Midi CCs just turned these things from ‘meh’ to ‘take my money’…
@LyingDalai I like them all, if I had to choose it would be JP08, JX03, JU06 but since they are much much cheaper than the original machines (which I always loved) owning all 3 is guilt free for me :)The JX and JP are more versatile than the JU, but the JU has that sound. One thing to be aware is not to have the volume all the way up or they can distort on certain patches, I don't know if the update fixed this or not as have not tested yet.
What is “that sound”? For someone who just never got into Roland gear and doesn’t know the difference between a Juno and a Jupiter and of all the different numbers along with them, what is special and unique about each one? These things are in the price range of “it might be nice to have at least one” but I just don’t have any good reference point for them.
@jshell there is a sufficient number of videos on youtube and threads on other forums to make up your own mind about it. i was gravitating towards the JP in the beginning but gradually started looking at the JU more. I’m a big fan of Logic’s ES1 and the rich chorus effect and sonic architecture of the Juno seems to fit exactly what I’d want to use it for. I don’t think the question can be answered objectively.
Ahah sure. The JU-06 is a beauty for drones / bass sounds, the Chorus is really well done.
I know I could ride such horse, already had much fun with one note only 
(Thx @quarantequatre + love wood !)
But I have no idea what the others sound like. I mean, in a modern production…
Yeah… I tried. Another thread linked to a seller listing for a complete-set 3-pack of the boutiques. I got excited when it had the promotional copy for all three modules. And again, the description for each one was “this sounds like the old one! It has that classic [insert classic synth here] character!” But none of them sound special to me, and no promotional copy described what that classic character is. I’ve tried watching various YouTube videos on them, and it just does not click with me.
So strange.
But Roland’s Scooper is starting to look interesting to me. Maybe that will finally be my entry point into Roland’s world.
I’d love a ju-06. But I’m trying to downsize, not expand :’’(
Yeah... I tried. Another thread linked to a seller listing for a complete-set 3-pack of the boutiques. I got excited when it had the promotional copy for all three modules. And again, the description for each one was "this sounds like the old one! It has that classic [insert classic synth here] character!" But none of them sound special to me, and no promotional copy described what that classic character is. I've tried watching various YouTube videos on them, and it just does not click with me.So strange.But Roland's Scooper is starting to look interesting to me. Maybe that will finally be my entry point into Roland's world.
Well, it’s just a matter of taste and background experiences here, that’s all. I remember staying in weeks upon weeks and listening to my favourite duo The Ratpack (Everson Ellen MC and DJ Lipmaster Mark) and them spinning some amazing tunes. This was just before The Prodigy and their album The Prodigy Experience had been released.
I got into production and began my study of synths and their characteristics. One day just before the boutiques arrived on the shelf I was in a shop in the middle of Tokyo. There was a Juno 106 inside. I had heard Mumdance talking about it on his FACT Magazine Stidio Tour and asked the guy if I could play with it. And there it was… BOOM… a sound that I had heard so many times on so many records and especially from my teenage heroes - The Ratpack!!! Moreover its that amazing Chorus! It has an unparalleled sound. A sound so thick that if it was measured in girth it would over a thousand years old. It’s a bit like a 909 or 808 to me mate. Also, after getting into Grime I found the square wave bass it produces familiar and very sonically pleasing to my ears.
This type of history between myself and this sound is president to the reason why I’ve just purchased a multitrack tape recorder and recorded stuff to tape. When I experienced The Ratpack set it was on tape. Tape was the first media I handled, recorded to, and all that jazz. It’s sound has its own sonic imprint and character just like the Juno 106.
If I may further explain it is a bit like this conversation…
A. What phone do you have?
B. An iPhone.
A. What model is it?
B. iPhone 6.
A. Why don’t you sell the iPhone 6 and buy an iPhone 4… You can make some money and they’re basically the same.
A. They’re different actually.
C. You should get a HTC!
A. Yeah, you could get an HTC too. In fact any smart phone will do! Just like any synth will do!
Not exactly akin to the situation above but I hope you can see parallels.
I think it’s also interesting to have listened to the Behringer guys talk about their new synth DM12. They openly say that they modeled it on the Juno 106. Whether or not they get that chorus right is another matter altogether though.
Many happy memories of seeing the Ratpack at various events in the SE of England during 1991-92, Evolution in Farnborough was fun.
Whaaaaaaa you saw them live at their peak! I’m so jealous!!! Do you still have any of the tape packs? I used to rinse that tape I was talking about for years. It even lasted throughout years of playing multiplayer Goldeneye. Like five years later.
I once saw them play live in Ayia Napa about 5 (Jesus, it may have been 10) years ago when I lived there. They were incredible and when they finished playing I told them how much I loved them, and how many years I listened to the same tape and more tapes but that one from '94 was and still is my best. I bought them shots but Lipmaster didn’t drink. So I told Everson Allen to have two. Then they asked if the could take a photo of me… OF ME!!!.. together WITH THEM!!! True story! I still wonder about that photo. I’d love to have it!
Here’s the link to the set that I never thought I’d be able to listen to again… https://youtu.be/IZVsBjXjsyA
I enjoyed that back and forth @DJHombre
Do you make any music like that. I’m looking to MC over some tunes.
@jshell “that sound” to me is early house and techno, hollow bass, creamy pads, and sweeps. The Juno106 (and the 6 and 60) were a staple of early Chicago house, which is the music I loved in my late teens, so probably a large amount of nostalgia in there too 
I don’t think any of the Roland synths were particularly “impressive” by modern standards but they do have a distimctive sound, and unlike a lot of todays more sophisticated gear, a real character. But personally some of my favourite gear is limited - 303, 606, Monotribe, Grendel drone commander, etc “one trick ponies” perhaps, the JU-06 is also a bit like this, very simple, direct, predictable, yet musical.
@darenager - Cool! that helps. I think I’m starting to understand why I never paid much attention to Roland’s stuff. While I’ve long enjoyed house and drum’n’bass, I never gave much thought to the gear that created it (or just thought it was RM1X and Electribes) beyond - maybe - the drum machines.
My most formative music is probably that 90’s space-age-batchelor-pad resurrection of Stereolab, High Llamas, Sonic Boom/Spectrum/EAR, with its space-age radiophonic workshop sounds of swirling and chirping LFOs and synths that looked sexy as hell: old Moogs, EMS synths, other old modulars. They were far more interesting to me visually than the big flat keyboard synths like Roland’s, and had more a lot more edge, sonically. And then I got into noise stuff and it’s easy to push a lot of Korg’s stuff into noisy directions (big LFO ranges for both speed and depth. One reason I’m hanging on to my beloved Monotribe even after my MS-10, MS-2000, and EMX-1 have slipped away).
It’s only been in the past couple of years that I’ve come around to liking ‘creamier’, softer, warmer, ‘prettier’ sounds. I was about to write these Boutique items off completely but I think I’ll take another look. I’m finally starting to understand them more.
I’ve been playing with SH101 all day. I’m using it as a Plug Out on my System 1m. This shizzle is rasping!!! The resonance filter with the tone knob set correctly and it spits! PHWAOR!!!
Almost got my finger on the trigger for the SH2 it is that good.
https://www.roland.com/global/promos/roland_boutique/?lang=en-JM
And the story continues… with a three oscillator whopper.
Now to choose between the Roland Boutique SE-02 or the Behringer Model D. The quality of the SE-02 looks higher than the Behringer. But Eurorack format of the Behringer means it doesn’t need to take up extra space other than your Eurorack. I guess the sound is what is most important in the end.
I just picked up one of the SE-02s and holy hell is it amazing. I have a lot of synths and it destroys most of them. Those Studio Electronics guys nailed it, bigtime.
I just picked up one of the SE-02s and holy hell is it amazing. I have a lot of synths and it destroys most of them. Those Studio Electronics guys nailed it, bigtime.
Good to know! Post some videos, please! 
Here is my first mini insta-jam with the SE-02. I’ll work up some deeper ones this weekend. https://instagram.com/p/BXpB5Ovhlqi/
Thanks for this @wingo ,thats exactly what i wanted to hear demoed -some acid. Its climinig up my GAS charts.Maybe 2nd place now.
What’s the sync and more esoteric options like in it?
Now to choose between the Roland Boutique SE-02 or the Behringer Model D. The quality of the SE-02 looks higher than the Behringer. But Eurorack format of the Behringer means it doesn't need to take up extra space other than your Eurorack. I guess the sound is what is most important in the end.
Wait, what? The Behringer D is rackable?
Nice demo @wingo
The Roland sounds great from what I’ve heard so far. Trying to kill off gas/purchases these days but can get great price on Roland and keep thinking about grabbing 2+ of these…
Curious to see/hear some poly chain videos/examples. Anyone spotted any yet?