Raymond Hayer

The Roland JX-8P is a classic vintage synthesizer. Manufactured between 1984-85, it was Roland's early hybrid digital/analog synth with analog (digitally controlled) oscillators, analog filter, software envelopes and the classic Roland chorus. It was made famous by many bands of the 80s, and prominent in several songs - eg the lead brass synth in Europe's "Final Countdown" (doubled with a Yamaha DX-7). The JX-8P has a flexible synth engine with 2 DCOs, 2 Envelopes, Cross Modulation/Osc sync and LFO modulation options. It unfortunately lacks PWM and the envelopes are not the snappiest. That said, it makes the most stunning warm, evolving analog pads of any synth I know, when using the chorus. Nothing else comes as close for lush chorused strings and pads.