Roland JD-08

Digital classic. Modern flair.

With its retro workflow, evocative sounds, and powerful effects, the JD-800 was a favorite for top electronic music producers through the ’90s and beyond. Combining the original JD-800 waveforms with advanced modeling techniques, the JD-08 delivers the exquisite hands-on sound design of the original, along with hugely expanded polyphony, a two-part polyphonic sequencer, and other modern updates.

Inspiring sound design at your fingertips.

By the early ’90s, preset-driven digital synths with limited hands-on controls dominated the landscape. The JD-800 changed all that in 1991, bringing the synthesizer world back to its roots with a control-laden panel and an aggressively electronic sound palette. The JD-08 includes 64 presets from the original hardware and perfectly recreates the four-tone structure, 108 waveforms, and unique two-part multi-effects that are at the core of the JD-800’s intricate, evolving sound.

Expanded sound for the modern age.

While the original design of the JD-800 is retained in this modern version, there are a range of updates that take the experience to another level. New patches plus 256 memory locations let you dive deep into the huge array of controls to create new sounds for your music. And with expanded polyphony and two-part multitimbral capability, there’s even more room to stretch out your sonic ideas.

Music that moves.

Once you’ve locked in your patches, fire up the two-part polyphonic sequencer and start programming leads, basslines, or basic chords to sync with other pieces in your electronic ensemble. And to bring some animated movement to your sounds, tap into motion recording and the onboard arpeggiator to make your musical lines dance.

MIDI, USB, and external clock input.

The JD-08 features a built-in USB-C audio/MIDI interface, so you can play, record, and synchronize with all types of computer production software. Full-size MIDI I/O is also available for interfacing with other MIDI hardware. There’s even an external clock input for driving the JD-08’s onboard sequencer and arpeggiator from vintage analog instruments and modern Eurorack systems.

Grab your keys. Hit the road.

The compact JD-08 fits just about anywhere and is easily controlled from a master keyboard or computer DAW. It can run on standard AA batteries for hours of uninhibited jamming, and there’s also a built-in speaker for on-the-go sound monitoring. Add a DK-01 Boutique Dock for a polished look and three convenient tilt positions, or grab a K-25m Keyboard Unit to create a fully self-contained, portable instrument.

Specifications

-User Memory:
Sound Patch: 256
Pattern: 128

-Controllers:
PALETTE Section:
TONE A--TONE D sliders

LFO Section:
LFO SELECT button
RATE slider
DELAY slider
FADE slider
WAVEFORM button
OFFSET button
KEY TRIG button

WG Section:
PITCH COARSE knob
PITCH FINE knob
PITCH RANDOM slider
KEY FOLLOW slider
WAVE FORM knob
LFO 1 slider
LFO 2 slider

PITCH/TVF/TVA ENV Section:
TIME KEY FOLLOW slider
T1--T4 sliders
L1--L4 sliders
SUSTAIN LEVEL slider
ENV SELECT button

TVF Section:
MODE button
CUTOFF FREQ slider
RESO slider
ENV slider
KEY FOLLOW slider
LFO SELECT button
LFO slider

TVA Section:
LEVEL slider
BIAS DIRECTION button
BIAS POINT slider
BIAS LEVEL slider
LFO SELECT button
LFO slider

TONE A--TONE D buttons
LAYER-ACTIVE button
ARPEGGIO button
NOTE button
COMMON button
EFFECTS button
START button
EXIT button
VALUE knob
BANK 1--8 buttons
NUMBER 1--8 buttons
MANUAL button

-Effects:
Distortion
Phaser
Spectrum
Enhancer
Delay
Chorus
Reverb

-Step Sequencer:
2 part
64 steps
8 notes per part (Polyphonic)

-Display:
7 segments, 4 characters (LED)

-Connectors:
EXT CLOCK IN jack: Mono miniature phone type
PHONES jack: Stereo miniature phone type
OUTPUT jack: Stereo miniature phone type
MIX IN jack: Stereo miniature phone type
MIDI (IN, OUT) connectors
USB port: USB Type-C(R) (Audio, MIDI)

-Power Supply:
Ni-MH battery (AA, HR6) x 4 or Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4
USB bus power

-Current Draw:
500 mA (USB bus power)
Expected battery life under continuous use
Ni-MH battery: Approx. 6 hours (When using batteries having a capacity of 1,900 mAh.)
* This can vary depending on the specifications of the batteries, capacity of the batteries, and the conditions of use.

-Accessories:
Quick Start
Leaflet "USING THE UNIT SAFELY"
Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4

-Options (sold separately):
Keyboard unit: K-25m
Boutique Dock: DK-01

-Size and Weight:
Width 300 mm 11-13/16 inches
Depth 128 mm 5-1/16 inches
Height 49 mm 1-15/16 inches

Weight (including batteries) 840 g 1 lb 14 oz