Roland Boutique JP-08 Sonic Lab Review
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- An ACB emulation of the Jupiter 8, one of the most iconic polysynths ever made. A tall order. We take a look at the new Boutique JP-08
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This channel has become TV for me.
Same
I've watched more synth reviews today than I've touched my instruments. Help?
This is my Daily news....i totally agree
This is better than tv.
The podcast is my daily drive.
Sonic Lab is consistently a go to channel for new synths, hard to beat the knowledge this guy possesses. Thanks a lot! The JP-08 fares much better than I expected.
They're actually 10mm throw on the faders, super tiny indeed! But having played around with it for several hours it's totally usable, you just have to be very careful with certain settings, nothing you can't _actually_ use, especially in a studio environment where it doesn't matter if you take a second or two longer to nail a setting.
Honestly, even though the Arturia's vst version sounds way worse, I'll stick to it. However, I'm seriously thinking about getting one of these "boutique" synths because it would look nice on my desk. I'm obsessed with hardware just because of its appearance. I know it sounds dumb but it is my money and I'm not hurting anyone.
calm down
Not too shabby!!
But you can't control the tiny sliders with your standard midi controller using midi-cc :(
Apparently you can since last august.
InXLsisDeo And like that, I was $400 poorer
Just not too shabby? No any good?
I use analog and digital synths in my studio, but man did I have fun with the JP-08 this eve after arriving today. Finally Roland is getting back on track, and believe me it doesn't matter this is a VA, I hear no stepping, it sounds great, even the tiny controls are not a real bummer. It certainly isn't a toy either. If there is a bummer, well, it's indeed only 4 voices..
Thanks Nick for this demo! I think I am going to get the JP-08. Even though it has those tiny sliders & mini jack output (Eeewww!) I might be able to hang in there & use it for pads, S+H & strings :) I have owned a Roland Jupiter-8 in the past (see my video) this sounds nice enough for the price. I hope they actually make a full size 49-61 key version with larger sliders! You are the best & keep up the fantastic work my friend!
Rik Marston
Anybody tell you this week how much you rock for doing these year after year, new synth release after release? You are a fixture in my media consumption! :)
I just sold a mint JP8 for 9500.00, and I have to say that after comparing it closely to my Nord 2 rack, I have no regrets and aside from it being very heavy, any old JP8 is only one faulty component away from being sold for parts. These new units look kind of cool.
Bet you regret it in 2022 :)
Jupiter 8s sell for around 10G right now, and it's been that way for years. The demand has always been there. What more motivation does Roland need to do a legit version of this classic synth, Korg and Dave Smith are actually listening to what people want and delivering. As somebody that has played the real thing I can tell you it's a legit beast and the hype is real. We don't want this 4-voice toy Roland, please listen to your customers.
Wow those sliders are small. That Save A Prayer intro sound is actually from an SH-2 and CSQ-100 so don't expect the Jup 8 to nail it. Despite having less voices the unison mode was narrower due to not panning the voices at all.
Best review of the JP-08 that I have seen yet. Thank You!
A lot of people are complaining about the faders but in use, I have found them to be excellent.
The JP08 does have a chorus setting. You just send Midi CC data to it.
There's a hidden setting for it, actually. CC isn't the only way to trigger, or so I read
I could watch your review videos the whole day, even for devices I'm not interested that much. Thanks :-)
My setup is: Novation Ultranova + Arturia v4 collection + MacBook Pro 2011(!) + Mainstage. All the synth you need!
You're my new hero pal xxx
You don't mess about and are very blunt in your reviews. Thanks for your work
You should have put the Jupiter on one end of a see saw and see how many JPo8's it takes to balance . As useful a suggestion to anyone saying "but it's not analogue". Good work Nick
Excellent review as usual. Thanks for this! Also appreciated you JU-06 demo. One comment I have - I think it's interesting that the JP-08 waveforms clearly show the digital quantization (on those green waveforms) - that stairstepping is very visible on the triangle and saw. Also, the top of the pulse and square are not at all flat and showing quantization, also overshoot, whereas the original Jupiter-8 isn't showing any of that...but is more noisy. This would account for some of the lack of "Thud" as you say - all that stairstepping is adding high frequency harmonics to any patch, and on your sound system in studio, you can probably hear it a lot more clearly than we can on CZcams, which is itself subject to quantization/compression. Cheers - Joe
I did not see/hear any stepping.
You scored a like just for the Nick Rhodes intro.
Emulation sounds good however agree Nick that the Jupiter has a fraction more low end weight. Also when you open the filter on the JP08 sounds slightly sharp. Analogue sounds sweeter when you do this. It is something I noticed a lot in comparisons, that an analogue synth has more of the energy focussed on the lower mids..I would be interested how well it compares to Diva...however - overall pretty good for the money. Thanks for the review!
Fraction more?? Not $7,000 more.
I had a play with the boutiques and found that at high resonance levels, the filter cutoff sounds steppy in the JP08 compared to the JU06 and JX03. Not as obvious when resonance is not set high.
Roland need a little box for these for about 1/3rd the price of an actual module.. it contains all the guts but no controls.. but it has expanded auto-switching firmware space. It can then act purely as a voice expander for any of the boutiques..
Nice review Nick.I got mine yesterday and I must say they are built well and quite heavy.The faders are not sloppy all be it quite small to the JU-06.The JX-03 is better to hit the sweet spot because of the rotary knobs and not fader's.I have got two JP-08's poly chained and the sound is thick enough to bring goose bump's up when you hit the sweet spot.I have old Jupiter's and when Nick talk's about the bottom end on the Jupiter 8,that is just it,they were never going to be like for like,but they are pretty dam good , I often put stuff through a Timeline and BigSky which gives it that wow factor,anyway.For under £300 it's like a couple of good night's out.Nice one
+Jim Robinson Will you do some comparissons?
+Man On The Living Road yes m8
awesome
I noticed we could see quite a bit of stair-stepping on the JP-08 waveforms, something I didn't expect to see. I look forward to Roland putting out an adult size version 2 of these instruments one day. Perhaps if that happens we'll see an improvement on the areas where these mini synths fall short.
+angstrom I think it is from the oscilloscope he is using, probably low bitdepth. A normal audio DAC doesn't output stepping waveforms.
The early 80's was a period of innovation that's paved the road to what we have today. This Nick and Nick Rhodes are very important figures from this era. We need a band aid like assemblance of 1980's musicians to re-unite and produce an album in the same manner when music was ever lasting. Today's music lasts as long as it takes to create it on colorful DAW quantized timelines at the click of a mouse ! Nick...how about it ? Can you gather up your colleagues and put something 'PROPER' together...PLEASE !!!!
Lol... right at the beginning... he starts with the arpeggio from the JP-08, then he play the Jupiter-8 and that synth (not JP-08, but the Jupiter) just rocks everything.
It sounds really good, ACB technology is way better than the Zen core modelling they use now on their recent offerings. Almost like a 4 voices System-8, but 1/4 price. These are hard to find since they discontinued it.
Very happy I hung onto my JP-08 and JU-06 then 😂
The one and only thing I dont like about the JP-08 compared to the actual Jupiter 8 was the sequencer keys should've had multi-colored LED'S to replace the "rainbow buttons" on the Jupiter.
I can't believe how close they sound. Great review! I prefer the JU-06 though.
It's so scary how close they sound. Probably the closest sounding boutique in the entire line.
The JP-08 puts these Boutique synths properly in perspective: they are a good idea messed up. How can any serious synth manufacturer expect people to accept a 20mm fader? How can they expect people to accept no external midi control? Roland drop the ball again. Its even more of a shame when they don't actually sound that bad. Pity they are hampered by lack of proper functionality.
+John Smith They'd make a lot more if it was slightly bigger and had midi/sync in/out.
All you're saying is that Roland care about the bank and not about making a decent instrument. If you're happy with that then so be it. I'm not. They could have made this better with a little more effort.
***** Maybe you're right, but predictive statistics aren't always correct. I know I'd think about buying one of these if it had a clock in/out, which doesn't seem like that complex of a feature. I'm sure you're at least correct when it comes to those awful tiny faders.
+Carlosonebillion the bigger the unit, the bigger the box, the more they have to pay in taxes per unit, which increases costs dramatically, which means they need to charge more $$$ and people aren't happy about spending $500 on a mini instrument. just look at the reaction to the yamaha reface series.
i do think the lack of midi is nuts. my guess is midi in will be added in some kind of update down the line and it just wasn't fully developed when they had to ship it.
+Herr Absurd oh shut the fck up....its like 200 bucks...not everyone gives a flying shit about a 20mm fader.....man learn how to play to play keys
Loving watching you mimic the sound the synth is making with your mouth...found myself doing the same thing@ 11:39...great review as always Nick thanks!
Glad to watch this again, I find these reviews bring my gear back alive. For the depth and weight, perhaps a bit of fiddling with the detune and filter would help. Digital oscillators always are too well behaved, I don't care what ACB technology tried together around that.
As 6 years have passed, I’m pretty happy I kept my ACB boutiques 😩
If a JP-08 has the same wave shape and oscilloscope wave height as a Jupiter 8, then I cannot see how the original can have more "weight/thud" to it. The oscilloscope doesn't lie. As mentioned, the original has some introduced noise in the signal path, and maybe that adds a hint of tonal colour, but unless the Jupiter is higher in the mix, then oscilloscope hight wise, their output will be exactly the same. Those wave comparisons are so nigh on exact, any difference in dry oscillator, will be near as makes no difference. It is clear to see on the comparison, that the 08 is pure, and the Jupiter is noisy, but if you want that noise, shove it through something analogue, or tweak some VST effects to 'dirty' it up. Virtually none of us have never heard a Jupiter in the raw, least of all to compare it to a DVCO, so in truth, once it's had effects added, nobody could tell.
We'd all love to have a real Jupiter, just to say we have, but in truth, they are massive, and as lovely as they sound, and delightful to noodle, almost anything can do 'Jupiter' sound now, including the JP-08, or VST versions, sorry, but that's the truth.
I think you are actually wrong... look at the differecies between the JP-8 square wave and the jupiter's wave on the oscilloscope, all the steps that you see in the JP-8's wave are due to the digital oscillator that it has, those are infuencing the harmonic spectrum. resulting in a "flatter" sound.
This happens in nearly all systems that have a DSP (digital signal processor) as signal generator, or that have a DAC (digital2analog converter) that converts the digital signal (numbers) into an analog signal(waves).
That's also why a compressed sound file (digital) does not sound as a vinyl.
+Davide Canuti watch the video. They sound near identical. In a final mix, exactly the same.
in person they can not sound identical, it is fisically impossible. (IMO)
When everything produced now goes through D2A conversion, eg MP3 CD (wav) etc, it's then digital. and unless every time we go to listen to music, we go to the artists studio for that 'in person' sound, it's always going to be digitally reproduced sound. As James Reeno says, in the final mix, to our ears, it's the same, and considering every track is processed over and over and effects and eq applied, it's NOTHING like the original raw wave. Besides, nobody listening would neither know nor care how 'original'/accurate it is to the original. That's like worrying that the raw guitar sound is not the same, as it's gone through a distortion pedal, nobody ever moans about the raw sound then.
fisically?
You say "it had to be done" but the sequenced part of Save a Prayer was actually a Roland SH-2 (through Space echo) not Jupiter 8 ;). JP-8 was used for the pitch bendy lead as in the video of course though.
I wonder if the Boutiques are testers of interest to see which ones to remake full-sized and analog. I would love to have a Jupiter-8, but would never consider paying $10,000 for a used one, even though it was always my dream to have one since I saw it in the Journey video for Separate Ways. Great demo as always Nick, I have a JP-08 and absolutely love it.
ive 3 jp-08s and am absolutely happy with the results. nice work sir Nick...
Does that mean you can stack the oscillator so you get 12 voices essentially?
I think Roland decided if they were going to make a Jp 8 reissue it didn't have to be their new flagship, so they went for this instead..
Overall, soundwise it's pretty decent, much closer than some VST emulations I tried, I wonder if they are going to make Plugout versions of these synths, they are apparently the same technology as the aira range, so I suppose they could.. if they did, it would solve the whole small faders issue and voices issue as well, really bringing the product up a notch.
Probably they are hoping to sell these like Volcas and then possibly bring out the plugout version?
I hate to say it, but Roland here proved that it can be done with digital technology. These sound closer to the originals they emulate than say the new Korg Odyssey is faithful to the sound of the original Odysseys, and it's done in analog.
+Rok Koritnik Really? You believe that? Did you not see the video Dave Spiers did on the new Korg Odyssey comparing it to the original on the Sonicstate channel? Even Dave, an Odyssey fan boy if ever there was one, conceded the sound was pretty much the same. Also, the point of analog is that they won't sound exactly the same anyway. Thats the point of analog. Different components mean that each synth will have variation even on models of the same thing. No two sound the same anyway. For my money this was as similar to a Jupiter 8 as the Korg is to the Arp.
I watched Dave's comparison, yes. And from that I concluded that it wasn't that close. Sure, it has the character, but on many points behaves quite differently. I like the Korg Odyssey nevertheless. It's great, but faithfull to the original it is not.
+Rok Koritnik i own both. Sonically they are near identical.
+Rok Koritnik it is near identical sonically. I own both.
thanks again Nick, handy having a mate like Dave eh?!
Still loving my JP08’s...Roland did a good job 👍🏽
We want a COPY of Jupiter 8! New in the box. :) Even for 2000 USD! Roland pleeeease!
Dave always surprise Us :)
No. Just buy the JP-08!!
Small, plasticy, midi issues, short faders etc... No thanks :)
+BMR Studio sounds near identical. Watch the review.
Is even not close.... Let's create a voting on it. Guys who want a real big analog upgraded Brand new Jupiter 8 for under 2500 USD?
Thanks Nick, can't wait for my JP-08 to arrive. I'll never be able to get my hands on an original anymore, since the prices have gone up to silly-land so this will be my closest approximation of the real thing. It's nice to know that it will actually sound like the real thing, for the most part
This guy's ear is unreal. Much props.
thank you for your detailed reviews of this series....
The Save a Prayer sequence was done using a Roland SH-2 & CSQ-100, not the Jupiter ;)
Roland also has a keyboard doc these devices can fit into. Not sure if they can split the keyboard though.
Save a Payer was made with a Roland SH-2
BTW these are based around FPGA so they are not the same as DSP based Virtual Analog, for me the small size is a bonus, plus I don't have 10 grand in my back pocket, so this will do nicely.
+darenager FPGA or DSP doesn't matter. What matters is how the FPGA/DSP is programmed, how is written the code, the choices made when laying down the synthesis algorithms, etc...
If an FPGA is programmed to do the sound synthesis in a certain way, and in the same way (in a different language but maintaining the same synthesis algorithms architecture and structure) you program a DSP, the end result, i.e. the flow of numbers (samples) describing the waveform, would be the same.
After all we are always working in the digital domain both with an FPGA or a DSP, the type of processor doing the synthesis doesn't affect the sound quality and the overall end result. What affects the sound quality is the above mentioned algorithm structure, the DAC's characteristics (frequency and dynamic response, total harmonic distortion, resolution, etc...) and the output stages.
The main difference is in the cost, where an FPGA hardwired to do a certain thing could cost less than a general purpose DSP powerful enough to handle the same thing written in DSP code.
It would have been very easy to have 8 voices.
Why do synth people always insult each other?
+unikraze it's just about as bad as the gaming community... unfortunately these two things are my favorite things...
+birds eye Because Internet.
It's not just here. You get it with photographers too! It spoils all the fun.
Guitar community is just as snobby
Because they’re people lol
I'm a 14 year old with quite small hands. At least I can use it effectively.
A piece of advice from someone whose owns actual 80's hardware, don't go wasting money on overpriced antiques. Modern synths from Roland and Behringer are more then up to the task.
Save A Prayer... Hell yeah!
Nick, any chance you could duck or mute the vocal mic while playing the CME 37 controller keyboard in future vids? The CLACK CLACK CLACK from the CME keys is pretty distracting right at the moment of critical listening. Just a thought.
What Roland did here, is they re-badged their System 1 synth in a small case without keyboard, so what you get for your money is exactly the same 4-voice hardware that you'd find in System 1. Now, I would much prefer Roland did the Plug-Out versions of these, because control via the System 1's front panel would be much easier than using these silly 2-cm 'sliders'. It's a shame, that people who bought the System 1 (me included) are forced to buy what's essentially the same hardware just to be able to use the software that could probably run on the System 1 without problems. At least they could include the option to chain two different ACB instruments to get the 8 voice polyphony. While it sounds like a decent VA, and better to my ears than Arturia's Jupiter 8V, it suffers from the typical plug-in symptom; and that's the lack of that crucial punch and weight of the original analogue synth that it's claiming to emulate. It's close, but not close enough. For me, the 4-voice polyphony, ridiculously small faders, and the lack of midi/cc capabilities makes it a no-go...All I need is a plug-out, that I could use with my existing system 1 hardware, but I'm afraid that Roland won't do that, and that with the System 100 plug-out, development of new plugs for the System 1 will stop. After all, they need to sell us some flashy new System 2's next year? ;)
+dreamteampro I also was puzzled that there is no plug-out version for system 1 owners. Have they ditched that concept already?
+Stephen Mandelbaum Money money money
I'd like to see a 12-voice, proper 61 key synth with all three boutique engines inside (3x4 voice) freely selectable/combinable, JP08+JU06+JX03 with full-size knobs and sliders, full midi/cc capabilities and option to load other plug-outs, as well...that would be a really killer product! Price it around 1500$, and it would fly off the shelves! And, oh...you might as well call it System 2, I wouldn't mind...And please, no more glossy-piano-finish-front-panel-mini-key-pico-slider-nonsense! Just make a proper synth design like you did back in the 80's...it's actually really simple, Roland! :)
+Stephen Mandelbaum I guess they did. I got all the plug-outs, with the SH2 being my fav. with lots of low end for a software-synth. I really hoped Roland would release these big polys as final plug-outs for the System 1, but I guess it would just ruin the sales of the boutique range, so I suppose that this is the end of the System 1 development.
+group electronic It's Roland's fault for pushing the Aira to one side as they want to fully concentrate on marketing their new overpriced products!
I’m I crazy? The oscilloscope that was used when previewing the waveforms has 24 vertical steps, this would indicate a 5 bit defined digital waveform. Is the Oscilloscope low resolution or is it Roland’s waveforms that are that low. If it’s the JP-08, did the original have digital looking waveforms? Is “Analog Circuit Behavior” just advertising consumer bull?
i think it sounds gorgeous
I've owned two Jupiter 8's. Great synths, but totally overhyped. This is a great little unit for the price. Nothing to sniff at.
I agree. That's why these videos get silly. The small unit has the same kind of sound and that's good enough.
99% of the folks making music wouldn't even know how to consistently pull that last bit of mustard out of an original 8. And if they did, they almost certainly have moved on to much more advanced and expensive forms of production.
Overhyped by someone who’ll settle for something less.
I agree, I own a Jupiter 6 and haven't switched it on in years, I originally paid about £500 for it, it's now worth about two grand, f***ing mental. Not worth it with todays technology. Honestly hat sync sound, I can't tell them apart.
Just saw a Jupiter-8 in beautiful condition sell for $15k plus $160 shipping on Ebay. Who knew they would have that kind of worth in 2018...
Listening on my $120 headphones, the JP-08 oscillators are heartbreakingly flaccid compared to the real thing (heartbreakingly because I certainly can't afford the real thing).
Probably the best approach to getting these types of sounds at a near-vintage quality is a modern analog synth like the Elektron Analog Keys, rather than a digital clone.
Great job as usual by sonicstate delving into the details of this product.
Disagree. Very close.
I have the JU-06 and between the 3 the JU-06 and more real to me...it has a Deep Lush Thick sound and the quality of the Envelopes and Filters sound awesome....i tried the other 2 and altho they were great, the JU-06 just convinced me immediately....didn't have to Fiddle around too much to be convinced...i wouldn't mind having both tho...the JU-06 & the JP-08..That would be cool
I have all the boutiques and a real jupiter 6 and jx3p and have owned a shit load of Rolands over the years. These little boutiques are great if you have limited space like me. The JU-6 sounds exaclty like a Juno 106 and the JX-03 sounds exactly like the JX3P however the JP-08 doenst quite sound like a Jupiter 8 but it does sound good and they are cheaply priced and loads of fun. In a mix the average listener cant tell the diff and either can most musicians.
people butt hurt because they spent thousands on the original synths thinking they have an irreplaceable gold mine and roland come out with the boutiques which sound 99.999% like the original and the difference would be impossible to tell in a mix. Bhahaha i love synth snobs.
Only an idiot woud get angry over that puny little JP8 wanabe.
If you wanted a JP8 you will buy a JP8.
That thig isn't bad for what it is but i woud absolutely not say it is 99.99% The same.
Cyberdyne Systems n
I hope Gaz's Circuit review is coming soon, been looking forward to that one!
+KILLAGORILLA7000 If not, I have one coming to Harmony Central very soon! :o)
Matthew Mann Nice one!
The stepping on the JP-08 sawtooth is insane. Like the bit resolution each of the waveforms is quite low. I wonder why that is. Maybe the micro they are using?
Could somebody PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY if using a DAW and recording parts to bmp how these are not everything we want as far as loops sequencing and SOUND? PLEASE
I'm just about to enter round two now as I just recieved one in the mail after a year or two of not having one. It truly is quite amazing. However Roland would be the coolest company ever if they released a software update with 8 or more voices as well as CC compability. And don't touch that chorus easter egg. In fact I never tried that on the first one I had.
They can't increase the voice count with a software update; it only has enough DSP power for 4 voices. Check out the System-8. It runs the same emulation with 8 voices, and has a four octave keyboard and full size controls for every parameter.
@@st0rmchild of course they can, it's software
my module only makes sound in dual mode. what the heck am i doing wrong?
Though I slightly prefer real analog, I have and enjoy plenty of VA hardware and software. Still not sure what the point of the whole Roland boutique line is though, with the 4 voice limitations and VA implementation. For the same price you can get a 18-voice Novation Mininova. For $100 more you can get Roland's own Roland JD-Xi, and for $300 more you can get 4 real analog voices in a Dave Smith Tetra (with the recent price drop). I'm just curious who the target market was supposed to be...
+ProckGnosis I understand your point, but compare real analog Tetra to these Boutique modules in sound. Tetra, although analog doesn't sound as warm and soft as these. SCI / DSI synths are all sharp and brassy and the filter has a bite while Rolands were always soft and darker. Nowadays it's more about how a certain analog or digital synth engine is done.
+Rok Koritnik That actually is my point kind of, at least with the Mininova and JD-Xi comparisons. If the JP-08 really is modeled well-enough to attract a picky synth geek like me, I'm likely not going to buy it because of the 4 voice limitation. And the folks who aren't that picky about the quality, who just like the price, they'll see they can get what looks like more capability/quantity (regardless of sound quality) in comparably priced products.
So I would think the serious synth enthusiast will likely be turned off by the limitations and the tight-budget newb would likely consider something with more bang for the buck.
But maybe I've just answered my own question. Maybe the target audience is somewhere between serious synth enthusiast and newb. : )
People like me, who are in the 40..60 range and want the good old days and their youth back! ;)
4 voice limitation does suck. To me even 6 voices on a Juno can be troublesome, because I like pads with long release time. I would have to buy two JU-6 or two JP-8 in order to get enough polyphony, but then the price rises and if I add a bit more I could get the new Futuresonus Parva which is 8 voice and seems incredible.
+pcuimac I'm with you on that one Bud,it's called a mid life crisis haha
Nick, love your reviews and your intro is hot! Just think if Roland re-released a full analog Jupiter with modern niceties. It would print money.
+John Smith $3,000 to $4,000 you think?
Too expensive
Great sound on the original jupiter 8 in the playout - kind of overshadows the jp08 acc
I like it and I personally found its dimension a plus rather than a flaw. IMHO.
Nevertheless, I was wonderning why are companies focusing so much in "virtual analog" sounds. I mean, Isn't that a pure aesthetic research? I am confused, I don't get it. Could someone explain it to me? Why does it seem so important to "emulate" old vintage synths rather that explore new sounds? (unbounded by the classical sine-triangle-saw lfo and so on). Is there a technical/musical reason that legitimate all these efforts? Maybe not, maybe it's just a matter of choices, just like choosing pizza instead of soup (we all prefere pizza.) . I don't know. Bye guys, have a nice day everyone!
Thanks for the review - nice to hear that the filter and waves sound similar. Would've liked to hear more of the pulse/square/PWM sounds which seem harder in character than the original. I'd love Roland to make a full-size version of this with 8 voices, higher quality controls, *and* Juno Chorus I+II included to fatten-up the sound nicely :)
I wasn't convinced when I got the jp 08, but with the system 1 together they compliment each other. Was thinking it as an investment but now I wouldn't sell it. You have arp with the system 1 together so no worries :-)
What is system 1?
System 1 is the Aira range that Roland produced with ACB technology. It was really easy to create sounds from it but there are better synths out there,
US $40,000 for an original Jupiter-8
Insanity.
I got face to face with the minilogue, matrixbrute, mother 32, DSI Ob8, MS-20mini(the knobs seemed updated, don't know but either way I saw no reason for griping about them), an ARP ody, and a few others. AND for a budget synth lover the JP-08 was the one that stuck with me! I liked all of these synths, I'd go with a mother as a great price for the moog sound and all of its features but I have the minibrute and for poly I was more impressed with the jp over the minilogue. If the arp had more than duo phonic I could say its worth the extra money but your just getting the arp for the sake of arp, and the matrixbrute and DSI ob8 aren't budget synths but OOOOH so FINE! But I can't help but want this! It definitely whips the microkorg I have and I can run it off batteries too! Let the analog elite trash this jewel, they trash the minibrute but it freaking rocks!
I'd like to see a video comparing that Jupiter 8 you've got there to U-he's Diva.
+rudiger Diva is great, but actually doesn't sound that authentic at all to my ears
+KILLAGORILLA7000 I've yet to see a comparison between the two though. That notwithstanding perhaps try switching off Diva's onboard effects. I don't think the original had onboard effects. Instead put effects on an AUX track and use a send.
+rudiger Is Diva supposed to be a Jupiter 8 clone? Or do you just want them compared? :P
+Stephen Mandelbaum Diva emulates a number of classic synths, with interchangeable sections. Meaning that beyond the straight up emulations, you can mix "modules" in hybrid designs, like the oscillators from a Minimoog with the filter of a Jupiter-8, or vice versa, just as 2 examples.
It's often praised for sounding very analogue, and was especially at the time of its release a quantum leap for software in terms of sounding analogue. Which has since become more common.
Despite it emulating several classic synths, as well as the potential for crazy hybrids, actual useful and well done comparisons between it and the real synths it emulates are pretty scarce.
If i remember correctly the modelled synths are Minimoog, Jupiter-8, Alpha Juno, MS-20 and something else...
+Stephen Mandelbaum I'd just like to see the compared that's all. I've not seen a useful comparison between Diva and a synth like the Jupiter 8, which by the way it does emulate in it's entirety. This Roland Boutique thing is a little on the ridiculous side.
I used a Juno 60, SH-101 and D10 back in the day, selling each as new kit became a necessity. But I never owned a Jupiter 8 (or an OB-X/a, OSCar, Emulator II or Prophet 5 for that matter), something I've regretted over the years. So this would at least help me get over that.
Great review, but the playing noise from the midi keyboard is killing it for me. It makes it immediately sound so much different from the Jupiter 8 because every keystroke adds a click that distracts me. It sounds like someone typing in time with a keyboard.
Fantastic content as always though. Always have loved your vids.
I Will probably cross post this to the JP08 and JU06 boards as well.
I hear SO MUCH grousing about these. So here, once and for all, is a real-world working musician view.
1) No. They are not the originals. I have the originals, and they do not leave the house.
2) They are 4 voice. After 30 some years, more than enough for composition, arranging and recording.
3) They are small. Yes, geniuses, they are. So small, in fact, that I can carry them anywhere with me, use batteries, and get ideas down and stored faster than any other way I know. See #1 for where my full size boards live.
4) They are digital. Yes, and this is a form factor preference, but the day I use a Mac or a PC or Plug In or a VST to make my next record - I will be dead from a self-influcted gunshot at close range with an elephant gun. Click here. Right click here. Uh huh. So organic. Put the f(*&)(ing computer down and learn your damn craft.
5) They tried to pack too much in and made no one happy with the compromises. I have read multiple whines about slider size, voice count, non-analog, etc... I dunno - but for 300 bucks, I'm all in. Try getting anywhere close to this level of expression for that (Not talking about the software route - which feels the same to me as a million rats gnawing on my face).
6) And last, for those of you telling me how different they sound: In late 2016 a record I am working on now will drop (hopefully!). I am using nothing but the boutiques, a Volca Sample, an old SY22 and a Teenage Engineering PO12. Let's just see how many people call me out on using these digital synths.
Thank you for your time
Anonymous
Come on Roland... Just make an analog version with the arpeggiator, splits and a decent polyphony, and we'll pay the extra!
I keep seeing people begging for this and I'm pretty sure they _would_ pay whatever they could for a high-fidelity re-issue. If YT comments are like cockroaches... there's gotta be a market. I want to know why they don't do this. I'm guessing parts are no longer mfg'ed and it's just too much investment on the front for the market. Maybe the collector synth cartels won't allow it ;) Anyway, I wouldn't be able to afford one :(
wait, it doesnt have an arp though...
Wow. I think that oscilloscope tells a story all it's own. This is way different than that ADC/DAC sample rate demonstration video that's been floated around where the input and output waveform are truly almost identical. The genuine JP-08 had a drastically different waveform. They were only similar in general shape. Clearly the Jupiter 8 had a ton of harmonics in the signal that weren't even remotely represented by the Roland Boutique. I'm glad I watched this video before I bought the JP-08. I played Jupiter 6 yesterday that just sounded amazing and I came here looking to see if this was a solid substitute. IMHO, clearly not.
What is a good classic poly synth that isn't so overpriced on eBay that I can use to learn sound shaping on?
Was just wondering if the heat sink on an actual jupiter 8 gets hot?
The small sliders are ok for me and I'm happy with the sound but I'm struggling with the delay section,it just doesn't seem to respond very well to the way the buttons function and the manual is very vague.anyone else had this problem?
the tiny issues is like Twiggy in history, first all shocked loved by all.. This Boutique approach to have it tiny is thats what later everybody wants to have..Tiny is great.
To get that gravity and thud back into my JP I just plug it into my neve preamp for that extra juice 🤘
Same. My solution to the Boutiques is use 2 Rupert Never RND-I 1/4" TS Male into the Neve 1/8 t r s male boutique out to 1/4" TS Male into the Neve. Now here is the kicker. Use A StereoPing Polychainer and you have 8 voice round robin. Ka Ching! If you wanna get crazier run all 4 TS into an SSL12 has 32 bit float. Whale away wheeeeeeeeeeew.
I can't see how it would have added much to the cost to make these modules a little larger. They would have been much easier to use. However, being able to control them from an external unit would be a good compromise.
Anyone remember the Creamware ASB Pro 12, Minimax and Prodyssey? Similar kind of thing.
Same about polyphony, now it's digital, how it would have added to make it 8 voice AS ITS NAME ITSELF SAY!!! The honest name of this toy should be JP-04, not 08!!!
Sounds fairly similar to the original although the original seems to have more kick at the start of the sound to my ears. Why make these so small though!? Imagine this with twice the form factor, it would be so much more playable and easy to tweak.
In a mix it would not matter.
Good job you had your macro lens for this. It's bloody tiny.
Was this video from prior to the System-8 being released … ?!
Must have been …
Yeah it was since the Boutiques came out before the System-8 came out.
I’ve been considering one of these. It’s impossible to purchase a real Jupiter. One went up for sale around me restored for 20k. But I can control this boutique with my jp8000 and I have arpeggiator on it so I can emulate some of the classic trance sounds.
Can the filter and other parameter controls be recorded/sequenced via midi into an external sequencer and played back?
Jupiter 8 is just a really cool name.
What kind of controller keyboard is being used in this video? Looks thin and to play well.
CME xkey 37 it's okay I have one. There is not a lot of travel in the keys but overall it's not bad.
The very first sound of Jupiter8 is just amazing
Ahhhh sweet sweet sounds of Save A Prayer, thank you for that. :)
This thing owns, blows the Yamaha Reface line out of the water hands down. Definitely my next purchase.
hey Nick..lovely review..happen to own a JP8 but sound comparison with the boutique is not quiet the same..lack of vco's ..but it sounds nice to the untrained ear😊
wow just heard the filters is it really as close as it seems on youtube audio?