Kiwi Technics to make KiwiJX8P

[corndogssg]

with the success of the kiwisix, kiwijx3p and now the kiwijuno106, I just found out that kiwi technics is working on making a new mod for the ROLAND JX8P. all though it's gonna be a year or two most likely until completed it certainly sounds very interesting!

[max badwan]

"I'm excited" as Big Kev used to say!

[stf-ran]

The JX-8P is best bargain of all the 80's polysynths IMO. Sure it doesn't have knobs or sliders but it's not hampered by an incomplete midi spec. Nice, solid keyboard feel and action. Plus, the most important thing, it sounds good. Good news indeed.

[Aaron2]

I'm not that enthused. Kiwitechnics' "upgrades" of these vintage synths are really great. But does the world really need a better JX-8P?

And further, who wants to pay more for the upgrade than the synth itself? Used JX-8Ps are cheap, usually a couple of hundred, even on eBay. But these firmware rewrites that Kiwitechnics creates typically sell for $300+, in addition to shipping from NZ, which isn't cheap. I'm not sure it would ever make financial sense to buy one.

[HUBA]

I'm not that enthused. Kiwitechnics' "upgrades" of these vintage synths are really great. But does the world really need a better JX-8P?

And further, who wants to pay more for the upgrade than the synth itself? Used JX-8Ps are cheap, usually a couple of hundred, even on eBay. But these firmware rewrites that Kiwitechnics creates typically sell for $300+, in addition to shipping from NZ, which isn't cheap. I'm not sure it would ever make financial sense to buy one.

I guess it depends how much it can be improved. I thought the JX8P was a more or less fully featured analog poly with a DCO sound and limited front panel control that can be expanded with a controller. Is it lacking any key features at all?

[stf-ran]

A Kiwi update usually adds things like an additional LFO, arp and sequencer, more storage, etc. Adds quite a bit.

[Aaron2]

A Kiwi update usually adds things like an additional LFO, arp and sequencer, more storage, etc. Adds quite a bit.

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. I wouldn't pay $300 or more to get those upgrades on a JX-8P.

[corndogssg]

look what they did to the juno 106, they made it into a modern day synth with all the charm of 1985, and expanded it's sound by double. No one knows yet what it's gonna be, but they are doing cool things to awesome vintage synths and making them even more awesome

If the kiwi jx8p mod comes out, I would buy two for my jx10 if they are compatible.

[Rezisehtnys]

If it'd somehow add adjustable pulse width and PWM...

[max badwan]

If it'd somehow add adjustable pulse width and PWM...

yep, and clock-able LFOs....

[vinyl_junkie]

I wish they did something with the Alpha Juno... It has potential I think

A more straight forward programming interface could also be implemented where by the preset numbers are used to access things like OSC, Filter etc similar to the JX3P... Oh as well as making the envelopes faster

[elmosexwhistle]

One word: envelopes.

Whilst great for pads, many folk believe that the envelopes of the JX are sluggish. An upgrade could really alter the character and timbral possibilities of this synth.

Plus, more LFOs are always useful!

[Rezisehtnys]

The envelopes aren't that bad, but there's always room for improvement. If they could at the least take care of the envelopes and implement PWM, and perhaps somehow tweak the resonance response of the filter it'd really polish off the JX-8P nicely. It's the only synth I'm never selling. Not only for the sound, but mainly sentiment though.

[Quavermass]

Fredric Vecoven is nearly ready to release the first round of JX10 Upgrades (Complete Midi spec and Arpeggiator)

PWM prototyping/development is underway and current beta code supports....

2 Multistage (Alpha Juno Type) loopable envelopes
2 ADSR loopable envelopes
2 LFO with added Ramp/Saw waveforms....LFO`s can Xmod each other for complex shapes
and well... PWM that can be modded from any ENV or LFO.

When all this is sorted then maybe a JX8p version will be considered if there is a demand for it.
Some details Here

[Aaron2]

I wish they did something with the Alpha Juno... It has potential I think

A more straight forward programming interface could also be implemented where by the preset numbers are used to access things like OSC, Filter etc similar to the JX3P... Oh as well as making the envelopes faster

If you buy Kiwitechnics' Patch Editor (or PE), a one-knob-per-function controller that works with many popular analog synths, you can have "a more straight forward programming interface." Obviously, the PE doesn't do anything for making the envelopes faster.

I own the PE, and it's worth having if you'd like to control one of these '80s-era, no-knob synths. The list of synths that it works with is pretty impressive.