Omnisphere 3 Hardware Guide

Roland JD-08

The Roland JD-08 is a modern recreation of the classic JD-800—one of the most popular synths from the ‘90s. The original JD-800 was designed with an old-school analog-style front panel, with dedicated sliders and controls for real-time control of all parameters at once, which makes it a longtime favorite of synth programmers. Roland’s translation into the Boutique format includes a sequencer and arpeggiator and is a welcome addition to the collection.

When using it with Omnisphere, although the controls are tiny, the JD-08 gives you independent control over the four layers in a Patch, including access to the 100+ original JD-800 waveforms, included in Omnisphere’s Core Soundsources. Instant 90s vibes in a small package!

Roland JD-08 Strengths:

  • Independent Layer Control
  • Soundsource Browsing
  • Classic JD-800 Vibe
  • USB-powered

Roland JD-08 Details:

Retail Price $479
Number of Keys Module
Keyboard Type Module
Size of Controls Module
Special Features Independent Layer Control
Soundsource Browsing
Classic JD-800 Vibe
Dimensions 11.81” × 5.06” × 1.93”
Weight 1.87 lbs
USB Powered Yes, also AA Batteries
Pitch Bender Yes
Mod Wheel Yes
Sends Aftertouch No
Sustain Pedal Input No (Hold Button)
Expression Pedal Input Yes
Ribbon No
Non-Functional Controls
Arpeggiator Yes
Sequencer Yes
MIDI Messages CC

Omnisphere Sections Controlled by the Roland JD-08:

Independent Layer Control Yes
Number of Oscillators 4
Number of Wavetables None
Number of Envelopes 12
Number of LFOs 8
Filter Types Jupiter LPF 2-pole
Jupiter HPF 2-pole
OB BPF 2-pole
FX Units None
Soundsources Yes
Mod Matrix No
FM No
Ring Mod No
Waveshaper No
Unison No
Harmonia No
Granular No
ORB No
Arpeggiator No

Ratings

Control of Omnisphere
Panel Layout
Ease of Use
Build Quality