During summer of 1982, I knew that I wanted to purchase a polysynth. I found a store in Edwardsville, Illinois that was selling all of the great analog synths at that time - Oberheim OB8, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, and of course, the Roland Jupiter 8. I spent about an hour playing each one. At the time, the Prophet 5 seemed dated compared to the other two synths. I loved the massive sound of the Oberheim, but it didn't do the organic sounds as well as the Jupiter 8. So, I saved up enough money to purchase my Jupiter 8 brand new during October 1982. I ended up buying it from Sam Ash, NYC, NY. It was a pleasure opening that huge wooden crate holding my Jupiter 8. It's hard to believe that I've owned it for 39 years. I will never sell it!
Nice story. The JP-8 is certainly a wonderful synth to own. You mentioned that you played the Oberheim OB8 in 1982, but that one wasn't out at the time. I guess it must have been the OB-Xa, which came out in 1981. Also a great synth, and more lush sounding than the OB8, but with less sound sculpting options than the JP-8.
You’re probably right about the OB-Xa. It had great and powerful lead and bass sounds but it couldn’t produce the delicate sounds that the Jupiter 8 could produce.
Yeah I bought a new Jupiter 8 in 81 or 82. Good fun at the time. It certainly earns it's money which if I remember right was just over 3000 pounds. Lot at the time.
I was playing bass & keys in a prog band in the early 80's and stared at those playing OB-X's and Jupiter 8's with envy while I was struggling to afford a synthesiser. As soon as my budget allowed it I got a Sequential Circuits Pro-One in 1981. As we got to play more gigs and there was a little more cash I added a Juno 6 in 1982 and a used Roland GR-300 guitar synth in 1983. Band fell apart in 1986 and I gradually turned my attention away from music selling everything but my favourite bass guitar. By 2000 I had started deeply regretting that. In 2005 I bought a Roland GR20 guitar synth and a Korg Triton Le 61 and though I (still) love the pair to bits, the Triton Le couldn't quite make me forget the two beauties of synths I had lost. So, a couple of years ago the "hole in my heart where the Pro-One had been" was filled by a Moog Grandmother ... I adore it ... and more recently I added a Roland Aira System-8 and I just love its Jupiter 8 and Juno 6 modes. I still never owned an actual Jupiter 8 but the Aira hits it close enough for me :) I loved watching your video ... made me reminisce on my own journey ... and subscribe to your channel :D
You know that for a fact? I mean, 20 years ago was only 2001, and I doubt anyone was junking gear like this (and most other hardware) and/or was not putting it up on eBay, which was indeed around in 2000.
I agree with several of the other replies. I'd say that 30 years ago, some of the analog equipment was selling for nothing. I can recall walking in Big Dude's Music City located in Kansas City, Missouri during the late 1980s. They had a stack of analog synths (mostly monophonic synths) in a pile of cases. The salesman told me that they were selling these synths for more or less the value of the road cases ($100-$200). There weren't any Moogs, ARPs, or Rolands in the pile but one of the gems sitting there was a Yamaha CS40M that I could have bought for $200 inside a road case! Unfortunately, I was a poor college student at the time. I didn't have enough cash to buy it!
@@charlesbonkley well I know for a fact that when Software synths came out and Software samplers like gigasampler came out on the market many studios ditched their analog synths After sampling them and thought it was all fine. A friend of mine who had a studio sold all of his 19“ units back in 2003 for peanuts and still couldn’t get rid of some of them
We had a Jupiter at The Bee Gees studio, but we used the Super Jupiter a lot more. We used to marry the Super with a couple of TX modules for bass all the time.
I've owned two Jupiter 8's. The first one I sold in 2002 because I was convinced by a reputable dealer that analog components die after 30 years - and then become impossible to repair. Out of panic, I parted with the Jupiter 8 and was sold an Alesis Andromeda A6. That experience traumatised me. The second Jupiter 8 I owned, genuinely did develop a problem. I sold it thinking I had a £3k paper weight. Turns out it was an easy fix. But given the horror story associated with my first Jupiter, I was convinced I had a major problem on my hands. I regret to this day, selling my Jupiters. Not because they command alot of money now - but because they had a special sound that I've never been able to replicate.
Thanks for sharing - I also owned 2 Jupiter-8's and sold one that needed loads of repairs. Shortly afterwards the fill replacement CPU and Interface board became available!
Never owned them but I did own a obxa and a ob8 at the same time and sold them both for $2500 thinking I was getting a steal of a deal. I now can’t even buy back one of them for that price! 😥
I worked as a keyboards tech/programmer for many of the bands and artists you featured, and the JP-8 was the bread and butter for most of them. A true synth icon. I once had to swap out the 110v power supply for one of my own 240v designs for use in the UK, and it took forever to find a way to get it all to fit as the space inside was so limited.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams No, that was a bit after my time, I worked between around 1982-1995. Originally touring but later more studio-bound. FGTH, Go West, Howard Jones, Cutting Crew, ABC, Duran, loads more.
@@TryptychUK That is awesome - Some great bands/artists. Were you a keyboard tech? FGTH would have been something else I can imagine. Probably saw a lot of Emulator II's out there
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Well in the studio we used Fairlight, Synclavier and PPG Waveterm, but on tour it was scaled down quite a bit to an Akai S900, JP8, PPG 2.2 and a few other bits. I took three EII's on tour with Go West, one as a spare. Most of the time the standard sampler became Akai S1000's, often fitted with Syquest drives, or occasionally rewriteable optical drives, but I have taken Fairlights and Waveterms on the road, but they were treated very carefully as they don't like being gigged.
@@TryptychUK Seriously great insight - thanks for sharing. I'd love to hear more road stories about 80's keyboard rigs and touring. When I toured battery backups were also important - nothing like going on stage and having your sampler memory totally erased due to a power reset.
Great video. I was never lucky enough to have a Jupiter-8 back in the day, but I'm a proud owner of the new Jupiter-X. The JP8 emulation is outstanding, but it can do so much more. Love Roland!
I was able to get HoJo to sign one of the metal ends of my JP-8 when he played at Dallas House of Blues back in 2013. The JP-8 I have now is in OK cosmetic condition and got it for a decent price in 2008. Back in 1990, I bought a MemoryMoog for $200 at a pawn shop which I later traded for a Jupiter 8, but ended up trading that JP-8 for an OB-8 with MIDI since I really needed gear with MIDI back then (doing the MIDI sequencer sync to analog 4 track technique).
I honestly just started liking the jupiter 8 because of the name (jupiter is my favorite planet lol) I didn't know anything about synths and now that I'm learning about them I love it more
Good job on the video and music!! Like you, I bought mine used and it had been in a closet for years too. Paid $300 for it and road case in 1998 I think. Still have it along with lots of other vintage synths. I'm surprised you didn't play a lush string pad in duel mode with it panned hard left and right playing the same or almost the same sound. Now that's fat and lush!! I also have a Dimension D. Run it through that and WOW! Add a phase shifter in too and redefine ethereal! BTW, mine is a late 1983 or early 1984 model going by the IC date codes. I'm going to guess it's probably 1983 because of the serial number.
Dude, i would do anything t have this video with the background music quieter. Anybody else feel that way? You need to go full howard stern. This is awesome dude.
Ok thanks for the comments - I thought it was a good mix and I've side-chained as well, but I totally appreciate the mix critique. I'll turn the music down a few more db nect time.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Hah! Not many places you can catch me at. I'm on the Adriatic coast half of the year, but to plan some longer visit, journeys to Japan/Tokyo if the finances allow me to. So, either Adriatic coast or Japan. :)))
I have a jupiter 4 , 6 and the 8. I never play them . they're in Flight cases under my bed . I bought all of them years ago for investment. I'll never sell them. When I retire I will then enjoy the power of analogue. Just to look at they are all incredibly beautiful , but the 8 carries something which is beyond . simply the best synth ever made
I remember first seeing the Jupiter 8 on TOTP in late 1981 (aged 8) and my imagination being blown by its fascinating colourful design. In terms of its sound, I think Duran Duran's Rio album in 1982 was my first proper sonic immersion - was particularly drawn to the random arpeggio sound on Hungry Like the Wolf. My other favourite patch around that time was DM’s Leave in Silence - was simply mesmerised by that impressive, brassy-sound performance from Mr Wilder, as I think we all were!
If I woke up and discovered I wasn't satisfied with the sounds of my JX8P, MKS70 or JP 80 engine in my VR-09 and wanted to supplement them with a true Jupiter model, my target would be an MKS80 & MPG80. It's most desirable, since it's a MIDI module that needs no real mods and has a slightly more advanced architecture from the Jupiter 8. Probably costs less too.
I WANT A ROLAND JUPITER 8!!! but I’m just 11 yrs old but almost 12 yrs and I WANT ONE SOOOO BAD! also I love donna summer and kraftwerk the song I feel love has some very cool synthesizer sounds and bass kraftwerk also has some very cool songs well like autobahn and robots those are my fav songs Oh man and druan druan is my FAVORITE singer of the 80’s more than the bangles and any other I also love the song save a prayer it’s sound futuristic and very 80’s
You dont need a Jupiter 8 to make songs like Donna Summer or Kraftwerk. The also didnt use it...because it doesnt exists when they made "Autobahn" "we ae the robots"...and also Donna Summer whose producer was Giorgio Moroder didnt use a Roland 8,
From the moment I saw the JP8 on the cover of Howard Jones, 1983 New Song... i wanted one. I was 13. I didnt have have £40, nevermind £4000. I watched the prices drop in the Sound on Sound magazine and in 89 (i think, maybe 90) I saw one.... JP8 in good condition. Gigged for a while but too heavy so need a lighter synth. PX welcome. £450. Wow! I scraped together £300 (I had just bought my first house for £27000 and was absolutly skint) I had tapped out the credit of most of my family for the house deposit. Slim pickings for the last £150. I got paid on the friday and had to pay my loans and there was 70 quid left to live on. I phoned the guy, Would you take £370 for the Jupiter? "Sorry mate, it went yesterday" Gutted was not the word. FF to 2000 (think it was 2000 or 2001, could have been 2002 haha) Sound on Sound classifieds again. JP8, Reasonable condition for a 20 year old synth. Signs of wear and tear. £800, Kent. (I was Midlands) "Hello .... you have the JP8 for sale? Blah blah blah. I'll have to pop down at the weekend as i'm far away. OK, he says. Next day, boss says "we have a job at kent uni you have to go and look at." Couldn't believe it. I was off like a shot that morning and called the guy to say i'm coming for it tonight. He gave the old "someones coming to look at it today" routine but I had to go to the job first. Went round after work to meet a nice chap and it was still there. Played it for a while, it had issues. Scratchy pots. Tact switches not working. Top panel worn due to hands on patch buttons. It looked a bit tired but I had JP8 stars in my eyes. I offered £600, he dropped to 700. 650 i said and i'm off. 650 it is he said. I dished out the money but only had 20's from the cash machines. He hadnt got a tenner. Neither had my workmate. 640? i said. How about 660 he said. I said we'll toss for it. Heads £640.... tails £660. He flipped...... £640 it is! With a smile as wide as the dartford crossing I scooped up my new JP8. 18 years I waited. 3 months later and buying up all remaining spares from Roland (which wasnt a lot) It was 100% working. I've never liked the top panel due to the wear but now Audio Custom can refurb them so soon i will drive my panels to Poland and get them sorted. I will only seel it when I need the money but I will sell it one day when I'm old. Whether its worth 2k or 20k it doesnt matter. Its worth £20m to me.
Great story - thanks for sharing! BTW - can you send me info about audio custom on Poland - My panel is all rusted as well, so I might get that done also.
Thanks for the fantastic video on the JP8. Back in the day, I was fortunate to play pretty much all the great models ... DX7, JP8, JP6, Juno 6, D50, Korg MonoPoly, Korg Polysix, Prophet 5, OB-X8, etc. They were ALL wonderful in their own special ways. But to this day, the one that is nearest and dearest to me is the Korg M1. I still have one and I love it.
The BA662 was used before the JP-8 in the JP-4, SH-series and Promars. In fact the IR3109 is nothing more than cascaded BA662’s and buffers. The JP-4 used both BA662 (early) and IR3109 (later) for the filter. Also, the IR3R01 was not used on the TB-303. The JP8 autotune was very good, more sophisticated than the OB-x, OB-xA, P5 and Chroma, it was the 12-bit DAC in early units that limited resolution.
dang, i lusted after the jupiter 8 back in the early 80s in seattle, but there was no way i could afford it. i did manage to get a used juno 60 with dcb/no midi (wish i still had that!).
Outstanding video, and I love the technical details. I have been a Roland fan and user for decades. The JP-8 was a a triumph of engineering & design. Yours was maybe the best “garage sale find” of all time. But at today’s prices, I have to skip.
Good video, well researched! I would love a real one. The Roland Cloud and Arturia V simulations aren't bad but... I am trying to build a "real" one using modern components but keeping the signal path faithful to the original. Using an array of Arduino microcontrollers to ease the software development. 1 pair of oscillators, 1 filter, 2 envelopes running so far. Currently working on the panel controls and interfaces. I must be mad!
Used to have an MKS-70 and MKS-80 along with their respective programmers. Wish I never sold them. Got many, many thousands for them...but had instant regret.
super informative video. as someone who is relatively new to synthesis, this was very comprehensible! would you consider doing a video on the juno 60 or juno 106? i think a lot of people would be interested in that!
I didn't hear a mention of Roland's ACB VST version of the Jupiter 8, or their System-8 hardware. Those are likely the closest reproductions available. They scored pretty well in side by side RUclips comparisons at getting extremely close to the original sound. Nothing will beat the original, but you can get very close. The Jupiter X is a step backwards compared to the ACB based instruments, but offers other advantages like greater polyphony. Roland's hardware ACB products restrict to only 4 voice polyphony, which is a deal breaker for many (and only 49 keys), but their ACB VST can do 8 voice and use any MIDI keyboard you like. Plus you can run multiple instances. I've played a classic Jupiter 8, but I'm a bigger fan of the Oberheim OB-X series (X,Xa,8)
A bit before the time I took an interest to want to play, but I certainly heard a lot of music played with this keyboard at the time! With Roland’s emphasis on legacy classics these days, I wonder how history will treat the Jupiter-X? Seems very impressive, albeit with a bit of a learning curve for the interface from what I keep reading. Anyway, despite purchasing an Alpha Juno-1 a few years later, I didn’t really embrace my love of music until computers came into full swing, so my primary experimentation has been with software synths… But I do love the fact that all these great classics are available on Roland Cloud!
Love how the Roland System 8 gives me all the analogue synths of my youth in one handy keyboard. Could never get near affording a J8, but had a JX-3P. I've now got it back again as a plug-out. On the other hand, constantly hanging on to the sounds of 40 years ago is pretty boring to me. Something like Omnisphere leaves them in the dust for sonic innovation.
Most teenage boys in the 80s had a picture of a Lamborghini Countach or a pinup model on their bedroom wall; I had a Roland brochure of a Jupiter 8. That's about as near as I got to one. Couldn't afford then, still can't afford one now. Denied!
During the 2006 NAMM show I spoke with Chris Franke of Tangerine Dream. He claimed that Roland consulted him regarding the design of the Jupiter 8, and he insisted that they include cross modulation (oscillator modulating oscillator) as a parameter. Don't know if it's true.
I sold my Roland Jupiter-8 with Encore MIDI upgrade in Mint condition back in the Mid-90ies for only 2k, because I wanted that brandnew Nordlead VA from Sweden so desperately ;-)
At 10:00 you have mentioned JP-08 and Jupiter-X, but you forgot that Roland was made a JP-8 reincarnation during the 90s era where JD-800 and JV-80 (and it's successors like JV-1080 and XP-80) dominates the pop culture. It is Roland JP-8000 and it's module version JP-8080.
I've got one. Build quality is not a lot like the JP8!☹ Still sounds nice but it's a digital virtual analogue 8 voice. Still some nice sounds but very much less analog sounding than an OB6 or Prophet-6 IMO.
The one synthesiser I always wanted to own, but would never be able to. The closest I'll get is the System 8 I have now with the JP8 plug out. And unless the planets align, I'll never play a real one.......I can but dream
If the reissued the Jupiter 8 with a few modern tweaks (midi, usb, mod wheel verse button and Roland chorus with stereo out) and the price was $5-6K+ they would sell like hot cakes.
@@pixelperfecttv1162 Not a chance! Behringer only knows how to copy plus they have no heratige. Kinda like how the Chinese steal intellectual property.
Nice video! Some of us will have to be content with the TAL-J-8, but for once I am actually hoping that B will be able to accurately clone the Jupiter8. Roland just isn't doing it for me with the System 8, Boutiques, Jupiter X, etc....
I'd count on Behringer releasing a decent JP-8 clone soon. I'm eagerly awaiting the UB-XA - I think from what I can see they've done a very good recreation with identical circuitry. If they do this to the JP-8 I'm in.
How should you play a jupiter 8? Well between 10:29 and 10:35, there they show it. 1. look slightly bored like you are too cool for anything 2. dont forget to play the notes with your right hand 3. swing the your left hand to the beat 4. try to dance a bit and bend your knees a bit to the beat 5. keep your back straight in a vertical way at any time. And there you go, now you know how to play the jupiter 8.
i paid £690 for my JP-8 back in 1998! still got it in mint condition! theres a problem with the voice board tho! will get it serviced at some stage! i can hear some white noice when trigger a key!
All you JP-8 owners that have had them a long time, I'm sure we would all like to read the problems and issues that came up in the past. I do all my own repairs and have bought /fixed sold quite a few, but I wouldn't call myself a synth tech. Am currently dealing with a JX8P that has all the end cap screw sockets cracked out.
Only minor things, nothing really bad in the last 10 years owning. Got a new PSU, not that the original one wouldn't do it, but i like the synth stayin cool.
Great overview video. "We Design The Future" is kind of ironic now considering Roland's recalcitrant position on analogue revival. We have a far better understanding of analogue today and most have come around on the issue. It is the future. I don't see how Roland is going to be able to get themselves out of this silly self-created marketing dilemma and I don't see digital outdoing analogue anytime soon. The infinite resolution of analogue is still far from digital's reach. Keep up the great videos mate :).
@@TryptychUK Yeah sure. No argument there. Roland are many times Sequential's size though and many times Korg's size even so they should be able to shoulder some of the R&D surely?
@@Screaming-Trees It's not about company size, it's about components. Roland have made custom chips in the past, but analogue circuitry uses discrete components, transistors, capacitors etc. All that stuff costs. Digital synths are basically computers, so cheap to build by comparison. Oh, and Korg is owned by Yamaha, so WAY bigger than Roland.
@@TryptychUK Since when? I've not seen any acquisition news on this. When did the acquisition complete and what were the particulars? Any links? Roland reports north of half a billion a year revenue (year-on-year). That's not a small number for this industry. Size absolutely matters when you want to develop costly projects like analogue circuits for example but Roland is a sizeable company (going by revenue). Moreover, is that not their core business? Making instruments I mean. Sequential has some discreet circuits, Prophet 6 comes to mind, but some of their stuff is integrated (like the Rev2). I can't accept the argument of "hey development in this area is too expensive". Over half a billion vs Sequentials' 20mil estimated revenue for last year sort of puts that argument in bad light but more than that it is the core of what they do so then it becomes easy to interpret their attitude as "hey it's just too expensive and we ultimately can't be bothered". Which is a bad place to end up. It kind of sounds a little bullshit too when you compare to what Seqeuantial is doing (i.e. a very large corporation can't develop something that requires some capex expenditure where a much smaller one can). In my opinion of course. Ultimately Roland will do what they'll do but I'm kind of stocked up on the digital front with Waldorf and Kurzweil so I'm not going to be buying anything from them. If they were to release some analogue stuff I might be interested on the other hand.
@@Screaming-Trees Korg was bought out in the late 80's. After the collapse of SCI, Dave Smith worked for Yamaha and co-developed the M1, but because Korg had little market influence, Yamaha branded the M1 a Korg product, and later the Wavestation and 01/W. Dave later left to set up his own business. At the end of the day, Roland is a big company that deals in a lot more than just synths, (likewise Yamaha). I once heard it said that Yamaha have more pIanos in storage than ALL the pianos that actually exist around the world. Dave Smith and small companies rely on niche, specialist areas that the big guys cannot afford to cover. It's like, do you want a Nissan or a Ferrari? Nissan may make more cars, but Ferrari make plenty of money, even though they only make handfuls. It's horses for courses.
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During summer of 1982, I knew that I wanted to purchase a polysynth. I found a store in Edwardsville, Illinois that was selling all of the great analog synths at that time - Oberheim OB8, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, and of course, the Roland Jupiter 8. I spent about an hour playing each one. At the time, the Prophet 5 seemed dated compared to the other two synths. I loved the massive sound of the Oberheim, but it didn't do the organic sounds as well as the Jupiter 8. So, I saved up enough money to purchase my Jupiter 8 brand new during October 1982. I ended up buying it from Sam Ash, NYC, NY. It was a pleasure opening that huge wooden crate holding my Jupiter 8. It's hard to believe that I've owned it for 39 years. I will never sell it!
That is a great story. Never sell it.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams - It will be with until the day I die!
Nice story. The JP-8 is certainly a wonderful synth to own. You mentioned that you played the Oberheim OB8 in 1982, but that one wasn't out at the time. I guess it must have been the OB-Xa, which came out in 1981. Also a great synth, and more lush sounding than the OB8, but with less sound sculpting options than the JP-8.
You’re probably right about the OB-Xa. It had great and powerful lead and bass sounds but it couldn’t produce the delicate sounds that the Jupiter 8 could produce.
Yeah I bought a new Jupiter 8 in 81 or 82. Good fun at the time. It certainly earns it's money which if I remember right was just over 3000 pounds. Lot at the time.
Stevie Wonder's old JP-8... I picked it up in the early '80's.. & STILL HAVE IT! Crazy... Such a beast..
no way, this real?
I was playing bass & keys in a prog band in the early 80's and stared at those playing OB-X's and Jupiter 8's with envy while I was struggling to afford a synthesiser. As soon as my budget allowed it I got a Sequential Circuits Pro-One in 1981. As we got to play more gigs and there was a little more cash I added a Juno 6 in 1982 and a used Roland GR-300 guitar synth in 1983. Band fell apart in 1986 and I gradually turned my attention away from music selling everything but my favourite bass guitar. By 2000 I had started deeply regretting that. In 2005 I bought a Roland GR20 guitar synth and a Korg Triton Le 61 and though I (still) love the pair to bits, the Triton Le couldn't quite make me forget the two beauties of synths I had lost. So, a couple of years ago the "hole in my heart where the Pro-One had been" was filled by a Moog Grandmother ... I adore it ... and more recently I added a Roland Aira System-8 and I just love its Jupiter 8 and Juno 6 modes. I still never owned an actual Jupiter 8 but the Aira hits it close enough for me :)
I loved watching your video ... made me reminisce on my own journey ... and subscribe to your channel :D
Idk, I really love the Jupiter 8 but that Jupiter X sounds amazing and does way more than the 8 it’s like a 1 man army 😭🔥
Hard to imagine that 20 years ago studios were throwing gear like this in the dumpster, recording gear too.
You know that for a fact? I mean, 20 years ago was only 2001, and I doubt anyone was junking gear like this (and most other hardware) and/or was not putting it up on eBay, which was indeed around in 2000.
@@charlesbonkley *30 years ago. the early 90s was a bleak time for analog
I agree with several of the other replies. I'd say that 30 years ago, some of the analog equipment was selling for nothing. I can recall walking in Big Dude's Music City located in Kansas City, Missouri during the late 1980s. They had a stack of analog synths (mostly monophonic synths) in a pile of cases. The salesman told me that they were selling these synths for more or less the value of the road cases ($100-$200). There weren't any Moogs, ARPs, or Rolands in the pile but one of the gems sitting there was a Yamaha CS40M that I could have bought for $200 inside a road case! Unfortunately, I was a poor college student at the time. I didn't have enough cash to buy it!
@@charlesbonkley well I know for a fact that when Software synths came out and Software samplers like gigasampler came out on the market many studios ditched their analog synths After sampling them and thought it was all fine. A friend of mine who had a studio sold all of his 19“ units back in 2003 for peanuts and still couldn’t get rid of some of them
Star Trek Trivia : The "Jupiter 8" was a model of a Car in "Bread and Circuses" episode STTOS !
We had a Jupiter at The Bee Gees studio, but we used the Super Jupiter a lot more. We used to marry the Super with a couple of TX modules for bass all the time.
Thanks for the insight Scott. Yes - the TX Bas (lately bass?) works so well. Great to hear from you and much respect!
I've owned two Jupiter 8's. The first one I sold in 2002 because I was convinced by a reputable dealer that analog components die after 30 years - and then become impossible to repair. Out of panic, I parted with the Jupiter 8 and was sold an Alesis Andromeda A6. That experience traumatised me.
The second Jupiter 8 I owned, genuinely did develop a problem. I sold it thinking I had a £3k paper weight. Turns out it was an easy fix. But given the horror story associated with my first Jupiter, I was convinced I had a major problem on my hands.
I regret to this day, selling my Jupiters. Not because they command alot of money now - but because they had a special sound that I've never been able to replicate.
Thanks for sharing - I also owned 2 Jupiter-8's and sold one that needed loads of repairs. Shortly afterwards the fill replacement CPU and Interface board became available!
Never owned them but I did own a obxa and a ob8 at the same time and sold them both for $2500 thinking I was getting a steal of a deal. I now can’t even buy back one of them for that price! 😥
I worked as a keyboards tech/programmer for many of the bands and artists you featured, and the JP-8 was the bread and butter for most of them.
A true synth icon. I once had to swap out the 110v power supply for one of my own 240v designs for use in the UK, and it took forever to find a way to get it all to fit as the space inside was so limited.
Great story - Did you work for Orbital at all? You must have some goos stories.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams No, that was a bit after my time, I worked between around 1982-1995. Originally touring but later more studio-bound. FGTH, Go West, Howard Jones, Cutting Crew, ABC, Duran, loads more.
@@TryptychUK That is awesome - Some great bands/artists. Were you a keyboard tech? FGTH would have been something else I can imagine. Probably saw a lot of Emulator II's out there
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Well in the studio we used Fairlight, Synclavier and PPG Waveterm, but on tour it was scaled down quite a bit to an Akai S900, JP8, PPG 2.2 and a few other bits.
I took three EII's on tour with Go West, one as a spare. Most of the time the standard sampler became Akai S1000's, often fitted with Syquest drives, or occasionally rewriteable optical drives, but I have taken Fairlights and Waveterms on the road, but they were treated very carefully as they don't like being gigged.
@@TryptychUK Seriously great insight - thanks for sharing. I'd love to hear more road stories about 80's keyboard rigs and touring. When I toured battery backups were also important - nothing like going on stage and having your sampler memory totally erased due to a power reset.
Great video. I was never lucky enough to have a Jupiter-8 back in the day, but I'm a proud owner of the new Jupiter-X. The JP8 emulation is outstanding, but it can do so much more. Love Roland!
What more can it do apart from having the option of changing the sawtooth wave for a "juno-style" sawtooth or a supersaw ?
I was able to get HoJo to sign one of the metal ends of my JP-8 when he played at Dallas House of Blues back in 2013.
The JP-8 I have now is in OK cosmetic condition and got it for a decent price in 2008. Back in 1990, I bought a MemoryMoog for $200 at a pawn shop which I later traded for a Jupiter 8, but ended up trading that JP-8 for an OB-8 with MIDI since I really needed gear with MIDI back then (doing the MIDI sequencer sync to analog 4 track technique).
That is amazing!
The Jupiter 8 also famously appears in the Journey video for "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)."
One of my fave synths - I use the Arturia implementation of this for at least one part per piece
Great video. Time well spent- this and the OBX one. Subbed.
Wished to have one in the 80s but never could afford it. Had a JX-3P and loved it, too.
A beautifully made and educational video - thank you so much 👍🙂
I honestly just started liking the jupiter 8 because of the name (jupiter is my favorite planet lol) I didn't know anything about synths and now that I'm learning about them I love it more
The Jupiter series was supposed to be Roland's big line of expensive synths because Jupiter is the biggest planet of the solar system
Incredible video, thanks!
Digging these history videos - keep them coming!
More coming.. new one almost done - Hope you're doing well!
Fantastic video. Just fantastic.
Good job on the video and music!! Like you, I bought mine used and it had been in a closet for years too. Paid $300 for it and road case in 1998 I think. Still have it along with lots of other vintage synths. I'm surprised you didn't play a lush string pad in duel mode with it panned hard left and right playing the same or almost the same sound. Now that's fat and lush!! I also have a Dimension D. Run it through that and WOW! Add a phase shifter in too and redefine ethereal! BTW, mine is a late 1983 or early 1984 model going by the IC date codes. I'm going to guess it's probably 1983 because of the serial number.
Dude, i would do anything t have this video with the background music quieter. Anybody else feel that way? You need to go full howard stern. This is awesome dude.
Ok thanks for the comments - I thought it was a good mix and I've side-chained as well, but I totally appreciate the mix critique. I'll turn the music down a few more db nect time.
Indeed ... an absolute masterpiece
Excellent video! Owner of a JP-8 serial number: 080485. Bought in Five G, Tokyo in 2008, currently working as a sound designer for Roland Corporation.
Awesome Don - One day I hope we can meet up and talk synths and patches. Cheers!
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Hah! Not many places you can catch me at. I'm on the Adriatic coast half of the year, but to plan some longer visit, journeys to Japan/Tokyo if the finances allow me to. So, either Adriatic coast or Japan. :)))
did u ever made a video on your JP? can't recall. would love to hear it, as it is an early one.
@@iSirTaki Hi. I only make demos and post on RUclips. These contain the patches I sell or designed for a manufacturer. Not a videomaker, sorry.
@@DonSolaris No prob. was just curious, keep on!
In the 2000’s I bought one at a thrift store for $300 kept it and used it for a bunch of years then sold it on eBay for thousands of dollars
The “background “ music makes discerning the narration difficult
Thanks for the feedback I'll see if I can remix it
Worked for me, FWIIW - Anoop, hope you were able to sort it out.
I agree. This is the case for a lot of self made You Tube presentations, sadly.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams you really should 👍
Naaah it’s fine. It adds a vintage feel
Cool video, I like the angle and a lot of details
I have a jupiter 4 , 6 and the 8. I never play them . they're in Flight cases under my bed . I bought all of them years ago for investment. I'll never sell them. When I retire I will then enjoy the power of analogue. Just to look at they are all incredibly beautiful , but the 8 carries something which is beyond . simply the best synth ever made
Wow this comment is sad. Three amazing synths, sitting in a case, doing nothing, waiting for you to "retire". lol
Great video. Keep up these insightful mini-documentaries. :)
Thanks @synth4ever. Much respect!
Very cool channel! Thank you. 🎹❤️👍
Stunning machine 👊👊💥💥
Thanks for this excellent video Johnny!
You're welcome!
glad I found this channel. interesting stuff.
great video. thanks a lot for this.
amazing video!!!
Very well done docuemtary!!
huge mad props for mentioning "Ministry"👌 I wish Al would recognize and acknowledge his past New Wave era?🎹🎧💫😵😎👍
Agreed!
Why its cheesy
@@eancurtis9333 because they're great songs.
@@eancurtis9333 cheesy? GTFOH Ministry's early records are great.
@@NachtSchreck13 ew seriously? That stuff was terrible
Wonderful job!
Nice vid man. Well done
Great video, keep it up
I've been binge watching all of your "The Story of" videos and felt I needed to leave a comment xD Quality content!
Thanks a bunch - more in the works - takes me a while but soem good ones coming soon. Cheers!
I remember first seeing the Jupiter 8 on TOTP in late 1981 (aged 8) and my imagination being blown by its fascinating colourful design. In terms of its sound, I think Duran Duran's Rio album in 1982 was my first proper sonic immersion - was particularly drawn to the random arpeggio sound on Hungry Like the Wolf. My other favourite patch around that time was DM’s Leave in Silence - was simply mesmerised by that impressive, brassy-sound performance from Mr Wilder, as I think we all were!
Totally! For me it was Howard Jones - Human's Lib album - I wore out that cassette!
Yes, that was a great album. I also had a copy of HJ's 12" album on cassette - Chromium Dioxide, as I recall... 🙂
If I woke up and discovered I wasn't satisfied with the sounds of my JX8P, MKS70 or JP 80 engine in my VR-09 and wanted to supplement them with a true Jupiter model, my target would be an MKS80 & MPG80. It's most desirable, since it's a MIDI module that needs no real mods and has a slightly more advanced architecture from the Jupiter 8. Probably costs less too.
I WANT A ROLAND JUPITER 8!!! but I’m just 11 yrs old but almost 12 yrs and I WANT ONE SOOOO BAD! also I love donna summer and kraftwerk the song I feel love has some very cool synthesizer sounds and bass kraftwerk also has some very cool songs well like autobahn and robots those are my fav songs
Oh man and druan druan is my FAVORITE singer of the 80’s more than the bangles and any other I also love the song save a prayer it’s sound futuristic and very 80’s
You dont need a Jupiter 8 to make songs like Donna Summer or Kraftwerk. The also didnt use it...because it doesnt exists when they made "Autobahn" "we ae the robots"...and also Donna Summer whose producer was Giorgio Moroder didnt use a Roland 8,
@@StewO101 you gotta fix your type-os
Maravilhoso! Fenomenal!!! SUPER LIKE!
Nice video, thank you
Cool video!
From the moment I saw the JP8 on the cover of Howard Jones, 1983 New Song... i wanted one. I was 13. I didnt have have £40, nevermind £4000. I watched the prices drop in the Sound on Sound magazine and in 89 (i think, maybe 90) I saw one.... JP8 in good condition. Gigged for a while but too heavy so need a lighter synth. PX welcome. £450. Wow! I scraped together £300 (I had just bought my first house for £27000 and was absolutly skint) I had tapped out the credit of most of my family for the house deposit. Slim pickings for the last £150. I got paid on the friday and had to pay my loans and there was 70 quid left to live on. I phoned the guy, Would you take £370 for the Jupiter? "Sorry mate, it went yesterday" Gutted was not the word. FF to 2000 (think it was 2000 or 2001, could have been 2002 haha) Sound on Sound classifieds again. JP8, Reasonable condition for a 20 year old synth. Signs of wear and tear. £800, Kent. (I was Midlands) "Hello .... you have the JP8 for sale? Blah blah blah. I'll have to pop down at the weekend as i'm far away. OK, he says. Next day, boss says "we have a job at kent uni you have to go and look at." Couldn't believe it. I was off like a shot that morning and called the guy to say i'm coming for it tonight. He gave the old "someones coming to look at it today" routine but I had to go to the job first. Went round after work to meet a nice chap and it was still there. Played it for a while, it had issues. Scratchy pots. Tact switches not working. Top panel worn due to hands on patch buttons. It looked a bit tired but I had JP8 stars in my eyes. I offered £600, he dropped to 700. 650 i said and i'm off. 650 it is he said. I dished out the money but only had 20's from the cash machines. He hadnt got a tenner. Neither had my workmate. 640? i said. How about 660 he said. I said we'll toss for it. Heads £640.... tails £660. He flipped...... £640 it is! With a smile as wide as the dartford crossing I scooped up my new JP8. 18 years I waited. 3 months later and buying up all remaining spares from Roland (which wasnt a lot) It was 100% working. I've never liked the top panel due to the wear but now Audio Custom can refurb them so soon i will drive my panels to Poland and get them sorted. I will only seel it when I need the money but I will sell it one day when I'm old. Whether its worth 2k or 20k it doesnt matter. Its worth £20m to me.
Great story - thanks for sharing! BTW - can you send me info about audio custom on Poland - My panel is all rusted as well, so I might get that done also.
I am proud owner of jupiter 8 and 6 thanks for this video
Thanks for the fantastic video on the JP8. Back in the day, I was fortunate to play pretty much all the great models ... DX7, JP8, JP6, Juno 6, D50, Korg MonoPoly, Korg Polysix, Prophet 5, OB-X8, etc. They were ALL wonderful in their own special ways. But to this day, the one that is nearest and dearest to me is the Korg M1. I still have one and I love it.
Thanks for sharing Karmic!
The Korg M1 is the “nearest and dearest,” more than a P5, JP-8, or OB-X? Lol!
thanks for the info! 😊
Great vid!
Thanks Zach!
Amazing, u r forcing me to get another boutique, I have a few and love them
Try the JX-08. It’s so damn good
The BA662 was used before the JP-8 in the JP-4, SH-series and Promars. In fact the IR3109 is nothing more than cascaded BA662’s and buffers. The JP-4 used both BA662 (early) and IR3109 (later) for the filter. Also, the IR3R01 was not used on the TB-303. The JP8 autotune was very good, more sophisticated than the OB-x, OB-xA, P5 and Chroma, it was the 12-bit DAC in early units that limited resolution.
dang, i lusted after the jupiter 8 back in the early 80s in seattle, but there was no way i could afford it. i did manage to get a used juno 60 with dcb/no midi (wish i still had that!).
Outstanding video, and I love the technical details. I have been a Roland fan and user for decades. The JP-8 was a a triumph of engineering & design. Yours was maybe the best “garage sale find” of all time. But at today’s prices, I have to skip.
Can't agree more the prices are insane these days.
Good video, well researched! I would love a real one. The Roland Cloud and Arturia V simulations aren't bad but... I am trying to build a "real" one using modern components but keeping the signal path faithful to the original. Using an array of Arduino microcontrollers to ease the software development. 1 pair of oscillators, 1 filter, 2 envelopes running so far. Currently working on the panel controls and interfaces. I must be mad!
Keep me in the loop on this Terry. I'm very interested.
Great video!... please Roland D series story :)
Nice story thank you.
Used to have an MKS-70 and MKS-80 along with their respective programmers. Wish I never sold them. Got many, many thousands for them...but had instant regret.
Wow - those are both great - especially with programmers. Yes - I bet you did well on the sale.
Still the most beautiful synthesizer ever made.
Oh hey, Seattle!
*Waves from up in Skagit county*
Waves from Seattle!
super informative video. as someone who is relatively new to synthesis, this was very comprehensible! would you consider doing a video on the juno 60 or juno 106? i think a lot of people would be interested in that!
Great idea... I wish I hadn't of sold either of my 106 or Juno60... but the Juno series would be a good one.
I didn't hear a mention of Roland's ACB VST version of the Jupiter 8, or their System-8 hardware. Those are likely the closest reproductions available. They scored pretty well in side by side RUclips comparisons at getting extremely close to the original sound. Nothing will beat the original, but you can get very close. The Jupiter X is a step backwards compared to the ACB based instruments, but offers other advantages like greater polyphony. Roland's hardware ACB products restrict to only 4 voice polyphony, which is a deal breaker for many (and only 49 keys), but their ACB VST can do 8 voice and use any MIDI keyboard you like. Plus you can run multiple instances.
I've played a classic Jupiter 8, but I'm a bigger fan of the Oberheim OB-X series (X,Xa,8)
Back in 1983 I bought a Jupiter 6 but none were available so the store loaned me a Jupiter-8 for SIX MONTHS. Bliss!
Very cool, but honestly 2 very different synths. Do you still have the JP-6?
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams No, and I don't remember how I sold it. I use VST instruments these days. these days...
A bit before the time I took an interest to want to play, but I certainly heard a lot of music played with this keyboard at the time! With Roland’s emphasis on legacy classics these days, I wonder how history will treat the Jupiter-X? Seems very impressive, albeit with a bit of a learning curve for the interface from what I keep reading.
Anyway, despite purchasing an Alpha Juno-1 a few years later, I didn’t really embrace my love of music until computers came into full swing, so my primary experimentation has been with software synths… But I do love the fact that all these great classics are available on Roland Cloud!
Love how the Roland System 8 gives me all the analogue synths of my youth in one handy keyboard. Could never get near affording a J8, but had a JX-3P. I've now got it back again as a plug-out.
On the other hand, constantly hanging on to the sounds of 40 years ago is pretty boring to me. Something like Omnisphere leaves them in the dust for sonic innovation.
Most teenage boys in the 80s had a picture of a Lamborghini Countach or a pinup model on their bedroom wall; I had a Roland brochure of a Jupiter 8. That's about as near as I got to one. Couldn't afford then, still can't afford one now. Denied!
Great story Jon - I had a poster of an Alpha Juno I remember. Hope you find your JP8 one day!
Thomas Dolby live wireless was a nice exhibition.
Great history lesson. Thank you. :)
What's the music starting at circa 5:30 ?
During the 2006 NAMM show I spoke with Chris Franke of Tangerine Dream. He claimed that Roland consulted him regarding the design of the Jupiter 8, and he insisted that they include cross modulation (oscillator modulating oscillator) as a parameter. Don't know if it's true.
That's a great bit of history - thanks for sharing!
Can you please do an episode on the Roland D-50.
I sold my Roland Jupiter-8 with Encore MIDI upgrade in Mint condition back in the Mid-90ies for only 2k, because I wanted that brandnew Nordlead VA from Sweden so desperately ;-)
Sigh - yes - I have a few stories like that as well
At 10:00 you have mentioned JP-08 and Jupiter-X, but you forgot that Roland was made a JP-8 reincarnation during the 90s era where JD-800 and JV-80 (and it's successors like JV-1080 and XP-80) dominates the pop culture. It is Roland JP-8000 and it's module version JP-8080.
Those are all great synths but a far cry from a Jupiter 8, which has actual VCO's and analogue filter. Those later synths are all digital.
I've got one. Build quality is not a lot like the JP8!☹ Still sounds nice but it's a digital virtual analogue 8 voice. Still some nice sounds but very much less analog sounding than an OB6 or Prophet-6 IMO.
The one synthesiser I always wanted to own, but would never be able to. The closest I'll get is the System 8 I have now with the JP8 plug out. And unless the planets align, I'll never play a real one.......I can but dream
Amazimg these go for $20,000 now
I had a Jupiter8 but when I became a student, financial pressures meant I had to sell it….worst mistake I’ve ever made
If the reissued the Jupiter 8 with a few modern tweaks (midi, usb, mod wheel verse button and Roland chorus with stereo out) and the price was $5-6K+ they would sell like hot cakes.
Roland have stated they will never remake there old classics in hardware.
@@NathanChisholm041 This is why Behringer will over take Roland one day.
@@pixelperfecttv1162 Not a chance! Behringer only knows how to copy plus they have no heratige. Kinda like how the Chinese steal intellectual property.
I love my JX-8L, it's a "softer" jupiter 6.
I like the 6 a bit more than the 8 😛
I have the Arturia Jup-8 V4 VST and that sounds really nice. Not the real thing but affordable and a lot smaller 👍
Arturia did a fantastic job on the new version. Their previous attempts were not great but they rebuilt it from scratch and IMO nailed it this time.
Questionably better than Roland's own JP-8 VST
@@TryptychUK I would say it's on par, which is a good thing…Roland's emulation is great too.
Nice video! Some of us will have to be content with the TAL-J-8, but for once I am actually hoping that B will be able to accurately clone the Jupiter8. Roland just isn't doing it for me with the System 8, Boutiques, Jupiter X, etc....
I'd count on Behringer releasing a decent JP-8 clone soon. I'm eagerly awaiting the UB-XA - I think from what I can see they've done a very good recreation with identical circuitry. If they do this to the JP-8 I'm in.
Behringer “Saturn” Mini boutique style synth possible release soon with a full size synth in the works😎
I can’t be;I even they stopped producing it at its peak. Far few than 2000 exist worldwide
How should you play a jupiter 8? Well between 10:29 and 10:35, there they show it. 1. look slightly bored like you are too cool for anything 2. dont forget to play the notes with your right hand 3. swing the your left hand to the beat 4. try to dance a bit and bend your knees a bit to the beat 5. keep your back straight in a vertical way at any time. And there you go, now you know how to play the jupiter 8.
I had to choose between my first car or a Jupiter 8. I bought a Mini Cooper S.
what's the music starts at 5:28?
This, Prophet 5, and Oberheim OB-8 are my favorite 80s keyboards. Also like the Yamaha DX7 but not as cool as first 3 IMO
i paid £690 for my JP-8 back in 1998! still got it in mint condition! theres a problem with the voice board tho! will get it serviced at some stage! i can hear some white noice when trigger a key!
Sounds familiar - you definitely need a good tech if you own a JP-8 - I've had mine in for repair several times with similar issues with voice cards.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams it started doing that back in 2009! sat in the box since! defo get it repaired tho!
Watching these videos both intrigues and bothers me cause I know Ill probably never get my hand on one of these to play/collect.
0:13 anybody know the name of this piece of music??
Hi Beny - it's a remix of I feel love - Giorgio Morodor
Do you have a link or do you know who remixed it? I've tried searching with no luck
@@osobean8628 its from this video at the 1:50 mark ruclips.net/video/0zhHnf-yTng/видео.html
"Zee Eighty" 😉
Hey ! what's the song starting at 8:05 ? Great vid !
And 9:32 also ? :)
It's a song I wrote in 2007 call Octaves for my label Powerplant Music. www.discogs.com/label/39032-Powerplant-Music
All you JP-8 owners that have had them a long time, I'm sure we would all like to read the problems and issues that came up in the past. I do all my own repairs and have bought /fixed sold quite a few, but I wouldn't call myself a synth tech. Am currently dealing with a JX8P that has all the end cap screw sockets cracked out.
My JP-8 lights started to blink like crazy all the time, turned out it was the bridged rectafier on the power input. Quite an easy fix.
Only minor things, nothing really bad in the last 10 years owning. Got a new PSU, not that the original one wouldn't do it, but i like the synth stayin cool.
What’s the song from 4:59-5:04?
Pseudo Echo - A Beat for You
0:07 someone please tell me the song name.
Gary Numan - Cars
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Thanks mate 👍
I'd love a Jupiter 8 but i just can't afford one.
1:26 background song title?
Hey Lutfy X - it's just a jam I did in my studio. I didn't even give it a name.
I haven't got any JP-8 stories.
Name of the song in 4:59 - 5:03 ? :O Anyone, please?
Late reply. A Beat For You by Pseudo Echo
@@kansai123 I am a very patient guy. Thank you for your reply! :)
Great overview video. "We Design The Future" is kind of ironic now considering Roland's recalcitrant position on analogue revival. We have a far better understanding of analogue today and most have come around on the issue. It is the future. I don't see how Roland is going to be able to get themselves out of this silly self-created marketing dilemma and I don't see digital outdoing analogue anytime soon. The infinite resolution of analogue is still far from digital's reach. Keep up the great videos mate :).
The problem is, analogue is expensive.
Just take a look at the Dave Smith / Sequential gear.
@@TryptychUK Yeah sure. No argument there. Roland are many times Sequential's size though and many times Korg's size even so they should be able to shoulder some of the R&D surely?
@@Screaming-Trees It's not about company size, it's about components. Roland have made custom chips in the past, but analogue circuitry uses discrete components, transistors, capacitors etc. All that stuff costs. Digital synths are basically computers, so cheap to build by comparison.
Oh, and Korg is owned by Yamaha, so WAY bigger than Roland.
@@TryptychUK Since when? I've not seen any acquisition news on this. When did the acquisition complete and what were the particulars? Any links?
Roland reports north of half a billion a year revenue (year-on-year). That's not a small number for this industry. Size absolutely matters when you want to develop costly projects like analogue circuits for example but Roland is a sizeable company (going by revenue). Moreover, is that not their core business? Making instruments I mean. Sequential has some discreet circuits, Prophet 6 comes to mind, but some of their stuff is integrated (like the Rev2). I can't accept the argument of "hey development in this area is too expensive". Over half a billion vs Sequentials' 20mil estimated revenue for last year sort of puts that argument in bad light but more than that it is the core of what they do so then it becomes easy to interpret their attitude as "hey it's just too expensive and we ultimately can't be bothered". Which is a bad place to end up. It kind of sounds a little bullshit too when you compare to what Seqeuantial is doing (i.e. a very large corporation can't develop something that requires some capex expenditure where a much smaller one can). In my opinion of course.
Ultimately Roland will do what they'll do but I'm kind of stocked up on the digital front with Waldorf and Kurzweil so I'm not going to be buying anything from them. If they were to release some analogue stuff I might be interested on the other hand.
@@Screaming-Trees Korg was bought out in the late 80's. After the collapse of SCI, Dave Smith worked for Yamaha and co-developed the M1, but because Korg had little market influence, Yamaha branded the M1 a Korg product, and later the Wavestation and 01/W.
Dave later left to set up his own business.
At the end of the day, Roland is a big company that deals in a lot more than just synths, (likewise Yamaha). I once heard it said that Yamaha have more pIanos in storage than ALL the pianos that actually exist around the world. Dave Smith and small companies rely on niche, specialist areas that the big guys cannot afford to cover. It's like, do you want a Nissan or a Ferrari? Nissan may make more cars, but Ferrari make plenty of money, even though they only make handfuls. It's horses for courses.
DX7 was sucking-up the demand for most analogue synths by 1984..
So true! Can you believe it??? And if you listen to a DX7 now, I'm sure it sounds like boo boo!
It actually sounds incredible. But totally different, you can't really compare them.