Sound Of Music

BACKGROUND

1982 Roland released a great sounding and affordable synthesizer called Juno-60, a development of Juno-6 that now was equipped with computer memory to store a bunch of patches. Juno-60 was released just before Midi came in December 1982 and changed the world of music. A follow up to Juno-60 came, with Midi, more storage (128 patches instead of 64) and portamento, but also lack of arpegiator and DCO instead of VCO. But most of all: Equipped with Midi.

DESCRIPTION

Juno106 is a 6-voices polyphonic analog synth. The oscillators are certainly DCO (Digital Controlled Oscillator). But the benefit is that DCO is more stable in tune compared to VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator). The disadvantage is that DCO is a little bit thinner than VCO. The rest of the sound is analog. So the Juno106 is a stable analog synth.

Juno106 was equipped when it arrived in the middle of the 80s with the most complete MIDI-implementation. It transmit and receive SysEx on all knobs, buttons and faders. But the little switch on the rear must be in mode II or III. The MIDI-implementation for Juno106 is this:

Juno106 MIDI Implementation

Juno106 is (with Juno60) presumably the most easy-programming synthesizer ever made. With clear, logic knobs in the signals chronological way, and with only one set oscillators, VCA, VCF and EG it cant be easier to program a synthesizer. There are some editors for computers for this, but why use editors when Juno106 has the best graphic interface aboard on the panel?

There was also another model, not so common, with built in speakers, Juno-106S. Yamaha did the same trial with their DX27S, but it gave too much of home keyboard feeling for musicians and was too advanced for home keyboard players and did not went out well.

Roland Juno-106S

Juno-106 continues where Juno-60 ends. It's not so much differences between these to synths. Regarding the sound many think (just like us - we had a Juno-60 once up on a time) that Juno-60 is a little bit fatter (VCO instead of DCO and better chorus) than Juno-106. Here are the main differences between these two models:

BROCHURES

• Juno106 Flyer 1, page 1
• Juno106 Flyer 1, page 2
• Juno106 Flyer 1, page 3
• Juno106 Flyer 2
• Juno106 Flyer 3

REPLACING THE BATTERY

If the presets disappear when the synthesizer is turned off for a while the battery is empty and is needed to be replaced. The battery is a 3V of Lithium type, with pins for soldering. This is a standard battery and can be found at electronic component stores such Radio shack or on E-bay. There are also smart users that used the BIOS-battery holder from an old PC mainboard and mounted it on the CPU board inside the Juno-106 for easy future battery changes. If there still are presets left they will disappear when releasing the battery - be sure to save them first in that case. Here is how to change the battery:

1. Except the battery you'll need a: - Marker - Scissors - Screwdriver (Phillips head) - Soldering iron - Solder
2. Open up the top by releasing 6 (if all screws are there) screws
3. Open up the cover
4. Locate the battery, located on the CPU-board
5. Release the 4 screws at the corners of the CPU-board
6. Release and mark the connectors so you'll know where to put them on later. If the cables are bound to the CPU-board, cut the cable ties (not the cables) so the CPU-board can be released
7. Now the CPU board is removed. Observe where the + and - pins are. Release the battery with the solder iron
8. Solder the new battery. Remember where the + and - pins were and be sure to put it right. Best is to solder from the rear of the CPU-board. Be careful.
9. Now put back the CPU-board, the 4 screws and the connectors in the same way they were marked before
10. Now it's just to put the cover on and the 6 screws. After that you can load the factory presets (or other saved presets) back. The factory presets can be downloaded here below
OXIDIZE CLEANING
Connectors and other components can oxidize and cause problems. Many of the problems can be fixed trough electronic spray

ROLAND JUNO-106 MANUAL

• Roland Owner Manuals
• Roland Juno-106 Service manuals is available here: The Vintage Store Around The Corner

EDIT PROGRAMS

• Motu Unisyn
• Emagic Sounddiver

Shareware:

• Juno-106 Patch Librarian for Windows

1. Hook up a cable from the soundcard, mixing console etc out to the Load connector at the Juno-106
2. Select Group A at the Juno-106
3. Press Load on the Juno-106
4. Play the file containing Factory Presets, Group A
5. Select Group B at the Juno-106
6. Press Load on the Juno-106
7. Play the file containing Factory Presets, Group B

If "Er" (Error) appear in the display, change the output level from the soundcard or mixing console

LINKS

• Harmony Central
• Juno-106 Librarian
• Roland U.S.
• Roland Junos
• Sonicstate.com
• The Juno106 Connection