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Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 22:03, 30 August 2017
by zombietactics
richardbates1 wrote: ...I am not sure if Roland has dropped the JDXA? But is sure seems like it.
OK ... but why? It's not as though they have discontinued the product (it's selling reasonably well, BTW) ... and they've continued to put out patch sets ... as recently as a month or so ago.

What leads you to have this "feeling"?

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 04:27, 31 August 2017
by richardbates1
zombietactics wrote:
richardbates1 wrote: ...I am not sure if Roland has dropped the JDXA? But is sure seems like it.
OK ... but why? It's not as though they have discontinued the product (it's selling reasonably well, BTW) ... and they've continued to put out patch sets ... as recently as a month or so ago.

What leads you to have this "feeling"?
I guess It seems that way because right now their big focus is on the System8 and the Roland Cloud of which I myself have gotten all caught up in over the last couple of months. As far as Roland dropping the JDXA? I have no idea? Maybe they will come back to it in the future but so much energy on Roland's part is the S8 and their Cloud service. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they haven't forgotten the JDXA and will come back to it after the S8 and Cloud wave of focus has come and gone??? If Roland doesn't come out with JDXA OS updates in the future doesn't mean their won't be more sound banks for the JDXA on their website I am guessing?.

In the past I have complained to Roland about the JDXA's sequencer which could have been so great but has so many limitations. I keep hoping that Roland will update the sequencer in the future for me that is the "biggie addition". But I am not holding my breath on that, so if they don't offer an update in the future I still love the JDXA as it is. But I have to admit my focus lately has been on the S8 even though I love both.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 19:27, 31 August 2017
by zombietactics
Meanwhile ... this just dropped today:

http://axial.roland.com/articles/modulations_vol1/

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 20:39, 31 August 2017
by cello
zombietactics wrote:Meanwhile ... this just dropped today:

http://axial.roland.com/articles/modulations_vol1/
Indeed - and with a vol 2 expected to arrive soon.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 01:02, 1 September 2017
by richardbates1
zombietactics wrote:Meanwhile ... this just dropped today:

http://axial.roland.com/articles/modulations_vol1/
Sweet! Very nice and unique sounds.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 17:36, 2 September 2017
by Synthtron
Do petitions really work in regards to Roland products?

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 21:32, 3 September 2017
by Myrk-
That's made by Oscar who is just some dude on the facebook group, I remember him posting a while back about how he would one day get a patch set on Axial (being very bitter about everything hahahaha). I don't think he's anyone famous or well known - Roland would be way better off just putting Gattobus's sounds on Axial imo.

Re: the JD-XA being maybe ditched... Seems all the coolest gear Roland make gets dropped because they make it confusing and convoluted... they did the same with the VG-99 guitar system which was a real swiss army knife, and that is still to this day (after 10 years) the most powerful midi guitar system there is, and hilariously still the flagship... which they discontinued! I feel the JD-XA is the synth equivalent of it. Seriously Roland need to hire some westerners to run the business side 'cus the Japanese dudes are just torching their own company by concentrating on re-creating old synths as small toys for tiny hands. I wonder if they even care about people outside of Japan?! They seem unlike any other company, with an inability to have discussions with the public or respond properly to issues or questions. Funny thing is people sell their gear because Roland is silent, then out of nowhere they release updates or additions for the gear you just sold... really stupid business practices.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 22:53, 3 September 2017
by cello
Myrk- wrote:That's made by Oscar who is just some dude on the facebook group, I remember him posting a while back about how he would one day get a patch set on Axial (being very bitter about everything hahahaha). I don't think he's anyone famous or well known - Roland would be way better off just putting Gattobus's sounds on Axial imo.
...
He may be just some 'dude' but he has excellent skills on the XA. Is it not great that a user who produces great sounds gets recognition from the manufacturer? Anyone else doing that - Korg, Yamaha? Last time I looked Korg charges for all new sounds... How about you create amazing sounds, Roland likes them and then they put them on Axial so that we can all enjoy them?

Also, I have to beg to differ - I've never seen Oscar being bitter.

I'm sorry that you can only see negatives. If you look harder there are many more positives :)

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 03:07, 4 September 2017
by HaveIt
The reports of JD-XA's death have been greatly exaggerated. I haven't been able to give the JD-XA the time it needs but it is so many synths in one. 4 x monos, 1 x 4 voice poly, a few supernatural synth parts. It's not dead. My biggest gripe is lack of another output pair and that was a decision they made from the start.

Those new Modulations patches are fantastic.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 13:25, 4 September 2017
by Jdoo
X3. We're fortunate to have folks like Cello, Oscar, Gattobus and others.. who are giving their time and energy freely (and encouraging others) to the JD-XA. Oscar isn't 'just some dude' ? :) His sounds and use of the JD-XA is unique. There's a lot to learn, from looking at his settings and patches.

Agree with you HaveIt (love the quote too :) ) - the JD-XA sure feels alive and well. It's been getting great updates on Axial.

Back to the topic here.. I would love to see an OS update, similar to the FA series 2.x' Master Controller features. Those would be huge on the XA. For those not familiar -- check out some of Ed DIaz' latest vids, for the FA series. Cool stuff.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 22:06, 7 September 2017
by Myrk-
Oh no, I was more implying I was amazed that a guy who's not a massive name was able to put out a sound bank onto Axial! He posted on a facebook group ages ago and got a lot of people saying it would be impossible, after which he quit the JD-XA user group with some obvious bitterness, and he came back and showed everyone what for! Sorry re-reading my post I realise my amazement and kudos wasn't apparent, and read kinda more negative (I meant the opposite)! :P

Gattobus I mentioned because his videos on youtube get massive praise and a lot of views, so seems like an obvious one to put his stuff up.

Regarding JD-XA being dead, that's a hardware comment more than anything. Axial is a patch site (long overdue for Roland to make one) that one would expect to spit out upgrades on for a fair few years. JD-XA hardware being abandoned was a comment I read from one knowledgeable source about 6 months or more ago, and the guy had some very good observations about the market for the synth, the probably sales numbers vs the likely investment etc... If I could find the post I'd put it up here.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 17:55, 11 September 2017
by Venn Diagram
Myrk- wrote:That's made by Oscar who is just some dude on the facebook group, I remember him posting a while back about how he would one day get a patch set on Axial (being very bitter about everything hahahaha). I don't think he's anyone famous or well known - Roland would be way better off just putting Gattobus's sounds on Axial imo.

Re: the JD-XA being maybe ditched... Seems all the coolest gear Roland make gets dropped because they make it confusing and convoluted... they did the same with the VG-99 guitar system which was a real swiss army knife, and that is still to this day (after 10 years) the most powerful midi guitar system there is, and hilariously still the flagship... which they discontinued! I feel the JD-XA is the synth equivalent of it. Seriously Roland need to hire some westerners to run the business side 'cus the Japanese dudes are just torching their own company by concentrating on re-creating old synths as small toys for tiny hands. I wonder if they even care about people outside of Japan?! They seem unlike any other company, with an inability to have discussions with the public or respond properly to issues or questions. Funny thing is people sell their gear because Roland is silent, then out of nowhere they release updates or additions for the gear you just sold... really stupid business practices.
Firstly please don't make assumptions about people you don't know and an added kind word of advice - If you choose to put words into other peoples mouths be aware that more often than not your comments will be noted by someone, somewhere who knows the person you're referring to personally. I've been super busy with work commitments and this reply was brought to my attention via email by someone I recently finished remix work for.
Anyway here's some background info.
I've been with several labels (most label dealings have not been mutually beneficial) have music published through Sony Classical, appeared on Synphaera Records "Star Seed" which made Igloo's top 20 ambient releases last year and have done anonymous one off remixing (for well over 8 or so years).
I got my first Roland synth in 85, know my way around the D50, JD-XA, JD-990, S550, Integra-7 and V-Synth pretty damn well and know a lot about synthesis and sampling and moved into electronic music production after studying (pre computer based) graphic design in the mid to late 80's having created music for independent art installations and several CD's used by some Australian art therapists for group meditation purposes. I've been remixed by Honeysmack, Biologik and have seen several of my contemporaries go on to success under various pseudonyms and/or changed names.
If anyone was ever part of RS7000.org back in the day they would know me well as one of the site Moderators who posted a tonne of information on using the sequencer in creative ways and tips and tricks for parameter locking CC's in XOX or Step modes long before Elektron came along and how to use the device in a poly-metric fashion.
Most of what I compose is on an experimental tip and I write, program, record, arrange mix and produce everything myself. I work primarily with hardware instruments and interested in seeing what synths can do in the here and now with a more forward focus. My studio is fundamentally a hardware front end with a DSP processing back end using a combination of Reactor Blocks, Molekular, Max4Live, Integra Live and Logic.
People in the Elektron forums know how much I love my dual Monomachine's too.
If you ever used Concrete FX Kubik (before Jon started coding for Rob Papen) then you'll know some of my work with the Ambient Soundbanks that were released for them. I beta tested both V1 and 2 and was on the ground up sound design team for Vektrik as well.
The fact the Roland like my stuff is great. I don't do retro patch design am not an analog purist and probably hold a lot of opinions that are different to yours. That said I put a lot of work into knowing the JD-XA well and have been aiming to create these as a totally alternative sound set that shows a different side to the instrument itself.
I have never aimed to be famous or well known and consider being good and knowledgeable at what I do reward in itself and am totally comfortable being a self funded independent artist.
Commercial success has its place and the world needs musicians who give freely, work commercially, who explore the fringe and who dabble in the indie markets. All of them add to a rich tapestry and feedback loop that influence each other in a myriad of ways.
Hisakazu Yamasoto put a lot of heart and should into the JD-XA and if you are ever lucky enough to spend time having a conversation with him you'll see how evident his passion and commitment to excellence are. He happened to hear some of my sound demo's and loved what I was doing with the synth which in turn has inspired me to do a more extensive sound set.
I don't do retro patch design am not an analog purist and probably hold a lot of opinions that are different to yours. That said I put a lot of work into knowing the JD-XA well and have been aiming to create these as a totally alternative sound set that shows a different side to the instrument itself.
The fact the Roland like my stuff is great and getting feedback from Hisakuza and Atsushi was very humbling. The fact that they would take a gamble on sounds from essentially a home based studio musician is a wonderful thing and should be celebrated.
I have a selection of music video's on Vimeo - the videos are meant o be nothing more than a vehicle for the audible experience. My old Youtube channel got hacked and had to be culled at one stage Miasma and Gelatine had over 1500 plays a piece ( bit of a record for me) and I know there are people out there who message me that appreciate my work. It isn't for everyone but make no mistake these sound banks are a labour of love.
I may be "just some dude" who juggles 3 jobs to have the opportunity to get new gear and continue to pursue what he loves but I love what I do passionately and always strive for some level of excellence with whatever music I create.

Feel free to give some of it a spin here - https://vimeo.com/oscarfinch
It covers everything from NuJazz to Glitch, IDM and Electronica.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 15:43, 14 November 2017
by horisonten
I really need to give some praise to Elektron, even though this is a Roland forum. They recently released a massive new feature (conditional trigs) with a firmware update to a product that is over 10 years old. The reason I felt this belonged here is because I think Roland has a lot to learn from how Elektron runs their business. And they for sure don't have the same muscles that Roland has when it comes to money and resources. For you who haven't heard of Elektron. Buy their stuff instead of giving them to Roland, you won't regret it ;)

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 11:38, 18 November 2017
by horisonten
horisonten wrote:I really need to give some praise to Elektron, even though this is a Roland forum. They recently released a massive new feature (conditional trigs) with a firmware update to a product that is over 10 years old. The reason I felt this belonged here is because I think Roland has a lot to learn from how Elektron runs their business. And they for sure don't have the same muscles that Roland has when it comes to money and resources. For you who haven't heard of Elektron. Buy their stuff instead of giving them to Roland, you won't regret it ;)
Edit: it was released 2010, so 10 years was a bit exaggerated.

Re: Petitioning Roland for JD-XA updates.

Posted: 17:39, 18 November 2017
by mattyd2017
making the arpeggiator unglobal so each part can have its own arpeggiator pattern that would make a vast difference in my opinion