Disigned by Mr. Yamabata form Roland
Info from the brochure:
In the brief time since its introduction the Jupiter 8 has
become the most
popular polyphonic synthesizer among session players and recording
groups. The Jupiter owes this popularity to an outstanding array
of features,
a reputation for durabili ty under arduous conditions, and most
of all
because it delivers unsurpassed sound.
·The key to the JP-8's unsurpassed perfor mance ability
is an advanced
computer assigned keyboard which allows more flexibility and control
than
ever before. The five octave keyboard can be used in three different
Key
Modes, Whole, Dual, and Split. Whole mode gives the whole keyboard
a
single patch sound across all eight voices. Dual provides a layered
sound
with two patches sounding with every key depression. Split mode
can give
one side of the keyboard one patch sound, while the other side
has another
sound. On newer JP-8's this split can be moved to any location
on the
keyboard and retained in the synthesizer's patch preset memory.
·The Jupiter 8 gives the user Four Assign Modes including;
Solo, Unison,
Poly 1, and Poly 2. Solo stacks all sixteen oscillators on a single
key
depression which makes the keyboard monophonic but very "thick"
sounding. Unison places as many oscillators as are available to
a single key
depression while retaining polyphonic sound. Poly 1 and Poly 2
differ only
in the length of release time of the last note played.
·The Jupiter 8 keyboard computer also provides an Arpeggio
section which
can be used for sequencer like lines on either the whole keyboard
or the
lower half only, leaving the upper section free. The Arpeggio
can be
controlled by means of an Externa/ Trigger.
·Sixty-four patches can be stored in the Jupiter's memory
and eight Preset
Pairs can also be stored. Stereo Outputs, both high and low impedance,
guarantee the Jupiter'ssound will befaithfully reproduced on stage
or in the
studio. DCB Digital Intefface allows connection of the Jupiter
to products
like the MC-4 MicroComposer and the CMU-800 Compu-Music. A MIDI
to DCB interface will soon enable the connection of MIDI ins
JP-8 List Price: $8995
JP-8 a 1985 List Price $ 5295