Roland JX-10/MKS-70 -1986    Weight=31 Lbs. Number manufactured = MSR = $2750


User Manual: Roland US or MKS70 user manual or direct JX10 while it lasts
Operating System code: ROM versions
MIDI or other control protocol: See Manual or back to Keith's page for notes on Peculiarities in the machine
Software related Links:
Patches or knob settings: Superjx patches
Circuit Overview: below
Scematics/Service Manual: Super JX page or mediafire complete or synfo.nl for MKS-70!
Service pics/mods: After touch repair (my contact disk's material can also be cut into long strips which worked well on my arp pro soloist AT but haven't tried on these)
Common Service Issues/Tips: below
Parts Sources: Keys knobs semiconductors misc
Uncommon chips/modules used: IR3R05 VCF, M5241 VCA, MN3009 BBD, MN3101 BBD clock, MN5437 noise gen.
Modifications:Improved EPROM version! and More Info from Colin Fraser and M16C -> M64C conversion!
General Info Links: Vintage Synth Explorer or Keith's SUPER JX for way more details!




Circuit Overview:
     CPU controlled analog with 'oscillators' amounting to digital pulses being driven to an op amp to kick things off. From there on the signal path is typical digital controlled analog. The JX-10 and MKS-70 use two JX-8P boards each and add an assigner scheme for them. And a nice chorus as usual. The MKS-70 has vastly improved MIDI but see Colin's page above for lots of information.

Service Tips:
     Many common issues with these. First don't be surprised that the JX-10 can only do MIDI dump from the cartridge. It's true. What possessed them to do this is beyond imagination, I know. Aftertouch tends to go bad. Here is a page describing the problem and a sometimes fix. The feedback resistor also should be modified often in the op amp gaining up the signal from the AT sensor. I seem to recall 3x the value being used. 150K I think. Look for occasional bad solder and lots of dirty switches! Most of the parts themselves are pretty reliable.

Parts:
Roland may still have some parts for these. And also there are some discrete components that I usually stock.
Contact Sound Doctorin'