On the other end of the Roland spectrum, I picked up a System-8 back in October or November, and I love it! It comes with 3 different synth sound-engines, a System-8 specific mode, a Juptiter-8 mode, and a Juno-106. All 3 sound great, and there's been some talk on various forums that they're actually more detailed models compared to the JU-06 and JP-08 due to the faster processors in the System-8. Could be true, could be nonsense, I haven't done a 1:1 compare and honestly don't care. There's also a 4th slot, which lets you load any Roland VST plug-out (I've got the SH-101 in there now, I really need to demo their System-100 apparently, so someday).

That said, the sheer number of knobs, faders, and buttons on this thing make it an amazing MIDI controller for controlling softsynths. So the way I look at it: I got the best synth controller on the market by far, and it's also a kick bleep synth on it's own. I'd love an extra two octaves of keys, a proper modwheel, and some aftertouch, but I'm still very thrilled with it. Kudos to Roland for understanding the importance of tactile control of instruments.

I have got access to Roland sounds both in hardware and software. For hardware I use the Roland JD800 which is a pretty cool synth to program. I must say it is nice having such control over a patch and be able to alter it so much especially while being sequenced. I think it is important to have at least one synth in your setup that allows this level of patch control.

The other hardware for me is the JV2080 which is just overloaded with Roland sounding patches too.

In software I am working with the Arturia Jupiter 8V and it is very nice. I have owned JP4/6/8 and this does really sound like it to. The GUI is so big now it is amazing and can fill the entire screen of a 27"monitor easily. This allows even tweaking parameters with your mouse easy. But all these things can be mapped as well to controllers. Don't forget they have that amazing sound map included in the Arturia synths where you can create multiple patches and set them up as spots on a map and then navigate smoothly around all the sounds in real time. Cant do that on the real Jupiter 8.

The other synth I am using is the TubeOhm Juno 106 emulation and this is also excellent. I also had a Juno and got used to that sound too. The TubeOhm sounds like it too (very much so) plus has an extender panel which takes it into way more interesting territory. I love it when they do this. Extend the original features.

There is also a free JX8P emulation around and it is also excellent and has that classic 3P / 8P type voicing to it as well.

Hmm,
I doubt mine is considered 'boutique' yet but I love my Roland Fantom-S.
It does a lot as a work station should but I usually just use it as a controller for my synth plugins in Studio One but sometimes I use its native sounds too.

Same here Scottyo7, I sort of get lost in what is boutique, and what isn't. If we're talking Roland and anything that has to do with them (which from the responses, we are),  smile.

My favorite Roland stuff I currently own are:
JV-90. Yeah, I still have it lying around, and it even handles being a nice 61 note controller. It has 2 external cards as well, World and Orchestral. Great generic synth, with creamy JV sounds, and Juno sounds. It's original cla8m to fame was "expanable". What a concept!

GR-50 Guitar synth and controller - paid $1200 for this thing new, so I'm going to get every last bit of guitar use out of it.   

Roland Octapad - Love it to pieces, bought it from Ash in the 80's and has continously gone up in value. It's my favorite interface to the percussive world. Each pad with so much control of volume, sensitivity, patch assignment, etc. Roland does controllers very, very well.

JD-800 - recently gone, but this was a wonderfull synth for sound and control. Great manual control. Innovative, at a time when synths were losing physical control parameters for menus. Very fat. I gave it to a friend only because he was so passionate when playing it. Really liked it.

Future purchases - After hearing Jemusic on the Arturia Roland synth, I really should check it out. That would be a boutique buy. I am a big fan of their stuff and have the Prophet and the Synclavier. The newer UI from them is well done. Very true to the core.

Roland Boutique is a fairly new series of small hardware synths that are digital emulations old classics. JX-03 is a JX-3P, JU-06 is a Juno 106 and JU-08 is a Jupiter 8. I haven't tried them but a friend of mine really likes them.

OT: I have Arturia's software synths but I don't find them to be anything exceptional. Regret buying them.

Gave a JD800 away. Rule No 1 do not give JD800's away! I am amazed you did this. Well I like mine and the sound is rather excellent I agree. It can sit onto two camps. A very digital crisp slightly cold but complex sound one moment and then all their fat analog synths in another mode. The panel is an excellent way to program sounds. Either one layer at a time or all four at once. Having control over envelopes and seeing them all at once and be able to modify them to your musical concepts is quite excellent.

I got used to having no memory storage of synth patches for a few years and it was mandatory to fine tune amp and filter envelopes to suit the music more perfectly. Filters too. Being able to move them around while the music plays is something else. They come alive!

I think it is possible I can edit my JV2080 from the front panel of the JD800 because the overall basic synth architecture is the same! Also there are great software editors too that work with many actual hardware synths as well. A JV2080 (well expanded too) is a beast of a machine and has a killer sound.

The Arturia synths like many others (Oberheim OBX emulation OPX Pro II by Sonic Solutions) will all deliver excellent sounds.

The ideas are in control here and need to be strong and interesting. Ideas translate into synth parts. It is just that we are getting to the same result a different way now. The virtual route and I find it works great. If you are lucky enough to have come from using these machines for real, that certainly translates well into using the software versions now. I am just moving the same sliders in the Arturia Jupiter 8V I used to on my Jupiter 8. I am hearing what I used to hear.

That tells me they are damn close. I have had the fortunate situation too on some rare occasions of comparing something like OPX Pro II to the actual OBX polyphonic synth at the same time. The similarity is breathtaking and scary. I could not believe it myself.

So then it gets down to you playing it now.

Thanks all, should have been clearer. The Boutique synths as Mr S (not going to try that name) says are digital emulations of old hardware synths. They are rather small units dedicated to the one task and have a control panel reminiscent of the originals. The JU-06 was particularly good in terms of that - I felt immediately at home with it.

They use the same tech as the System 8 (Roland's modelling technology) but are almost like single 'plug-out' synths with a dedicated hardware controller.

Having said that - my comments were rather less on the Boutique series and rather more on discovering the JX-03, I never found this one in the 80s and regret that. Having said that, I now find that the original synth was more of a player and required an add-on box to program it with any seriousness (if you didn't want to wade through a mire of LCD menus).

As an owner in the 80s of a CZ5000 (fantastic synth by the way) - I wouldn't with that on anybody

Oh an in the words of a previous poster - I sold my Juno 106 in 1994 for next to nothing to get married!!! Do I regret it? Well I'm still married which is cool - but I sure regret selling that synth!



Now if Casio would produce a 'boutique' version of the CZ series I'd be in on that - still prefer them to the DX7 I had at the time.

I realise 'dems fighting words' but I prefer the CZ to the DX - it just worked better for me

Cheers,
Jason.

Funkybot wroteOn the other end of the Roland spectrum, I picked up a System-8 back in October or November, and I love it! .

Oooh - very jealous! I looked at this but can't quite afford atm - I also looked at the Aira System 1 bit I'm kind of fed up with the Roland 4 voice poly on all these units. Not quite sure where that limitation comes from. And all that green is cool

Anyway - my son is showing some interest (finally at 14) in music but doesn't want to do 'composition'. He and his friends do 'beatz'. So I'm spending my hard-earned pennies on a Maschine Studio in the hope that he'll finally get involved in the music.

Be interested to find how many other parents have kids that are totally blase about making music with all the gear in the house - I would have loved it as a kid. His friends love coming over and a few have done some recording with me but my son has not been the slightest bit interested.

Familiarity breeds contempt?

Cheers,
Jason.

jwilden wroteAnyway - my son is showing some interest (finally at 14) in music but doesn't want to do 'composition'. He and his friends do 'beatz'. So I'm spending my hard-earned pennies on a Maschine Studio in the hope that he'll finally get involved in the music.

Hey, if he doesn't use it, you always can!

Funkybot wrote

jwilden wroteAnyway - my son is showing some interest (finally at 14) in music but doesn't want to do 'composition'. He and his friends do 'beatz'. So I'm spending my hard-earned pennies on a Maschine Studio in the hope that he'll finally get involved in the music.

Hey, if he doesn't use it, you always can!

You aint kidding!! I love pressing coloured pads instead of boring black and white keys - seriously - I'd love to play with it