Roland just turned its JD-XA synth into a drum machine

By Ben Rogerson
( Future Music )
published

Hybrid synth gets "classic analogue" sounds

The JD-XA: now good for beats as well as bleeps.
The JD-XA: now good for beats as well as bleeps.

Roland's JD-XA is a fine analogue/digital crossover synth, but one of the things it lacked at launch was a selection of drum sounds.

Roland has now addressed this omission with the release of Real Analog Drums, a free download that promises "classic analogue Roland drum sounds".

Each of the supplied programs contains what Roland describes as a TR-style drum kit and a sequenced drum pattern. Kits are mapped across the keyboard and can be edited for tonal variety.

Find out more and grab the download on the Roland Axial website.

Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.