Roland JX-3P

Roland JX-3P

Manufactured by	Roland
Dates	1983-1985
Price	US $1395
Technical specifications
Polyphony	6 voices
Timbrality	Monotimbral
Oscillator	2 DCOs per voice
LFO	1 sine/square/sh/noise
Synthesis type	Analog Subtractive
Filter	1 resonant lowpass, 1 highpass
Attenuator	1 ADSR
Aftertouch	No
Velocity sensitive	No
Memory	32 presets/32 user patches
Effects	chorus
Input/output
Keyboard	61 keys
External control	MIDI

The Roland JX-3P is a synthesizer produced by Roland Corporation of Japan in 1983. It is notable as the one of the company's first products (along with the Jupiter-6) to incorporate a MIDI interface, limited to note-on/note-off data only.

Features

Its architecture is more advanced than the Juno series synths produced around the same time. Both machines use the same interval-timer DCO technology and use the Roland IR3109 low-pass filter. It is a polyphonic, 61 key synthesizer with sawtooth, 50 and 10% pulse waveforms, and a noise generator. It has 32 factory programs and user memory for 32 programs, and a 128-step, six-part built-in sequencer that can be triggered by sync voltage from external devices such as the Roland TR-707 drum machine.

Instead of analog sliders and knobs, the JX-3P used a series of buttons and a single data slider for selecting parameters. For users who wanted better real-time sound control, Roland sold a separate unit that plugs into the synth called the PG-200, also made by Roland.

MKS-30, PG-200

The JX-3P was also produced as a rackmount unit called the MKS-30. While the JX-3P could only handle MIDI data or the data from the PG-200 separately, the MKS-30 can handle both at the same time.

Although the JX-3P can have all of its parameters edited in real time without any external aid, the PG-200 allows the user to edit patches with the conventional lay out of an analog synthesizer as opposed to the use of one sliding potentiometer and the bank selection.

There is an EPROM version available at Roland, which enables note velocity in MIDI-in mode^{[citation needed]}. There is an add-on kit available from Inque (see link below), which enables parallel usage of PG200 and MIDI and also introduces parameter control via MIDI controller data.

Notable users

Legowelt Orbital Hawkwind Vince Clarke Juicy Audio Productions / S R DHAIN (with PG200) Bonaparte Stevie Nicks Thomas Dolby Cheap Fire Electrosexual The Future Sound of London Astral Projection

Harold Faltermeyer MSTRKRFT Half Holiday & The Pinchés Spacehotel David Scott Stone (Melvins / Big Business) Dream Academy XTC Lux Voltaire Winter Palace Damon Albarn (Blur / Gorillaz) Mansun Gorillaz

External links

• JX-3P owner's manual
• MKS-30 owner's manual
• Florian Anwander's Page - Schematics, Modifications, Hidden Functions
• Vintage Synth Explorer's JX-3P entry
• Homepage of expansion kit from Inque
• Info, manual & MP3 demo
• Example track of JX-3P usage, especially the built-in sequencer run at a rapid rate all the way through and transposed as the track plays for the rippling "chord like" effect