b3keys Posted August 30, 2008 Posted August 30, 2008 Went to Guitar Center today and they had the new Roland Juno Stage in stock. Here's my quick thoughts: 1. There are 256 patches of sounds and 256 user pathces, which were blank. The sounds are sounds found on the Fantom X series and some hark back to the JV-1080 days. As an aside, Roland really needs to update their patches. 2. The sounds sound a bit better on the Juno Stage than the X series, IMHO. Better converters, perhaps? 3. The Stage 88 and Juno Grand patches were nice piano patches that would sit well in a mix. I wouldn't want to play solo piano on them though. 4. A user only gets a few patches in a particular genre. For instance the Stage Phazer is the lone representative Rhodes patch and WurlyTrem is the lone Wurly sound. There are only a few organ sounds and a few strings sounds. I don't think I would find all the sounds I would need to play in a cover band with this soundset, which I thought was the advertising claim of this board. 5. The keys are a bit longer and more semi-weighted than that of the Juno G. They are even better than the keys on the Fantom G6 and G7, but not as good as the keys on the Fantom X6/X7. Feel a bit spongy, IMO. 6. Nice sleek design which harkens back to the Junos of the 80s. Very lightweight and a great display and interface. Pros: Great design, interface and layout. Some Great sounds - pianos, strings are particularly nice. Improved keybed - over the Juno G/Fantom G series, anyway. Lightweight, easily movable. Cons: Limited soundset - only a few available in each genre. Sounds are a bit dated. Many are from previous Roland models. No sequencer. Bottom line: a basic, entry-level synth. Not the ultimate stage synth, but worth considering if you don't want to play out with more high-end gear.
eric Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 Sounds like a bit of a snoozer, unfortunately. I'd like to see the same product in a higher price bracket, made to compete with some of the more pro options out there, e.g. Nord Stage, Kurz PC3.
delirium Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 5. The keys are a bit longer and more semi-weighted than that of the Juno G. They are even better than the keys on the Fantom G6 and G7, but not as good as the keys on the Fantom X6/X7. Feel a bit spongy, IMO. that's interesting, I liked already juno-g except the crappy keybed but if they improved it in stage it can be quite a nice keyboard for "light" gigs... ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
MusicWorkz Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 I gotta agree with Eric. If this is the first impression of the Stage, its a disappointment from Roland...again. Yamaha (Motif XS7, Motif 6, TX81Z), Korg (R3, Triton-R), Roland (XP-30, D-50, Juno 6, P-330). Novation A Station, Arturia Analog Experience Factory 32
Synthoid Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 There are 256 patches of sounds and 256 user pathces, which were blank. They sure don't give you much out of the box. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
delirium Posted August 31, 2008 Posted August 31, 2008 There are 256 patches of sounds and 256 user pathces, which were blank. They sure don't give you much out of the box. well, blank is not that bad, you can paint it with whatever you want... ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
b3keys Posted September 1, 2008 Author Posted September 1, 2008 I had posted my review on the Fantomized forum and was notified that there are over 1,027 patches on board. The board was set in GM mode and that was limiting the number of patches. I will go back to GC later in the week and check out the J-Stage again.
Moonglow Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 b3, Keep us apprised. Thanks. +1 ....and thanks to the OP for the initial, detailed review. I've been casually in the market for a new rompler, but don't need any sampling, sequencing, etc. So I'm resistant to parting with the big bucks for a Fantom G6/7 or Korg M3 just to get my hands on the killer tones. With 1027 patches, the Juno-G may just provide the array of tones needed to update my rompler soundset and a nice keyboard to compliment my Nord Stage, "retro" vibe included. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Bill H. Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 I'm looking over the waveforms for the first time this morning. OK it's called the Stage so let's see what we've got in bread and butter waves here... Pianos: The same sets as the Fantom G minus the main event... New York Piano. But they wouldn't put in their budget board. No surprises. But not what's in the Fantom X either, which would have been better than this. But that set is a lot of ROM. EPs and clavs: All straight from the Fantom G. Not bad. Organs: All going all the way back to the Fantom S, with the exception of one set of Jon Lord waves. But none of the SRX-07 waves that are in the Fantom G. Roland still wants you to buy that expansion board I guess. AC power adapter. Ugh!!!! on a stage board. I'm very curious about the new keybed. So b3keys... is it weighted at all?
delirium Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 from roland video this board looks very nice, lot's of sound actually from fantom X not G like e.g. piano: juno stage http://www.gadgetoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/roland-juno-stage.jpg ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
delirium Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Check the waveform list again delirium. from the roland site : A New Synth Star for the Stage More Info Versatile, Expandable Sound Set Carefully crafted for the stage, JUNO-STAGEs factory patch set covers a wide range of essential sounds, including the flagship 88-key stereo multi-sampled piano taken from the Fantom-X. Every JUNO-STAGE can also be expanded and customized via two Roland SRX Wave Expansion Boards (sold separately). ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
cnegrad Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Here's another question: Can you directly select a patch without having to use the scroll wheel? I see category buttons 1-9, but I don't see a way to directly dial in Patch # 68, for example. (Bank 6, Patch 8).
Bill H. Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 I don't know how they can say that, since as we both know, the four layer every note sampled Fantom X JzPno piano waveset is as large as the entire waveform ROM of the Juno Stage. There wouldn't be any room for anything else. I'll go with the info on the waveform lists for these boards myself.
cnegrad Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 They probably made a 'lite' version for the JS.
zephonic Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 What's the sticker price? local: Korg Nautilus 61 AT | Yamaha MODX8 away: GigPerformer | 16" MBP M1 Max home: Kawai RX-2 | Korg D1 | Roland Fantom X7
Bill H. Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 I suppose it's possible that the some of the Fantom G multisampled piano waveforms are themselves re-worked from the main Fantom X piano. Maybe that's the logic here. But the names of the multisampled acoustic waveforms are exactly the same in the Juno Stage as the waves (other than the main set) in the Fantom G. And in my over 20 years of experience with Roland romplers, if the names are the same, the waveforms are the same. I think I misspoke earlier. The main Fantom X piano would only take up half the space of the ROM in the Juno Stage not the whole thing. But in any event, the Stage has a better piano than the Juno G, which was carried over from the stock piano in the Fantom S. However, at about the same price as a used Fantom X7, if it were me, I would prefer a Fantom X7 (or Motif ES7 or Triton Extreme 76) over this budget Juno for gigging purposes.
delirium Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 However, at about the same price as a used Fantom X7, if it were me, I would prefer a Fantom X7 (or Motif ES7 or Triton Extreme 76) over this budget Juno for gigging purposes. but juno look cooler, better equipped for live performance and is much lighter... ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
zephonic Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 If that vocoder is any good, I might just consider trading in my FanX7 for this. local: Korg Nautilus 61 AT | Yamaha MODX8 away: GigPerformer | 16" MBP M1 Max home: Kawai RX-2 | Korg D1 | Roland Fantom X7
robertho Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 I called the SF GC yesterday and they said, sure we have it in stock, upstairs in a box. (?)I went there and they did bring it down and set it up.I must say, that I was unimpressed.It looks great, but the keys just feel like a $ 150 Midi controller. they keys are springy plastic, not what I would call semi weighted. I soooo wanted to like it, I was ready to take it home.but instead I played the 300GX to remind me how good keys feel and how a great Piano sounds and left.
Bill H. Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 You know I've picked up several comments about the keys on the new Juno in forums. Some say it's more piano-like than typical synth actions, and some like you say it's pretty much garbage. Is it kind of an in-betweener like an Electro? NO GC close by...
cnegrad Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 I was ready to take it home. but instead I played the 300GX to remind me how good keys feel and how a great Piano sounds and left. Guys, it would be helpful to compare apples to apples here. There was never a doubt in my mind that this keyboard uses a synth action, and nothing more than that. As such, it should be compared to other synth actions, and not anything made to simulate a piano. How does it compare to say, the Fantom G7 or X7, or the Motif 7XS? Or Korg's latest unweighted synth? That would be a more realistic comparison. Try to remember that for those of us who play the boards more as synths or organs, simulated piano actions can actually be a detriment.
delirium Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 yeah, it's amazing how people can disagree on keys feel. almost like with the woman breast... ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
robertho Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 I think the electro is nicer. they plastic feels thinner on the Juno than the Nord. more like the Yamaha np30 ( the $300 simple Piano with 76 keys). maybe it is also since they made the keys a bit longer that they feel wobbly. they were so soft , even when pressed that I always wanted to 'massage' the key with a Synth sound waiting for the ( not existing after touch ). But I am sure I'll go back and try it again with more time and without playing the S90ES and the RD 700GX just before the stage.
keysplease Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 yeah, it's amazing how people can disagree on keys feel. almost like with the woman breast... Exactly -- I like lighter action when they're on top -- weighted on the bottom
delirium Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 yeah, it's amazing how people can disagree on keys feel. almost like with the woman breast... Exactly -- I like lighter action when they're on top -- weighted on the bottom :grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin: ♫♫♫ motif XS6, RD700GX
robertho Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 than they should call it Synth keys and not semi weighted. sorry.
cnegrad Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 While I agree with you, that's the industry label for the 'better' synth actions. Sorry if that misled you.
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