Roland Alpha Juno

Roland Alpha Juno
Manufacturer Roland
Dates 1985-1986 (1987 for MKS-50)
Price US$895 / UK£575 (JU-1)
US$1,295 / UK£799 (JU-2)
Technical specifications
Polyphony 6 voices
Timbrality Monotimbral
Oscillator 1 DCO per voice
(pulse, saw, square and noise, plus suboscillator)
LFO triangle
Synthesis type Analog Subtractive
Filter Analog 24dB/oct resonant
low-pass
Attenuator ADSR envelope generator
Aftertouch expression No (JU-1)/Yes (JU-2)
Velocity expression No (JU-1)/Yes (JU-2)
Storage memory 128 patches
(64 user, 64 preset)
Effects Chorus
Input/output
Keyboard 49 (JU-1)/61 (JU-2)
External control MIDI

The Roland Alpha Juno series of keyboards are analog polyphonic synthesizers with a digitally controlled oscillator manufactured by Roland Corporation in 1985 to 1986.

Versions

Two models were released: the Alpha Juno 1 (JU-1) (1985), and the Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2) (1985), which added one octave of notes, a cartridge slot and touch-sensitivity.[1]

Alpha Juno synthesizers presented a reduced user interface compared to other synths of the day, with a single Alpha Dial replacing many sliders and knobs. The keyboard features MIDI in, out and thru, mono, stereo and headphone sockets. It also supports an external footpedal controller, and tape backup.

The MKS-50 (1986) is a rack-mount version of the Alpha Juno. It has the same synth engine and architecture, with some added features like 16 programmable chord memories, and the ability to store velocity, volume, panning, de-tune, portamento and other similar parameters within each patch.

The Alpha Juno offered a combination of frequency stability (using digitally controlled oscillators) with more "organic" quality of analog filters.

Both Alpha Junos can create the "Hoover sound" popular in jungle and rave music. Artists who have used the Alpha Juno include The Prodigy, hardcore/gabber music from the Thunderdome albums, Son Dexter and a great many other rave acts.

The Roland programmer PG-300 offers complete control over all MIDI editable parameters of the Alpha Juno, the Alpha Juno 2 and the MKS-50. More recently, software has been written for Microsoft Windows and Apple computers which allows graphical editing of Juno patches through MIDI.

Factory Presets

The Factory Presets for the Alpha Juno, HS-10, HS-80 and MKS-50 were created by Eric Persing and Oceanmind. <>

References

  1. ↑ "Roland Alpha Juno 1 & 2 (Retro)". Sound On Sound. October 1998. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015.

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