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Comparable Alternatives
🛒 Roland Fantom FA-08▸geni.us/Roland-FA08
🛒 Roland JUNO DS61▸geni.us/Juno-DS61
🛒 Roland JUNO DS76▸geni.us/JUNO-DS76
#DS88 #Juno #Roland
Hi everyone, and welcome to another digital piano review here at the Merriam Pianos KZfaq channel. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at Roland’s JUNO-DS88 synthesizer.
This is an 88 note, weighted touch synthesizer that’s been on the market for a few years now. We have another video where we compare the DS88 to Roland’s Fantom FA-08, so be sure to check that video out too.
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Piano Features/Sound:
The JUNO series is available in three sizes with the same feature set, but in this video, we’ll be specifically looking at the full-sized, 88-note version.
In terms of the features, we’re going to start with the left side of the instrument which has the Keyboard Mode controls. This section has 4 multi-function knobs, easily assignable meant for use in real-time. There’s also four faders, and a mic in input right there as well. There are 2 voice controls depending on whether you’re using dual or split mode, plus a vocoder auto pitch control. There’s some nice built-in split and dual presets, but you can create and store your own as well.
Some gigging musicians may require an instrument that offers more zones, and might be better served with something from Roland’s RD line, so it’s worth keeping in mind that the DS-88 is a more lightweight option from that perspective.
There’s a super layer function that allows the user to essentially duplicate a sound, with options like panning or delay to help thicken the sound. This would be particularly useful when soloing with a synth patch or something similar.
In terms of the sound patches themselves, while the DS-88 doesn’t use Roland’s SuperNATURAL sound engine, it has a huge bank of sounds, with over 1,000 patches. The patches are solid, definitely of high enough quality to record with.
The phrase pad is another cool feature that might seem a bit intimidating but is actually fun and easy to use. It’s very simple to get several interlocking phrases together, with a rhythm section, leads, and pads. This is of course super handy for solo piano gigs.
Connectivity:
The DS-88 has ¼” stereo outs, ¼” mic input, standard MIDI in and out, USB, and the option for a volume or switch pedal as well.
The DS-88 also has the option of going totally portable with a battery option for going cordless, though since it doesn’t have onboard speakers, this probably wouldn’t be useful from a gigging perspective.
Action:
The action here is Roland’s Ivory Feel-G Keyboard, which actually feels fairly close to Roland’s current PHA50, but just a bit lighter. While Roland doesn’t use this action in any of their newer models, it’s still a very solid weighted action. The touch sensitivity is decent, but probably not appropriate for an exposed solo piano track as the sensitivity is not as good as some of the current top digital actions on the market.
Conclusions:
The DS-88 really delivers for the price. It’s a model that bridges the gap between entry-level and pro-level products and serves as a great midpoint for those who don’t want to shell out for an expensive stage piano.
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