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

5 Parts Multitimbral (Multi mode): 4 part + 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 (Note, using the M-512E won´t give you double memory).

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.

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