	Gem Equinox-76
	Ensoniq KT-88 Ensoniq MR-76
	Alesis QS7.1.

(source: www.prepal.com)

The JD-990 is the Supermodule of the JD-800. It have extended capabilities and is a "big plus" to any setup.

1. Expanded wave ROM (6MB vs. 4MB)
2. Ability to use a 8MB expansion board
3. 4 additional outs
4. True stereo engine
5. Osc sync
6. Cross-mod (FXM)
7. Osc structures that allow ring mod and serial dual filters
8. Additional LFO waveforms
9. MIDI CC control of parameters
10. Tempo-sync delay
11. Polyphonic portamento
12. Performance memories
13. Additional multi-timbral slots
14. One patch can keep full effects in multi mode

For the complete comments by Don Solaris and some DEMOS of the JD-990 visit: Roland JD-990 info and synthesis examples

Thanks to Ian and Don Solaris for this part.

The JD-800 have two good internal demos, one for each mode (single or multi-timbral).

Internal Sound Demos

Maintenance and Test Topics

Contributions:

Comments, help, sugestions, donations, etc...

If you want send me a gift, can be the your band CDs, JD-800 cards. I also accept keyboards, sound modules, sponsors, etc :)

If you have a specific web page about the JD-800, or you are a user of the JD-800 and have a special place to it at your homepage, or have personal stuff (pictures, reviews, etc) about the JD-800 send to my personal email and I will post or link here.

About me:

My name is Gilberto Strapazon.'., I live at Porto Alegre, Brasil.

Progressive rock keyboard player, composer, writer. 

For a little bit of my music visit: 

www.myspace.com/gilbertostrapazon (english)

www.tramavirtual.com.br/gilbertostrapazon (portuguese)

I was reviewed with two page article at BackStage Magazine, at 2004 february. 

Click here for my former computer´s programming page.

Important notes:

This is a fan-page.  I have no relation with Roland Corporation.

This page was done because I found myself lost and I start to colect info around the world. All information I found is posted here. Please, don´t write asking how to do something. Save your time and go directly to the user foruns and sites.

Contact:

Send a message (email)