ROLAND Super JD-990
Synthesizer Module (1993)

Roland JD-800 Rackmount version of the keyboard synthesizer with great enhancements but sacrifying the real-time controls galore.

Check out comparison Roland JD800 VS JD990 chart.

 

RACKMOUNT 2 units. The main panel features a 320 x 80 pixels display, 34 button and a rotary data wheel.

Front panel terminal connectors:
- headphone signal out
- 2 slots for data and PCM cards

Back panel terminal connectors:
- main stereo out
- 6 aux outputs
- Midi interface

 

TECH core H8/570 manages 24 oscillators polyphony; the DAC is a Burr- Brown PCM61P.
A single patch is composed by 4 PCM layers by the JD WG wave generator that can be interconnected into algorithms modes (check out table below).
Each layer features some edit parameters:

- level mix - pitch coarse + fine (or even random amount) - pitch key follow mode from -100 to +200% range - FXM frequency cross modulation (8 levels + depth) - oscillator period sync mode - wave delay start time (5 modes) - velocity range trigger threshold low and high - key zone low and high.

 

ALGORITHMS unlike the big brother JD800 (hodor?) tones can be combined in 6 signal paths (list) or structures. These are pre-fixed audio patches that connect the 2 pairs of tones into variable setups mixed with 3 audio elements: amplifier, filter and ringmodulation (4 models).

Same JD algorithms can be found on Roland samplers e.g S-770, S-750 or DJ-70

WAVETABLE internal 6MB ROM contains 195 PCM waveforms sampled at 44 kHz and organized in 5 categories.

- basic waveforms inspired by analog synthesizers e.g "fatsquare" "synsaw" or "fatsaw" - mathematical transients and overtones inspired from Roland D-50 L.A. synthesis - one shot percussion acoustic samples - samples from acoustic instruments - loops and noises

the JD-990 added new waveforms to ensure retro compatibility with Roland JV-80. FULL PCM LIST HERE




EXPANSION the JD-990 can be expanded using 3 kinds of cards:
- 8 X SO-JD are JD800 Roland set (data + PCM)
- 21 X SR-JV with different purposes and instrument styles
- Roland PN JV80 series 8 x SO-PCM1.
One of the most sought-after model is the VINTAGE expansion Srjv-04 a must-have adds 256 sounds made exclusively for the 990 + 256 others designed for JV series.

SR-JV80-01 POP   SR-JV80-02 ORCHESTRAL   SR-JV80-03 PIANO   SR-JV80-04 VINTAGE SYNTH   SR-JV80-05 WORLD   SR-JV80-06 DANCE   SR-JV80-07 SUPER SOUND SET   SR-JV80-08 KEYBOARDS OF THE 60's & 70's   SR-JV80-09 SESSION   SR-JV80-10 BASS AND DRUM   SR-JV80-11 TECHNO COLLECTION   SR-JV80-12 HIP HOP   SR-JV80-13 VOCAL COLLECTION   SR-JV80-14 ASIAN   SR-JV80-15 SPECIAL FX Collection   SR-JV80-16 ORCHESTRAL II   SR-JV80-17 COUNTRY Collection   SR-JV80-18 LATIN Collection   SR-JV80-19 HOUSE Collection   SR-JV80-98 EXPERIENCE 1 promotional board SR-JV80-99 EXPERIENCE 2 promotional board

SL-JD80-01 Drums STANDARD SL-JD80-02 Drums & Percussion DANCE SL-JD80-03 Rock Drums SL-JD80-04 Strings Ensemble SL-JD80-05 Brass Section SL-JD80-06 Grand Piano SL-JD80-07 Guitar Collection SL-JD80-08 Accordion JD9D SERIES, esclusively made for JD990 JD9D-3 Modern Master JD9D-2 Modern Sonics JD9D-3 Modern Masters

PERFORMANCE the system handles 7 patches (+1 drum) with these mix settings:

- Midi channel assign - coarse + fine tune - analog out assignment - effect amount - panning position - level mix - voice priority - monophonic / solo with legato mode and portamento - aftertouch can be assigned to TVF / TVA / WG pitch - breath can be assigned to volume / amplitude / modulation aftertouch.

 

FILTER a multimode (lowpass / highpass / bandpass) digital resonant filter is assigned for each PCM layer.

Using algorithms 2/3/4 it is possible to chain filters e.g: 2 lowpass mode filters at 2 poles can be put in series to obtain a doubling effect at 4 poles.

ENVELOPE 3 EGs for each PCM layer. All EGs offers a keyfollow mode and 7 curves, in addtion the panning position can be set either specific stereo values, to random or assigned to the keyfollow mode.

- EG pitch: 3 segments level + 3 times - EG filter (TVF) : 4 segments + 4 times - EG amplitude (TVA) 4 segments + 4 times

LFO up to 2 delayed modulators with variable depth and note retrig mode with fade IN time.
The modulators are interchangeable and they do provide 8 shapes with variable offset : triangle, sawtooth, square, sample & hold, random standard, random chaos, trapezoidal and sinewave.
There are 4 LFO destinations:

- freely assignable to matrix destination - LFO to amplitude - LFO to filter cutoff - LFO to WG pitch

MATRIX each PCM layer offers 8 virtual patching cords for modulation control.
The general setup defines 2 sources and matrix control sets the destinations with variable depth amount (positive and negative values). Check the sum-up table:

SOURCE A: modulation CC#1 aftertouch expression breath pitch bender foot control

SOURCE B: modulation CC#1 aftertouch expression breath pitch bender foot control

DESTINATION: pitch cutoff / resonance LFO1-2 pitch modulation depth LFO1-2 filter modulation depth LFO1-2 amplitude modulation depth LFO1 rate/ LFO2 rate

EFFECT FX DSP is split into 2 groups: A (mono) + B (stereophonic).
Effects from A-B can be chained in different combination order and relative parameters controlled by Midi controllers e.g modulation, aftertouch, expression, breath, pitchbender and foot control.
EQ shelving model 3 bands: low - med - high

- 7 distortions models with drive amount - phaser with depth / rate - dynamic enhancer - a 6 bands spectrum enhancer

- stereo delay up to 600 Ms can be synched to Midi clock - chorus with rate, depth and feedback - 5 reverbs including Room, Hall, Gate, Reverse and Flying mode.

MIDI basic CC# including: modulation, panning stereo volume gain and hold
TIP: JD-990 can be edited by a JD-800 but unit IDs must be matched in system options, also JD-990 is compatible with JD-800 but not the contrary.

MEMORY:

- 64 RAM +128 ROM patches - 16 RAM + 32 ROM performances - 1 RAM + 1 ROM rhythm setup RAM doubled if Roland m-256 E (or D) is present Battery replacemen: a simple CR2032 3V in a holder, easy to change!

 

OS is stored on a single 256 kb EPROM 27c240. OS check hold the Inc + Dec buttons and switch on. Latest is V 1.05

FREE "lastest" BIN hex dump Download

 

EDITOR there are some computer softwares:

- Soundquest (PC/MAC, $$$) - Sounddiver (out of business) - JD990 layout (IOS IPAD, free) INFO - CNTRL (open source, free) INFO

 

 

RELATED FAMILY: JD-800 is more or less the previous keyboard version with a lot of realtime control but . Here's the differences: (roland jd800 vs jd990)

- JD990 lacks hold pedal and expression pedals. - Jd990 lacks real-time controls - JD800 features 4mb Vs 6mb Jd990 - JD800 is a limited performance structure - JD800 features less analog outs - JD800 lacks panning position - JD800 lacks matrix modulation - JD800 lacks polyphonic portamento - JD800 lacks Sr-Jv slot expansion - JD800 misses 3 LFO shapes - JD800 lacks waveform sync - JD800 lacks frequency cross modulation FXM - JD800 lacks ringmodulator - JD800 lacks algorithmic structures - JD800 cannot read more than 1mb PCM - JD800 delay is limited to 600ms (vs 3000) - JD800 delay cannot be synched to Midi

Roland JD800 VS JD990 Comparison chart

 

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION NO JD-990VST has ever been released, however there are some free and commercial samples set:

Free samples (not mapped)

sample pack (JD800)

 

 

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