Roland MKS-80 vs. Jupiter-8

hello

jupiter-8 is out of my price range, so i'm thinking about getting one second-hand. my questions are:

a. how expensive are they?

b. how do they sound? also when compared to jupiter-8.

c. what about their midi implementation?

d. is it possible to control them in real time with Novation Remote SL? it DOES send sysex messages.

i would be glad for your input

cheers

The MKS80 is basically an eight voice Jupiter 6 with a bass boost circuit. It doesn't really have that much in common with the Jupiter 8.

dB

VSE claim it does. however, how does it sound? as i've heard jp-6 sounds decent, too.

VSE are full of bollocks This subject has come up MANY times.

http://www.twango.com/media/noiseprofessor.public/noiseprofessor.10039

http://www.twango.com/media/noiseprofessor.public/noiseprofessor.10014

2 demos by Noiseprofessor aka Hosh

never realy had the time to deal with this ...al i know is that mks and jup 8 are different...

these clips sound INCREDIBLE.

however, i'm curious about your opinions, as recorded sounds might sound great from crappy synth.

I remember a thread from awhile back where Don Solaris had the scoop on all the different Jupiter variations, but I couldn't find it in a quick search. As I remember, however, Dave Bryce is correct.

i can't find it too.

IMHO, I would prefer the MKS-80 over the JP8 even they do not sound identical because it has Midi, velocity, and you can cross modulate and sync a single oscillator.

how expensive are mks-80 modules? and how do they sound compared to mks-70?

Oh come on !

Chas? Is that you... Chas?

what?

A little bit of chips....

Alpha Juno 1, Alpha Juno 2

DCO: MB87123P-G

VCF: IR3R05

VCA: M5241

ENV: Software

Jupiter 8

VCO: Discrete

VCF: IR3109

VCA: BA662

ENV: IR3R01

Juno 6, Juno 60

DCO: Standard Ic.

VCF: IR3109

VCA: BA662

ENV: IR3R01

Juno 106

DCO: MC5534A

VCF: A1QH800170 or A1QH80017A

VCA: A1QH800170 or A1QH80017A

ENV: Software

JX-3P

DCO: Standard Ic.

VCF: IR3109

VCA: BA662

ENV: Software

JX-8P, Super JX-10, MKS-70

DCO: Standard Ic.

VCF: IR3R05

VCA: M5241

ENV: Software

Jupiter 4

VCO: Discrete

VCF: IR3109 (early: 4x BA662)

VCA: BA662

ENV: Discrete

Jupiter 6, MKS-80

VCO: CEM3340

VCF: IR3109

VCA: CEM3360

ENV: Software

EDIT: Sorry i had a copy/paste error here. Corrected the data now.

MKS-80 rev 4

VCO: CEM3340

VCF: IR3109

VCA: CEM3360

ENV: Software

MKS-80 rev 5

VCO: IR3R03

VCF: IR3R05

VCA: IR3R05

ENV: Software

Things that sound "close" to JP-8 are: Juno 6, Juno 60

Things that sound "closer" are: Jupiter 4, JX-3P

If you look above, you will see these four synths share many of the same hardware with JP-8. However, soundwise they are still galaxy away Jupiter 8.

Spoken like a true spec hound.

Specs are not everything. The incredible gorgeosity of the Jupiter 8's visual appeal is matched by its incredible sound.

JP6 or MKS-80 sound very good too, but I vastly prefer the JP-8. Vastly.

Did this Rev 3 actually exist as a product, or was it only ever some sort of internal Roland test unit?

anybody ever snag a chip and make a modular filter?

The JP8 did not do it for me and I genuinely prefer the MKS-80 or JP-6 over the 8. Has nothing to do with specs rather with the approach of having a synthesizer. Midi is important and so is velocity to me. The sync/xmod feature is one the biggest plus and only few synths have these implemented in the right order.

I can see why people like the JP8, but it was not for me.

I would say that the sound of the JP8 is truly unique. The JP6 is cleaner and more clinical, and its sonic signature can be obtained in other ways.

I think that would be a waste. Leave the chips for repairs. I know Don is a fan of the JP8's 12db/oct filter mode, but IMO it is the _discrete oscillators_ that give it it's unique sound. In much the same way that an OB-X sounds much fuller than a OB-8. (discrete vs CEM3340) If you want a nice filter, get something like the SSM2040 clone, the MOTM-440.

I agree with Don's statement that the JP-4 is probably the closest thing to a JP-8 and I think the JX-3P and JU-60 sound somewhat similar only because they had early version of the DCO that was somewhat more sloppy/raw than the later DCOs in the MKS-70/Alpha Junos. (which are also good in a different way)

-Larry

BTW the SH-101 has the same exact filter & topology as the JP-8, only it doesn't have a separate tap point for the 12db/oct output.

Ive owned all three, and had the programmer (which is essential for the MKS80)

JP6- best attack

JP8-best fidelity for pads

MKS80- best for bass of these 3

If I had to pick one it would be the JP6 by the slightest of margins-just something about it. worked best for the work I do.

anyone who's got a jp6 should add the europa upgrade. it adds midi CC control of parameters and a lot more and is cheap for what it does.

i love all the rolands mentioned here and would have a hard time choosing between them. the mks80 and jp6 are similar but the jp6 has a multimode filter which, although it can take some fussing to get really nice results, is very useful. a jp6 w europa midi is the only synth in this lot that id recommend using with a novation remote for realtime tweaking.

mini

The JP-8 is out of your price range so you're thinking about getting one second hand? Uh, I can't figure out where you thought you were going to get one that wasn't second hand, nor do I think a second hand one would be in your price range.

I'm not sure why some people are looking for these older synths. Why not just buy a Nord Lead Something or SH-201 if you're concerned about MIDI implementations and price? Or how about a used Supernova? I can get mine to sound almost identical to my JP-8's when I did a side-by-side comparison of tuning in a couple of sounds to match up.

The rev 3 uses CEM3340 VCOs and IR3109 filters just like rev 4. They didn't switch to the IR3Rxx chips until rev 5.

Here's proof of the rev 3.

And here's one of the module boards. You can just make out the IR3109 on the filter chips. I'll post a higher res pic later on.

I have a Rev 4. The inside of mine looks a little different. I have little tiny daughter cards near each of the VCF chips. I thought someone had hacked it at first, but that configuration was in the service docs.

Has anyone looked the the VCF schematics? Its been 15yrs since I've had a EE class, but I'd say the topology is a 2-pole lowpass feeding a 2-pole bandpass filter. Its not a straight up 4 1-pole filters in series like the JP8 or 2 2-pole configurable HP/LP filters like the JP6.

-Larry