Roland Brings More Synths To Roland Cloud, Zen Core

Roland today introduced Model Expansions, a collection of new synth models for Roland Cloud and its ZEN-Core Synthesis System.

The first in the series is the JX-8P Model Expansion, with SH-101, JUNO-106, and JUPITER-8 Model Expansions in the works. The new synth models will work in Zenology for macOS & Windows, and in Zen Core compatible hardware, like the Jupiter-X and Jupiter-Xm.

Here’s the official video demo:

Here’s what Roland has to say about the first synths in the Model Expansions series:

  • JX-8P Model Expansion—Launched in 1985, the innovative JX-8P took analog a step further with capabilities that could generate tones associated with digital synthesizers, making it highly versatile. Scheduled for release on June 30, 2020, the JX-8P Model Expansion reintroduces the unique voice of this sought-after instrument for the first time ever. The user interface also includes the hands-on editing functions of the PG-800, a companion programmer unit that was available for the original synth.
  • SH-101 Model Expansion—The SH-101 monosynth has been a key ingredient in shaping electronic music styles from the mid ‘80s until today. It’s been reborn as a polysynth with the SH-101 Model Expansion, bringing new and exciting possibilities to today’s music creators. The SH-101 Model Expansion is scheduled for release on July 16, 2020.
  • JUNO-106 Model Expansion—Introduced in 1984 as an affordable polysynth for the masses, the JUNO-106 has risen from humble beginnings to become an all-time favorite of synth lovers everywhere, and its built-in chorus is the stuff of legend. The JUNO-106 Model Expansion is scheduled for release on August 8, 2020.
  • JUPITER-8 Model Expansion—One of the most revered polysynths of all time, the JUPITER-8’s lush, complex sound is part of countless hit songs over the last four decades, and its massive voice is simply unmatched when it comes to warm pads, strings, and lead tones. The JUPITER-8 Model Expansion is scheduled for release on August 31, 2020.

See the Roland site for details.

17 thoughts on “Roland Brings More Synths To Roland Cloud, Zen Core”

  1. This is the just the beginning of subscription based synthesizers. You don’t own it however you can rent it. I will always favor hardware synthesizers over software based synthesizers.

    1. @james: You can actually buy and own each one of these instruments. IMO the Roland Cloud is offering great value for the money they charge, although I am generally not into subscription models.

      1. No, you can’t buy them because they are not instruments. They are software. Will will be useless within years after OS upgrades break them and Roland has moved on to others.

    1. It’s called Sunrizer and it can amazingly run on even a first gen iPad and ancient iPhones.
      I own a JP-8000 and I never use it anymore. Just in terms of the ease of unlimited patch storage of Sunrizer I would never go back to the JP-8000, plus my last service for bad pots and weird keybed issues cost me over $200.

  3. I thought the Jupiter X already had these kinds of model? Will this mean that there are two ways to get a Jupiter 8 in the Jupiter X? Sorry for my confusion.

  5. Roland needs to stop boasting about all the great stuff coming to the zen hardware platform, and start actually releasing some of it.

    I have an MC 707, and it’s a really cool little box, but the onboard sounds are dated and mostly cheesy like an old JV1080. You can hear the loop points. But the onboard synthesis engine is actually pretty good, and if you make your own sounds they are quite nice. Having some of these digital models they keep mentioning would be great, but it’s been months since I bought the box and I’ve seen at least five press releases and not a single actual update, other than the general OS updates.

  6. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I “subscribe” to a software synth, which will stop working when:

    a) Roland stops supporting / updating it – inevitable at some point
    and / or
    b) A Windows/Mac OS update breaks functionality and renders it useless, happens to ALL software.

    Meanwhile, my hardware synths last many decades. Can’t say that about softsynths due to point “b” above.

    1. The good thing is: Nobody forces you to buy it 🙂 So whatever suits you, just do it. But why comment when you are not interested? Like I wrote above, I was *very* sceptical and have not purchased any other cloud sofware so far, but personally, I think that the constant updates are worth it and so far, I am happy.

      Of course, ongoing OS updates are a pain, but just like with hardware synths (which usually do not develop over time), you could just stay with what you have until it technically fails.

  8. Roland god fined £5,5m for price fixing. They keept prices artificial high for used hardware. This is scaming the customers!
    Then they want us to pay to rent software and keep the price for owning so high its not an option to buy!
    Roland have many good products, but im not suporting this behavior and neither should you.

  9. After years of missing out, Roland trying to sell (or preferably, rent) as many emulations/reissues of old analog hardware as possible…..
    How forward thinking.

  11. What do you mean when you say “They keept prices artificial high for used hardware”? I can’t find details of what the CMA accuses them of anywhere.

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