What was so wonderful is the fact that the guy who invented MIDI, I think it was Paul Smith, decided rather than license it he gave it to everyone for free. He could have made millions controlling it but didn’t. There should be more people like him in the world. What an amazing man.
Dave Smith at Sequential Circuits wrote the white paper and presented it at a conference for synth manufacturers, but the standard was essentially designed by committee. Roland liked the way that Oberheim synths could be chained together, but asked Dave Smith to come up with a more streamlined protocol which would also be supported by Yamaha, Korg et al. All the companies sought to benefit from it, in much the same way that internet firms agreed to use WWW standards, or various electronics companies pushed for the adoption of USB, instead of having proprietary connectors that limit their usability.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention that the Jupiter 6 was used to make the soundtrack for the first 4 seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine, as it’s probably the most popular song made on the synth
Funny. Millennial has never heard of Depeche Mode, Gary Newman and thinks Thomas the train is the most famous song ever written with this synth. The Barney generation ugh.
@@Eric_In_SF Thomas the tank engine was wildly popular with kids, even internationally tho. It can't be denied that that series' music had a very broad audience and is still fondly remembered today. Children may be a different audience, but still one to be taken seriously. Also the series' soundtrack is really well made, so no need to be offended.
Co-author of the Europa Upgrade, here - Nice piece, Johnny! I'm not affiliated with Synthcom any longer (sold it to my partner in 2008) but good to see it alive and well in these classic/great synths!
Hi Neil - it's a pleasure to meet you. I converted my JP-6 to Europa years ago - it's like an all new synth really especially in a more modern setup. I use CC control all the time for various adjustments from my DAW. Anyway thanks for saying hi and I hope we can stay in touch. BTW it seems like Synthcom isn't doing Europa anymore - I've had a few people ask about it. Do you know what's going on with the company?
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Jeffrey gets a few kits out here and there but his focus is elsewhere these days. I designed an adapter board for him a year or so ago, as the original chip that ran Europa is long out of production. I know he's got stock left, but it's all PLCC parts now (hence the adapter). I'd say just keep emailing and he'll eventually come up for air.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Also, neglected to mention, but you should do a podcast on the development of Europa. We found out some amazing things about the original Roland code. ;-)
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Three of the biggest finds - #1 - There were at least 3 versions of the main CPU board. They were all radically different from each other. #2 - Each had less than about 10 bytes of unused space. #3 - They didn't include much (if any) error checking. If you corrupt a Jupiter 6's memory in the A-1 slot with the wrong bits set, the board will never boot from that point forward. Suffice to say, we didn't wind up using any of the original code it was so bad. ;-)
Back in the summer of 1996 when I first tried doing the recording, the house in which I did it was owned by a man who had a synthesizer in the den which was also the music room. He made it clear nobody was supposed to touch it but him. I wish I had taken a picture of it while I was down there recording. In any event, I am pretty sure it was a Jupiter 6. About four years later when I had begun learning about classic analog synthesizers and saw different photographs of the Jupiter 6, my memory told me that’s what this guy owned.
The JP-6 is a great synth. I think its failure in the market was largely due to unfortunate timing. Had the DX7 not stolen everyone's thunder, it may have done well. I have always felt it was FM synthesis that ended analog as during that time synthesis was still evolving and synths (and there use) were really in their heyday. When you think about it, analog poly-synths didn't really have too much time in the spotlight, but it was during that time that some of the most important synth music was produced.
You know what, thanks to the high frequency mode of VCO-2 and the band pass filter, and the modulation of cross-mod by enveloppe 1, it can very well pull out FM sounding stuff, i'm amazed everytime i play it
The DX7 definitely disrupted the market in a huge way. Weirdly, it's mostly because keyboard players wanted something that sounded like a piano; a sound that filtered analogue saw waves aren't very good at emulating. Ironically, the DX7 doesn't sound much like a real piano, but in the mid-'80s it was a revelation, but it took people a while to realise that what they really liked were the synthetic sounds (resonant basses, sweeping pads) that DON'T sound like acoustic instruments. The synths of the early '80s that we still enjoy today sounded like nothing else; they sound like THEMSELVES.
I dont know alot of people that like the design of the jp6 But in my opinion it looks so awesome Perfekt 80s design !!! Pink black white blue .... a synthwavers dream 🙂🎹🎶
The futuristic red LEDs are even better in real life. I'm sure no one would notice if you took the panel of the JP-6 and put in in place of a spacecraft's main control panel. The overall design screams Cyberpunk
Great retrospective on a very capable and gorgeous looking synth! I owned a JP-6 (also purchased in 1993 for a knockdown price of about $400) and absolutely loved it - it was what I felt a synth should be: a control panel full of buttons, knobs, sliders, cool colours and flashing lights. It was such a versatile synth and though it's signature string and techno sounds builts its reputation, I found it could do some beatutiful, soft ambient pads and effects that, for me, really made it a wonderful instrument to explore soundscapes on.
My studio partner just scored a Jupiter-6 for a rather good price out in Vancouver, Canada from a studio bankruptcy and then had it shipped east. Sadly it doesn't have a Europa mod in it so if we can't source one (it's at the synth doctor's right now to get a checkup), we'll have to run it stock. This is great work Johnny. Your channel deserves more subscribers! These little mini-documentaries are excellent and thoroughly well researched and put together!
Thanks Jay. Great score on the Jupiter-6. Europa is hard to get these days, but I have a few people asking about it. I'll try and get more information for you.
I have a 3 jupiters. 4 , 6 and 8 ..All in Flight cases under my bed . Never use them but they're.the best investment I've ever made. Jupiter 8 will be 50 grand by 2030
The Korg Poly-800 did not have membrane controls, it had a programmer under the digital display. The printed "Digital looking Decal" was basically a list of parameter values that need to be incremented/decremented by the use of the programmer.
I know - it was a mistake - a few others noted that below - my bad which is odd as it was my first synth in 1986 - I saved up my money working at McDonald's to buy one.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Sorry didn't notice other peeps posted,,it was my first synth too, check out Fury 800, vst clone, very good, Thanks for reply and yeah great channel..All the best, Cheers Paul.
Thanks! the Jupiter 6 is so rarely discussed was really great how you contrasted it features compared to the 8....one of those “what ifs?” If in the next gen Roland & combined sound/some aspects of the 8 with the performance features of the 6...what an amazing instrument 🤔.....instead we got the, not terrible but rather uninspiring jx8😒
I loved my Jupiter 6, but the buttons were a bit clicky and cheap, but generally the build quality was great, and loved the colours on this and the JP-8. I sold it 8 years ago when I moved abroad, and actually now much prefer software synths with a nice retro interface. The upkeep costs and space you need for real synths is just a pain, and I never have to route a cable thru a mixer. I also find software versions generally just sit better together in a mix.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Same here! In fact there my first concert back in 1999 on their "dark side of the spoon" tour at The Warfield, San Francisco.
Oh what a bummer!! Too bad I can't come with you folks. Already have three Jupiters. Daaang! Well... good luck my friends on your quest! Next universe boots in: 10^(10^(76)) years. Or maybe it does not. :o)
@@DonSolaris don’t worry you can get more and sell them for a fortune Ooh and wait I wanna try all your Jupiters it’s something I wanted for my birthday but not came or got one I was very sad and I’m probably never gonna get one unless time travel is possible or I can rent or buy one that the only way I can get my hand on one
@@marmite-land Weird indeed. A person won't make living from "youtube content" where 10 thousand views earns him 1 cent. I release soundsets for mass produced synths instead - that actually earn me enough for living.
@@marmite-land With less than 5 minute of searching the web I found out which Jupiters Don Solaris has, even some serial numbers and pictures. Before you go criticize someone it would be wise to do some research. This is a very nice and peaceful channel. I really don't understand why you harass people who did nothing wrong to you. Thanks!
@@marmite-land I would suggest using a Google translate if you don't understand English language. :) They were teasing each other about traveling in time, Universe reboot, etc. It was all fun to read. :) And then you came and started bullying one member with that nonsense: "You don't have a video, therefore you don't have a Jupiter".
Back in the day, advanced MIDI functionality meant much more expensive chips to hold the programming. We're talking about a time when just a few K of memory, RAM, and a processor to run it all was going to be an expensive addition.
ay-yo, @cherryaudiovst can we get a "Mercury-6" ovah heah? I'd never really heard much about this synth (I got into synths about 1986), and it looks like a sweet device, with a nice selection of synthesis options. And, thanks to the Analog revival of the last 15 years, I'm betting street prices are ridiculous. Thanks for this and all of your "The Story of..." vids.
Hi Johnny, great review of the JP-6, great to see you've kept it in great shape. Also, great to see you again (I am ex-EA and worked with you in SSX Tricky back in 2001).
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams Hi Johnny, yup it's Joe! Yeah I started getting serious collecting vintage synths (specifically) when I started working on the Blade Runner Revelations soundtrack...I have been hooked ever since. Let's get in touch. Are you in FB (not sure if you can private message anymore in the 'toob)?
It will never. It doesn't have a name in modern culture, it wouldn't sell very well. Although... I'd still like to see it happen as well as a cloud verison, because the price of the real things would skyrocket even more than it already does, and that means big return on investment for me hehehe :) (and also because people would see how good it sounds and what improvements were made upon the older jupiter 8)
The chord sound in inner city big fun is sampled from nitro deluxe let's get brutal and that track uses a sound from a Yamaha FB01, no jupiter 6 for that chord stab..
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams No need to be sorry, great video. Love the Jupiter 6, never owned one myself personally but had one on loan for a good 5 years or so!
@@alpharisc I just edited it out using the youtube editor - I think it takes a few hours to update. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vcMvXQb-D_o.html Great video btw. Inner City did use the JP6 - I'll try to find out where - thanks again.
i always try to guess which synths/gear will be sought after in the future that we wouldnt expect currently. like are volcas going to be $2000 on ebay 2 in 2047? maybe old digital synths like the cz's or ensoniq hybrids? theyre already pretty pricey considering what they are
The Poly 800 didn't use membrane buttons - the editable parameters were printed on the fascia for reference, but physical buttons were used to enter the parameter number and edit the values. Also, 'techno' wasn't a thing in 1983. Otherwise, great video!
I played mine a lot and for about 25 years but I never really liked the sound.. its sound never really convinced me.. too thin and a little bit too cold.. not like a prophet5 or a Oberheim or a laterJX8P forexample... the use of a boss stereo super chorus helped a lot to make it sound much warmer, especially for patch, string and organ like sounds.. finally I sold it with no regrets.. I guess in the end it all depends on the sound and music you want to create..
Makes me ill knowing I sold my Jupiter 6 (and Memorymoog and TB303/606, and SH-7 and Juno-6 and... ) for pennies on the dollar back in '89. Sorry, to my keyboards back in the day, for not appreciating you more :(
Similar - I've owned and sold - Moog Minimoog, Juno-106, Juno-60, Korg Poly-6, Korg Mono/Poly all for fractions of what they go for now... but I guess it's a journey!
Yeah, i feel your pain brother. But we can take pride in knowing that we actually owned, and played these gems in their heyday. A Mini and a Poly 6 you say? Nice!
Easily the thinnest VCO-based polysynth. How do I know? I owned two JP-6's. It's decent, but very much a Jupiter 8 on a starvation diet. The versatile multimode filter is a strong selling point, however.
I may be wrong but I recon the JU6 relied totally on digital technology. I own a Prophet 600 and that just used digital technology for the envelopes and LFO's, as a result to my ears it sounds better.
Thinnest VCO polysynth until you play an Andromeda, or a Minilogue. Turn off the ensemble on a JP4 and its single VCO sounds pretty stark too. And don't forget the Six-Trak and all its VCO/CEM3394 buddies (the Max, Mult-Trak, Split-8, AX60 and AX73). But hey - not everything needs to sound all analog-gooey all the time. The JP6's crazy control ranges take you almost anywhere you could want to go, but it is a hard beast to tame as a result.
@@MegaBadgeman The JP-6 is a lot less digital than you are suggesting. The aspect that really hurts the P600 is the lack of resolution on many of the controls, especially resonance.
@@jamesmeeker6933 Are you sure you're not confusing the resonance with the cutoff? Put the resonance on high then move the cutoff up a and down, The stepping will be really noticeable.
@@MegaBadgeman Both are especially crude in resolution. It's been more than 20 years since I had a P600 (got a Prophet 5 in 2000) but if memory serves me correctly they were both steppy.
Many assume the JP-6 is just a scaled down JP-8, but it's closer to a JX-8P with knobs on. Horrible things. Poor build quality, weedy sounding and the sliders would snap off due to using plastic faders instead of the metal ones they used on the JP-8 If you see one going, avoid it.
I toured with mine for years and it held up well. The metal sides helped. Agree on the sliders though - definitely had to replace more than and few, and find some new end caps. Also agree on the sound - it is 'weedy' but I think that's why it works as something different, more for techno I think.
@@johnnymorgansynthdreams The buttons were also cheap and nasty. I think there was a period when everyone was cutting corners, Moog, SCI, Emu were all turning very plasticy at one point. Remember my first use on a MemoryMoog and I pushed a button and a keycap flew across the room.
The sliders on the JP6 are not great, but they are metal. When I bought mine about 15 years ago, I also got a full set of replacement sliders from Technology Transplant. So far I've used two and given one away. Everything else including buttons and jacks have been pretty good though. I wouldn't say it's "weedy sounding", but I would say it's "more capable of weedy sounds" than other vintage analogs. Program something like a JX-8P or Juno-106 and you quickly realize that Roland has (over-) engineered out the ability for these instruments to make an ugly sound. They feel as though every sound you play is a variant of the the same patch. The Jupiter-6 can sound warm and beautiful, but without care it probably be shrill or harsh. Personally I like that. To me, it's more alive.
The Jupiter 6 has been a shit tier synth since day one and it will remain one forever. Don't buy one. Any VST is better sounding. If you want a cheap, god tier synth, buy a Jupiter 4 or a Korg Trident. They are the two remaining deals to be had in vintage synthesis.
