Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

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flyingace
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Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by flyingace »

Okay, i love my JP50, even with it's limitations of not having a librarian and less user slots than I'd like, I have an opportunity to move up to the JP80. It will cost me about double what I have in my JP50. If I do it, will I feel good about it? Will it be worth it? What advantages will I get? Larger screen? What are the improvements over the 50? Any help you guys can provide would be greatly helpful in making this decision!

THANKS!
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cello
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by cello »

Well you get an extra liveset layer for a start! The JP-50 has one liveset layer (upper) and solo and Drum layers - which in total gives you a maximum of 6 tones sounding at one time.
The JP-80 gives you a lower liveset, which increases maximum concurrent tones up to 10 :)

Polyphony is 128 on the JP-50, the 80 gives you 256 :)

Lots more Registration slots (can't remember the numbers) with the 80.

The 80 has aftertouch, the 50 only velocity.

The 80 has wireless capability (ie link to iPad app), the 50 does not

The 80 gives you a much better GUI than the 50; much, much easier to navigate and create sounds with.

You get more FX with the 80.

You get more connectors with the 80.

No wall-wart with the 80 :)

Both however suffer from lack of Librarian :((

If I was you, I'd be going for the 80. As an 80 owner, I can tell you that it has been a creative powerhouse for me and I will not be parted from it!
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flyingace
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by flyingace »

Wow, thanks Cello, I hit the jackpot with you answering my query! Thanks! That info really helped me understand some fundamental differences and actually many of the items that the JP80 does were some of my biggest performance complaints about the JP50. The JP50 is an amazing board but it's lacking so much when it comes to a true performance board. I bought it because I wanted a performance/live board, NOT an arranger or workstation. It turns out that the JP50, although amazing for what it is, lacks the UMPF to pull off a true performance. When performing, you need to have access to the sounds you need quickly and not just switching between sounds sometimes I need two or three splits at a time to accomplish the goal. Even better when two registrations could take care of a song an I only have to pivot my thumb on either hand down to switch thanks to the regs being under the keyboard. The two live sets are perfect along with a bass in lower, a muted trumpet up top. Lots of possibilities.

So I bought it. I'll let you know what I think after it arrives. Now to photograph my JP50 and get it for sale!
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cello
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by cello »

A great decision! You won't be disappointed :)

Glad I could help.

Make sure your JP-80 is on the latest OS - v2.10. V2 introduced several key elements - ability to route FX differently, ability to export/import single sounds (at any level) and new filters, as well as single play mode (allows you to play just single livesets if required).

I am a huge fan of the JP-80 and I have very enjoyably spent many, many hours learning what it can do; it is an absolute powerhouse and it is unfortunately much misunderstood.

Good luck with the sale of your JP-50! JP-50 is still a fine keyboard, but I have to say, you've just promoted yourself into a whole new world; enjoy the journey :)
tnicoson
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by tnicoson »

Cello

Just a small correction about the JP-50:

I always link my JP-50 to the iPad app wirelessly. I never use a cable.

- Not that that should make any difference to Snoop in his quest for an 80.
I wholeheartedly agree with your advice to him.
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cello
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by cello »

Lol - I knew I'd get something wrong; memory not as good as it was! ;)

Thanks for correcting
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flyingace
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by flyingace »

That's great to know that I can continue to use my wireless adapter with the JP80 too! Love Air Recorder!

I'm excited to move up to the 80. The 50 has been great but without the editor or librarian, I think I will find the 80 a little easier to navigate. At the very least, as far as my wife is concerned, it's the "last" keyboard I'll ever need to buy! ha ha :) I think I'm going to get a better USB Audio interface and start using Ableton Live or Reason 8 with my Jupiter and a midi keyboard, that should round out my rig!

Now I just need to sell the Jupiter 50!! Pronto!!
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Tschury
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by Tschury »

cello wrote:
A great decision! You won't be disappointed :) ...
+1

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flyingace
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by flyingace »

Alright it's here! This thing is like having TWO Jupiter 50s! It's even bigger sounding, and I didn't think that was possible. I'm still learning my way around and didn't realize that registrations from the JP50 wouldn't load, so it's back to setting those all up. good thing I only have about 5 that I use right now. The manual is pretty sparse compared to the one that came with my JP50, but there are more tutorials and videos online for the 80, so that helps. Plus that screen helps the most! Wow, it's so nice to see whats going on without menu diving!

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice... I hope to help others soon with this beast, as well!

The Jupiter 50 is for sale right now on Ebay and locally, looks like it will sell on Ebay but for the time being, while it's still on auction, I'm using it to help me set up my Registrations... AND it's pretty hot to see these two monsters together! KEYBOARD PORN!!!
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tnicoson
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by tnicoson »

Hey Snoop !

Congrats on the JP-80. I would say that I hope you enjoy it immensely, but I already know that you will.

Either one of those units really looks impressive on its own, but when you rack the two of them up together, that is nothing short of AWESOME !

Sorry I did not warn you about the registration incompatibility. Several others of us found that out a year or so ago when we were trying to swap regs.

If the firmware on your 80 is not Version 2.0 or above, make sure you upgrade it, or you will be missing some of the tones and features that you had on the 50 and that were released for the 80 at the same time the 50 was released.

Many happy returns, my friend !

Regards,

Ted
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flyingace
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Re: Moving from Jupiter 50 to Jupiter 80...worth it?

Post by flyingace »

Thanks Ted! I hope you are doing well too! We're still fighting the good fight over here, treatment for my wife is almost done and the cancer has responded quite well, now it's time to fight the insurance company that is refusing to pay for a dime of any of it! We're in for over 100K right now. I felt I better get my 80 before things get too bad around here. Hopefully our attorney will get them to pay.

I really like a lot about the JP50 now that I have them side by side. BUT I'm pretty sure I'll bond with the 80 fully about the time that the 50 is sold (wednesday the auction ends and I've got 5 bidders, 15 watchers and the price is already $400 over what I paid for it!)

I thought of you when I was trying to decide what I wanted to do. I thought about buying another Juno Gi again. I liked it but thought I wanted a full on workstation and sold to buy the Korg Krome. I really dislike Korg and Yamaha programming/interface and I'm happy to be back to Roland.

I may still yet pickup a Gi to have a portable unit that can do so much, though.

Take care and thanks for all your advice and help.
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