🆓 The Usual Suspects Release FREE Roland JP-8000 emulation

[LinkedMusicians]

The Usual Suspects have released JE-8086, a FREE Roland JP-8000 emulation plugin. You need the Roland JP-8080’s original ROM file for this to work, so it’s value is limited to those who own that or use a pirated version (which I don’t encourage and won’t use).

https://dsp56300.wordpress.com/je8086/

 

 

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1

[Shaun Watson]

On December 30, 2025 LinkedMusicians said

You need the Roland JP-8080’s original ROM file for this to work, so it’s value is limited to those who own that

 

 

The official LinkedMusicians account

Roland themselves distribute the firmware freely with the only condition being that you agree to their software terms of use which only covers distribution it doesn’t state that you require the original hardware to use it nor excludes its use in other compatible systems that I can see.

So if I download it directly from Roland, which adheres to their conditions,  would this make me a legitimate owner of the jp8000 rom?

I posted the terms below that you have to agree to in case anyone can advise whether this means that it can definitively or cannot be legally used:

Roland Software License Agreement

This is a legal agreement between you (an individual or a corporation) and Roland Corporation (herein referred to as “Roland”) regarding the usage of this software product (herein referred to as “SOFTWARE”). Please read carefully the terms of this License Agreement before installing or using the SOFTWARE. By installing, copying, or starting the use of the SOFTWARE, you hereby consent to the terms of this License Agreement.

1. GRANT OF LICENSE

Roland grants you the following non-exclusive rights to use the SOFTWARE in accordance with the terms of this License Agreement.
(a) You may only use the SOFTWARE on a specific single computer at one time. Use of the SOFTWARE shall include loading the SOFTWARE into temporary memory (i.e., RAM) or installing the SOFTWARE into storage media (i.e., hard disk) of the computer on which you will use the SOFTWARE.
(b) You may make one copy of the SOFTWARE for backup purposes only (on floppy disk, magneto optical disk, DAT or the similar media), but you are prohibited to make any other copy.

2. COPYRIGHT

The SOFTWARE and its copyrights are the property of Roland and are protected by all international copyright laws and treaties.
Therefore, you must treat the SOFTWARE like any other copyrighted material (i.e., a book or a CD). All rights that are not provided for herein are reserved by Roland.

3. OTHER RESTRICTIONS

(a) You shall not modify, change, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE and the copyright notice and copyrighted logo.
Unauthorized copying, uploading to another network, distributing, modifying and/or attaching this software to other media or any other sales item is expressly forbidden.
(b) You shall not loan, rent, lease, sublicense or transfer the SOFTWARE, either in whole or in part, to any third party. But you may permanently transfer the SOFTWARE and accompanying printed materials provided you retain no copies of the Software and recipient agrees to the terms of this License Agreement. If the SOFTWARE has been updated or upgraded, any transfer of the SOFTWARE must include the most recent update and all prior versions.
(c) If this SOFTWARE contains multiple templates of media (such as floppy disks and CD-ROM) and these media contain the same software, you may use only the one form of media that is appropriate for your computer. You shall not use the remaining form(s) of media on another computer.
(d) You may not use the SOFTWARE from multiple locations of a multi-user or networked system at any time.
(e) The SOFTWARE may use open source software and other third party software (“OSS, etc.”). The OSS, etc. in the case shall be subject to the OSS, etc. license (“OSS License”). Roland will display the OSS, etc. used in Company products on the product screen, on Company’s website, or in the Owner’s Manual for the products. You shall check these and comply with the OSS License. If there are any differences between the terms of this License Agreement and the OSS License, the OSS License shall prevail and the terms of this License Agreement shall not apply.

4. SOFTWARE UPDATE OF NETWORK-CONNECTED PRODUCTS

Some of Roland’s products can be connected to the network (hereinafter referred to as “Such Products”). If Such Products are connected to a network, end-users may from time to time be able to download SOFTWARE updates via the connected network. If you decide to use this functionality and download a SOFTWARE update via the connected network and install such SOFTWARE into Such Products, you acknowledge and agree that additions to, changes, or deletions of any function of the SOFTWARE may occur as a result of the SOFTWARE update. Roland shall not be liable for any loss or alterations of data resulting from a SOFTWARE update downloaded and installed by you. You further acknowledge and agree that this License Agreement shall also apply to the SOFTWARE update that you have downloaded via the network and installed.

5. NO WARRANTY

Roland makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, with respect to any of the software, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

6. NO LIABILITY

Roland can not reply to inquiries regarding this system software updater. Please read the instructions completely, and please note that you should use the SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
In no event shall Roland be liable to end-users for any damages whatsoever, including but not limited to financial damages for any loss of profits or information arising from the use of, or inability to use this product. The foregoing provision is effective even if Roland has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Even if the SOFTWARE has any material, verifiable, and reproducible program errors, Roland shall have no liability to modify such errors.

7. TERMINATION OF THE LICENSE

Roland reserves the right to terminate this License Agreement if you fail to comply with any of the terms of this License Agreement. Upon such termination, you shall immediately stop using the SOFTWARE.

8. GENERAL

(a) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without affecting, impairing or invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.
(b) Roland may, in its sole discretion, update this Term at any time. Any changes that Roland makes to this Term will only apply to Your use that occur after Roland posts those changes online or on an appropriate location.
(c) This License Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of State of California without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws.

For EU Countries,
Manufacturer:
Roland Corporation
2036-1 Nakagawa, Hosoe-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-1304, JAPAN
Importer:
Roland Europe Group Limited
Hive 2, 1530 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading, Berkshire. RG7 4SA United Kingdom
Responsible Person / Authorized Representative:
Roland Central Europe N.V
ENA 23 Zone 1 nr. 1620 Klaus-Michael Kuehnelaan 13, 2440 Geel, BELGIU

For the U.K.,
Manufacturer:
Roland Corporation
2036-1 Nakagawa, Hosoe-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-1304, JAPAN
Importer:
Roland Europe Group Limited
Hive 2, 1530 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading, Berkshire. RG7 4SA United Kingdom

[LinkedMusicians]

The developer is aware that blank emulators do not infringe on intellectual property rights, but adding the bin files does and would result in litigation from Roland, that is why the developer leaves that part up to the public, if they want to engage in piracy or not. It it for that reason, I was hesitant to post this and may not post them in the future, because we all know that this is largely going to be used for piracy.

The reason I posted it? A lot of our users are older and have older synths and may be able to use this legally / ethically. But absolutely, grabbing Roland’s ROM without purchase is not legal, that is not a gray area; that is piracy.

 

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1

[zoukiman]

AFAIK it’s “only” JP-8000 for now, 8080 is in development and will follow…

[MrFigg]

They apparently said that both JP8080 and JP8000 ROMs would work. I loaded in a JP-8000 ROM and it worked but the JP8080 didn’t. I uninstalled it as it crackled really badly and sound cut out whenever the mouse cursor moved over the GUI. Reason 13

 

[zoukiman]

On MrFigg said

They apparently said that both JP8080 and JP8000 ROMs would work. I loaded in a JP-8000 ROM and it worked but the JP8080 didn’t. I uninstalled it as it crackled really badly and sound cut out whenever the mouse cursor moved over the GUI. Reason 13

 

Just what Is said… Only 8000.

8080 is disabled and in development, that’s it.

[MrFigg]

On zoukiman said

On MrFigg said

They apparently said that both JP8080 and JP8000 ROMs would work. I loaded in a JP-8000 ROM and it worked but the JP8080 didn’t. I uninstalled it as it crackled really badly and sound cut out whenever the mouse cursor moved over the GUI. Reason 13

 

Just what Is said… Only 8000.

8080 is disabled and in development, that’s it.

Thanks. yeah. Did you have any problems with crackling/ sound breaking up?

[zoukiman]

On MrFigg said

On zoukiman said

On MrFigg said

They apparently said that both JP8080 and JP8000 ROMs would work. I loaded in a JP-8000 ROM and it worked but the JP8080 didn’t. I uninstalled it as it crackled really badly and sound cut out whenever the mouse cursor moved over the GUI. Reason 13

 

Just what Is said… Only 8000.

8080 is disabled and in development, that’s it.

Thanks. yeah. Did you have any problems with crackling/ sound breaking up?

Probably! Unfortunately I only have a real old cpu and therefore haven’t tried it yet as it will be hopeless…

The best you can do is to follow the support discussion on https://dsp56300.wordpress.com/je8086/ under Menu>Discord or/and the FAQ as well.

Good luck, have fun.

[MrFigg]

On zoukiman said

On MrFigg said

On zoukiman said

On MrFigg said

They apparently said that both JP8080 and JP8000 ROMs would work. I loaded in a JP-8000 ROM and it worked but the JP8080 didn’t. I uninstalled it as it crackled really badly and sound cut out whenever the mouse cursor moved over the GUI. Reason 13

 

Just what Is said… Only 8000.

8080 is disabled and in development, that’s it.

Thanks. yeah. Did you have any problems with crackling/ sound breaking up?

Probably! Unfortunately I only have a real old cpu and therefore haven’t tried it yet as it will be hopeless…

The best you can do is to follow the support discussion on https://dsp56300.wordpress.com/je8086/ under Menu>Discord or/and the FAQ as well.

Good luck, have fun.

Thanks man.

[nonstatic]

apparently they are working on the DP/4, which I’m personally more excited about: https://dsp56300.wordpress.com/faqs/

Also here’s an extremely nerdy lecture describing their work on the JP8000 release: https://media.ccc.de/v/39c3-from-silicon-to-darude-sand-storm-breaking-famous-synthesizer-dsps

1

[LinkedMusicians]

This thread has received more interest than most of the deals we post and I want to understand why that is.

If you guys can help me to better understand why you found this particular developer and project of such great interest and give me an idea of other developers or content you would find this interesting, it can really help me to shape what I’m monitoring and even something I’m working on that will automate that monitoring.

I’m just trying to make sure that I’m focusing on what you guys are most interested in to make this place more engaging in 2026. I just purchased a really useful tool for this site that can automate some monitoring of websites/developers, and I want to direct it towards the developers and products you care most about. Plus, having that content here would facilitate these kinds of conversations, which clearly interest a lot of our members.

If you could weigh in and let me know:

• Why did you find this of interest? Was it the fact that its free, the synths being emulated, the skill of the developer, all of the above….?
• What are and other projects, developers, and plugins that you have a similar level of interest in?
• Would you be interested in receiving a daily digest that includes the linked thread titles?

Let me know what you think. I apologize for interrupting, but as the guy who created this passion project, it’s great to see that this thread really connects with all of you and I want to see if I can learn from it to find more content that interests you this much.

Thanks,
Peter

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[patrickwichrowski]

99% in my cpu. I’ll Wait for a more refined version.

https://linktr.ee/patrickwichrowski/

https://patrickwichrowski.bandcamp.com/

1

[patrickwichrowski]

On LinkedMusicians said

 

• Why did you find this of interest? Was it the fact that its free, the synths being emulated, the skill of the developer, all of the above….?

 

More faithful than the other versions available.

https://linktr.ee/patrickwichrowski/

https://patrickwichrowski.bandcamp.com/

1

[zoukiman]

On patrickwichrowski said

On LinkedMusicians said

 

• Why did you find this of interest? Was it the fact that its free, the synths being emulated, the skill of the developer, all of the above….?

 

More faithful than the other versions available.

New album soon!

https://linktr.ee/patrickwichrowski

The technical aspects, analysis and achievement… I’m impressed about the team dedication and work.

Og course the results itself as well, the synth VST versions, unbelievable ! Thanks.

2

[Satya]

Here’s ROM File those who missed

[Posting that crosses into encouraging piracy and would get us a C&D. So please folks, don’t post those links here. – Moderator]

[Author]

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