The JDXi is a portable, plastic performance synth in the Korg Microkorg or Novation Mininova mould. It adds up to a serious package of high-end technology for the money, but how does it all hang together? Toy Story Present, too, is a vocoder and vocal transformer, while better–than–average effects complete a sonic toolkit scoped to leave rival small synths and grooveboxes in the lurch. These resources are shared across four parts: two digital synths, drums and the (hybrid) analogue monosynth.Īn onboard sequencer provides classic step– and real–time recording and helps define this diminutive keyboard as a credible musical sketchpad and live accompaniment machine.
The analogue component is heavily outnumbered: one voice against 128 of the shiny Supernatural variety. Apart from that being quite a mouthful, it’s immediately obvious there isn’t a whole lot of crossing over going on at this stage. The JDXi is a step in a new direction, a sub– £400 $500 combination of technologies, rejoicing in the description ‘interactive analog/digital crossover synthesizer’. Not content to rest on past glories, the Japanese giant continues to fight for its rightful place in a market increasingly awash with analogue. Since last year’s launch of the Aira range, Roland’s musical legacy has been widely celebrated for its influence on popular culture. Roland’s JDXi crams an awful lot of synth into a very small box.