By wikter
On 30th June 2006
Version: Final
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About this Synth there's a lot of things to be said.
It seems much more based on SH series from Roland but as long as I've not searched along the Roland Keys history I can't say that for sure.
The oscillator section is based on two Pulse (width modulable) oscillators, but the only controls are 2nd Osc detune, 2nd Osc Coarse and Mix. It's a bit limited in comparison with some ones, but in fact, it does the job.
The filter section is a selfoscilating resonant LowPass filter modulated by a very fast envelope with bipolar modulation (positive and negative).
The Amp envelope is also very fast (try short attack and decay time), altough pads can also be achieved by pushing the fader up to the end.
Finally, an LFO that modulates the filter and the oscillator PWM or Pitch. It's a shame that you only have the possibility to modulate one parameter of the escillator, but the fact is that this lack of controls allows this synth to be very easy to understand.
The envelopes are very fast and it's easy to adjust them to fast rates without getting artifacts.
The resonance starts selfoscillation very early when the fader is moved and its sound doesn't matches for Pads os Basses easily.
Altough it do the job with Basses, Pads, Drones, stabs... its sound and play modes (wow, it's polyphonic) gives good classic Leads, arps and glissandos.
And rating the KVR values...
User Interface:
No Gui... Ok, I'm so used to work with no Gui that I can't imagine it out of the Logic faders.
Sound:
As long as it has no effects, it sounds dry and the presets doesn't help, but adding a flanger+Xdelay gives a more exciting machine. The ease of control also lets you focus on the music, forgetting to adjust tones of controls.
Features:
Altough it's feature limited and lack a bunch of parameters, it is fast to understand and tweak, and very low on CPU usage. Also, the voice modes helps when searching classic sounds.
Documentation:
Forget about it. Not needed
Presets:
Useful when you need to create a new sound, but not specially inspiring.
Customer support:
Unknown and unneeded.
Value for money:
Freeware. It costs a download.
Stability:
On Logic, I've found two kind of problems, it can clip Equalizer bands inserted after it and sometimes it stops sounding... in fact, it stops sound when an eQ after it is clipped. Well it only happens tweaking it while it's played, but it's a shame that it happens (altough it happens rarely) |
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By tetsuneko
On 18th June 2006
Version: 1.0.0.1
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2 of 2 people found
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While there are many reasons why i consider this to be among the very best subtractive FOOS VSTi's out there, the biggest one is the sound of the thing itself. I highly recommend jx10 for a subtractive synth in your arsenal.
I could have written how the internal architechture of the jx10 works, but this becomes obvious once you have used it for a while.
mda JX10 is supposedly similar to a Roland JX10 in its features? I have never used a real JX10 myself, so I wouldn't know. There are two oscillators, square and saw. You get two envelopes, one for filter and one for amp. Filter section might seem modest to contemporary alternatives, only a single LPF. Also, in the modulator section, there is only one LFO. Doesn't sound like much? I disagree!
First of all, the plugin itself is a single .dll, so no need to install or worry about bloating your DAW's registry with redundant garbage. Some people don't seem to mind this, but I'm very picky about this myself.
Another feature that I admire in JX10 is it's GUI-less interface. I know this turns a lot of people off, having used to all kinds of nice looking GUI's with 3D rendered knobs and such. I usually find GUI's to be quite distracting, so for me this is actually a plus instead of a minus. And surely if a GUI is needed, someone with the urge can make a skin and post it to mda?
What about cc's then? I think that when shaping sounds on stage, less is more. While there are only a modest amount of parameters on the jx10, I found I can easily map almost all of the parameters to my PCR-50 (which has ~32 controllers). Shaping the sounds becomes a snap once you have most controls assigned, and I actually remembered again just how fun those old analog synths used to be! Many other VSTi's have huge amounts of parameters, and the only way to gain tactile control of them is by buying the biggest knob-box in the world.. hardly convenient?
As I mentioned in the beginning of my review, jx10 sounds great. The filter, although only a single LPF, gives you instant gratification by sounding very smooth and warm. Oscillators are very nice as well, no sign of syntheditesque thinness or homogenicity here. I guess I should have analyzed some tests and include the results here, but I am a lazy bitch you know ;) It is enough to say that I'd go toe-to-toe with jx10 against anything else than xhip any day! (I hate to base arguments on personal experience, but I have tried many, many VSTi's - both FOOS and commercial - and I should have a pretty good idea about what sounds good and what doesn't..)
I don't know if there is a manual for jx10, but it's so simple that one hardly needs it anyway.
To wrap it up, mda jx10 is a synth that grows on you. Once you get over the fact that it's not meant to be used for every sound in your next hot track and use it in the context of where it's strenghts lie, good results are bound to happen. It's no wonder that mda is working for Digidesign nowadays. |
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By PugFace
On 12th March 2004
Version: 1
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Very roland sounding. This was i think first VSTi taht i downloaded from the WEB. I was real scared at first because i was worried about viruses. But this has a nice Juno 106 sound. It is no good for anything other than analog sounding stuff as the filter seems to be too clean. I still have fond use of it but i hardly ever go back in to Cubase Folders for it. |
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By brok landers
On 28th September 2003
Version: 1.1
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like every plugin of mda its very simple but focussed on what it does to do it perfect.
it exactly has the features like a jx8p (exept the chorus and the layering lower-upper structure), and it even reminds me about that one in terms of sound.
it simply sounds great, and i hate it for being so featureless ... imagine this synth with enhanced filtermodes x 2,fm, filter fm and ringmodulation, more lfo´s and env`s, and a modulation matrix ... i dont even want to think about it.
come on, maxim digital audio, update this synth to what it deserves ... i would even pay for it.
--------------------------------------------------------
gui :
none.
sound :
a bit it reminds me to a jx8p.
features :
too rudimentary for the exellent sound. you allways hate it to be so limited.
docs :
never needed. tweak a slider and listen.
presets :
the synth is capable of what the presets show.basic but good.
support :
simply brilliant, because mostly not needed (as with all the plugs of mda), but if, the developer himself is replying.
value for money :
feel bad, its a steal(as with all the plugs of mda).
stability :
never ever crashed once on all my systems in all circumstances (as with all the plugs of mda;=).
summary :
go get everything of mda, and dont let yourself be fooled by the fact that theres no gui or its free.
its high end plugs. every each of mda.
to mda :
ENHANCE, UPDATE, PACK-FULL-WITH-FEATURES ALL YOUR PLUGS.
brok landers |
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Last edited : 28th September 2003
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By dor-x
On 28th July 2002
Version: 1
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This is the best sounding freeware synth around.
but one of the worst looking.
It has clarity and richness and punch, but not too much diversity, so you don't get lost.
It can't be automated, though, big shame, and sometimes drop out (but don't crash). The author replyed to my emails himself, and it should be noted that his other plugins (effects)are enormous too.
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By x_bruce
On 23rd December 2001
Version: 1.x
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Great synth, simple to use, simple design and a good thing as there is no U/I. In return you get very low resouce use.
The sound has a Roland early 80's timbre although preset programs give a hint at how much can be done with this free synth.
Pros: low resources, great sound, good editing capabilities, it's free
Cons: no interface
If they made an interface I'd pay for it providing it wasn't unreasonably priced. You can't be hurt trying the JX10 so do so and have fun with a good synth.
My score was a bit uneven but if given an overall number by my standards this would be a solid 8. |
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Last edited : 26th December 2001
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By
On 29th November 2001
Version: ME
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When I 1st got into VSTI's I was on the Hunt for the free B's. I downloaded this and Was like Uh...??? Where the Synth? Its Just a Few Faders. I then Played some of the Presets and I was IN AWE!!!! Very Nice presets. They makers should make More. Sounds and how bout a GUI Guys!!!!!
Subliminal
www.innervisionmusic.com
www.triptheory.com |
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By Jim M
On 27th November 2001
Version: n/a
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Probably the best freeware "synth-ey" synth. Good warm sound, decent filters and synthesis implementation. Not a real adventurous synth, but for a WYSIWSYG, can't be beat. Decent vanilla presets.
Big drawback is the lack of a GUI... but that fact probably keeps it a CPU miser. |
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By Illusionist
On 17th November 2001
Version: 1
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This must be the freewaresynth with the best soundquality. It's a reasonable basic synth with not too many features, but it's sound is really convincing. I'm very impressed by the broad number and versatile presets on this softsynth. I have nothing else to say but: 'Try it and you'll love it!' |
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By derek
On 4th November 2001
Version: 1.0
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probably the best sounding freeware virtual analog synth there is at the moment. all the standard parameters are there, and if you feel its limited, then thats because, well, old school substractive synthesis is a bit limited in general :-)
i only wish it had a decent GUI - but it seems like were going to get just that with VST 5.1 so i can see myself using it even more than i did in the past.
its a great synth, and sheesh its again freeware
*bows before the freeware heros* you guys rock :-) |
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By crimsonwarlock
On 4th September 2001
Version: na
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Excerpt from the Orion-central review:
Eventually it comes down to sound. And the JX10 doesn't look real good, but it certainly sounds great. Until I stumbled upon this little gem I thought only a commercial synth like the Pro52 was capable of such a broad spectrum of sounds. As with the Pro52, the filter is so incredible smooth that it's very close to the fatness of a real (hardware) analogue synth. The fact that I'm holding the JX10 against the Pro52 (which is the best VSTi recreation of an analogue synth to my opinion) should give you an impression on how good the JX10 actually sounds. In short: I'm impressed.
Read the full review on Orion-central:
http://www.orion-central.com/reviewmdajx10.shtml |
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Last edited : 4th September 2001
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By Dr Soybean
On 19th August 2001
Version: 1.0
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Just has a super high quality sound. Great for pads and leads. Maybe not so good for basses, at least not the really low stuff. This is one of the VSTis I always go for. Its free so everyone should grab it. I dont fault it for lacking a GUI because the default Cubase slider scheme works just fine. Easier to work with than some of the poorly-designed-but-pretty interfaces, actually. BPM sync on the LFO would be nice to have. |
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By dronestudios
On 19th August 2001
Version: 1.0
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I've worked with many professional VSTi's but the mda JX10 has the best sound! The filter sounds genuinely analog and is thick and sweet. Probably the best I've heard! Currently there is no distinct user interface, but the JX10's parameters are easily accessible without need of a manual. The sound is reminiscent of a Roland Jupiter 8 more than a JX10, which is impressive. The presets are awe-inspiring! This is the most stable VSTi and so light on the CPU! Can you believe, it's free!?! |
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Last edited : 23rd August 2001
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| Latest 13 reviews from a total of 13 |
