Bad Gear - Roland's Microkorg

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Bad Gear - Roland's Microkorg

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Before Roland was turned into a lifestyle brand our favorite synth manufacturer released instruments that had a profound impact on music history.

At the top of this pantheon sits the iconic Jupiter-8, a massive analog synth keyboard sent down to earth in 1981. Today we are going to talk about Jupiter-Xm and it goes without saying that Roland would treat its majestic legacy with utmost respect - just kidding, it’s digital, there’s plenty of menu diving and - of course - minikeys worthy of a Microkorg.

Roland Jupiter-Xm
Roland Jupiter-X

Thanks to Klangfarbe for lending me one of their floor models:

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:55 Overview Roland Jupiter Xm
02:00 Classic Synth Engines ( Roland Juno-106 , Roland JX-8P , Roland SH-101 ,...)
02:38 Piano Sound , Vocoder , Jupiter X
03:03 Drum Sounds
03:07 Scenes
03:21 Synth Structure (that I have yet to fully understand)
03:52 Filter Section
04:04 Assignable Controls
04:14 I - Arpeggiator
04:36 Step Sequencer
04:47 FX Section
04:52 What else? (Connectivity, Pricing, Thanks)
05:22 Hate
05:43 Jam 1 ( Groovebox Techno )
06:36 Jam 2 ( Elektro )
07:40 Finale ( Melodic TechHouse )
08:10 Verdict

[enochroot]

Good to see you escaped the Teenage Engineering Time bandits trap they set for you earlier in the week Florian...another weekly episode to enjoy to start the weekend on the right or maybe wrong note

[PostingCringeOnMain]

as with so many things Roland, you nearly had me up until the sharp reminder that "this thing goes for the price of three MicoKorgs" at which point Roland salesman slaps roof of synth and says "this bad boy can fit so much of your salary in it"

[iancain]

Your on demand aranging is insane bro. Every time i watch you perform im like "sure i can do Nope hes on a different level"

[vjreimedia]

"Lifestyle brand". It would take me over a year to do a video with the complexity of yours, and you do them every week! For real, I do not know any other channel that can maintain this level of screenplay every week. And then the production level. I have no clue how you do it.

[deepechoslntwntr]

That minecraft Slamacow animation is a very welcome blast from the past. Great vid as always.

[TobyBorrow]

I never knew it existed and I’m indifferent to it existence. Why does Roland keep doing this 🎉

[hermask]

I like how Mr. Pilz uses the screen of the device for announcements like his name or “subscribe”.

[shobley]

"Hyasynth" - well played sir... I spat out my Roland energy drink* at that one.

*It's a lifestyle brand.

[Studio_to]

The highlight of the whole humanity on our collective Friday evening.
And what a review.
Roland’s shareholders are watching.

[darwiniandude]

Minor correction: USB midi IS class compliant if you change the setting to ‘generic’ rather than ‘vendor’ in settings. USB Audio does however require drivers sadly, but that’s because it’s got loads of stereo output pairs running over USB. I love my Xm, it’s not without its flaws but it covers so much sonic ground while covering so little physical ground. It has Bluetooth midi and also works as a Bluetooth speaker, so it’s a great for mobile settings. Mind came bundled with a free Roland carry bag which has shoulder straps, can literally cycle off into the sunset with this on my back. Anyway, enjoyed this one, thanks :)

[michaelkeefer]

In my humble opinion, if it is made out of plastic and contains mini keys, then it should be priced like it's made out of plastic and has mini keys, no matter how good it sounds, its features or versatility. I just can't wrap my head around paying four figures for something that is constructed like a toy.

As usual though, I love your creativity and sense of humor! Great video and great jams!

[spazdal]

"Before Roland was turned into a lifestyle brand"

I got an ad for new balance 808 shoes below the video lol.

[robomalo]

I got my full-sized Jupiter X about 4 years ago, which means I am on track to figuring out the menu system around fall of 2028.

[andrewstanworth]

I actually liked most of those sounds! My inner Roland fanboy is bloody insatiable.
Crackin' episode again!

[RaverOperatorGeeza]

Florian: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE show the memes for longer! I'm constantly having to pause to read them as they are so short and spoils the flow of watching/listening to your excellent videos 😭

[AutisticYui]

Had my JupiterXM for about a year now and have had this constant love hate battle with it. I'll go through periods where it's my favorite instrument I own and I'll get every mile out of it. With that said, just as often I'll go through phases where the menu structure and getting it to behave with my other devices makes me so angry I just don't even bother using it. GREAT sounds, horrific user-experience. The JPXM, a synth for people who don't own anything else.

[roland]

Here we go again. Friday sweet Friday.

[JoshuaNeedham]

I have yet to hear one of your jams that I didn't like. Gifted!

[marsupialmicron]

Hell I want so much that K. Schulze action figure!!

[Baboon-zf]

At some point, Roland began to see the musicians as Lilliputians.