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Speaking as someone who used to own both a JD-800 and JD-990, but only the JD-990 now, I disagree with a few points made in the last post.
The reason the JD-990 does not spit out data as the panel is tweaked is that it was never designed to be used this way! Consider however that the JD-990 has a means by which MIDI CC controllers can be assigned to parameters in the mod matrix, making external tweaking/automation via a MIDI knob/slider box, or function in a sequencer a snap...something the JD-800 sorely lacks. Yes, the JD-800 can be automated via the sysex it spits out, but the amount of MIDI generated is hardly insignificant. The JD-990 method is much more elegant in this regard, and compatible with any device that can generate MIDI CC.
As it regards ROM presets, that is legion among devices of its era, and devices before and after, and can hardly be considered an issue given the availability to send and receive sysex dumps to a computer or other devices.
Also, the statement about the extra sounds available via the Vintage board is simply incorrect. When the Vintage board is installed in the JD-990, you have access to the JV bank and the exclusive JD bank, and they are indeed different. While the JD bank has many presets that are similar to those in the JV bank, they are more complex in terms of programming, and have a richer overall sound. That said, there are also patches in the JD bank that have no equivalent in the JV bank.
As it concerns the comment about the patch cards, I have to question the wisdom of avoiding a piece of gear because it is more flexible and has more options, regardless of the potential cost of exercising them!
Also, it is entirely possible to load JD-800 sounds into the JD-990.
To the comment that the JD-990 can only dump patch data, I do not know what to say, perhaps because I do not understand the comment. The JD-990 has a sysex implementation that allows it to send and receive all manner of its internal architecture via a remote editor or the like.
I do agree that the extra internal waves for the JD-990 are not all that as compared to the JD-800, but that said, they do include a lovely strings wave and a few others, and I welcome them...I simply do not use the more ROMplery waves in the unit.
Also, as it regards the lack of drums on the Vintage board, I say that was a most-excellent decision on Roland's part! No ROM space wasted on drums...just an ace collection of synth waves, to enhance what the JD-990 is at heart...one of the best PCM-based synths Roland has ever made.
Consider these advantages of the JD-990 over the JD-800:
expanded wave ROM (6MB vs. 4MB)
ability to use a 8MB expansion board
4 additional outs
improved DACs
true stereo engine
osc sync
cross-mod (FXM)
osc structures that allow ring mod and serial dual filters
additional LFO waveforms
MIDI CC control of parameters
tempo-sync delay
polyphonic portamento
performance memories
additional multi-timbral slots
1 patch can keep full effects in multi mode
That is no small list of advantages in terms of sound or performance features!
While the purpose of my post was not to knock the JD-800 at all (it is a fine synth for what it is), with all due respect, I could not let stand some of the misinformation presented in the last post.
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