Roland Juno-DS88 Synthesizer

Roland Juno-DS88 Synthesizer Overview

The Roland Juno-DS88 Synthesizer is an all-round keyboard for both the stage and in the studio, with an 88 note fully weighted action, named the PHA-4. Each note on the PHA-4 is individually weighted, with ivory feel and escapement, just like the action on a high-end grand piano.

It has over 1200 tones, more than 30 drum kits and 64 Performances. These can be organised and saved across the 256 User Patches or combined in the 128 User Performance slots. The sounds cover everything from classic synth sounds, essential piano/electric piano/organ/string sounds, as well as a huge library of orchestral and SFX type sounds. Due to such a diverse and wide array of inbuilt sounds, the JUNO-DS has become the go-to keyboard for those wanting to add keys to their live set, but may not actually be a keyboard player. It's incredibly easy to navigate, which is why it's so popular.

There are 2 different performance modes, which will allow you to play individual tones, split/layer them or even stack 16 of them together across the keybed. 

You can load in your own samples and spread them across each of the individual keys, meaning you are in complete control of your sound. You can edit all of the sounds with the powerful effects section, as well as go to the finite detail in the synth section. 

You can create/build your own patterns in the Pattern Sequencer, allowing you to stack 8 different loops simultaneously.

Trigger drum sounds, loops and samples with the 8 performance pads, giving all the power to perform your tracks live. 

Connect to your computer via the inbuilt USB Audio/Midi Interface to communicate with your favourite DAW or just simply record the internal audio. 

The JUNO-DS is super lightweight and portable, plus it can be battery-powered, so it is the perfect companion to the modern keyboard player. 

If you feel like you need less than 88 keys, the JUNO-DS is also available in 76 or 61 key versions. Additionally, you can opt for a more powerful workstation, with more realistic sounds and a more detailed sequencer with the FA-08.

ADDITIONAL OVERVIEW

Roland's new Juno-DS88 is the latest addition to the infamous Juno synthesiser family. There have been many enhancements to the sound and functionality making this synthesiser powerful, intuitive and easy to use. The Roland Juno-DS88 has 88 weighted keys for that acoustic piano feel. It's loaded with professional sounds so you can start creating/playing straight out of the box. The synth also features USB for easy connection to a computer. This new Roland synth would suit musicians of any level. Beginners will be able to access sounds straight out of the box, allowing them to experiment with a whole host of different sounds and experienced users will find the depth of functionality incredibly handy. Whatever the project, the Juno-DS88 will have you covered.

Mobile Design and Stage-Ready Sounds

The JUNO-DS88 is an ideal keyboard for all types of players, from performing pros and weekend warriors to music producers and home hobbyists. It also excels in teaching labs and other music education environments. Easy to carry and easy to use, the JUNO-DS88 is filled with great Roland sounds for any style or genre, and versatile battery or AC operation gives you the flexibility to play anytime and anywhere.

Top-Quality Pianos, Organs, and More

Acoustic pianos, electric pianos, and organs are bread and butter for most performing keyboardists. In the JUNO-DS88, the pianos have been newly enhanced with improved sound and response, and there are even more organs to choose from. In addition to this new DS Tone Bank, the instrument includes the entire 1000-plus sound set from the previous-generation JUNO-Di, and patches from that keyboard are fully compatible with the JUNO-DS88.

Weighted Keys for an Authentic Piano Feel

The JUNO-DS88 features 88 weighted-action keys, a first in the long history of the JUNO series. Roland’s Ivory Feel-G Keyboard with progressive hammer action is an ideal complement to the expressive new piano sounds, providing high-end touch and playability while still keeping the instrument light and mobile. This makes the JUNO-DS88 an obvious choice for pro players, as well as piano students looking for a portable, versatile instrument to learn on.

Enhanced Editing and Hands-On Controls

One thing that’s made the JUNO series a players’ favorite is its instant-access design, which makes it easy to call up fantastic sounds right away. But if you like to dig in and customize, the JUNO-DS88 now offers even more adjustable parameters than before, allowing you to tweak patches and performances with detailed precision. The front panel provides an expanded array of hands-on knobs and sliders for creating patches and adjusting sounds as you perform, while the rear panel features jacks for connecting hold and expression pedals at the same time.

Wave Expansion Slot for Adding New Sounds

To complement its impressive onboard sound set, the JUNO-DS88 supports internal waveform expansion via USB for unlimited tonal range. Over 1000 EXP sounds are available for free download at Roland’s Axial website, including top-quality acoustic piano collections, world instruments, go-to studio standards, percussion, loops, and more. If don’t find what you need there, it’s even possible to load in WAV files from your personal library and play them from the keyboard! Out of the box, the JUNO-DS88 comes with the versatile EXP-06 Studio Collection preloaded in the wave expansion slot.

Phrase Pads for Triggering Songs and Samples

With the JUNO-DS88’s eight Phrase Pads, you can supplement your keyboard performances with samples or music files stored on USB memory. Just load up the pads with whatever you like—one-shot samples, vocals, sound effects, loops, or complete music tracks—and trigger them with a quick touch when needed.

Mic Input with Vocoder and Auto Pitch

If you’re a solo performer or singer/songwriter, you’ll love the JUNO-DS88’s mic input, which lets you get great vocal sounds without having to carry around extra gear. There’s a dedicated vocal reverb, plus Auto Pitch for singing with the "stepped" electronic vocal effect popular in today’s music. The built-in vocoder is big fun too, allowing you to sing into a mic and control the tone and pitch via sounds played on the keyboard.

Eight-Track Pattern Sequencer

When you have an idea for a song or beat, you can easily capture and develop it with the onboard pattern sequencer. The intuitive, non-stop operation won’t interrupt your creative flow, letting you build up full arrangements with multiple sounds in no time. The sequencer is also perfect for enhancing live performances with pre-made backing music and on-the-fly looping.

Music Production Partner

The JUNO-DS88 is not only great on stage—it works great for computer music production as well. The integrated USB interface provides a solid front end for a mobile or studio recording setup, allowing you to record MIDI and audio data, including sounds from the mic input. There’s even a dedicated DAW Control mode for controlling your music software from the JUNO-DS88’s front panel.