Roland JUPITER-08 boutique synthesizer presented

Marking the 45th anniversary of the 1981 JUPITER-8, Roland has presented the compact JUPITER-08 synthesizer. This instrument serves as a digital recreation of the historical model and comes bundled with the K-25m keyboard dock.

Sound Engine and Architecture

In standard operation, the unit provides eight voices, with expandable polyphony of up to 32 voices. Each voice utilizes two oscillators featuring pulse width modulation, sync, and cross-modulation. Sound shaping is handled by a high-pass filter and a resonant low-pass filter with selectable slopes of 12 or 24 dB per octave. To capture the response of the original unit, the design includes revised voice allocation and deliberate pitch fluctuations. Sounds can be stacked via layers or divided across keyboard zones using splits. Numerous sliders and knobs allow direct parameter control, supported by an inclinable front panel.

Sequencer, Effects, and Connections

The unit incorporates a two-part polyphonic 64-step sequencer with motion recording capability for multiple notes per step, alongside an arpeggiator. An integrated processing section delivers 17 MFX types including stereo chorus, an independent delay, and five reverb options featuring a shimmer mode for octave-shifted coloration.

• USB-C handling audio and MIDI data, alongside traditional 5-pin MIDI In and Out
• External clock input plus dedicated ports for audio output and headphones
• Built-in speaker
• Power supplied via USB-C or four AA batteries (offering up to six hours with Ni-MH)

Source: Delamar