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)

JX3P 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

JX3P 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

Ordering

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

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

The shippingcosts inside Europe are EUR 7,70 and outside Europe EUR 10,45.

The kit is currently out of stock.

I am still waiting for an essential part that is in back-order at my electronics supplier. The lead time for this part is quite long at the moment. It will be expected somewhere in the middle of september(!) 2010. This means that the next batch of kits will be at least available after that date.

If would like to order a kit, please send me an email and I will place your name and email on the waitinglist. Please mention which version you would like to order: DIY or pre-build. You will receive an email when the kit is ready for you.

My email address can be found at the contact page. I will response to your email normally within 48 hours.