MKS-80 Super
Jupiter
Analog synthesizer module
|
FAT!!! The sounds of the
MKS-80 most definitely are some of the most analog-sounding, fat, majestic and
powerful ever heard on a synthesizer. A classic analog rack-mounted synthesizer, the MKS-80 is highly revered in the world of music production. It differs from later Roland modules, having real analog VCOs instead of DCOs. Arguably the rack version of the Jupiter-6 (and Jupiter-8) . Two versions existed, 4 and 5. Mine is version 4, which is reportedly warmer-sounding than the five. The optional MPG-80 programmer makes life easier when editing this synth. |
Roland MKS-80 audio demos in .mp3
(I added a touch of reverb from a Roland SRV-330 dimensional space reverb rack unit for these demos)
| Patch name with audio demo (patch names kindly provided by François Rossi) | My comments (notice that I didn't know the names of the presets before writing my comments...) |
| I-11 Piano 1 | An emulation of a piano. OK, with the limitations of analog synthesis. |
| I-12 High Velocity Strings | Beautiful analog strings!!! Only analog can produce these tones. These strings will make the perfect pad or polysynth for '80s styles. |
| I-13 Bowed Strings | Variation on the above, just as great. |
| I-14 Stereo Brass | Mega-fat synth brass!!! These are the sounds you hear on the hit songs from the 1980s!!! |
| I-15 Glock Pax | Magical resonant synth pad with gentle bells, useful for ambience. |
| I-16 Steel Drums 1 | A cross between steel drums and a honky tonk piano :) |
| I-17 Marimbette | Excellent wood block sound |
| I-18 Funky Pluck | Powerful synth |
| I-21 Recorder | Very nice recorder/ocarina sound! |
| I-22 Flute | Beautiful flute sound, VERY expressive and realistic! |
| I-23 Synth Fifths | Here's a more modern sound - an aggressive fifth synth stab |
| I-24 Synth Brass 1 | Totally '80s syn brass! |
| I-25 Brassoon | I'm not sure if this was meant by the programmer to be a saxophone.. still an interesting sound. |
| I-26 Chiff Organ | Perfectly programmed chapel organ |
| I-27 B-3 | Reso organ/synth solo |
| I-28 Perc. Organ | Awesome '60s jazz organ!!! |
| I-31 Stereo E. Piano | A modern piano, very useful for ballads. |
| I-32 Resonant Bend | Trademark Roland sound - the hollow reso voices |
| I-33 Beat It | Cool and different pitch-up synth |
| I-34 FM | MEGA solo synth! |
| I-35 Bell 1 | Charming glockenspiel |
| I-36 Stereo Bell 1 | More vibraphone-style elements |
| I-37 Clangorous | Great bell ensemble! |
| I-38 Poly Synth. 1 | FAT! synth bass/solo/comp |
| I-41 Poly Synth. 2 | Classic '80s chord synth |
| I-42 Bell 2 | More bells |
| I-43 Strings | BEAUTY. These are the famous JP strings. |
| I-44 Steel Drums 2 | Nice percussive detuned synth |
| I-45 Trombone | Super-analog trumpet |
| I-46 Marimba Bell | More percussive adventures |
| I-47 Synth. Drums 1 | Analog drumming at its best.. |
| I-48 Stereo Bell 2 | Fabulous vibraphone sound |
| I-51 Synth Clavinet | Fretless bass? |
| I-52 Sync. | Mega synth bass |
| I-53 Brass | Typical Roland chorused synth brass |
| I-54 Blap Trumpet | Realistic horns!!! |
| I-55 Elec. Grand 1 | Intimate upright piano |
| I-56 Strings/Brass | More JP strings beauty |
| I-57 Log Drums | '80s!!!!!!! Reminds of Thompson Twins or Pet Shop Boys |
| I-58 Gong | Intriguing special FX / gongs |
| I-61 Jazz Organ | Synthorgan style |
| I-62 Synth. Harpsichord | Nice harpsichord |
| I-63 Synth. Drums 2 | More analog drums |
| I-64 Piano Harp | Nice jazz guitars |
| I-65 Choppers | Fabulous synthesized helicopter |
| I-66 Synth. Lead | More '80s synths |
| I-67 Puffy Brass | More Roland brass |
| I-68 Harp | Arpeggio synth |
| I-71 Pluck Clav. | Powerful metallic synth = FMish bass = '80s |
| I-72 Digital Bass | Typical huge synth bass |
| I-73 Bass Guitar | More Moog-style synth basses |
| I-74 Elec. Grand 2 | Delightful electric piano |
| I-75 Fretless | Highly expressive fretless bass |
| I-76 Unison Bass | '80s again |
| I-77 Synth Bass 1 | HUGE! More fast attack synth bass |
| I-78 Synth Bass 2 | Classic resonant filter in action |
| I-81 Synth Brass 2 | Awesome '80s phased comp synth |
| I-82 Steel String Guitar | Percussive sound |
| I-83 Elec. Guitar | Beauty and the Beast! |
| I-84 Jazz Guitar | More jazz guitars in action |
| I-85 Chime Bell | Nice flutelike synth |
| I-86 Auto-Rattler | Forest / sci fi sound FX |
| I-87 Blade Runner | Explosions |
| I-88 Squash | Ping-Pong game |
Roland MKS-80 pictures
(click on thumbnails to enlarge them)
Roland MKS-80
manual
PDF Manual freely available at the Roland site : www.rolandus.com
Resources:
- Review in "Keyboard magazine" Janfebmarch 198___
Roland MKS-80 Features
- An analog powerhouse synth;
- Many classic sounds from the '80s;
- Highly editable;
- A character all of its own.
| Features at a glance | |
| Year of release: | |
| Polyphony: | |
| Sound generation method: | |
| Preset memories | |
| MIDI: | in, out, thru |
| Sound expansion capabilities: | cartridges |
| Sequencer | no |
| Arpeggiator | no |
| Effects | no |
| Velocity | yes |
| Aftertouch | |
Links
| SITE | Type of resource | DESCRIPTION |
| Home page | website. | |