What can a Roland JX-3P do without PG 200 programmer

[Musicwerks]

Hi,

I have a hand-me-down Roland JX-3P synth...minus the PG 200 programmer.

It is really limited and nothing much can be done with it (except taking up space and producing less than wonderful preset sounds).

What other cheaper hardware can I hook it up with besides the pricey PG200 programmer to make it useful?

Thanks

[pflosi]

Anything that sends sysex commands. I will not recommend the big bad B though

As for your title question: everything. You don't need the programmer.

[Bitexion]

You don't need a programmer at all, all the synth's functions are available from the panel. It's just cumbersome, but it's all there. The PG200 is more a luxury/convenience than a necessity.

[meatballfulton]

A related discussion at gearslutz

[mute]

You don't need the programmer for anything. It only takes a couple button presses to access any parameter and the legend is right there on the top right of the synth. Learn the thing - if you're just sitting on a jx-3p thinking it is really limited, you are letting a noteworthy poly go to waste.

http://machines.hyperreal.org/manufactu ... amming.txt
http://machines.hyperreal.org/manufactu ... resses.txt
http://machines.hyperreal.org/manufactu ... -trick.txt

[Re-Member]

If you got the JX-3P has a hand-me-down (as in free), I would personally just invest in the programmer. I remember being interested in getting both myself about two years ago and prices on the programmer alone were about $300. Today, eBay has them going for $500. So the worst case scenario is that you buy the programmer, still not like how it sounds then just sell both together for a profit. Both together are getting just as expensive as a serviced Juno-106.

[Automatic Gainsay]

I will never grasp the concept that a two-oscillator polysynth like the JX3P is less expensive than the Juno 6 and the Juno 106, which are both single-oscillator synths with less functionality.

I was never a big fan of the programing necessary for a JX without the PG-200... but it's really easy to do, and all of the functionality is there. Interface aside, the JX is a powerful polysynth that doesn't get NEARLY enough credit.

[intrancewetrust]

i have one of these with the programmer, its a fairly shallow menu dive, but still a menu dive! its nice to be able to see the relative positions of all the knobs at a glance. im bothered by menu systems, so i would just buy a programmer, but $500 is ridiculous, i know modeless recently sold some JX3P i would perhaps ask them if they can sell you a controller? or get something third party, but the PG is just very nice

also, pulsar and planet are most definitely wonderful :p i dont mind a bit of vibraphone either !

[Automatic Gainsay]

i have one of these with the programmer, its a fairly shallow menu dive, but still a menu dive! its nice to be able to see the relative positions of all the knobs at a glance. im bothered by menu systems, so i would just buy a programmer, but $500 is ridiculous, i know modeless recently sold some JX3P i would perhaps ask them if they can sell you a controller? or get something third party, but the PG is just very nice

also, pulsar and planet are most definitely wonderful :p i dont mind a bit of vibraphone either !

Seeing the position of the knobs at a glance is challenging, as they are all very small and silver... and what's more, they only reflect the changes you've currently made... one change in preset and they no longer represent the sound, and will jump to meet your knob changes. Some people don't like that sort of thing. It's one of the reasons that I stopped using the JX3P live.

[intrancewetrust]

thats true, but i dont really use the presets, and at home theres no urgent need to quickly assess the positions of the knobs, i can see how this would cause problems in a live situation though, and perhaps "glance" was a poor choice of words, replace it with "squint/stare" lol

[ppg_wavecomputer]

[...] It is really limited and nothing much can be done with it (except taking up space and producing less than wonderful preset sounds). [...]

It´s not the synth that is limited, it´s your own imagination.

Seriously, you must be doing something wrong as the 3P is easy to use even without the programmer -- in fact, I felt bothered by the programmer when I used it and returned to the orignal way of tweaking the instrument. The PG felt a bit flimsy to operate... not exactly a solid piece of hardware, and very small it is, too.

Pass it on to someone who might be a bit more appreciative .

Stephen

[pinksoir]

It's a fantastic synth. It's my workhorse and I use it for all of my bread and butter sounds. It can get in the Juno ballpark but it's also got its own thing going on with the second Osc and the sync/metal options.

If you want a cheap option for getting full Midi implementation out of it get the Organix mod which is about €50. That way you have full midi control over the parameters so you can use any knobby midi controller to edit it. Or look at CTRLR panels. There's one for the Organix modded 3p. It's basically a vst/au that will control it from within you DAW.

If you want a ton of extra features look at the Kiwi 3p mod. It opens the synth up massively. Turns it into a beast. This mod also has a CTRLR panel for it. Or you could use any knobby midi controller (like a bcr2000).

I have the pg200 and I NEVER use it. Ever. I use CTRLR because it's totally integrated with my workflow. I think I'll sell my pg and get the kiwi mod.

I wasn't blown away by my 3p at first, but now I find it indispensable. I prefer it to a Juno 60 or 106. Though the 60 does sound better, I find the features (and extra features via kiwi 3p) win out. If they were the same price I'd still go for a 3p. It's just sweet that it happens to be half the price.

[ranzee]

There's an iPad app that can control your JX synth. Without giving them a free plug, a quick Google search will show you who ...

[max badwan]

I agree that the price of Roland PG units are ridiculous, but there's the KiwiTechnics Patch Editor, or the DTronics DT 200 clone. The big bad B isn't that bad either, the BCR 200 is quite OK.

[Re-Member]

they only reflect the changes you've currently made... one change in preset and they no longer represent the sound, and will jump to meet your knob changes. Some people don't like that sort of thing. It's one of the reasons that I stopped using the JX3P live.

Yeah, but that's pretty much how any vintage synth with patch storage operates. The trick is to load your patch and quickly turn the knobs you plan on using before you begin playing as you would on a synth without patch storage.