Roland has announced the latest addition to the Legendary series of software-based Roland instruments available through Roland Cloud.
In early 2021 — 30 years after the debut of the original JD-800 hardware synth — Roland introduced the JD-800 Model Expansion for the ZENOLOGY software synthesizer and select ZEN-CORE hardware instruments. Now, the anniversary celebration continues with the release of this iconic digital instrument as a dedicated DAW plugin. The JD-800 Software Synthesizer delivers a virtual recreation of the original’s unique sound and inviting control-laden interface, along with a host of new features and enhancements for today’s music producers.
The plugin includes the formidable multistage effects section of the original, recreated and enhanced with an expanded view for real-time tweaking. Housed in a a hyper-realistic, resizable interface, JD-800 Software Synthesizer comes with 64 presets from the original, alongside 64 newly created sounds.
In the early 1990s, preset-driven digital synths with limited hands-on controls dominated the landscape. The JD-800 changed all that in 1991, bringing the synthesizer world back to its roots with a massive control-filled panel and an unapologetically electronic sound palette. An instant hit among the world’s top keyboard players, this innovative instrument found its way onto classic albums and numerous film and television scores, and it remains highly sought after to this day.
The JD-800 Software Synthesizer is painstakingly crafted to sound and behave exactly like the original hardware. Rather than simply combining a bunch of JD-800 samples, Roland used the original waveform data along with advanced modeling techniques to perfectly recreate the big, bright, spacious sound that only the JD-800 can deliver.
JD-800 Software Synthesizer features
- Authentic sound and behavior with advanced modeling and original JD-800 waveforms.
- 64 presets from the original JD-800, plus 64 new presets crafted by top sound designers.
- Detailed recreation of the JD-800’s two-stage multi-effects section with drag and drop reordering.
- Seven effects including chorus, phaser, enhancer, distortion, spectrum, delay, and reverb.
- Detailed, realistic interface that’s resizable and includes alternate views.
- Expanded polyphony versus the original hardware.
- VST3, AAX, and AU with support for Apple silicon.
The JD-800 Software Synthesizer is available with the Ultimate membership level of Roland Cloud. All paid levels — including Core and Pro — start with a free 30-day trial of Ultimate, allowing users to try out the JD-800 and all Ultimate features.
In addition, any Roland Account holder can purchase Lifetime Keys for individual Legendary series titles. This provides unlimited access for as long as their account is active, even if they don’t have a Roland Cloud membership.
More information: Roland