Hi,

I'm Jake, this probablly will sound awkward without a little intro, so
like I said I'm Jake, I've been into music for as long as I can remember and synths for about 3 or 4 years, I've used various recording programs (sonar 4 at a friends house, and I use (I know it's not that good..) The free program Audacity, but obiviously that wont get me very far so I'm planning on getting Acid Pro 6 (for loops) Sound Forge 8 (for audio editing) and maybe some others (I'm open to recommendations, I'm actually quite lost..)
some of the bands I listen to are The Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Silverchair, and The Cranberries, and I'm interested in "synthzone" and its forum.


...anyways

I don't know if this is the exact section I should post this in, but for the past few months, I've really had a keen eye on the "Roland Juno G", which looks like an amazing (and PROFESSIONAL) synth/workstation (atleast for it's price). I've been working up the money with my day job, hoping this is what I'm looking for, I'm into remixing, and recording as well, and plan to get the programs I stated above, and would like to know your opinion on this synth. Do you own it?, or have played it? There are barely any reviews on the Juno G to be found on the internet, and I've watched the 3 videos from Roland's site. Anyone know any information about this synth


I thought either this or the nord lead 2x or something, something I can bend and twist, create sounds that one moment are obscure and lush, and the next, aggressive saws,bits of white noise kind of sounds...
(maybe that's every synth, I don't know)


I'm sorry for the long rant

Any feedback or opinions on the Juno G would be greatly appreciated

thanks!

[This message has been edited by Garbage2.0 (edited 07-04-2006).]

Hi,
I too am eyeballing the Juno-G. On paper and based on the videos this little synth is quite impressive.

I have actually pre-ordered one, and over the last few months it has been very frustrating because Roland has changed the release date several times.

Everytime the release date arrives.., they change it again. I've considered pulling my order a few times. It's due to be in on the 24th of this month (based on the site I ordered it from), but if that day comes and changes yet again--I'll probably pull my order.

You're not going to find any user reviews, again due to it not being officially released yet. Time will tell.

Squeak

would you consider it somewhat "professional"?

I've read some other blogs, where people say it's just a scheme for Roland to make money off the "Juno" name, which I don't really believe.

I don't I figure for it's price, it's going to be not just a "toy" like some people think. Hopefully it's good equipment, for it's price.

Roland have always made great synths and this is based on the Fantom engine and supports SRX expansion cards which are known for their great sounds. And having the expandable audio/MIDI sequencer and USB connection makes it a very versatile product. I just haven't seen any handson reports yet but if it does what it claims to do it looks like a great buy. I'll have to try one of these out myself at a local music store when they arrive.

Even the analogue Juno series in the 80s was Roland's entry level range of pro synths for a low cost at the time. Sure the Juno-G shares none of the heritage of the analogue Juno series but it does provide a low cost digital keyboard solution so it fills a similar market niche in 2006 as it did back then. So I really think it is not unreasonable of Roland to revive the Juno name to launch a new affordable range. It all comes down to whether a digital rompler is the right keyboard for the music you want to play. You really need to find a Juno-G at a local music store and decide for yourself if it has the sort of sound you are looking for. If you are looking for a modelled analogue synth then that is a much higher price range than the Juno-G anyway ( well other than the Korg microKorg that is ).


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 07-07-2006).]

Don't listen to people saying that kind of crap about Roland just trying to make money off the Juno name.

As Nigel stated.. the Juno has always been known as one of Roland's budget synths. Roland did a test with bringing the Juno back and released the Juno-D. Now they've taking a MAJOR leap and released the Juno-G.

That's a huge step for Roland. While it's not the "analogue" synth like the classic Juno's it is a more "modern" digital Juno. Only with WAY more features than previous Juno's and MILES ahead of the more recent Juno-D.

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 07-07-2006).]

I think you'd be very happy with the Juno G garbage.It appears to be very much a musicians keyboard which is why I decided on it instead of the Fantom X for more than a few reasons.The current Fantom is probably gonna get "NAMM-rammed" in 2007 so,it would be easier to sell off a Juno G to go towards a NEW Fantom X than it would to sell the OLD Fantom X.
However seeing how my current use rate for keyboards is 5 years,average I might have to "go around" twice,so to speak.Or I just might keep it for longer than 5 years and put additional money towards something else I could use.
Having 4 tracks of audio is really sweet too!
I mean,being able to synthesize practically any sound on earth could come in handy,in the future.For now though,I just need something that sounds killer and easy to operate.And that one SRX slot is all I need for my humble purposes at the current time.

Oh yeah Roland,tomorrow is the 24th!



[This message has been edited by casiobot (edited 07-23-2006).]

I'm looking forward to hearing how the Juno G turns out for you. You guys will probably be able to give me feedback on it well before I get a chance to find one locally to try out myself.

What the hell is up with Roland? Casiobot, not sure if you've been looking to zzounds.com for the Juno-G--I would assume you have because it was zzounds that had a release date of the 24th tomorrow.

Well that date on zzounds site has changed more times than Elizabeth Taylor has been married. Again it just changed! Now the release date at zzounds is August 7th.

I'm fed up.... I've pulled my pre-order. I'm going to wait until others buy the synth before I take the plunge. Roland has changed the date countless times, and there have been several rumors as to why.

Squeak

bah! *anger*

Im actually looking at the SH-201

something to use while I wait for the Juno G

what do you think about the 201?

The SH-201 is pretty cool. I like how the layout is--Roland was very logical in the approach with this synth. It's going to sit well with pros, but it's also designed to help those just getting into synths too.

I don't know what the price is, but it may be a hit on your pocket as a "hold over synth" until the Juno's released. If you can afford to have both go for it

Squeak

I'm going to make a prediction here. If the Juno-G isn't released by the "newly set date" of August 7th--I predict the date will then be changed to August 21'st.

It started by them changing the date by a week, now they're up to changing it by two weeks. Following the pattern I'm placing my bet on 8/21/06 as the next release date (if it's not out on the 7th).

Squeak

I figure the more the Juno is set back

the BETTER it's going to be

I mean they are probablly adding things and upgrading it

and by the way is the SH-201 out yet..?

Some sites lead me to believe it isn't..

Well the longer it takes can really go both ways From what I've heard--Roland was having some OS problems, and also some problems with the motherboards.

Now in their defense (which is where I pat them on the back), I'd much rather them hold off and de-bug the unit themselves. This way all that isn't passed on to the consumer. I "hate" beta testing

I thought the SH was supposed to be out in either August or September.

Squeak

do you think the Juno G will give me those F A T analogue sounds, a Nord or Virus can (for some reason I highly doubt it..)

some aggressive "industrial" sounds.. (I know my vocab is very dry.. aha)

hope it can be some sounds other than strings and pianos..althought I'd use those a ton...

I don't know how the Juno's going to compare to analogue sounds. It's a digital synth, so naturally it's not going to have the warmth of an analogue synth.

However, I'm sure there will be some digital re-creations of classic Juno sounds, and some more modern tripped out stuff as well.

Keep in mind that the Juno-G has 4 element voice structure--meaning you can create a user voices consisting of (4) sounds--or as Roland calls it "Tones".

The way Roland works is a little different. They have Patches and Tones. Tones are the smallest element of a sound, and a Patch is a combination of "tones".

For example my Roland RS-70 has 1,024 (tones). It also has over 700 (patches). The patches are made up of the 1000+ original tones. The Juno-G is the same way. Only the Juno-G is better because when you're creating a user patch you can combine any of the 1,000+ original tones (by combining 4 of them) to create a user patch. Then you can go deeper into editing (each) individual tones parameters, and set velocity curves too. Ya gotta love synths

Squeak



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 07-28-2006).]

I just bought a Juno G and shortly will have a Sh 201. Both are made up largly of plastic cases so needless to say very light weight. Sound wise it's a Fantom for the most part. The four track audio capabilities seem quite nice...I'll post a more detailed review soon...

gah gah...*drool*

(I'm sorry for my impaitence)

but where did you find one..?!!!

How in the world did you get a Juno G already? No online sites or local stores that I know have it, and technically its official release date is supposed to be this week for many online retailers, but not today.

Where did you get your hands on one?

Squeak

Hey everyone! GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE G!!!!

IT IS OUT IN STORES I PLAYED ONE TODAY!!!

Read my post I posted on acapellas4u.co.uk
____________________________________________
haha very true

well, what I opted on doing, today

is I went down to my (not so local) Sam Ash
to buy some gear, I found the JP8000 for a BARGAIN!!! I hear it's an amazing or atleast really good VA synth, capable of complex sounds

anyways, I went down there with the mind set of picking up recording gear and a midi controller

I met this awesome guy who wasn't you "average sales marketer" he let me delve into everything and told me the honest truth, about what I need and what I don't, I asked about the midi controller, and he said (as I had somewhat knew in my head) you may NEVER need a midi controller because my JP8000 (and any keyboard with midi for that matter, can do just the same..)

to my surprise I, yes I swear, FOUND THE JUNO G! and boy did I play the s**t of it, as well as the Fantom keyboards,

this is what I found in my short time playing

the keys don't feel that amazing, just average plastic like keys, nothing special

BUT THE SOUND

sounds exactly Like the Fantom (as you may of known) I played the piano on the G and then the X8 X7 and X6 right by it and than at the same time and couldn't tell the difference (neither could anyone there, or my piano teacher when I showed him the vids..)

a beautiful screen, (haha I know no color, but whatever)

in my opinion and many other peoples I have talked to

The Juno G is not your average budget entry level cheap synth

it's a proffesional workstation ONE STEP below the Fantoms

honestly I think that's the next thing im saving up for

anyways

I would have bought that today but last night I already bought the JP8000

so anyways the guy showed me billions of products, mixers, condenser mics, moniters etc.

I ended up choosing this (and THIS my friend is only the begining)

Mics

Shure SM58 Vocal Mic (I know cliche, but whatever sounds AMAZING to me)

Fast Track Pro USB audio interface

(yes yes, I know it's not as fast and maybe good as Firewire or PCI, but it works fine for me, and my standards, proffesional pre amps, studio sound, great drivers for my Windows XP, and comes with Ableton Lite 4 (I also upgraded to the DEMO ver. of Ableton Lite 5 which comes with it)

A cheap but good midi cable

and

A mic cable


I know not much, but honestly it sounds alot better than I thought..
it sounds alot better than most of the recordings I find on myspace

so yeah, not much

but

currently (atleast in a few days..) I have

The

Roland JP8000

SM58 Mic

Fast Track Pro
---------------------

next up

Moniters

Headphones

Juno G (or good deal on Fantom)

Nord Lead 2/2X

SH-201 (I played it today, and damn it's beautiful)

some old analog synths (by then Ill know more about it)

FREE PLUG INS

M-Tron

Trash Distortion Plug Ins


IN NO ORDER!

yep..

thanks for all your help
_________________________________________

ps. I also tried the SH-201 and WAS AMAZINGLY surprised!

****ing amazing

Awsome! Finally someone has laid hands on the ever so hard to find Juno-G She's finally here amongst the living!!

Glad to hear it sounds like the Fantom. In regards to the key action.., I honestly assumed the key action on the Juno-G would be the same keybed on my Roland RS-70. It seems that the same keybed is used on all their lower end "budget synths".

My chances of demoing this keyboard are well..., let's just say that gas prices in the US would drop back to $1.75 a gallon by the time I found one of these in a local store. My area SUCKS and SUCKS big time.

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 08-07-2006).]

now I just gotta find something to sell to get a Juno G

maybe it wasn't worth getting a JP8000


..

GAh!

I dunno about that. The JP-8000 is a great VA synth and covers sounds that the Juno G doesn't. It would be nice if you could have both of them. If you got a good deal on the JP-8000 I'd try to keep it if you can manage that.

Guitar Center in Cleveland had two, one on display and one in stock now in my studio....One word of caution...it all plactic except for some light weight metal on the top....I'm having a hard time keeping it on my x-stand....also afraid to gig with it.....it's very cheaply made when compared to my Motif and older synths...sound wise it quite good.....

Where did you get your hands on one?

Squeak[/b][/QUOTE]



[This message has been edited by mdolmon (edited 08-10-2006).]

The Juno-G is fantastic! Ok, the keyboard action may not be to everyone's taste (it reminds me a bit of my XP-30). But the sounds are amazing. Having spent many days comparing the Fantom X with the Juno-G in many ways I prefer the Juno's sounds even though some of them are meant to be the same.
I also like the way that pretty much all the sounds in the JUNO-G are usable sounds, they have been really well selected and programmed.
The Acoustic and Electric piano sounds are great, which for a workstation/performance synth is completely unheard of. Add to that the optional SRX-12 electric piano/clav expansion board and you have without doubt the most authentic sounding electric piano (whether that be a Rhodes or a Wurlitzer) you can get.

The pad sounds are great, somewhat more mordern and fresher than the Fantom's.
The filters and the FX are great and the FX are put to good use on all of the preset patches.

Finally, If you are a gigging musician like me, you'll find that this thing is so light, it's almost a joke. Don't get me wrong...it seems solid enough, but setting up and packing down for gigs with this thing makes gigging enjoyable again!

This thing retails at £799 in the UK, which considering in most shops a Triton TR is about £850...the Juno-G is a no brainer. They could have priced this at £999 and it would still be good value for money.

I use one currently with a SH-201. I like the way you can route the audio from the Juno through the Sh201 and affect it on that. Sweet!

My local music store here in Sydney got the Juno-G in yesterday. Am going to play it tomorrow. Very keen to know how it compares to the Fantom XA (which I own). Wondering if I will decide tomorrow to trade to the G once I've played it?? Anyone done any comparisons?

Hi Dave, the Juno G is much better than the Fantom XA IMHO. It sounds better has a better display and much better key action than the slightly cheapy action on the XA.
Don't get me wrong...the XA was excellent value for money if you wanted Fantom sounds without the price being as low as it is for the Juno, it just seems like a steal to me.

I am not familiar with the synth type keyboards. A quick question for the Roland Juno G- how do you create patterns/styles to play in a live performance? Or is this not designed for that type of application.

Can you load patterns/styles from other type of Roland arrangers?

Thanks.

hi,

i m considering JUNO G buy, but still hasitating?
could someone advice me ?

i want to use sequencer at most without any external devices or PC. but also sounds editing tools.

i dont get it how is it with external storage devices by G. PC card, smartmedia / compact flash using adaptor ?

does G know split keys for two instruments, for examp. half by half ?

and can be audio recording used without external memory at all?

does G support sampling ?

thank you

btw. i also think of E50.