All about the Roland Jupiter-series

From: Mike Kent [mailto:mikekent@...] 
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 12:05 AM
To: morgan anson
Cc: analogue@...
Subject: Re: [AH] JP-8...mks80 / mpg80


> According to vintagesynth.com, it's a J-8 rack? Did I read this wrong? Are
> they mistaken? That's why I had this idea of getting one in the first
place.
> 
> "The MKS-80 is basically a refined Jupiter 8 in a module. "

That's oversimplifying to the point of being more wrong that right.

There are two Big Differences:
   1. Sound
   2. Form Factor

1. The MKS-80 borrows many ideas about voice architecture and overall
features from the Jupiter-8. But the circuits are completely different. Both
have Roland flavor in the sound, but they do sound distinctly different.
JP-8 is smoother and warmer. MKS-80 is brighter and can often cut better.

2. The MKS-80/MPG-80 is a rack mount while the JP-8 is a keyboard. This may
be obvious but the JP-8's layout deserves recognition. I do believe the
front panel layout of all features of JP-8 is among the best of all synths
ever made. Everything is logical, placed right where it should be for my
use. Using a module in a rack is never the same, even with all the knobs of
the MPG-80 programmer. This factor is part of what makes the JP-8 such a
dream to use. On the other hand, if you are short of space the rack module
may be preferred.

Both are great, I've owned three of each. Sold all the MKS-80/MP-80 pairs. I
still have two JP-8.

Regards,
Mike.

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