KIWI Technics has introduced the KIWI 106 – ‘The Ultimate Hardware Upgrade’ for the Roland Juno 106.
Here’s what they have to say about the upgrade:
An expanded synthesis architecture, with dual envelopes and multi-waveform LFOs, is only the tip of the creative possibilities that any Juno-106 can now possess.
Comprehensive routing of controls, high resolution parameters, and eight groups of 64 patches expand the Juno-106’s synthesis capability many times over. Add in a six voice polyphonic 124 step sequencer and a pattern generator to the mix and Juno-106 becomes a new class of instrument. Now design and implement a totally modern MIDI implementation suited for modern stage and studios and provide a free Vyzex professional instrument Mac/Windows editor/librarian along with the price of admission and what do you have? Modern Brains and Vintage Brawn.
The KIWI 106 upgrade is priced at US $395. See the KIWI Technics site for details.
via Sonic State
but…what does it sound like?
like a Juno-106 😀
look at the bottom of the page, there is a little little mp3 file for streaming.
under the currency converter, well hid 😀
Like an really expanded Juno 106, I wish I hadn’t sold my 106 back in the 80’s.
I bought my Juno 106 for $250……..3 years ago.
This is awesome! I was planning on trying to add a second osc, but this takes care of the and adds a bunch of other options. But what is the “Swap Back Board”?
I found my answer. It is a board to allow you to easily swap the original cpu back into place.
I think the 106 is one of the best synths ever made, I have never had a better synthesizer ( I have owned , moogs etc) The 106 is a classic and also a budget synth really, hence its popularity with those making techno and acid .It is the synth that Roland should remake.
This looks a very interesting addition. Well done.
This looks like a lovely upgrade.
I got a Juno-6 last year for $100…
someone paid me $500 to take their juno-6…. YESTERDAY
Someone just offered me their Jupiter-8 if he could watch me bang his girlfriend. You won’t believe this but he’s dating Olivia Wilde.
juno juno juno wheeeeeeeeeee!
How does this work?
This is an editor / librarian / software that You use with a real Juno 106? Seems expensive if so!
It is a hardware cpu upgrade that also comes with a software editor.
Cant you read. Seriously. See the part where it says ‘hardware upgrade’?
Brian, yes, SERIOUSLY, I can read. Thanks for Your helpful input. Cheers!
The 106 seems to have the best MIDI mods but the voice issue makes me concerned about picking one up. I really want one of the Juno’s, hard to decide which one.
You can’t go wrong with a 60
Good find, these Kiwi guys. Their Poly6 upgrade looks interesting too!
I just realized that they added an LFO and EG, but no second DCO 🙁 That was my major complaint about the 106’s sound capabilities. That’s a shame.
The voice issue is less of a problem these days with there being ways to resurrect old chips and/or clones being made.
But what this really needs to make it complete is an iPad app for editing, especially since there a lovely spot on the front panel of a 106 that is the perfect size for in iPad mini.
MIDI Designer for iPad
Roll your own…
I know it is hard for some people to believe but some of us would rather spend our time using our gear rather than programming templates. I have already created a template in TB Midi Stuff to overcome some wonky sliders on my 106, but that is time not spent actually making music. Looking at the screen shots of the editor I can’t picture myself recreating that.
Now if the iConnectivity4+ would hurry up and ship I would get more use from the iPad.
I wonder if this works with the HS-60…
Probably. I think the only difference between the 106 and the HS60 is the size and the fact that it has an amp for the speakers.
I emailed them and they said yes and that they were going to add that to the FAQ
I’m sure you can use the HS-60 and the Juno 106S !
Would like to see synced LFO as int he JX-3P upgrade – and an editor for the JX – or even expand the Juno with sliders for controlling ekstra options in the upgrade. 😉
I love the Juno 106, and I’m glad that this synth is getting some attention, but I have to say that I think this “upgrade” misses the point of the Juno-106. The Juno-106’s strength is its elegant simplicity. It does more with less than any other synth. It provides a wide range of sounds with a simple architecture. What this modification does is make the architecture more complex. No doubt it adds to the pallet, but it detracts from the simplicity. There are a lot of complex synths around that do more than the Kiwi-106 for less money.
Does anyone have any experience using this upgrade? Can anyone compare its feature set to the Juno 60 upgrade provided by Covariance?
LFO’s don’t sync to midi clock?
What the heck!
I don’t mean to be a whiner, as this does seem to be a very cool upgrade. . .
. . . but I really would have thought that would have been an obvious / top of the list enhancement.
We have new lexan overlays coming for the Kiwi-106, Juno or Jupiter style. Makes the Kiwi-106 easy to use while not using the editor and returns the Juno-106 back to super easy-to-use status after installing the kit.
Check out the website for more information. Thanks!
I got the Juno style overlay for the main and the bender panel. AWESOME!
http://www.synthgraphics.com
Even though Brian yelled at me for not being able to read in the comments above, I purchased and installed this upgrade and am in love with it. I’m sure it has it’s flaws but I can only say good things about the sound, functionality and feel of it, and I’m so happy I did this.