The Usual Suspects JADE: a FREE Roland JD-990 simulator (alpha)

JADE from The Usual Suspects is a Roland JD-990 simulator currently in alpha, and it’s available for free.

You can download this alpha version from the developers’ Discord channel in AU, VST2, VST3, LV2, and CLAP formats for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Once an official release is announced, you’ll be able to download it directly from the developer’s website.

We’ve covered similar projects from The Usual Suspects, including JE-8086 (Roland JP-8080) and Xenia (Waldorf Microwave II/XT).

JADE brings us the sounds of another Roland classic, the JD-990 (Super JD).

The JD-990 earns the Super JD name as an enhanced rackmount version of the very popular JD-800 keyboard synthesiser.

The JD-990 came around in 1993, and in addition to the shared capabilities of the JD-800, it offers almost double the number of PCM waveforms (195), oscillator sync, frequency cross modulation, ring modulation, and a built-in multi-FX processor featuring a three-band graphic EQ, distortion, phaser, chorus, delay, reverb, and more.

The JD-990 also features a multi-mode TVF filter that allows you to craft more complex textures than were possible with the JD-800.

Each patch comprises up to four tones, making this multi-timbral, 24-note polyphonic synth module a real studio workhorse.

Additionally, the JD-990 offers two LFOs per patch, three envelopes per tone (Pitch, TVF filter, and TVF amp).

Another much-loved characteristic of the JD-990 is the ability to introduce analogue-like pitch drift.

However, despite its many features, one of the most appreciated aspects of this synth is its straightforward interface.

The Usual Suspects seem to have mirrored the workflow accurately, and, as always, the sound is spot on.

If you want an example of the JD-990 in action, check out Insomnia by Faithless. But it’s more than just a 90s digital synth for dance music variants; there are funky, emotive, dystopian sounds, and more.

The reason the sound is spot on is that, similar to the previous releases from the same team, you’ll need the original ROM file to use JADE.

If you have the legally acquired Roland ROM file, you’re all good; if not, the waters are far muddier.

So, it’s the usual story from The Usual Suspects; not everyone will get to put JADE to use, but appreciation for their projects is always evident.

It’s difficult to place the JD-990 in Roland’s greatest hits; I think some people place it too high on the list out of nostalgia, and I get that. Wherever you place it, the JD-990 is a versatile and dependable synth that could grace any hit record!