Roland JX-3P synthesizer. White background.


The JX-3P is a six-note polyphonic, 61 key synthesizer with sawtooth, 50 and 10% pulse waveforms, and a noise generator. It has 32 factory programs in ROM, and user memory for 32 programs. The JX-3P also features a built-in 128-step polyphonic sequencer that can be synchronized to external devices, such as drum machines, connected to its simple clock pulse input jack. MIDI clock synchronization is not supported. As one of the earliest MIDI devices, the JX-3P's MIDI implementation is basic, supporting only note on/off, pitch bend, hold, modulation and program change messages. Neither "System Exclusive" nor "Continuous Controllers" (CC) are implemented, so external patch storage or real-time parameter updates are not possible through MIDI (except with third-party upgrades). The Roland JX-3P is a synthesizer produced by Roland Corporation of Japan from 1983-1985. The "3P" in its name refers to "Programmable Preset Polyphonic". It is notable as one of the company's first synthesizers (along with the Jupiter-6) to incorporate a MIDI interface. The JX-3P is fully programmable from its front panel. To do so, each synthesis parameter must be selected numerically, then its value can be adjusted with a single slider. For a more immediate programming experience, Roland offered the optional PG-200 "programmer," a simple control surface with dedicated switches and potentiometers for editing each of the JX-3P's parameters. The PG-200 connects to the synthesizer through a proprietary interface and provides hardware sliders dedicated to most JX-3P parameters for editing patches. It is not possible to use the PG-200 and the MIDI interface at the same time, however. The PG-200 programmer also served to edit patches for the Roland GR-700 Guitar Synthesizer, which shares the same voice architecture and sound engine as the JX-3P.


Size: 6279px × 4188px
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Photo credit: © Anders Tukler / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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