KVR Audio

pekadan · Post by **pekadan** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 6:45 am

The Roland Alpha Juno 2 that is. Semi- or non-weighted keys? Anyone knows?

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:48 am

Define semi weighted keys. It was a really long time ago i played a Juno 2 but the keyboard was just like any other synth keyboard as i remember it. Nothing special about it.

Synthbuilder · Post by **Synthbuilder** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:59 am

The Juno-2 has the standard Roland keys as found on many of their synths at the time. The D-50, the Alpha Junos and SH-101 all have the same keys. But the more pricey synths and keyboards had little weights inserted under the plastic molding. So the D-50 and Juno have these weighted keys, hence Roland could call them weighted.

These little steel weights do indeed add a little weight to the action, but its actually quite marginal.

pekadan · Post by **pekadan** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:23 am

Synthbuilder wrote:The Juno-2 has the standard Roland keys as found on many of their synths at the time. The D-50, the Alpha Junos and SH-101 all have the same keys. But the more pricey synths and keyboards had little weights inserted under the plastic molding. So the D-50 and Juno have these weighted keys, hence Roland could call them weighted.

These little steel weights do indeed add a little weight to the action, but its actually quite marginal.

Thanks!

The reason I'm wondering is that I'm looking for a midi controller and it's always talk about whether the keys are full-, semi- or non-weighted. I don't have much experience, but know that I haven't liked the feel of many of the non-weighted midi controller keyboards I've tried (very plastic, springy and clicky if you know what I mean). I know I really like the old Juno-2 keyboard which to me feels like it has a different action than many of the modern keyboards I've tried. That's why I started wondering whether the keys on it were semi-weighted or not.

As far as I understand from your explanation, a keyboard that's called semi-weighted today has a somewhat "heavier" action than Roland's more pricey old synth keyboards, correct?

Synthbuilder · Post by **Synthbuilder** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:34 am

pekadan wrote:I know I really like the old Juno-2 keyboard which to me feels like it has a different action than many of the modern keyboards I've tried.

Yes, I agree. I had a D50 for my master controller for many years and I had never liked anything else as much. But then I guess I had just gotten used to feel of that one.

pekadan wrote: As far as I understand from your explanation, a keyboard that's called semi-weighted today has a somewhat "heavier" action than Roland's more pricey old synth keyboards, correct?

To be honest I'm not sure. The term is banded about a little too liberally I think these days. I think the term these days means less plasticky than an el cheapo midi controller but without the heavy feeling of a piano. Each manufacturer will be different so its worth trying a few to see which one you like.

I settled on a PCR-800, but its not the same as the D-50, but then I don't think Roland describe it as having a semi weighted keyboard action. Its certainly lighter for sure and somehow I don't think it will last me 17 years like my D50 did.

C00kie · Post by **C00kie** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:56 am

pekadan wrote:The reason I'm wondering is that I'm looking for a midi controller and it's always talk about whether the keys are full-, semi- or non-weighted. I don't have much experience, but know that I haven't liked the feel of many of the non-weighted midi controller keyboards I've tried (very plastic, springy and clicky if you know what I mean). I know I really like the old Juno-2 keyboard which to me feels like it has a different action than many of the modern keyboards I've tried. That's why I started wondering whether the keys on it were semi-weighted or not.

Have you also tried a Yamaha keyboard? E.g. the ancient DX7 and current Motifs have a very good keyboard...

pekadan · Post by **pekadan** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:50 am

Synthbuilder wrote:
pekadan wrote:I know I really like the old Juno-2 keyboard which to me feels like it has a different action than many of the modern keyboards I've tried.
Yes, I agree. I had a D50 for my master controller for many years and I had never liked anything else as much. But then I guess I had just gotten used to feel of that one.

pekadan wrote: As far as I understand from your explanation, a keyboard that's called semi-weighted today has a somewhat "heavier" action than Roland's more pricey old synth keyboards, correct?
To be honest I'm not sure. The term is banded about a little too liberally I think these days. I think the term these days means less plasticky than an el cheapo midi controller but without the heavy feeling of a piano. Each manufacturer will be different so its worth trying a few to see which one you like.

I settled on a PCR-800, but its not the same as the D-50, but then I don't think Roland describe it as having a semi weighted keyboard action. Its certainly lighter for sure and somehow I don't think it will last me 17 years like my D50 did.

PCR-800 is one of the controllers I'm looking at actually. I want aftertouch. I'm also considering the new CME UF-60. The CME features semi-weighted keys while the PCR has non-weighted keys. My question about the Juno-2 was to try to get a better idea of how much I will appreciate or need somewhat weighted keys. I liked the CME keyboard when I tried it in the shop (although it wasn't connected to anything so I couldn't evaluate midi response, just feel the action). I haven't tried the PCR yet. Novation Remote SL 61 is my dream controller (mainly because of the pad and the mod joystick) but it's so darn expensive. Almost twice the price of the PCR or CME.

pekadan · Post by **pekadan** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:55 am

C00kie wrote:Have you also tried a Yamaha keyboard? E.g. the ancient DX7 and current Motifs have a very good keyboard...

I want really good midi controller features too. It's up there on the list together with good keyboard. Maybe a Motif can work well as midi controller, but it will be a pretty expensive one I guess...

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:36 pm

I can't remember for sure, but I thought the AlphaJuno2 had semi-weighted keys? The 1 was a smaller keyboard and non-weighted (as already said...nothing unusual from any other bog standard keyboard) but I seem to remember that the 2 was more of a player's keyboard. I still have my 1, but I never actually used a 2. They both pretty well had the same internals (there might have been one or two minor additions to the 2), but a distant memory niggles at me that the keyboard was the point of difference between the 1 and 2. You'd need to do a search to check though - I really am not certain about it.

OK I just checked myself...seems like the only difference was the 1 had a 4-octave keyboard, the 2 had 5 octaves and velocity sensitivity and aftertouch. I just assumed that would mean they'd be semi-weighted as well.

EDIT: Apparently Sound on Sound has a review of the AlphaJunos in a 1998 issue (September or October I think). They tend to give proper details in their reviews.

Does (did) the Juno 2 have semi-weighted keys?