Roland Juno-106

Roland Juno-106
Manufacturer	Roland
Dates	1984-1988[1]
Price	US$1,700 UK£799 JP¥139,000
Technical specifications
Polyphony	6 voices
Timbrality	Polyphonic
Oscillator	1 DCO per voice (pulse, saw, square and noise)
LFO	triangle with delay and rate
Synthesis type	Analog subtractive
Filter	Analog 24dB/oct resonant low-pass, non-resonant high-pass
Attenuator	ADSR envelope generator
Aftertouch expression	No
Velocity expression	No
Storage memory	128 patches
Effects	Chorus
Input/output
Keyboard	61 keys
External control	MIDI

The Roland Juno-106 is a synthesizer released by Roland Corporation in February 1984.

Features

The Juno-106 is a polyphonic synthesizer with six voices. It is an analog synthesizer but with digitally controlled oscillators and chorus effects.^[2][3] Whereas its predecessor, the Juno-60, has 56 patches, the Juno-106 has 128. It introduced Roland's performance lever for pitch bends and modulation, which became a standard feature of Roland instruments.^[2] It also adds MIDI and was one of the first analog synthesizers to allow users to sequence parameter changes.^[2]

Impact

Artists who have used the Juno-106 include Jacob Mann, Vince Clarke, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Chvrches, Leftfield,^[4] William Orbit,^[5][6] Paul Frick from Tangerine Dream, Underworld, Reel 2 Real, Jam & Spoon, and Vangelis.^[7]

The Juno-106 was Roland's bestselling synthesizer until the release of the Roland D-50 later in the decade.^[8] It remains one of the bestselling synthesizers.^[2] In 1985, Roland released two versions with built-in speakers: the Juno-106S and the HS60 Synth Plus.^[2]

The synth's popularity continues to the present day, especially with EDM and artists such as Tame Impala,^[9] Daft Punk,^[10] Calvin Harris,^[11] Armin van Buuren,^[12] Mark Ronson,^[13] Caribou^[14] among many others.

Hardware re-issues and recreations

The Roland MKS-7 Super Quartet, a multi-timbral synth module with dedicated sections for each part, used the same 80017 filter chip as the Juno-106 for the bass section.^[15]

In 2015, Roland released the JU-06 sound module, a digital recreation of the Juno-106 using Roland's digital Analog Circuit Behaviour (ACB) technology. It is battery powered, has 4-voices and 23 parameters controlled from the front panel.^[16] It cost $299 at the time of the release.^[17]

in 2016, Behringer released the Deepmind-12, an analog synthesizer inspired by the Juno-106 which features 12 voices.^[18] It was priced at $999 at the time of release.^[19] In 2020, developer Momo Müller released an unofficial PC MIDI editor with the interface of June-106, called the Deepmind - Juno-106 Editor.^[20]

In 2019, Roland released the JU-06A, which is a digitally based synthesizer combining the JUNO-60 and JUNO-106. It has the continuous high-pass filter of the 106, the envelope-controllable pulse-width-modulation of the 60, and the filter of both switchable from the front panel.^[16] It cost $399 at the time of the release.^[21]

Roland released the Juno-X in 2022, a modern synth featuring digital emulations of the Juno-60 and Juno-106 as well as an additional Juno-X model that features a supersaw waveform, velocity sensitivity and an Alpha-Juno style pitch envelope control.^[22][23] The Juno X's control panel design directly references the controls of the Juno-106 while the sound engine follows on from the Jupiter-X and Jupiter-Xm modern digital synths.^[23]

Software emulations

In 2017, Roland released some software synthesizers in the cloud, including Cloud Juno-106. The cloud subscription cost $240/yr at the time.^[24]

In June 2020, Roland released Zenology plugins for Roland synths, which includes a Juno-106 emulator.^[25][26]

In 2020, Cherry Audio released the DCO-106 plugin, a juiced up version of the Juno-106 which was priced at $39 USD in 2020.^[27][28]

References

1. Forrest, Peter (1996). The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers: Part 2: N-Z. Devon, England: Susurreal. p. 64. ISBN 09524377-1-6.
2. "The History Of Roland: Part 2". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
3. Corporation, Roland. "Roland - JUNO-106 | Software Synthesizer". Roland. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
4. Wyatt, Malcolm (2015-06-18). "Tripping the Alternative Light Fantastic -- the Leftfield interview".
5. Goodyer, Tim (Nov 1990). "The Heart Of The Bass". Music Technology. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 52–56. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
6. Tingen, Paul (Oct 1991). "William Orbit". Sound On Sound. United Kingdom. pp. 58–64. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
7. Peter Manning, Daft Punk, Electronic and Computer Music, page 297, Oxford University Press
8. Colbeck, Julian (1996). Keyfax Omnibus Edition. Emeryville, CA: MixBooks. p. 104. ISBN 0-918371-08-2.
9. "Tame Impala". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
10. "Recording Random Access Memories | Daft Punk". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
11. February 2012, Future Music20 (20 February 2012). "Interview: Calvin Harris on software, hardware and hit-making". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
12. "Armin Van Buuren". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
13. "Mark Ronson". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
14. "Caribou's Dan Snaith on His Decade-long Electronic Music Evolution". tapeop.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
15. Corporation, Roland. "Roland - Roland Icon Series: The JUNO-106 Synthesizer". Roland. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
16. "Roland Icon Series: The Juno-106 Synthesizer". Roland Resource Centre. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
17. March 2016, Dan Goldman 20 (20 March 2016). "Roland Boutique JU-06 review". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
18. Ltd, Magnolia International. "Behringer | Product | DEEPMIND 12". www.behringer.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
19. April 2017, Bruce Aisher 16 (16 April 2017). "Behringer DeepMind 12 review". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
20. guest (2020-01-31). "Behringer DeepMind 12 Gets Unofficial Juno 106 MIDI Editor". Synthtopia. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
21. "Roland JU-06A Review". MusicTech. 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
22. Rogersonpublished, Ben (2022-04-27). "Roland's Juno-X is a modern-day synth in '80s clothing". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
23. Douglas, Adam (2022-05-06). "What Connection To The Past Does The Roland Juno-X Have?". Attack Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
24. "Ten Of The Best: Analogue-Style Synth Plugins - Page 10 of 11". Attack Magazine. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
25. July 2020, Ben Rogerson01 (July 2020). "4 classic Roland '80s synths are coming to the Zenology plugin: the JX-8P, SH-101, Juno-106, and Jupiter-8". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
26. Abrons, Sara. "Roland Intros ZENOLOGY Software Synthesizer Plug-in – rAVe [PUBS]". www.ravepubs.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
27. October 2020, Ben Rogerson05 (5 October 2020). "Cherry Audio's DCO-106 synth plugin is a juiced-up Juno-106 that won't put the squeeze on your wallet". MusicRadar. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
28. Anatomy, Synth (2020-10-04). "Cherry Audio DCO-106 Plugin, New Roland Juno-106 Emulation With MPE Support". SYNTH ANATOMY. Retrieved 2021-02-26.

External links

• Juno Series history

• The Juno-106 Connection