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JD-800 - Image 1

JD-800

KeyboardDigitalPolyphonic

Back in 1991, this synth arrived as Roland's bold rebellion against cryptic menus, blanketing its panel with 61 sliders for instant, tactile access to every parameter—like a digital homage to analog hands-on bliss.

At its core sits a PCM sound source with 108 waveforms, letting you layer up to four tones per patch, each with its own digital oscillator, multimode resonant filter (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass), three-stage envelopes for pitch, filter, and amp, plus dual LFOs offering shapes from triangle to sample-and-hold. The 61-key semi-weighted keyboard responds to velocity and channel aftertouch, fueling 24-voice polyphony across five parts plus a special drum part in multi-mode. Effects shine with seven options like chorus, delay, phaser, distortion, and reverb, chainable in single mode or shared in multi; dedicated knobs handle master tune, transpose, and a three-band EQ, while rear-panel stereo mix/direct outs, headphones, MIDI I/O, and pedal jacks keep connections versatile. Its sturdy build measures 1040 x 424 x 118 mm and weighs 15 kg, making it a desktop powerhouse.

Players have long cherished its vast sound palette—from ethereal pads to punchy leads—and that slider heaven for real-time tweaks, though some note the fixed effects limit extreme processing. It's a vintage gem that still inspires in modern rigs.

Released

1991

Status

Discontinued

Synthesizer
Format
Keyboard
Type
PCM, Sample-based, Subtractive
Internal Battery
No
Voice
A/D
Digital
Polyphony
Polyphonic
Oscillators
-
Oscillator Type
Sample-based
Voices
24
Filter
Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Multimode
Envelopes
-
LFO
2
Effects
3 Band EQ, Distortion, Phaser, Spectrum, Enhancer, Chorus, Delay, Reverb
Expression
Aftertouch
Monophonic
Velocity
Yes
MPE
No
Additional
-
Software
-
I/O
Audio In
-
Audio Out
2x RCA (Mix Out L/R), 2x RCA (Direct Out L/R)
Headphone
1x 1/4" Stereo
MIDI
In, Out, Thru
MIDI Type
DIN (5-pin)
Ports
Expression Pedal, Sustain Pedal
Wi-Fi
No
Workflow
Arpeggiator
No
Sequencer
No
Mod Matrix
-
Memory
-
Measurements
Dimensions
1040 x 424 x 118 mm
Weight
-
Last updated Mar 21, 2026