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Reviews | Roland Juno-Di

Roland
especially when you bear in mind the
£549 price tag.
While all the above improvements
are very worthwhile the general feel

Juno-Di | £549
throughout the hardware doesn’t instil
the greatest of confidence, though I
fully understand Roland has had to cut
some corners to bring the Juno-Di in at
this price. For a start, the keybed is too
stiffly sprung for really sensitive playing
(a criticism I also angled at the Roland
Roland’s Juno-Di promises a lot, but does it deliver? AX-Synth in my recent review). Then

Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman finds out


there are the dials, which have some
sideward play, and the fairly cheap
plastic used for the case/underside.

T
I don’t want to be too harsh,
he Juno-D was the first in the rhythms, expanded effects and more however, as this is a budget instrument
ON THE DVD
newly resurrected Juno line performances (now with splits and (and there are keyboards that cost
back in 2005. Aimed at layering) – and if that’s not enough for significantly more and have wobbly
WHAT Is IT?
performers and producers you, there’s also a very comprehensive encoders!). In its favour, the Juno-Di
The latest in the Juno line,
with thousands of sounds, wanting portability and a great base of Mac/PC editor to allow you to get deep would make a great studio board and is
song player, external versatile sounds at a very reasonable into sound programming. Overall this is very light, weighing in at 5kg (11
editor and more
price, the Juno-D proved popular. Never a very comprehensive upgrade, pounds). You can pick it up easily with
cONTAcT ones to rest on their laurels, however,
Who: Roland UK Roland have sought to improve and
Tel: +44 (0)1792 702701
Web: roland.co.uk expand where the Juno-D left off, and
Effects and Patch Editor
for 2009 they bring us the Juno-Di.
HIGHLIGHTs
Plenty of important areas have been There’s a useful array of
1 Pretty cheap effects available onboard
upgraded and improved since the
2 Portable the Juno-Di. There are
Juno-D. The latest Juno’s polyphony has
3 Versatile and full of very three effects processors
usable sounds doubled from 64 to 128 notes, and the
– a main reverb generator
number of presets has increased from with five types, a main
640 to over 1,200 (user patch memory chorus generator (with two
remains at 128 patches). Wave memory chorus effects and a delay
has been doubled too, from 32MB to effect) and a master FX
64MB, and a song player has been unit with 79 available
added for playing MIDI files and for effects. The quality of
these effects is good in
playlisting/running WAV/MP3 files from
general, with some nice
the newly included USB memory port.
choruses, amp sims, when coupled with the left-hand side, and it’s
delays, EQ, reverbs, patch editor, many more simply a question of
Juno reloaded modulation effects and a controllable parameters moving sliders until you
On top of these changes, there’s also a pretty good vocoder. Like are available. get the desired sound,
jack mic input with a dedicated reverb the onboard sounds, the The patch editor is very then saving the resulting
(eight types), an onboard vocoder FX aren’t top-class, but easy to use. Each section patch and sending it back
they are very usable and (common, filter, amp and to the Juno using the
(which sounds decent), the ability to
versatile. Particularly so on) is listed at the onboard USB connector.
power from batteries (using nickel metal
hydride batteries), more drum kits and

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FMU217.rev_roland 86 20/7/09 11:16:49 am


Roland Juno-Di | Reviews

one hand, and there aren’t many boards Up next are the keyboard modes. the required purpose. There are some
specs
around with the Juno-Di’s capabilities Split allows a different sound either side nice pianos and electric pianos,
General:
that are this portable. of a user-defined split point, Dual allows expressive solo synths and pads, Keyboard: 61 keys
In the centre of the front panel is two sounds to be layered and zoned, workhorse acoustic guitars and basses, (with velocity)
Sound Generator:
the easy-to-read orange display. Patch while Super Layer allows one sound to lush strings – you name it, it’s onboard. Maximum polyphony
selection is a doddle – simply press the be layered up several times and For an all-round package, the 128 voices
Category button, then scroll through detuned for super-phat sounds! This is Juno-Di is hard to beat at its price Parts: 16 parts
Wave Memory: 64MB
point. Though the (16-bit linear equivalent)

Sound-wise, the Juno is no slouch. hardware definitely Preset Memory Patches:


1082 + 256 (GM2)
feels budget, the Rhythm Sets: 20 + 9 (GM2)
onboard sounds Performances: 64

It’s filled with plenty of very usable, are better than I


expected. Coupled
File Format:
Standard MIDI File:
Format-0/1

wisely chosen sounds with the useful


external editor, the
79 onboard
Audio File: WAV, AIFF, MP3
Controllers: D-Beam
controller, pitch bend/
modulation lever, 5 x sound
using the wheel. You can also save your particularly useful for making three or effects, a usable filter, a song player, modify knobs
favourite 100 patches for instant and four oscillator mono synth patches. Of split and layer capability and a Display:18 characters 1 line
easy recall. The front-panel layout is course, no contemporary keyboard is no-nonsense interface, there’s some + 20 characters 2 lines,
easy to navigate and is well suited to complete without an arpeggiator; the serious scope available. If you’re in the custom LCD (backlit)
live performing. Juno’s is pretty decent, with 12 onboard market for a versatile, portable and Connectors:
Output Jacks (L/Mono, R):
modes. There’s a nifty chord memory workhorse-like keyboard on a budget, 1/4” phone type
À la mode function too, for single-finger triggering you’d be foolish not to put this at the Headphone Jack: Stereo
1/4” phone type
Available performance controls include of chords. Select Pop (for example) and top of your shopping list. Mic Input Jack: 1/4” phone
the D-beam (for air-controlled the Juno-Di will provide you with a set type
expression of sounds) and the Envelope of appropriate Pop-style chord voicings. EXT Input Jack: Stereo
VERDICT miniature phone type,
and Filter dials. New to the Juno-Di is Definitely handy for the solo performer. hold pedal jack, MIDI
the Mic/Mode section. Here you can set Build connectors (In, Out), USB
❚❚❚❚❚❚ Computer connector
the Gain for the microphone (for Sound thinking (supports USB MIDI)
VALUE
vocoding or singing along to your USB Sound-wise, the Juno-Di is no slouch. ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚ Dimensions:
key backing tracks or iPod fired through It’s filled with plenty of very usable, EASE OF USE 1008 x 104 x 300mm
the mini jack input), set the eight types wisely chosen sounds that can be ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Weight:
of reverb for the mic input, enter the employed for most styles – and let’s VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚ 5.2kg
Patch Edit mode for rudimentary editing face it, this is just what you want in a
of basic parameters (pitch bend range, budget synth. Though the sounds won’t RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
patch level, FX selection/levels, set the world on fire, they are
portamento and poly/mono mode) and good-quality and with a little tweaking The Juno-Di is definitely one to ALTERNATIVES
enter MIDI Controller mode for using (using the front-panel envelope and check out if you’re on a budget and
the Juno-Di as a controller. filter controls) can be edited easily for need a workhorse board.
Korg X50
£560
Very portable, budget Korg
synth. 512 sounds and 384
combis, USB and dual
arpeggiators make this a
good alternative, though it
lacks the USB player and
mic input/vocoder.
korg.co.uk

Yamaha MM6
£435
Super-cheap basic Yamaha
board with sequencer,
arpeggiator, effects. Bigger
wave memory than the
Juno-Di, but sadly only
32-note polyphony.
yamahasynth.com

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FMU217.rev_roland 87 20/7/09 11:16:50 am

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