Roland Corporation is a Japanese multinational manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment, and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on 18 April 1972. In 2005, its headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has factories in Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. As of December 2022, it employed 2,783 people. In 2014, it was subject to a management buyout by its CEO, Junichi Miki, supported by Taiyo Pacific Partners.
The Yamaha DX7 is a synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1989. It was the first successful digital synthesizer and is one of the best-selling synthesizers in history, selling more than 200,000 units.
The Roland SH-101 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1982 and 1986. Though it was something of a commercial failure during the time of its manufacture, it later became a staple of electronic music in the 1990s, particularly house music.
Sequential is an American synthesizer company founded in 1974 as Sequential Circuits by Dave Smith. In 1978, Sequential released the Prophet-5, the first programmable polyphonic synthesizer, which was widely used in the music industry. In the 1980s, Sequential was important in the development of MIDI, a technical standard for synchronizing electronic instruments.
The Jupiter-8, or JP-8, is an eight-voice polyphonic analog subtractive synthesizer introduced by Roland Corporation in early 1981.
The Oberheim OB-X was the first of Oberheim's OB-series polyphonic analog subtractive synthesizers.
The Roland Juno-106 is a synthesizer released by Roland Corporation in February 1984.
The RolandJuno-60 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1982 and 1984. It followed the Juno-6, an almost identical synthesizer released months earlier. The Juno synthesizers introduced Roland's digitally controlled oscillators, allowing for greatly improved tuning stability over its competitors.
Arturia is a French electronics company founded in 1999 and based in Grenoble, France. The company designs and manufactures audio interfaces and electronic musical instruments, including software synthesizers, drum machines, analog synthesizers, digital synthesizers, MIDI controllers, sequencers, and mobile apps.
The Oberheim OB-Xa was the second of Oberheim's OB-series polyphonic analog subtractive synthesizers, replacing the OB-X with updated features.
The Roland JX-10 Super JX is a 12-voice analog synthesizer keyboard produced by Roland Corporation from 1986 to 1989, along with a rack-mounted version, the MKS-70. For nearly 30 years, it was the last true analog synthesizer made by Roland and has been critically acclaimed as one of their classic analog instruments. In 2015, Roland once again started producing analog synthesizers beginning with their JD-XA and JD-Xi keyboards as analog/digital crossover synthesizers. The design on the JX-10 is essentially two Roland JX-8P synthesizers put together, with a 76-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch. It also includes features not found on the JX-8P, including a simple 1-track sketchbook sequencer and a delay effect. However, the JX-10 is not exactly the same as "two JX-8P's" because the chorus is not identical to the JX-8P. The JX-10 also has a slightly different amplifier section as well as different electronic components which further distinguish its sound from its predecessor, the JX-8P.
The Roland JD-990 Super JD is an updated version of the Roland JD-800 synthesizer in the form of a module with expanded capabilities, which was released in 1993 by Roland Corporation. JD-990 is a multitimbral synthesizer utilising PCM sample-based synthesis technology. In a sense it is not a true module version of a JD-800 as it has many expanded features and as a result the two are incompatible in exchanging presets. It is equipped with 6 MB of ROM containing sampled PCM waveforms, four sets of stereo outputs that are assignable to individual, internal, instruments, and standard MIDI in/out/through ports. JD-990 has a large LCD display and programming takes place through a keypad on the front panel of the unit. The unit can generate multi-timbral sounds reminiscent of the vintage analogue synthesizers but is also capable of generation of modern digital textures. There are several expansion boards available for JD-990 that can be installed in the provided expansion slot in the chassis of the unit.
The Roland Alpha Juno is a series of analog polyphonic synthesizers introduced by Roland Corporation in 1985. The Alpha Juno 1 and Alpha Juno 2 were released at the same time, and feature the same sound engine but with the latter boasting additional performance features. The Alpha Junos were a departure from their predecessor, the Roland Juno-106, as they replaced the dedicated controls with soft touch buttons and a single dial for programming sounds. One of the factory presets, nicknamed a 'hoover sound', became a staple in jungle and rave music.
JoMoX Elektronische Musikinstrumente GmbH is a German electronic musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1997 and based in Berlin. Jürgen Michaelis is the CEO and product developer. The company specializes in analog synthesizers. The XBase 09 was the first product offered from JoMoX, and it continues to be the most requested device from the product line.
The Teenage Engineering OP-1 is a synthesizer, sampler and sequencer designed and manufactured by the Stockholm-based company Teenage Engineering. The OP-1 was Teenage Engineering's first product; it was released in 2011 following an introduction at the NAMM Show. It is also considered their core product.
The Korg Minilogue is a polyphonic analog synthesizer released in 2016 by Korg. It offers users four-voice polyphony with two analog VCOs per-voice and was designed to be affordable. It was designed by Korg engineer and synthesizer designer Tatsuya Takahashi, who said "the concept of the Minilogue was to build an analog synthesizer that doesn't rely on the fame and success of an old synth".
The Roland JD-XA is a hybrid analog and digital synthesizer that was released in 2015 alongside the JD-Xi, it is Roland's first analog polyphonic synthesizer since 1986. The instrument is encased by a shiny black front panel covered with knobs and sliders reminiscent of the Roland JD-800. The JD-XA comprises a 4 voice analog engine and a 64 voice digital engine, which can be used interactively or independently, thus providing a flexible platform for sound design.
The MicroFreak is a synthesizer manufactured by French music technology company Arturia and released in 2019. Described as a "Hybrid Experimental Synthesizer", it uses 18 digital sound engines (algorithms) to synthesize raw tones. This digital oscillator is then fed into a multi-mode analog filter, giving the MicroFreak its hybrid sounds.
The analog revival is a period in synthesizer history when analog synthesizers returned to commercial production and popular usage.
