it's not there Roland JUNO-60

Roland JUNO-60





Bigger brother of the Juno-6.  In production from 1982 to 1984. Great arpeggiator with hold. Now ressurected in analog modelling form by Roland with the Juno-x

 

The Roland Juno-60 is a popular analogue 61-key polyphonic synthesizer produced by Roland Corporation in the early 1980s and a successor to the slightly earlier Juno-6. Like its predecessor, the Juno-60 has some digital enhancements, used only for clocking the oscillators and for saving/loading patches. This instrument was succeeded by the Roland Juno-106 in 1984.

Roland was losing market share with the Juno-6 in competition against the Korg Polysix. Related in features and price-class, the Polysix featured external control and patch memory, which the Juno-6 lacked in order to compete. These features were quickly added to the Juno-6's design, which sonically and architecturally did not change notably between the two versions, and then released as the Juno-60.

(From Wikipedia)







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Products » Synthesisers » Analog synthesisers »

Added: 13 December 1998
New price: discontinued
S/H price: costly!
Company:  ROLAND UK

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This product is part of
Roland's
Juno series

Alpha Juno 1

Alpha Juno 2

Juno-106

JUNO-6

JUNO-60

JX-10

JX-3P

JX-8P

MKS-30

MKS-50

MKS-70


Roland's Juno series were the last analog synths made by the company before they switched to sample digital synthesis. All Juno synths used Digitally Controlled Oscillators (DCO's), starting with the 1982 6-voice Juno-6 with built-in chorus effect. Roland followed on with the updated Juno-60 released less than a year later also in 1982, which was essentially the Juno-6 but with the ability for the user to store 56 patches to memory, something the Juno-6 had lacked, however the Juno-60 still didn't have MIDi which came in just a year later in 1983.

 

After releasing one final VCO analog synth - the Jupiter-6 which had basic MIDI specs - Roland released the Juno-106 which still sported front-panel Jupiter-style slider controls for key parameters but was a DCO synthesiser.

 

So to be 100% accurate they were the only three Juno synths - The Juno-6, Juno-60 & Juno-106 - All three were DCO synths and all three offer traditional front-panel Jupiter-style slider controls for the main synth parameters. 

 

Expanding the Juno series

For the sake of creating clarity & order for beginners trying to make sense of Roland's early synthesiser output, we are going to list the 'Juno' Series as all of the final 100% analog Roland synths made by Roland up until they stopped making analog synths and switched to sample digital synths with the D-50.

 

All these Roland synthesisers are titled Juno or have a J prefix. None of them used non-digitally controlled VCO's like the Jupiter Series. Apart from the Juno-106 they all used membrane switches on the front-panel, discarding the traditional knobs & sliders to edit & control sounds. They all used DCO oscillators.

 

If we organise Roland Juno & J-prefix series synthesisers like that, then the Juno Series after the Juno-6 & Juno-60 will also include the JX-3P, the Alpha Juno 1 & 2 - both fully analog synths with DCO's - and the final analog DCO flagship JX-8P  and its follow-up JX-10 or 'Super JX'.

 

The MKS rack versions

You could also include the rack version of the keyboard versions in the Juno Series too. The MKS-30, MKS-50 & final MKS-70 rack version of the JX-10 Super JX.

 

The SynthPlus home-keyboard versions

One can also include in the Juno Series the related & rare home-keyboard versions of the Juno-106 and the Alpha Juno 1 & Alpha Juno 2, which are the SynthPlus 60 (HS-60), the SynthPlus 10 (HS-10) & the SynthPlus 80 (HS-80) respectively - Roland do not list these three SynthPlus synths on their own Roland History blog page, but they have identical synthesiser engines & full MIDI specs the same as the Juno units they are based on.

 

 

 

We have therefore organised the 'Juno' synths this way on Dancetech so that visitors can see in one collection, all the final 100% analog DCO synths Roland made, all listed together in an easy to understand way.

 

The Juno Series sounded the final hurrah for Roland analog synths. Roland moved on to release their proprietery sample synthesis engine they called Linear Arithmatic Synthesis (or LA Synthesis), beginning with their groundbreaking flagship D-50 synth in 1987, and then on to physical modelling & analog modelling in various forms, never to return to making a real analog synth again apart from one Boutique series synth jointly made by Roland and the American company Studio Electronics.

Resources

Roland Juno 60 manual
16 Behringer links
Behringer TD-3 audio examples
Post on forum about this product

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roland juno-60

Comments

Cyxeris

20-Jan-99

Pretty fat little board. Decent layout, fairly decent filter. Pre-midi though, so you're stuck with Roland's pre-midi DCB port. A downer when your big into sequencing. There are DCB-to-midi converters out, so there is hope. Nice chorus, albeit noisy at times. I've found it to be a great workhorse synth.


Pharkle

20-Jan-99

Well over all its a fun synth to play with especially if you are just starting. I mostly like the bass sounds and the lower of the three octave settings. It does its best stuff in the low range. Be careful of the arpeggiator; it has no sense of rhythm. But wait there is a way to MIDIfy it! Roland made a component hook up called the DC-B which is a MIDI interface for the Junos. Good luck finding one though. (I do believe that there are some third party clones of it available though. ask around on the Internet for it.)

If you see one and its between 3 and 4 hundred i suggest giving it a try.(mine was $300) Enjoy it!


Rick

20-Jan-99

I thought the Juno's had DCO's?


dani

20-Jan-99

Nice synth, but it should be noted that it uses a DCO

and not a VCO. My first and only Roland. I got mine for

$125.


Scott Rae

20-Jan-99

Good fun to use - all those buttons and sliders! Nice big fat bass sounds. You can trigger the arpeggiator from Roland/Boss drum machines, so it can play in time! I use the arpeggiator and put it through digital delay, which can give some nice effects. Pity about the lack of midi - but I sample the Juno on a midi keyboard, then use that with a sequencer.


Neil

20-Jan-99

Juno 60 rocks



Phat tones

Phatter appegiator

Phattest price (around 300 usually)


john jansen

20-Jan-99

use the external clock in with the "kick drum" output of a drum machine. Set the "Arpeggio Hold" on and hit one or more keys. Instant Phat kick. There's also 2 "hidden" banks you can access when you're plugged into the jack ins (I don't remember the exact ones, plug 'em all in and try bank 8 & 9 (test banks).


Javier Martinez Gonzalez

20-Jan-99

excelente synth


Peligro PHD

20-Jan-99

I have always been a lover of the FAT sounds oozing from the juno series. For my experimental audio salads the juno 60 surpasses my thickest nightmares! no other synth can provide the colorful transparent colors that the Juno 60 can...go to your local pawn shop and pick one up!


KEVIN

20-Jan-99

WHERE CAN I GET A MANNUEL?????????

EVEN A COPY ..SEND ME TO A SIGHT TO COPY IT


Simon

20-Jan-99

Is this a good board to start on?\


jbgigolo

20-Jan-99

It was my favorite keyboard in the whole world and it was stolen from me. If anyone reading this knows where I can purchase another one please let me know. I can't go on living without it much longer. Thank you.


Tobias Winkler

20-Jan-99

Good and rich sounds! it fits well for playing 80s new

wave and synth - pop music.

Problems: - I need a manual

- How can I midify the arpeggiator


chris hampton

20-Jan-99

i bought my juno-60 when i was 14 (i'm 15 now :)

AND a jsq-60 (that came with it) for $325! i fell in

love with it the instant i heard it -- maybe it was

because it's my first (and so far only) synth..

nevertheless, midi or no, i love it.


Matt

19-Aug-99

Weblink: link

Tight synth. I was just up at my friends house toying with this baby and it has some kick ass stuff. I was wondering if anybody knew where to get the DCB<-->MIDI converter in the US. If you do, please e-mail me.


Kid

31-May-00

I got hold of an old juno about six months ago and it has sored to the top of my 'best loved equipment list'. Only one patch can be used at a time but if your looking for throbbing bass or lush 'William Orbit' style pads - look no furthur. Later.....


Ian Gallagher

03-Jun-00

Weblink: link

The Roland Juno-60 is a great analog synthesizer, don't think there are many like it nowadays. Haven't really got to use it much in the past, but now since I'm starting a group, I tried it out. Awesome, just awesome. It features:
The Juno-60 was a programmable 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer with 56 Patch memories and a 61-note, five-octave keyboard. It featured a built-in stereo chorus effect which was fully programmable and a direct "DCB" digital interface for linking two instruments together for layered effects. The DCB could also be used to connect the instrument to a MC-4 MicroComposer, CMU-CompuMusic or a variety of other sequencing equipment.
That's direct from Roland's page on it. Now mine doesn't have a MIDI card, but I think a few of them would. Overall, this is a great synth that you should look into.


alan

02-Jun-01

my favourite thing with my Juno is that i can generate sub bass so low its barely audible, yet it makes the windows rattle and the Juno starts to make a nice melting smell. you just can't get that effect with your virtual analogs. ;)

if you're after a midi to DCB converter, Kenton do one for £124.90 +shipping.

http://www.kenton.co.uk

direct link to the page (loses the sites frameset):

http://www.kenton.co.uk/productspecs/dcbkadispec.html

I'm going to get one when i get some cash so i can use all the sliders as midi controllers... hubba hubba.


Dmitry Postovalov

08-Jun-01

juno 60-fat bass!


Mikö

11-Jan-02

Awesome synth ! For thr price it can't be beat. Huge sounds (it beats a crappy Juno 106 very easily !!), a wonderful chorus, PULP's sounds, nice nice nice.


Technosis

11-Jan-02

Crappy Juno-106?!?! Suuuuurrreee buddy. The 60 is nice, but no midi is a major drawback.


Dan

22-May-02

This synth is often under rated but it's an absolute belter. Huge, fat base and pads to die for. OK it needs a little post production just to keep it under control but you can pick these up for next to nothing compared other synths of the same era, and you'd be a fool not to. Kenton electronics UK can provide you with a nice little DCB to MIDI converter with some extra features (Arpegiator sync, extra LFO, LFO sync etc). I'd sell my own mother first!.


Tom

07-Oct-02

Weblink: link

There is cheap DCB<->MIDI converter available at http://web.telecom.cz/chd/ only for £45 (including cable) it works fine with my Juno-60


Nicolas

07-May-03

If anyone knows where I can hear some audio
demos of it , pelase e mail me to
goles@vtr.net


carl

13-Sep-03

I recently got a juno 60 in beautiful condition with a big aluminium case for $400aus. I bought it in the hope it would provide a stable alternative to Jupiter 4. it sort of did but DCOs aren’t anything like VCOs. it sounds really, really, really fuzzy. like really fucking fuzzy. I do like the sound but I don’t always want to sound fuzzy if you know what I mean. it can’t really cut through the mix it just looms there like a giant pillow. nah it’s cool hey. if your thinking about getting one as a first synth or something to add a bit more mood then go for it but if you want something classy get a Jupiter 4. the biggest problem for me with the juno isn’t the lack of midi (if your buying a “keyboard” your gonna “play” it especially if it’s polyphonic). my problem is the lack of a decent lfo and the omission of portamento. why did roland do it? It wouldn’t have hurt to put one fucking portamento knob on it! I don’t think this synth really deserves all it’s hype but it sounds like heaven through a good delay.


carl

13-Sep-03

sorry I forgot to rate it


mcc>

15-Sep-03

Weblink: link

this was my first synth too. almost all of my old planet clay stuff was done on this beast. some jx3p too and the occasional rackety piano.
but oh sweet 60!!!
how i miss that old wonder.


juno 60

02-Oct-03

Does anyone know where I can get a pdf of a Juno 60 manual please?


Freddie

18-Oct-03

My Juno 60 was stolen in Paterson, New Jersey in 1993-& I still miss it! If anyone needs a manual or other Juno 60 incidentials let me know. Better still, if you can find the thief and get it back to me after 10 years, I'd love to have it back!!!!!!!


Octavius

22-Dec-03

Weblink: link

I played a Juno 60 in this band.....and it sounded awesome. Everone complimented us on the keyboard. Their is nothing like a Juno 60 for Live performances..... I think for studio stuff, people use the 106, cuz it's midi....but I've got a midi to DCB convertor for $60, so it's no big deal. Found the Juno 60 in the paper, with a case for $280. The guy had no idea what it was.

Octavius

Listen to the song called Mix Tape, for Juno 60 accompanyment...also, used the arpeggiator for parts of it.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/artichoke

Also, Grandaddy uses the Juno 60 all the time.....The Crystal Lake, is the most obvious song with it....and It's awesome.


phase 90

21-Feb-04

Weblink: link

Its cool but not that cool.Sounds colder than other analogs like the prophet five or obxa.ACTION SUCKS! But it looks very cool! Good strings and bass.No 106


Mark Duff

12-Oct-04

one of my favourite roland synths .. as used by nick kershaw , Nik rhodes from duran duran .

has a thick sound with not very sharp attack on the envelopes thou
so its more suited to warm pads .. sweepy strings .. and not bad at certain types of basslines

pre-midi it has the DCB connection on the back which was rolands pre-midi
interface to connect to the DCB sequencer they bought out which name slips my mind at present.

if you want something easy to program but sounds nice and smooth and fat
then u cant go wrong with this .. a nice looking synth 2!


Mark

06-Mar-05

Weblink: link

I use my Juno 60 Arpeggiator and SH101 100 note sequencer together by splitting the click signal from an old KorgDDD1 Drum machine. I can then send midi into the drum machine from a software sequencer like cubase and synch everything up. Juno 60 is great for holding a chord and then changing sounds manually with the buttons on the beat.


maxxel

06-Jun-05

i need service manual, cos I have to fix this one for my friend. Anyone has it? It seems like a waste to buy manual for $30, cos i wont earn it back. (some good soul can send it to my email, thank you)

Otherwise, wicked synth!


The Kernal

31-Mar-06

The power of the Juno 60 is insignificant in comparison to THE FORCE...

the bass end however is HUGE. (try it in MONO mode).

Would really like a service manual for the JSQ 60, would like to reverse the DIN sync 'out' to an 'in'.

can anyone help?


The Kernal

31-Mar-06

The power of the Juno 60 is insignificant in comparison to THE FORCE...

the bass end however is AWSOME (try it in MONO mode)

Really need a service manual for the JSQ 60, would like to reverse the DIN sync 'out' to an 'in'.

can anyone help?


zeph

09-Jun-06

Bought one a few weeks ago: GREAT base (and bass too) synth. Using a Kenton DCB/Midi converter when playing... live (sync'ed up the arpeggio with my DR-55)... It's a good keyboard to actually play with (you know, with your fingers !). Yep.


Mark DUff

22-Aug-06

Weblink: link

Great synth! I have two and they are just lovely! get one!


Will

13-Nov-06

Just got mine! Awesome. But I think I need to change the battery. Can any kind person help out there? Also, is there a way to change the patches back to factory settings? Thanks!


bill

04-May-07

Weblink: link

well its a classic used all over music and now crossing into what will soon be thirty years of musical history. i love mine and most likely will never sell this keyboard. its built like some type of military device from the second world war.
aesteticaly i think its one of the best looks synths every.
the chorus is awesome and the filter very nice . the way the envelopes track is nice to.
the sounds on these are pretty much all used up i mean how much more are you realy going to coax out of it that hasnt already been had. you can always mate the keyboard up to various different stomp boxes to breath new life into it.
its a classic the same as a strat guitar or a less paul. very big and warm.
ok enough of this arguing over if its analog or not.
it has dcos so they dont warble like a vco but this synth is analog and it is quite warm.
not as warm as a moog or some other vco synths but you cant take much aways from it.
they are realy highly priced right now and i think they will continue to climb in value. i mean its no voyager but a voyager is three grand almost.
why shouldnt a real vintage synth command a high price


igor

28-Jul-09

[quote] Tobias Winkler wrote: Good and rich sounds! it fits well for playing 80s new wave and synth - pop music.Problems: - I need a manual - How can I midify the arpeggiator [/quote]

you can find user manual on the internet.you can also find servicers manual on the internet if you need it.
type 'juno 60 user manual' in google and that's it.


admin

28-Jul-09

or you could use your eyes and see the manual is on this page clearly marked.


Marc

03-Oct-10

The DCB , which you speak of , is just a (pre-MIDI) serial port, made by ROLAND...The piece you need is a
ROLAND MD-8 MIDI to DCB converter. The JUNO-60 is a piece of gear, I would never get rid of...unless I
buy a Jupiter-8. Amazing ease of use, excellent sounds and features...no complaints what so ever. Plus, it's
built like a tank, and continues to gain value.





Last added comment


marc

03-Oct-10

[quote] Technosis wrote: Crappy Juno-106?!?! Suuuuurrreee buddy. The 60 is nice, but no midi is
a major drawback. [/quote] It has MIDI, through either a Kenton unit, or a Roland MD-8 DCB to MIDI
converter.


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