Roland who are certainly no strangers to the Analog realm recently released the digital/analog hybrid JD-Xi which offered a lot of great features for a very keen price indeed. Now at Messe they have fully unveiled its bigger sibling in the shape of the JD-XA Analog/Digital Crossover Synthesizer which will be the flagship of the range.
This 49 key synth offers both a 4 part analog section with true analog filters and direct (dry) output, as well as a 4 part digital engine featuring Rolands own SuperNATURAL synth technology. The two engines can be combined, used independently or even routed through each other, giving a huge amount of flexability to work with during the sound design process. For instance its possible to take the digital signal and route it through the analog filters or take the analog signal (which itself can have 1 effect per part) and then route it back through the digital effects buss for further processing and mangling. The is clearly a lot of possibilities opened up by this method, but it may not become quite how apparent until you get a good look over the feature list itself.
Roland JD-XA Key Features
- Advanced synthesizer with independent analog and digital sound engines
- Discrete analog synth engine (four parts) with 2 x OSC, Filter, Amp, 4 x Env (2 x Pitch, Filter, Amp), and 2 x LFO per voice plus Analog Dry Out for raw signal output
- Analog filter section features 4-Pole, transistor-ladder, and multi-mode (LPF/HPF/BPF) filters with supremely smooth, natural response to knob movements
- OSC section includes Cross Mod, Ring Mod, and OSC Sync, all of which can be used simultaneously
- LFO rate covers a wide range from ultra-slow to ultra-fast
- Incredibly fast attack envelope time
- Separate digital section built around SuperNATURAL synth engine (four parts, 64 voices) that’s compatible with INTEGRA-7 sound libraries from Roland’s online Axial sound portal
- Digital parts can be routed through the analog filter section for warm, organic results
- Comprehensive effects with MFX for all parts plus five system effects (Reverb, TFX1, TFX2, Delay, and Master EQ)
- Flexible routing options for highly creative sound design
- Intuitive 16-track pattern sequencer (8 tracks for internal parts, 8 tracks for external parts) for fast creation of songs and loops
- Onboard USB, MIDI, and CV/GATE interfaces plus flexible MIDI control functionality make the JD-XA the ideal centerpiece for live performance and music production
- Mic input allows you to modulate synth sounds with your voice and explore classic Vocoder functionality
- Plenty of backlit knobs, sliders, and controllers for hands-on sound shaping
If that isn’t enough to peak your interest, below is the full spec breakdown for the sound generation section, which we have to say is most impressive.
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Roland JD-XA Sound Generator Section
- Maximum Polyphony
- – Analog Part: 4 voices
– Digital Part: 64 voices (varies according to the sound generator load) - Structure
- Analog/Digital Crossover Synthesizer
– Analog Part: 4 parts (2 OSCs + AUX, 1 Filter, 1 AMP, 2 Pitch ENV, 1 Filter ENV, 1 AMP ENV, 2 LFOs and 1 MOD LFO)
– Digital Part: 4 parts (3 Partial (3 OSCs, 3 Filters, 3 AMPs, Envelops for each section and LFOs)) (Digital Part uses SuperNATURAL Synth tones that is compatible with the Integra-7.) - User Program Memory
- – Internal: 256
– USB Flash memory: 256
The patterns of Arpeggio and Sequence are saved as programs. - Analog-OSC Section
- – Oscillator waveforms: Saw, Square, Pulse/PWM, Triangle, Sine
– Knobs/Sliders: Pitch, Fine, Cross Mod, Pulse Width, Pulse Width Modulation
– Pitch Envelopes: Attack, Decay, Envelope Depth
– Modulation: Cross Modulation, Ring Modulation, Oscillator Sync
(A-OSC2 is applied as modulation to A-OSC1.) - Analog-FILTER Section
- – Filter Type: LPF1, LPF2, LPF3, HPF, BPF, Bypass
– Knobs: Cutoff, Resonance, Key Follow, Envelope Depth, HPF, Drive
– Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release - Analog-AMP Section
- – Knobs: Level
– Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release - Digital-OSC Section
- – Oscillator waveforms: Saw, Square, Pulse/PWM, Triangle, Sine, Variation
– Knobs/Sliders: Pitch, Fine, Pulse Width, Pulse Width Modulation
– Pitch Envelopes: Attack, Decay, Envelope Depth
– Modulation: Ring Modulation
(Partial2-OSC is applied as modulation to Partial1-OSC.) - Digital-FILTER Section
- – Filter Type: LPF1, LPF2, LPF3, HPF, BPF, Variation, Bypass
– Knobs: Cutoff, Resonance, Key Follow, Envelope Depth, HPF
– Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release - Digital-AMP Section
- – Knobs: Level
– Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release - LFO Section
- – LFO Waveform: Triangle, Sine, Saw, Square, Sample&Hold, Random
– Knobs/Sliders: Rate, Fade Time, Pitch Depth, Filter Depth, Amp Depth
– Tempo Sync - Mixer Section (For Analog Part)
- – Level: A-OSC 1, A-OSC 2, AUX
- Mic
- – Vocoder
– MIC Modulation - Effects
- – MFX: 8 systems, 67 types (each part has a MFX)
– Part EQ: 8 systems (each part has a Part EQ)
– TFX: 2 systems, 29 types
– DELAY
– REVERB: 6 types
– Master EQ
– Mic Input Reverb: 8 types - Pattern Sequencer
- Tracks: 16
Patterns are saved as a program.
SMF import supported. - Arpeggio
- Preset pattern: 64
Patterns are saved as a program. -
- All very impressive overall!
- If you wish to know even more, check out the introduction videos below.