organix' toolshed

JX-3P MIDI Expansion Kit

Thanks for your interest in the JX-3P MIDI Expansion kit.

The Roland JX-3P synthesizer is a nice analog synth produced in 1983. Today people still use this synth very often. The JX-3P was one of the first synthesizers with MIDI. The sounds can be edited from the frontpanel and with a PG-200 programmer. One of the biggest disadvantages is that the MIDI functionality is very limited. No SysEx or CC support was implemented. It is impossible to edit the sounds via MIDI. The second disadvantage is that the PG-200 programmer and the MIDI-IN can not be used simultaneously.

To solve these shortcomings, a JX-3P MIDI Expansion kit is designed. This kit is the result of many months reverse-enginering and designing. It adds a lot more MIDI functionality to the Roland JX-3P synthesizer.

- simultaneous use of the MIDI Input and PG-200
- control the JX-3P realtime with standard MIDI CC messages. (i.e. with a MIDI-Knob controller).
- all knobs and switches on the PG-200 send out standard MIDI CC messages.
- select the MIDI channel on the JX-3P as 1, 2, 3 or OMNI
- velocity sensitivity (MIDI input only, not the keyboard)

I would really like to thank all people that have supported me and bought a kit in the past. That has allowed me to buy the needed tools and equipment and to succeed this project.

There are two versions:

- The DIY version is intented for people who have experience with electronics and assembling PCBs. The PCB of the mergerbox needs to be assembled by you. The holes and pads on the mergerboard PCB are much smaller than those used on the DIN Board in the JX-3P.
- The pre-build version contains a pre-build&tested mergerbox. You only need to install it in the JX-3P (requires also soldering).

You will find more information about both versions in the User Manual.

Downloads

JX-3P MIDI Expansion Kit Manual

(PDF 754 KB, version 2.01, English)

Original JX-3P Owners Manual

(PDF 846 KB, English)

Calibration Procedure

(scanned from the service manual) (1034 KB, English)

JX-3P Editor for Windows (ZIP 92 KB)

Version 0.95. Note: Vista users must run this application with Administrator rights!

Patches

(ZIP 2 KB) Contains 20 new patches for the JX-3P!

User contributions

JX-3P Patches ntrsn 2008

(ZIP 10 KB) Contains 76 new and inspiring patches made by ntrsn from Belgium!

Visit their site at www.ntrsn.com or www.myspace.com/ntrsn

JX-3P Max For Live Controller

(LINK) JX-3P Controller for Max For Live

Ordering

The costs of the DIY version are EUR 35,-.

The costs of the pre-build version are EUR 50,-.

Shippingcosts since January 2011: Inside Europe EUR 9,48 and outside Europe EUR 16,15.

January 7th 2011:

Since I am getting married this year, as well as reconstructing my new home, I will not manufacture kits in 2011. If you have send me an email before January 7th 2011, you will still receive the kit.

I might continue the kit in 2012.

Please note that unfortunately this also means that I won't be able to answer emails regarding new orders. There are no free spots left on the waiting list.

My apologies that I can't help you at the moment. Thank you.