Roland JX-08 | It reminds me of a dead grandmother 

Can the new Roland JX-08 Boutique replace the classic JX-8P synthesizer? More polyphony, more memory, a sequencer, arpeggiator and more. Is this enough for the 08 to beat the classic? Can the sound match up? The JX-08 has no Sysex abilities, so it cannot import patches nor be used as a controller for the 8P. It cannot do Unison detune, so forget those extra fat patches. The envelopes are very different, and the filter does not sound the same. You can dial in different effects settings, including parameters to mimic the classic 8P chorus, but again it's not enough to make the 08 sound good enough in my opinion. I've taken all my custom made patches for the 8P and programmed them into the 08 and I've taken all parameters into consideration when doing this, but since so much of the sound engine of the 08 sounds so different, it's impossible to get any exact match for a lot of sounds. Some are easier than others, while some sound very different even if the settings match up, if you know what I mean. The demo track uses these patches. They're on both machines and are triggered over MIDI. All external reverb is applied the same to both machines. I use only chorus from the 8P and 08 respectively, set up to match. The PG-8X has the 8Ps sysex loaded into it. Another big annoyance of the JX-08 is there's no way to power this except over USB. This is a big mistake as it means ground hum and noise you'll have to use Di-boxes to get a clean recording signal. Not all of us love USB, I hate USB myself and want as little of this as possible. * the story about the dead grandmother was fiction to illustrate my point. This is NOT legal i Norway. Support this channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/espenkraft Find my music here: iTunes Apple music: apple.co/35ZTdfR Spotify: spoti.fi/38aoWMB Bandcamp: espenkraft.bandcamp.com/ Google Play: bit.ly/2NrgXD9 Find my patches and sample packs through these links: thepatchbay.co.uk/product/tal-sampler-the-digital-collection-vol-1-by-espen-kraft/ sound7.co.uk/products/italo-disco-synth-pop Please join me on social media: facebook.com/espenkraftmusic instagram.com/espenkraft/ twitter.com/EspenKraft

Today we all learned the importance of watching a video until the end. 😂

Im proud of you for being so honest about the boutique sound even though Roland sent you one. I appreciate your honesty always Espen.

thanks for the review, I bought the JX 08 really like the sound of it.

Thanks for a GREAT demo! Although JX-08 is not a "perfect" emulation of the JX-8P and sounds "dead" to you, to me they BOTH sound great, each in its own way. Maybe beauty is in the ears of the belistener. I'm glad to know that your dead grandmother eventually recovered from being stuffed!

I own both of these! My initial reaction just hearing the presets and factory sequences was that, while I feel the JX-08 sounds good as a synth on it's own, it doesn't really have that chewy midrange and lower-midrange warmth of a real JX-8P. Even the raw oscillators sound quite different. This may disappoint most, as it obviously was supposed to be an accurate emulation of the JX-8P... but I'm actually happy it has it's own character, now I can justify keeping both lol.

Great video Espen! I'm a big fan of the JX-8p and surely wanted to get the JX-08. But now i'm not so sure anymore. I think i'll skip this one and stick to my JX-8p, JX-10, Jupiter-X and PG-8x for my JX sounds..

I actually preferred the sound of the JX-08! haha, I guess I'll see myself out...

Having owned a JX8P I totally agree with this critique! Bravo Espen for dealing out a fair review! And I also agree that the PG8X is a great emulator.

Shocked actually. Soon as I heard those opening notes I heard everything I love about the JX8P, that lush chorus and creamy sound, and thought well if that is the boutique they have done it. To hear the plug in capture that sound more accurately I didn't expect at all.

So very honest, I do hope Roland will still value your reviews.

Jx08 actually sounds really good.

You never fail to kill me in the humor aspect. Also, really great and non biased information here. Thank you Espen.

Great video, @Espen Kraft. Honestly, I am surprised how far off the JX-08 is, and the omission of SYSEX in this version is just a crime, if you ask me. And thanks a lot for throwing the PG-8X into the mix. I have not heard many direct comparisons so far.

The 08 sounds quite muffled in comparison (to my ears). The original is the most transparent, but the PG8X is really, really close.

On the blind test, I thought the JX-08 sounded warmer and richer than the original.

I think the grandmother story is (a) a double bluff and (b) a sneaky way to promote sales of the Moog Grandmother!

The PG-8X is really a wonderful VST - and it's free! I get those wonderful 80's sounds from it and I can load all the sysex files with it - also the original banks. How can Roland build such a lifeless digital emulation when it's obviously not rocket science to do it better?

You’re the only synth person on RU-vid who tells the truth without a filter - especially on the JX-08. So many are afraid to acknowledge what is so obvious to us as listeners. Thank you.

The 08 sounds good in its own way

One of my favourite Espen videos... both for the honest JX-08 review (I will still probably get one), but also for the grandmother story.

"And Espen never heard from Roland again"... I had a JX10 for a few years and it was a very smooth, comfortable kind of sound. I've said this before but the digital recreations I've tried of various Rolands have not hit the mark for me either, I think they work best when played safe. Something isn't quite right when you start to push against the edges. It's quite shocking at first to hear such a direct take down of the boutique, but also refreshing to hear. No pussyfooting.

A brutally honest review which is exactly what I needed to hear. Cancelled my order for the new JX-08 following this.

Your honesty gives you a ton of credibility when Roland sent you a free review unit. Well done and I've always thought the PG-8x does a good job.

One of the best synthesiser reviews I’ve watched - in particular for your honesty and integrity when comparing the synths in conclusion.

Thank God for that. When I heard A I was thinking if it isn't the 8p then they've nailed it totally and there's no way you need an 8p or mks70 anymore. Then you played B.

I'm sure a bunch of people have said this but your honesty is amazingly refreshing.

As someone who used to own an 8P at one point, I was able to pick out the 8P in the comparison. The one thing with the JX-8P that always stuck with me is just how much low end it has. That was sadly missing in the JX-08 and made it easy to pick out. That and because the envelopes aren't the same, it ended up messing with a few patches (timestamp comparisons below) and that also made them stick out when listening to the comparisons. It's a shame to see Roland get so close yet so far on this because the JX-8P is certainly one of my favorite Roland synths. I'm glad to see these comparisons used in a full mix since most youtubers would just do a straight AB comparison with the factory presets. Anyways, great video as always, Espen! High Keys - 2:01 vs 3:16 Bassline - 2:30 vs 3:44 Rhodes - 2:41 vs 3:56 (you can hear how the sound isn't remotely the same and that's due to the cross modulation emulation being inaccurate)

Thanks Espen! Another free concert!!! I loved this video. As always take care and be safe MAESTRO, Rick!!!

Glad I answered the quiz correctly! Terrific video. Thank you for all your videos bringing the 8P into a new age of glory (Bad Gear/AudioPilz be damned)!!!

I really appreciate this video. One of my latest projects, I ended up using the PG-8X in, and as it turns out, I found the PG-8X after watching your Twin Peaks video, so in a sense things have come full circle for me on this channel!

It seems like a great synth with its high poly, arp and sequencer and FX...but it's nice to know the original still has its place. That giant body on the 8P makes an excellent shelf for stuff like the boutique too!

OK......... I am so glad I waited to the end to hear that the grandma story was just an illustration. Whew😲 Great video Espen. Much appreciated

I am so burned out by the influx of synth fools. Not you my friend! You’re entertaining as well as a providing an excellent experience for your subscribers. Thank you for your work.

Espen you have balls and I respect the honesty of your review but you do realise that you have just added even more value to the second-hand price of a real JX-8P thanks for that!

Mixed emotions about Modern Roland in general and the boutique in particiuar. Used the JU06A for a while but sold it. The TAL U-NO 62 is a great emulation. However the Roland SE-02 is a keeper but that one is very different from the other boutiques. Great vid as always and do appreciate your honest approach

A nice, honest review! The grandma story had me going for a while. Glad I watched untill the end! lol I was given a JX-8P a few years ago. It looked like it was found at the bottom of a river bed, but I got it working enough to use it with the PG-8X as a programmer. It's a great sounding synth. The chorus on the 8P is amazing, it really brings the synth to life - the 08 didn't come anywhere close to it in that regard either. Shame. Great video though.I really got a sense of your dissapintment. Cheers!

If Roland gave you the JX-08 on accommodation, they are seriously kicking themselves right about now. The truth deserves to be told though. I am so glad that you didn't cave like many other RU-vidrs do and give the JX-08 a glowing review. Your integrity is worth more than free gear and I commend and appreciate your honesty. Having the original JX here in front of me, I knew immediately which demo was the real JX as soon as it started to play. Roland just hasn't nailed the character of the original no matter how much they espouse it is the same. Even Roland's top of the line Jupiter X lacks the authenticity of sound of the synthesizers it is trying to mimic. Thankfully the JX-8P is still a bargain on the used market and worth every penny. If you keep creating tracks like this with the real JX-8P, the prices are sure to go up.

woah, man your review was savage AF.. I hope they do something about the issues you highlighted.

Owning the real deal. Really everytime I turn it on and play, its like pleasure, the sound is so unique and pleasant, its hard to describe it and its hard to show it to people like this just through YT (that always muffles the sound a bit). Agree with PG8X, it does sound really close. And based only on your review and showcase, the JX-08 simply is dull (muffled and hmm "compressed"?). Of course in complex mix, noone will really catch the difference, but in demo like this - its very apparent.

Thank you for an honesty, Espen. So many youtube reviews don't have your guts.

Yeah I could tell the real 8p off the rip. It has a creamy warmth to it unique only to itself. And you had me with that story 😂 Definitely made the point.

Dear Espen Kraft , I began to watch the video, I saw the t-shirt, stopped the video and I am writing this comment. That's the ultimate synth fan t-shirt, now I can continue watching

The JX-8P was my first and favourite synth. I was hoping that Track A would be the JX-08 because it sounded so good.

Sometimes you stumble around RU-vid looking at cool gear and you hear the story of a lifetime.

I would be very surprised if ANYONE could tell the difference consistently, of either the originals, the vst, or the boutiques, in a production where an individual synth sound wasn't completely exposed...in fact, any good production would have multiple layers for every sound, further obscuring sources...Moreover, each has its place...a JX-08 is the perfect alternative to someone who can't afford an 8P/10/MKS-70, or doesn't have the room for an 8P or 10, or doesn't want to deal with the challenges of owning gear that is >35y old...or don't want just a softsynth... When I used to have vintage synths, in productions, I'd get people to guess what was the MKS-50, 70, JP-6, JP-8, or 106...guess what, no one ever could guess better than chance. I would be surprised if 20 years later, the same weren't true.

I do not own nor have I ever owned a JX-8P or the JX-08 and on first listen I identified the correct sound of the JX-8P. Roland only thinks about making more money and this way, nor the Cloud way is not going to do it at all. Thanks for the video!

No sysex is kind of a dealbreaker. Staying with the PG-8X which I've been loving to bits for years.

this might have been the darkest synth shoot-out I ever watched on RU-vid

Has Espen gotten a little full of himself with his closing remarks? "As always I'm espen kraft and you're not", WTF? I always thought of this dude as a humble and talented dude, sharing the love of electronic music and it's tools. He kinda seems dicki-sh with this line.

Thanks Espen! You hipped me to the PG-8X software a while back on your other video. I use Reason as my DAW and stuff a couple of the PG-8X's in a combinator for a kind of poor man's Super JX10.

The JX-8P is my favorite sounding synth; I often prefer it above all my other synths. I was curious and sceptical if Roland can really nail that sound with the JX-08. Well, thanks for letting me know. May I point out that Nord Lead 3 is sometimes very close; it has that shimmer character; but of course with close inspection, it's grandmother OMG. ;-)

This honesty is refreshing

I thought this might be your opinion & I fully respect it. However, I'm really enjoying my 08 & still plan on using the PG8X as well in my tracks. I agree with your end comment of the 08 can do individual sounds in a track & blend in nicely. I've only been around a friends JX-8P for a short time but this little synth inspires me to create my own patches which has been fun. Thanks for taking the time to break it all down for us.

I just almost fell from my chair. It's 100% my opinion and so of course the best comparison video ever. Bloody brilliant.

the real winner in this video is that sweater.

This one is in order, prolly I get Jd-08 too, this video dude, is pure gold. Thanks all the effort!

Thank you very much for this great and honest video, Espen. I have the same feelings about boutique series, so never ended up getting one. Roland would probably had much more success with real (recreate original) clones than a “circuit modeling” (Behringer guys must be smiling here). At least, they should not call them as clone of something from the past, as it sounds and behaves differently. Also, having a clone that is not supporting SysEx from original model is just hilarious.

Splendid honest review, I suspected it would only ever sound like virtual analog and you’ve confirmed this. Call me Mr Gullible, but you got me on the dear old Grandmother tale 😂

I know the d-05 and d-50 exchange patches via sysex. I’m guessing it’s easier if the synths are digital. I heard that the JD-08 doesn’t support sysex either like the JX so no exchanging between the JD-08 and the JD800. I find that totally bizarre since they are both digital….

I sold my JX-8P once I got the VST, really good sound and bring free is surreal. Cool video

Roland missed an excellent opportunity to make these little units double as a programmer for the original synths (wherever it may apply). I think the D-05 is the only one that can do this, or at least respond to the exact same sysex as the D50. Are you listening Roland? In the meantime, I'm just waiting for the BCR32 to retire my BCR2000. Excellent content as always :)

Awesome twist at the end. You kept such a straight face through the whole clip, I totally fell for it.

Thanks Espen for your latest video. I look up to you for what you stated about JX-08. I completely agree with you.

If you like digital hardware get the JX08. If you like vst's get the pg8x. Older analog synths are unfortunately too costly to maintain. All three sounded great. My JX8P had slow envelopes especially the attack. The new 08 sounds like they improved the attack.

I completely agree with your assessment Espen. Excellent and informative video. And thanks for the laughs!

Thank goodness someone is telling the truth! This digital emulation is not even close. The System 8 is the same... not even close to the Jupiter 8. A decent modern digital synth sure, but a replacement for an original JP or JX, absolutely not.

Your honestly is much appreciated, I can clearly hear the 08 just doesn’t have the oomph the 8P has, in Roland’s defence (you say none of the boutiques hit the mark) but IMHO the 01A has the SH-101 95% correct & the 06A (In the 106 mode only) is roughly the same.

A similar comparison of JD-08 and JD-800 would be great, please...

Really good video Espen. The story really drew me in and freaked me out. It was made up! Very engaging and illustrated the point perfectly. Thank you.

I'm shocked that the 08 doesn't support loading 8P patches via SysEx. What was Roland thinking? My D-05 can accept patches saved from my D-50.

Respect for speaking your mind

Loving my Roland JX-08. I’ve used both and actually find the sound not to be too far off. Certainly not dead.

The bass on B sounds great!

I have a ju-06 and sound is extremely close to the original (I owned one long time ago). For a second hand prince of around 200€, it's a pretty good deal. Of course I have other analogue gear, and I'm thinking about the Vermona perfourmer which sounds fantastic and almost no other synth comes close to it. But for the price, the boutique lineup offer a good value for money.

Very nice,mr.kraft!well done👍👏🤗🎹🎶🎵

Wow, the contrast between the demo tracks was astounding. Even on my crappy desktop computer speakers it was obvious that Track B was the new 08 emulation -- it sounded so lifeless (edit: I wrote this comment before I saw the joke about your grandma, LOL). Loved that you did the PG8X too!!! It really stacked up well against the original, and was certainly better than the 08. Roland should be ashamed at how flat and smeared the sound is on the 08.

I was shocked at how much the PG-08 brought back the feeling I had with my long gone JX-8P. One particular feature, the curve of the portamento when set really long and moving from one end of the keyboard to the other is something I missed for the one time I’d used it. It wasn’t a disaster, it’s not exactly an effect I use a lot (!) but when I decided to redo a piece of music from memory written when a friend died (the original recordings long decayed into rusty dust in a plastic cassette case in a landfill somewhere) I looked for an emulation of the JX-8P on which the original music was written and recorded. I was pleased to come across the PG-08, particularly as it was free. I do have the Arturia Jupiter 8, Korg stuff, g-force synths and access to a couple of old hardware boxes (Juno 106 and a Prophet 5) but I couldn’t get the feel of the Roland. When I set a tweaked version of the soundtrack preset to use this long glide, It brought back chills. I had half assumed this was just the power of memory and nostalgia. It’s interesting to hear that someone with both the plug-in and the original in front of them feels that the emulation is a good one. There’s something about the JX-8P sound. A sophistication, grace, reserve that many analog synths don’t have. And good thing too, it’s nice to have a speaker cone tearing punch or grit sometimes. But when I wanted that smoothness, the free plug-in came home for me. My worry is that now the PG-08 is gonna be left behind. It’s already tiny on my 4K monitor. I’d love it if someone could ensure it doesn’t die from old age, even if I have to pay a reasonable amount.

Was never a big fan of the jx-8p, I owned 2 of them and felt like the envelopes were too slow for my liking. While this new boutique doesn't sound 1:1 with the 8p, is that such a bad thing? More polyphony, 2 part multi timberal, fx, hands on control and portable. That sounds like a pretty good upgrade to an otherwise mid synth. But I still respect your opinion and props for not selling out to Roland

Hello, I bought a new JX-8P in the 80's, I still use it today. I love this synthesizer. thanks for your video.

JX-08 sounds warmer.

Hi Espen, thank you for your Videos! You finally convinced me that I should join RU-vid - if only to be able to tell you how much I enjoy your channel and music... I started out in 1983 with a Yamaha CE 20 but gave it away to buy a brand new DX7 that I still have and cherish. In 1993 I bought an Ensoniq TS 10 which I also still have and justrecently upgraded. Lately, I have acquired some more Synths, like the Kawai K1, a broken Yamaha CS2x and this week a beautiful D50 (I liked your video about it and got interested). I think it's great to keep these wonderful machines running and to keep the sound of the 80s alive! Maybe you could do one on the TS10 - I've been programming some chillout-sounds lately that do not sound like the standard presets at all. Maybe I'll do a video about it... With great respect for your work - keep going!

I actually thought the second track was the 8P - it sounded darker, warmer and a little richer. The 8P (first track) sounded a bit plain and sterile to me, but it did seem to have a bit more top end (which is odd - usually the original hardware will be slightly darker because they have to go through analog to digital conversion and back again.

Oh my goodness, I can't remember last time when my cheek muscles have literally hurt, but yes, this really did it. Thank you, sir.

I had hoped Demo A was the JX-08, but when Demo B started I recognised that thin, dull Zenology sound a mile off. Disappointing! Hopefully the rumoured ACB version happens!

Wow, the JX8P blew the JX-08 out of the water! 😲 Gr8 review Espen.

The 08 doesn't really seem to hold a candle to the original, and not having sysex is a major downside. I agree it sounds stale and dead, and if anyone is wanting the sound, I would just go with the PG-8X. And again, I totally agree that the PG-8X sounds great (although I haven't really been able to use it because it uses a .vst file instead of a component file, I use logic pro x on mac).

Best Espen Kraft video I ever saw. I had to watch it twice.

Interesting. In my opinion the „B“ - the 08 - sounds more breenzily than the 8P. Maybe it's because of the sound you've been used to for years. And this is what the ear will prefer. I am unaffected and I like the O8 better of the two sounds.

Very well said! I really enjoyed this video and your hard work to create your demo song on 3 mediums just reinforces my opinion that you’re the best around when it comes to retro synthesizer wisdom.

It seems your sentiment about the 08 goes along with a lot of the ZenCore stuff. The ACB sound engine, used in the System 8, seems to be a lot closer to the vintage machines it tries to emulate.

I'm so glad I watched this video until the end.

No, there are no real substitutes for grandmothers.

The JX-8P is my all time favourite synth, so was pretty excited to see you do this comparison! I agree the PG-8X is a wonderful emulation. I was happy to use it when my 8P was in the shop waiting for a new FIP display coil :) Great comparison video. Have to say you made all three options sound fantastic, including the new boutique emulation! I didn't feel it lacked life, but did lack character and 3-dimensionality of the real 8P but for me the main disappointment is sharing one set of ADSR sliders to switch between VCA and VCF. I'd rather have seen a smaller set of separate sliders like on the JP-08. I also wonder how much better the emulation could have been if they'd stuck with ACB rather than Zencore (?).

The patches aren't even remotely programmed the same, I'm failing to see the comparison... just failure in the test data and programming.

Definitely my favorite video you have ever made Espen! I laughed out loud. I do agree about your review. The JX-8P has a "lively" sound. BTW, I really like your shirt!

Ive owned and gladly sold my JX8P years ago. I did own 2 MKS 70 and love them but now with the JX-08 I believe I realized that it is so much better in every aspect. Espen you need to create original sounds on the JX-08 and see that the JX-8p will never be able to sound big and warm like it. You simply got it wrong this time buddy.

Thank you so much for your honest review. I too was planning to get the jx08 but after your review I don't think I will buy it. I already have a Oberheim Ob6 and would buy the 08 only if it was a faithful emulation of the real thing. I'm sure the 08 is a nice synth on its own but that's not what I'm looking for. Besides I think Roland was hard pressed about the polyphony issue of previous boutiques and maybe they sacrificed faithfulness for the sake of more polyphony with the 08.

This is an atrocity! How can you say this! *rambling on how great Roland is mumble grumble $%&* unsubbing!* . . . Naaaw! Just kidding! :D I have no strong feelings one way or the other. Owning most of the real instruments, I'm inclined to lean to your side anyway! But gonna be interesting to check out the JD-08 vs the JC-800/990 when it finally arrive here! :D

Thank you Espen for this review. I love the classic JX-8P... I was concerned that this boutique was not 100% similar to the original.... I see that you confirm this :(