You can find Alpha Juno synths at good prices if you look carefully. They are quite surprising once you get past the pre-sets. I have an Alpha Juno 1, and I use it with a VST editor inside my DAW.

 

Last edited: Aug 2, 2022

I feel the same was about the TX81Z and Nord Lead 1. Best bargains out there IMO. I use Edisyn to edit the TX81Z.

Juno 1 is good but the Juno 2 is slightly better build quality. I know M83 used them alot.

 

I use mine as a sound module and I play it with a controller keyboard, and as mentioned above all the programming is done inside the DAW. Regarding the actual hardware, the Juno 2 has aftertouch.

 

had one in the past and loved it.

 

You can't do classic gabber without an Alpha Juno

 

Me too. I've even built a memory expansion with static S-RAM chips.
It was a nice compact synth (even beyond the hoover sound ) but nothing a Nord Lead (3) or blofeld couldn't do.

 

Last edited: Aug 2, 2022

I have one and its great. It never ceases to amaze me how after creating a bassline with the "fattest" VST plugins and then using that MIDI firing up the Juno2 puts em to shame in the low end department. It just has some nice round fat analog lows that are missing in VST's.. of course with synth layering, extra EQ's, compressions, saturation etc etc etc VST's can get close, but THAT raw warm fatness is immediate on the Juno2 and always puts a smile on my face, which ive never really seen anyone praising its low end compared to other analogs. Anyway, I love it for the bass and everything else! The VST preset programmer/controller works great too.

And BTW if you are looking to buy one, theres also the "home" version of the Alpha Juno 2 "HS-80 SynthPlus" which is exactly the same synth but different look and with built in speakers (that can be bypassed using a headphone jack) which is a nice touch for jamming out ideas on the couch, kitchen table or wherever.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Aug 3, 2022