Roland Alpha Juno

In contrast to Roland's previous synthesizers, the Alpha Juno-1 and Alpha Juno-2 do not feature dedicated knobs or faders; editing is instead done with an 'Alpha dial', a continuously rotating control that selects and modifies parameters. Some parameters, such as modulation rate and depth, brilliance, and envelope time have dedicated selector buttons for quicker adjustments. To alter any of these settings during performance or programming, one presses the corresponding button and rotates the Alpha dial.{{cite magazine |last=Jenkins |first=Mark |date=Mar 1986 |title=Dial-A-Dream |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/dial-a-dream/1313 |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=Sound On Sound |publisher=SOS Publications Ltd. |location=United Kingdom |pages=60–61}} The continuously rotating dial is reminiscent of controls previously seen on the Moog Source and Synclavier.{{cite magazine |last=Black |first=Matt |date=Feb 1986 |title=Roland Alpha Juno 1 |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/roland-alpha-juno-1/13359 |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=One Two Testing |publisher=IPC Magazines Ltd, Northern & Shell Ltd. |location=United Kingdom |pages=14–15}}

The Juno-1 and Juno-2 synthesizers expand upon the oscillator choices previously seen in the Juno-106, including three pulse waves and five sawtooth waves, along with a sub-oscillator that offers six pulse wave options. One of the pulse waves and one of the sawtooth waves can have their pulse width modulated using LFO or envelope control.{{cite magazine |last=Graham |first=Nick |date=Feb 1986 |title=It's Juno In January! |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/its-juno-in-january/7130 |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=In Tune |publisher=Moving Music Ltd. |location=United Kingdom |pages=24–25}}

The Alpha Juno synthesizers feature a multi-stage envelope design that includes eight parameters, encompassing four timing settings, three levels, and a key follow function. A Yamaha DX7-style envelope chart is prominently displayed on the right-hand side of its control panel, which helps guide users through the complex envelope stages.{{cite magazine |last=Black |first=Matt |date=Feb 1986 |title=Roland Alpha Juno 1 |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/roland-alpha-juno-1/13359 |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=One Two Testing |publisher=IPC Magazines Ltd, Northern & Shell Ltd. |location=United Kingdom |pages=14–15}}

An integrated chorus effect on the Juno-1 and Juno-2 includes a programmable rate parameter, providing more options than the fixed dual-rate chorus found on the Juno-106. The Alpha Junos feature 64 factory presets as well as memory for 64 programmable user sounds.

In 1985, Roland introduced two versions of the Alpha Juno series: the Alpha Juno 1 (JU-1) and the Alpha Juno 2 (JU-2). The JU-2 expanded on the JU-1 by offering an additional octave of keys, incorporating velocity sensitivity, aftertouch, and including a cartridge slot for patch storage.{{cite web |date=October 1998 |title=Roland Alpha Juno 1 & 2 (Retro) |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct98/articles/rolandjunos.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607080333/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct98/articles/rolandjunos.html |archivedate=7 June 2015 |work=Sound On Sound}} For the home market, Roland released the HS-10 as the equivalent of the Juno 1, and the HS-80 as the home market version of the Juno 2, both featuring a different colour scheme but sharing the same sound engine as their counterparts.{{Cite book |last=Bjørn |first=Kim |title=Inspire the Music: 50 Years of Roland History |date=22 Dec 2022 |publisher=Bjooks |isbn=9788799999569 |pages=251}}

The MKS-50 was released in 1987 and is a rack-mount version of the Alpha Juno. It has the same synth engine and architecture, with some added features like 16 programmable chord memories, and the ability to store velocity, volume, panning, de-tune, portamento and other similar parameters within each patch.

The optional Roland PG-300 programmer made every MIDI parameter editable with a dedicated slider or switch. It retailed for £200 and was compatible with the Alpha Juno 1, the Alpha Juno 2, the MKS-50, and the home market versions.

The Alpha Junos had little impact upon release and were overshadowed by Yamaha's dominance with its FM synthesizer range, with the shifting preference from traditional analog to digital and FM synthesis technologies placed the Alpha Juno at a disadvantage.

A factory preset called "WhatThe" became popular in jungle and rave music, earning the moniker "Hoover sound" due to its distinctive pitch modulation effect. This preset was initially created by Roland sound designer Eric Persing as a joke. Early examples of the Hoover sound include "Dominator" by Human Resource, "Mentasm" by Second Phase and "Charly (Alley Cat Mix)" by The Prodigy, all released in 1991.{{Cite web |title=Key Tracks: Mundo Muzique on Second Phase's "Mentasm" |url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2014/05/key-tracks-mundo-muzique-on-mentasm |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.pressreader.com/australia/future-music-9629/20160310/282024736349651 |access-date=2024-03-20 |via=PressReader}} Later uses of the Hoover sound include "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga and "Birthday Cake" by Rihanna.{{Cite web |last=Hé |first=Kristen S. |date=2022-05-23 |title=Every Lady Gaga Song, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-lady-gaga-songs-ranked.html |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Vulture |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2012-02-26 |title=Rihanna's "Talk That Talk" Reviewed: "Birthday Cake" - Popdust |work=Popdust |url=https://www.popdust.com/2011/11/14/rihanna-talk-that-talk-birthday-cake-leak-new/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226080729/https://www.popdust.com/2011/11/14/rihanna-talk-that-talk-birthday-cake-leak-new/ |archive-date=2012-02-26 }}

In 2014, Audio Realism introduced Redominator, a software emulation of the Alpha Juno 2 that reads sysex presets from the original synths.{{Cite web |last=Rogersonpublished |first=Ben |date=2014-06-10 |title=AudioRealism ReDominator synth released in VST/AU formats |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/audiorealism-redominator-synth-released-in-vst-au-formats-600235 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}} In 2024, TAL Software launched TAL-Pha, another software plugin emulating the MKS-50 rack version of the Alpha Juno 2, which is capable of reading and converting sysex data from the original Alpha Junos as well as functioning as a software controller for them.{{Cite web |last=Puricelli |first=Rob |date=2024-02-15 |title=TAL-Pha from TAL: Hoover Up Those Classic Analog Tones |url=https://www.gearnews.com/tal-pha-from-tal-hoover-up-those-classic-analog-tones/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=gearnews.com |language=en-GB}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/ajuno1.php Vintage Synth Explorer Alpha Juno 1 page]
• [http://www.polynominal.com/site/studio/gear/synth/Roland_alpha_juno/index.html Polynominal page]
• [https://rolandcorp.com.au/blog/roland-synth-chronicle-1973-2014 Roland Synth Chronicle: 1973 - 2014]
• [http://www.llamamusic.com/mks50/mks-50.html MKS-50 / Alpha Juno / HS webpage]

{{Roland}}

Alpha Juno

Category:Monophonic synthesizers

Category:Analog synthesizers

Category:Musical instruments invented in the 1980s