 The synthesizer features many knobs and sliders for patch editing and performance control – features that some manufacturers, including Roland, had been omitting in the name of "streamlining" since the inception of the Yamaha DX7.The JD-800 thus became very popular with musicians who wished to take a "hands on" approach to patch programming.In the introduction to the manual, it is stated that Roland's intention with the JD-800 was to "return to the roots of synthesis".