PG-8X
by Martin Luders
by Martin Luders
4.8 / 5
(65 votes)
PG-8X is inspired by the Roland JX-8P with the PG-800 programmer.
The synth architecture is a standard 2-oscillator > Filter > VCA design. These elements can be modulated by a common LFO and one of two ENVELOPEs.
The PG-8X is patch compatible with the JX-8P and can read and write JX-8P Sysex data.
The synth architecture is a standard 2-oscillator > Filter > VCA design. These elements can be modulated by a common LFO and one of two ENVELOPEs.
The PG-8X is patch compatible with the JX-8P and can read and write JX-8P Sysex data.
- Up to 12 voice polyphony.
- 2 DCO's with Saw, Square, Pulse, Noise.
- Hard Sync and Ring Modulation.
- 2 exponential envelop generators.
- 24 dB resonant LP filter.
- HP filter (3 stages).
- Stereo Chorus.
- Import and Export of JX-8P Sysex data.
- Detailed manual
Note : a folder named "patches" included in the zip contains 22 Sysex files to get started.
Downloads
Win 32 VST
(1.5 Mb)
Win 64 VST
(1.6 Mb)
Mac OSX VST
(2.6 Mb)
(5 / 5)
Absolutely mesmerizing...a real gem
I am trying to download this onto Ableton live 11 on a M1 Mac but Abelton is not scanning it despite it being saved in the necessary folder (VST's) where Abelton is supposedly scanning. Any help?
I also had this problem. I created another Custom VST folder in my Documents. but it there. and added, it in Live preferences. its scanned it. but also. Mac. Sometimes does not Open unverified apps. etc. so You may have to open the Mac System setting. Security, scroll down and when you see it. while you try to Add it to a Live track and then Accept it. " Open" and click Open anyways and it should work. If this doesn't work, there is another way to stop Apple Mac from not opening downloaded apps by opening the terminal and paste this in there and your pass work then to turn it back on do the second command after Ablton opens the VST. Ableton Plug in sudo to Override Apples " do not open unverified apps ) sudo spctl --master-disable - sudo spctl --master-enable
Please release a Silicon version of it! Please !!!!
(5 / 5)
Ótimo sinthy. Entretanto, não existe a pasta chamada "patches" incluída no zip contendo 22 arquivos Sysex.
(5 / 5)
Another one from "can't believe it's free" category. Too awesome to be true. Thanks Martin!
The .zip folder only comes with a .dll file and I don't know how to install it in FL Studio, any help?
C:Program FilesImage-LineFL Studio 20PluginsFruityGenerators . Go into this folder or wherever you installed fl studio and just move it there, it should work, hope it helps
Is the PG-8X.component file available? Logic Pro X cannot find the plugin with only the .vst file. Any ideas?
logic uses .au files (component files) not .VST, so this wont work
Are you on an M1 Mac? I've found a number of my plugins aren't showing up on my M1 in Ableton.
(5 / 5)
My all time favorite, Martin. Just passing by and putting the five stars
(5 / 5)
Great, but from what I can see the download labelled WIN 64 VST appears to be 32-bit... Can others confirm?
I've got the 64 working in Cubase, no presets though, and no sign of the .syx as mentioned.
(5 / 5)
Absolute CRAP!!!!
(5 / 5)
Great!
(5 / 5)
A Classic!
(5 / 5)
Speechless & in Heaven! :-)
(5 / 5)
I love it! <3
(5 / 5)
In the past I had a JX-8P. Now I am very glad to have it again. Great work!
Im having problems downloading on my Mac is there any way anyone can help me? it just goes into downloads and once I open the zip it just has a folder saying "contents".
Great looking, how about a way to get this working on Logic? It adds and shows a midi port called "to PG8X" on a Logic external midi instrument track, but doesn t seem to connect even with the panel configured correct for stand-alone. Any suggestions?
(3 / 5)
As ex senior engineer with Roland, I know this synth well, this VST is quite similar but I always preferred the JX-3P
Hi Phil, could you say more about your preference for the 3P please? It's something I've heard many times over the years but never had the chance to try for myself. I'd love to hear about why the machines are different but more so about how those differences translate to something you find more pleasing. Sorry to jump in but it's not every day you get an opportunity like this. Kind regards
(3 / 5)
A bit confusing for a luddite like me. Also there don't seem to be any presets. Every preset is "init". The random button is a nice touch.
I've had another look at this and decided it's actually pretty straightforward but the tone is just a bit underwhelming. For basses it's not as huge and fat and edgy as TAL U No 62. For leads it's not as sweet and smooth as TAL Bassline. These synths all cover the Roland type tones and for me this is the weakest of the three so I'm not likely to use it. Sustain pedal is supported but it seems to only have 6 voice polyphony so it's not ideal for pads.
(5 / 5)
Best <3
(5 / 5)
A real beauty. Download it now.
(5 / 5)
PG-8X is a top quality VA softsynth, up there with the best freebies Obxd, Tyrell N6, Mausynth, Charlatan, Xhip. <3 <3 <3
(5 / 5)
Absolutely Amazing.
(5 / 5)
PG-8X is without a doubt one of the best emulations of an analogue hardware synthesiser, period. The fact that it is free is astonishing. Thanks a lot Martin L! =) <3
(5 / 5)
НЕ ОЖИДАЛ, НО ЭТО ОХИРИТЕЛЬНЫЙ ИНСТРУМЕНТ. ТАААААААААААК КРУТО ЗВУЧИТ ШО ПИЗДЕЦ
(5 / 5)
This beautiful vst works well also under Linux.... Many thanks again for this Amazing synth!
(5 / 5)
WAW that sounds good ! and easy interface
(5 / 5)
This vst is a beast, it sounds extremely good!
(5 / 5)
I still can not believe how good this sounds! It's still crazy!
Do you have to load a patch with each use?
I am eager to hear this VST in action, however since I am a Logic user, I am unable to install it correctly so that it shows on my software Instruments list. I know there is probably an array of additional softwares to "trick" the PG-8X into working, but it would be ideal to just have an AU version of this. Possible?
(5 / 5)
One of the best Roland emulation I ever tried, I tried Roland cloud and their Juno 106, JP8, JX3P are good but this is better, and alot less cpu heavy. This one and Tal UNO LX are my favorite Roland vst.
(5 / 5)
This might just be the best VST this website has to offer. Thank you Martin!! Incredible synth.
Hello I've heard great reviews on this, but can't seem to get it to show up in my Albleton on Mac. I've put it in the correct Plugins > VST folder as well where my other plugins are installed. Can someone help me with this ? Thanks
This is the most avoided question about this plug-in. Not sure why they have a Mac VST if it doesn't work in a Mac.
I have the same problem...
(5 / 5)
Wow, just amazing. So close to the original, and free. Amazing achievment, great quality and the fact that you can load patches from JX8P hardware version, is a big plus.
how can I acquire these patches?
Any patches for Roland Jx8P will work on this great vst. You can search for them on the internet. Have a great time
People, help!! Im using Ableton Live 10, and when PG8X doesnt save the selected preset. I select one, it play well, but when I stop the track and start playing it again, PG8X reset to the first preset. What is wrong?
(5 / 5)
This sounds incredibly close to the original hardware JX-8P, just splendid!
Yeah PG-8X is in a league of its own. An exceptional emulation. Martin Lüders is amazingly generous to offer it to the world for free. <3<3<3
di you download this for Mac or PC?
(2 / 5)
But no presets! :(
Visit the developer's page, he has posted links to websites which host sysex files for PJ-8X, they can be loaded into the VST synth
Holy sweet, this can sound unbelievably good! Respect!
Yes, the PG-8X sounds unbelievably good! Like a real hardware analogue synthesizer! Martin Lüders is a genius programmer!
(5 / 5)
So awesome emulation this! Unbelieveable! And free! Wonderful!
Thank you for your work and generosity making this truly stunning plugin, very inspiring to use :)
When I try to change a program name, I click where the name is ,then type what I want the new name to be, then click write, but it goes back to what the name was originally! Is there a secret way to change names?
(5 / 5)
If you're looking to create synthwave and/or retrowave tracks on a very limited to absolutely no budget, then you'll probably want to give PG-8X a try. It's perfect for all those epic pads, leads and sweeps, and it pairs up nicely with other awesome freeware plugins like SQ-8L, OB-XD and Dexed, all three of which are among my personal favorites. Mr. Luders, keep up the awesome work.
(5 / 5)
The fact that this magnificent synth emulation is free is insane. In a good sense of course. =)
Yep, PG-8X could easily be sold for a very high price tag. The emulation quality is simply amazing.
hey! I was hoping i could use this vst in mainstage - mac os. I`ve tried both vst and au- download. Normally I add my plug-ins through the component (not vst) folder in my library. Then im supposed to use the AU- download. But in the folder the app is withput the .component-ending making it incompatible with my DAW, or so it seems. Any suggestions?
Maybe try to rename the .app into .component ?
I´ve tried that :( Don´t work. I´ve tried renaming both the vst and the app to .component - no luck. I can try rebooting the laptop.
Hi krystian. There is a new and free AU-to-VST bridge plugin that was recently released. It allows you to load and run VSTs in AU only DAWs like Logic and Mainstage. You can download it here: https://github.com/tibsys/AuVstBridge/releases/ . This free plugin should make it possible to run the PG-8X normally in AU only DAWs. Enjoy! :)
Hey there! I've been struggling with the same issue and every time I try to open the AuVstBridge my DAW (Logic Pro X) crashes. Any other suggestions on how to get this detected by Logic? Thank you.
Hey Alan and krystian! Did you try (force) restarting Logic?? That usually works with newly added plugins. If that does not work You should report this bug to the developer of AuVstBridge at Github, I am sure he will do his best to fix that. Anyway you should try another free plugin host, the Element by Kushview, it should allow running PG-8X in Logic. Get Element by Kushview at https://github.com/kushview/Element/releases/tag/0.41.1 . Enjoy!! =)
Hi,download and tried that au/vst bridge thing...sadly , still a "no show" on Logic. However, I have only tested this on Catalina which is not-so-friendly to many apps!
NUCKING FICE... MARTIN
(4 / 5)
One of my favorite synth emulations!
(4 / 5)
I wish there was a way to load sysex into the version 1.04. haven't figured that out!
(5 / 5)
This is by far the best free Roland sound emulation I have ever heard! Amazing! Martin Lueders is a genius! Donate!
Actually this is by far the best Roland sound emulation in general. Free or commercial. Donate to Martin Lueders, he is a generous genius! If every emulation was as close to the original as the PG-8X is to the JX-8P, then there would be very few analogue purists out there. <3
I absolutely agree with Darko. The PG-8X is a next level synth emulation. It is one of the very few plugins that can load and save/read and write the original hardware sysex patches. That is amazing!
Yes, I agree, the PG-8X is a unique and a special emulation in the software and plugin world. If every plugin emulation was as good and as accurate as PG-8X, then there would be much less bashing of and looking down on software and plugin synthesizers, no doubt.
(5 / 5)
just like the real thing, a genuine classic, - this plug is far better than many of the commercial soft-synthesizers currently available.
True, the PG-8X is already a timeless classic freebie emulation! Donate to Martin Lüders! <3<3<3
(5 / 5)
I can not believe how good this sounds! It's crazy!
(5 / 5)
10/10...after all this time still the best JX-8P replica on the planet! ;-D - Just load some SysEx or create your own and you are ready to go! A big hand to Martin Lüders for this powerful tool
(5 / 5)
This softsynth sounds very close to the real Roland JX-8P! Sounds so freaking good and R E A L it is incredible! Try it! And donate to Martin Lueders, he really deserves it! <3 <3 <3
(5 / 5)
Vst maravilhoso
(5 / 5)
Awasome emulation.
(5 / 5)
Very impressive simulation.
(5 / 5)
Absolut genialer Synth. Würdiges Profi PlugIn.
(5 / 5)
MY favorite Synth VST so far! Just make sure you grab all of those nice presets from the web.(by googling for "PG-8X presets") Excellent work by Martin Luders!
(5 / 5)
Very good analog synth, thanks! :)
(5 / 5)
10/10... dude this is just amazing!!... highest award I can give for the sound and feel this thing delivers!
(5 / 5)
One of the best free software synthesizers. PG-8X is an incredibly accurate emulation that sounds lush, warm and fat. Combine this with Synth1, Dexed, and you are ready to make awesome music.
(5 / 5)
Awesome quality
(5 / 5)
I just want to say a massive THANK YOU for this! Stumbled across this site tonight after years of various other sites, can't believe it was all so easy created and so like the actual thing. A magnificent piece of work, thank you again. Please donate to the cause!
(5 / 5)
This synth is legendary. Probably the closest if not THE first accurate hardware synthesizer emulation so far. And it is free! Donate to Martin!
(5 / 5)
Real Analog Synth. DONATE!!!!!
(4 / 5)
The sound is almost perfect, BUT the controls aren't working and the GUI is too large.
What do you mean? Which controls aren't working?
All knobs working for me
It is beautiful, the sound is very close to the original, good work.
Why cant i get the component file for IOS? I cant get it to pop up in my DAW.
If you're looking for a Roland JX-8P, but cannot find one of some reason, or maybe feel it's not worth to spend those expensive money for this gear included the PG 800, then this freeware plug in is VERY recommended. This synth plug isn't only inspired by original thing... It really sounds like it to, with the posibility to load in the original JX-8P preset banks. I've tried them both, so I can say that the similarities between them are really close, and so close that there's no reason to lay your hands on "the real thing", if you don't want to... Because, with this one, you actually don't need it. It's really amazing that it's free, because it's a unbelievable great work behind.
At the time of relaese the JX-8P had a RPP of 1700 USD. Inflation adjusted that would be 3800 USD now. Now think again about expensive money and expensive analog gear. :-)
(5 / 5)
I have an older version of the PG8. Will those patches work on this version?
(5 / 5)
I like it! It's awesome!
Good synth, but GUI to large for 1366x768 screens, only really suitable for HD displays.
(5 / 5)
A Masterpiece...no exaggeration. Free synths of this quality are rare. Donate if you can Mr.Luders deserves it.