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Roland Alpha Juno-1

$385.00 Price Tier: Budget

4.5 (28)

1 Critic Review

10 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Roland Alpha Juno-1

4 community setups

14 wishlisted

77 saved

Page last updated Jun 10, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 10, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (8)

$385.00 18 available Used

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Average Price: $385

Budget/Beginner

$500

$1501+

Price Tier

In the Synthesizers category, Roland Alpha Juno-1 is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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High-end

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Description

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Behold the Roland Alpha Juno-1, an analog polyphonic marvel hailing from the golden age of synths, 1985 to 1988. Known for its distinctive blend of digitally controlled oscillators and analog filters, this synthesizer is a staple for those seeking that authentic vintage sound. The Alpha Juno 1's versatility is enhanced by the inclusion of the notable Alpha Dial, a single control that commands multiple parameters, offering a seamless user experience. Furthermore, the MIDI In, Out, and Thru capabilities ensure connectivity and integration with a variety of music gear.

Key Features:

Analog polyphonic synthesizer
Digitally controlled oscillators combined with analog filters
Alpha Dial controls multiple parameters
MIDI In, Out, and Thru functionality
Produced between 1985 and 1988

Product specs

Brand	Roland
Model	Alpha Juno-1 49-Key Programmable Polyphonic Synthesizer
Finish	Black
Year	1985 - 1988
Made In	Japan
Categories	Analog Synths, Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital	Analog
Key Size	Full Size
Keyboard Action	Synth Action
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Number of Keys	49 Keys
Polyphony	6 Voices

FAQs

Is the Roland Alpha Juno-1 a polyphonic synthesizer?: Yes, the Roland Alpha Juno-1 is a polyphonic synthesizer with 6 voices, allowing you to play multiple notes simultaneously.
What type of waveforms does the Roland Alpha Juno-1 offer?: The Roland Alpha Juno-1 features saw, pulse, and square waveforms with pulse width modulation (PWM) and a sub-oscillator for creating diverse sounds.
Does the Roland Alpha Juno-1 have MIDI capabilities?: Yes, the Roland Alpha Juno-1 includes MIDI Input, Output, and Through, making it compatible with other MIDI-enabled devices for expanded control and integration.
What kind of filter does the Roland Alpha Juno-1 use?: The Roland Alpha Juno-1 utilizes a high-pass and resonant low-pass filter, allowing for detailed shaping of the sound.
How many keys does the Roland Alpha Juno-1 have?: The Roland Alpha Juno-1 is equipped with a 49-key full-size keyboard, providing a comfortable playing experience for musicians.

Videos

Add video

AnalogAudio1

ROLAND ALPHA JUNO-1 Analog Synth 1985 | DEMO

AnalogAudio1

ROLAND ALPHA JUNO 1 / ALPHA JUNO 2 | New Custom Patches | Analog Synthesizer | HD DEMO

AnalogAudio1

Synth Stuff Ep. 34 - Roland Alpha Juno-1

tritonrecordings

Roland Alpha Juno 1

tblv9300

Roland Alpha Juno 1 Retro Synth Tour

LEK Productions

The Roland Alpha Juno-1 Analog Synthesizer - 3 Old Tech Dudes

3 Old Tech Dudes

Reviews

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PROS

Affordable entry to the 80s Roland poly analog sound
Compact 49-key form factor ideal for gigging
Versatile: from bass, pads, to bell-like tones
Distinctive Juno sound at a fraction of the cost of Juno 60/106
Durable build, potentially lasting 50+ years
Unique sound range from goblin drag races to angelic choirs
More waveforms for oscillators than other Junos
Separate LFOs for pitch modulation, chorus rate, and PWM
MIDI capable for modern studio integration
Supports external programmers for in-depth sound exploration

CONS

Menu diving required for sound editing
Lacks the hands-on control of models with more knobs and sliders
Factory presets underwhelming; customization necessary for full potential
User interface not ideal; external apps or hardware recommended for ease of use
Limited to 6 voices of polyphony
Does not have a second oscillator
Roland filter doesn't self-oscillate
Envelope can't be assigned to pulse width

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland Alpha Juno-1.

Comparisons

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The Alpha Juno 1 is structurally similar to the Juno 6 and 106 but offers additional waveforms and a variable rate chorus, albeit with a less intuitive interface.
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The MKS-50 has a slightly different patch system with tones and patches, but sound differences with Alpha Juno are negligible in practical use.
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Users suggest considering the Behringer Deepmind 12 or Ensoniq ESQ-1 for greater functionality and ease of use in a similar price range.
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Some owners recommend the Yamaha Reface CS for its Juno-style interface, built-in effects, and looper, offering a modern alternative with a similar vibe.
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Build quality

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The Alpha Juno is lightweight, making it suitable for gigging, and allows for creating large stabs with minimal effort.
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The Alpha Juno 1's design includes digitally clocked oscillators (NCOs), maintaining pitch stability, distinguishing it from fully analog oscillators.
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Use cases and applications

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Ideal for bass, massive leads, and pads, though limited in creating weird noises due to its non-self-oscillating filter.
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It's noted that the Alpha Juno 1 excels with chorus, delay, and reverb effects, especially enhancing its use for monophonic leads over polyphonic strings/pads.
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Features and functionality

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The Alpha Juno can mix square, saw, sub, and noise waves simultaneously, with saw wave pulse width modulation enhancing its sound diversity.
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The Alpha Juno 1 is noted for its liquidy filter, although it does not self-oscillate, which some users find limiting compared to other synths.
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The Alpha Juno 1 lacks velocity sensitivity and aftertouch, which some users mention as a downside compared to other synths like the Alpha Juno 2.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners recommend replacing the battery and installing a tab battery holder to prevent patch loss during storage.
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Value and pricing

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Owners report the Alpha Juno 1 as a budget-friendly alternative to more expensive Juno models, with one user acquiring it for $175, significantly below the average.
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Many owners suggest $300-$350 as a fair price for the Alpha Juno 1, noting that $500 is high unless specific value adds like recent servicing are included.
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User experience

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Owners find programming on the Alpha Juno 1 tedious without an external programmer, despite the relatively simple interface compared to other vintage synths.
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Software and compatibility

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A freeware Alpha Juno Controller is available with randomization features, enhancing MIDI controller use and simplifying sysex message transmission.
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Mods and upgrades

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The Retroaktiv MPG50 and Stereoping MIDI controllers are recommended to improve programming ease without deep menu diving.
Source

Critic Reviews

Roland Alpha Juno 1 & 2

soundonsound.com

The Roland Alpha Juno-1, while solidly built and affordable, missed the mark due to its lack of extreme filter resonance and self-oscillation, making some classic Juno sounds unattainable. Despite an array of features like touch-sensitivity and a wide variety of sounds, it struggled to impress a market leaning towards digital synths at the time. The Alpha Juno-1 is praised for its warm, analogue tones and affordability in today's market, but its limitations and lack of star endorsement kept it from becoming a classic. A decent choice for those seeking unique analogue sounds without the hype.

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Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 10 Reviews and 28 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

jacob_gann

over 4 years ago

Amazing sound.

Great analog poly synth from the 80's. Having a programmer is a must as it allows you to really explore what this synth has to offer. I recommend the Retroaktiv MPG50. Even without the programmer though it is a great synth. You can actually adjust the chorus rate and depth unlike the other Junos. It has many more waveforms for the oscillators to choose from. It's a very underrated synth. I'm sure as time goes on the prices for this will sky rocket. Grab one while you can.

synthesizersrule

over 3 years ago

Underrated Analog

Very versatile synth that people over look due to the lack of knobs. The presets don't do the synth justice. I recommend the Retroaktiv MPG50 for making your own presets. The chorus sounds awesome. It's great for bass, pads, PWM sounds, as well as bell like tones.

redvoid

204

over 7 years ago

Amazing analog sound. Underrated synth. Too bad you need the PG-300 to program it properly

This thing goes from rubbery 303, 202 and 101 like acid, to lush fuzzy Juno-106 like pads. Fortunately I do have a PG-300 programmer or I would have never been able to intuitively create so many amazing sounds. Don't listen to any of the presets other than the Dominator hoover sound, but init every patch that doesn't knock your socks off (most of the factory patches are horrid) and do some real analogue synthesis yourself and you will not be disappointed

traumaad

284

over 6 years ago

If im looking to make a FMish 80s style bass, or make lush strings, brass or pads with that more RETRO vibe, i lean on this.

jimmarchi1

40997

6 years ago over 6 years ago

I have the rack version mks50... it was my first poly in the 90s. I would never get rig of it even though I lean on it less and less every year.

atetraxx

146

3 years ago almost 3 years ago

But the alpha juno doesnt have any FM 80s bass sounds on it. Its not an FM synth... its fully analog.

compucat

233

almost 9 years ago

It's a Juno. What more can I say?

Love the sounds I get from this baby-I use it all the time for most of my synth sound needs. It's nice that the LFOs for pitch modulation, chorus rate, and PWM are all separate from each other (unlike other Junos), but I wish you could assign the envelope to pulse width. Beautiful Roland filter, even if it doesn't self-oscillate.

jayce_canale

over 10 years ago

Awesome vintage/analog hardware

Awesome, vintage, and analog synth. Great for pads and fatty basses. MIDI capable. The only draw back I have found so far is the user-interface, editing parameters with that dial is tolerable but not ideal. Fortunately, there are numerous apps for mobile devices that you can download and use to program patches and tweak parameters on the fly.

andrecastro

about 12 years ago

Affordable synth with classic Roland sound and rewarding editing

Remarkable little synth a (still) affordable way to get that "Roland sound" we love so much. Sound editing is not as straight forward as on a 106, but it pays off to put the time in. I bought mine at a pawn shop for next to nothing. Works a treat!

cfeijao

367

over 7 years ago

Analógico da Roland de 1985/86

Apesar de limitado é um analógico interessante, capaz de fazer ótimos sons de baixo por exemplo.

quincas_moreira

over 10 years ago

Sleek analog classic polysynth

The AJ1 is a classic. 6 voicesof delicious analog sound in a small package. It lacks hands on controls, but if you have an ipad or a behringer bcr2000 it's an easy problem to fix. Wish it had a second oscillator, but for what it is it kicks butt.