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The Roland Juno 60 – Lush, Ethereal Goodness!

As if its wooden side panel detailing wasn’t enough of a throwback, the sound of Roland’s Juno-60 synthesizer is an immediately recognizable blast from the past. A 61-key analog polyphonic synthesizer, the 60’s upgrades to the Juno-6 extended beyond the extra zero in its name. A boost to the 6’s RAM and some tweaks to the programmability made the Juno-60 a stronger competitor to other analog synthesizers at that time, most notably the Korg Polysix. 

A six-voice programmable synthesizer, the Juno-60 was more manageable in size than the Jupiter-8, which was released by Roland in 1981. Scaled down and marketed as an affordable investment for bands and musicians of all skill levels, when the 60 came on the scene in 1982, it was generally embraced as a polyphonic synth for the masses.

Its technical specs definitely aided in its growing popularity. Each voice only has one digitally controlled oscillator, but users can choose from square, pulse, and sawtooth waveforms. Further control is achieved through its lowpass filter, LFO modulation, arpeggiator that spans three octaves, and a chorus setting that fills out the DCO sound.

Where Can I Buy A Roland Juno 60?

In addition to the Juno-60’s distinctive tonality, the machine’s memory and storage also packs a punch. The 60 contains fifty-six patch memory slots and possesses the ability to transfer information from a cassette tape through a special jack on the back of the keyboard. 

Launched nearly one year before the advent of MIDI technology, the Juno-60 lacks this specific synchronization ability. Instead, users can control the machine with sequencers that utilize DCB protocol, an interchange interface first unveiled by Roland in the Juno-60.

Those dedicated to MIDI, however, can still use their technology of choice by purchasing MIDI-to-DCB converters or retrofits that add MIDI capabilities to Juno-60s. Roland’s own JSQ-60 external sequencer is often paired with the Juno-60, as its 2,000-note capacity easily stores songs and connects to the device through the DCB cable. 

The Juno-60 made a splash upon its release, but its long-lasting legacy has stood the test of time. The 60 is considered one of the most important synthesizers produced by Roland and continues to grace the stages of arenas and concert halls around the world as a highly sought-after vintage instrument with a storied past. 

How Much Does A Roland Juno 60 Cost?

If you’re lucky enough to find a Roland Juno 60 for sale they’ll normally* range anywhere between £2,000 and £2,500

*prices generally seen on auction sites. If you see them cheaper, you may be on to a bargain.

Who Uses Or Used The Roland Juno 60?

Famous and not so famous users of the Juno 60 are: Legowelt, Mac DeMarco, Bicep, Panda Bear, Nils Frahm, Helena Hauff, Tiesto, Matt Bellamy (Muse), Sub Focus, Trentemøller, Moderat, Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) and many more!

Alternatives To The Roland Juno 60?

There are many different alternatives to the 101 whether as hardware, software, analog or digital. These are as follows: Roland Juno 106, Roland Juno 6, Behringer Deepmind 12, Roland System 8, Roland Ju-06 Boutiqueemulators and VSTs.

However, when we compare it to the real thing it’s noticeable that the alternatives don’t quite stack up. They are a great option though for people with a lower budget. If you can find one for sale, grab it!

Classic Roland Juno 60 Videos, Tutorials & Demos

A playlist of videos showing you how to program the Juno 60, some factory patches, how to use it for some cool sound design, general overviews and a nice comparison video with the Juno 60 vs the Juno 106! Some great tips in here so be sure to check them out!

Classic Roland Juno 60 Tracks

Some classic Juno 60 tracks including Oneohtrix Point Never – Zones Without People, Nate Boyce/Oneohtrix Point Never – Russian Mind and The Cure – A Forest.

Other Roland Products?

The famous Roland synths, drum machines and effects include: SH 101, MC 202, TB 303, TR 606, TR 707, TR 808, TR 909, Juno 60RE-201 Space Echo.

Where Can I Find A Roland Juno 60 For Sale?