Roland Jupiter-X

Good first impression, but...

The synth sounds digital because it is.

The first thing it asks you to do is download Roland's Cloud manager and Register to a scheme that is about to ask you to subscribe to their cloud services. Then, you must format a usb stick using the Jupiter-x, so that you can then load it with the latest fw and then put back on the Jupiter and install it. Well, unfortunately the Jupiter seems to have problems formatting any of the 3 different usb sticks I own, one of which is SanDisk. I actually want to return the synth back, but I don't see the option there anymore. Pitty - I don't like it when they steal my money...

Decades of Roland synthesis in one beautiful and pro-quality synth!

This synth is simply fantastic. Built to pro standards with the best keybed I've played in ages. Lots of realtime control (though a few omissions like direct control over PWM destination, portamento time, etc.).

The sound is outstanding. The analog emulations are very good - maybe not quite as good as the System-8 versions but the tradeoff for polyphony and sound engines the System-8 can't do is worth it.

You get Jupiter-8, Juno-106, SH-101 (with polyphonic mode), JX-8P, RD-series, plus the entire XV-5080 engine and tons of great analog and digital drum kits to boot with 4 synth parts and 1 rhythm part.

It's not a workstation so you need to sequence externally, but that's not what it was intended to be. I am sure Roland will release even more model expansions in the future so this instrument will only become even more powerful.

If you like the Roland sound, this is your desert-island synth.