Roland JD-990
Synthesizer
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The Roland JD-990 Super JD is an updated version of the Roland JD-800 synthesizer in the form of a module with expanded capabilities, which was released in 1993 by Roland Corporation. JD-990 is a multitimbral synthesizer utilising PCM sample-based synthesis technology.[1] In a sense it is not a true module version of a JD-800 as it has many expanded features and as a result the two are incompatible in exchanging presets. It is equipped with 6 MB of ROM containing sampled PCM waveforms, four sets of stereo outputs that are assignable to individual, internal, instruments, and standard MIDI in/out/through ports. JD-990 has a large LCD[2] and programming takes place through a keypad on the front panel of the unit. The unit can generate multi-timbral sounds reminiscent of the vintage analogue synthesizers but is also capable of generation of modern digital textures. There are several expansion boards available for JD-990 that can be installed in the provided expansion slot in the chassis of the unit.[3]
| JD-990 Super JD | |
|---|---|
 JD-990 | |
| Manufacturer | Roland |
| Dates | 1993-1996 |
| Price | United States: $2,195 United Kingdom: £1,445 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 24 voices |
| Timbrality | 7 + 1 Drum part |
| Oscillator | 6MB of PCM ROM with 195 waveforms (expandable to 16MB), 4 waveforms (tones) per patch |
| LFO | 2 per patch |
| Synthesis type | Digital Sample-based Subtractive |
| Filter | TVF (Time Variant Filter): Lowpass/bandpass/highpass-filters with resonance |
| Attenuator | TVA envelopes, TVF envelopes and pitch envelopes |
| Aftertouch expression | Yes |
| Velocity expression | Yes |
| Storage memory | 3 banks of 64 patches (expandable), 3 drum kits with 61 sounds |
| Effects | Chorus, Reverb, Delay, Phaser, Spectrum, Enhancer, Distortion and EQ |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | No |
| External control | MIDI |
Features
The JD-990 had the following[4] features which were not available on the JD-800:
- Expanded wave ROM (6 MB vs. 3 MB)
- Ability to use an 8 MB expansion board from the SR-JV80 series
- JV-80 patch import
- 4 additional outputs
- Individual panning of each tone in a patch
- Oscillator sync
- Frequency cross-modulation (FXM)
- Matrix Modulation
- Available Palette type editing of each parameter for four oscillators simultaneously
- Modulation of the same destination from multiple sources
- Available dual-oscillator synthesis Structures featuring ring modulation and/or serial dual filters (uses 2 polyphony)
- Additional LFO waveforms: sine, trapezoid and chaos
- MIDI CC control of parameters
- Tempo sync delay
- Polyphonic portamento
- Analog Feel. Adds a very subtle pitch modulation to the basic waveforms intended to recreate an analogue synth's 'drift'
- Performance Mode Multitimbral Parts increased to 7+1 (from 5+1)
- Performance Mode Multitimbral multiple memories (16 User/32 ROM/Optional 16 Memory Card)
- One patch can keep full effects in Multitimbral Performance Mode ("Part 1 Super Synthesizer")
Expandability
The JD-990 is compatible with the following:
- The SR-JV80 series of expansion boards. The SR-JV80-04 Vintage Synth board includes 255 patches programmed specially for the JD-990.
- The SL-JD80 series of waveform & patch cards released for the JD-800.
- The SO-PCM1 series of waveform cards.
- The JD9D series of patch cards developed specifically for the JD-990.
Factory Sounds
The Factory presets of the JD-990 were created by Eric Persing and Adrian Scott.
Notable users
The JD-990 has been used by artists such as Klaus Schulze,[5] Paul Shaffer,[6][7][8] Steve Duda,[9] Vangelis, The Prodigy, Apollo 440, ATB, and Mirwais.[3] Apollo 440 used the JD-990 for atmospheric sounds on the track "The Machine in the Ghost", on the album Gettin' High on Your Own Supply.[10] On the Faithless song "Insomnia", the pizzicato hook is from a JD-990, with added reverb.[11] Ronnie Martin from Joy Electric also used the JD-990 to synthesise every sound heard on the "We Are The Music Makers" album before moving onto more vintage synthesisers.