Roland JD-XA Analogue/Digital Crossover Synthesiser

The Roland JD-XA is an analogue/digital crossover synthesiser that provides you with the warmth of analogue alongside the versatility of digital systems in one ultra-creative instrument. Firstly there is an all-analogue section that is equipped with analogue filters with a dry output as well as a digital engine that comes complete with supernatural synthesis technology with an impressive array of potent effects. Both the analogue and digital engines can be used independently of each other or interactively, giving you an extremely versatile platform for sound design, studio work, and live performances. You can stack the analogue and digital engines together for creative sound design or shape the digital waveforms using the analogue filters to produce sounds that have never been heard before.

The JD-XA features four analogue parts with two oscillators, a filter section, and an amp section with four available envelopes with extremely fast attack and response times; there are also two LFOs giving you smooth coverage for slow-moving oscillations to super-rapid. You can use the JD-XA as an eight oscillator, genuinely analogue version of the legendary supersaw waveform or utilise the power of the poly-stack mode for organic, warm four-note chords that will sweep you off your feet. Once you have your desired sound, you can route it directly to the dry analogue output or send it straight to the onboard digital effects for more experimental sound design.

This synthesiser doesn’t just do classic analogue sounds; it is also equipped with an entirely separate four-part, 64-voice digital sound engine that is powered by Roland’s critically-acclaimed Supernatural synthesis technology. Ths technology allows you to get super-expressive and is fully compatible with the synth engine from the INTEGRA-7 sound module, which is a favoured classic for many producers and sound designers. However, if you need some extra inspiration, you can visit Roland’s Axial website to download the latest patches from high-end programmers letting you tap into a wide variety of genres.

The JD-XA comes with an intuitive design that takes a unique approach to synthesis and allows you to blend the engines together if you’d like, or you can use them independently which gives you two synths in one. The analogue and digital engines can also interact with each other in various ways; this means you can route digital sounds through the analogue filters or used as modulation sources for the cross modulation and ring modulation functions inside of the analogue section. Thanks to the flexibility and versatility of the JD-XA you have a powerful synthesiser that lets you get super-creative.

The filters on the JD-XA are 100% analogue and offer a warm, organic sound. There is a classic 4-pole filter, a transistor ladder, and a multi-mode filter that gives you the classic low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass filters. Thanks to the all-new circuit design, the resonance of the multi-mode filter offers an extremely aggressive sonic character, and because the filters are entirely analogue, you get a smooth slope while you’re twisting the filter knob without any stepping or unwanted artifacts. This synthesiser comes equipped with an extensive effects section that allows you to enhance absolutely any sound. Both the analogue and digital parts are fitted with the powerful and flexible MFX processor with a total of 67 different effect types such as distortion, reverb, delay, EQ, and a phaser. There are also two TFX processors which give you 29 different effect types.

To kick-start your creativity there is a 16-track pattern sequencer with 8 available tracks for the internal sounds as well as 8 tracks dedicated to external sources which allow you to build sequences and loops quickly and intuitively. There are also real-time recording modes that let you record in new phrases with a familiar linear fashion or make use of the step-recording mode for a more old-school pattern style. This sequencer has been designed to keep you connected to your music and helps you stay in your workflow.

The interface has been designed to offer a highly-intuitive workflow and lets you harness the potential of the unique sound engines. The velocity-sensitive keys come with after-touch, and the control surface provides you with loads of backlit sliders, knobs, and controls that help you shape your sound as well as tonnes of routing options that let you route a single modulation source to four destinations if you require. You can also control your external equipment and DAW plug-ins via MIDI, USB, or CV/Gate outputs allowing the JD-XA to become the beating heart of your studio. A microphone input also allows you to take full control over the integrated vocoder, or you can use the microphone as a modulation source for controlling the filter cutoff frequency, cross mod, and other parameters only with your voice which is perfect for live performances.