Xref: utzoo rec.music.synth:22441 comp.music:3552
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!uokmax!munnari.oz.au!diemen!probitas!milton
From: milton@probitas.cs.utas.edu.au (Simon Milton)
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth,comp.music
Subject: Questions: Roland JX3P
Message-ID: <milton.677113842@probitas>
Date: 16 Jun 91 23:10:42 GMT
Sender: news@diemen.utas.edu.au
Followup-To: rec.music.synth
Lines: 59


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions:  Roland JX3P
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have the opportunity to buy a used Roland JX3P and would like some information
as the person selling knows nothing about the instrument.  I intend to use it
as a *synth* (as opposed to an imitator of acoustic instruments) and like to
have a means of producing subtle atmospherics (which it may or may not be good
at).
Namely:

	1)	What's the MIDI implementation like?  Is it simply an early
		transmit/receive on one channel only type of thing or can
		you select the channel?  I don't really mind but it will be
		one thing to consider for me.

	2)	What should the approximate asking price be for such a synth?
		I'm unfamiliar with analog synths in general.  I'll give you
		some typical prices for (new) equipment where I live in
		Australian dollars:
			Roland D-70:		$4000
			Yamaha SY77:		$5000
			Yamaha SY55:		$2500
			Yamaha SY22:		$1800
			Korg WaveStation:	$2600 (usually $3500)
			Korg M-1:		$3600
			Roland D-5:		$1300
			Kawai Spectra:		$ 900
		The asking price is AUS$550 but I imagine that I could talk the
		seller down to AUS$500.  Is this reasonable?  I've no idea.

	3)	How does the sound compare with that of comparable analog
		synths?  I love it as it's so vibrant and colourful but is it
		on a par with similar equipment?  Bear in mind that I only own
		Yamaha FM-based algorithm synthesizers and *any* other sound is
		exciting as far as I'm concerned!

	4)	When were they made?  My guess is about 1983-84 but I'm sure
		that someone will correct me.

	5)	Where can I get some information about programming analog
		synths?  The manual provided with this machine is OK, but seems
		to assume that the user has some knowledge about how VCOs, VCFs
		and VCAs interact, which I don't!

I'm using a friend's account to post this so please send all replies via e-mail
to:

u894825@bruny.cc.utas.edu.au.

Thanks in advance,

Jon.

================================================================================
Jonathan Elliott			"Base eight is just like base ten	
University of Tasmania			 really...If you're missing two	
u894825@bruny.cc.utas.edu.au		 fingers!" - Tom Lehrer	
================================================================================