The Roland JX10 and MKS70 are fantastic 12 voice analogue instruments with a unique sound that is still very much in use today. After 30 years, many VFD displays in Roland instruments are starting to fail, either due to FIP transformer failure, segment connection corrosion or the heater filaments in the Vacuum Florescent Tube reaching end of life. When the heater reaches end of life, the filaments can suddenly break after an instrument has been transported and subjected to vibration or shock.

Losing a 12 voice analogue flagship synthesizer is considered a tragedy by many so this project was started to keep instruments working and delivering their potential.

The end result not only replaces the existing display from a functional perspective, but improves usability when using a Frédéric Vecoven OS upgrade. The pictures on this page show the new enhanced arrangement.

For a good look at how the display functions check out this video…

Check out the new Anniversary Edition firmware containing a 14 segment starburst emulation to enhance the retro styling of the instrument: SuperJX Display Anniversary Edition

OLED & LCD Versions

Lower cost versions are available that still presents the same enhanced data as the VFD when running Vecoven OS in the instrument. rather than use a graphic display it uses 40 character by 2 lines to show the information. See here for more information.

Read More: Design Engineering

MKS70 VFD Images by kind permission of Serge Pomorski

Copyright © 2020 Super Synth Projects, Guy Wilkinson