Roland Jupiter-6

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jupiter-6

Roland Jupiter-6
Manufactured by Roland
Dates 1983 - 1985
Price US$2995
UK£2250
JP¥490,000
Technical specifications
Polyphony 6 voices
Timbrality 2
Oscillator 2 VCOs per voice
LFO 2, 1 in LH control section (sine) / 1 programmable, sine/triangle/sawtooth/square
Synthesis type Analog Subtractive
Filter 1 resonant multi-mode (lowpass/bandpass/hipass) filter
Attenuator 2 ADSR
Aftertouch No
Velocity sensitive No
Memory 48 tones/32 patches
Effects None
Input/output
Keyboard 61 keys
External control MIDI

The Roland Jupiter-6 (JP-6) is a synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation introduced in January 1983 as a less expensive alternative to the Roland Jupiter-8. The Jupiter-6 is widely considered a workhorse among polyphonic analog synthesizers, capable of producing a wide variety of sounds, such as ambient drones, pads, lead synthesizer lines, and techy blips and buzzes. It is renowned for its reliability and easy, but sophisticated programmability.

The JP-6 has 12 analog oscillators (2 per voice), and is bitimbral, allowing its keyboard to be "split" into two sounds - one with 4 voices, and one with the remaining 2 voices (either "Split 4/2" or "Split 2/4" mode). "Whole Mode" is also available, dedicating all 6 voices to single (monotimbral) sound across the entire keyboard.

The JP-6 was among the first electronic instruments (alongside the Roland JX-3P and the Sequential Circuits Prophet-600) to feature MIDI, then a brand new technology. Sequential CEO Dave Smith demonstrated MIDI by connecting the Prophet to a Jupiter-6 during the January, 1983 Winter NAMM Show.[1]

Europa, a popular firmware replacement available from 'Synthcom Systems' adds modern enhancements to the instrument's MIDI implementation, user interface and arpeggiator, turning the Jupiter 6 into a contemporaneously adaptable machine.

Notable Users

References

  1. ↑ Billboard 95 (5): 41. Feb 5, 1983. ISSN 0006-2510. 
  2. ↑ Sound On Sound, Nov. 1997 "Inside the Synth Lab" http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/nov97/vangelis.html
  3. ↑ Rob Preuss on his keyboards http://www.thespoons.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52&start=15
  4. ↑ Devo FAQ http://cluefree.org/devo/Personnel.shtml
  5. ↑ Roland Insider article by Greg Rule http://www.rolandus.com/community/insider/article.php?ArticleId=55&tab=artist
  6. ↑ Mike O'Donnell Interview http://www.sodor-island.net/mikeodonnell.html
  7. ↑ Sound On Sound, Apr. 1995 "Phil Oakey: The Human League" http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/apr95/humanleague.html
  8. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmJdvjM6yHE
  9. ↑ Sound On Sound, Dec. 2011 "Matt Cox: MIDI Tech For The Chemical Brothers" http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec11/articles/chem-bros.htm

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.