The Jupiter-6 is an incredible analog synth. All of the Jupiters have a sound that was unlike any other synthesizer and the Jup 6 is no exception. This sound is due in part to classic analog Roland technology in its filters, modulation capabilities and a thick cluster of 12 analog oscillators at 2 per voice. Easy and intuitive programming via front panel sliders, knobs and buttons for all your tweaking needs.

The Jup 6 is a scaled down version of the Jup 8 in terms of programming and polyphony. However the Jup 6 has some major improvements of its own such as newly added MIDI control and better tuning stability! While the Jup 6 does have MIDI, the implementation is very rudimentary and hard to control. The Jup 6 was one of the very first (along with the Sequential Prophet 600) synths to use the then new MIDI protocol, and the implementation on the Jup 6 is far from complete.

Synthcom Systems, Inc. offers the Europa firmware upgrade for the Jupiter-6 which gives it an up-to-date and comprehensive MIDI implementation. All parameters are controllable via Continuous Controller or SysEx. Europa also features an extensive arpeggiator which will sync to MIDI clock with programmable clock divisors and rhythms, and has about 50 more playback variations than the JP-6's original Up, Down, Up/Down, and Down/Up. A Europacized Jupiter-6 is a thoroughly modern synth with a classic sound.

The Jupiter-6 is an excellent for ambient drones, pads, blips, buzzes and leads. The Jupiter-6 is known for being a very reliable, programmable, polyphonic, analog monster of a synthesizer! It is used by Orbital, Moby, Überzone, Devo, BT, The Prodigy, Vangelis, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, ZZ Top, Duran Duran, Moog Cookbook, and Blur.

HP

November 11, 2012 @ 12:21 pm

It can't do thick resonant bass, sci-fi sine leads or lush strings. Nor can a Les Paul do Tele sounds. The JP-6 excels at evolving fizzy triangle-based pads and searing square/PWM leads. The resonant HPF is amazing and unusual for an analogue poly, just the job in a busy mix. If you make modern electronic music, you may find the JP-6 invaluable: its 'slice-and-dice' high end is everything that the Virus series fails to be... listen to the sweetness of the top end, not the 'thinness' of the low end!

johnny C Note

October 12, 2012 @ 8:30 am

the Jupiter 6, with it's front panel layout of knobs, buttons and sliders, combined with the Europa MIDI upgrade, is one of the most comprehensive and complete analog synthesizers ever made.

johnny C Note

October 12, 2012 @ 7:49 am

It is, as the article states, an amazing synthesizer, simply put. The broad palette of sounds the Jupiter 6 is capable of is endless, and they are all drenched in rich, vivid color. It DOES create killer bass, sometimes sounding like my old Moog Source. The envelopes are the snappiest I have ever heard. With the Europa upgrade, the J6 is capable, via software DAW or MIDI sequencer, of the craziest modulations on a par with an Oberheim Matrix 12 or modular. Of all the synths I own, this is the one i would choose if I had to sell them all and keep one of them.

storyofthestone

September 27, 2012 @ 4:33 am

@Phil, I agree, by comment page 25 my opinion is pretty pointless. Everything's been said. You sir are a fount of wisdom, however.

mothislay

September 26, 2012 @ 4:38 am

good synth, but a bit underwhelming these days.

out of rolands early 80s portfolio, the jupiters and, sacrilege, the juno 6, this is imho the least impressive sounding instrument. jp8 and jp4 do have more character, juno possess more "beauty" and is more helpful in a modern recording set-up.

I always somehow liked it, but for my budget, I'd rather go for a 500€ VA to be honest.

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