Roland JP-8000 and the Free JE-8086 VST: History, 31 Presets and a Full Track With One Synth
Short answer: the Roland JP-8000 is a 1996 analog-modeling synth famous for the Super Saw sound of trance, and JE-8086 is a free emulation of it by The Usual Suspects. Radio In Altum has three videos on it: the history, a 31-preset tour with no talking, and a full track made with only JE-8086.
The synth and the Super Saw
According to Wikipedia, the JP-8000 was released in 1996 (on sale in early 1997) as an 8-voice analog-modeling synthesizer, at $2,295. Its Super Saw is described as a free-running oscillator whose shape resembles seven sawtooth oscillators detuned against each other over time, which gave dance producers the thick lead sound of "Anthem Trance". The 1998 JP-8080 followed it, and the same page credits the JP-8080 for Darude's "Sandstorm".
The channel tells that story in "Roland JP-8000 History: The Original Supersaw Synth + Free JE-8086 Emulation" (7:41), which opens with a throwback to an old live set with a Roland MC-505 in São Paulo.
JE-8086: the free emulation
JE-8086 is a free emulation of the JP-8000 and JP-8080 by The Usual Suspects, part of an open-source project on GitHub (gearmulator) that emulates the DSP chip of the original. As with OsTIrus and Xenia, the original firmware is not included and you have to supply it yourself, following the developers' instructions. For the other two emulations, see Free Vintage Synth Emulations.
31 presets, no talking
"JE-8086 Presets: 31 Free Roland JP-8000 VST Sounds (No Talking)" goes through 31 presets with the name on screen, from supersaw trance leads to pads, basses, sweeps, arps and bells. Each one has a chapter. A few starting points from the chapter list:
- 0:00 Chariots, 0:56 Circular, 1:27 Glass Columns
- 2:43 Legato TB-303, 3:08 Massive Pad, 3:43 Sweepers
- 4:23 Stargate, 5:29 Trance Floor, 8:45 Arpegg-Juno Pad
One full track with only JE-8086
In "The Roland JP-8000 Is Now a FREE VST: One Full Track With ONLY JE-8086" (1 Track 1 Synth #3), every melodic sound comes from JE-8086. It has no drum presets, so the drums are the channel's own samples. The style is minimal house and deep tech, made in Ableton Live 12. The video's chapters:
- 1:10 bass from the Juno Sub Bass preset, 2:52 drums from own samples
- 5:48 a second JE-8086 instance, 6:46 scale mode and melody
- 10:41 sound design on the envelope, 15:15 lead from the STB (TB-303 style) preset
- 17:01 a quick arrangement, 21:03 final thoughts
The rule of the series is one track, one synth, so you learn one instrument deeply. The full list is on every Radio In Altum video in order.
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What is JE-8086?
A free, open-source emulation of the Roland JP-8000 and JP-8080 by The Usual Suspects, which emulates the original's DSP chip. You must supply the original firmware yourself.
What is the JP-8000 Super Saw?
According to Wikipedia, a free-running oscillator whose shape resembles seven sawtooth oscillators detuned against each other over time. It became a signature sound of trance.
When was the Roland JP-8000 released?
1996, with availability in early 1997, as an 8-voice analog-modeling synthesizer at $2,295, per Wikipedia.
Does JE-8086 have drum sounds?
The Radio In Altum track video says JE-8086 has no drum presets, so the drums in that track are separate samples.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Roland JP-8000: year, polyphony, Super Saw, JP-8080, price
- gearmulator on GitHub (The Usual Suspects): JE-8086 and the other emulations
- Radio In Altum, JP-8000 history video
- Video description, JE-8086 presets (chapters)
- Video description, 1 Track 1 Synth #3 (chapters, tools, style)
Written on November 1, 2026. Gear news can change fast; specs, prices and dates here are as reported on that day. This page is updated when new details come out.
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