EightySix — Roland JUNO-6 Clone (v1.1 UPDATE - Velocity Response, Poly Aftertouch)

[bk]

Latest beta was supposed to drop this weekend. Went to download and donate for it, but I guess it's gone commercial.
Arp is still not implemented. Several presets don't make any sound, even if I drop the velocity sliders.
What did you decide for copy protection?
I like the sound of EightySix, and it's worth the asking price, but I won't pay $40 for an unfinished synth. I'll check back in a few weeks, and see how it's coming along.

[planetearth]

Just installed it, and I do like some of the pads and plucks, but is there a reason every preset is .0293 cents sharp? (My guess would be it was accidentally set there while the presets were being made.) Yes, I can reset to tuning and save the preset over itself but I haven't tested this in a mix with other synths, so I don't know if that was just done for a particular reason.

Also, is there no option to sync the delay, reverb pre-delay, or chorus to the song tempo? I don't see such an option, and there's no manual, so I'm guessing it's just not implemented.

I've been following this thread for over a week and I know the effects aren't necessarily a "priority", with the feeling that they may be replaced by dedicated plug-ins for each effect. And that may be, but the built-in effects currently make up a significant portion of the overall sound, so it would be helpful if they could sync to the song's tempo. Currently, the delay is set to 500 ms for all the presets.

Steve

[Morphoice]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. The patches are already sorted. Grab the latest installer and reinstall — the fixed presets ship with it. Delay time isn't locked to 500 ms — that's just the default. Drag the delay-time knob and you can dial in any value in milliseconds you like.

On delay tempo sync — worth remembering the Juno-6 didn't have a delay at all, so the one in EightySix is already a bonus on top of the faithful emulation and it is based on a tape delay which didn't sync to anything either. Tempo/note sync is something we might layer on in a future update if we feel like it — a nice-to-have extra, not a missing feature.

Appreciate you giving it a go!

[Morphoice]

Latest beta was supposed to drop this weekend. Went to download and donate for it, but I guess it's gone commercial.
Arp is still not implemented. Several presets don't make any sound, even if I drop the velocity sliders.
What did you decide for copy protection?
I like the sound of EightySix, and it's worth the asking price, but I won't pay $40 for an unfinished synth. I'll check back in a few weeks, and see how it's coming along.

Thanks for giving it a spin.

The silent presets were a known bug — already fixed in the latest installer, so re-download and they'll sound.
Arp isn't in yet — that's noted on the product page, and it's coming in a future update.
Copy protection is simple: email + serial activation, nothing intrusive.
And yes, EightySix is a paid plugin now. If the missing arp is a dealbreaker despite all the kind words about the sound, then no worries — no need to buy. And if you donated $5 or above during the beta, you don't owe a thing: that already got you a lifetime license. It should have already been sent to you the past days.

[bk]

Copy protection is simple: email + serial activation, nothing intrusive.

Good choice!

BTW, what are the demo restrictions? Mine seems to stop making sound after a while. Wasn't sure if that was a bug, or intended behavior.

[planetearth]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. The patches are already sorted. Grab the latest installer and reinstall — the fixed presets ship with it. Delay time isn't locked to 500 ms — that's just the default. Drag the delay-time knob and you can dial in any value in milliseconds you like.

On delay tempo sync — worth remembering the Juno-6 didn't have a delay at all, so the one in EightySix is already a bonus on top of the faithful emulation and it is based on a tape delay which didn't sync to anything either. Tempo/note sync is something we might layer on in a future update if we feel like it — a nice-to-have extra, not a missing feature.

Appreciate you giving it a go!

I just downloaded EightySix yesterday, for the first time. (I paid for it a week or so ago, but haven't had time to test it.) I have v.1.1.2.0, the released version. I haven't seen anything mentioning a newer version, and it still shows v1.1.2.0 on Gumroad, but I've downloaded it again, and it still shows all the presets sharp by .0293 cents.

And yes, I know the delay is set by default at 500 ms, and I know the effects aren't necessarily expected to be kept as part of the overall sound; that's what I mentioned. I was just asking if the delay could be set to sync by default, since most devs seem to go that way once they add "features" that weren't in the original synth. I didn't suggest it was a missing feature.

I take it there's no MIDI control for any of the parameters? I know that wasn't an option on the original Juno-6 (then again, neither was velocity sensitivity or aftertouch control), but the Juno-6 did have pedal control of the VCF, which would be nice to map to the modwheel.

Steve

[Morphoice]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. The patches are already sorted. Grab the latest installer and reinstall — the fixed presets ship with it. Delay time isn't locked to 500 ms — that's just the default. Drag the delay-time knob and you can dial in any value in milliseconds you like.

On delay tempo sync — worth remembering the Juno-6 didn't have a delay at all, so the one in EightySix is already a bonus on top of the faithful emulation and it is based on a tape delay which didn't sync to anything either. Tempo/note sync is something we might layer on in a future update if we feel like it — a nice-to-have extra, not a missing feature.

Appreciate you giving it a go!

I just downloaded EightySix yesterday, for the first time. (I paid for it a week or so ago, but haven't had time to test it.) I have v.1.1.2.0, the released version. I haven't seen anything mentioning a newer version, and it still shows v1.1.2.0 on Gumroad, but I've downloaded it again, and it still shows all the presets sharp by .0293 cents.

And yes, I know the delay is set by default at 500 ms, and I know the effects aren't necessarily expected to be kept as part of the overall sound; that's what I mentioned. I was just asking if the delay could be set to sync by default, since most devs seem to go that way once they add "features" that weren't in the original synth. I didn't suggest it was a missing feature.

I take it there's no MIDI control for any of the parameters? I know that wasn't an option on the original Juno-6 (then again, neither was velocity sensitivity or aftertouch control), but the Juno-6 did have pedal control of the VCF, which would be nice to map to the modwheel.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thank you for the thoughtful follow-up — and thank you again for supporting EightySix, I really appreciate it.

On the preset tuning: You're absolutely right to call this out. Let me double-check what's happening with the installer — it's possible the preset files aren't being overwritten correctly on your system. Could you try manually deleting the preset folder before reinstalling? If that doesn't resolve it, I'll look into why the updated presets aren't landing properly for you. Apologies for the hassle.

On delay sync default: That's fair feedback. I hear you — once you add bonus features, people will naturally expect them to work in familiar ways. I'll note that as a reasonable suggestion for a future update, not a complaint. No promises on timing, but I'll keep it on the list.

On MIDI control / VCF pedal: You're correct — there's no MIDI CC mapping at the moment. The plugin currently responds to pitch bend, mod wheel, and aftertouch for the parameters I felt enhanced playability, but VCF pedal control via MIDI is a logical request. I'll look into adding that (and broader MIDI learn) in a future release. Since you're right that the original Juno-6 had pedal input for the filter, that feels like a natural extension rather than a "new" feature.

One honest note: Right now, EightySix has a very small user base — we're talking dozens, not thousands. That means my time for updates comes from personal passion and whatever revenue the plugin generates. I'd love to add all of these features, but it depends on whether enough people are using it (and supporting it) to justify the work.

It's interesting to me how people obsess over what isn't there, and honor very little what is. The whole DSP modeling of the plugin alone took over a year to get right, But well...

That said, I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to write in detail — it helps me prioritize what matters most to the people who actually use the plugin.

One more thing you might find useful: The chorus from EightySix is also available as a separate effect plugin for PC/MAC (included with the purchase). So if you like that lush Juno chorus sound, you can slap it on anything — other synths, drums, vocals, you name it. Just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it in the bundle.

Thanks again for your patience and your support.

[planetearth]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. The patches are already sorted. Grab the latest installer and reinstall — the fixed presets ship with it. Delay time isn't locked to 500 ms — that's just the default. Drag the delay-time knob and you can dial in any value in milliseconds you like.

On delay tempo sync — worth remembering the Juno-6 didn't have a delay at all, so the one in EightySix is already a bonus on top of the faithful emulation and it is based on a tape delay which didn't sync to anything either. Tempo/note sync is something we might layer on in a future update if we feel like it — a nice-to-have extra, not a missing feature.

Appreciate you giving it a go!

I just downloaded EightySix yesterday, for the first time. (I paid for it a week or so ago, but haven't had time to test it.) I have v.1.1.2.0, the released version. I haven't seen anything mentioning a newer version, and it still shows v1.1.2.0 on Gumroad, but I've downloaded it again, and it still shows all the presets sharp by .0293 cents.

And yes, I know the delay is set by default at 500 ms, and I know the effects aren't necessarily expected to be kept as part of the overall sound; that's what I mentioned. I was just asking if the delay could be set to sync by default, since most devs seem to go that way once they add "features" that weren't in the original synth. I didn't suggest it was a missing feature.

I take it there's no MIDI control for any of the parameters? I know that wasn't an option on the original Juno-6 (then again, neither was velocity sensitivity or aftertouch control), but the Juno-6 did have pedal control of the VCF, which would be nice to map to the modwheel.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thank you for the thoughtful follow-up — and thank you again for supporting EightySix, I really appreciate it.

On the preset tuning: You're absolutely right to call this out. Let me double-check what's happening with the installer — it's possible the preset files aren't being overwritten correctly on your system. Could you try manually deleting the preset folder before reinstalling? If that doesn't resolve it, I'll look into why the updated presets aren't landing properly for you. Apologies for the hassle.

On delay sync default: That's fair feedback. I hear you — once you add bonus features, people will naturally expect them to work in familiar ways. I'll note that as a reasonable suggestion for a future update, not a complaint. No promises on timing, but I'll keep it on the list.

On MIDI control / VCF pedal: You're correct — there's no MIDI CC mapping at the moment. The plugin currently responds to pitch bend, mod wheel, and aftertouch for the parameters I felt enhanced playability, but VCF pedal control via MIDI is a logical request. I'll look into adding that (and broader MIDI learn) in a future release. Since you're right that the original Juno-6 had pedal input for the filter, that feels like a natural extension rather than a "new" feature.

One honest note: Right now, EightySix has a very small user base — we're talking dozens, not thousands. That means my time for updates comes from personal passion and whatever revenue the plugin generates. I'd love to add all of these features, but it depends on whether enough people are using it (and supporting it) to justify the work.

It's interesting to me how people obsess over what isn't there, and honor very little what is. The whole DSP modeling of the plugin alone took over a year to get right, But well...

That said, I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to write in detail — it helps me prioritize what matters most to the people who actually use the plugin.

One more thing you might find useful: The chorus from EightySix is also available as a separate effect plugin for PC/MAC (included with the purchase). So if you like that lush Juno chorus sound, you can slap it on anything — other synths, drums, vocals, you name it. Just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it in the bundle.

Thanks again for your patience and your support.

Excellent! Thank you! I'm in no hurry, but I look forward to further development of this plug-in. (And I didn't know the chorus could be used separately, but I'll definitely set it up for that now.)

I'll let you know how it goes after I delete the preset folder.

Thanks again!

Steve

[Uncle E]

One honest note: Right now, EightySix has a very small user base — we're talking dozens, not thousands.

Sorry to hear that! There should have been thousands during the $5 price. I think the word just didn't get out. This is the best Juno so far.

One more thing you might find useful: The chorus from EightySix is also available as a separate effect plugin for PC/MAC (included with the purchase). So if you like that lush Juno chorus sound, you can slap it on anything — other synths, drums, vocals, you name it. Just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it in the bundle.

Thank you! It sounds great! Compared to the Softube Model 84 Chorus, this sounds much more like a CE-1. You might want to sell it as a separate plugin because it's quite good.

[ftech]

One honest note: Right now, EightySix has a very small user base — we're talking dozens, not thousands.

Sorry to hear that! There should have been thousands during the $5 price. I think the word just didn't get out. This is the best Juno so far.

Agreed! People seem to be talking a lot about Juno emulations, and I know there is plenty of choice these days, but that bang for buck was unmissable…or so I would’ve thought

[audiojunkie]

One honest note: Right now, EightySix has a very small user base — we're talking dozens, not thousands.

Sorry to hear that! There should have been thousands during the $5 price. I think the word just didn't get out. This is the best Juno so far.

One more thing you might find useful: The chorus from EightySix is also available as a separate effect plugin for PC/MAC (included with the purchase). So if you like that lush Juno chorus sound, you can slap it on anything — other synths, drums, vocals, you name it. Just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it in the bundle.

Thank you! It sounds great! Compared to the Softube Model 84 Chorus, this sounds much more like a CE-1. You might want to sell it as a separate plugin because it's quite good.

When I see Uncle E say that something is good, then I know it's good. That's the kind of word of mouth that is needed.

[TechHaus]

$39?! I was going to buy it when it was $10 but it literally did not produce sound at the time. Now it's $39. Nah, dawg. I'm out.

This is TAL-Mod price bracket now.

[Vortifex]

Eh I don't think $39 for a synth is unreasonable. It's $20 cheaper than the TAL. I was actually going to buy it during the beta because I thought it had potential but I forgot. However, as an owner of JUN-6 V and the TAL, both of which are very good, I can live without this.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Eh I don't think $39 for a synth is unreasonable. It's $20 cheaper than the TAL. I was actually going to buy it during the beta because I thought it had potential but I forgot. However, as an owner of JUN-6 V and the TAL, both of which are very good, I can live without this.

Same here. Sounds good. Price isn't unreasonable. Meant to get it a weekend or two ago, but just got tied up with other things. I'd probably already have bought it if the the faders had MIDI Learn. I think that's on the to-do list, so maybe soon. I appreciate the chorus being made available separately. And the reverb sounds interesting. Dig that too, and wouldn't mind that as a standalone.

[Morphoice]

Thanks for the kind feedback!


I've got version 1.1.3 on the bench right now. It'll bring DAW automation for most sliders, plus I've added a sick musical drive/distortion effect at the end of the chain.
I'm considering dropping further Linux support, however. Not a single Linux license has been claimed to date, and the Linux builds take me roughly five times as long to produce as the Windows and Mac versions combined. A fair few weekends went into setting up and maintaining those environments, including a good amount of hands-on support — and so far not a single license has come of it. It's a little disheartening, honestly.

More news as 1.1.3 gets closer, maybe I'll have it done later today. Thanks as always for the support!