The first Jupiter synth. It was among one of the first poly synthesizers (4 individual voices which could be synced together for one fat monophonic lead), it had a pitch wheel that could be assigned to the VCA, VCF, VCO or all together, there are 8 memory locations and a cool arpeggiator - the arpeggiator can be heard in the Duran Duran classic, "Rio". It also has a very slow LFO for those ever-so-long filter sweeps. Pretty good for 1978!

Not so cool however, are the 10 preset sounds which sound nothing like the piano, brass or strings they claim to be. The placement of all the preset buttons below the keyboard can be inconvenient, especially while playing it. And as with most old analog synths, the Jupiter-4's tuning can go out often. Still it is a nice analog synth for creating weird trippy analog sounds. It's used by Meat Beat Manifesto, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby, Saint Etienne, the Cars, BT, Simple Minds, Moog Cookbook, Vangelis, The Human League, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Heaven 17, and film-maker Satyajit Ray.

Treldon

October 28, 2008 @ 12:42 am

When Simple Minds Toured Australia in 1980, Mick McNeil used 2 of these. Can anyone confirm that these amazing machines provided the haunting pads on Sister Feelings Call and Sons and Fascination

Roger

October 6, 2008 @ 7:52 am

My first ever Synth. Still in user sometimes and I will never give it away.

Analogue Crazy

August 21, 2008 @ 7:21 am

Id also like to point out that the JP-4 is THE sound of 'Travelogue' and 'Reproduction' (along with a the system 100). This is the synth martin ware played in the origional Human League. Listen to these albums and hear how beutiful the Jupiter-4 sounds.

Makula

August 19, 2008 @ 6:33 am

This ist the one synth I use for obvious and distinguishly analog sounds. The bass-sounds are not too fat, so that you can use them to fatten up a bass guitar. The arpeggiator and s&h features really make this thing the psycho machine that it is. When I first got it, having not the merest plan of synthesis, this one got me hooked! THIS is the analog sound you are all after! It can be subtle AND brutal! Thanks JUP

Analogue Crazy

August 18, 2008 @ 9:58 am

I have been using this synth for a year now and its a right beast. One of the best analogue polysynths ever, seriously. Much ballsier and retro than its famous brothers,

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