About the JD800Center ________ Tech Specifications ________ JD Manuals ________ Software and Patches ________Best JD Links ________Factory Sound Demos

Updates: Many topics are permanent, so may be updated to any material, for add or correct info.
Get more info: Since the beginning this site tryes to be a compilation center of the best sources for the JD800. Not a copy.
So please, visit the sites at the Links section for lots of much more very good information.

quarta-feira, 27 de janeiro de 2010

Roland JD-800 Filters and Aftertouch

Two videos by moretacos1. Visit is page at Youtube, there are lots of good material.

Mean while, I selected two:

Great Filters. Program or just move the sliders as you want.




Atertouch:

Much more than the demo, much more than pads

If you want to listen some other uses of this synth, like playing some guitar leads and stuff like that then watch this until the end.

Roland JD-800 Synth Demostration, performed by S4K (Space4Keys)
Note: The the keys of his JD are broken, so he uses other keyboard as master controller.

Roland JD-800 and JD-990 Movies and great sounds at Youtube

Youtube have many movies with the Roland JD-800. Some have best sound qualiy, others not.

Remember, the JD-800 is a massive sound machine so don´t be cheated if some video have not all that quality we expect. Go after the best demos you can and use the best audio players, like headphones or good speakers.

Of course, the JD-800 is a fine top level synthesizer. You can listen to other machines, like the JD-990 module, or similar quality machines, like the Roland V-Synth and Phantom, the Korg Triton, the Nords, etc.

I will start with a good movie from that great people from Retrosound.de.



Vintage Roland JD-800 synth demo by RetroSound. See the machine in action. Some typical sounds from the Roland JD-800 Synthesizer. Not so good audio quality, but very impressive.

See more Youtube synth videos from Retrosound.





Next, two better audio demos:

Audio part I - Analog and digital type pad sounds:




Audio part II - Wow! Some of the JD like pads!:

segunda-feira, 25 de janeiro de 2010

Manuals: JD800 and JD990 (Updated)

The Roland JD-800 and the JD-990 have strong sound features and the user manuals are a "must have" to anyone who wants to use in depth all resources and to learn about sound synthesis.

Roland has made manuals for most of their products available as free PDF downloads.
This material is @ Roland Corp.

Note: All "Google Docs" links must be working. I can't assure the external Roland links are still active.


English Language Manuals

Size

Sources






JD-800 Owner´s Manual 

8.982 Kb

Roland US 



Google Docs.

JD-800 User´s Guide




Roland US 



Google Docs

JD-800 Midi Implementation 

424 Kb








JD-800 Turbo Start Guide

62 Kb





















JD-800 Service Manual

39.2 Mb







Google Docs


JD-990 Reference


28,5 Mb







Google Docs

JD-990 Owner´s Manual 

7.675 Kb

Roland US 



Google Docs

JD-990 User Guide

6.333 Kb

Roland US




Google Docs
JD-990 Turbo Start Guide
62Kb





JD-990 Service Notes Manual
62Kb

 
Google Docs


JD-990 Patch/Waveform/Rythm List
1.348 Kb

Roland US




Google Docs



The Original Japanese manuals:


Japanese Language Manuals

Size

Sources







JD800 User´s Guide

2.622Kb

Google Docs





Here the 3 manuals from Roland.jp site




JD800 Reference Part 1-4

3.953Kb

Google Docs




JD800 Reference Part 5

2.486Kb

Google Docs



















JD990 User´s Guide

1.043Kb

Google Docs

Here the 2 manuals from Roland.jp site




JD990 Reference

6.315Kb

Google Docs










From www.bluesynths.com:
"We HAVE TO add this user manual to the literature list. It's simply a
great piece of synthesizer literature. Contains not only detailled
explanations, drawings and graphics about each part of the JD-800, but
also lots of background information (music theory, how to create
realistic string sounds, about using effects, etc). 200 pages."

sexta-feira, 22 de janeiro de 2010

RIP Geocities

Geocities has gone and all material the original we had collected.

Has I´m really short in time, I will be posting here almost as possible.

Thanks for visiting and support this great synth!

quarta-feira, 20 de janeiro de 2010

The Roland JD-800: A Great Synth - Short History and Specifications

Roland JD-800 Programmable synthesizer

Year 1991

"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 mega-classical 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.

Almost patches was created by Eric Persing.


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.

Release Date 1991-1996

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

Units produced: 24.000 




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, 4 velocity curves. 

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


Displays:

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


Tone Processing functions:


Envelopes:
    • Pitch
    • TVF - Time Variant Filter (18 bit)
    • TVA - Time Variant Amplitude
WG - Waveform Generator


Dynamic filters and Amplifier,


2 LFOs · with 5 waveforms






DSP Effects processor:


2 Effect chains
1x Mono
1x Stereo
    • 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 cards 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 (see note bellow).

    • 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 ** (not for the JD)
    • SO-PCM-08 Country/Folk/Bluegrass **  (not for the JD)

Important note about the SO-PCM cards. 
This series of 1 and 2 Mbyte cards for the JV-80, JV-880, JV-90, JV-1000, JD-800, JD-990 and JV-1080 consists of incredibly high-quality sounds that take advantage of these instruments' powerful capabilities. Each card contains patch data and wave data, so you can instantly get at these great sounds.
** 2 Megabyte cards - not compatible with the JD-800. So the SO-PCM-07 and SO-PCM-08 waveforms cards does not work with the JD.
SO-PCM cards provide waveforms AND patches for all models except the JD-800 so you only will have new waveforms to create patches. 



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 only, not waveforms.
It is not possible to create nor save waveform data in the JDs. 



Connections:
  • Mix Out - mono (L+R);
  • Direct Out - Stereo (L/R);
  • MIDI In, Out, Thru;
  • Hold pedal (damper);
  • Expression pedal input assignable to Volume, Pan, Modulation, or Aftertouch;
  • Headphone;
  • Card Slots for Patches and PCM data.



General:


Power source: AC100V (50/60Hz) (need an internal technical procedure to change). 
Electric power consumption: 25w
External size: 1040 (W) ×420 (D) ×108 (H) mm
Weight: 15 kg


Optional:


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 Expression Pedal



Differences between JD-800 and JD-990

The JD-990 is the Supermodule of the JD-800. It have extended capabilities and is a "big plus" to any setup.
    • Expanded wave ROM (6MB vs. 4MB)
    • Ability to use a 8MB expansion board
    • 4 additional outs
    • True stereo engine
    • Osc sync
    • Cross-mod (FXM)
    • Osc structures that allow ring mod and serial dual filters
    • Additional LFO waveforms
    • MIDI CC control of parameters
    • Tempo-sync delay
    • Polyphonic portamento
    • Performance memories
    • Additional multi-timbral slots
    • One patch can keep full effects in multi mode.

Thanks to Ian and Don Solaris for this part.




Important notes and disclaimer:


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.

.'.