The instrument
The JX-3P is a 6-voice, polyphonic, digitally controlled analogue synthesizer with 61 keys, 128 step sequencers, 32 presets and 32 user sounds. The 3P stands for Programmable Preset Polyphonic. It is one of the company's first synthesisers (with the Jupiter-6) to have a MIDI interface. The MKS-30 rack version, which was launched at the same time, is practically identical.
Details
Each voice has 2 DCOs, 1 resonant VCF and 1 VCA, both dynamic, a static high-pass filter, 1 envelope and 1 LFO. The VCA can be switched to gate. The oscillators produce square, sawtooth, pulse and noise. Hard sync and metal (cross modulation) provide further sound variety. It has 32 factory programmes in ROM and a user memory for 32 programmes. The JX-3P dates back to the early days of MIDI and can only be operated in Omni mode. Data is saved on tape. Alternatively, the PG-200 programmer can be connected for programming. (Source: Rolandmuseum)