This was posted in another thread but I think it's worth special attention:
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2011/04/ ... upiter-80/
Sounds quite damn good to my ears! Seems like it has some physical/spectral modeling effects on the acoustic tones, these kinds of effects seem very organic and special.
SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
I liked watching this video with a perspective from a synthesist.
Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
My compliments to Roland for amazing sound quality.
Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
The Plus:
- Polyphony (256?)
- Touchscreen
- Intuitive interface, very easy to use and very friendly
- Lots of buttons (too early to tell if they're hard-coded or they're fully programmable)
- Build quality (except the USB front panel hatch which is IMO crappy looking - also remarked the video cunningly avoids displaying it like the plague)
- Aftertouch (?)
- 76 keys
- supposedly modeled instruments all over the gamut
- SLIGHTLY more flexibility than V-synth in how you put your tones/patches on the keyboard
The Minus:
- The weight (17 kg)
- The mixed-bag design (it's neither 80s hardcoded buttons for each parameter, nor the 90's rompler interface)
- No expansions
- Cutting corners on realtime controllers
- Layer/split Performance functions weaker than on the Fantom
- THE PRICE
My verdict: it's a crossbreed of a Kurzweil PC361 (without the controller bits) and the Yamaha CP1 (but lighter and - obviously - without fully weighted wooden keys).
While (quite) a little more delivering than a CP1 (both in portability and features), it's not as easy to move around as the PC361 (14 kg) and lacking as a controller. I still don't see the particular consumer target it's aiming at.
Were you to buy a CP1 - you might consider the J-80 instead, if you don't care about the non-weighted keys.
Were you to buy a PC361 - you probably lacked the budget to buy a J-80 anyway.
Were you to buy a Virus - better get a J-80.
Should the Stage had these features (and retained the price, lol) then it should have sold like hot cakes.
- Polyphony (256?)
- Touchscreen
- Intuitive interface, very easy to use and very friendly
- Lots of buttons (too early to tell if they're hard-coded or they're fully programmable)
- Build quality (except the USB front panel hatch which is IMO crappy looking - also remarked the video cunningly avoids displaying it like the plague)
- Aftertouch (?)
- 76 keys
- supposedly modeled instruments all over the gamut
- SLIGHTLY more flexibility than V-synth in how you put your tones/patches on the keyboard
The Minus:
- The weight (17 kg)
- The mixed-bag design (it's neither 80s hardcoded buttons for each parameter, nor the 90's rompler interface)
- No expansions
- Cutting corners on realtime controllers
- Layer/split Performance functions weaker than on the Fantom
- THE PRICE
My verdict: it's a crossbreed of a Kurzweil PC361 (without the controller bits) and the Yamaha CP1 (but lighter and - obviously - without fully weighted wooden keys).
While (quite) a little more delivering than a CP1 (both in portability and features), it's not as easy to move around as the PC361 (14 kg) and lacking as a controller. I still don't see the particular consumer target it's aiming at.
Were you to buy a CP1 - you might consider the J-80 instead, if you don't care about the non-weighted keys.
Were you to buy a PC361 - you probably lacked the budget to buy a J-80 anyway.
Were you to buy a Virus - better get a J-80.
Should the Stage had these features (and retained the price, lol) then it should have sold like hot cakes.
Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
definitely need more details on what hardwares are in the this monster. Is it up-datable or just that-row material. 256 is nice and would be nice to have it on the FG.
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Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
Wonderful synth pads in this video. But it sounded a lot like Korg's Combis.
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Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
The one with Scott is an awesome demonstration of it's potential:
http://sonicmp4.s3.amazonaws.com/messe1 ... _jp-80.mp4
Regarding supposed lack of "controllers": I would argue that you have more control then in any previous synth because the controllers all change functionality via the SuperNATURAL and Behavior Modeling Engine. This is clearly demonstrated in Scott's demo in the link above. Keep in mind too that when you are in the synth engine the knobs and faders are there to adjust parameters both for programming and realtime performance.
http://sonicmp4.s3.amazonaws.com/messe1 ... _jp-80.mp4
Regarding supposed lack of "controllers": I would argue that you have more control then in any previous synth because the controllers all change functionality via the SuperNATURAL and Behavior Modeling Engine. This is clearly demonstrated in Scott's demo in the link above. Keep in mind too that when you are in the synth engine the knobs and faders are there to adjust parameters both for programming and realtime performance.
Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
Well, to be honest, my "review" has been done prior to watching to Scott Tibbs great demo. After watching this, I must confess some of my previous doubts have been shattered but some still remain.
Regarding controllers, it's a subjective point of view. Even if some of the more modern approaches to synths and electronic instrument offer more (and better) control over some / all aspects of a sound, some people might argue that older, verified types of control were more natural and possibly offered more feedback to the player.
I personally consider that polyphonic aftertouch is a very powerful tool and coupled with multitibral tone generator and velocity-switching offers a great expression potential. D-beam and pedals are nice but they require at least a free hand or some foot proficiency :)
I'd have expected at this price to see the comeback of the polyphonic aftertouch. Oh well, maybe another time. And I'm sure others might have wanted 9 drawbars and the like. (ribbon controllers, etc.)
Regarding controllers, it's a subjective point of view. Even if some of the more modern approaches to synths and electronic instrument offer more (and better) control over some / all aspects of a sound, some people might argue that older, verified types of control were more natural and possibly offered more feedback to the player.
I personally consider that polyphonic aftertouch is a very powerful tool and coupled with multitibral tone generator and velocity-switching offers a great expression potential. D-beam and pedals are nice but they require at least a free hand or some foot proficiency :)
I'd have expected at this price to see the comeback of the polyphonic aftertouch. Oh well, maybe another time. And I'm sure others might have wanted 9 drawbars and the like. (ribbon controllers, etc.)
Re: SonicState JUPITER-80 preview video
I assume the 4 knobs are freely assignable but are the faders as well? If so, 8 assignable realtime controllers + d-beam, aftertouch, S1-2 and rotary switch, pitch/mod lever and pedals + the behaviour modelling will hopefully provide plenty of realtime control. So far it's looking like a good performance instrument. The Howard Jones video is pretty inspiring for the synth nuts, but Scotts demo shows how far the emulated instruments have come. Interested to play one when it's out.
PS: Controllers changing functionality per patch etc is something I program into Mainstage all the time, this looks like it does that automatically depending on how you play which is cool.
PS: Controllers changing functionality per patch etc is something I program into Mainstage all the time, this looks like it does that automatically depending on how you play which is cool.