Roland Jupiter-6
| 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 ease, but is 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
- Blur
- Chemical Brothers [2]
- Devo [3]
- Dubstar
- Greg Ham of Men at Work [4]
- Human League [5]
- Inner City
- King Crimson
- Lux Voltaire
- Mike O' Donnell and Junior Campbell (First two seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) [6]
- Orbital [7]
- Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
- Rob Preuss of The Spoons [8]
- Rhythm Plate
- The Unicorns
- Thomas Gandey
- Vangelis [9]
- XRY
References
- ↑ Billboard 95 (5): 41. Feb 5, 1983. ISSN 0006-2510. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Sound On Sound, Dec. 2011 "Matt Cox: MIDI Tech For The Chemical Brothers" http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec11/articles/chem-bros.htm
- ↑ Devo FAQ http://cluefree.org/devo/Personnel.shtml
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmJdvjM6yHE
- ↑ Sound On Sound, Apr. 1995 "Phil Oakey: The Human League" http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/apr95/humanleague.html
- ↑ Mike O'Donnell Interview http://www.sodor-island.net/mikeodonnell.html
- ↑ Roland Insider article by Greg Rule http://www.rolandus.com/community/insider/article.php?ArticleId=55&tab=artist
- ↑ Rob Preuss on his keyboards http://www.thespoons.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52&start=15
- ↑ Sound On Sound, Nov. 1997 "Inside the Synth Lab" http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/nov97/vangelis.html