The Usual Suspects have announced JE-8086, a free Roland JP-8080 emulation that works on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
The Usual Suspects have already given us some epic emulations, including Xenia (Waldorf Microwave II/XT) and OsTirus (Virus Ti), and the news that a Roland JP-8080 emulation is on the way will be music to the ears of synth-lovers everywhere.
Well, maybe not music to the ears of Roland, who are known to be aggressively protective of their brand.
Whatever Roland’s reaction, JE-8086 is coming soon, and it sounds absolutely killer.
The Usual Suspects continue their method of emulating the DSP chip from the original hardware, which, in this case, is the Toshiba TC170C140.
Roland had the TC170C140 ESP2 digital signal processor chip custom-designed, and it gives the JP-8080 a unique sound and character.
As is usual with The Usual Suspects releases, you’ll need to provide the original ROM, legally acquired, of course. The developers say JE-8086 will be able to emulate both the JP-8080 and JP-8000, depending on the used ROM.
If you can jump that hurdle, early indications suggest that you’re in for a real treat.
While some existing JP-8000 emulations, like Arturia’s Jup-8000, sound fantastic and give us virtual access to the legendary Supersaw oscillator, The Usual Suspects are offering a different level of recreation.
If you check out the demo, you’ll see that the GUI closely mirrors the JP-8080 interface, with only small adjustments.
It offers two oscillators, including the abovementioned Supersaw. You also get an authentic effects section, a multi-mode filter, and pitch, filter, and amp envelopes.
The JE-8086 demo video is trance-heavy, which we would expect from this synth.
However, in addition to a major blast from the past from some of the highlighted tunes, it showcases just how impeccable the sound is; it’s ridiculously good.
All presets from the demo will be available on the developer’s Discord after release. There’s no official release date for the JE-8086 emulation as yet, but it will be available in AU, VST2, VST3, and CLAP formats for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
The JP-8080 might be best known for trance smash hits like Darude’s Sandstorm, but it was also a favorite synth for bands like Nine Inch Nails.
So, whether you’re into trance music or not, the JE-8086 emulation has something to offer everyone.
More info: JE-8086 YouTube Teaser (FREE @ The Usual Suspect Discord after release)
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Last Updated on October 10, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
