Roland JUNO-Gi 61-Key Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder

Compose, create and capture your songs with this keyboard's 8-track digital recorder, 1300+ sounds and reliable Roland construction. 22 People rated this product:

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zZounds' Take on Roland JUNO-Gi 61-Key Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder

Since its inception in 1982, Roland's JUNO series of compact, easy-to-use synthesizers has always delivered impressive sound at an affordable price. The JUNO-Gi, the latest and greatest heir to the JUNO name, adds 1,300 flexible new sounds and pro effects processing by BOSS's GT series. Best of all, the live-performance features you expect from a JUNO synth are now complemented by an on-board 8-track digital recorder, complete with guitar and microphone inputs. If you want your main gigging keyboard to double as a serious composition tool -- without sacrificing portability -- the JUNO-Gi takes the cake, while breaking the price barrier.

Easy-to-Navigate Sound Bank

Gigging musicians need to be able to navigate the JUNO-Gi fast. Roland's Tone Category buttons and value dial help you scan the vast library of 1,300 useful and current sounds. Just press the buttons for Rhythm, Piano, Keyboard/Organ, Bass, Guitar/Plucked, Strings/Orchestra, Brass/Wind, Vocal/Choir, Synth/Pad, or FX. There's also room to save up to 256 of your own custom sounds by stacking or splitting up to four tones in a "Live Set," with visual confirmation on the JUNO-Gi's large display. Save your ten go-to sounds, splits, or layers, then hit the Favorite button to access them quickly during a show.

Effects and Expression Controls

Let the guitarists of the world lug around their massive pedalboards -- the JUNO-Gi has all the effects processing you need right on board. Seventy-nine built-in multi-effects cover all the bases, from delay and dynamics to distortion and amp-simulation. Layer chorus, reverb, and any two multi-effects at a time, and twist the 6 analog-style control knobs in the Sound Modify section to adjust EQ, reverb mix, low-pass filter cutoff, and resonance on the fly. You can use two assignable buttons to bypass effects, turn layers on and off, and more. And since it's designed for live performance, the JUNO-Gi comes equipped with Roland's combination pitch bend/modulation lever, plus the show-stopping D-Beam controller, which senses your hand's proximity to control volume, vibrato, filter cutoff, and more. This board is all about tactile control of your sound.

Under 13 Pounds

Who wants to schlep a heavy workstation from gig to gig? At under 13 pounds, and only about 40 inches wide, the JUNO-Gi is an incredibly full-featured instrument that's also incredibly easy to move. Roland calls the JUNO-Gi a "mobile synthesizer," and it's not hard to see why: it can actually run on eight AA batteries for three hours. There's a battery-life indicator on the front panel. Grab an 1/4-inch instrument cable, a keyboard stand, and a battery-powered amp (like a Pignose or the Roland Mobile Cube), and you're good to go for a live street performance - no power required.

A Songwriting Scratchpad

What really sets the JUNO-Gi apart from its little brother, the JUNO-Di, is its on-board digital audio recorder -- perfect for the songwriter who wants to capture ideas anytime the inspiration strikes. With the JUNO-Gi's extreme portability and battery-power, you can now track quickie demos in the hotel room after the gig! Record the JUNO-Gi's onboard sounds directly, or plug in any source: there's a phantom-powered XLR microphone input, a 1/4-inch Hi-Z input for a guitar or bass, a stereo line input, and even a USB port for digital audio from your computer. The JUNO-Gi can handle 2 tracks of simultaneous recording and 8 tracks of playback, with a special ninth track reserved for built-in rhythm patterns. You can even insert any of the 79 multi-effects on your tracks, or apply global reverb, compression, limiting and EQ to the entire mix. Record up to 192 hours on a 32GB SDHC card, then transfer your tracks and mixes to your computer via an SD card reader. The JUNO-Gi records 44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV files that you can import into any DAW, and it even comes bundled with Cakewalk Sonar LE to get you started right away.

Features:

- 1,300 useful sounds optimized for live performance
- 79 built-in multi-effects derived from BOSS' GT series
- D-Beam controller and modulation/pitch bend lever
- Large LCD display, Tone Category buttons, and dedicated knobs for extreme ease of use
- Can run on eight AA batteries
- Lightweight and compact - under 13 pounds
- Eight-track digital recorder with instrument, microphone, and line inputs
- High-capacity SDHC card slot for hours of recording time
- Works as a standalone 44.1 kHz, 24-bit USB audio interface with your computer

Manufacturer's Description for Roland JUNO-Gi 61-Key Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder

In the JUNO tradition of great sound, compact design, easy operation and affordable price, the new Roland JUNO-Gi delivers. What propels this synth into another realm is the feature set: over 1,300 fresh sounds, an onboard eight-track digital recorder, and pro-effects created by Boss. Write, record, mix, master, and perform anywhere with the new Roland JUNO-Gi.

Features

- Over 1,300 high-quality sounds optimised for live performance
- Friendly operation with dedicated controls and large display
- Lightweight, compact body with battery compatibility
- 128-voice polyphony
- Intuitive user interface, including dedicated Tone Category buttons and large display
- Full-featured 8-track digital recorder onboard with Guitar/Mic/Line inputs
- Plug in a guitar and play/record with built-in pro guitar effects derived from the Boss GT series
- High-capacity SDHC card slot for data storage and direct play
- Complete mobility when used with a battery-powered PA or amp such as the Roland's BA-330 or KC-110

New Sound Bank

A new sound library has been created for the JUNO-Gi, with over 1,300 factory selections that cover a universe of instrument types and musical styles. Tone Category buttons help you scan the vast library and locate the perfect sound with ease and speed. New to the JUNO-Gi are Live Sets, which comprise up to four layered tones each -- create your own unique sounds by stacking and/or splitting tones and saving them together as a Live Set. Furthermore, a special Live Set section takes maximum advantage of the JUNO-Gi sound engine for the most advanced synth sounds.

Performance and Portability

The JUNO-Gi has been designed with the performer in mind. It provides supreme mobility thanks to its lightweight body and battery-power compatibility (up to three hours of continuous operation with eight NiMH AA batteries), letting you experience the freedom of performance in any environment. Roland's battery-powered amps such as the BA-330 and KC-110 are perfect companions for the JUNO-Gi during street performances.

Performers will also appreciate the JUNO-Gi's friendly front panel, which is covered with hands-on controls, clearly marked and within easy reach. The large screen provides clear visibility and fast navigation, even at bright outdoor gigs.

Digital Recording and FX

Pro-recording onboard! The JUNO-Gi's eight-track digital recorder with 64 virtual tracks provides a multi-track studio environment, with dedicated transport controls and mix faders. The recording media is a removable SD or SDHC card, with up to 192 hours of recording time possible when using a single 32GB SDHC card. Also supported is full import and export of track data with a computer. The same pro-performance effects found in the Boss GT-Series are built into the JUNO-Gi, as well as effects designed for vocal processing. Connect a guitar or microphone directly and apply these top-quality effects for instant CD-quality sound as you record.

USB MIDI and Audio

The JUNO-Gi's multifunction USB port offers audio and MIDI functionality -- a one cable connection to your computer is all you need to stream audio and MIDI between your favourite music software. When you combine the JUNO-Gi with the bundled Cakewalk Sonar LE 8.5 software, you have a complete digital audio workstation package for your PC. In addition, the MIDI Controller Mode lets you operate the JUNO-Gi as a MIDI master keyboard for controlling external MIDI devices. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Roland products.

Power Supply: DC 9V (Included) or 8 Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries (Not Included)*

*Carbon-zinc batteries or alkaline batteries cannot be used.

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item: Shipping Weight: 20 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 49 x 16 x 8 in

Roland Warranty

Roland Warranty

If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 323-890-3700

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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 (22 ratings) Rate and Review This Product

Read all 5 Roland JUNO-Gi 61-Key Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder Reviews

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us. "Absolutely no regrets."

Sound: The number of live sets on this instrument will take forever to get familiar with. But the preview button will give you a good, brief feel of each tone offered. Needless to say, it'll be awhile before you run out of things to discover. Feature: The split/layer feature offers near endless tone customization. The D Beam makes for a much more unique experience. I was afraid my 2 tier keyboard stand would constantly set it off, however the D Beam sensitivity can be adjusted. Ease of Use: The keyboard is as complex as you are. If you are a beginner, it offers a very straightforward experience. But if you like to dig deeper for a more custom sound, it has plenty of advanced settings to modify. The 8 track recorder is solid, however editing recorded music isn't as smooth as it could be. Quality: I have no doubt that this keyboard will last me for quite a long time. As long as it is treated properly, it will hold up well. The keyboard arrived with no noticeable flaws or blemishes, and was packaged solidly. Value: For all the features this keyboard offers, it is an amazing value. But I would only recommend it if you can picture yourself using those features. If you don't think you'll ever use the 8-track recorder, for example, you might find a better value elsewhere. For my needs, it was everything I wanted at an amazing deal. Manufacturer Support: No service has been needed so far. The Wow Factor: The second I became familiar with the Roland JUNO series, I immediately knew I would have one someday. And when the new Gi model was announced, I had sleepless nights just thinking about owning it. It is literally a dream come true for me. Overall: This keyboard, treated responsibly, could last the rest of my life. It offers everything I need now, and for the foreseeable future. Rarely do I spend 4 figures on a single item. This is the only time I have absolutely no regrets.

Style of Music: Ambient

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Sound: I have always been an avid fan of Roland keyboard products. I have owned various Roland keyboards over the years and the Juno Gi fits right into the mix. It has a lot of reproduction sounds from various past synths including the Jupiter-8, the classic Juno analogs, and the XP and JV series. The sound quality is broad as the instrument has over 1300 customizable sounds and along with the built-in effects processor it rocks. I like the fact that many of the sounds in the Gi were derived and updated from the XP via Rolands new sound engine and live sets. I own both the Roland XP-80 and the JV-1000 so I do not have to lug both of these around with me since many of the sounds from these instruments are available in the Gi which is a light and compact synth. Feature: The most useful features in the Gi include the digital recorder, large display, customizable arpeggiator, and eq. The least useful features are in inability to record directly to the USB thumb drive. Although, coupled with the included Cakewalk Sonar X1 LE DAW, I have found a way around this. I first lay down tracks in the digital recorder, then record them into Sonar where I can put the song parts together into a finished sequence on the PC and then transfer it back to the digital song player on the Gi. Through the Gi's midi/USB interface, the connection to the PC has been seamless. Ease of Use: For the first time in Roland's history, I have to say that the owner and instructor manuals were easy to read, follow, and understand. Having owned Roland products in the past this was the least favorite part of the process in getting to know how the instrument really functions. Like all new, unfamiliar products, there is always a learning curve, but somehow, Roland put the buttons and knobs in all the right places on this one. It is extremely easy to use. I have to admit I was shocked by how small the keyboard looks compared to the one's I currently own and owned in the past. I first thought it looked like a toy until I fired it up the first time and heard the sounds. The sound is what convinced me. Quality: While the housing of the Gi is plastic I feel that it will hold up for quite a while just so long as it is gently used and not abused. The buttons and knobs feel like the real deal back from the days of owning a Jupiter 8. I know, I know, I am kicking my own butt for having ever gotten rid of it, so let's not go there. I still shed crocodile tears over that one but when times are hard, you have got to do what you have got to do. Value: I do not feel that the digital recorder in the Gi is worth approximately $400 more than the Di which is basically the same instrument just lacking the recorder. However, because I have always stood behind and believed in Roland products and as mentioned above, the quality of the product is well worth the extra $400.00. Manufacturer Support: I have never had to deal with Roland Support because they have always made top quality instruments. I have never had any problems with any of their products and I do not forsee having one with the Gi. The Wow Factor: Having owned a Juno-106 previously, I wanted to introduce the classic, rich sounds of the Gi back into my mix. This is doable through the Gi because you can layer up to 4 sounds to get that fat, "almost" analog sound back that was so popular throughout the 1980s. Because many of the number one hits of the 1980s used the Jupiter 8, you, or at least I can nearly always pick out the Roland sound from any song. That fat analog sound is what Roland is all about and the Gi sound is really close. Overall: I expect to be satisfied with the Gi indefinitely. I do plan to update my current rig with the Fantom G-8 and Jupiter-80 in the very near future but I will keep the Gi in the current line up as well. If the Gi were lost or stolen, I would replace it.

Style of Music: Pop, Rock, Country, Classical, Christian, Electronic.

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Read all 5 Roland JUNO-Gi 61-Key Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder Reviews