Roland Boutique JU-06 Sonic LAB Review
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- Roland's new Boutique range aims to emulate some classic poly synths, with the JU-06 the Juno 106 - how did they do?
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A 4 voice polyphony! Nice. As soon as I get back to 1986 I'll buy one of those.
You have the best, most informative, useful reviews of gear on the planet. thanks and cheers.
Nick is absolutely the best.
Roland did a fantastic job on these. They don't sound 100% like the originals, but they sound close enough, and, most importantly, they sound how I REMEMBER the originals sounding. That is, they have the same character and vibe, and are incredible musical. I owned a JX3P for 20 years, and a 106 for 5 years, and have since sold both. I've picked up the JX03 and JU06, and I absolutely love them both. Sure, they could do with some more performance-orientated control, but for the the price and size, they are wonderful, capable machines full of useful options.
This stuff really helps me understand what to look for in a synth. There are soooo many choices nowadays and understanding the features in depth is super important!
Thank you so much Sonicstate!
We did thankfully get those cc modes for the Boutiques in the end
Sonicstate, best JU 06 review so far. As expected.
The sequencer responds to transport control. What I've enjoyed doing is having the JX-03 controlled by the Analog Keys, using it as another 16-step track, 4-voice addition to the AK. The two sound fantastic together, and the delay and reverb on the AK sound great on the 03. I'll be doing a live performance next week using this set up along with a looping pedal. Tons of possibilities for live improv with this tiny set up.
I think we should take up a collection to help Nick get his 106 serviced. :)
+Pete Brown It's the power filter caps. I can hear the electrolyte boiling out of them. ;)
+Admiral Quality The issue with this 106 is the voice chips are dying. Just like every other 106 out there. Get those replaced and it'll sound wonderful =o]
+Larry Kleinke I've seen that happen and it didn't cause noise like that. You usually lose functionality or entire voices. (On my old music partner's '106 it caused several voices to not make any waveshape except a narrow pulsewidth. So we built a song around it! ;) )
+Pete Brown I had mine fixed back in 2008 still works great. synthspa.com/juno106_voicechips.html
I had a 106 with occasional crackling noise. I wish I kept it.
I contacted roland about the lack of CC and this was the response they sent me. Hope it happens :P
"We have already been letting the engineering teams in Japan know that users could use more options via MIDI, so we are hoping they could release an update in the future to add some of these types of features. We can't promise anything, but are hoping.
Best Regards,
Product Support
Roland Corp. U.S."
CCs for DAW automation, and for the buttons and sliders to be used to control other synths via USB MIDI would be a no brainier. I'd buy it immediately.
+pheotus this is a pretty big omission for sure, it kindof baffles me - anyways Roland seems to be on top of the firmware stuff with the Aira's so surely they're willing to take the time to add a bit to these as well - it will make the reviews even more glowing!
+kassie2k4 The System 1 transmits most of the useful Midi CC messages, i.e., filter cutoff, resonance, etc. I contacted Roland about the JX-03 weeks ago and they pointed me to its more sparse midi implementation worksheet. This is one sticky point from an otherwise well thought out, fairly well implemented product.
I LOVE my JP-08 And plan on getting the JU-06 i hope they have a software update.
Hoping, does not guarantee sales, they should pull their finger out and sort it or at the least commit to it. Let's be honest they are supposed to be the experts how an earth did that pass through to release without controllable parameters? Cash in with minimum expense that's how!
Such a good emulation. If you want the legendary sound, sliders, sequencer I think this is rather good. There's some folks out there already controlling MIDI CC's..so velocity can be achieved. I think there's probably 4 people in the world that could distinguish the differences in a blindfold test.
Of course the 106 is beefier than the JU06, but I think the JU-06 would be very fun to take with you and play at a park with headphones. If you're concerned about the low end, that can be fixed to some extent using effects such as a simple low end boost EQ or Waves LoAir.
My first synth was a Juno-6 (damn I learned a LOT on that thing!), and never realized the 106 had the addition of portamento(!) Great review (as per usual). My next synth was a JP-6. Part of me wishes I'd never sold it... after 17 years use.
So it's actually a JU-04?
Its a deceiving name for sure
Honestly with the used prices of them now I’d just get another one and poly chain it,
8 voices of Roland’s ACB tech for under 500 dollars is a great deal
the "a little bit more..... low, low....." expression is priceless. Almost wanted to say balls of fire i think... :-)
The 4 voice poly is a big killer for me. And no, I am not going to chain two together. I hope they come out with a JU-08 eight voice model. Then I would be a player.
+mattsynth A couple of my favorite synths are only 4 voices: MS-2000 and Analog Keys. These Boutique units work quite well with the limitation. With creative uses of delay and reverb you can still do pads with long tails, and by using the 4-voice limitation as a sound design feature, rather than a limitation, interesting things can be done.
+John Smith Not at all. Limitations often breed creativity. The most creative time in my life was when I was recording music using a broken 4-track, a guitar with only 4 strings, shoes in a dryer for drums, and a $5 mic purchased at Radioshack. Recorded 8 albums with this set up and other similarly-limited set ups.
The best synth patch I've ever made was made on the Microkorg, and uses the 4-voice limitation as part of its design. This is all while owning and using dozens of more complex synths with more features.
Creativity flourishes with limitations, and is often killed by endless possibilities and features.
+Daniel Davis
Two bass notes and a triad is the least amount of notes I would use for a pad. This is why most great analog synths are 6 or 8 voices. I also have a Analog Four but I only use it for mono sequencing like it was designed to do. Juno's were great pad synths because they had 6 voices so why would Roland not make this at least 6 voice? I think they fell short on this one in quite a few areas. I will save my money for an 6 or 8 voice model and better CC control.
+mattsynth Whatever works for you, works for you. That's the only criteria one should follow when purchasing the tools needed for creative projects.
I made this album (one of my personal favorites) with the Microkorg as the only synth - I'm sure you'll agree that the 4-voice limitation isn't noticed.
carlsagansghost.bandcamp.com/album/korgambient
So that works for me. :)
You're right. I bow to you, all knowing synth master.
The best electronic device reviews on YT. Thanks :)
18:05 I love that you refer to your Juno 106 as an old lady Nick! 😍 haha (and 8:30) Thanks for all these amazing reviews over the years!
oh look at that poor poor 106, it must have gone through hell and back :)
+ollilaboratories Looks like mine :(
I used to own a Juno 106 - 1985 build year I think. It was in perfect condition inside and out, but the voice chips started dying. Replaced one of them, it all worked for about a week, then a second voice chip went, so I replaced that one as well.
After those two I just got sick of keeping the thing maintained. Soldering a 30 year old circuit board and then calibrating each chip with a scope just made me want to murder something. The clone chips are damn expensive, too. So to hear that this JU06 sounds almost identical to the real thing (bar a slight different in volume) means I'll be ordering two of them ASAP so I can daisy chain them together for 8 voices.
Wonderfully insightful as always, Nick. Let's hope that the Roland engineering team implements the improved performance functionality and MIDI continuous controller compatibility for the faders.
Peace.
if they can't make a replica that makes the price of the original drop, they should try harder.
Laughed way too hard at this...
The type of people who buy expensive vintage synths rarely buy them for the sound
Great review. It sounds pretty authentic, but editing looks painful. Really wish they would bring out bigger versions of these. Good that they are modules, so the prospect of an 88 note Juno with weighted keys is now possible :)
I have to agree with you. I always admired (from afar) the performance aspect of the JUNO 106. So in my opinion, I think they really screwed the pooch on this. I went with the JU-06 over the JU-06A just to get a little closer to that by having the pitch/mod at least standalone. But the ribbon style is just not *nearly* close to the same feel
I got the JU & the JX, one thing I hated was the modelled Chorus noise...
Check out the Manuals at Roland, they have been updated, and you can now turn off that noise, and use C2 ribbon as Mod Hold
Nick, you're one of the only people that I'd tolerate a crackling synth in a review XD
Barebones MIDI implementation?! What the hell... Clearly everyone will want to use this with an external controller. Absolutely fucked that up.
And using those touch sliders instead of the classic, much-appreciated, tried and true, X-Y Roland pitch/mod, that was a fuck up, though I imagine everyone will be using this with a MIDI controller other than the joke of a keyboard they are trying to hawk with it.
Built-in delay is a good call, though.
Your review of this is what I've been waiting for to really see how these stand up! I'll wait to see your take on the Jupiter-8 version, but I think I'm going to have to go with an *Audiothingies P6* in the end for my next analog-modelling poly. But I do congratulate Roland on a mostly well done job with the ABC technology. It does sound exactly how I'd want it. Too bad about the performance issues.
System 1 Boutique plug outs anyone ? - nice review Nik, looking forward to the Jup & JX reviews... The JU-06 is nice & all, but it's no Juno 60 :(
+kvfive maybe after these supposedly "limited editions" run out they'll port them over to the system-1 :) it sounds like a good idea to me
Damn I will have to shell out £1000 for one now plus find a double window ledge to plonk it on
+kassie2k4 Wouldn't surprise me. I'm holding on to that thought!
+kassie2k4 My guess is that they were originally intended as plugouts, but they had an warehouse full of 16-bit/44khz DACs to get rid of, so they made this product line. Why else would they only promise these in limited edition?
Very nice review. Also at 14:04 I couldn't stop hearing Rufige Kru - Dark Metal.
I posted the complete SysEx chart on Roland Clan forums if anyone is interested. Good to here that Roland may implement CC in the Boutiques but they are sending 8bit (0-255) rather than CC (0-127) so even if implemented you may loose some resolution. Been playing with all 3 for the last 3 weeks and very happy. Great review Nick... waiting for the JP-08 review which so far is my least favorite although lots of fun
Meant to say, the complete SYSEX for the sliders and knobs... still to complete the switches as I have been using Kenton Control Freak to allow greater control of the small faders on all 3 boutiques.
11:50 got me in the feels idk why
Repair on the 106 'should' be fairly easy. (my career was in electronics repair) Just change out the capacitors, keeping note of the polarity with a dot on the board for the negative side if it's not marked on the main boards. They sound dried out and just do a good cleaning of the contacts for the keys, sliders and all pots with a 91% isopropl alcohol. After they are cleaned over, spray a microfiber cloth with good 'ole WD-40 and wipe them down leaving a very thin layer on it all and that should do it. Generally it's the capacitors that will be the majority of it's issues. Also, check all the soldering around the IC's, limiting resistors and everything in the power supply as heat will cause the solder to haze and slightly detach from the main board pads and the components soldered. Had to do all this to a Roland Poly 800 a few years back. Once it's all cleaned and re-lubed, you should wind up with it sounding like it came out of the box new again. :) (WELL worth the effort, i believe... i'd do it)
A Great review, Nick. Just waiting to hear/see the jx03 and jp08 boutique reviews.
Great review! The sound has exceeded my expectations. I particularly like the sounds starting at 11:55. However, there really should be more control possibilities including CV/Pedal Ins. Instead having an optional flimsy keyboard, a CV expander (similar to the ones Moog made) routable to the Boutique modules makes more sense to me- especially considering Roland's recent foray into the world of Eurorack modular.
+Steven Morris If they had implemented even basic CV pitch/gate in/out, every eurorack geek and their mother would have bought one.
I LOVE the JU06! Super lush and simple to use. Great demo!
106 is the sweetest sounding synth ever made
Nice. Big effort as usual. The chorus comparison was good and it sounds pretty good. More comparison I would like to hear is with the filter open or swept. I don't think there was any patch where the filter was open much at all or swept. In other demo videos they sound pretty good when static and filter closed (JP-08 too) but not when filter is opened. The other comparison I would have liked is polyphony, the demo was almost exclusively monophonic. The DCO interaction with each other is a major part of the Juno sound.
I don't think they really had stage performance in mind with these, since that was a large critical comment you had. These are desktop versions for DAW users who want to branch out, or for home studio recording (in my opinion). It's also for retro enthusiasts who don't want to pay over a grand for a fixed up original.
very nice review, I purchased a JU-06 before you posted this video. Thanks for the comparisons.
Nice review once more Nick thanks, been waiting for you to take a look at these units. I've pre-ordered this and a JP-08 myself, and although the price is really good for what you get, I am disappointed to see you can't externally modulate any of the slider parameters though. Ahh well, I guess you can't have everything!
Maybe Roland will allow this in a software update, I really do hope so, as it is so fundamental to exploring their full performance potential.
They have certainly done a great job updating/extending the AIRA series functionality that way.
And I particularly love that Tomita-esque "submarine radar" like sound at 10.58.
Great review Nick ;) Just testing for Synth Anatomy the Plugout Synthesizer from Roland. There are already very good
That Juno 106 has failing VCF/ VCA hybrid chips; when they fail the voices can crackle, stick on or go silent. As an ex Roland senior engineer, I know this very well.
That sucks man do you think its worth it for 200? I just brought one lol
@@GullySyde28 200 what, Reals, Dollars, pounds? I would say definately in all cases
The 106 does have a lower end
The latest update fixed the sending and getting of Midi CCs
Where do you download the firmware?
there was an Update last year which - according to the Version History - says, that it now reacts to Control Change. Does that mean that it finally receives and processes MIDI-CCs? Like the sound, but no MIDI-CC would be a no go
Acetonise 106's 80017a chips Nick ! nice review ;)
thank you for great work you guys did. liked and subscribed.
So I was considering a Juno boutique but as soon as the 106 bass came on I was pretty sure of which I will get. Great review though, the patches are just deligthfull
spacezignul but the hassle of a 106? Is it worth it when you're almost there?
it's about time!!!
14:14 says it all "it's working, for me". end of review. You can tell Nick is impressed with the 106 "feel" he is getting form the JU-06. I had posted on another vid how the lack of full midi control was a deal breaker, but I have since ordered the JU-06. Its small foot print, and its price point, as well as my lack of poly synths, (having only an original Novation Nova) is why I took the plunge. I have decided to get all three. I have had a Jupiter 8 and I loved it, but it's size and its age (having it serviced) was in the end the deal breaker. I have missed its sounds but for me it becomes more about placement in the mix and the amount of space one has. From messing about with a couple of these from friends who have to have the latest toys first, I have come to the conclusion that all problems with fader size and midi control are trumped for having small excellent sounding emulations of three classic synths that literally can fit into a shoe box for $1000usd to cool to pass up. Thank you Nick for the excellent unbiased videos, keep fighting the good fight!
Great Review! Must has one of those babies (if not all). Please get that poor Juno 106 fixed, I seem to remember mine going the same way,
sounds good to me
Falls quite short.
4 voice? Really? In this day and age?
Limited midi?
Either make it or don't, but don't insult us with a half arsed effort.
I found both machines indistinguishable. Only the 'analog' crackling gives a hint which is the original.
It’s all about the chorus! 🎶🕶✌🏻
That's where the small size really gets in the way of the usability.
Thank you for this review. But why have you left out the JX-03, which is the most interesting of the Boutiques, if you ask me?
Hmmm... Roland do You hear Us? We need Juno 106 Mark II :) Not Juno 106 Mark 1/2 .... So Juno 106 with Kiwi is still the king of this category. I think after this release, all Juno 106 prices will be in the sky :) You will read on the ebay: Is not JU-06! Btw nice toy and on couple of other side, well done. I like this compact format.
I had a Juno 106 for a while, because I couldn't afford what I really wanted at the time, and I remember being underwhelmed by it when I had it. I get the nostalgia....however I wouldn't spend the full retail for a recreation of it.
Karl Fest common sense thank you
when the click of the midi controller keys is louder than the synth volume....
I'd like to see a full-size, 5-octave version of these; maybe all 3 in one large box will larger faders and knobs, or a hybrid of them taking the chorus from Juno, and best features of other two combined..
Both these videos are excellent! Thanks!
How about JX-03...?
Good review Nick, as always. I think they sound very nice and have been modelled well. I personally will be skipping these little synths though but for many people I can see these being put to great use.
Brilliant review! Thank you! I can't wait to get these asap!
If in Chain mode they have perfect Unison of controls through midi there has to be a way to access them through a firmware tweak.
I've got one of these and its superb!! Good review man :)
It all works perfectly with the master bat man.
great and honest review - as always. thank you, nick
Today is May 25th 2018 and I just ordered a JU-06 for $460. The price is going up by the day it seems. Only 2 on amazon. One for $780, the other brand new over $1500.
i like that intro patch
Good review but I wish people would stop comparing sounds by playing one note alternating on each synth. Much easier to hear the overall sonic quality if you play 5 seconds of one and 5 seconds of another. Flicking back between single notes is too quick of a change. There was quite a difference in volume on this one as well.
'You can't assign the pitch bend to the filter'. I think that sums up very nicely how limited these things are. Roland should try to compete with Clavia (Nord Lead) & Dave Smith, just to name these two, instead of fabricating toy boxes.
God I wish these were just like 40-50% bigger, I am so clumsy with tiny buttons and stuff, and I would want to do live stuff with these, glad you can remove them from the mini keyboard though, modules or rack stuff is best for me.
Hi Nick I do love the way you perform those reviews a lot. But what bothers me lately is that clunky keyboard you use. These plastic keys making such noise that I find it really difficult to listen to close to the sounds you're playing particular the attack phases of a given sound mostly masked by the noise of the keys you hit. Best Kirk
Fair comment. I wanted to not use something too big. As you can imagine, most others would dominate the shot .
+sonicstate Maybe just gate your mic track so we don't hear it unless you're talking.
I honestly only noticed it at the beginning of the vid, then I zoned out, but I did notice it.
Indeed, there is a lack of low end on the JU-06 compared to the original, it's pretty obvious with a sub woofer.
Too bad you can't put external audio through the chorus, that would of been a major reason to buy, back to using TAL to turn everything into a Juno lol
If Roland reissued the Juno PROPERLY I would buy one in a heartbeat. But with this, you're better off dropping 50 bucks on TAL-U-NO v2...
Time to send that 106 to the synth doctor
quick question! can you chain modules that are that are not the same model, like a ju 06 and an 08... it feels like such a waste to have two of the same when one is only a slave
Thanx for insight into a shortcoming that I was curious about- without the filter tweak via 8192 Pitchbend I'm out as far as this one goes, zipper noise not for me. ICK!
I Will probably cross post this to the JP08 and JU06 boards as well.
I hear SO MUCH grousing about these. So here, once and for all, is a real-world working musician view.
1) No. They are not the originals. I have the originals, and they do not leave the house.
2) They are 4 voice. After 30 some years, more than enough for composition, arranging and recording.
3) They are small. Yes, geniuses, they are. So small, in fact, that I can carry them anywhere with me, use batteries, and get ideas down and stored faster than any other way I know. See #1 for where my full size boards live.
4) They are digital. Yes, and this is a form factor preference, but the day I use a Mac or a PC or Plug In or a VST to make my next record - I will be dead from a self-influcted gunshot at close range with an elephant gun. Click here. Right click here. Uh huh. So organic. Put the f(*&)(ing computer down and learn your damn craft.
5) They tried to pack too much in and made no one happy with the compromises. I have read multiple whines about slider size, voice count, non-analog, etc... I dunno - but for 300 bucks, I'm all in. Try getting anywhere close to this level of expression for that (Not talking about the software route - which feels the same to me as a million rats gnawing on my face).
6) And last, for those of you telling me how different they sound: In late 2016 a record I am working on now will drop (hopefully!). I am using nothing but the boutiques, a Volca Sample, an old SY22 and a Teenage Engineering PO12. Let's just see how many people call me out on using these digital synths.
Thank you for your time
Anonymous
Very well explained good technical experience on synths.
ju06 looks interesting, might pick one up
The JU-06 crackles when the volume is all the way up on the device. I have it set up like 85% this fixes the problem. Its a shame this synth makes so much nois of his own (even when chorus is turned off and wiring is ok.)
Wish they would release pro versions of their products. Would be good if they put all 3 emulations into one super module, maybe even thrown in the Tb3 and Tr8 and even the plugout sounds with full polyphony and multi outs etc. Can't be that difficult to do and it would sell by the bucketload. If they won't do that then why not sell a vst plugin that does it all?
Not at this price point.
Roland mc-505 or a mc-909 is the closest you will get
Damn! Good one! Doing retrowave and 80's sound design and Depeche Mode like stuff also music like Electric Youth. Need of good pads, melodies and sawwy basslines (I do have Polysix software version with the fat line bass), that kind of stuff.
Comparing Uhe Diva, Behringer DM-12 (upcoming) and this JU-06 ...which one would you pick in terms of...playability, ease of use and varieties of sound/pads etc if you had to pick 1 or 2? Like the display of DM12 and ofc Diva. Thanks for the good review!
Should i get ju06 boutique ore system 1m?? Have to decide now! System 1m has 4osc!and cv gate! But ju06 sounds so nice.
Good review! Too bad that the MIDI implementation is so poor. What were they thinking?!
Bank 58, quite Eno-esque there 😎, it sounds as though Roland have got really close with this one even listening through you tube. If you feel that you can get 'lost' in it that is good for me....the audio being 44100 and 16bit, is that a problem as it is putting me off.
stereo mini jack output only is a big downer for me
The tendency for both the wires and the jacks to break bothers me. RCA jacks would have been preferable if they're going cheap/small.
or they could have used a breakout cable with proper 1/4 jacks.
Very disappointing
Dialing in the sequencer speed with the slider is interesting..... but is there a way to dial in an exact BPM? I didnt see the LED Screen displaying anything when he was adjusting the speed. I'm guessing arp. Speed is separate from tempo?
@2:34 you just couldn't survive with that evil battery door!
lownrgy the seamless cut made me lol. i wondered how many hours it took to put back on 😂
Hi everybody!does anyone know if it's possible to sync midi clock via usb as well? In practice, i have AR and OP-1 in Ableton via Overhub...can i sync JU-06 into it the same way???thank you so much in advance
It sounds better than my Jubo 6 Very nice bit of kit.
micro usb not mini usb
Nice review m8
Excellent review... as usual :-) Thanks
Hi Nick. What kind of output cable did you use in this video? Obviously 3.5mm jack on one end, but how did you connect it to the audio interface? I just bought one and i get a lot of noise. I use a 3.5mm jack to rca, and then rca to 6.5mm jack plug. Tested with two different cables but noise non the less. Theres no noise when i use a headset. Hope you have time to help med :)
I've heard that it's best to record in mono, especially when making club-friendly tracks. Since the ju-o6 is only stereo, is this a huge drawback?
Not really, mono is better for bass sounds, but you can just pan them central or just use one output.
Rad, thank you!
Maybe we should all write Roland asking for Midi CC. It would not hurt :P
Very nice review! I want one. Just a side note, the clicky keys from the controller are really intrusive when trying to really listen to the sounds....
I think the Gaiia is better set up? But this is an affordable option if you wanna experience the good from the past. She might be old but still has the look and Roland got to eat?