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Average Price: $350
Standard/Professional
$200
$801+
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Description
Introducing the Roland Super JV-1080, a compact yet powerful sound module that revolutionizes your musical creations. It is the rack version of the acclaimed Roland JV-90, boasting an impressive 64-voice polyphony and a 16-part multitimbral capability, all driven by a rapid 32-bit RISC chip CPU. Its expandability is second to none, reaching up to a whopping 42Mbytes, allowing for a plethora of sound options. With an array of expansion boards, you can dive into thousands of patches that cover a diverse range of genres, from pop to orchestra to vintage synth. Built-in chorus and reverb are just the tip of the iceberg. The JV-1080 also comes equipped with a rich library of built-in effects such as rotary, auto-wah, delay, and more, making it a new standard in high-powered synth modules and an essential tool for both features and user-friendly functionality.
Key Features:
- 64-voice polyphony
- 16-part multitimbral capability
- Fast 32-bit RISC chip CPU
- Expandability up to 42Mbytes
- Wide range of patches from expansion boards
- Built-in chorus and reverb
- Diverse library of built-in effects
Product specs
| Brand | Roland |
| Model | JV-1080 64-Voice Synthesizer Module |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1994 - 2001 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Digital Synthesizers, Rackmount Synths |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Polyphony | 64 Voices |
FAQs
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What kind of sounds can I expect from the Roland JV-1080?
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The Roland JV-1080 is renowned for its wide range of sounds, offering 448 sample waveforms that cover everything from lush pads and orchestral strings to punchy basses and complex synth textures, making it versatile for various music genres.
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Is the Roland JV-1080 compatible with modern MIDI setups?
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Yes, the Roland JV-1080 features standard MIDI In, Out, and Thru ports, allowing it to integrate smoothly with modern MIDI setups and controllers.
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How many voices of polyphony does the Roland JV-1080 have?
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The Roland JV-1080 provides 64 voices of polyphony, enabling complex arrangements and layered sounds without voice-stealing.
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Can the Roland JV-1080 be expanded with additional sounds?
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Yes, the JV-1080 can be expanded with SR-JV80 series expansion boards, allowing users to add more sounds and increase its sonic palette.
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Is the Roland JV-1080 suitable for live performances?
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The Roland JV-1080 is well-suited for live performances due to its robust build, reliable MIDI integration, and diverse sound capabilities, making it a staple in many live setups.
Videos
KenMusic
Roland Super JV 1080 (Synthesizer Module)
Reviews
PROS
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* Highly expandable with expansion cards
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* Iconic 90s sounds, warm and authentic
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* High polyphony (64 voices) and multitimbral (16 parts)
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* Durable and reliable hardware
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* Deep sound design possible with complex architecture
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* Versatile, with a wide range of presets and soundsets available
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* Compatible with SR-JV80 Cards for added sounds
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* Good price-performance ratio
CONS
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* Complex programming, not user-friendly
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* Outdated effects, though bypassable for external processing
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* Limited realtime control options
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* Small display for navigation
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* Only one bank for user presets without overwriting factory presets
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* Filter quality considered lacking
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland Super JV-1080.
Value and pricing
Use cases and applications
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The JV-1080's presets are noted for their nostalgic sound quality, appealing to those interested in 90s music production.
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Mods and upgrades
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Roland part number 13289196 is mentioned for encoder repairs, while 22495205 covers INC/DEC button replacements.
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Owners mention that blank expansion cards can be purchased to burn custom sound ROMs, though legality may be a concern.
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A WiFi programmable JV expansion card allows for easy ROM uploads without removing the card, expanding sound possibilities.
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Build quality
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Roland's JV-1080 uses a unique encoder that can't be replaced with standard parts, impacting long-term maintenance options.
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Features and functionality
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The JV-1080 functions as a complete synthesizer with rich internal waveforms, offering substantial creative possibilities without expansion cards.
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The JV-1080's ability to cut through mixes without being harsh makes it ideal for 90s music, both electronic and rock/pop.
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The JV-1010 is a compact alternative with JV-1080 presets and a built-in Session board, but has limited expansion slots and synchronization options.
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Setup and maintenance
Other
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The JV-1080 is recognized for its compact design, making it a space-saving option for those with limited room for keyboards.
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User experience
Software and compatibility
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Roland Cloud VSTs can be CPU intensive; trial use recommended before committing to ensure compatibility with your system.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 13 Reviews and 91 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
I got a few new keyboards. All i had last time was a Roland Juno 106 and a Sequential Circuits Pro One.
I fell in love with those naff' 90's sounding keyboards. I've got a Roland JV1080 synth module that you can plug a midi keyboard into
According to Boss' diagram, Malmsteen uses (or at least used) the Roland JV-1080 synth.
Around the 2:00 minute mark of this video, George Daniel speaks about using the JV-1080 for recording the 1975's new album Being Funny in a Foreign Language
In the YouTube video by Produce Like A Pro, Junkie XL (Tom Holkenborg) is shown using the Roland Super JV-1080 sound module.
"There are more rackmount synths and sound sources next to the guitars on the left, including an Oberheim Matrix 1000, Novation Drumstation, Roland MKS70 and JV1080, with a Focusrite ISA430 channel strip"
A lot of JV on Britney's albums. Also on Backstreet boys. He used to layer the sounds onboard and make custom ones. The piano in Baby One More Time is an example of layering. Also he used the SR-JV80 Techno Collection quite often during the making of those songs.
According to this Keyboard magazine interview from August 1995, Steve Porcaro used the Roland JV-1080 on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album.
In this interview with Sound on Sound:
Harry Gregson-Williams's LA studio complex, Wavecrest Music, commenced operations in Venice Beach in August 2003, and comprises three floors of editing suites, mix rooms and a live room, as well as Harry's own studio on the top level. This houses the following gear:
Sequencing and digital audio
*Steinberg Cubase SX and Ableton Live running on dual 3.6GHz Xeon server with 4GB RAM, two RME HD*SP 9652 soundcards, 75GB mirrored SATA system drives and 400GB mirrored SATA audio/sample storage drives. MIDI is streamed over LAN to Gigastudio PCs, and an Emagic Unitor 8 and AMT8 are used for hardware synths. *Pro Tools HD Accel system running on dual 2GHz Apple G5, with one 192 Analog and seven 192 Digital interfaces.
Samplers
*14x Emu E4X. *24x Roland S760. *7x 3.0GHz Pentium 4 PCs with 80GB SATA system drives, RME HDSP 9652 soundcards and 250GB SATA sound drives with custom and commercial sound libraries, running Tascam Gigastudio 3.
Software synths and plug-ins
*Arturia ARP 2600, Minimoog V and CS80. *Antares Filter and Auto-Tune. *Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard. *Gmedia Imposcar and Oddity. *GRM Tools. *Korg Legacy Collection. *Native Instruments Absynth 3, Battery 2, FM7, Kontakt 2, Pro 53, Reaktor 4. *Ohm Force Ohm Boyz. *Spectrasonics Stylus RMX, Atmosphere and Trilogy. *Steinberg D'Cota, X-Phraze, Virtual Guitarist, VG Electric Edition, Groove Agent and Halion.
Hardware synths
*Access Virus, Indigo 2 and Redback. *Clavia Nord Rack, Nord 3 KB and Nord Modular. *Korg Trinity Pro X, Wavestation A/D and M1R. *Novation Supernova II Pro. *Roland JP8080, JD990, JV1080 and MKS80. *Studio Electronics SE1, ATC1 and Omega 8. *Waldorf Q, Microwave II, Microwave XT and Pulse.
Recording, mixing & outboard
*Avalon 727 preamp. *Eventide DSP4000 effects. *Lexicon PCM80 and 90 reverbs. *Quested HQ108 speakers in 5.1 setup. *5x Yamaha 02R digital mixers.
In this Reddit AMA, George mentions using a Roland JV1080 on his album Slide.
"lots of jv1080 on dumb and some other tracks."
"satin sheets really got me into the jv1080."
A Nord 3 rack unit shares rack space with a PreSonus Firepod FireWire audio interface, MOTU Express 128 MIDI interface, Shure P4M keyboard mixer, ART DTS II mic preamp, Roland JV-1080 synth, QSC amp, Juice Goose power conditioner, APC uninterruptible power supply and a Muse Receptor.
Album Usage
The Roland Super JV-1080 has been featured on the following albums:
The Very Day
Steve Porcaro (2025)
Baby One More Time (Arr. for Piano by Björn Gottschall)
Max Martin (2023)
Being Funny In A Foreign Language
The 1975 (2022)
Careful
Boy Harsher (2019)
Slide
George Clanton (2018)
Concerto pour un été (Version 80) / En flânant - Single
Alain Morisod (2015)
Sol Invictus
Faith No More (2015)
Fêtes des Vignerons: Les plus belles mélodies
Alain Morisod (2011)
Modus Operandi
Photek (1997)
Universal
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1996)
Older
George Michael (1996)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland Super JV-1080, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation3 alternative and related items for Roland Super JV-1080, curated by the Equipboard community.
It has a comparable sample based sound engine, consisting of up to 4 waveforms. It sounds more lo-fi then the JV-1080 however and the rack-version does not have effects. The keyboard version has.
$199.99
The Roland JV-1010 is a cheaper version of the JV-1080 that still features the same synthesising capabilities.
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