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Average rating:
4.4 out of 5
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worth every penny, a great synth for around 200 bucks. This will never be my lead synth, or by far a workhorse, but that filter cranks out some killer bass. Not too hard to learn how to program the Juno (get the PG-300 is you are lazy, or have an extra 200 to throw down), and programming is a must, as few of the presets explore the depth this synth has. I have made a range of unique tones, and the Juno has never disappointed me. A keyboard that doesn't sense velocity loses marks for the Juno, but the only place mine is going is to the gig...
Run it through effects for more synth madness!
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The Roland Alpha-Juno-1, eh? It's a cute piece because it's light and compact, but don't let that fool you. I saw one in a pawn shop and smiled and said "awww..", but then I plugged it in and I was surprised, it can kick out a lot of good sounds, strings are suprisingly lush and full, lead sounds aren't bad, the envelopes are nice and programmable with the alpha-dial, which includes pitch and filter envelopes if I'm not mistaken, it also has portamento, it sounds great, analog and all, but for some reason it can begin to feel static and not too flexible once you get past the presets, maybe I need to spend more time on programming, but all in all, an EXCELLENT little tool to have if you can find one for $200 or less, just don't plan on making it your center-stage synth.....
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This is a *classic* synth. It's the defining synth of gabber and hardcore. In europe (especially Holland) they have to pay quite a bit more for these than you do here in the US, because of the popularity of the sound. Although it's single timber, and not quite as fat as some analogs, it is *definitely* worth the money! You can pick one up for less than $200 if you look hard enough. Go get one, now! =D
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The alpha Juno I think really took the Juno series in a very different direction than what the 106 and 60 had promoted. In the overall, what came out was a synth that sounded....."more digital" (for lack of a better term), lacked on board controls for editing, threw on a new ever so nice 4 stage envelope, and kicked in a bit more control over the chorus effect. I don't feel right at all in comparing the alpha series to the Juno 106 or 60 (it really sounds totally different IMO), so I am not going to try to do so.
It's quite easy to squeeze out ever so lush pads, pipey organs, and even great basses with the alpha. It's ability to aid in creating ever so interesting general noises is also high. What really holds this synth back is the lack of on board sliders that it's predecessors had. This can be overcome through use of an editor, or more preferably the PG-300, but the problem is that the PG-300 can be hard to obtain and computer editors can become a major hastle when working in the live enviroment (or even completely factored out if you don't bring a computer with you live [which I typically dont]). Other than the lack of control problem though, great synth for the money if you can find it for $300 or less.
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I got mine cheap (<$200) and I have to say I'm mighty pleased. I do most of my music on the computer w/ software synths, etc, but this definitely satisfies my urge for a "real" synth; nice to layer sounds using it as a synth and as an input to my soft synths. It makes the classic analog sounds; should also mention that it has some wonderfully moody string sounds (esp. the cello preset) and some classic organ sounds for that 60s feel. I still don't quite have the hang of creating sounds from scratch -- the interface is a little cumbersome, as you've probably gathered by now -- but it is very easy to modify sounds on the fly with the aid of your spinning alpha wheel. Sure, I'd like more twiddly knobs. But if this had twiddly knobs like those other Rolands we all salivate over I never would have been able to get it so cheap ...
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