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Mostrando postagens com marcador Custom. Mostrar todas as postagens

quarta-feira, 18 de janeiro de 2023

Roland JD-800 SE Especial Edition - A rare Brazilian exclusive version

JD-800 SE. This is mine. 

What is the JD-800 SE

As a JD-800 lover, maybe you perceive I really love this synth, I was after this for a long, long, long time. To be clear, since 2002 when I got the JD-800 and created this site. 

In a short, the JD-800 SE is a version with the Strings Card plus exclusive patches but the same original factory presets. 

In practice, the JD-800 SE included all 5 cards. 

In the early 91-92, people from Roland's Brazil asked for a group of very experimented Brazilian musicians to help create new patches for the JD-800. 

This version received an entirely new set of patches not included in the factory presets. 

But this was a problem too because almost all users forgot to save the internal memory into a memory card (not included), so those patches become lost for a long time. 

So, if you have a JD-800 SE and restore factory presents, you will lose the SE version patches! This happened to most of them sadly. 

After nearly two decades, I found someone who still has the patches saved plus the original prints included with that special model. 

And yes, I have the JD-800 SE, but I was after such patches for a long time, and still, sadly I do have not the String Card (a really fantastic one). 



The new patches were created due to the great work of: 

  • Eric Persing
  • Adrian Scott
  • Paulot Roberto T. A. de Oliveira
  • Lucas K. Shirahata
  • Carlos Alberto F. Merussi (Pardal)

The patches: 


After finding this, I commented in local groups and then another colleague made a simple video about it, and for sure the JD-800 SE deserves a better one, but he has not the String Cards and his machine sadly is in bad shape, using another keyboard as a controller. 

The original credits to these great guys:



On this page below you can download this rare set of patches. Copyright @Roland Co. 

Software and Patches


Also see, this video to have a very simple idea, made by Tiago Mallen who is using a controller and without the String card.


Anyways, no matter who made what, I give thanks to this beloved great friend who gifted me with the original material after decades so we solved the mystery of the JD-800 SE


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domingo, 27 de março de 2022

Again the Gandalf in a great performance!

This is the famous Gandalf The White - The Roland JD-800 Custom White Synth.

It is really a nice white custom mod by Customsynth.
So, another great performance with it and its great sound! 

Turn up the volume!



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And here with other great synths:


 


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quinta-feira, 14 de dezembro de 2017

Making the Gandalf, The White

Dave and Randel with the White and the Grey.
Making the Gandalf, The White

This beautiful custom JD-800 became probably the most famous JD-800 in the world!
And I found some of the making photos posted by hamsterdunce at Flickr.

Here is the album description:

"Jeff Toman of Customsynth.co.uk artistically created beautiful new all-white look for my Roland JD-800, in the style of a classic '80s SH-101 synth. The logo was altered to match the style. It's a perfect way to go, since the faders are identical to the ones used on the SH. This set follows my work this afternoon at my friend Randel's synth barn in Essex, CT, as we add the custom parts onto an otherwise stock synth."



The complete album is at Flickr album: JD-800 Custom White Synth.




Here, are just some photos to tease:







Observe some personal texts at button's titles.






Enjoy!!!

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sexta-feira, 31 de agosto de 2012

Playing the Gandalf

I don´t know if there is another Gandalf - The Roland JD-800 Custom White Synth.
It is really a nice white custom mod.
So, just see this:



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terça-feira, 8 de maio de 2012

JD-800 Aftertouch Modification


Use the full range of aftertouch without straining your fingers.


DISCLAIMER:
This is a Mod to the JD-800 circuit. Do it at your own risk.



Photo:
All JD-800 users knows we need to put a lot of pressure to use the aftertouch.

As someone sayd: one needs to stand on the keyboard to get an effect.



I took here the work of two great guys from the JD-800 Tech group. As I know, they had many messages about this work and here is the result with comments from both.

Preben Friis, synth lover an expert in electronics who explain how to do a simple mod to make the aftertouch become better, really light to play.

, a guy who have great merits and a lovely work and story.

From now, I merge material from both and something more, including one or two words of mine.




The Idea:

Preben:

In basic, just change how the circuit "feel" the input value.
A 270 kOhm resistor across R27 will make it possible to use full range of aftertouch without straining your fingers.

R27 position.
Photo:



Please read all the comments before doing anything you will repent! (LOL)




Researching:
I poked around with a multimeter on the aftertouch circuit today. The pressure
ribbon starts out at 150 kOhm and by full pressure it is around 1 kOhm...

Shunting the ribbon will make it possible to move the threshold to make it start

earlier but will not make it more sensitive.
Preben


CAUTION:

This is a modification you can do inside the JD if you are comfortable with a soldering iron that makes the aftertouch much more responsive.


This mod might require to unsolder a SMD resistor ... not something for people with ten thumbs.
For sure you can ask an electronics technician to perform this modification.


About opening the JD-800:

Removing all screws may do your internal components fall.
You must remove only the screws AROUND the bottom and two screws in the center line, they are at 1/4 from side, and may be you can see a few bigger hole where thy fit to.
Sometimes the bottom have some "dust" acting like glue to.
Photo:




How to remove the panel.
JD-800 Manual. (click to enlarge)
Source: Roland Co.



The Solution:

Preben:

Thanks to Gwydion Elderwyn I received exactly what I needed to calculate and test a better modification of the aftertouch circuit in the JD-800.
The short version: 
Change resistor R27 to 120 kOhm instead of 220 kOhm. Done.
The long version:
Since SMD components are very difficult to remove, and I did not have any SMD components at hand, I chose to solder a 270 kOhm resistor parallel with R27. 
R27 is located on the mainboard in the left corner right by the ribbon cable to the keyboard.
The picture shows my "huge" resistor piggyback on R27. It is not very pretty, but it works! 

Image by: Preben Friis

 
Actually the picture shows a 100k resistor, which was the first one I tried, but that made the aftertouch sensitivity too light. I could easily press the aftertouch from 0 to 127 with my pinkie finger. The 270k resistor is in my opinion the best value. If I use my pinkie with this value it allmost hurts to press it to max. Feel free to experiment - Reasonable values are in the range from 100k to about 1M
Find a soldering iron with a very thin tip and add a little solder to the two pads on R27 first. Then cut and bend the legs of the new resistor to fit across it and add a little solder blob to the legs of it. Hold the new resistor in position with a set of pliers and touch the iron to the legs of the resistor. This should melt both solder blobs to one and the connection is made. Repeat for the other side.
The smaller the better: 
A 1/8W resistor would be preferred over a 1/4W. 
Smaller resistors have thinner legs and that makes them easier to solder to the SMD resistor.
(Acutally I'm currently using a 1/2W resistor and it is BIG!).


The tolerance does not matter much. You can use 220k or 180k if you really want to use the full aftertouch range when playing monofonic lines.
 
An alternate idea:
Marc (also suggest using a trimmer instead of a fixed resistor:
What I'd like to do instead on this mod is replace the resistor by a lower value, cut the trace next to it and connect a 500Kohm trimmer pot with modding wire (26-28Awg) and have it adjustable. 
I imagine not every aftertouch ribbon has exactly the same value, so this would make it tweekable. Nice thing is if the value of the ribbon changes in time, all you have to do it open it up and adjust it a little. The fixed resistor is there as safeguard so the value doesnt go below a safe value and draws too much current.
Also, I would not connect a pot in parallel with the current value. The response of the pot would not be linear at all, and hard to adjust. 

Another mod using the same idea:

See that was placed a wire connecting the potentiometer (at left) to position R27 in the circuit board.
Foto: Yuri Alfons Peeters Charlotte

Remember to power off before you solder anything... 
If you connect the resistor properly without shorting anything there is no risk involved in this modification. The current in the pressure ribbon will be double from around 40 uA to 80 uA, but those currents are still very far from anything that can destroy any components.

I can tell you, that a well adjusted aftertouch is almost like getting a new synth. Many of the factory sounds is way more fun to play around with, when you can change the sound by a light pressure. 
For example, try for instance patch I-22, Classic Sweeper .. 
Thanks again Gwydion Elderwyn, I couldn't have done this without your help :-)
Have fun.

Preben Friis






The Circuit and the mods
























As we say here in Georgia, WEEEEEE HAAAAAA!

Thanks Preben!  This mod was easy and it works great!  I used the 270k and find the aftertouch to now be similar to my K2000.

Most excellent.  Kinda makes you wonder why Roland didn’t get it right in the first place.

Jim Combs
www.touchxtone.com


 

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terça-feira, 21 de fevereiro de 2012

Great modifications and maintenance: Roland JD-800 "Restyling"

Great modification and fantastic result!

Efrem, from Italy have done many improvements inside that make the Roland JD-800 more robust and easy to maintenance.

A great video from a synth lover.

He turned the Roland JD-800 in a module, removed the keybed and improved it.



(Video updated in 21, June 2017)

Click the link to watch the video at Youtube:  Roland JD-800 _ Modifiche hardware



 










The video show all parts he serviced. Very good ideas.

Pay atention to details and you will be surprised. I comment only a few.

Well, he removed the damaged keybed. here in the blog you will see another modification such like this. 

The headphones output in front make it easier.

The joystick was placed apart and it is on a temporary support.

The plastic over the card place is a great idea. Protect against contact with the flat cable and prevent also agaist dust.

I say dust? Oh my god! He made a total cleanup! Dust inside is the great problem of the JDs. 

Another great idea was to improve heat dissipation in the power source. 
The connectors are no longer soldiers which greatly facilitates maintenance.

Love to see all that. Thanks Efrem, our congratulations! 


UPDATE: This one is an update from him but due restrictions you need to click at the Youtube link to see it. 



 See also:
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    sexta-feira, 13 de agosto de 2010

    Roland JD-800 Custom Pseudo-module

    Some interesting pictures at Flickr by Ran Kirlian.


    A damaged Roland JD 800

    It has the deadly keyboard glue problem that could be fixed by replacing the complete keyboard set.
    Jd800-01



    Roland JD-800 modded #1

    Roland JD-800 with keyboard glue issue being cut and converted into a light pseudo-module version. Still needing cleaning and case closed but works wel..

    Complete customization process (in spanish) at celiar.blogspot.com. This is a must see work!


    Roland JD-800 modded #1



    JD-801 Xpander prototype

    Photoshoped prototype of my upcomming JD 800 mod project (how it should look like).

    The lost bender & volume controls that uses to be placed at the left of the keyboard will be moved to a external control box.

    This picture only meants to be a sketch of the mod. I will post real pictures when it's done.
    JD-801 Xpander prototype


    Interesting, uhm?

    See also:
    .'.

      segunda-feira, 22 de fevereiro de 2010

      From MATRIXSYNTH: Roland JD-800 in Fancy Dress

      Another beautifull modified JD like a SCI Prophet-VS.

      I found this at MATRIXSYNTH: Roland JD-800 in Fancy Dress. That´s a nice blog to everyone who love synths or are ready fall in love.




      This was done by Customsynth.co.uk, the same company who made the "Gandalf , The White".


      Edited:  More from this nice machine!



      The nice people from Customsynth have more pics at flickr too.

      See this and the Yellow one! It's a Waldorf and Lamborghini style!









       Click the link to the Flick album with all pics:

      Customsynth at Flickr


      Thanks for the great work! 

      .'.

      sexta-feira, 19 de fevereiro de 2010

      Gandalf - The Roland JD-800 Custom White Synth

      This is a very nice customization.

      Jeff Toman of Customsynth.co.uk artistically created a beautiful new all-white look for Dave´s Roland JD-800, in the style of a classic '80s SH-101 synth.

      You can see it at Dave´s site.

      Also see the 29-image Flickr set showing Randel's synth barn in Essex, CT, adding custom parts onto an otherwise stock synth..


      There´s a video of the Gandalf in action: a must see!

      And here is Gandalf, The White:




       

      And the studio: