I always ignored the J-6, thinking it was just a small Juno. But I’ve found out about the chord sequencing and it seems absolutely perfect for living room house jams.
From what I see in the manual, there is no mention of sequencing external gear with the midi signal. Is that right? If so, it’s a travesty. It would be worth more as a voiceless midi generator, even if it sounds great as-is.
Pretty sure I’m going to buy one, but wondering if there are any other machines that riff on chord progressions like the J-6 does. Thanks
I’ve been using it for awhile! Love it. There’s a few things I wish they’d update on the J6 (different inversions would be nice even though the chords are only 4 notes). But overall it’s great
That is an awesome setup. I would enjoy hearing the output from you and @mindexpansionpuzzles.
I just finished RTFM and was bummed to find out that I can’t set scales, only collections of chords I know nothing about.
I was hoping to set root and scale to pair with my Deluge for no-thought jamming. Instead I’m stooping to asking AI for advice. I might have to create a cheat sheet.
I’m guessing that certain scales are unavailable to me unless I learn a significant amount of music theory. Like if I want my J-6 in G phrygian I wouldn’t know where to begin with this chart
I’ve decided to return the J-6 without opening it. Disappointing design decision on their part, to say the least.
I just watched the Bad Gear episode and see he has the exact same problem. You either need to have a vast knowledge of traditional music theory (while still having to consult a chart), or have no interest in properly harmonizing with the thing.
As far as I know, there’s nothing else like this device, it could have been a lot of fun
I thikn it should have been:
1- set root note
2- set scale
3- set play style
This way you could have a techno arp running in G Blues, house chords playing in Arabian scales, etc. The Korg Kaossilator Pro had this twenty years ago.
I woke up thinking I would make a cheat sheet for the entire roland manual, but even my AI assistant was having trouble translating the guide into something coherent.
I think you’re going about it the wrong way. Look at it as an opportunity to explore the possibilities the Roland J-6 offers, rather than feeling constrained by its unique approach to traditional chord systems. Use the limitations as a framework to push your creativity or, as they say, limitations breed creativity.
I appreciate the encouragement. I opened the J-6 and it is the most fun and maddening musical device I’ve ever tried. The whole family thought it sounded beautiful.
The sad part is I don’t think there is another device that does this. Maybe there is a eurorack module, but otherwise I’ve never heard of it.
I was considering locking my deluge into a scale that matches the J-6 (letting the manual decide what we’re playing in) and jamming with that. But it seems like you can’t live sequence the J-6 freely. You can only edit the currently-playing chord (https://forums.rolandclan.com/viewtopic.php?t=69159)… which made me throw up my hands. I will give it another day, but I don’t think it fits with a live-sequencing jam situation
It definitely doesn’t fit into a live jam sequencing situation. The sequencer is awkward and hard to fit in.
You basically just have to use the chord sets as inspiration. Find some chord changes you like from it, and then base all your other stuff around that. If you try and integrate the J6 into an already-half-made song it won’t work like you want it to
One thing I’ve learned that helps is that I believe most of the chord sets are based in the key of C. So, you can go into the menu and use the master transpose to move it to being compatible with other keys based on that
Yeah, I found this guide which is the only thing making the J-6 useful to me tonight:
I found a solution to the live sequence editing problem - get the Deluge in the proper key, then control the J-6 with external midi. I can change chords whenever I want in a sequence, as if entering them by hand. I lose access to some of the chords on the J-6 (Deluge is only sending 7 out of 12 notes since it’s in key) but it’s better than nothing
So the J-6 works as a chord+pattern sound box. It’s really cool. It’s just kludgey to do it. All you need is an external sequencer.
@protrusion - I’m looking for something to quickly bang out chords in key with whatever root+scale I’ve set the Deluge to. I’m not picky about which ones. I want to make funny house/techno/acid, live sequenced with zero prep.
J-6 sounds best in C Minor. I’ll set the Deluge to that and see how it goes.
Toraiz just previewed what I might really want - the Chordcat. Someone on gearspace called it the “kordbot and J-6 killer”
Works great! Using the 2x PolyMUX firmware. Also very nice to use with loopback on the Octatrack itself, in case you want to use 2x 4-voice polyphony on two MIDI tracks.
I have been looking for ways to connect my Akai MPK Mini Plus to the T-8 and nothing happened until now. So first things first, I have 3 PADS working on the Akai, but still can not control the entire rhythm sounds from the T-8, I will continue my journey and report back if I find a way. I was wondering can you trigger all sounds on the T-8 from your sequencer, using the pads? I have not been able to thanks again
thank you for the tips. After some adjustments I was able to trigger sounds from pads, but Im confused with the fact that some pads (4 in one bank and 5 on another bank) will work, see picture if the ones that does not work aren’t lighted up, the ones that triggers sounds are lighted up…
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