Roland Jupiter-4 Analog Synthesizer pt.1

[D1rtyraver]

Note that the serial number of a JP4 is very important to the filter sound..... Before Serial number 800800 it was four OTA-stages with selected BA662 with FET transistors as Buffers. After serial no. 800800 the filter became a IR3109. Same as SH101 and Jupiter 8. I guess very different sound. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

[Jez4prez]

@D1rtyraver So which one do you prefer?

[raymangold22]

@Jez4prez IR3109 has a real edge (as demonstrated in this video). BA662 is more mellow and "mysterious", the resonance also has a very liquid sound.

But again, if you leave the filter open, all Jupiter 4s have the same sound. Most people will typically prefer the later IR3109 revision.

[raymangold22]

@D1rtyraver The filter change began at serial number 952750. Also please keep in mind, some voice chips may have been replaced, or upgraded. So the best indicator is to hear the resonance.

Also, if you open the filter completely without using the resonance, all JP-4s will sound the same. Roland used IR3109 in a handful of synths, including the JUNO-60.

[doom705]

back when rolands synths had BALLS!!!!! :P

[synthartist69]

This sounds incredible, great video!

[microphlexx]

This filter sounds really great. What kind of filter is it?

[retrosound72]

@microphlexx analog VCF IR3109, the same is in the Juno-60 and Jupiter-8

[TWMusicBerlin]

the best analog synth ive ever heard!

[retrosound72]

@TWMusicBerlin :))

[MPrint666]

@TWMusicBerlin Then i'm sure you haven't heard many.

[TWMusicBerlin]

@MPrint666 i heard alot man, ive watched almost every video on this channel..

[Gannett2011]

We had one of these in our music room at school from 1981. We had a couple of synth musicians come in and do demos (wish I could remember what their names were, they were fantastic). It was the gem amongst all the glockenspiels and xylophones and recorders, and because it had cost about £3,000, no-one except the teacher was allowed to touch it. Excellent demo, thanks for posting

[gencom]

Hi there ;) Is this a first JP4 Rev. with BA662 filter or the Last Rev. E with IR3109 chip? Thanks very much for your answer

[raymangold22]

@gencom It's an IR3109, it has to be. Some of the other videos marko does are more telling.

Now we need some videos of earlier revision JP-4s.

[Psychlist1972]

Amazingly FAT. FAT FAT.

[Intelligoth]

Fuck me, that's a fat synth. The sound is so *lush*!

[annamullehusse]

Reminds me of  Kraftwerk

[bjcsupertortoise]

Does anyone know if the Dave Smith Instruments Tetra could produce as good quality sound as this? Thanks :)

[rantarave]

@bjcsupertortoise

this has voltage controlled oscillators the tetra has digitally controlled oscillators.

[clamola]

That must be a Jupiter-4 in the intro to Shannon's hit from 1983, "Let the music play", right?

[RFreigeldorff]

bought one 10 years ago for what would be 160€ today...

will never part with it - absolutely gut-shattering low end and dripping with musical ideas. slider to mod vco with lfo has gone though - any ideas were I can get that sorted in berlin?

[lownrgy]

really good demo. imo sounds a lot more "korgy" than other rolands.

[cprostudio]

hi, thanks for the demo, how would you compare this to a juno 60 and alesis andromeda? - too much overlap?

Thanks

[retrosound72]

@cprostudio

absolut different sound to the Juno and to the Andro. really unique.

[cprostudio]

@retrosound72 thanks for the reply. im after something to complete my current setup. I have, juno 60. andromeda, poly evolver, proph 08, moog voyager, ms20, virus ti2, yamaha sk10, roland rs202, sh101. Im not one for digital synths and will prob sell the virus and the sh101 as it sounds just like my juno which is better sounding in my opinion. I would describe my music as minimal dark orchestral/ambient electronica, think a combination of numan, goldfrapp and philiip glass. any advice?

[westerrnredcedar]

can you trigger the jupiter 4 arpeggiator with a tr-707 just ike the juno 60??

[retrosound72]

@westerrnredcedar

yes

[TheTwel]

what amp are you running that bad larry through? and do you have any idea where one might be able to purchase a jupiter 4 in this day and age?

[gilwe]

Fattest Roland ever made - guaranteed.

[RetroGamerVX]

Wow, that thing is bloody amazing!!!! :o) I think I'm in love!!! :o)

[retrosound72]

@SwitchTrigger

only a bit delay

[devmiles]

JP 4 is just sick, too sick!

[doomguy1001]

Sounds like most of the incidental music from Doctor Who in the early 80s!

[phonicphone]

if i had that when i was a kid i would've never ever ever ever slept and would've out done the guy who created that unsolved mysteries theme song by now!

[arpodyssey1]

sounds like the intro of ricochet by tangerine dream.

[audiotrax2000]

I have a Roland GR-500 guitar synth, and I just realized the mono, lead section is pretty much the same as one voice of the Jupiter 4! Same raw, gritty sound, same switches and faders. It just sits in my studio as eye candy/inspiration. I really need to start using it again after seeing this :)

[LittleNegrilio]

Man, I just bought a GAIA and it doesn't even come close to this!

[retrosound72]

@LittleNegrilio

this is real analog!

[LittleNegrilio]

@retrosound72

just beautiful! it's like ice cream in sound....

[LaugermanPROductions]

@LittleNegrilio sweet and creamy

[DanViaz]

@LittleNegrilio GAIA sux... sounds like VST

[speedtribejp]

@LittleNegrilio. I went to a music store intending to buy new Roland GAIA. But in the used corner there was a renewed Jupiter 4 in excellent condition including original hardcase and original sheetstand, all for same price as a GAIA. I was shocked. I bought the Jupiter 4 instead :)

[neolojism]

Which filter version is in your JP4? The IR3109 or the BA662 based VCF?

[shaft9000]

gorgeous machine - I have the JP-8 and it's double mode is to die for. I also have a Sunsyn, which is a bit more like the raw, electric sound of JP-4...but not so drifty.

[vintagesynthlover]

Price for jupiter 4 in these days?

[remixerone]

wow, nice video! any clone of this great synth? thanks!

[soundmanhaven1]

cool reminds of jmj in the first part cool

[devmiles]

thick, huge, rough, edgy, boss ... i should have one

[meistermett]

IRgendwie hat das ding n geilen klang :DDD *haben wolln*

[retrosound72]

@meistermett

Viel Glück, denn der JP-4 ist mittlerweile ziemlich rar geworden.

[DiggaBua]

In iBei is zur Zeit einer drinne... noch bei 500 :D

[retrosound72]

@DiggaBua

dabei bleibt`s nicht ! ;)

[ubersponge]

BEASTY

[lanfisher]

Incredible! I want one!!

[ZOD117]

wow this is shit awful

[HOLLYwoodgoesFRANKIE]

Bloody Fantastic

[quantizerx]

i love machines....

[kolakube123]

@ Speedtrib

I personally think the JP6 is poor when compared to the J6 which sounds nothing like the J8 or the J4 as it came way after.

[UnchainTheNight1]

i would love to have this synth

but who wouldnt lol

[xnonsuchx]

I THOUGHT the 80's Dr. Who theme was done on a JP-4, but it actually seems to have been done on an ARP Odyssey...though I'm sure the BBC Radiophonic Workshop also included JP-4's.

[kolakube123]

@ xnoxshuxk

Dr who was done entirely on a prophet 5 mate.

There is a tomorrows world video here on you tube showing you how it was made from back in the day.

[xnonsuchx]

Sorry, no Prophet-5 (they may have just used one for demonstration), but I mis-spoke a bit ...I meant I thought the bass line was a JP-4 originally, but apparently an ARP Odyssey instead...it's actually a CS80:

[xnonsuchx]

"The bass line was created in a manner not totally removed from the original, with the sound, performed on Peter's beloved Yamaha CS80 synthesiser, assembled across two tracks of multitrack tape. This finished part was then run off onto quarter-inch tape, flipped over, and rerecorded through effects onto another reel to give each note a subtle pre-echo. The final effect was dubbed back to the multitrack.

...

[xnonsuchx]

Other instruments employed included the ARP Odyssey (used for the opening line of the melody), the EMS Vocoder (used to build the complex texture voicing the answering phrase in the main melody), and the Roland Jupiter 4 (set to auto-arpeggiate in octaves, it provided the sound for the middle eight). The chordal parts were created by layering the Jupiter 4 with the CS80."

[speedtribejp]

Yes I agree with you. The Jupiter 8 is the most expensive and the most famous, followed by the Jupter 6. But to me the best Jupiter is the Jupiter 4. I love the sound! Its the best of all the Jupiters! I love the arpeggiator too.

Jupiter 8 and 6 are technically superior to Jupiter 4, but I still want Jupiter 4's sound most of all. I don't want Jupiter 8. I want Jupiter 4! :-)

[cbulen]

Retro, thanks for posting this vid. I LOVE the sound of the JP-4!

I could have sworn you had another JP-4 video, where you used the Arp a lot, and possibly a drum machine along with it, and that was all that was in the Vid. The Arp pattern was very catchy. Would you repost that vid?

[retrosound72]

thank you

I have few vids with the JP-4 and drum-machine.

[SuperKornspitz]

Spitze einfach nur geil :)

[retrosound72]

danke :)

[DennisBastian]

Damn, that is one fast lfo! I like :-D

[fezufo]

Great video of an equally great machine

[retrosound72]

thx :)

[grauoliv]

Oh, just recentyl misused as a keyboard stand, now the JP4 shows what he is up to!

[retrosound72]

;-)

[cbulen]

What's the gadget sitting on top of the keyboard, to the upper left?

[retrosound72]

tuner

[maisonvague]

Great work -- as usual! This video is a superb example of the incredible sounds this instrument is capable of producing. The JP-4 is just so full of character... and so full of surprises! I love it!

[retrosound72]

thank you Clark :)

[biladd]

OMG! Great key!!!! It was launched in 78, right? Geez... it´s so amazing, 'ahead of its time'! ; ) Just one doubt... Did you create and 'program' the sample/ hold to play like that? Or did you applied a 'rhythm' on it and 'turned off' the 'beat channel' ? Do you know what I mean? :P Thanx for this video! I can´t stpo watching it! =D

[retrosound72]

You can use S/H global with any patch. You can sync the S/H rate with the Trigger Out signal from old drum-machines.

[magevers]

Great  demo and sounds Marco!

[retrosound72]

thank you Marc :)

[thefumigator]

0:05 Oh my.... what a beast that machine is! Great video!

[retrosound72]

thx :)

[slayerized667]

sounds really cool...

[retrosound72]

thanks

[Karmaneoeric]

If I would be a kid, I would be scared to death of that keyboard. I could imagine all the nasty creatures coming out from under my bed to get me.

[retrosound72]

this is a beast!

;)

[kolakube123]

@Karmaneoeric

haha Excellent comment

[KodyBoy555]

@Karmaneoeric Actually, it's a synthesizer.

[devmiles]

@Karmaneoeric LoL, in my imagination it looks like good ol' Dracula's coffin capable of some demonic sounds

i love this synth very much

[bedfordcrusader]

@Karmaneoeric

lol best comment i read today nice one

[myrmur]

Excellent demo!

Why is there some delay play in unison mode? When you press a key the sound comes out of the JP-4 with 1 second delay...

[retrosound72]

only a problem of my video software

thanks

[BaumDerProllige]

Gänsehaut Basslines pur! Im anderen Video mit dem Prodigy und der 606 , einfach Klasse. Mit ein bisschen Phantasie kommt man bei Kraftwerk Depeche Mode oder The Prodigy raus ...

[retrosound72]

Depeche Mode (noch mit Vince Clark) nutzen den den Jupiter-4 ausgiebig auf ihren ersten Alben

[RobinStrower]

Der hat noch dieses coole Knarzen in den Bässen.

Frohe Weihnachten

5 *****

Robin :o)

[retrosound72]

danke Robin :)

[trunkgmx]

des teil is ja wohl der oberhammer!!

[mattsynth]

Did you ever see the movie Saturn 5? The fast LFO sync mod on the Jupiter is how they did the robots voice. It was also the only movie that showed Farrah Fawcett in the nude. God bless her soul.

[retrosound72]

unfortunately no

thank you matt

[MrNirob]

man so geil !!!!!!

würd ich auch gerne haben ;)

[schmittwilli]

Urgewalt! Das ist wirklich der richtige Ausdruck für diesen Synth. Trotz 1 VCO pro Stimme klingt

er besser als mancher Synth mit 2 VCO.

[retrosound72]

da hast du absolut recht!

danke für`s reinhören

[NELLOARA]

sound very brillant!!!!!!!!!!

[retrosound72]

thx :)

[EFKA526]

Schöne Maschine, sehr angenehme Sounds. Hätte im Roland-Quartett (das gibts wirklich, ein Roland-Synthie-Quartett, sehr lustig! ) einen höheren Kult-Faktorwert verdient.

[retrosound72]

Der JP-4 wird extrem unterschätz, weil er immer im Vergleich zum Flagschiff Jupiter-8 gesehen wird. Außer dem Namen haben aber beide Synths klanglich und konzeptionell überhaupt nichts gemeinsam. Der JP-4 klingt wild und ungezähmt. Ein echtes Biest! Der JP-8 ist ein Sweep-Spot Synth. Klanglich auch super, aber kein Vergleich zur Urgewalt des Jupiter-4

[retrosound72]

Übrigens das Roland Quartett kenne ich. Das gibt es sogar noch irgendwo zu kaufen.

[destructo1977]

BRILLIANT

[SwimmingLightes]

fett fettiger am fettesten :-D

[TeddyLeper]

Love that fat analog sound. Still can't be adequately reproduced by digital.

[ValiedTraxx]

awesome :)

[retrosound72]

thanks :)

[Satak8]

PWM <3 Great vid.

[retrosound72]

thank you

[douro20]

Have you ever tried the old Pioneer reverb? I wonder how good it is (I personally never had one)

[retrosound72]

unfortunately no

[heppel101]

Great sound, remembers me in some way to the sounds of castlevania, this scary, creepy way of the "organ" :D

5/5

[retrosound72]

thanks

[Korgator]

fetter Sound..!

[retrosound72]

danke :)

[williamc99]

Very VERY nice sound!

[retrosound72]

thx :)

[Gregsynth]

I NEED to get my hands on this...

[retrosound72]

I can understand ;)

[Gregsynth]

Is there a virtual synth that sounds THIS good?

[retrosound72]

the best virtual synth for me: OP-X

[Gregsynth]

I love the OP-X, but I like REAL synths better. :)

[tekkentool]

.no.

[Gregsynth]

True, that Virtual/software synths can NEVER emulate the real analog synths 100%, but there are some some good ones out there!

[tekkentool]

omnisphere, nexus 2, and max.msp 5 are my fav software synths

[Gregsynth]

I've used some Arturia synths, the PPG Wave 2V, the Arp Oddity, and the Automat1 (a moog/arp clone).

[EFKA526]

software synths do not come with faders and rotary encoders *g* and using an external controller like a nanocontrol or phatboy is nice but never as sexy as touching a real synth

[Shotec1]

Synthesizer and RetroSound = Amazing!

[retrosound72]

thanks :)